A little this 'n that and catching up

I spent this morning editing our latest Skirted Roundtable chat (we had a guest host this week!) - it takes 2-3 hours to edit and upload each podcast! It's a lot of fun, but I sometimes get behind on other things... I'm sure all bloggers can understand that!!Anyway, I had some errands to run and on my list was to stop by a couple of favorite second hand stores, Homegoods, maybe the Salvation Army store to see if I could find some kind of attractive storage chest with drawers that I can use in my kitchen. It's crazy, but I only have two useless little drawers in my kitchen! I have no decent place to store batteries, stamps, cough drops, extra business cards. You know, the usual detritus of living... So, I end up with stuff in open containers and it's just getting to me! It feels so cluttered. My quest for the perfect storage solution (something in wood, interesting looking or refinishable, could sit on top of my antique commode, has drawers and good storage AND isn't too heavy so it can be moved) fell short. However, at Elite Repeat in Hanover, MA, I found a couple of really unique pieces!

First, how adorable is this little antique writing desk with faux painted piano keys! It's a little rough looking, but for a musician, it would make a pretty sweet statement piece - especially for the current price of $180.00. I wish I had a place for it, and an extra $180 floating around the bottom of my purse!

Another fun piece is this "vrai bois" bench. Again, no place to put it, but it would look great in a mud room with some cute cushions!

Over at Divine Caroline, I have two new articles: Turn Your Bathroom into a Spa and Smart Design to Accommodate Aging in Place. I'm taking suggestions, so head over over, check out the articles and click the link to send in YOUR bathroom or kitchen design question!

A couple of weeks ago, I was invited to an event at Gerrity Stone , one of New England’s premiere interior and exterior custom stonework specialists, where they unveiled their Platinum Collection – a distinctive and stunning line of one-of-kind stones handpicked from quarries around the world. How gorgeous is the stone in the above photo? It's like a fine work of art - not your average granite countertop! If you're looking for something special - in a kitchen or bath project - you might want to check out Gerrity Stone!

Barbra Streisand's book A PASSION FOR DESIGN, has been bought by Viking Press. Says their release "The book will focus on the architecture and building of her newest home, the dream house and refuge Ms. Streisand says she has longed for since the days when she shared a small Brooklyn apartment with her mother, brother and grandparents. A Passion for Design will be the culmination and reflection of Barbra's love of American architecture from 1790-1904. It will contain many of her own photographs of rooms she has decorated, furniture and art she has collected, and flowers and vegetables she grows in her glorious gardens." The book is slated for a 2010 pub date. So, question, are we interested in famous people's design work? Do we think Barbra did the design herself or with a team of decorators... Will it be "like buttah"?