Home for the Holidays | Part I

Holiday decorations and I have a bit of a love hate relationship. I absolutely love how they look and the way they make our home feel especially warm and cozy but let's be honest, they are a lot of work! Growing up we were not allowed to decorate for Christmas. My sister and I are Jewish as is our father and my mom is Catholic. My father would not allow my mom to have a stitch of Christmas in the house! We couldn't even put white lights on our house and it wasn't until I was 18 years old that my sister and I put our feet down and insisted that our mom have Christmas tree that I really started decorating for Christmas! 

Fast forward a few years and then some and we now fully decorate our home for Christmas; complete with two Christmas trees, my husband's holiday village from his childhood and other meaningful objects that we've collected along our journey together. It's really important to me that our home feel festive for my husband, our friends and family. For as much work as the decorations require the amount of joy that they bring, especially to my husband, and the memories that we make during the holiday season make it all beyond worth while. 

My goal for this weekend was to at least get our trees up and some of the inside decorations done. The eight foot tree in our living room fits beautifully into our large bay window and the only piece of furniture we have to move is small side table! The eight foot tree in our great room is an entirely different story! More on that later possibly? Needless to say we managed to get both trees up, and lit this morning and in between giving our two Saint Bernards baths and other some other errands I also managed to get some of the more prominent decorations up. 

I've mentioned how important it is to incorporate meaningful objects into any design and one of the things that I love to do is to use objects in ways that perhaps they weren't designed for. For example I have this coaster by Ben's Garden near our front door that I use as a small decorative piece. I have several of these with different sayings on them and change them out throughout the year. 

Last week while I was popping into Whole Foods I came across these adorable petite Rosemary trees. I added some miniature ornaments and a festive bow. Its the perfect size and it smells wonderful, and after the holidays I'll transplant it to our garden and have additional fresh rosemary for cooking. Full disclosure the Rudoplph the Red Nosed Reindeer towel that is placed in our guest bathroom is probably the kitschiest piece of our holiday collection, but it wouldn't be the holidays in our home without him! 

Let's just say there aren't many Hannukkah decorations and I'm not one for clutter so over the years I've found a few special Menorah's. This one is my favorite. I love the symbology of the tree and family and this one is made from iron with a particularly beautiful patina.

 I am hoping that tomorrow I will be able to get the ornaments on our trees and the remaining decorations up! 

Cheers, 

Molly 

The Great Bathtub Debate

To stand or to build, that is the question? In the past several years freestanding bathtubs have made an extraordinary comeback. There are many variations and designs, they range from extraordinary simple to incredibly ornate. The tubs themselves, as well as the plumbing fixtures that accompany them, can be stunning and are often designed to become statement architectural features. While there is no doubt that some of these freestanding tubs are works of art, I don't find them to be very practical.  

First and foremost there is no where to set anything! Part of the allure and stunning aesthetic  of a freestanding bathtub is exactly what the name says, it's freestanding and therefore intended to stand alone, This poses a challenge if part of taking a bath is the experience of taking a bath. For me this includes bubble bath, or bath salts with essential oils, a candle, my book and maybe a glass of champagne!  With only a small lip to most freestanding tubs there is simply nowhere to place anything.

Don't get us wrong, a freestanding tub can be stunning when centered in a large window or even in the middle of a beautiful bathroom but seldomly are the tubs themselves located in close proximity to a towel rack. Nothing is worse than getting out of the warm bath and having to walk more than a step or two to get your towel or tracking water across your floors!  Some people are okay with freestanding towel racks and don't mind having something else out on their bathroom floor. My personal preference is to have towels elevated and away from the floor, it makes cleaning the floors themselves easier and also helps to keep towels clean and fresh. 

Don't get me wrong, I am by no means a fan of the 1980's enormous built-in tub with a deck the size of an aircraft carrier, but I do prefer a built in tub to a freestanding tub, especially if you plan on using your bath tub more than a few times a year.  There are so many beautiful materials that now come in slabs that the built-in tubs bathtubs of today have the ability to be sleek, elegant, and practical. Pictured below is one of our favorite built-in tubs from the former Foster Residence located in Malibu, California. 

