Gift Guide – HOME Intern Picks

We asked our two interns, Lauren and Lyndsay, to select their favorite items from our shop for stylish holiday season gifts. Lauren is a fine arts major at Tyler School of Art, Temple University and will graduate this spring. Lyndsay recently completed an interior design program at Moore College of Art & Design. Both ladies have a strong design sense with unique interests – it was fun to see what they ended up choosing.

We hope these gift guides inspire you!  The store will be open every day from now until Christmas Eve (we will be closed December 25 – January 1, resuming normal hours Friday January 2, 2015).

1. Sir | Madam Tea Towels, $28.00 each
2. Roost Pig Salt & Pepper Shakers, $22.00 set
3. Chive Bird Vase, $25.00
4. Rifle Botanical Rose’ iPhone 5 Slim Hard Case, $36.00
5. Manayunk Calligraphy Print – home is where the jawn is, $22.00

1. Rosanna Paris Ritz Hotel Dish, $26.50
2. Roost Multi-Strand Bead Necklace, Brass, $35.00
3. Vintage Champagne Coupes, Set of 4, $36.00
4. Canvas Gold Serving Set, $55.00
5. Rifle 2015 Travel Poster Calendar, $28.00

Storefront of the Week

Stilleben, owned by designers Ditte Reckweg and Jelena Schou Nordentoft, is a shop in Copenhagen that sells jewelry, textiles, and graphics from Danish and international designers. I love the simple geometric elements used in this storefront, especially the diamond shapes hanging in the windows. In place of one large shop window, a few smaller windows echo the row of windows on the second floor and eliminate the need for an elaborate window display. Instead, passers-by are invited to catch a glimpse of their incredible design collection inside. The house-shaped lanterns sitting out front are adorable too!

RECAP // 2nd anniversary party

This past Saturday we hosted our 2nd Anniversary Party here at HOME! Guests enjoyed cocktails and hors d’oeuvres, crafted floral bracelets (and some headbands too!) and ate delicious macarons from  Sugar Philly , who were parked right out front.  I was too busy chatting and enjoying myself, that I didn’t get a chance to take many photos – a sign of a good party though, right – but below are some I quickly snapped/stole from friends.

Owning your own business is not an easy task – and to be honest is a huge risk and a struggle everyday (and yes, even after two years).  There are a lot of lows and self doubt, but I have to say that I’ve never had a job more rewarding and fulfilling.  I’ve learned so much over the past two years and I hope to continuing learning for many, many more years to come.  Thank you to all my friends, neighbors, customers and clients that helped me celebrate a wonderful two years!

Storefront of the Week

Located in Amsterdam, Marie-Stella-Maris Archives is the first store of Marie-Stella-Maris, a line of water, home, and beauty products which are sold to help benefit clean drinking water projects worldwide. I love how the movie theater light box signage used here gives the store an instantly unique and unusual visual identity, and it looks great in their indoor display too! The multi-level look of this storefront is another unique feature—the lower entrance leads to a small cafe where they sell coffee, tea, and mineral water. Topped off with a few potted plants, this storefront definitely feels like an urban oasis.

   

Storefront of the Week

Owned by former art director Thomas Haarmann, Magazyn is an independent shop in Antwerp, Belgium specializing in hand-made home products. I love the minimalist design of this storefront—it’s a perfect fit for the minimalist products featured here. The entire store front is just a clean rectangle cut into the facade of the building, and I love how it does nothing to detract from the simplicity of the products. This storefront may be practically all windows, but it’s definitely far from boring!

 

 

Storefront of the Week

The Wren is a bar and restaurant located on the Bowery in Manhattan, New York. In busy, bustling, technicolor Manhattan, this clean, white storefront is like a breath of fresh air. The potted plants and garlands give it a refreshing touch of greenery and make it look like an inviting haven—the perfect place to slip away for a drink and a bite to eat!

Classic Cocktail Workshop Recap

 

Last night we hosted our first-ever Classic Cocktail Workshop at HOME!  Participants were greeted by Return to Fall cocktails – a delicious concoction of bourbon, Royal Rose cardamon clove simple syrup (available in the shop!), fresh lemon and club soda.  Throughout the evening, we learned how to properly make a few classic bourbon drinks including a Manhattan, an Old Fashioned, and a Sazerac.  I didn’t think there was anything much better than a classic Old Fashioned, but Courtney and Posey (our friends and bartenders extraordinaire) added their own twist to it by substituting the sugar cube with Royal Rose three chile simple syrup and I can’t stop thinking about it!  For me, that was the star of the night.  Except, of course, for the Courtney and Posey who had so much knowledge to share with us and made the entire event so incredibly fun!  A huge thank you to them – and to all of our participants!  Don’t worry if you missed out—we’ll definitely be hosting another Cocktail Workshop here at the shop again soon.

  

Storefront of the Week

This week we’re featuring L’Objet qui Parle, an antique shop located in Montmartre, Paris. The shop name translates into “the object that talks,” and much like the eclectic objects featured here, the storefront really speaks for itself! I love the weathered, quirky, and welcoming feel of the storefront, and how the open door and inventory spilling out onto the sidewalk invite passersby to come in and explore. The objects—ranging from taxidermy to antique china—certainly have a lot to say!

Storefront of the Week

This week’s featured storefront belongs to Eyescream and Friends, an icecream shop located in Barcelona, Spain.  I just love how the clean and contemporary look of this storefront brings out the graphics of this ice cream shop’s unique branding identity. Everything is simplified, straightforward, and totally one-of-a-kind, just like their friendly-faced menu items! And their packaging design is a definite plus.

 

Classic Cocktail Workshop

Next in our workshop series, HOME will be hosting a Classic Cocktail Workshop on October 16th! Tickets are on sale now, and can be purchased here.

Do you love cocktails, but can’t quite recreate them at home? HOME can help you out! Join us for a Classic Cocktail Workshop taught by two of our favorite cocktail enthusiasts, local bartenders who have worked at some of the most popular bars in Philadelphia!

Because it’s fall, we’ll be focusing on brown spirits – think bourbons and whiskeys.  You’ll start by learning the basics of cocktail crafting, including what tools you’ll need, ingredients to keep on hand for your home bar, and also an introduction to bourbons.  We think a hands-on approach is the best way to learn, so after a demonstration, you’ll have the chance to create three different cocktails on your own:  a classic Manhattan, an Old Fashioned, and a Sazerac.  Before you’re done, you’ll also learn how to put a twist on each of these three classic cocktails.

Sign up with a friend and come prepared to have a wonderful night!  You’ll enjoy light bites, cocktails (obviously!), and the chance to meet and mingle neighbors and new friends.