5 Things I Heart - Capella Kincheloe

I first met Capella last year when she was participating as a designer at the Atlanta Homes and Lifestyles Christmas House. She is quite a busy chick with running CKID, her blog A Curated Lifestyle, getting hitched in Hawaii, an Etsy shop where she makes killer Ombre pillows (one of my favorite things) and she is also the co-founder of Design Collective (the other co-founder is Hillary Linthicum, Y.S. 5 Things Alum and rock star at Peace Design.) She is a busy girl with great style and very intriguing quality about her, you just want to talk to her. Something about her makes me think of Winona Ryder+Drew Barrymore, I don't know what that has to do with anything but trust me she's great and she's blowing up all over the place. Her work has been featured in AH&L, her pillows all over the place including Better Homes and Gardens and Design Collective just had a great write up in Luxe Crush. Seriously, I don't think I have had so many links in one post before! Here are her 5 things, 1 of which I am also obsessed with (gold star if you can guess what it is!)

Natural Stone Platters from Rablabs

The chicest thing to put on your table or way to serve cheese. I think every space needs a natural element and this takes it to the next level by adding sterling silver or 24K gold. And it will never go out of style.

My Big Fat Gypsy Wedding

Over the top, unlike anything else on earth, and with a British accent. Like an adult “Toddlers & Tiaras” without the nausea and alarm and with bigger dresses and crowns. An hour of blissful captivation and entertainment.

Cookbooks

I love cooking and composing a great meal. The process of it is very relaxing. I usually don’t follow recipes to a T, but use them as guidelines. I love food and eating, but I also love pulling a stack of cookbooks and just reading through the recipes. Cookbooks are a lasting memory of a vacation or a restaurant you visited. I like to pick up cookbooks when I go on vacation and the “favors” at my wedding reception are wine country cookbooks (for California’s Central Coast).

Jean de Merry Ibero Round Dining Table

A perfect combination of French and California – an exquisitely made table that looks like its been in your family for centuries.

Longchamp Tote

The perfect bag. It is lightweight and can go from carrying your fabric swatches and paint books to a beach towel and sunscreen. It is chic enough to carry to dinner, but the nylon is so light you can use it all day.

5 Things I Heart - Barry Leach Edition

Barry Leach is one of my mentors and he also writes The Blue Remembered Hills. He was my professor in college and has become one of my favorite people over the years and I truly admire him and value our friendship. He is one of my favorite people and whenever we get together I simply have the best time. He is witty and smart and cranky and fabulous all at the same time, all the time--something I strive for. Of course he agreed to do a 5 things list for me, I mean what choice did he really have.

Carpano Antica Formula Vermouth
Discovered in Rome, Italy, at Christmas. The barman in the hotel suggested it for the Manhattan cocktail I'd ordered and it was a revelation. Sipped it slowly, my beloved next to me with his Negroni, whilst looking at the spectacular panorama of Rome after dark.

Together with Bulleit Rye and a Luxardo maraschino cherry, makes the best Manhattan I've had, ever. Served straight up, of course. The most peculiar Manhattan I've ever drunk was one made with Talisker whisky on the Isle of Skye.

Guerlain's Eau de Cologne Impérial

Dating from 1865, when I first bought it, this cologne has top notes of Bergamot, Neroli, Verbena, Lemon, Orange, with a middle note of lavender and base notes of cedarwood and tonka bean. It's the only scent I'll wear on special occasions. The rest of the time it's just soap, though I must admit I really like Hermès Eau d'orange verte - also discovered whilst in Italy.

Blue
I possess more blue shirts than any other color, and, though I'm at a loss to explain it, I feel more comfortable wearing blue. Blue and white is a delicious combination, especially the cobalt and soft white of old Kraak porcelain.

Alden suede monk-strap shoes

Not much to say except that they're the best.



Fettuccine Alfredo at Pricci
He Didn't give me an explanation for this one, but I don't think it even needs one.
(Shameless plug: Athens Pizza has good Fettuccine--it's the special in Thursday Nights.)