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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

  1. Becca says

    This post had me giggling so much to myself! I just kept thinking.. Oh em gee! I am not the only one who reacts like this in stores! I’m not alone!! Yay!! :-)

    Reply

  2. Renata says

    Ah! I wish you guys could pick me up on your way to Charlotte, I’m in Raleigh and the train won’t leave in time for me to get there. Wish I could make it

    Reply

  5. Meeshy says

    I loved this post! My husband and I visit with the ceramic sharks and the bird prints almost every week. Maybe someday there will be room in our budget for them, but until that day I’ll enjoy the instant mood-lift I get from the store :)

    Reply

  6. Julie says

    This is totally random and has nothing to do with Adler, but I just wanted to comment on how awesome your sponsor Shades of Light is! I just ordered a light for my bathroom through them, mostly because of seeing them on this site…apparently advertising works! As I was installing the light, the front glass broke – probably 50% my fault, 50% the design of the light. I e-mailed them to see if there was any way of getting replacement glass and no joke, they called my cell phone in less than 5 minutes to confirm what piece of glass I needed and tell me it would arrive in less than a week…no charge! Totally amazing customer service, and I will definitely be ordering my lights exclusively from SoL from now on.

    Reply

  7. Momcat says

    I didn’t even KNOW J-Ad had a store!! YAY! I definitely know what I am doing the next time I run up the D.C. way!!

    The store I work in (The Rue, RVA) just got in some pillows we had made to go with a settee, that are done in J-Ad fabrics. Gorgeous, his fabrics are absolutely gorgeous. I have petted the pillows several times, already!!

    Me-Ow is right!! Thanks for the J-Ad eye candy post!!

    Reply

  9. Brandi says

    I know this isn’t related to this post, but is there a possibility that you’ll be anywhere else in Atlanta?? The book signing here filled up so quickly, I wasn’t able to get in. :(

    I wasn’t sure if other places are ever scheduled due to ‘high demand’…lol.

    Reply

  10. Teresa @ wherelovemeetslife says

    I’m always finding something new to obsess over.. thanks! lol I now have to look at every single item on the JA website. I had never really taken a look at his stuff, just heard his name a lot. WOW… this dude is a genius!

    Thanks for sharing!

    Reply

  11. Alison says

    I haven’t made it to the store yet and I live sooo near DC! Shame on me! Actually one of his major inspirations is totally my favorite designer: Bjorn Wiinblad. I’ve always felt like me and JA should be besties.

    Reply

  15. Jen says

    oh lots of yummy eye candy home things in this post. I LOVE them all, but especially those yellow/white ottoman and the ikat ottomans.

    Never been to a Jonathan Adler store, but it looks wonderful and expensive! $$ :)

    Most of my inspiration lately comes from a mix of Ballard Designs/Anthropologie/and thrift store finds :)

    Reply

  17. Ashlee says

    As a loyal Raleigh, NC blog reader since 2008, I am completely sad that I won’t be in Charlotte tonight. Wish it could have worked out! Boo :(

    Reply

  18. Sharon says

    Every time I want to take a picture inside a store, I almost feel like I’m doing something wrong because a lot of places seems to frown on it. How do you guys get such awesome shots? Do you ask for permission first before you photograph? Have anyone ever told you no photography? Just wondering. =P

    Reply

    • YoungHouseLove says

      Most stores love photography now (the age of social media = they hope you blog or Facebook or tweet about them, haha!) so we are just very obvious with our giant camera and no one gas ever told us not to take photos except for a Restoration Hardware Outlet about three years ago. So random, right?

      xo,
      s

  21. Tiffany H. says

    I didn’t think my week could get any worse, then I realized I was going to miss your FLOR signing in Atlanta this Thursday! Wah!! I have the stomach bug, so it’s to bed with Ginger Ale and Saltines for me. :-(

    Have fun, and be sure to take a picture in front of the Olympic Tower and grab a burger from The Varsity.

