The C&C Gift Guide | 2022

What started as a fun task that I did for my own pleasure each year has turned into an Annual Gift Guide that so many of you continue to ask for. Truth be told, I’m not a big gift guide gal and dislike all of the flurry around spending this time of year. That said, as someone that loves thoughtful experiences, quality craftsmanship, and celebrating talented artisans, I do love curating gifts that I genuinely love and believe spark joy, provide practicality and are of the quality to endure for many years to come.

And thus, The Annual C&C Gift Guide has returned. Below you’ll find a few pieces I’m buying for others (or myself!) lusting after, or already have and want to share. Voilà!

La Forge de Laguiole Steak Knives via The Cook’s Atelier
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Move over Williams Sonoma, these are the REAL deal from Laguiole, France. Simple, refined and a true staple on your table — your beau will love using them to cut into a beautiful piece of meat.

MARCH Kitchen Soap
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A staple in our kitchen and a fabulous stocking stuffer, I adore this kitchen soap with its subtle scent of Dalmatian Sage, eucalyptus, and fir balsam. There is also something about the way it feels in your hands that appeal to me. Don’t forget a soap dish!

Hasegawa Lucano ladders
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I personally have this Japanese ladder on my list this year as we undergo our kitchen renovation and have functionality deeply embedded in my brain. They are consistently highly rated and I love their sleek design versus that rickety old ladder you pull out from the garage…

Custom Wastebasket
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Fun and practical, these would be fabulous to adorn a powder room, guest room or office. She also offers COM which could make this REALLY fun…

The Little Plains Firescreen
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When I first saw the photo of this firescreen I audibly gasped. I adore the play on “the lashings of a drum or a tent” and its brass finials add a major dose of chic. It’s incredibly versatile, from the beach to chateau, and can be done in custom colorways. I might add that anything from The Bouwerie is #candcapproved.

D.Porthault Towels & linens
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There isn’t another linen company that gives me as much joy as D.Porthault. They are happy, snappy and old school in the best way possible. I recently stashed our ramshackle bathroom up north with plentiful Porthault prints just because they inject any space with cheer. I also travel with their lingerie bags which make beautiful gifts as well.

Rôtissoire and Copper Pan Set
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I was lucky enough to see this beautiful piece in action this past June when I travelled to France for my Cooking Masterclass with The Cook’s Atelier. On the final day, we headed to the countryside and roasted the most magnificent Gigot D'agneau (a french leg of lamb) in an open hearth. The mere process of cooking this piece of meat was pure seduction — and insert your handsome man tending to this beauty, it’s a downright aphrodisiac!

Objects of my desire

There are many pieces from Amy Meier’s beautiful Rancho Santa Fe shop I fancy, however I find myself particularly revisiting these Italian Hand blown hurricanes. Paired together or alone, I adore their organic shape and the way the taper candle elegantly rests inside. I can only imagine the kind of magical light they create!

Explore HERE.

A "Titan of Design"

I pre-ordered Stephen Sills’ new book what feels like decades ago. This was one I joyfully anticipated for all these months and I have to say, now that it has officially landed, it sure is sensational. Not that anyone had reservations, of course. Each page is juicier than the next — glittering with images from his sophisticated, singular portfolio, interspersed with design boards from each project. A “bonus” is the conversation, both in text and in visual form, on gardens with Stephen’s neighbor Martha Stewart. Between a forward from Tina Turner, text from David Netto, Martha’s spotlight and Stephen’s dynamite work, this is a blockbuster hit that will remain on the top of my stack.

Autumnal Assertion

Chartreuse & brown, textures galore, sultry lacquer and all of that moody magnificence…that’s what’s on my mental mood board. Ushering in fall is always bittersweet but for some reason this year I’m mentally more ready. Here are a few snaps I’ve saved that are helping me settle into this transition (credits below). This fall, a few fun trips are on the horizon, as well as renovation planning and some exciting client kick-offs.

More on those fronts soon.

From Left to Right:

Row 1: Gideon Mendelson, Bobbins Design, Barry Dixon
Row 2: Neal Beckstedt, LIAIGRE, Barrie Benson

Labor Day

Labor Day was spent in the mountains, a few low key days with family. While the holiday very much marks “the end of summer” for us New Englanders, it can be the most blissful time. The ocean is still warm, the humidity slightly subsides and the tourists retreat back to their homes. I’m looking forward to savoring the last bit of “summer” while preparing for a busy fall and winter.

Below, one of my favorite textiles from Leah O’Connell’s line, “Harriet” in Cricket. The pillows rest on wicker chairs on our porch in Vermont.

