perch.'s picks -- in our own backyard

Caroline here.  The Vamp is always asking me to contribute to the perch blog and my resolution is to start as she is tangoing her way across the Northeast and very soon South America.  -- look out Buenos Aires! More on that later.

Now that I'm settling into motherhood and the little guy is almost sleeping through the night (woohoo!) I'll have more time (and sanity) to contribute.

  

little guy who keeps me busy...

I've decided to write about perch.'s favorite people, places and things in and around New Orleans - both design related and otherwise.  Of course New Orleans provides an abundance of inspiration  - there are the obvious things - the music, the food, the architecture.  And there are the things you might not otherwise get a glimpse of - the cool hole in the wall dive, the most welcoming front porch, the best cupcake in town, the most perfect live oak tree in Audubon Park... I'll be highlighting an assortment of things to keep it interesting.

To start - our neighborhood.  We are so blessed that perch. is located in the heart of the Garden District where the streets running perpendicular to our Magazine Street are lined with fabulous mansions with lush green gardens.  Everyday on my way to work I admire houses and gardens like these. 

Dotting the six mile stretch of Magazine Street, New Orleans' premier shopping district is a wonderful collection of neighborhoods with a diverse array of businesses, shops, restaurants and galleries.  One of our favorites that serendipitously opened when perch. did over two years ago is a dangerously short jaunt down from us at perch.

One word.  Sucre.  To go there is to fall in love.

The mint green walls and the shiny, chrome-wrapped gelato bar are at the same time futuristic and reminiscent of a 1950's soda fountain.

And ooh la la the French Macaroons - the bite sized cream-filled meringues stacked up on the counter in pastel pinks, teals and limes are deliciously fluffy.
Then there are the chocolates...  pick and choose from endless varieties at the chocolate bar.  From flavors like wedding cake to rum raisin to grand coeur.  

And they will be boxed up to go for you in this lovely packaging...

Everything is served up with a smile in typical New Orleans fashion.  You can also find them online to have most things shipped at www.shopsucre.com   And find them on twitter at www.twitter.com/sucreneworleans   Last week on twitter they said that the first 5 people to go to the counter and whisper "frosting" would get a free cupcake.  A little bird told me they delivered on that one.  hee hee.

hello from new york!

Hello Everyone! Valorie here...
Thanks to my darling tango man Alberto for arranging a birthday trip for me to New York. We are having a wonderful time. And thanks to Caroline, Andre, and Jack for holding down the fort at perch. (and for taking care of Cholo too!).
This settee is from Teo Jasmin HERE and HERE.
In my mind's eye it would be a wonderful souvenir to bring back to you!

blue egg.

From Funny Girl:

Fanny:  What is it?

Nick:  A blue marble egg.  I got it in Rome. It's one of my favorite things.
I thought you might like to have it.

Fanny:  A blue marble egg, and yellow roses...You went to a lot of trouble even
though you weren't sure I'd come.

Nick:  I hoped you would.

A lovely customer came into the shop the other day and said our blue eggs reminded her of the one in Funny Girl, and she just had to buy it.

Great Streisand site HERE

You can get your very own blue egg too. Just come into the shop and see us.
Or get it on our web site perch-home.com (look in contemporary accessories page 10).

Wish List

• Blue Egg - $25.
  

ladybugs invade perch!

Ladybugs in the trees in Colorado Springs

You may have heard about the incredible invasion of ladybugs in Colorado Springs HERE
Whole trees and branches, and everything are covered with them. It's amazing!



Here at Perch we are having our explosion of ladybugs!


They are the cutest magnets boxed to look like specimens. We also have dragonflies, bumblebees, and ants.


Come in and get yours, or order them on our web site perch-home.com
Look in the Paper Goods section.

Wish List

• Box of 6 ladybug magnets - $20.
• Box of 6 dragonfly magnets - $17.50
• Box of 6 bumblebee magnets - $17.50
• Box of 6 ant magnets - $17.50
  

nest candles are the best candles.

Nest Fragrances, created by Laura Slatkin, offers an exquisite collection of twelve scented candles that will fill your home with the essence of luxury, sophistication, and comfort. The Nest Fragrances collection combines color, texture, and fragrance to enhance everyday living and entertaining experiences.
Perch is the only store in New Orleans to carry this wonderful line. It is the only candle we offer, because it is the best one that we have found. Other major retail outlets such as Bergdorf Goodman, Henri Bendel, and Neiman Marcus also sell this beautiful candle.

We just got in a new shipment of the best selling scents: Bamboo, Wild Oats and Bourbon (smells like a fresh washed man!), and Mahogany. At $32. it's the best priced little piece of luxury you can afford for your home. The Nest candle is also a perfect gift.



The Nest everyday glass was designed to compliment the beauty of its surroundings. It's classic shape and modern stripe etching on crystal clear glass will never compete with decor. Each of the twelve Nest everyday fragrances combine concentrated fragrance oils with an exclusive soft wax that creates a slow even burn that easily permeates any size room.
We use one or two in our huge 6000 square foot store, and they smell so good. Everyone who comes in always tells us how great the store smells. We burn them all day everyday, and they last forever!
Go to the aromatherapy part of our web site perch-home.com to order yours now, or stop by the store and get a couple before this shipment sells out.

chinese chicken salad for tablescape thursday.

We asked Jack to please make us a little salad today. And he happily obliged and made Chinese Chicken Salad. Click on images for more detail.


Of course we had to set the table themed to Jack's dish. We pulled out the Thomas Paul Hong Kong pattern plates, and a pair of Foo dogs. We don't have too many choices for table linens, but a pretty tea towel did the trick. The zinc place cards are so cute. You use chalk to write on them, so you can erase it, and use them over and over again.


We are dining in the showroom today in honor of Tablescape Thursday.


And here's the gorgeous salad!


Jack does it again!!!! Yum!

It looks so pretty on the plate.


Visit "Between Naps On The Porch" to see more great tablescapes HERE.

Perch Wish List

• Thomas Paul Blue Toile Hong Kong Plates - 4 for $36.
• Tea Towel - $18.
• Napkins - $8. each
• Foo Dogs - $425. the pair
• Blanc de Chine Lady - $400.
• Metal Antlers/Branch - $225.
• Zinc Place Cards - Box of 6 $20.

On the web perch-home.com
Or call us if you don't see something you'd like on the web site
504 899-2122