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Window Shopping: Adler Adoration

It’s been way too long since our last window shopping adventure. As most of you know, these aren’t paid or perked or anything – we just walk through a store with a camera and take pics of whatever inspires us for you guys. This post is actually a few months overdue (woops) but now that I’ve uploaded the pics and sat down to write this post I’m all school-girl-ish again. See, I actually stepped foot into my first Jonathan Adler store ever a few months back (while we were in DC for a signing up the street) and I was OBSESSED.

Believe me, it’s not a good look. I get all squealy and grinny and I probably look like I’m one minute away from rubbing my face on everything. But the employees were very nice and nobody escorted me out, so I consider it a win. Here’s what was there to greet me when I casually sauntered in bounced my way around the store like a female non-tiger version of Tigger.

Adler 1 Chairs

Pretty colors, right?

I loved every last mug design. Can’t you picture a collection of these stacked on an open shelf in someone’s kitchen? Heck a few of them even make for some awesome wall-stenciling inspiration.

Adler Mugs

And the lights.

Adler Lights 2

Don’t get me started on the lights.

Adler Lights 1

They were amazing. And of course since I was trying to play it cool I didn’t ask someone how much they were but my guess would be a million dollars each because they were that pretty. Probably overshot that a little (I’m a bad guesser) but as far as 100% free inspiration goes, this store was packed with it. And that, my friends, is why I love Mr. Adler.

Sidenote: if you guys haven’t read his books, I highly recommend them all. He’s real, hilarious, and inspirational. In fact this quote from his latest book (100 Ways To Happy Chic Your Life) was so awesome that I instagramed it a few months back…

Adler Quote

Oh and speaking of loving what you love and all things happy-chic, how much fun are those two yellow and white ottomans? I petted them. I couldn’t help myself.

Adler 2 More Chairs

This pillow even had John laughing. Gotta love a pillow with a sense of humor (remember this old Joan Crawford quote from Mommie Dearest?).

Adler Pillow No Wire Hangers

Couldn’t you picture an entire kids room designed around one of these needlepoint map pillows? I’d do soft blue walls with pops of the brighter blue (from the pillow) in a ton of accessories along with hits of green and orange. And maybe a glossy yellow rocker? Me-ow.

Adler Pillow Maps

This purty chair was sort of the cousin to our office chairs. So much happy, you just wanted to park your buns in it all day. The funniest thing is that a few years ago when we were in our super neutral phase of decorating (see our first house) I never would have described J-Ad as my style, but after having Clara and moving into our current place, we’re down with all things happy, cheerful, and bright. It’s like Sir Jonathan covertly wormed his way into my heart and I didn’t even realize how much my preferences had changed until I was walking around his store thinking “yes, yes, yes!” instead of “scared, scared, scared.” Haha.

Adler Chairs Like Our Office Chairs

These were my favorite. They were little faux zebra dishes in a few fun colors and I completely regret not buying the green one for my night table (wouldn’t it be cute for a pair of earrings or a watch?).

Adler Zebra Dishes

This needlepoint pillow is full of so many colors (yellow, red, teal, navy, gray, black & pink!) but it still felt like it could layer into any room. And I loved the two other pillows with the colored piping that were paired with it. I know some of you out there could DIY your take on those neon-piped pillows, right?

Adler Striped Pillow

This plate inspired me a lot too. How many old white plates from thrift stores have you seen like this? None with gold, but maybe that could be added with metallic paint or gold leaf. It totally made me want to try my hand at a homemade version.

Adler Gold Dish

Here are some other fun ottomans. If money were no object I’d snatch them up for Clara’s big girl room. But even though they’re not in the budget, they’re awesome for inspiration. I love how there’s white, pink, and bold red all layered together in a fun ikat-ish way.

Adler Red Ottomans

Here’s another example of sheer inspiration that I snagged while staring dreamily at one of the side tables. See that teal and gold egg? Well they sell wooden eggs like that at craft stores like Michaels for 99 cents each. So you could grab a bunch, spray them metallic gold, let ’em dry, then put some rubber bands around them at random angles and spray them bright teal. When you remove the rubber bands there should be bands of gold that show through just like the guy below.

Adler Horse Lamp

And that side table was actually a cool white lacquered tray attached to an X base. So if you see any old table bases at a thrift store, painting them and adding a big lacquered tray to the top could be fun, right? You can whip something up like the tray-side-table that we made for our guest room thanks to some 3M command strips.