In order to be practical freestanding tubs require accessories such as a thoughtful accent table or stool and well placed towel bars. If one realizes the additional requirements from the very beginning of the design process and accounts for said needs then we think a freestanding tub can be a jaw dropping element of a bathroom. However,  if a design is created to look pretty and lacks practicality then to us it's more of a vision than design. As with any good design it's all in the details, so whatever your preference may be there's a thoughtful way to make it as beautiful as it will be functional. 

Cheers, 

Molly

Time to Wine and Dine!

This weekend my husband and I hosted our annual dinner party and wine tasting. It's an evening and affair that we both look forward to and one that came about due to my curiosity! Several years ago a friend of ours spontaneously and very generously opened an expensive bottle of wine when I casually mentioned that I had always wanted to taste that particular wine. My curiosity was sparked! The wine was delicious but it made me think, how did this particular wine compare to other notable high-end wines? Thus our annual dinner party and wine tasting was born.

Selecting and bringing together all of the details for this soireé is nearly as much fun as the evening itself!

This year we selected a simple silver themed invitation and an envelope with a contrasting liner in black and white. Silver and black inadvertently became the colors of the evening.  

Given the time of year I decided to step away from my favorite and go to whites for flowers and went for a vibrant Fall color palette. We have a wonderful local gourmet grocer that always has beautiful flowers. I am horrible with knowing the various types of flowers so aside from the large Dahlias I have no idea what else I selected. 

The top left arrangement is the one I made as the centerpiece for the table. The top right is a smaller arrangement that I made to place in our guest bathroom. The vase is actually a vintage crystal decanter. Below on the left is an arrangement that I placed on an end table in our great room and then I mixed the roses with the delicate yellow sprays to sit on the kitchen counter. You can never have enough flowers! 

Our go to for linens has always been Napa Valley Linens. Diana Cardenas in particular is spectacular to work with! They have a wonderful selection of linens from traditional and simple to fun and fancy. I also love that they will deliver and pick up linens even if its only a small order. This year I selected their "Ember Silver" linen for the table and paired it with "Faux de Soie" napkins in the Tahitian Pearl color. The combination made for an elegant table. Each place was set with a tasting card folded for guests to make notes about the different wines. This year we tasted five wines all were 2013 Cabernet Sauvignon. 

Each place was also set with a place card that sat atop a champagne cork. My husband sliced the top of each cork making it a breeze to secure the place cards. Each year we have wine glasses etched with the year and at the end of the evening we send them home with our guests as a favor to remember the evening.  

Party favors included etched wine glasses and homemade pumpkin spice bread. It's always nice to have a little something to send guests home with. 

It was a lovely evening filled with wonderful friends and great wine and I'm already looking forward to next year! 

Cheers!

Molly 

Pumpkin & Spice

This past weekend my husband and I hosted one of our favorite annual events, our wine dinner. More on that in an upcoming post! Given that it's officially Fall and we've had a few days here and there where it's actually felt like Fall is in the air it's gotten me in the mood for some seasonal treats! When I do cook or bake which isn't too often I like to keep things simple and healthy. I found this recipe for Pumpkin Bread online years ago and it has become my go to. I decided to make mini loaves as part of the favors to give our guests at the end of the evening. 

The recipe was pretty healthy to begin with and uses egg whites and yogurt, however it called for oil which I substituted with apple sauce. I like to add chocolate chips for a little sweet treat. 

The Recipe

Ingredients:

1 cup packed brown sugar

2 large egg whites

1 cup pure pumpkin (not pumpkin pie mix)

1/4 canola oil *substitute with apple sauce

1/3 cup low-fat plain yogurt * I used non-fat vanilla yogurt

1 teaspoon vanilla extract

1 cup all-purpose flour

3/4 cup whole wheat flour

1 1/2 teaspoons baking powder

1 teaspoon ground cinnamon

1/2 teaspoon ground nutmeg

1/2 teaspoon baking soda

* 3/4 cup chocolate chips = sweet treat!

