tropical hit list

lanai quilt * braid pillow * door mat * palm tieback

the spring edition of the pottery barn catalog recently arrived in the mailbox and i couldn't resist rounding up all the juicy accessories made for island living. page after page is filled with pottery barn's take on tropical accents from a nifty braid pattern evocative of lauhala basket weaving to abstract palm leaf prints and hawaiian quilt knockoffs (albeit in a more contemporary palette).

koi outdoor pillow * bistro table * beach towel

koi fish make an appearance on everything from beach towels to outdoor rugs, and while the pattern is said to be inspired by chinese paper cutouts they bear a striking resemblance to the earlier designs of thomas paul. nevertheless, fab finds if it's time to refresh your space for summertime!

weekly sales sheet

a different type of t-party will be happening during the honolulu arts district spring sidewalk sale this weekend. local artists & designers join together to create limited edition tees to benefit the boys & girls club of hawaii.

• when: sat, mar 22nd - 11a to 4p
• where: nu'uanu gallery at marks garage

with prom season just around the corner, deals on a dream gown may be found at the 3rd annual girls just wanna have fun dress sale. offerings include a mix of new and gently worn dresses with proceeds benefiting the domestic violence action center.

• when: sat, mar 22nd - 9a to 3p
• where: kcc, mokihana bldg, room 105

down the street, shasa emporium will be previewing the summer 08 collection from local design line kisa kosmos.

• when: sat, mar 22nd - 12p to 5p
• where: shasa emporium, kahala mall
• fyi: bring this flyer in & receive a free bracelet with your purchase of $75

over on maui, a spring break tea party is being hosted by maui thing & ali'i kula lavender. sip lavender tea and enjoy scones and dainty sandwiches while shopping maui made apparel and treats.

• when: sat, mar 22nd - 1p to 5p
• where: sae's house, wailuku

p.s. akl is having a one day complimentary shipping deal on orders over $75 in their redesigned online shop (secret code: free; expires: today!)

bunny love

after dying eggs with my cousins in my aunty's kitchen, chocolate bunnies were, hands down, my favorite part of the holiday so enjoy this impromptu roundup of easter finds for both little ones and the young at heart:

1 - hokulani bakeshop's iced animal cookies are almost too cute to eat.

2 - scoop up handcrafted sweetness like this felt bunny pin in berrysprite's etsy shop.

3 - your keiki will love gathering up eggs in a peter cotton tail bucket. you will secretly enjoy the accompanying chocolate dipped treats from big island candies (i won't tell if you won't tell).

4 - these adorable not a chocolate easter bunny toys from kailua dollmaker denise mollison have proved to be a popular pick this easter season. the last batch of bunnies are on hold so drop denise a note to add yourself to the waitlist.

chinatown boardroom

since its doors opened last year, and after many failed attempts, my trip home over the holidays finally presented a chance to step inside the chinatown boardroom. with a row of candy colored custom surfboards and rotating art exhibits featuring emerging island artists, the small space packs a restrained yet visual punch reflecting the style of its thirtysomething owners eric (resident surfboard shaper) & jackie walden.

the space is reminiscent of something you would expect to find in sf or seattle with everything from street art to surf photography mixed with artist designed tees (jewelry lovers take note: tucked away in a corner is a glass case filled with the delicate creations of local designers justine jones and rona marie). the result is a fresh and youthful vibe that was missing in the neighborhood's gallery scene.

be sure to stop by on the third thursday of the month when chinatown boardroom hosts the surf discussion series. next up: living the dream (mar 20th).

• where: 1160 nu'uanu avenue
• hours: tue to sat, 11a to 4p

{update | oct 2012: alas, chinatown boardroom closed its doors earlier this year. mahalo eric & jackie for creating such a wonderful space for local artists and designers. good luck on your next adventure!}

dwr 101

all the buzz may be about the new nordstrom opening up at ala moana this weekend, however for those of us whose hearts beat for modern design, the big news is that design within reach (aka dwr) is also making its island debut in the nordy's wing today.

since dwr deals more in the mid-century classics of eames and saarinen mixed with fresh designs from around the world (i.e. pieces not typically found in the islands), and as one who is guilty of owning more than her fair share of goods scored from dwr, i feel compelled to clue you in on all i have learned over the years. a primer for the uninitiated, if you will.

first off, the ala moana dwr is a showroom so do not expect to walk out with anything you buy. not a luau lamp, not a chilewich mat. nada. let's just call the studio eye candy and leave it at that. square footage wise, the honolulu location comes in at a cozy 2000 sq ft which means you will find an edited selection of design objects from the catalog & website available for your viewing pleasure.

upholstery swatches, however, are yours for the taking so stop by the studio for instant gratification (phone requests take forever to arrive by mail). and, if you have your heart set on peeking at a specific piece, call first to confirm it is in the showroom to save yourself both the disappointment when it's nowhere to be found and the trip to town.

next, do not be intimidated by the wall of chairs. i tend to shy away from messing up store displays, but my fella, who has never met a modern chair he didn't like (or at least, unlike me, he doesn't automatically dismiss a chair for being too big, too small, too colorful, not colorful enough, or just not right, lol), has no trouble pulling down chair after chair insisting i sit on every. single. one. warning enough to never accompany us on a design scouting trip.

finally, for the price conscious, just know that dwr is often cheekily referred to as design out of reach so set aside notions of ikea-like prices before you go. that being said, it can be pricey so keep an eye out for the two paths to savings - the semi-annual sale (10% off and currently going on until mar 18th) or the occasional free shipping deal (although it remains to be seen if that will be offered to hawaii). sweeter deals are saved for those who exhibit a willingness to go on a continuous dwr spending spree.

even better bargains can be found in the sale section. case in point: my fella and i were on the lookout for extra seating that wouldn't overwhelm our little living space and eventually scored three cubes that we could both agree on for the price of one. lesson: be vigilant and your bank account will thank you. oh, and occasionally floor samples are posted on craigslist.

the official grand opening takes place next month so stay tuned for more details.

happy shopping!

[mahalo to kimberly at dwr for sending along these sneak peeks!]