This was just a corner that I loved. See the art? Sorry about the glare, but it’s a giant picture of a bird. Yeah, I’m into it.

Adler Blue Grey Bedroom

Another bird. Because one large bird print is never enough. And I mean that without any hint of sarcasm. Seriously, I want two.

Adler Blue Grey Bedroom Detail

This bed was so cozy looking with the tufted velvet headboard in that pretty platinum color. And I love how they added those bright yellow poufs along with some colorful pillows to keep it from being too neutral.

Adler Yellow Gray Bedroom

I thought this wall was really retro and fun with the vintage looking wallpaper paired with the giant feathered wall hanging. And there’s that lacquered tray side table again, so you can see the whole thing more clearly here (with a chesty vase on it to boot).

Adler Boob Vase

And since Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles are my thing (Donatello’s my favorite because my favorite weapon in karate class was the bo), I could totally get down with this guy on a buffet or a console. It could be my little decorating hero in a half-shell. Turtle power.

Adler Turtle Shell

The kids section was fun too. How great is that wallpaper? I would totally use that inside of a nook or a closet. I think it came in pink too. And the needlepoint pillow with the giraffes on it? I might have hugged it to my chest while slowly twirling and whispering “this is the best day of my life.” I told you I get excited.

Adler Kids Wallpaper

Oh Jonathan Adler, I adore you. Let’s be best friends and exchange ceramic animals for every holiday.

Adler Picture Frame

Hope you guys liked that little virtual window shopping spree. It’s fun to duck into a purely-inspirational place every once in a while (we usually traipse through places like Target, World Market, Ikea, thrift stores, and smaller independent shops) but there’s definitely truth to the whole “eye-candy is everywhere” sentiment. What stores have you been ogling lately? Are there any projects or updates that are now on the agenda after seeing them in a shop (or even in a restaurant or coffee house)?

PS: Want to hear an interview I did with Jonathan Adler himself! Check out that link for all of the details and the audio recording, or read a transcript here.

Comments

  3. JenB says

    I have to say that my color palette for my home has always been fairly neutral. I would want to paint a room a daring color and then end up going neutral every time. But after reading you guys for a few years now, I’m going for the brights. Pillows or curtains or even paint can be changed if I hate it, right? Thanks for the push and the inspiration!

    I’m so sorry I can’t make the Charlotte signing tonight. I was going to come but sick kiddos will prevent it:( Such is life. Love you guys!!

    Reply

  4. Cindi Z. says

    It’s comforting to know that others share my addiction to all things JA!!! Really enjoyed this post! I got the opportunity to meet Mr. Adler in Dallas a few years ago & was completely smitten. He’s as lovely as you’d expect. He was so sweet & gracious as I made a fool of myself! I was shaking from head to toe. I also caught a glimpse of him & Simon during the Dallas JA grand opening. I almost died. ?

    Reply

  6. Jeri says

    Fun post! I just went to a JA store for the first time a couple weeks ago, and even though it was a smaller one, it was amazing! I think my favorite part of all your pics is the pic of JR Ewing on the dresser in your bird shot. Love JA’s sense of humor!

    Reply

  7. Devon @ Green House, Good Life says

    I just misread part of the post and got brilliant inspiration to make an old console table I bought at a garage sale last summer into a padded bench. So thanks for writing something that I, in my haste to look at the pretty pictures, totally misunderstood.

    If you’d posted this earlier, I’d have suggested that you pick up the zebra dish at Austin’s new JA store when you were here next month. (It’s about a block from Book People.)

    Reply

  10. Annie says

    Why is that store not in my life? Oh right, Canada. Blah.

    And multiple pictures of Larry Hagman on that white dresser? LOVE IT

    Reply

  11. angie says

    I love your blog and have read daily for years. I share your love and admiration for Jonathan Adler and I think this is a great post. But I want to let you know more about the wire hanger pillow. Although amusing if you approach it from a closet neatness perspective, the Wire Hangers pillow also has a strong political message. When abortion was illegal, wire hangers were a common method of unsafe abortions, and led to many deaths. The pillow is making a strong political message in favor of women’s health and I’d hate for you to miss that meaning and just think it’s a funny statement on taking care of your clothes.

    You don’t need to approve this comment if you don’t want to, but you might want to edit the post to acknowledge the intention of the pillow or remove it, if that feels more comfortable. I don’t presume to know your political views, but couldn’t let this just slip by.

