ModernGear Home: James Perse Furniture

Oh, great. I have a major love affair with James Perse clothing...and now there is a James Perse Furniture collection? That's it...it's too much...I just can't take it!!

Well okay, okay, I can. Here are my favourite pieces - for wardrobe and for home. I am all UP into James Perse. (Did I really just say that?)

Perse for summer (for me) would have been all about his maxi dresses (and how I hope this is a trend that will continue next summer), like the JAMES PERSE WOMEN Olympic Sulphur RACERBACK LONG DRESS, $155




And even the shorter styles, too, like the JAMES PERSE WOMEN Charcoal CAP SLEEVE A-LINE DRESS, $155



For fall, I really like the working of his super-soft cotton and fleece into a few different items. LOVE the JAMES PERSE WOMEN Black FLEECE HOODED A-LINE DRESS, $195




And wouldn't this look amazing with skinny jeans and black leather boots, with a soft black scarf? JAMES PERSE WOMEN Charcoal BIAS CUT DRAPED V-NECK Blouses, $135




It's really pouring outside and fall is HERE, and I'd love to be sitting in my chilly office wrapped in the JAMES PERSE WOMEN Black OPEN DRAPE CARDIGAN Blouses, $155 or...




...the JAMES PERSE WOMEN Night Owl HOODED FLEECE JACKET Sweaters, $225

Even the JAMES PERSE WOMEN Olympic FLEECE SWEATSHIRT doesn't look like a slovenly sweathshirt of my university years. ($110)



Love these two bottoms for lounging or yoga/pilates: JAMES PERSE WOMEN Black CROPPED PANT, $125




JAMES PERSE WOMEN Olympic Sulphur EASY LOUNGE PANT, $135



And what collection of favourites would be complete without cashmere?! JAMES PERSE WOMEN Heather Grey CASHMERE BLEND CARDIGAN Sweaters, $225



I also really like James Perse for men - here are just a few of my faves: JAMES PERSE MEN Black LIGHTWEIGHT FLEECE SWEATSHIRT, $135



JAMES PERSE MEN Greystone Pigment LIGHTWEIGHT FLEECE HOODIE, $195



JAMES PERSE MEN Black ACTIVE HALF ZIP, $150



JAMES PERSE MEN Olympic Sulphur LOUNGE LONG SLEEVE CREW, $50



So when I tried to imagine what James Perse furniture would look like, I wondered, how would it translate from his wearable collections? I have found a few pieces that I think look just as comfortable and easy to incorporate as his clothing.

It may be raining, but the forecast is for sun tomorrow. I'd love to curl up in a ray of sunshine on either the new Carbon Chaise from the Malibu outdoor Collection, or the Colony Chair.

For inside the home, The Nor Cal Collection's Sonoma Chair and Sofa feature fabric that is a cotton and linen blend. They wouldn't last a day around my dog, but my goodness - how comfortable and chic would that one day feel?!
There's even more - a desk, tables, and the Los Angeles collection that can be used outdoors (with Yellow Balau wood) or indoors (featuring Rough Sawn White Oak). Suffice it to say, it's all pretty fabulous. See for yourself at JamesPerse.com.
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ModernGear Home: It's Getting Hot in Here!

Last night as a mosquito or some such bug absolutely tortured me and my husband. I thought, isn't there some sort of contraption I can use that will shoo the offending buzzer away and let me sleep in peace? I had gone way beyond offering the sacrificial arm and leg for the little guy to nibble on, and was so hot that I was sleeping in the nude anyway. Didn't seem to appease him for long as he almost constantly buzzed my ears (or so it seemed).

Around 3am when we had turned on and off our (very handy) Candela lamp to try to attract the bug (all it did was let him know we were about to open a can of whoop-ass on him and I'd catch a glimpse of him flying away...), I decided to just put a pillow over my head to protect my ears from the buzzing, and let him do his worst. And he did. I counted 15 welts this morning, on my legs, my arms, my tummy, and even my butt.

This morning the first thing my husband said is, "I hope he's drunk on our blood, somewhere under a tree, his pants too tight to do up." Ha! That'd teach him.

