house guest || vmac and cheese

continuing the new home party with some of my favorite ladies talking new home inspiration, we have victoria from vmac+cheese. i have to say, the day i found victoria's blog, i was absolutely hooked. the girl is down to earth, has an amazing eye, shares absolutely delectable recipes (that i'll definitely be trying when the moving dust settles) and - best of all - she's one of the friendliest bloggers i've ever had the pleasure to correspond with.

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Hi everyone! Victoria from vmac+cheese here, happy to be filling in for Tobe while she attends to all things new-house related. I know Tobe has been looking for a house for quite some time, and I am so thrilled that she's finally found a place to call her own! I can hardly wait to see the transformation over the next few months.

One tradition I can always get behind is the housewarming gifts. And let me be clear -- I mean gifts given to you by friends, or gifts you get for yourself! After all, moving is an excellent excuse to pick up a few fun new home accessories, am I right? Those extra touches are what make a house a home! 

Today, I wanted to share a couple ideas for things that would make great housewarming gifts. When I moved to my apartment a few years ago, I wanted to find a way to "remember" some of the previous places I'd lived. That's when I saw an image of framed vintage flashcards on Pinterest, and it gave me the idea to frame flashcards featuring my previous street addresses and meaningful dates in my life.

This would be a pretty simple DIY gift to give to someone, and would have a lot of meaning! Or, it'd be an excellent project to attempt on your own -- once you're settled in, of course.

If you're not up for a DIY project, there'd be nothing wrong with any of the following housewarming gifts either...whether for a friend or as a little gift to yourself!!

1. Williams Sonoma Monogrammed Highball and Old Fashioned Glasses, $59 | 2. Amaryllis plants, $22.95 | 3. Cheese club subscription from Cowgirl Creamery, $199-$579 | 4. Round Faux Bamboo Brass Tray, $48 | 5. Agate cheese plates, $60-$75 | 6. Murano glass candy striped tumbler, $48 | 7. Bolinas Flatware, $26 each | 8. Italian faux bamboo magazine rack, $125

Happy Housewarming, Tobe!!!

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thanks so much, victoria! love the very personal art inspiration, and i think many of us would happily accept every single one of these gifties!

house guest || la maison boheme

okay, my friends. i told you that you were in for a treat these next couple of weeks....well, i've asked some of my favorite ladies on the intranets to come by and talk new home inspiration (because you know i need some!). today, we're kicking off the guest series of all guest series with sarah from la maison boheme. i'm not sure when i first discovered sarah's lovely home on the web, but i can tell you that i haven't gone too long without my fix ever since.

if you're into bohemian goodness to the nth degree, you will definitely want to pay her a visit!

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Hello all - Sarah here from La Maison Boheme. 

Okay Tobe, I know you've already got a zillion and one design plans for your new abode, but I wanted to offer my two cents.  I'm thinking modern nouveau bohemian, great art, an avalanche of ethnic textiles, Moroccan overtones and statement piece lighting.  Are you down?  Your entry is a mix of vintage art and found objects.  And if someone asks, "Why did you pick this item?" you can say, "Because its awesome." Duh.

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For the living room, I'm thinking lots of cushy bench seating with fabulous pillows and mixed textiles.

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And whatever you do, please consider tossing a lot of this on anything that will stand still.

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...and more pillows for good measure.

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In the kitchen, you guessed it.  

More ethnic prints, some Persian rug action and great lighting.

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The bedroom should be simple but also transport you to some serene exotic location.

I love the idea of a large central bed, hanging textiles and well-placed elegant lighting.

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I love the idea of a dining nook that doubles as a library.

... and another awesome lighting installation.

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And to top it off, the boho bathroom of my dreams.

Except its for you.

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Tobe, thank you so much for having me.  

Best best best of luck with the house.

Call me when you're ready for a housewarming!

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deal, sarah!
thanks so much for this insane display of pure awesomeness.

bet the rest of you feel like visiting her now, eh?

Staff Post by Jennifer Quillan

I am the controller here at Visbeen Associates. One of the many job duties that fall under that umbrella is human resources. Since we have a large number of employers who read our blog, I thought I’d devote my blog to what makes a good employer-employee relationship.

1. Communication. Proper communication is critical to any interpersonal relationship & the employer-employee one is no exception. Do your employees know what’s expected of them? If they have questions or concerns do they know whom they can talk to?

2. Respect. Tina Turner sang about it, we all need it. Respect their personal space & time, respect their opinions, respect that they might have insight that you don’t – that they can see things that you as the boss can’t. Treat all employees with the same amount of respect – whether they are the CFO or the janitor. “If you want to know what a man’s like, take a good look at how he treats his inferiors, not his equals” (Rowling, J.K. Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire. New York: Levine-Scholastic, 2000.Print.)

3. Integrity/trust. This is a biggie. Do you mean what you say? All the rest of the points can be in place, but if your employees doubt your integrity, if they don’t trust you, you’ve got a big problem. If a situation arises, do you give your employees the benefit of the doubt (at least the first time)? Do you trust your employees enough not to micro-manage them? “What you do speaks so loudly that I cannot hear what you say” (Ralph Waldo Emerson)

4. Fairness. Pay them a fair wage. Give them time off (and make sure they take it!). Don’t tell them at 4:30 on a Friday that they’re going to need to work until 8:30. Give them tasks that they enjoy (when possible). Are they expected to answer e-mail or phone calls off hours? If so, are they compensated them for that?

