Hi, my name is Brie. I’m a serial redecorator. Yes, I can admit it. And, happily so!
As my husband can attest (the poor guy gets dragged through throw pillow aisles on the regular), the décor in my home is forever in a state of flux—a new season, a new month, a new week, really, is reason enough for me to switch things up. Luckily, scouring the Islands for cool new buys is part of my job.
Here’s the low-down on what I’ve been obsessed with lately:
Photo: Courtesy Nico Made
Nico Made Bouquet Art Prints
Nico Made is one of my go-tos for charming Hawai‘i-inspired greeting cards—artist Nicole Ferrara’s vibrant and playful illustrations perfect capture the joy of island life. And her collection of floral art prints is no different, featuring happy bouquets of anthuriums, heliconia and tropical fronds I can’t wait to brighten my walls with.
The Angie Bouquet Art Print, The Avery Bouquet Art Print, from $24 each, nicomade.com, @nico_made_hawaii
Photo: Courtesy Mori by Art + Flea
Antidee Lē‘ahi Ceramic Pots
I recently made the move from Kapahulu to ‘Aiea, and one of the things I miss most about our old neighborhood is having Diamond Head just a stone’s throw away. So, stumbling upon local potter Dee Oliva’s sweet little pots shaped just like Lē‘ahi—clay‘ahis, if you will—made me nostalgic in the best way. It’s crater is the perfect spot to nestle a cheery air plant or two.
$55 for small, Mori Hawai‘i, South Shore Market, (808) 593-8958, morihawaii.com, @mori_hawaii
Photo: Courtesy My Manoa
My Mānoa Green Tea Lemon Soap
With the crazy amount of hand washing we do these days, it’s worth the splurge for a beautifully hand-crafted soap that can transform that sink time into mini moments of zen. My Manoa’s latest bar has been hand-milled to be long-lasting with the look of a rustic river stone. It’s white Kaolin clay leaves skin supple and smooth, while the lemon essential oil evens out skin tone and the antibacterial green tea, sourced from Mauna Kea Team Farm, contains antioxidant that fight damage from free radicals.
$9, mymanoa.com, @my.manoa
Photo: Courtesy Ciara Torres
Atelier Apothèkē Single Fin Botanical Oily Holders
I started getting into pressing flowers this summer as a way to preserve my wedding bouquet, so of course these dreamy stained-glass numbers from Atelier Apothèkē by Zephyr x Tide caught my eye. Photographer-artist Ciara Torres forages for wildflowers on the Big Island and then encases them in gorgeous handmade frames that can either be hung or dress up a tabletop. Her fin styles offer nods to the sea, but you’ll also find sun, moon, feather, branch and geometric silhouettes in the mix. Many even feature shelves for holding essential oils, or hooks or loops for jewelry and propagation tubes.
Photo: Courtesy Brie Thalmann
Aloha Chopsticks
You’d be surprised how hard it is to find chic chopsticks, considering every local has a few in their utensil drawer. So, when I came across Aloha Chopsticks’ graphic-print sets at the Keep It Simple zero waste store in Kaimukī, I immediately snapped them up. The pick-up sticks feature punchy hues and island-inspired motifs, such as monstera, hibiscus and banana leaves, plus they’re made from sustainable bamboo.
$3.50, Keep It Simple, 3571 Waiʻalae Ave., (808) 744-3115, keepitsimplezerowaste.com, @keepitsimplehonolulu
Photo: Courtesy Amlou/Kenna Reed
Amlou Le Jardin Reed Diffuser
Inspired by the beautiful gardens of Le Jardin Secret, one of Morocco’s ancient palaces, local home goods label Amlou’s new Le Jardin Reed diffuser emits enchanting notes of lemon verbena, blood orange and white tea.
$45, amlouliving.com, @amlouliving
Photos: Courtesy Dial Electric Supply/Kichler/Adesso
Dial Electric Supply’s Earthy Lighting Options
Don’t be fooled by its nondescript exterior—tucked back, off on the side of a simple, unassuming building next door to Marukai, Dial Electric Supply is a little hidden gem of a lighting showroom. I popped in for the first time a few weeks ago on assignment for our sister magazine Hawai‘i Home + Remodeling and was happy to find a mix of really cool lighting options that I hadn’t seeing anywhere else around town. Case in point, these two sleek-meets-organic styles, which pair mid-century modern silhouettes with natural wood finishes.
Kichler Danika Mini steel and wood pendant lights, $114 each, Adesso Gravity LED walnut ash desk lamp, $220. Dial Electric Supply, 2240 Kaluaopalena St., (808) 845-7811, dialelectricsupply.com, @dialeletric
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