Savon

I finally finished painting our guest bathroom and I'm hoping to accessorize it this weekend so I can share pictures next week. I purchased new hand towels from Anthropologie and that got me thinking about decorative soaps. When I went to my aunt's house in Maine she had a $2 bottle of Softsoap with fish on it in her beautiful new guest bathroom. I about died! Now I know that may sound harsh but a dinky little soap dispenser on gorgeous marble counter is just wrong. I believe that the details make a room and that soaps are the perfect way to add a little color and scent to your bathroom. In bathroom above, designers Pip McCully and Georgina Armstrong of Wonder used amber colored apothecary soap dispensers to enhance their design and create a vintage look. And don't you just love that mirror? Anyways, I found these amazing soaps by Jarlath Mellett that look very similar to the ones used above. I couldn't decide between the Black Jasmine, Ex Voto Amber and Lavender so I ordered all three. If only my monitor was scratch 'n sniff.

What are your plans for the weekend?

Images: The Design Files, Jarlath Mellett

Francine Turk

I remember the first time I saw Chicago artist Francine Turk’s eye-catching nude drawings in the 2006 Vince Vaughn and Jennifer Aniston movie, The Break-Up. To say it was love at first sight would be an understatement. I was obsessed and needed to have one. I asked my boyfriend to buy me one of her small figures for Christmas, however, being that it was our first year out of college and we were poor, I clearly didn't get it. Five years later, Francine's art still remain on the top of my wish list.  I've looked on Etsy for other nude drawings but nothing else will suffice.  France's figures are different – bodies seems to be created from a few simple lines floating on paper and the fact that she displays her work in vintage frames creates a sense of drama.  Le sigh.

Check out Francine's Facebook page to see pictures of her studio and creative process as well as images of her work on the set of The Dilemma!

Images: Francine Turk

The Doughnut Vault

Located through a little parrot blue door, just down the street from my new River North apartment, lies the chicest little doughnut shop one could ever imagine.  The interior is tiny, no more than a handful of people can fit inside at a time, and clad with creamy washed brick, white subway tile with black grout, gold mirrors with hand-painted lettering, a stunning crystal chandelier and the most beautiful antique register.  Visiting The Doughnut Vault was at the top of my summer to do list and thanks to a little determination (waking up at an ungodly hour), I can now say, mission accomplished!  If you live in Chicago a visit to this quaint little shop is a must...the doughnuts are as delectable as the interior!   

An hour later...

8 doughnuts for 2 people :)

The actual paint color used at The Doughnut Vault is Pantone: HEX: #6EB7E4.  Visit The Doughnut Vault's Tumblr for more information.

Photographs taken by Kristin Kerr for Simply Smitten