I don't know if a gently blowing fan would have helped shoo the bugger away, but it might have kept me cool and then I would have been able to cover up, and then maybe I'd be bite-free today.

All that to say, we have to get one of these uber-cool fans, and soon. Enjoy.

Etsy has a great selection of good-looking vintage fans, like these:

DailyMemorandum has this Vintage 1950s Vornado Fan for $30
JuJuToo has a vintage fan for $29.
jwhite2's Vintage Metal Oscillating Fan is $57.
highstreetmarket's refurbished vintage electric fan in aqua blue is $58.

DecoDeli has a pair of Eskimo Electric fans for $76.
Here's an Eskimo fan that's a bit more beat up, from threesistersvintage, for $15.
You actually don't have to go vintage to be stylish, though. Our current, new-ish fan is one that we wouldn't necessarily want to keep out when it's not absolutely needed, because it's kind of ugly. If we had this one, I'd probably not want to put it away out of sight.

The OTTO has a long list of features, the first of which is its diminuitive size - it's under 15 inches high and weighs 9.5lbs, but features an adjustable industrial fan! It also saves money in comparison to air condition cooling because it's an energy efficient 45 watts.

It might cost a bit more than your standard plastic fan from Canadian Tire or Target, but it's such a good-looking piece of art, really, that I think the investment of $199.99 in keeping cool (and looking cool) is well worth it. The wood is African sapele and has been oiled twice to add a sheen to the gorgeous wood grain. This is a fan that would look very at home in a home with Mid-Century Modern decor.
You can get an OTTO fan from these retailers, or at Swizz Style.

Now, if someone invents a whisper-quiet bug zapper, then I'll rest easy.
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Home is on my mind

So much stuff swirling about this busy little head - I should have known that it would be tough to go back to Canada for a weekend of helping out on the home renos! (Which, for me, meant picking out floor tiles and making trips to Home Depot for things like vapor barriers, coils of wire, and double gang electrical boxes...I think.)

Why tough? Because...I miss it, so much. It's like anything else or anyone else - the longer the separation, the more you think you are "getting over" the thing or the person...til you see it or them again and it all comes flooding back. Was I "over" Vancouver? Not at all.

Sure, the rain sucks. But I quite like the cool temperatures...I find I am more energetic and creative when I am cool. And it's not snow! It's, to me, the best place to live in Canada.

I'd forgotten the beauty of the city nestled at the base of the mountains, with the ocean waves lapping at its feet. I had forgotten about the air so fresh that it hurts the nose. I had forgotten the feeling of safety that is somehow intangible but overwhelming, to be on Canadian soil.

And I'd forgotten about the lush natural life. (This colorful flowering bush is in our front yard - my mom thinks it's a rhododendron.)

Now, the house! It is going to be pretty amazing. My HUSBAND is amazing...and his Dad. They've been hard at work for two solid weeks, and are still pushing through to get it done. As usual, the project turned into much, much more than originally anticipated!

Plans were to get in there, tear down wallpaper and pull out carpets, maybe replace a few appliances and finish the hardwood floors, slap on a few coats of fresh paint and call 'er done. Instead, they raised the ceiling, put in insulation, are patching a leaky roof, and on and on the list goes. Can I help it if I want to be back there now?!

Here are some pics from the process.

This is (will be) the kitchen area.

Dining area.

Bathroom. And doesn't this picture capture the question, "Is this tub going to fit?"


Our second home, Home Depot.


My husband sent me this picture last night, now that the drywall has gone up. It's starting to look gorge! Gotta love beams. We're going to paint them white...the wood isn't the prettiest, and it will open it up so nicely.

The back yard.

The property is on a cul-de-sac and the side is basically a ravine. When it rains, we have a river down there. It sounds amazing!

Here's that lovely rhodo. There is a row of them hedging the front yard.

As I spent time in the construction zone, I couldn't help but think back to the pictures I had seen of the house my parents built...pics here with my brother and sister.

And then it was time to fly back to California.

Bye, Vancouver. See you soon.

Thank goodness I had this guy to come home to - hubby is still there working, and won't be back for a while. He is going to love it there, if we ever move back.

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