wooden ware.

On my recent trip to LA, I scoped out a few stores that have yet to grace their presence around my parts.  Cusp, a contemporary boutique owned by the Neiman Marcus Group, happened to be one of the stores I stumbled upon at Westfield Century City.

While I usually love me some shiny, pretty things, I was more fascinated by the unexpected way the store showcased all of their baubles and accessories.

I know the use of wood isn’t quite an unconventional design choice.  We see it in hangers, rafters, and floorboards.  But there’s something calming about the literal use of wood in its most earthly form.

These natural fixtures softened the mood of the store and allowed everything else to pop.  It was certainly a welcomed departure from the metal racks and plastic hangers in most shops.

The pièce de résistance for me was this funky structure — part sea urchin, part ring holder, I could not stop gravitating toward it.  In fact, I don’t wear rings very often, but if I had this sitting on my dresser, I may very well invest in some just to put it to good use.