Directions:

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F

Spray metal loaf pan with nonstick spray

Mix brown sugar, egg whites, pumpkin, apple sauce, yogurt and vanilla

Add flour, wheat flour, baking powder, cinnamon, nutmeg, baking soda

Stir until combined

Pour batter into pan and bake 45-50 minutes

Let cool 10 minutes

I wrapped the loaves and tied them with a simple bow and note that said, "A Sweet Ending to a Wonderful Evening!" 

Cheers!

Molly

Happily Ever After | Designed by Love!

“Design and its integration into our daily lives extends far beyond our homes, it’s the style and manner in which we live our lives.”

This weekend my husband and I had the privilege of attending the wedding of some of our dearest friends. We have attended many beautiful weddings over the years but this one is truly one we will never forget!

To begin with, this particular couple is one of the kindest and most thoughtful pairings of two people one could ever hope to meet. Truly beautiful souls both inside and out they are the embodiment of creativity, originality and authenticity of self. Their wedding was an unforgettable evening, designed by love and brought to life by meaningful details. The entire event was a testament to the incredible heart and soul of our dear sweet friends.

Located in the foothills of the Sierra Nevada Mountains, the wedding was hosted by the bride’s family on the estate and farm of the groom’s family. The setting was picturesque, and the love and personal touches could be seen and felt from the moment we entered the property. The groom is a skilled woodworker and created beautiful handmade signs that both greeted and directed guests for the evening.

One of our favorite details was the “family tree.” A towering tree marked by a handmade sign and adorned with family photographs created a stunning work of art and told the story of the couple and their families. A gentle babbling brook ran along the backside of the tree while guests walked past the tree on the path that gently meandered to the ceremony site. 

The ceremony was stunning. True to the style of the bride and groom it was simple, sophisticated, and yet elegant. The bride’s brother officiated the ceremony as they stood beneath an arbor of wood and greenery with the property’s fairytale like lake as the backdrop. It was magical!

Following the ceremony the bride and groom took what are certain to be some beautiful photos while all of the guests enjoyed cocktails and hours devours on a vista overlooking the property.  

Before we knew it we were seated at our tables overlooking the lake at sunset. Each place was set with a beautiful linen napkin sewn by the groom’s mother, delicate china and a small sachet of lavender grown on the farm with a note of thanks from the bride and groom. Not a single detail was overlooked!

In place of a typical guest book, guests were asked to sign and write messages for and to the bride and groom on a beautiful piece of raw wood. Following the wedding the groom will transform it into a bench for their home. I couldn’t think of a more fitting way for our friends to remember their special day!

From the handmade signs, to the “Family Tree,” the homegrown lavender and the personalized bench you can see the creativity, originality and authenticity of self that we spoke to before! All of these unique and special details made for a truly unforgettable and extraordinary event!

At the end of the day it’s how you thoughtfully bring together and curate meaningful objects and personal details that transform any design or event from ordinary into extraordinary. 

Cheers!

Molly

Thank You...On the Go!

Writing thank you notes is probably one of my favorite things to do! I know this sounds silly and ridiculous and it probably is but I love writing thank you notes! A handwritten note is such a kind and thoughtful gesture. Not only is it an opportunity to literally say "thank you," it's also a way to connect on a slightly more personal and intimate level than an email or text message. 

Given the speed of light at which life seems to move I used to find myself wanting to write thank you notes when I was dashing about, or when traveling and so some years ago I put together a little "Thank You On the Go," pack. I actually have two of these, one that I carry in my car and the other that I carry in my flight bag. 

Thank You On the Go | Everything You Need! 

1. One set of generic thank you cards and envelopes. 

2. A few cards and envelopes of your personalized stationary.
*I carry my personal stationary in the car and a combination of my stationary as well as our family stationary in my flight bag. 

3. Stamps, I always try to carry two choices, but let's be real any stamp will do! 

4. Pens. I like to include a calligraphy pen for addressing the envelope. As you can see from the picture above I am NOT a calligrapher by any means but it's always nice to get something with a little extra pretty. 

5. Addresses, or access to them! This may seem trivial and silly given that I'm sure your phone like mine is essentially my entire life, but believe it or not I don't keep every address in my phone. I do however have a complete address list that I can access via Dropbox on my phone and I cannot tell you the number of times I have been grateful for my ability to pull up the zip code I can never remember or the house number that I always want to write backwards! 

