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July 20, 2015

#exploring Bath: The Fig Store

Posted in living, travel / Comments [1]

the fig store | 76 walcot street

I’ve been to Bath twice now: my introduction to the city was a whirlwind day trip showcasing the best of the city, courtesy of my host, Cereal Magazine‘s über-chic travel savant, Editor-in-Chief Rosa Park. Even at our not-enough-time frenetic pace, I could sense Bath’s laid-back vibe and fell in love with the city’s gorgeous Georgian architecture.

Earlier this month, my husband and I returned to Bath to continue the exploration at a more leisurely pace. One place I was eager to get back to was The Fig Store. The home and garden shop opened on Walcot Street in summer 2014 after an initial run on Milson Place as Fig and Pinker. To me, the new location is perfect, as Walcot Street feels like Bath’s art/design district (although truthfully, much of the city feels like an art/design district).

the view from the shop entrance

What made me fall in love with The Fig Store was its uncanny ability to read my mind and stock everything I need/want to bring my dream home to life: this refectory table on the shop’s ground floor showcased utilitarian luxe® goods perfect for entertaining simply with great style.

stoneware

A charcoal-black cabinet was filled with covetable creamy-white stoneware.

a range of plants for sale in the newly-opened garden

New this summer is The Fig Store’s courtyard garden area, elegantly showcasing a range of outdoor furnishings and plants. I rued the fact that we’re renters, as I wanted to scoop up one of everything and start a simple pretty London city garden.

garden at the fig store, bath | simple pretty

a view of the newly-opened garden from inside the shop

The shop is open Monday through Saturday, with the exception of Bank Holidays. If you visit the UK, a trip to Bath (and The Fig Store) should be high on your list. (A glimmer of hope: online shopping seems to be in the works.)

The Fig Store / 76 Walcot Street / Bath

Monday-Saturday, 10:00 – 5:30

+44 (0) 12 2542 8031

all photos by jane potrykus

July 13, 2015

Photo Favorites: July 2015

Posted in photography / Comments [2]

Summer 2015 is racing along. So far, I’ve survived an early-July London heat wave, the Tube strike, and have just returned from an overnight trip to Bath. It’s such an elegant, livable city, and the feel is what I’d like to capture in our next spot. Big enough for options (and cafes); small enough for quiet. Ideas and suggestions are most welcome.

This week, a dear friend is in London on business but she’s set aside a bit of time for a girlfriends’ catch-up. I’m really looking forward to it, as her insights and advice are always just what I need.

While I ponder the future, but try to stay in the present so as to drink in every minute, here are a few of the Instagram pics that have captured my heart this month:

photo at top: bath, england view by jane potrykus

July 6, 2015

Appointed

Posted in design, paper / Comments [2]

The search for Utilitarian Luxe® notebooks and office supplies used to lead straight to Japan and Korea, where, armed with Google Translate, one could hunt down a gorgeous minimalist notebook, but good luck finding your quarry in the US! Designer Suann Song took note of this gap in the market, and taking matters into her own hands, launched Appointed this spring via a wildly-successful Kickstarter campaign.

Appointed is proudly hand-crafted in the USA from high-quality paper stock + materials, using an understated, neutral-but-elegant color palette. Suann assiduously prototyped the line and sent samples around for feedback from aesthetically-minded friends. The result is a gorgeously luxe (yet undeniably practical) collection that debuted to rave reviews. Now that delivery to Kickstarter investors is complete, the Appointed webshop is open and stocked with the introductory range of notebooks, notepads, desk supplies, and gifts. (For the ultimate luxe accent, notebooks can be customized with a foil-stamped monogram for an additional fee.)

My Kickstarter donation netted me some notebooks (7.5″ x 9.5″), workbooks (6.5″ x 8.5″), a ‘to-do list’ notepad, and some sticky notes, but what I am eagerly awaiting is Appointed’s take on the perfect planner. I have a feeling I’m going to need one to keep track of 2016: it’s going to be a busy year.

Appointed is set to launch to wholesalers at NY Now in August.

appointed signature notebook in charcoal | simple pretty

signature notebook | charcoal

appointed workbook in canvas white | simple pretty

workbook in canvas white (+ appointed business card)

‘to do’ pad

appointed adhesive note set | simple pretty

adhesive note set: lined + grid

image at top from appointed.com; all other photos by jane potrykus

July 1, 2015

Resort 2016: No. 6

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look 1

Timing is everything, and so on an exceptionally hot day in London (it’s already uncomfortable at 6am) it was serendipity that the No. 6 resort collection caught my eye. The looks are relaxed, yet polished, and better yet, with the exception of the coat in look 1, all would be perfect to slip into today to beat the heat. I do love that coat, though. See the complete collection at Style.com.

There are some great sale options at the No. 6 website at the moment: I’m smitten with the Jachman crop sweater in ‘acid’. Very SC.

look 13

look 3

no. 6 courtesy photos for style.com

June 29, 2015

Petersham Nurseries School of Garden Inspiration

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catalog cover

A happy discovery at this year’s GROW London Contemporary Garden Fair was Petersham Nurseries‘ newly-launched “School of Garden Inspiration”. The gorgeous class brochure highlights the wide variety of class options that will to appeal to garden aesthetes whether they’re resident or tourist. Courses range from the serious (vegetable garden planning and rose-bush pruning) to the seasonal (container planting and flower arranging) to my favorite, a series of foraging walks in which an hour-long walk led by a Petersham chef/horticulturist concludes with a light meal at the Nurseries. Sign me up.