    Reply

    • Meredith says

      I didn’t make the connection, but I have heard the “no wire hangers” slogan re: abortion as well. (Someone I went to college with had a button that had a picture of a hanger with the red slash through it; I inquired and was given that explanation). I have no idea if the pillow was intended to make that association or not, but I have heard it in that sense!

    • Julia says

      TOTALLY read it as political. I saw a number of wire-hanger (with a circle around and then crossed out) buttons on people’s bags through college, as well as it coming up in conversations with friends in highschool and post-college. I also am an illustrator and I’ve done an illustration with hangers with stuff on them; an editor worked with me to downplay that connotation (mainly because it wasn’t what I was aiming to evoke). Hard for me to see how it could possibly NOT be related to abortion. I’m not familiar with the movie, though, whereas I’ve repeatedly heard it brought up in conversation by men and women of all political/ethical views on abortion from teenagers on up.

    • YoungHouseLove says

      My guess would be the exact movie quote “no more wire hangers” is a Mommie Dearest (Joan Crawford) reference and the depiction of a hanger with a cross over it symbolically on a pin is political in nature. Some of his other pillows are famous pop culture quotes (there’s a supermodel quote that says “I don’t get out of bed for less than $10,000” so I think he loves cheeky quotes and isn’t trying to be political). Of course I can’t be sure, but that’s my impression :)

      xo,
      s

  12. Elizabeth says

    Cool! I’ve never been to a Jonathan Adler store, but it looks really fun! That boob vase made me chuckle haha. I’m loving all the brightly coloured pillows.

    Reply

  15. Jessy says

    I love those birds. They look so dignified sitting for their official portrait. So serious but so fun! They remind me of the parakeets I had as a child and their colors are so muted and pretty.

    Reply

  18. Alyssa says

    My brother got my mom and I those mugs. I couldn’t believe how good his taste was. He got me the pretty blue hexagonal patterned one, but it’s far too pretty to be tucked away in a cabinet so I keep my make up brushes in it. :)

    Reply

  19. Erin says

    You’re reaction to JA is my reaction to Marimekko. All of the bright colors and fabulous prints, they just make me so happy! I can’t get enough! You have to check out a Marimekko store the next time you are in New York, Chicago or Minneapolis. You even mentioned a Marimekko piece in a house crash the other day, the fabric stretched over canvas in the baby’s room with animals on it. So many wonderful things, so little money to buy them all! ;)

    Reply

  23. Katie says

    I love that “no wire hangers” pillow as I can be very Mommy Dearest-esque when it comes to them. Actually I think it was seeing the movie at a young age that instilled in me just how terrible wire hangers can be.

    P.S. I live outside D.C. and didn’t realize there was a Jonathan Adler store nearby…glad you blogged it! Must hit up Georgetown soon.

    Reply

  24. MM Strolle says

    $herdog, I looked at the J Adler site today, several of the itmes you are loving are on sale! The world pillows, many of the ottomans, and some really fun funky George Washington salad servers :)

    Reply

  27. AnnMarie says

    Our house (which is our 1st) is similar to the decorating style of your 1st house…but I loooove the happy bright colors of this store and your current house. I have been starting to add pops of color, but struggling a little with making the the two blend. Is that even possible? I think I’m stuck in an all-or-nothing mentality. Any suggestions with where to start? Let me guess, pillows? ;-)

    Reply

  28. Kate says

    This doesn’t have to do with this post, but yesterday’s. So I loved everyone’s comments on it, and I’m having another kiddo sometime at the end of the summer, and my best friend is having one at the end of the spring. I thought it was neat reading about names since I’m probably going to have to come up with one eventually. Well one of the comments had my besties first name and same middle name and her daughters name. This made me immediately text said friend (of which she neither confirmed or denied my questions about blog reading and babies) but it did allow us a quick text chat, so thanks!

    Reply

  30. Jeanna Sanchez says

    I bought 2 large trays from target, ya know from the neiman marcus line on clearance for $12.50, they are huge and super heavy. I so want to find a base and make a couple of those tables!! They would be super cool night stands..

    Reply

  32. Rachel K says

    I live on the same block as a Jonathan Adler store and I registered there for my wedding. All we got off that registry were the salt & pepper shakers, but they are fabulous shakers! :)

    Reply

  33. Louise says

    I was sitting here reading this post with a rapidly growing grin on my face at your enthusiasm, when OH said “you are grinning like a loon, what are you reading?” ha! then I pulled a sad face and said “oh, just another excellent thing we don’t have here (UK)i’m thinking of buggering off to America!” Seriously, this shop is exactly my cuppa tea, and don’t get me started on the sheer envy I have of you and your sir craig and his list lol! it gives me the right hump! (winge over ha!)

