WARNING: My Restoration Hardware Gel Fuel Lantern Explosion...

A few nights ago while entertaining our friends, I lit one of these Gel Fuel Burners from Restoration hardware outside, fortunately with my head turned away because my husband kept warning me to be careful (a time when his neurotic side saved my life) and it exploded. Glass was thrown everywhere, the ceramic broke in half and it sent flames up the side of our outdoor cedar wall that we had to put out with a fire extingusher and hose. The very next day, a NY TIMES article came out about these and all the injuries they've caused and how many companies are pulling them off the market. 

I spoke with Restoration Hardware, and they told me since I didn't use the fuel they sell, this is why it happened but in no way made excuses and apologized. However, I can't help but be a little traumatized by what happened and if I didn't have a little wine in me, think I would have been a lot more freaked out when it happened. I just wanted to get the warning out there to stay away from these, please! I was VERY VERY lucky, it could have been a lot worse like many of the latest reports you will continually read about as the weather gets better. Please retweet and share on Facebook. 

Chatting LIVE right now on Good Housekeeping's Facebook page

Come visit me now, live on Good Housekeeping's Facebook page where I am answering all your questions about family friendly design and storage solutions that still look fabulous!

Powder Room Sneak Peek...

While the professional shots won't be out for a little while, here's a little peek of the downstairs powder room. Don't you love powder rooms? I always think they should be sexy and fun. Low lighting so that your guests always look great, but enough so that they can reapply their makeup and not look like a clown! 

I still need to cut the stem of the light fixture and raise it a little, but as you can see, the bathroom is done. The wallpaper is hard to see but it's AMAZING. It's Philip Jeffries Java Cork and WOW is it fabulous in the space.

 

I absolutely adore wallpapers, you'll see them everywhere in my work. They make such an amazing impact. I always get the "WOW factor". Keeping checking in because I am going to be doing a lot more on wallpapers. 

Acrylic Outdoor Wine Glasses and A Couples Cooking Dinner Party

On Friday night, my husband is going to endure his very first cooking class, at our home with good friends. I was browsing GiltCity and bought a session with Brooke Parkhurst and James Briscione of "Just Married and Cooking" and thought this would be the perfect opportunity to learn some new things, have fun with friends and hopefully it teaches my husband something other than pizza bagels and tuna melts! I also was very happy because I could finally use our outdoor space, but since the flooring is stone, I wanted to look in to some inexpensive glasses and dishware. 

So... I spent WAY too much time looking for the best looking acrylic wine glasses for their price and came across these great acrylic glasses by Rondo. I also picked up some of the iced tea glasses which are great for water and you don't have to refill them too often during the meal. Not the cheapest I found, but definitely the best looking and hopefully they last. Wish us luck for Friday night and I will dish about the experience after. 

 

Fabulous Water Coolers? Possible?

I have this in our house and most people have to stop and say, "What is that?"  
It's the very cool and fashionable  wood water cooler by Aquaverve. It takes all types of water bottles from your favorite manufacturers, you can do hot water or room temp with cold and best of all...it blends and works in many different style interiors. No more hiding your water cooler in the garage! 

Doryn Dishing Live on Good Housekeeping's FACEBOOK page, Friday June 10th

Don't forget to join me for a Facebook discussion on Good Houskeeping's Facebook page this Friday the 10th from 12 - 5pm. 

“How do you overcome storage situations in your home while keeping it stylish and family friendly?”

 

MIA! Real Estate, Apps & What's Going On!

Hi Guys,

Sorry I haven't written in a while, things have been CHAOTIC to say the least. Between finishing up our home, FINALLY, my kids sick non-stop and a small surgical procedure my son had, and now to the end of school and start of summer, its been chaotic to say the least. I

Just a few things I wanted to mention:

1) Please check out the app FOODSPOTTING if you're a foody like me. GREAT for finding something your craving whereever you're standing as well as reviews. A little blurb: 

I wanted to be sure that you (and your readers!) were aware of Foodspotting, an app that is a must-have for any parent. Foodspotting was created with a simple premise: to make finding good food easier.  No matter where you are in the world, you can find a dish you are craving at a nearby restaurant (photo included!).

Imagine you are traveling with a hungry, grouchy toddler—who only eats macaroni and cheese…enter Foodspotting to save the day! This clever app will find all the mac n’cheeses available at restaurants nearby. You can search by diet specific dishes (like gluten free) or, if you are at a new restaurant, you can quickly search to find reviews of the best dishes there.

2) Also, I promised my friend Brian Sullivan that I would link to his new listing on Nantucket which looks fabulous! Looking forward to our month in Nantucket this summer, my favorite place on earth:

http://www.nantucketrealestateagent.com/nantucket-listings-for-sale/hedgebury-lane-nantucket/

3) Lastly, I will be responding live on Good Housekeeping's Facebook page starting at 12pm on Friday June 10th. I will be responding until 5 so get in on the conversation! 

http://www.facebook.com/GOODHOUSEKEEPING

Keep checking in and make sure you're on my Facebook page and my twitter page for even more updates. 

 

My Custom EcoSmart Fireplace Revealed...

Here is an image and a short video of our custom EcoSmart fireplace, live in action! The work on the whole house is basically complete!! Now just to hang art, accessorize and put out some pictures. HOORAY! :) In case you missed the transformation of the fireplace, you can find it in "Doryn's Photos" on the site. 

 

 

 

My Picture Wall...

When I was a kid, the beautiful and ornate staircase in our foyer was adjacent to a wall that was handcarved for weeks by painters to look like venetian stone. I can still remember the painter who almost cut his finger tip off doing it. Along that wall was a large, somewhat scary (to my mom, GOWGEOUS) french tapestry. Click to see the picture in this old post!

I would go to friends houses and be so jealous of their school pictures and baby pictures that would adorn their staircase walls. I knew that one day, I would not have a scary tapestry but a beautiful display of family pictures that make me smile every time I go up the stairs. This week I finally completed that dream. With A LOT of help from a very wonderful art consultant named Kathy Root and installer Philip, the wall became a reality. I love how it makes me smile every time I walk up the stairs and reminds me of so many wonderful times. It especially does the trick when you're upset with your husband, frustrated with the kids and you need to be reminded of all the fun times and why you did THAT in the first place ;)

Here is a sneak peak, but when the house is professionally photographed, you will get a better feel for how it looks in the space. 

 

Also, a friend send me a link to this terrific website for a do it yourself picture wall. LOVE this!! 

 

Bravo Traditional Home and Lonny Mag - Another Amazing Online Magazine

I am LOVING all the new online magazines. It gets me very excited when I can click on something and it takes me right to the source. Have I ever mentioned the files beyond files of magazine clippings of things I want to purchase and have never gotten too? Now I can take my addictive internet shopping personality and buy them right away.

I adore what Lonny Magazine and Traditional Home have done with the newest addition to the group, TRADhome. This brings you traditional design, but gives it a younger and fresh twist. Very well done! 

Congratulations!