I love print and online publications all about design (of course). And while I like reading about everything having to do with the home and home décor, one of my favorite features is when a designer or trend setter is asked what their favorite or must-have items are in their home.
I love seeing what architects, interior designers and other designers and artists think are the most fun trends to incorporate into homes, but I also love reading about those items they surround themselves with that they can’t live without. The list usually comprises items found around the interviewee's home, but also functional items that aren’t necessarily decorative (and definitely do their part in shaping the personality of a space). The lists are usually a snapshot of someone's personality and style and represent the things that one surrounds oneself to feel at home. Sometimes it’s certain books, an item from a trip from vacation and sometimes it’s even their preference of writing utensil. It made me think about what my own top ten list would be.
Definitely a few books would be on my list, a favorite painting by a local artist, certainly a Sharpie (extra fine tip only, please), my favorite quilt that adorns my bed, a neat sign I found on a trip…
If you were interviewed for a magazine and asked to give your top 10 home and personal items you can’t live without, what would they be? And most importantly, are all the items on your list currently in your home? If not, why?
Images: Adrienne Breaux, first photo of an issue of Austin Monthly Home
Things Fall Apart: Living Alone in a Space After a Breakup
TVG LA's Massive Creative Hub
Good Food to Share 
The Big Book of Small, Cool Spaces 
Apartment Therapy Presents 
The Eight-Step Home Cure 
Commercial Flour Sa...
10 Picnic-Ready Salads to Eat Outside
Recipe: Thai Ginger Chicken Stir-Fry
Ooo! I love these articles, too! They're so inspiring. I can't wait to see what everyone else's top 10 are! Mine would probably be: 1- my black enamel empire style credenza, 2- the red enamel empire style desk 3- a set of Louis Ghost chairs (I have only one- having a full set of 8 way out of the budget) 4- my grandmother's amazing quilt squares 5- my favorite painting 6- textiles collected from all over 7- white dishes 8- the Eva Ziesel coffee table (DEFINITELY can't afford that!) 9- my coffee table books 10- dog toys; my dog has squeaky toys scattered everywhere, I think they're adorable!
I'd have to say my top ten things would be 1-eggs from my chickens (it's nice to know I never have to go out and buy any when my baking urges strike), 2-a painting of the farm I grew up on that my grandmother painted, 3-a huge farmhouse dining table made from the old floor joists in our house (that my husband is planning to make when we finish renovating), 4-lots of collected artwork from local artists (I add to this collection often), 5-a mis-matched collection of dishes to serve company with (I add to this often too), 6-a sleek, vinyl-type couch (I'm hoping to find a vintage piece on Craigslist), 7-a perfect desk for writing lots of genius works (also something I'm hoping to find on Craigslist or at an auction), 8-lots of family photos, 9-a quilt made from my grandfather's work-clothes (yet to be made), and 10-a perfectly organized and stocked kitchen (yet to be had, but I see it clearly in my head). I'm excited to see what other people write as well. It's fun to see what people find important.
My husband, my kids, and my grandkids, not necessarily in that order.
where are those polka dot towels (item #5) in the above photo from? I NEED those towels.
Let's see, my 1890's era writing desk (I never use it but I bought it when I was 16 and I adore it), my orchids (so that's 2,3 and 4), my 6" chef's knife, cast iron griddle, the green blanket my mom crochetted for me, Ursula K. LeGuin's Changing Planes, a copy of Spirited Away and my laptop.
Before I put the list together I thought I would have chosen different things. These things, though, are things I touch or think about nearly every day. The book and the movie are my "desert island" things and they mean a lot to me. The orchids are my favorite accomplishment in my home and green, growing things make a house feel homey. The desk still embodies the kind of effortless style I hope to one day actually have.
1. Matteo linen bedding
2. French press
3. Laquer trays in bright colors
4. Glass apothecary jars
5. le creuset kettle
6. Drawer organizers (all things container store)
7. Missoni pillows
8. BOOKS!! especially the Penguin classics collection I have started recently
http://www.penguin.co.uk/static/cs/uk/0/pubsetpages/clothboundclassics/index.html
9. Vintage french cafe table & chairs
10. Big and beautiful red wine glasses (and plenty of wine with which to fill them)
1. Prismacolor Markers & Pencils - Specifically French Grey 20%
2. Eames Rosewood Lounge
3. Anything by Philippe Starck
4. Turquoise Jewelry
5. Classic British Cars
6. Haagen Dazs Ice-Cream in Chocolate or Coffee
7. T-Shirts in Grey, Charcoal, & Navy
8. My two Corgis Danny & Starck (Did I mention I love Philippe Starck!)
9. Labeled Baskets & Boxes for Organizing
10. Antique & Thrift Stores
These are in no particular order but I feel they are what describe me the best.
My list, and whether I have these things currently...
1. A garage or basement to hide away all the clutter. (Nope)
2. A huge, comfortable yet sleek sofa from Room Service in LA. (Used to, now doesn't fit)
3. A real kitchen garden (No, only containers on the balcony)
4. Loads of white lacquer (Yes)
5. A dining table that will comfortably sit at least 12. (Nope, only 6)
6. A big walk-in closet and vanity in my bedroom. (Yes, and I'm forever grateful)
7. Access to a ski slope. (A girl can dream)
8. A big chef's kitchen. (Nope, though our galley is surprisingly functional)
9. A craft and workshop area for DIY projects. (Nope)
10. Enough dishes, flatware and stemware to serve several courses for 8 without having to wash anything. (YES! And best series of investments ever.)
-A ton of mirrors
-Black water glasses
-Fresh cut flowers
-My Picasso Head of a Woman print. My friend gave it to me when she sold everything in her life and moved to Thailand.
