Feel Good Gifts.

Today's LoveLEE Idea.

It happens once a year. The LEE Industries Custom Upholstery Sale at semplice. 100s of frames. 100s of fabrics. Handmade in the USA since 1969. Kiln-dried hardwood construction, eight-way hand-tied, guaranteed for life. LEE is also an industry leader in eco-friendly construction and production. Enjoy today's LoveLEE Idea and the lowest prices of the year until October 10th.

This Fall, It's All About the Skirt

Every season the debate about skirt lengths rages on. Fall 2010 is no exception. These, from LEE Industries, look surprisingly modern and there is never an issue of age-appropriateness. Slip into one from semplice. All are available upholstered or slipcovered in 100s of fabrics. Be sure to ask about the Private Sale. We will whisper all the details before we yell it out load.

A Clockwise Orange.

12:00 | The American

3:00 | The Birds

6:00 | Vertigo

9:00 | The Apartment

Coming soon looks classic already.

We Second Pickle Pots & Gravlax.

We second today's Tasting Table plug of the East Village's newbie, Vandaag. I've taken quite well to our monthly food crawls of this bustling neighborhood of great crumbs & cocktails. Last Saturday we found ourselves sitting in what may be the best window 2-top for a sunny day of people watching in NYC. Pair the best seat in the house with Dutch & Danish-inspired fare and a modern mixologist's creative pour...{oh lovely day}. Three cheers for the Daily Pickle Pot trio of cherries, okra and fennel. Clearly, the Gravlax got us too. A refreshing alternative taste to the otherwise aptly-dominated neighborhood of Asian greats.

ps. ...and a perfect pour of Balvenie 12 year.

Step 1. Inspiration.

We are always asked at semplice, "do I start with the rug, the wall color, or the sofa?" Why not start with the necklace? Find something you own...or, better yet, want to own...as a jumping off point for your room design. Something you love (or covet) gives a glimpse into a color palette that you are drawn to. Is it a palette you would like to surround yourself with? If so, finding the furnishing components to create the look just got easier. ...and the resulting room is more likely to include color, texture and pattern that you would have never considered if you had simply "matched the rug." Next up, Step 2.

[necklace courtesy of Molly-Hanna]

She Treads. He Treads.

Entire collection of Dash & Albert Rugs at semplice. Shipping is always FREE. Threads courtesy of Boden.

He Sits. She Sits.

LEE inspires a home with soul. Soles courtesy of J.Crew.

Vintage Chilewich. Now Available.

When we opened our doors in 1998, the Chilewich RayBowl was on the shelves of semplice. The architectural fruit bowl with removable, washable, stretch cover was inspired by Sandy Chilewich's corporate origins as founder of Hue Hosiery. Sandy retired the design several years ago only to have demand resurrected by Giada At Home on the Food Network. The 3-tier RayTray is a focal element on the set of Giada's modern white kitchen with the seafoam glass tile backsplash. It is now available by special order from semplice. It will be back on our shelves in September.

(photos courtesy of Giada's Home & Kitchen)

Eat. Pray. TBD.

While it remains to be seen whether or not Julia Roberts can be Elizabeth Gilbert (or just Julia Roberts on an amazing trip to Italy, India and Bali), the trailer track to the film is great in its entirety. Yet, it didn't even make the movie soundtrack? More great stuff from Florence and the Machine here. What a fantastic palette in the Dog Days Are Over video...

Far-sited. Looking to Fall.

With thoughts of turning leaves and cool breezes we have shifted our sight and site on to Fall 2010. You've wondered, "what's happening at semplice?" Well, we have reacted {like all retailers} to the lull of economics and Summer heat:

1. Out with the old. Room for the new. A few good deals remain.

2. Expand the Design Workspace for the season of nesting.

3. Roll out a new look online.

4. Wait for the UPS and LEE trucks to arrive.

Good things in store when the Summer fun draws to a close and you start to look for that box of sweaters. Until then, stop in and say hi to your favorite local retailers. We are all here looking forward to your visit!

p.s. don't wait until Fall.

FLOR Summer Sale is here.

Save 15% now on the DIY-favorite of the design world...FLOR modular carpet tiles. semplice is the exclusive retailer of FLOR in New Jersey offering the entire collection of samples. Stop in to grab the latest catalog, browse through hundreds of options, and even take samples home to work out your design plan. Out of state? Flip through the latest catalog here, then call us at 1.800.794.0855 to place your order. Sale ends July 25th.

Big Bargains in Montclair Tomorrow.

GoogleLove. Connecting This and That.

Grab Your Backpack. Part II.

Big thanks to design*sponge for the design lover's guide to Copenhagen 2010...and for Julia Rothman's wonderful illustration of Nyhavn. A timely follow-up to this recent musing.

Backpack Takes Me Back.

Seeing this backpack takes me back to Copenhagen circa 1987. Was just telling friends this weekend that I wish I had paid a bit more attention to the details (and drank a little less of the Carlsberg Elephant brew) given my current vocation and lust for great design. Fortunately, I did spend considerable time with an aspiring-architect who took me to Illums Bolighus and the Louisiana. Until I have the good fortune to return, CopenhagenStreetStyle keeps me a little connected to the look and feel of that great place. ...and the memory of waiting for the night bus at 3am in Rådhuspladsen eating hapsdogs still makes me smile. That's a detail.

This Calls for a Jetsetter Intervention.

Finding myself in desperate need of an escape. So much so that I have begun obsessively checking Jetsetter each hour for fear I may miss the latest luxury locale available for mere minutes at a fraction of the cost. Maldives was a steal [if not for the multi-grand airfare].