    Reply

  34. Laura says

    wow, I think you guys made a fan out of me! I’m going to have to add his books to my wishlist! Speaking of books, I didn’t take a single peek at your book until I got my signed copy in Tacoma. Just opened it last night and flipped through the whole book in one evening! Haha. Now I gotta go back and figure out which ideas I’m going to borrow! Love you guys! Thanks! Btw, I was like the second to last person in line with the big sea shell. Which I think I’m going to plant a crab-looking succulent in.

    Reply

  35. Jessica says

    These are the moments that it makes me sad to live in the midwest because there are no stores nearly as amazing as the Jonathon Adler store. The low cost of living usually snaps me out of it though!

    Reply

    • Julia says

      There’s a Jonathan Adler store in Minneapolis! And as a previous commenter pointed out, a Marimekko store too. But then again, I don’t know that the COL for Minneapolis is all that low!

  36. lilcg says

    a couple of years ago I lucked into his elephant candle holders at anthropologie in the sale room. I have NO idea why the anthropologie crowd hadn’t gone for them since they were in perfect condition and adorable, but at 75% off their regular price they came home with me. they sit on my mantle now and make me very happy.

    Reply

  37. A Word With Penelope says

    There’s a Jonathan Adler store only 5 minutes from where I work… I’ve only been in one time and even then only 5 feet into the store.
    This will change soon. Loving the bold colors.

    Also, needlepoint is totally making a comeback! woo!

    Reply

  39. Jill says

    I want a bird on my wall and a gold-striped egg. Great DYI ideas! We have a JA store in Minneapolis now. I NEED to go, asap.

    Reply

  41. Jenna says

    I think that yellow poufy thing on the wall is called a JuJu hat. I’m not an expert on big poufy wall art, but I did see an episode of Dear Genevieve where Genevieve Gorder was slightly obsessed with them. I think they’re some type of tribal headwear, but whatever they are, I love them!

    Looking forward to seeing you guys in the Queen City tonight!

    Reply

  44. Alice says

    I wore a shirt in my high school freshman photo (way back in 1971!!) that looked just like the multi-colored zigzag needlepoint pillow. My blouse was no Jonathan Adler, that’s for sure as it came from K-Mart!

    Reply

  45. Amanda says

    Love the pillows! So really everyone, how hard is needlepoint? And how do you get trendy patterns? Would love to try my hand at a pillow that doesn’t look like it came from my great Aunt’s house of dusty antiques…

    Reply

    • Holly says

      Needlepoint is not very hard, but it is VERY expensive. The “canvases” (what you needlepoint onto) are hand painted and can run in to the hundreds of $$s. Plus all the thread, and depending on the complexity of the design, can be an additional $50. I would love to do more but it’s too expensive for me. I do counted cross stitch as an alternative, although it’s a lot harder to find “modern” designs. Just start googling needlepoint and you can find some online needlepoint sellers and figure things out from there.

  46. Christina says

    I love love love Jonathan Adler! There’s a store near us in Santa Monica that I walk through all the time without buying anything (I’m sure the employees love me!) and if I don’t have time to go in I have a tendency to lovingly pet the windows of the store as I walk by. I finally bit the bullet and made my first JA purchase: the zebra stacking dishes (in teal)! It’s the perfect little catch-all for earrings and rings. And if you’re still bummed you didn’t buy one when you had the chance, you can get them on his website.

    Reply

  47. Holly says

    Shouldn’t the title of the post be “Adler-ation”? We have a JA store near us here in Atlanta and it takes all of my energy not to go in every time I pass by!

    Reply

  48. Kelly says

    I love JA & his bright colors too..so, so much. I visited his store in Newport Beach a couple years back & felt just as giddy and happy and overwhelmed to be there. I still feel all fancy when I have my toast & coffee with the striped cup/saucer set I bought (on sale)! :)

    Reply

  49. Rachel says

    That’s so great! I also thought I’d remind everyone that Barnes & Nobel (sp?) was carrying a little JA collection of things like paper weights, pencil sharpeners (the elephant and whale I bought and made you guys sign in Tacoma with my girlfriend :), bookends and the like. White animals. SO CUTE! The bookends were big and cost $39 – not too bad. It might be a good option for someone to get some JA love in their home for a more reasonable price. I’m in deep smit. :)

    Reply

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