An Indoor Garden At Anthropologie, Rockefeller Center
FRIDAY, JULY 31ST 2009
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The Anthropologie at Rockefeller Center had a lovely indoor garden space set up with worn furniture and fixtures, moss and leafy plants. I especially liked the clever use of nails as pegs for the aluminum letters decor. I swooned over that little terrarium container!

Creative Window Displays At Anthropologie
FRIDAY, JULY 31ST 2009
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A refreshing burst of movement and color from the window displays of Anthropologie near Rockefeller Center - made entirely of two by fours and cardboard!

Lunch at Blackbird Parlour, Williamsburg
THURSDAY, JUNE 25TH 2009
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I began my first excursion to the Williamsburg area of Brooklyn with a scrumptious brunch at Blackbird Parlour. I feasted on this massive spinach and mushroom frittata which was accompanied by a side of various types of potatoes - including sweet potatoes, surprise! - that were like tasting the food of the gods. Despite being very, very full, I topped off my meal with a towering piece of coconut cake that was fluffy and creamy and a perfect balance of cake, coconut and frosting.

The interior of the space was full of reclaimed charm. Everything looked noticeably worn, like a handed down piece of family furniture in slight disrepair. It was a sunny day and the dark space was comfortably lit by natural light. The people and the restaurant were hipsterific, a detail for which Williamsburg is known. This bothers a lot of people in NYC, but for me it simply reminds me of being in art school and I enjoyed being in a concentration of people my age.

Walking Fifth Avenue
FRIDAY, JUNE 19TH 2009
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One of my major goals whilst living in NYC is to literally walk most (if not all) of Manhattan, from Battery park to 110th Street. This is a time consuming task, but it has its accomplishments: exercise, discovery and eventually, familiarity. Today I took a train to Union Square/14th Street and began my 72 block walk to 86th Street!

Fifth Avenue is known for its upscale shopping, touting brands like Chanel, Fendi, Gucci, and Tiffany & Co. After it reaches Central Park, 5th Avenue turns into "Museum Mile" with the notable Metropolitan Museum of Art, Solomon R. Guggenheim Museum, and the Cooper-Hewitt, National Design Museum to name a few.

As an interior designer I was thrilled to see all the amazing storefronts and interiors on this street, especially from the upscale stores. The streets became so crowded that I quickly gave up taking photographs - you would not believe how long I patiently stood waiting for a chance to take the person-less photos above! - but I did manage to capture two creative storefronts: Anthropologie and Kate Spade.

Sweet Treats at One Girl Cookies
WEDNESDAY, JUNE 17TH 2009
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One Girl Cookies is a delightful little bakery that specializes in petite cookies with sweet girl names Penelope and Juliette. They make much more than that, though. I brought home a treat box filled with pumpkin whoopie pies, cupcakes and a selection of their petite cookies.

Designed by Made NYC, the bakery has soft aesthetic that blends nostalgic charm with modern details. Powder blue walls, paper banner menus and white country chairs complement large wall graphics. My favorite detail was the converted garage-turned-dining area that had a large family tree mural painted on one side. It was here that I snacked on orange chocolate cake and vanilla rooibos tea. YUM!

Exploring Brooklyn
WEDNESDAY, JUNE 17TH 2009
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After going to the market I took the subway to Borough Hall Station in Brooklyn, armed with a list of design stores. I wandered above and below Atlantic Avenue, stopping at planned destinations and discovering unexpected places.You can make out my path here.

As with stores all over NYC, the best shops were inconspicuous and easy to pass if you did not have a keen eye and took the time to search for them. When we first arrived here I was (foolishly) quick to dismiss storefronts that did not meet my "expectations" - nice signage, inviting displays, etc. - and I know now to give everyone a chance.

Abitare is a home decor store that is modern but with a soft, feminine touch.

I almost passed Sterling Place, and I am so thankful that I did not! It was filled with contemporary and vintage treasures, like the antique bowling set and the artfully crafted decanters.

Acorn has a marvelous collection of children' toys and decor items. The products are beautifully designed and are attractive to both kids and adults - which I think is ideal since they will most likely be strewn about the house, right?

Darr was one of my favorite unexpected shops. It was cluttered with some of the most interesting found objects, and I could equate it to a "grim" retail version of the outdoor Brooklyn Flea Market. Mounted animal heads and apothecary bottles were just some of their stock.

I went to both Greenhouse and Opalia, but I do not have photographs from the former. Opalia is a flower shop that has a nice collection of glass vases and dried botanicals, which I was contemplating for my terrariums.

Dig was packed to the brim with gardening supplies. They had terrariums sporadically placed throughout the shop. I liked their suitcase displays outside showcasing products.

Grdn was clean, modern gardening shop with a small but beautiful collection of housewares and gardening supplies. I bought a nice plant but I've forgotten what it is called.

Flight 001 has a great line of modern and vintage-inspired travel accessories. I bought a few items from them for my trip to Japan, like these luggage tags (the swearing one). Their store looked like the interior cabin of an airplane - loved it!

Blue Ribbon General Store is a great store for gifts and well-designed home accessories, like teapots, recycling bags and soaps. If you cruise the design blogs occasionally you might recognize some of their goods, such as the Stitch Postcard.

Interior Decor Stores, Soho
TUESDAY, JUNE 16TH 2009
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Ochre was full of luxurious goods that I could only dream to afford. I was drawn to the whimsical items; a bell jar housing a robin's nest and photo frames made from repurposed wood siding. I liked that everything in the store - accessories, tables, lighting - was all for sale. I watched a woman purchase one dish place setting for almost $2K and decided it was time to move on.

Aero Studios was much less organized than Ochre, with items stacked on top of each other in a cluttered attempt at presentation. I did not care for most of the products, pausing briefly here and there to admire a wooden bowl or a glass vase perfect for terrariums.

I frequented more stores but failed to take photographs. Most stores are touchy about either the design or the name brand products themselves. I also visited Tokidoki, CB2, Muji, Andrianna Shamaris and Kidrobot.