6. Business Cards | Sometimes because the context of your interaction may not be typical or the recipient of your note may not have all of your contact information. If and ONLY if it's appropriate it can be thoughtful to include one. 

Toss the above items into a Ziploc bag and away you go! 
 

A few of the places and people I have written thank you notes to on the go...

The DMV | Yes you read that correctly. This is a long story for another blog post but the short version is that after several trips in a single day, a few phone calls between the CA DMV and the London Vehicle Licensing Agency I was incredible grateful for the assistance that one woman provided me. When I handed her the note on what I was hopeful would be our last encounter she nearly cried and told me that no one had ever thanked her like that. She had worked for the DMV for nearly 30 years! 

The Concierge & Hotel Staff | There have been many trips where either the Concierge, House Keeping or a particular staff member have gone out of there way to make our trip memorable or more comfortable. It's always nice to let them know that those details, accommodations, hard work etc, did not go unnoticed. 

Gratitude and kindness are like glitter, sprinkle them ALL AROUND & EVERYWHERE YOU GO!!! 

Cheers, 

Molly

Mani Moment

I've always enjoyed having my nails done...there's something about it that just makes me feel a little more put together, even if the rest of me is a hot mess! I took my Gran for her first pedicure when I was eight and started having my nails professionally done on a regular basis when I was eleven. I know that sounds ridiculous, and it probably was but that's just me! I even used to get made fun of at school for it, but I never let it get to me...I'm an old soul and while it takes some people a lifetime to figure themselves out I think I was born knowing what I like and how I like it. I always say "Take me or leave me, what you see is what you get!" Fast forward to life now and I cannot imagine getting my nails done! I've oddly done a 360. Don't get me wrong I'm all about a good pedicure but when it comes to my manicures, no one does it better than me! 

I've used the same top coat for years now. The trick is to make sure you get your entire nail throughly coated. 

I swear by this top coat! My nails last an average of two weeks and I people always compliment my gel nails. 

I had no idea what color I was going to paint my nails when I decided to do them this evening but  I ended up with this combination. I regularly layer colors or mix them to create a unique look, but this evening I opted for something simple. I wanted something demure but with a little kick so I did two coats of Essie's "Ballet Slippers" and a bit of their "Rock at the Top" as a gradient that moves from the top of my nail to the tip. 

From start to finish this took me about 20 minutes. We are leaving for a trip at the end of this week so I might change it up before then, otherwise my manicures typically last me about two weeks. When I was younger and getting my nails done I used to get gel nails before anyone even knew what they were and those lasted two weeks as well. I often get asked about my nail colors and most people assume that they are gel because of how they look but it's all about the top coat! 

Cheers, 

Molly

EATNSMK | A Smokin' Hot Design

Bond Daws Design is all about design! Our perpetual curiosity, love of details and intrigue about all different types of designs has us always on the lookout. A friend recently stopped by with a custom built BBQ smoker and we have to admit, while we are sure that it turns out some incredible BBQ we were captivated by it's design and details. 

Built by David Mazaika and fashioned out of an old air compressor tank, not a detail has been overlooked. Practicality, function, engineering  and a stunning design are just a few of the elements that have been joined together to create this incredible BBQ smoker. The smoker itself has been raised above the trailer and sits atop the wood box where logs are stored to fuel the smoker.  The wood box can easily be accessed from either the other side of the trailer or from rear of the trailer.

The construction of the smoker is incredible. The symmetry of the wheels and rivets on the smoker doors are what first caught our attention, not to mention the fire engine red color. The thoughtfulness and level of detail invested in this project is amazing. The welding alone that was done to transform this from what it once was to this beautiful and practical design is phenomenal! 

Either side of the trailer has Butcher Block platforms, lit by lights that have been built-in to the overhead frame of the trailer. The Butcher Block on the back side even has a built-in brass cup holder for the beverage of your choice. There's also a beautiful wood door with sturdy hardware that leads to the storage compartment where all the essentials are kept. From rolls of paper towels, to spices, aluminum foil and silverware this rig is fully outfitted with everything you might possible need for one incredible BBQ. There's even a pop up flag pole to display whatever flag might be appropriate for the venue.