-The employees must wash hands poster I stole from a bar on a scavenger hunt that now hangs by my bathroom sink.
-A clean litterbox (and the accompanying cats)
-The furniture I built myself
-A bedskirt to hide everything I shove under my bed when company comes over.
-My laptop because it replaced an big clunky desktop with a CRT monitor that ruined the look of any room it was in.
-The MINI that used to adorn my driveway until someone stole it. So I am learning to live without it. One day at a time.....
1. Linen (anywhere and everywhere)
2. Distressed hardwood floors
3. Plaster walls
4. Terra Cotta tile
5. Beautiful textiles (rugs, pillows, bedding)
6. All Clad cookware
7. Books
8. Slipcovers
9. Down pillows and cushions
10. Artwork and photographs
1. Photo of my Dad and brother that was taken Diane Arbus-style by my mother
2. Painting of my dog by artist Gwen Winston
3. Philips Emotive sound system that looks VERY '60's that was a gift from my brother.
4. Pure white pumpkins I found in the Greenmarket this past weekend.
5. A tiny ornate glass vessel for gathering tears that a friend brought back from Morocco
6. Jacqueline Kennedy's autograph
7. My magic 8 Ball
8. The sounds I hear as a result of living on the Hudson River.
9. A tea cup I won in an auction at Castle Howard.
10. My Bella Wood birdseye maple floors. Gorgeous!
1. A pastel painting of my first two (and since passed) cats by Anne Robinson that I commisioned with my first tax refund from my first job out of college.
2. An antique casegood or chair with ornate carvings and/or curvilinear shape. My great-grandmother's 19th C. gooseneck wingback armchair has been reupholstered several times.
3. Two dozen massive globe-shaped wine glasses (because I'm down to 4 after breaking so many.... broken glasses = life well lived)
4. A high-quality mattress, like a beautyrest. Good sleep makes such a difference in my life.
5. A pair of tear-drop shaped crystal lamps (they work with anything, anywhere)
6. Persian rugs. I have several. You can find used rugs in excellent condition on www.eCarpetgallery.com and on www.eBay.com. I love the way the work with minimalist furnishings, antiques, southwestern style, asian style, etc. They can go on walls or floors. And they don't have to match. They also work well layed on low-pile berber carpet.
8. Dimmer switches. All over-head lighting and table or floor lamps should have them. You don't have to re-wire your lamps -- just use an extension cord with a built in dimmer switch.
9. White dinnerware.
10. Humor. Something unexpected that makes you and your guests smile. My ex mother-in-law framed a Manneken Pis print over her guest toilet. A friend of mine has a taxidermied jackelope. I used to have a mini-corkboard pinned with feline cartoons and newspaper articles hung on the wall... above the cat-food bowls for their reading pleasure.
Interesting! Aside from the people and pets, all my must-haves are mostly about layout and finishes. Some of the things I love best about my home and would think really hard before living without again include:
1. A walk-through closet to the master bath (great for people who get up at different times)
2. Hardwood or tile floors everywhere (much cleaner all around)
3. A dish washer and a washer/dryer (luxuries that kind of became necessities)
4. High-speed internet access (FSM as my witness I will never go dial-up again!)
5. Several layers of lighting (so handy and make everything prettier)
6. An open floorplan for the kitchen, dining, living room areas (great for game nights and all around hanging out together)
7. An extra bedroom/workspace (it's great to have a place to stash work and guests)
8. Two or more bathrooms (yay for comfort and privacy!)
9. An entry way closet (makes everything neater)
10. Substantial and cleanly-designed bathroom faucets (I hate touching faucets that feel like they're going to fall apart in my hands or have a bunch of nooks and crannies that collect all manner of grossness)
1. A pair of Restoration Hardware Mercury Gourd Lamps.
2. A vintage mahogany highboy found at a brooklyn salvation army store for a steal.
3. A brown leather chaise that is the most comfortable thing ever.
4. a tufted leather wing chair that was an impulse buy. i love it.
5. a jonathan adler piggy bank...it makes me smile.
6. a collection of mercury glass candlesticks
7. a staples glass computer desk that i've had for the past 15 years.
8. apple powerbook pro.
9. my 3 ipod classics...i'm a music hoarder.
10. my lamp collection...i'm a lamp tramp. i love them.
Limiting myself to just home stuff (so no clothes, people, pets, etc), I made two lists. One is things I do and must have, the other is things I want and must have.
Haves
1. Kitchenaid stand mixer
2. dishwasher!
3. MacBook Pro
4. king sized BoConcept Fahrenheit memory-foam mattress
5. giant faux-bamboo dresser
6. paintings and art prints by my boyfriend and me in every room and hallway
7. burr (not blade!) coffee grinder and a giant french press
8. Tivoli Model Two radio
9. color! (especially cool grey, orange, and yellow)
10. cast iron frying pans (you can't improve on a classic)
Wants
1. Nelson swag-leg desk
2. stainless steel or granite countertops (for prepping baked goods)
3. dedicated studio space (room for my grandfather's drafting table)
4. white rectangular restaurant-style dishes
5. black & white chevrons painted on a hardwood floor (the black lodge!)
6. Jonathan Adler orange Nixon throw
7. Jonathan Adler "Sins" throw pillow
8. heavy-duty citrus juicer (countertop kind with the big manual lever handle)
9. grow house grow wallpaper (Mrs. Ward in Wedgewood or Milkweed)
10. a Thomas Wold dresser (or knockoff)
I consider this list at the beginning of each hurricane season: husband, dogs, dogs' crate, toiletries, clothes, meds, legal/finance papers, food, water, and money--that's 10. That's what would be in the car with me if I had to evacuate. I realize I'm very fortunate that so far I've been able to shelter in place.