Tonight I find myself dwelling on unexpected luxury dwellings. A previous infatuation with yurts has oddly turned to teepees. Yurts...from the desert of The Story of the Weeping Camel to that perched in the hills above LA...are cool. Imagine the well-appointed interior of a lakeside yurt retreat for weekend escapes. No?

Ok, then. Teepees. Give these a glance at Dunton Hot Springs in Colorado. Ghost town turned luxury hideaway for heli-skiing, fly-fishing and gourmet communal dinners. However, I suspect my vision of a secluded week in the Rockies might be dampened with the first cowgirl sauntering up to the yoga cabin in a pair of Lululemons.

Can we really get away? We certainly can try. Hurry...this event ends in 42 minutes.

Does it Live Up to the Book?

Oh it does. As a visit to Momofuku Noodle Bar proved last night.

Grilled asparagus with bernaise and trout roe.

Steamed buns with shitake mushrooms.

Grilled ramps with crispy shallots.

Ginger scallion noodle bowl.

Sauteed soft shell crabs with caviar.

Raw scallop with yuzu, cilantro and beet.

Steamed buns with chicken...and a 2nd carafe of the house sake.

Parking spot right in front. No wait. Perfect.

Grab Mom a cookbook at semplice and include an invite to dinner. Save 25% on the book thru Mother's Day. That's another "side" at dinner.

Celebrate Mom at semplice.

Celebrating Terroir Day.

Enjoyed an afternoon of judging bottles by their covers...

A daily dose. Just FLORed.

Check us out on Twitter to find out tomorrow's Deal on our favorite FLOR coverings. semplice is thrilled to be the exclusive retailer in New Jersey of this innovative modular carpet tile system that allows DIY'ers to transform any space in no time. In an industry notorious for being Earth-Unkind, FLOR is a recognized leader in environmental efforts.

Yoga Immersion. Day Four.

photo courtesy of The Kitchn

A friend and I have embarked on our 2nd annual yoga immersion at Garden State Yoga [delighted to report that Ali & Seth are adding an adjacent studio later this month with expanded class schedule and yoga styles]. For all followers of Baron Baptiste, this is the place for you...vinyasa flow yoga in a simulated India climate...we are talking heat, people...HEAT. This is not the more static 26-pose practice of Bikram, expect to move and to not know what to expect next.

After almost 9 months off the mat, I suspect it may take a few tries to "get present." ...here's how it flows:

Day 1. Reduced to a sloppy puddle in child's pose a mere 15 minutes into the 75-minute class.

Day 2. An unfortunate focus on the chipped nail polish on my right foot that is hard to avoid in uttanasana.

Day 3. Finally found my breath, but arms & shoulders completely fail me.

Day 4. India-like heat in New Jersey. The yoga studio is a relief and class is over too soon.

After blissfully indulging myself in an afternoon class, walking out in the evening sunlight all I can think about is a Kachumber Kooler from Tabla. Verona resident Chef Floyd Cardoz is, after all, from India. This cocktail is like sipping the color Green. This cocktail is for those that enjoy the heat. This cocktail contains simple syrup!

Recipe via Cocktails for the Home Bar: MixShakeStir [recipes from Danny Meyer's acclaimed NYC restaurants]:

KACHUMBER KOOLER

ice

3 slices English cucumber

one 1 1/2" piece green Calistan chile

[or other slender green chile]

1 sprig fresh cilantro

1 3/4 oz gin

1/2 oz fresh lime juice

1/2 oz simple syrup

Muddle 2 slices of the cucumber, chile piece and cilantro in a cocktail shaker. Add ice to shaker and then the gin, lime juice and simple syrup...shake vigorously. Strain into a highball glass, garnish with the remaining cucumber slice. Makes 1 very green drink.

Until my next breakthrough on the mat, visit Tabla for this special cocktail, the crazy-good little bag of donuts, and the very cool Paul Smith-inspired boxed matches.

88 Degrees of Seaside Separation.

Woke up with a bad case of vacation-brain. Whether it is the foolish 88-degree April day expected in the Northeast or the fact that Parrot Cay goes on sale at 3pm today on Jetsetter, I have officially checked out. In the spirit of the sea, LEE Uncovered is perfect for a morning like this. Running late to the shop, my focus is redirected to this exciting introduction of outdoor seating from LEE Industries for poolside or seaside living. The palette is sun-kissed, shown Marco Oasis stripe, paired with Meridian Aqua and Thomas Paul's Sand Dollar...and a whole lot of Spinnaker Salt. Smell the sea air?

More of semplice's indoor/outdoor collection previously featured here. Trade inquiries welcome.

On that Note. Ear Kandi.

Modern. Minimal. Miraculous.

         Nature's most modern design.  Happy weekend.

Typography. Vintage Bus Route Signs.

You will see lots of typography this year in interiors.  Not new...but still very relevant.  The bold list of destinations on a vintage bus route sign remains a favorite interpretation. A perfect counterpoint to an otherwise neutral interior palette, as beautifully shown in Jacinta Preston's home via design to inspire.  Good news, there are well-priced reproductions to be had...but, we still love going vintage from the UK.  We have even sourced a vintage Newark, NJ bus roll arriving at the shop soon.  

Nothing says Summer like Linen.

semplice has a fresh new look this season that keeps us excited about what we do.  Just out of the box this morning is the gorgeous new direction from Pine Cone Hill.  This lovely bedding in 100% Linen screams summer.  Shown, Treehouse Stripe and Chambray Ink duvet covers, shams and throws.  We are loving the exaggerated scale boudoir pillow at 15x35"...perfect for bed [or a sofa with a seaside view].  Jute also makes an appearance from aviary friend, Thomas Paul.  A great compliment to "Out and In" below.

A daily dose. Out or In.