    Reply

  22. Amanda says

    I adore that giraffe pillow (probably not much of a surprise from the woman who named her blog the giraffe life, but still). I need to find one of those stores near me!

    Reply

  24. Kelly says

    Target’s Nate Berkus collection has a turtle shell too! Haven’t seen it in person but they have it in different colors… Off white included!

    Reply

  27. tesia t. says

    L.O.V.E. that J. Adler quote about being yourself! I completely need to live by that! Thanks for sharing this inspirational posts! love the color combinations!

    & is it too late to do the Macklemore challenge??

    learning to be more colorful and bright,
    Tesia t.

    Reply

  30. Shelly says

    Um… Drooling over design inspiration, then in walks the turtle shell (decorating hero in a half-shell, YES!!!), and now all I can think about is how when I was little, I told my family I wanted to run away, MARRY Donatello, and then become Shellatello- because naturally, I’d need to take my new husband’s name, right? *hangs head in embarassment* Going back to my infatuation with the little white sharks on the ledge above the bird-art room now!

    Reply

  32. Jen W says

    Target (the Threshold line) currently has ottomans, just like the Adler ottomans, in peach with white piping for $60. I bought one to put at the end of my dining table and it looks so Adleresque!

    Reply

  37. Marian says

    Thanks for reminding me about this shop Sherry! I have been meaning to get down there and forgot all about it. I like Johnathan Adler so much, I bought a white ceramic elephant at Michaels and named him Adler. It’s been fun to show my kids such fun design.

    Reply

  38. Julie Smith says

    I went to my first and only Adler store in Miami last year. Loved it like crazy I squealed too! Snapped up a vase and my husband bought a collar for the dog! I have all his books too.
    love your post fun and inspiring as always. Keep up the great work!

    Reply

  39. Breanna says

    I love this post!! Never been to one of his stores (would love to though), but I’ve browsed his website many a time. So many happy colors and patterns. Also, just an FYI on the turtle shell you found…they sell almost an identical version at Target, its by Nate Berkus.

    Reply

  40. Rachael Bourque says

    Ok, so I couldn’t stand it… The small zebra tray had me at “hello” and I had to order the green one! Thank you Sherry Petersik! :))

    Reply

  41. Mary Proctor says

    Love this post-my daughter has a store in Pensacola and has tried carrying some fabulous things from Jonathan Adler but it seems she and I are the only one who love him. This may have inspired her to go ahead and keep carrying some of his line-it certainly inspired me.
    But as a 65 year old crafter, the thrift store video is still making me laugh every day-I cannot thank you enough for having that on your delightful site. I have sent it to so many friends who “thrift shop” -however my daughter in law said the video has been around for a while….oh well, I loved it, and it was new to me! Have fun on your trip today.

    Reply

  43. Brady says

    I love that you and Katie Bower both made a “turtle in a half shell” reference on the same day! Her instagram mug pic + your turtle decoration picture!

    So great to meet you yesterday =)

    Reply

  44. erica says

    Ok, if you have a thing against wire hangers I hope you’ve seen Diary of a Mad Black Woman. Stop whatever you’re doing and watch it… “It’s A WIRE HANGERRRRRRRRRRR!!..”

    Reply

  46. Claire says

    I’m not sure if anyone has mentioned this since I haven’t read through all 200+ comments, but I wanted to say that if you join the mailing list you get 10% off of your first purchase. Every little bit helps!

    Reply

  47. Angela K says

    Love, love, love all the colors!! I really like the blue wallpaper behind the turtle shell. Just gorgeous.

    And BTW, when I was reading “…how much fun are those two yellow and white ottomans? I petted them. I couldn’t help myself.” I totally read it as “I peed on them” and thought, “wait, what??”. I was very glad to see that you had in fact petted them, not peed on them. Whew!

    Reply

  48. Lisa says

    OMG, I love Johnathan Adler! So many colors and modern inspiration!! I’m with you tho, kind of breaks the budget a little, but isn’t copying a look a form of flattery? I love his light fixtures too! And the lovely sculptures!! Prints are amazing!!

    Reply

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