New Exhibit: "The Enduring Designs of Josef Frank"

Is there a better way to start a week than with classic, colorful Swedish design? Definitely not.

As I wrote about Friday, the American Swedish Historical Museum in Philadelphia opened its new exhibition "The Enduring Designs of Josef Frank" last night. The museum kindly invited me to experience the Frank retrospective and I knew I had to share the details with you all.

Shopping for Art at Student Sales/Exhibitions

Have any of you seen the documentary Herb and Dorothy, readers? This film tells the fascinating story of a couple (Herb and Dorothy Vogel) with modest means as a postal worker and a librarian who amass a world-class collection of modern art. My take-away from that documentary was this: anyone, with any salary, can become an art collector if the passion and interest is there.

Today, I thought it would be fun to talk about one strategy for purchasing unique and still-affordable art: by shopping at art school student exhibitions and sales.

Meet the Artist: An Interview with Aubrey Levinthal

In early March, on a circuitous sort of etsy search, I found the artwork of Aubrey Levinthal. Her use of shadow and light really intrigued me, as did her choice of everyday subjects. I lingered awhile over each piece she had for sale. It didn't take long for me to notice that she was from Philadelphia and, like that, I knew I wanted to feature Aubrey here on this blog.

Aubrey, her artwork, and her home recently appeared on Design*Sponge, so I'm sure people are clamoring for a piece of this young artist's creative vision. I had a moment to chat with Aubrey and today, I'm happy to share that interview where we discuss inspiration, favorite artists and the City of Brotherly Love. You'll also see a number of Aubrey's pieces throughout this post which will give you a clear sense of her unmistakable talent.

Best Places in Philly to Shop for the Home (Part II)

(map of Philadelphia by Grace Lee for Anthology Mag)

Today in Part II of my round-up of the best places in Philadelphia for home décor, I’ll share my recommendations for estate sales, antique shops and fabric stores. I hope it helps readers now and in the future to find good, reasonably-priced pieces for their home, which isn't always easy.

Some may question why I’m sharing resources—as if they were family secrets or bank account PINs—but I firmly believe that sharing is caring. These two posts are sort of like the blogging version of ‘take a penny, leave a penny’. Here are my pennies. Feel free to contribute your own in the comments below and we'll all be a little wealthier for it.

While I focused on secondhand/antique goods primarily in this 2-part series, there are a million and one additional home décor stores and shops in the Greater Philadelphia. I encourage anyone reading to explore the area and support local businesses, small and large!

Best Places in Philly to Shop for the Home (Part I)

(map of Philadelphia by Grace Lee for Anthology Mag)

Back in March I posted about the topic of comments and, not surprisingly, you my dear readers responded with support and some inspiration for new topics/info you’d like to see here on Meet Me in Philadelphia. One repeat request that appeared in those comments –my recommendations for the best places to find deals on home items here in the Greater Philadelphia area, so this is for you, Leah, Megan and Tara and anyone else!

I've toyed with sharing these tips in the past but your requests really pushed me into action!

And while these tips may seem very specific to those in the area, I hope this will help readers from all over explore their area for similar, local shopping options. Today in Part I, we’ll chat auctions, thrift stores and flea markets while tomorrow (Part II) is all about estate sales, antique shops and fabric stores.

We Bought a House!

We bought a house, everyone! 

Despite rattling on about "starting our house search" for what seems like years, Adam and I made an appointment to visit a house in the nearby suburbs just before Christmas. We walked in and fell in love. Like, head-over-heels, stars-in-the-eyes in love. We put in an offer and had it accepted just before New Year's Eve and had our inspection yesterday. Oh, and we are closing at the end of the month. What a whirlwind!

A Home Fit For a Philadelphia Princess

Philadelphia is filled corner to corner with landmarks and, just recently, another was marked at this gracious home in the East Falls neighborhood of the city. Aside from its beautiful architecture, this home at 3901 Henry Avenue is better known for its connection to royalty as the childhood home of Grace Kelly, Princess of Monaco.

A Pumpkin-filled Weekend

My husband Adam and I had a very productive weekend, which included everything from shelf building to socializing to pumpkin picking. On Saturday afternoon, we headed out of the city to Linvilla Orchards in a nearby suburb to enjoy a little bit of autumn and a lot of fall produce.

Trip to Terrain

On Saturday, the weather was temperate and clear. I was dying to get out of the city for a little natural inspiration, and where better to find some environmental ingenuity than at Terrain, which is about 30 minutes outside of Philadelphia in Glen Mills, Pennsylvania.

If you haven't yet heard of Terrain, it is a beautifully operated garden center/store/restaurant/event space that is owned by Urban Outfitters Inc., which also owns Anthropologie, and you can see a similar attention to detail throughout the store. The use of wooden pallets and a rusty mailbox are all intentional styling choices that add up to a rustic and highly-inventive spot for plant- and idea-gathering.

I'd been to Terrain several times before, but this was the first time I really stopped to admire the clever ways plants were paired and presented. I have to note that, someday, I hope to have a patio where large-scale ferns can grow and provide shade.

 These red wire garden chairs and companion bench were such an irreverent pop against all of the green.

 After perusing the plantings outside of the main store, we headed in to see the beautifully styled vignettes that invite shoppers to stop and consider each and every item (and, hopefully purchase them!).

 A large room known as "the conservatory" sits at the very center of the Terrain shop, which was decorated with punched metal lanterns and draped linen panels.

