The City Sage

Welcome Summer: Memorial Day Style

Here in the States it's a long weekend. And not just any long weekend. The first official weekend of the summer! (Cue the sounds of school bells ringing, children cheering, swan dives splashing, barbecues sizzling.) As I type, desks are being abandoned for backyards and beaches. An electric hum of anticipation fills the air, like fireflies flitting to gather at dusk.

But enough of all that dreamy, romantic stuff. Because the really important question here is...what are we going to wear? I don't know about you guys, but nothing gets me in the mood for a picnic or pool party like a perfectly considered unconsidered getup—that shirt, shorts, shoes combo that you slip into, feel all flirty and fun, and forget all your cares for a few hours at least.

Requirements? Comfort is key. No chafing shorts need apply. I look for loose fits that still flatter(the wardrobe Holy Grail!) in a subdued yet playful pattern. As for the palette, a little holiday patriotism never hurt anyone. Red, white, and blue will always get my vote, but perhaps we could call it rhubarb, ivory, and chambray just to be different? Have grand weekend, all!

P.S. Now that we've planned our outfits, Jojotastic's Memorial Day summer dining essentials are a must-have to complete the look! Images: 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8. 9. 

Style Meets Substance with Brizo Faucets

When I schedule a phone interview I block 20 minutes into my calendar, and I always hang up with more than enough material for an article. Yet a few weeks ago I spoke with Judd Lord, the Director of Industrial Design for Brizo. We exceeded our alotted time by two hours and could easily have spoken for two more. About faucets. But not just about faucets. About the design process, about form united with function, and about the kind of detail-oriented thinking that Judd and his team thrive on, so that we at home don't have to worry about the little things.

I asked Judd about his background. When he told me he has a degree in engineering, I inquired why he'd built his career designing faucets. His reply blew me away: "You want to design products that are going to affect people every day of their lives. A faucet gets used an average of 120 times a day, and it has to work every single time. Plus water. What a great medium. What an element to work with." Furthermore, Judd sees fixtures as functional sculpture, and added that 90% of the time, they aren't in use—but of course still have to look great. So he leads a team that not only goes into homes and observes how we actually function in our kitchens and bathrooms, they do trend reports every six months to ensure that they styles they're producing are spot-on.

Judd then described some of the technologies that Brizo had developed, including my favorite, a SmartTouch feature that allows you tap the water on and off—perfect for when I'm cutting raw meat and don't want to touch the fixture with my contaminated hands. This innovation comes in designs that I'd be thrilled to have in my home, proving that style and substance can go hand in hand with the right guidance. Stay tuned part deux of this interview; you can imagine that after two hours on the phone with Judd I have a lot more to share!

P.S. Brizo and Elle Decor are hosting a Dream Kitchen Pinterest contest with a $2,500 cash prize and a Brizo faucet up for grabs! Disclosure: This post is sponsored by Brizo, but all opinions are my own. Thank you for supporting the brands that keep The City Sage going.

Industrial Office Lighting from Lamps Plus

Since last fall I've been a weekly contributor to the Lamps Plus blog, and I hafta say, I just adore those guys. Not only is the team over there sweet as pie, but it's been a blast (and a challenge!) coming up with consistently fresh and informative topics that focus on design—as opposed to the broader mix of fashion, interiors, and musings that I cover here. I've touched on everything from budget decorating to starting a room from stratch, and I'm still going strong!

One by-product of my tenure on the team? I've become more than familiar with the ins and outs of the Lamps Plus inventory! A particular style that I keep returning to again and again is the moody, dramatic look of black or oiled bronze industrial lighting, especially in the office. There's something about these pendant and task lamps that inspire me to roll up my sleeves and commence gnashing my teeth, furrowing my brow, and churning out my oeuvre!

And what better companion to have in my toil than one of these handsome numbers? I think of them as the Ewan MacGregors of lighting. That is to say, they exude suave, polished good looks, but you know they could race a vintage motorcycle across Asia if need be, stopping for heavy repair work along the way. See, I told you I was seeing lamps with a whole new perspective!

Shopping Guide: 1. Black and Chrome Studio Lamp 2. Bronze Pharmacy Desk Lamp 3. Pharmacy Style Desk Lamp 4. Industrial Metal Pendant Light 5. Accordian Arm Desk Lamp 6. Bronze Adjustable Architect Lamp 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8. 9. 

Essentials for a Summer Romance

Can you feel it? It's just around the bend, creeping towards us like a cat through a wildflower field in full bloom. Yup, summer is almost here, and it brings with it promises of long, lazy afternoons that ease into endless evenings, impromptu weekend escapes followed by Monday returns with freckle-kissed noses and knees. I, for one, cannot wait.

Why do we love summer so much? To be sure, it gives us no shortage of reasons. Markets overflow with juicy watermelon, crisp corn, plump tomatoes, lush basil. Company gathers around grills and in parks. Moods seem a bit more buoyant. But I'm convinced that everything, from the food to the friends to the feelings, falls under the umbrella of the inherent potential of the season—the sense that anything can happen if you open yourself to the grand romance of summer. 

What are your must-haves for the breezy rush of summer romance, whether it's with a new love, your lifelong number one, or simply yourself and a stack of paperbacks? I like to keep it simple. Easy tees, comfy shorts and shoes, classic shades and a sexy scent...these are my essentials. I want as little as possible standing between me, the sun, and my summer destiny!

Shopping Guide: 1. Bobo House Tee 2. Current Elliott Boyfriend Shorts 3. TOMS Sunglasses 4. Rodin Perfume 5. Belle by Sigerson Morrison Striped Espadrille Images: 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8. 9. 10. 11. 12. 13.

Summer Decor Makeover with Serena & Lily

When I was eighteen I spent a summer in Nice. I was ostensibly there to study French, and I did indeed return home with a remarkable command of how to order gelato in the language. However, what I remember most about my time in that coastal town was the positively addictive quality of the sunlight—the way it sparkled off the Meditteranean and heightened the colors of everything in its wake. The sky radiated an impossible blue, the clay roofs a hot burnished orange, the palms that lined the rocky shore a vital, effervescent green. It was no wonder that Picasso, Chagall, and Matisse had settled there to spend their lives in pursuit of that light.

So I hold a special place in my heart for summer decor that harks back to that sundrenched time in my life, and the latest from Serena & Lily tugs hard at my nostalgia strings. The patterns and hues on these pillows would look as perfect in a café on the Place Masséna as they would on a bistro chair in our own backyards. That rattan mirror and brass sconce could easily have been swiped from the crumbling 19th century estate that hosted my school group those many years ago.

The brilliant thing about pieces like this? They aren't an all-or-nothing proposition. A dash of poppy goes a long way amongst neutrals you already have, and these prints tell a classic story that you won't tire of over time. As for that pom pom throw, my teenage self may have purchased a beach bag with identical trim. You know, to carry my bikini school books. Ah, memories!

Shopping Guide: 1. Navy and Poppy All-Weather Throw Pillow 2. Celtic Knot All-Weather Throw Pillow 3. Mocha and Cobalt All-Weather Throw Pillow 4. Round Rattan Mirror 5. Pom-Pom Throw 6. Brass Wall Sconce Images: Jose Villa Instagram.