Leanne Potts | Design Happens

POSTS BY Leanne Potts

How I Would Have Spent My Tax Refund Had I Gotten One

by Leanne Potts April 17, 2010 11 Comments

Tax Day, the day we all love to gripe about. The NY Times reported 47 percent of Americans owed no income tax for 2009.

I’m in the 53 percent who did write a check to the IRS on April 15. I won’t gripe. Taxes pay for civilization. If you want to see what a country looks like where no one pays taxes, go to Somalia. I’ll take interstate highways and public schools for all, thank you. I can dream about what goodies I would have bought with a tax refund, though.

1. At the top of my wish list is a Manhattan Leather Club Chair from Pottery Barn. In Berry Red. I know, I know, PB isn’t wildly cutting edge and this chair has been around for a decade, but I adore it. I’ve coveted it in PB catalogs for years, from the days when it was only available in Cognac and Black. It’s voluptuous and lusciously Art Deco. I could lay sideways in it and read a book. My dogs could jump on it and not harm that supple, full-grain leather. Maybe I should cave and order one right now. Fiscal prudence be damned.

PB's Manhattan Club Chair was inspired by vintage 1930s chairs found in a Paris flea market.

Goodbye Gray Winter, Hello Colorful Patio Season

by Leanne Potts March 20, 2010 7 Comments

Woo hoo, winter is finally over! Today, March 20, is the vernal equinox, astronomy-speak for the official first day of spring. No more driving home from the office in the cold, bleak dark. No more feeling as cabin-fever crazy as the Travelocity gnome. Patio season is back! We can spend our evenings outside with potted palms and cool drinks. To celebrate the return of days that last past 8 p.m., let’s look at some goodies to make our lengthened patio time more stylish.

Photo from LaFuente.com

We’ll start with a classic Mexican talavera planter to give your deck or patio a touch of vivid south-of-the-border color. Sit by it with a cold Pacifico and imagine you’re co-starring with Jessica Alba in the new Roberto Rodriguez film Machete about a Mexican Federale on a rampage in Texas.
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Happy Birthday, Dr. Seuss

by Leanne Potts March 1, 2010 12 Comments

Tuesday, March 2, is the 106th birth anniversary of Dr. Seuss, creator of the classic children’s books “The Cat in the Hat” and “Green Eggs and Ham. ” Of course his real name wasn’t Dr. Seuss; it was Theodor Geisel and he died 19 years ago. In his honor, we were going to inflict a Seussian-inspired entry on you like: