May 2023
Bradley’s 10 Essentials for Summer ‘23
Fresh off the incredible and inspiring success of our French container, I’m feeling invigorated by my travels lately. Sometimes, it takes getting out of your home to reignite the creative spirit and it often helps to bring a little of it back with you. From French ceramics to beaded lapel pins to Japanese teas, my essentials this summer remind me of the beauty to be found outside our doors and across the world.
1. Japanese Tea Discovery Gift Set from Ogata Paris
During my last trip to Paris in January, I meandered into this shop in the heart of the Marais and was overwhelmed with its beauty. Located in a 17th century private mansion, Ogata is a Japanese tea room, restaurant, shop and gallery. It’s design is stunning - perfectly considered and immensely serene. I think this discovery tea set is the perfect way to add a little bit of serenity to my life back in the states.
2. Lalanne: A World of Poetry
The creativity of François-Xavier and Claude Lalanne is such an immense source of inspiration to me. This beautiful tome from Assouline revels in a vast array of their work - going far beyond the collection of shearling and bronze sheep that pops-up in every other issue of Architectural Digest.
3. AdV Dragon Tureen with Handle
I’ve always loved to entertain and, after hosting a Thanksgiving feast last year, I’m really trying to invest in beautiful serve ware and linens. Astier’s milky white ceramics are the perfect blank canvas to build many color stories off of - I’m into the size and detail of this tureen with dragon inspired accents.
4. The Pierre Pant from Officine Générale
This has become a go-to brand for me since my last trip to France. Every piece is so well intentioned without being tricky. They are such effortless classics. For a photo shoot I have coming up, I ordered these double pleated Pierre Pants in a fresco wool.
5.
The Deer and the Dove
After the James Beard awards were announced this year, I immediately booked a reservation at The Deer and The Dove in Decatur. Their chef, Terry Koval, was nominated for Best Chef: Southeast. The meal was fabulous and it’s definitely worth taking a few of their giant cookies home for later.
6.
The Sadie Lamp
The Sadie lamp is one of our newest pieces in the shop. When I was designing our mezzanine design studio at Dixon Rye, I had brass desk lamps custom made for our workspaces. A few years later, I saw the Sadie - which is essentially a taller version of my lamp with built in LED lighting. Needless to say, I was immediately smitten.
7. Evergreen Bakery
My nutritionist recently recommend I switch the bread I eat in the morning (toast with a soft scramble, typically) to one that doesn’t have any additives or unnecessary things in it. She recommended the einkorn + spelt from Evergreen Bakery, a charming spot in Kirkwood. It’s so dense and nutritious - I can’t imagine going back. But on less virtuous days, their croissants and brown sugar buns are truly exceptional.
8. Trovelore
Another Paris discovery, Trovelore creates incredibly detailed embellished pins/brooches. I picked up a bee at a little shop and now pin it to the lapel of a new double breasted wool blazer. I’ve been trying to get as much use out of before we fully get into the warmth of spring/summer.
9.
Simone Leigh at ICA Boston
I was recently in Boston to see a concert with my husband and stopped by the ICA for this exhibit. After presenting at the prestigious 2022 Venice Biennale, a selection of Simone Leigh's pieces made their way to Boston for this incredible show. It is an incredible feast for the eyes with an incredible display of materiality and texture while exploring the themes of the black female experience.
10.
Mesón Hidalgo
Like much of the world, I’m excited and inspired to be traveling. It refuels my creative instincts and resets my tendencies. I recently went to Hotel Terrestre, a beautifully brutalist hotel in Puerto Escondido, part of the Oaxacan state in Mexico. While there and already dreaming of my next trip, my husband and I met the charming owners of Mesón Hidalgo in San Miguel. We’ve already booked our trip for the fall.