Summertime Client Gifting

C&C helps a lot of clients with custom gifting campaigns for their respective clientele throughout the year. This particular one recently executed for Emily Janak Interiors in Jackson, Wyoming, was especially fun.

We partnered with local jam company, Tram Jam, to whip up batches of their popular variety — mountain huckleberries, organic blueberries + a spritz of fresh-squeezed lemon juice, and can for us.

Then, we engaged Paris-based illustrator Jane Black Design, to create beautiful illustrations and packaging, along with London-based Chelsea Textiles to outfit the jars with scalloped-edged covers, tied with green and white twine, a nod to Emily's branding.

Finished with a horned jam spoon and a lovely hand-written note from Emily, this subtle and chic gift is the perfect way for Emily to share a bit of summer in the Tetons with her clients, project partners and vendors. It's also what I refer to as subliminal marketing at its finest.

#candcconsulting

Photography Credit: Lisa Flood Photography

Settling in to Summer

It seems that I tend to write near holidays as of late. Apparently they are moments of reflection.

We just returned from a trip to California to visit some dear friends. It truly warmed our hearts to have a week spending time together with our littles while enjoying the landscapes of the Bay Area that were such a big part of my life.

And now, with the July 4th holiday days away, we settle into summertime on the east coast and attempt to somehow slow down our fast and furious life. We have trips planned up and down the coast this summer, but we’re excited to relish in this sacred time with our family and the weather we dream about for months prior.

Of course, I couldn’t leave our trip to California without a visit to MARCH SF. I love admiring their exquisite pantry, kitchen and home items while scheming up reasons to procure more splatterware. Below, a snap of their custom colorways of their Italian handmade dinnerware pieces...the perfect palette as we welcome all things red, white & blue this weekend.

Summer in a Photo

Summer is so close, I can taste it. Below, an image that has always depicted summertime splendor for me — Tom Scheerer’s family’s home in East Hampton. The beautiful wallpaper, a bold stairway and pingpong table in the entry just do it for me. Pretty, uncontrived and whimsical. Outside, a tall privet and potted plants beckon. Sublime!

Photography is by Tria Giovan.

Easter Sunday

Easter was a bit different this year. We spent it up north in our little cabin enjoying quiet time with family and an Easter lunch on Sunday with friends. Admittedly, we were a tad cooped up in the house as mud season in Vermont has commenced, coupled with the fact that it snowed on and off — those factors can make the idea of outdoor activities a tad lackluster — however it ended up being a restorative few days I find myself reflecting on.

I don’t cook as often as I’d like, but I do enjoy cooking when we are in Vermont as the access to local produce and provisions makes it all the more inspiring. Saturday morning brought a trip to the Woodstock Farmers’ Market for local vegetables and sweets for the table (chocolate caramel eggs, of course!), followed by a trip to The Village Butcher to pick up our leg of lamb roast. I managed to procure some beautiful purple asparagus from Hawes Fine Foods in Providence prior to our road trip, which I am still dreaming about! It had an elegant nutty taste with a perfect simple crunch — an intoxicating taste of spring. My husband cooked the lamb to perfection, and of course, as a nod to my Mother and Grandmother, it was accompanied by mint jelly (the bright green old school variety right from the jar), potato gratin and a spring salad.

For the table, new D’ASCOLI linens brought a casual cheery pep, muscari from Farm & Flora for a little life from the garden and bunny rabbit place card holders from Reed Smythe for some cheeky practicality. The plants of course made their way back to Rhode Island with us, and I’ll plan to snip the pansies and pluck them into ice cube trays for spring sips.

As someone that loves connecting others in my personal and professional lives, I think perhaps that is what I adore about planning for some of these holiday celebrations. They become a result of a creative curation and collaboration, and for me, a chance to continue to build my collections of tableware. From the bounty from various farmers and proprietors, to little details from my favorite retailers, the end result makes me so happy.

And now, a new week begins. I gave myself some time this morning to ease into the work week with a coffee and stroll, and now, it’s time to dive in.

Here’s to spring!

Spring things

It’s the time of year when my spirits really perk up. My Gardener’s Bed Book says that when you start to hear the “peepers” at night, that’s when spring has truly landed. As such, we have been leaving a bedroom window open at night to take in all of the earthly tunes as my heart embraces the thought of spring and summer. I’ve begun some weeding maintenance and love seeing the little buds form on the shrubs we planted last year. Rebirth and renewal. I think we all need that more than ever.

In the spirit of a joyful spring, enjoy this beautiful plate from the Casa Cabana x Richard Ginori collection. I love its tangerine hue, the delicate floral motif and the happiness it brings me upon inspecting it. I love my Richard Ginori plates, but might have to indulge in these which are perhaps more suitable for the warmer months. See more, here.