My mom is a big fan of Roberta Freyman products; her home has always been filled with boho chic Indian block printed textiles since before they were appreciated or understood by the masses. One line Mom favors that makes great sheets and pillows (and, of the moment caftans to cover up at the pool this summer) is Roberta Roller Rabbit.

Dopey name, yes, I know. But there is a some history to it– I think she found a fable on a discarded textile she found in India telling the tale of a Roller Rabbit or something like that… And frankly, the styles she now offers are slightly whimsical and juvenile, as compared to in the past when she was known as Roberta Freyman and offered more sophisticated Indian textiles.

But anyway, these are great for beach, kids’ room, teen room, or really anywhere you want to create that boho vibe from a name other than the household names like John Robshaw, Serena and Lily and such. I chose a few caftans for the beach, but could have purchased a household of beach towels, sheets and accessories. See what you think.

1. Cata Pink Quilt 2.Indigo Pillow 3. Duvet Cover 4.Beach Towel 5. Amanda Quilt 6.Nesting Boxes

I am off to a much needed holiday with my two daughters… We will fly to Tampa and meet my mom, sister and two adorable nieces at the Pink Palace, aka, the Don Cesar Resort in St. Petersburg, Florida for a week. I have been going to this hotel since I was born, and my daughters refuse to allow me take them to another beach. Is it the best place to stay? Perhaps not, but it is “our place”.

A throw-back in time, this hotel echoes another time, a time when life was simpler, when we didn’t have cell phones or SPF warnings, a time when we would spend all day out in the glorious sun, come in burnt to a bright red crisp and walk around unable to bend our appendages. We would all pile in the car unstrapped, go out for stone crabs and french fries fried in pure hydrogenated oil. All washed down with sugar cones of full fat ice cream. We didn’t know any better and we didn’t care then…

This place holds so many special memories for me, too many to name. The exterior is all Florida Mediterranean splendor, and last I checked, the inside was, well, positively hideous… think tired yellow and navy blue bad machine made oriental rugs time worn and sat on by gaudy gilded furniture and heavy crystal chandeliers. Gaudy to the max.

I understand they have done some major interior design work, and so I will just have to see about that… But, how about I send some pictures from there and we’ll see what you guys think. In the mean time, I will douse myself in SPF 45, check my iPhone every 3 minutes and try to relax. Or will I?…

I went to visit a PNC (potential new client) today, and I was thrilled and excited at the prospect of potentially working on a nursery for a new baby girl! What a fun ride that would be. It’s been a helluva long time for me (11 years to be exact), and I am so out of this loop it is a bit scary, but I would jump back in in a nano-second. That is, for someone else, not for myself Dear God!

Anyway, I went home and did what I usually do before I find out if I have landed a new project– I start working on it! Crazy, perhaps, but how can I help it? Who cares if it goes to waste, I will learn something, right? So, I am sure many of you youngsters know all about this, but there is a whole world of stylish and functional possibilities out there that were not available to me when I was having children.

No more the bunny rabbit themed wallpaper borders and toile bumpers. (Did you know these guys don’t USE bumpers???!!), it’s a brave new world of crazy cool options. Why not use this opportunity to begin a collection of pieces that will last throughout a child’s youth? Such a smart way to decorate a nursery. Any dresser can easily be made into the requisite “changing table”.

Cribs now transform into twin beds that actually look and work great. Young people understand that good design can last a lifetime and you can create a space that is kid friendly, fun and age appropriate without it being, well… silly. What a great concept!

Remember those heinous gliders that had the frilly seat pads and wood frames? They are practically extinct. Bellini? Well, it’s still around, but I have no idea why or how given the range of better looking and design forward choices out there. Themed nurseries are so 1990; these younger folks just won’t have them. Who the hell can blame them?

What were we thinking, people!??? I now find myself yearning to decorate a nursery, but certainly not enough to make it happen for myself, if you get the drift… That ship has sailed. I will just have to wait and see if this pans out, and if not this time, then there is always the next time… If I end up doing this job, I will write more about today’s baby design. But for now, here are my “picks”:

Buh-bye Cheezy Glider, Hello Hollywood Regency:

This is nicer than the sofa I had in my living room when I had Anna, and it’s meant for baby’s room:

No longer relegated to the basement, this play table can live up to any interior and can live in the adult part of the house!:

Come see my crib:

This simple piece could literally live in any bedroom:

This is wicked cool, but realistically, when it gets covered in drool, maybe not-so-much:

With Memorial Day practically around the corner, some of you may be feeling the summer decorating bug. If this is the case, either strap yourself to your chair and tie your arms down for long periods of time or consider some of these one-of-a-kind hand made items from the House of Funky Retail, Anthropologie. This place definitely has a look, but as a designer, I am more inclined to incorporate small doses of their wares into an overall scheme, rather than trying to re- create their signature “look”. Have fun and/or be safe…

I am loving the wooden chain link and woven bulb insert happening here and could see this in a beachy kitchen:

A modernist style bird house made from salvaged wood? Cool:

There is something float-mongolian lamb-esque going on here and I like it:

This could really make a summer statement in any room:

I saw this as whimsical take on classic Stafforshire dogs, they call it African folk art: this is pricey but it’s real art:

Lighten up: throw down a turquoise dhurrie: