Things I bought, things I want, home edition

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More than 100 of you responded when I asked advice on which plates to buy a while back, so I thought perhaps you’d be interested in my final decision, which was to spin the dice on a set of these. I had initially wanted plates that had a little something interesting going on, but many of you argued that, if you’re in fact using these plates to serve food, too much going on could be weird and distracting. The thin red band here turns out to be kind of ideal.

These Marimekko bath towels are so cool, generously-sized, and graphic.

West Elm has a collaboration going on right now with a brand I really like, Estelle Colored Glass, and I’m very tempted by these stemless wine glasses. I dislike stemmed wine glasses, and think these are so much chicer. They come in a variety of shades, as well as a few combinations, like this one.

West Elm is also doing a collab with the Brooklyn brand Soil to Studio, and I’m pretty in love with this block-print placemat.

Such a sweet little incense holder.

And these might just be the cutest salad tossers I’ve ever seen.

My bathroom doesn’t have enough hooks, which is a drag, and especially so when there are overnight guests, so I’ve been considering over-the-door solutions, most of which are pretty cheap-looking. I do think this one is pretty inoffensive, though.

I’m seemingly the last person to discover the appeal of flameless votive candles, which are such a cool and easy way to create a little drama on your dinner table.

 

Help me decide on new dinner plates, please

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I have previously discussed my desire for a fresh set of dinner plates here: I’ve been eating off of my current ones since receiving them as a wedding registry gift, well over two decades ago. For a long time it’s slightly bothered me to still rely on these relics of my brief bummer marriage, but I couldn’t quite justify the purchase of a new set for that reason alone. By now, however, literally every one of those plates is chipped, and it feels like time for an upgrade.  My picks here are a bit all over the map, style-wise, starting with this classic and graphic Marimekko print.

I go back and forth between wanting something statement-y—like that Marimekko plate above—to desiring a very, very minimal vibe, like on these red-rimmed ones.

The biggest reason I’m tempted by these Le Creuset plates is that they appear sturdy enough to survive in my kitchen. They also, like most all Le Creuset items, come in a variety of good colors.

I like that these look slightly imperfect.

Of course I want these mustard yellow plates bad.

Here is a deeply budget-friendly option that I like in this gray, but that also comes in a few other good hues.

I’m going a bit afield by showing this bowl and plate set from fancy Italian brand La Double J, but it is just so bright and happy.

The braided texture here is quite elegant.

OK, so a whole set of this skull plate might be a bit on the extra (and expensive) side, but I’m considering just going for one and employing it as a serving dish.

I really dig the faint tie-dye vibe here, and think it looks pricier than it is.

Things I bought, things I want: home edition

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I live in a duplex apartment, which is perfectly lovely and all, but the only mirrors in the house are on the upper floor, which is a pain if you just want to give yourself a quick once-over before leaving home. So I’ve been looking for a wall mirror—one that’s chic but also kind of minimal. This is tougher to locate than you might think, and a year and a half into living in my place, I still hadn’t found one. Then recently, I was on the Schoolhouse site and found this one, which comes in a few good colors but of course I like the yellow best.

Such a cute and graphic cute little bath mat.

I am decidedly more of a dog person than cat, but I do adore this cranky kitty pillow.

A few years ago, I bought new dining room chairs, so I don’t need several of these caned armchairs, but I very much wish I did—the tomato red is just so good.

I keep most of my clothes out of the dryer, and am therefore desperately in need of a drying rack. This one is lightweight and also kind of stylish.

My old apartment got a ton of light all day, and I had many succulents and cacti which thrived there. My current place gets good-but-not-amazing light, and every last one of those plants died in short order after I moved. So I’m looking for low-maintenance alternatives, like this snake plant.

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About

Kim France

I was born in Houston, Texas in 1964 and have lived in New York City since 1988. I had a long career in magazines, working at Sassy, Elle, New York, and Spin, and in 2000, I founded Lucky magazine, which I edited for ten years.

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