5. Flexibility. Today’s work is much less geographically dependent. Do all of your employees need to work a “typical work week” of M-F, 8-5? Can employees choose to work noon-8? Or from 6 to 2? Work from home? Can they work 30 hours a week instead of 40? With remote access, conference calls & smart phones consider if there is room to offer some flexibility to your employees. This doesn’t work for all jobs obviously – but is generally highly valued by employees.

6. Providing them with the proper tools & support. Have you trained your management staff? Do people have the proper computer software, computer hardware, printers, etc. to complete their tasks effectively?

But really, why do we care? The economy is starting to make a comeback. Shouldn’t employees still just be happy they have a job? Shouldn’t their continued paycheck be enough of a thank-you? Obviously no. In short, the difference in your workforce will be the difference between employees who are engaged & invested with your company versus employees who are merely “phoning it in” and waiting for the weekend. Of course every relationship is a two-way street. Employees need to communicate, respect, have integrity and be flexible as well. But as the employer, you set the tone for the relationship and hold the most power as to how this relationship will play out.

happy monday || closing day!

happy monday, all. big day around these parts.

after a delightful long weekend with family, hubs and i are closing on our new home today.

happy dances all around!

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some pretty awesome peeps have offered to entertain you in my absence. the fun starts tomorrow!

design || leibundseele

 just delicious.

more by leibundseele on their site

Late Autumn 2011 Cosmopolitan Home Magazine

We're very excited to be featured in the Late Autumn 2011 Cosmopolitan Home Magazine! Be sure to pick up your copy to see what we've been up to!

Inside, you'll find articles on each of these:

Duneside

Sunsweet Hill

Here is a link to get a taste:

Autumn 2011 Cosmopolitan Home Magazine

interiors || twisted tradition

you're going to have to excuse the interior-heavy posts for the next few weeks. i'm a bit obsessed, as you can imagine. the loft is slimming down and the boxes are piling up around here. it's bittersweet now that it's all real. i've wanted it so badly for the last few months, and now i'm starting to see what i'll be losing when we make this move (albeit gaining a great deal, too!).

anyhoo . . . i've been stealing away moments to peek through some of my old shelter mags as i pack them up. i'm one of those that tabs my pages when i come across something yummy. are you? it's enlightening to see how my taste has evolved in the last year or so. i have some beautiful spaces marked in the november 2010 elle decor, no doubt. but one that i didn't mark a year ago that i've now reveled in thoroughly is the upstate new york collaboration of architect gil schafer and (longtime fave of mine) miles redd. please observe:

photos by william waldron for elle decor

don't argue with me. that shiz is good. worldly, unexpected, colorful, perfectly layered . . .

what's not to like?

interiors || framed art

as i dream about decorating the new house, i can't help but fall hard for these perfectly imperfect art walls from the gorgeous manhattan home of kate and andy spade. naturally, the home is charming in entirety and warrants a look-see. no question. it's just these walls . . . they're everything a stylish yet at ease home should be, and they have me thinking about all of the bare walls i'll be dressing in the coming months with bright eyes and eager anticipation.

images via from me to you for matchbook magazine

and i can't sign off without telling you guys that i'll be having some company on the blog in the coming weeks. while i may drop in a time or two, eric and i are taking this time to get ready for the big move (less than 2 weeks!!!) and to spend some time with the fam over the holidays.

you will not be disappointed with the peeps that will be stopping in, so be sure to come by next week! ox

Staff Post by Ryan La Haie

As I made my way into work this morning, I quickly realized the warm summer weather has faded fast. Today, the frost on the windshield was heavy and I could see my breath for the first few miles of my drive. As my vehicle and being began to warm up, I quickly realized we are beginning to enter into what I believe is the greatest time of year - “FALL”. The leaves are starting to change and all of nature’s beauty is beginning to shift.

My blog entry is for all the Visbeen blog outdoorsmen out there. This is a season of harvest, a season of outdoor beauty, a season of male comradery, and a time where the “Man Cave” is open! Yes I said it. “Man Cave”. This is the place to showcase our prized possessions and our life’s work, no matter how insignificant the lady of the home feels about these items. Hey, we're proud of this stuff!

Here at Visbeen Associates, we have found many creative ways to handle this eclectic space. What if we could design a space that even the lady of the home could be proud of? Is this possible? We believe it is. So let me show you a few examples of what I think are great Visbeen designed “Man caves”.

perfect package || chocolate heaven

i don't even know if i'd be willing to unwrap these beauties, despite the fact that there's chocolate inside.

henrik konnerup chocolates designed by bessermachen design studio via lovely package

interiors || crushing on a new hue

i'm not sure what's gotten into me lately, but new hues are broadening my appeal. as a wildcat, there's no denying that i bleed purple. however, it's never been a top pick when it comes to my home until very recently. and there's really not a specific shade that i'm sticking to, either. i'm loving everything from lavenders to plums to the bluish variety.

 miles redd via this is glamorous || 2 || 3 || elle decor || 5 || 6 || elle decor || house beautiful || eric cohler

 i mean, if done right, it actually acts as a very beautiful neutral.

what do you think? am i losing it?