We love the rustic look of the wood and heavy duty hardware that have been used to create the primary storage for the smoker. Even the storage compartment is lit with a beautifully fitted flush mount light. The door to the firebox even has a horseshoe from the family's ranch affixed to it. On the side of the storage box is a bottle opener and Coca Cola catch bin to collect the bottle caps. Details, details, details...oh how we love them! 

If the lights, flagpole, dual cooking platforms, multi-level smoker, detailed firebox and custom drink holder weren't enough how about these jaw dropping shiny dual exhaust pipes. It's hard not to just stop and stare. This rig is pretty remarkable, even it's license plate has been customized. You can feel the heart and soul that has been invested in creating this beautiful smoker. It's easy to imagine the stories that will be told and the laughter that will be shared as friends and family gather around. We're so grateful that we had the opportunity to see this beautiful design. 

Putting her to the test, our good friend and local firefighter Shawn Anderson brought the smoker to a BBQ memorial to honor one of his firefighting brothers who was recently and tragically killed. We believe that the best designs are meaningful designs that enhance your life + style and we think this is one fine design! 

Cheers, 

Molly

Live what you love!

My husband sometimes thinks I'm crazy because I love to curate and style everything, but he's realized that it's something I truly love to do! Last week we decided to enjoy a quiet evening at home, the weather was lovely and it was the perfect opportunity to relax together and have a little wine + cheese in the backyard before we began to cook dinner.

I could have easily taken some crackers from the pantry, sliced some cheese and thrown it on a plate and been done, but what's the fun in that! Instead I grabbed a simple white tray and thoughtfully placed some cheeses, a couple of types of crackers and a few other goodies. Given that this was an impromptu decision we didn't even have some of the items I would usually have included when making a charcuterie board. Don't ever worry if you don't have "everything," that's what improvising is all about and chances are you will be the only one that knows or notices! The entire process took only a few minutes more that it would have if I had just tossed everything on a plate and it's the small details like this that create ambiance and make something as simple as enjoying wine together a memorable experience. 

I always try to consider what kind of experience can I create, whether it's for a dinner party, a gala or even just my husband and I in our backyard on a random Tuesday.  My husband works incredibly hard and I really wanted him to truly relax and for us to just unwind and enjoy some time together, so I made the charcuterie board, turned Sonos on with his favorite XM channel, grabbed some flowers I had sitting in our kitchen and my favorite vessel for chilling wine + champagne and headed outside. My husband is ALWAYS in charge of the wine selection in our home so that was his duty for the evening. I arranged everything outside and with wine in hand, my husband turned to me and said, "Sweet Pea, you always make everything so beautiful!" I knew I had succeeded, my husband was able to relax and together we had a wonderful evening.

Cheers,

Molly 

Be a thoughtful guest!

Being a thoughtful guest is always appreciated by your host and let's be honest it's also just downright polite. My mother always told me, "Never to show up empty handed!" Even if it's as casual as dinner with friends in their home never forget to show your appreciation. 

What makes a gift thoughtful?

FLOWERS | A lovely gesture but always be sure they are arranged and in a vase if possible, especially if it's a dinner party or gathering where you know your host will be busy. 

A CANDLE | Candles can be wonderful and yet also slightly tricky. Not everyone enjoys the same scents and some are stronger than others. When selecting a candle it's always a good idea to choose something you know is a subtle scent. 

One thing that's paramount to us at Bond Daws Design is health! Did you know that even candles can put your health at risk? Most well made candles these days are made utilizing safer health practices, but always check to make sure that your candles use a cotton or paper wick, are scented using essential oils and made with 100 percent soy, beeswax, coconut wax or a combination without paraffin.

CHAMPAGNE + WINE | Of course we had to list Champagne first! A nice bottle of wine or champagne is also a thoughtful gift, especially if you know your host enjoys a specific type or brand. Remember that you are brining this as a gift and therefore the bottle should never be chilled, slightly cool from being properly stored if being given from your own collection is just fine! 

At the end of the day it truly is the thought that counts! 

Cheers, 

Molly 

P.S. Don't forget to promptly send a handwritten note of thanks following your lovely time together!