Design-friendly Dishracks

Our management company has begun slowly installing dishwashers in the units in our building. For a low monthly cost ($10-15), residents no longer have to scrub everything by hand. J and I are contemplating the addition, but it would be difficult to give up one of our few under-counter cabinets. Decisions, decisions!

In the meantime, I'm bearing with our Ikea Kvot rack and admiring the selection I saw on The New York Times today. Designer Richard Joseph picked out some of his favorite "dish drainers." I've included some of his and my own in the roundup below. Which are your favorites? While the Kvot isn't the most stylish, it does fold up neatly beneath the sink. However, extra points go to several of these that have a cutlery holder, which would keep my flatware from streaking so much. Any other good suggestions—or would you forsake it all and go with the dishwasher when given the option?

1. Ikea Flundra, $2.99
2. Norpro's classic Pine Wood Folding Rack, $15.99
3. Geo Dish Drainer at A+R Store, $48
4. Abode New York's High & Dry dishrack by Black + Blum, $59.99
5. simplehuman Steel Frame Dish Rack at Williams Sonoma, $69.95
6. Dish Doctor by Marc Newson at the MoMA Store, $70

Italianspiration: Lagotto Romagnolo

 

As if there weren't enough reasons to love Italy lately, we found another one at Central Park yesterday. His name was Walter, and he's a Lagotto Romagnolo, aka an Italian Water Dog. J and I have been obsessing over various breeds of dogs for the last couple years, just waiting until we finally attain that perfect combination of income, free time and square footage to own one.

Closet Craving: Bold Pink and Red

Ever since I saw Emma Stone at the Friends with Benefits premiere, I have been longing for a pink and red ensemble. Now, it seems like the color combo is popping up everywhere. A long-taboo pairing any day but February 14th, hot pink and red are usually viewed as too similar to go together. I think these women may have proven that rule wrong. They remind me of Popsicles (one of my favorite summer treats!) What do you think?

(Photos by Stephen Lovekin/Getty Images)

Emma's outfit is actually a peplum skirt and top—both by Giambattista Valli. Although the look is exactly what the runway model wore, Emma still manages to make the stunning look her own.

(Rifle) Paper Calendars

I am a sucker for a good, paper calendar. I try to keep appointments in my Blackberry and it just never seems permanent enough for me to remember. My friend Erin and I have had our Kate Spade planners for more than a decade now (I know, embarrassing), and there's always something so exciting about buying the upcoming year's inserts.

But I am also a big fan of Anna Bond's work and am always thrilled when Rifle Paper Co. comes out with new products. (I actually wanted her to design our wedding invitations but she was booked for the summer. C'est la vie.) This morning, I got the email about her 2012 calendars and notepads, and was thrilled to see the beautiful new designs. Her florals manage to be both elegant and whimsical at once. Check the botanical calendar and the rest of the new items here!

On the Wall: State Prints Part 2

Not to be repetitive, but here is another round of state prints I've fancied for a while. The Fifty and Fifty project is curated by Brooklyn-based designer Dan Cassaro, with one designer from each state finding a way to illustrate their motto. The prints have a completely different feel to the birds/flowers—much more graphic. I think the crisp color palette would look great in an office or study. Coral and navy, who'd have thunk? Which do you prefer?

On the Wall: State Prints

Our walls are anything but bare, but I would like to put more artwork up, especially some groupings or large-scale pieces. Today, I found these amazing state prints from Dutch Door Press. (Check out their Etsy shop, too!) I have an admitted love for owls, but I can be an equal-opportunity bird lover. The combination of state bird and state flower with the texture and dimension of letterpress printing makes me pretty happy. And the price is fantastic. I would love to make a set of these, with one from every state Justin or I have lived in. My only disappointment was that they haven't created Oklahoma or Missouri yet...

Closet Craving: Briefcases

(Photo via NYTimes)

I confess, this T Magazine piece gave me a serious case of briefcase envy. In a city of schlepping as much as possible in a shapeless, massive tote bag, these sturdy, well-defined cases would be refreshing. We used to go to the Hartmann outlet every few years and buy an attaché case for my father. I remember the smell of new leather and the feeling that very, very important documents went inside that case—that's why it had a combination lock, right? I rounded up some favorites and these are all super-duper expensive, but it gives me some inspiration to look for one at a thrift store.

My roundup of attaché cases on Polyvore:

Berluti Le Laureat Briefcase, $3,090

Slim Attache with Fan File
Brooks Brothers | Alligator Billfold Briefcase, $6,500 
Saddler's Union Double Gusset Briefcase at Barneys New York, $2,225