 Can't you just imagine dining al fresco in a spot just like this?

 Terrariums were featured all over the store.
I loved this collection, which was set up as you walk into the main shop.

 Aside from being a fabulous place to get ideas for interior and exterior plantings, Terrain stocks a host of plants that I'd never seen before. For example, these tiny plants resembled a creeper that would grow lush and soft between flagstone pavers. Their blooms were soft bulbs of color.
Anyone know what these plants are called?

 This bromeliad caught my attention with its technicolor appearance.

 And my heart went all a-flutter when I saw several pots of mountain laurel, the state flower of Connecticut and a plant that grows in abundance in my home town.

Are you curious what I walked away with?

I bought a fern and a Carriere Freres Industrie 'lily of the valley' candle, which I wish I could share with you because its scent is heavenly.

If this post wasn't convincing enough, let me explicitly state that I think a day spent at Terrain is not a misspent day. I walked away inspired and wanting to have my own garden sooner than later.

Hotel Monaco Philadelphia at Independence Mall

Philadelphia is a real tourist town and my neighborhood in particular, just a few short blocks from Independence Hall, the Liberty Bell and The National Constitution Center, is a prime place to stay. However, until very recently, there weren't too many accommodations within walking distance with a unique and fun take on hotel stays, until now.

A new hotel, called the Hotel Monaco Philadelphia, is being completed by the Kimpton Hotel Group and when I saw some preview shots of their rooms, I knew I had to share them.

(all via Hotel Monaco Philadelphia)

The Hotel Monaco Philadelphia is slated to open on November 1st and I hope that these sneak peak shots will have you anxiously planning your next trip to Philly. The brave and bold designs in this sneak peak suggest that the Hotel Monaco Philadelphia will a great spot for both tourists and design enthusiasts.

Have I intrigued you to finally visit Philly?

It's such a unique city, filled with fabulous restaurants, incomparable historical significance, obsessive sports fans and, now, one more spectacular-looking place to stay. 

TGIF, 4/20/12 Edition

Welcome to the weekend, all!

This week has been unseasonably warm in Philadelphia, almost like a brief taste of early summer, and Adam and I decided to treat ourselves to a quintessentially summer meal: burgers and shakes at a car-hop.

We drove over the bridge to New Jersey and stopped in to Weber's Drive-in.

It was a delightful trip back in time, and was the perfect way to celebrate the warm weather.

(all images via Meet Me in Philadelphia)

Wishing you all summer temps, milkshakes, and fries this weekend!

'Til Monday, friends.

Snapshots of Society Hill, Part II

Because I couldn't narrow down the images of my beautiful Philadelphia neighborhood, Society Hill, into one post, I'm offering you a second visual tour of my 'hood. Hope you enjoy the scenery!

(all images via Meet Me in Philadelphia)

And, if you haven't ever been to Philadelphia, or haven't been in awhile, why not take a trip and visit us?

I love my adopted hometown, and I hope it shows.

Snapshots of Society Hill, Part I

Despite its name, I admit that I don't do a good job at reflecting my adopted hometown of Philadelphia on this blog. It's especially shameful because I happen to live in one of the prettiest and most historic neighborhoods, called Society Hill, in the City of Brotherly Love so today and tomorrow you'll be treated to a visual tour of the area.

Society Hill abuts Independence Hall and the site of the Liberty Bell, so our streets are always filled with tourists on foot and in horse-drawn carriages. Many nearby houses predate the formation of the country and are in Federal or Georgian style. Hallmarks of those architectural styles, including shutters, ornate iron railings, and stacked marble front steps, abound here.


There is such a sense of timeless beauty in the historic homes I'm lucky enough to live near.

(all images via Meet Me in Philadelphia)

Isn't Society Hill just amazing?
Stop by again tomorrow to see more bits of this wonderfully historical neighbor that I call home.

Look for Me in Today's Philadelphia Inquirer!

 I woke up this morning with a squeal because...drumroll, please...I'm featured in today's Home & Design section of the Philadelphia Inquirer discussing the topic of Ikea hacks!

(via Philly.com)

This is so cool! I'm giddy, I really am (even if I do look awkward staring at myself in the mirror...).

Naomi Stein, my lovely design-fiend friend and blogger at Design Manifest, was also interviewed for the article, so be sure to pick up a copy (if you're local) or read the entire article here.

TGIF, 3/23/12 Edition

Is it Friday already? I can't believe how quickly the week has gone.

After having a great lunch for Naomi's birthday on Tuesday (where I met the fabulous Elizabeth of Peacock Feathers, photographer Courtney Apple, and Caitlin of Caitlin Wilson Design), the week escaped me!

Blame it on the weather.

Anyhow, thank you for your wonderful comments on my kitchen cabinet project!
Speaking of the kitchen, I snapped these photos of this new-to-me green apple cookie jar/soup tureen (bought in CT) and a simple bud vase of flowers.

Lots of green in the kitchen made me "think spring", 

so how about some photos of the flowers blooming in my neighborhood?

Aren't these potted plants lovely?

Along with abundant flowers everywhere, it seems like children are out and about enjoying the early-summer temperatures. This shot was too adorable not to share:

(all via Meet Me in Philadelphia)

We live near a preschool, and I love seeing a dozen tricycles parked haphazardly awaiting their next rider. 

 Happy first-weekend-of-spring, readers!

Enjoy the sunshine and springtime flora.