10 GREAT STORAGE AND MEDIA CONSOLES

My personal console from Design Within Reach. Details below.

I love me a good storage console. They make a big design impact in any room and help to keep things tidy and organized by providing extra storage for media, books, etc. Here are some beautiful options, currently on the market.

New York Sideboard from HD Buttercup 

Hermosa Sideboard from Empiric Studio 

Mitchell Gold + Bob Williams Allure Media Console

Tracey Boyd Sura Media Console via Anthropologie 

Design Within Reach Line Credenza 

Ralph Lauren Home Downtown Modern Cabinet

La Salle Metal Wrapped Console from Restoration Hardware

Blu Dot Dang 2 Door/2 Drawer Console

Lexington Home Criss Cross Console via One Kings Lane

Mr. Brown London Claudio Cabinet

Happy Storage!! xx

MIXOLOGY 101 WITH PHARMACIE + 5 FABULOUS COCKTAIL SHAKERS

Recently, I had the privilege of taking a mixology workshop with Pharmacie founder, Talmadge Lowe. Starting out as an underground speakeasy, Pharmacie is now the go-to party "cocktail caterer," if you will. If you want to have the hottest, and classiest, party in town, you call Talmagdge and his crew to create the most delicious and inventive, craft cocktails, using the freshest of ingredients, to wow even your most discerning party guest. When I discovered that Pharmacie and The Unique Space had teamed up to deliver this workshop, I jumped right in. I have always fancied myself a "natural-born mixologist" but I have to admit I never really went beyond the "vodka cocktail/white rum mojitos comfort zone." And though my friends have given me much praise and elect me the cocktail creator for our dinner parties, I knew I could reach for higher heights and do better! My two hours with Talmadge got me there. I'm no longer afraid of scotch! I can make my husband a whiskey cocktail anytime! Tequila and I are now BFFs! I am more ready to party than ever! Here's a peek into what the class had to offer.

The Unique Space, all set up for class. 

Long tables set with bar tools and fresh fruit and herbs for muddling.

Each student was given their own bar set and Pharmacie simple syrup to use during the class and to take home.

The array of spirits we were able to experiment with during the class.

My favorite part: Freshly made citrus juices and simple syrups ranging from pineapple to cilantro.

A couple of our delicious finished products using scotch and whiskey, respectively. 

Now that you are amped to get mixing, here are my Top 5 Cocktail Shaker Picks to make your drink-making even more enjoyable.

The Harrison Cocktail Shaker from Pottery Barn is a beautiful classic, with monogramming available.

This gorgeous 24K Gold-Plated Shaker from Dwell will add tons of glamour and luxury to your cocktail crafting.

Probably the coolest, most Batman-esque cocktail shaker I've seen - The Black Nuance from Williams-Sonoma.

This stunning piece by Tom Dixon, via ABC Carpet & Home, takes bartending to a whole new, breathtaking level. 

The sleekest of the sleek, Shelton Cocktail Shaker, via Bloomingdales, was created by design icon Arne Jacobsen in 1969 and is made in Denmark.

HAPPY MIXING!

YEAR IN REVIEW 2014: MILA'S 2ND BIRTHDAY PARTY

If you ask me, there's no such thing as too much pink.  So I spent five months working on (obsessing over) Mila's 2nd birthday party.  There are so many incredible DIY/crafters out there (Oh Happy Day, Studio DIY, The House that Lars Built) to draw inspiration from.  So much incredible eye candy.  These women are so brilliant.  I swoon over the clever creations and pray that one day I will be able to think of something as brilliant.  Blood, sweat and tears (near nervous breakdown) made the party come together but we pulled it off!  So here it is -- hope you enjoy it!

Peonies and Mila's piñata letters.  DIY tutorial Oh Happy Day.

Three of the seven tables.  Big fringe garland backdrop.

Foraged kumquats from Hasblady's yard served as the place settings.

Gluten-free donuts from Fonuts.  Yum!

Crudite from Heirloom.

I had to pinch myself when 100LayerCakelet ran it, again when it got over 4k pins on Pinterest and then again when 100LayerCakelet chose it as one of their top parties for 2014! 

Photos: Jenna Elliott, One Eleven Photography
Food (farm to table, gluten free): Heirloom LA
Donuts (gluten free): Fonuts
Cups and Straws: Toot Sweet by Meri Meri
Balloons: Shop Sweet Lulu
Crowns: Shop Sweet Lulu | Customized with Paper Source ribbon
Gold Twine (on cutlery): Paper Source
Berry Basket (holding cutlery): Garnish
Serving Trays: Wasserstrom
Plates and Cutlery: Eco Gecko
Drink Dispensers: Pottery Barn
DIY TUTORIALS:
Piñata Letters: Oh Happy Day
Piñata Favors: Oh Happy Day
Big Fringe Garlands: Oh Happy Day
Concierge Stand: Studio DIY
Heart Arrow/Skewer: Bliss at Home