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Have a look in your pantry, or perhaps on the shower shelf. You probably own (or perhaps have coveted) something created by Alison and Jay Carroll. They’re the couple behind Wonder Valley, the CA olive oil co. that’s since expanded to include skincare and hair care, all in beautiful packages. (We have been guilty of leaving a bar of Wonder Valley soap by the sink, unused, because the wrapping’s too pretty to undo.)
“This year we celebrate our tenth harvest year,” Alison and Jay write. It’s not the first thing they’ve created together: She has a background in marketing; he in fashion design, creative direction, and photography, and together they’ve renovated a desert homestead in Joshua Tree, a beach shack in Maine, and a historic motor court in Santa Fe (see: El Rey Court).
Today Jay writes in with book (and movie) recommendations, an idea for an architecture themed cross-country drive, and a paint hack…then tune in tomorrow for a tour of their Maine cottage. Read on:
A bottle of the best Wonder Valley olive oil, of course.
Books! Right now Land Between the Rivers by Battle Bull (Jay) and Wellness by Nathan Hill (Al). A small touch lamp. Catchalls with the day’s accessories” ring, silver cuffs, watch, chain, etc. And a big glass bottle of water.
Jay: Wenche Selmer’s book Norwegian Wood.
Al: A Pattern Language, Christopher Alexander.
Collective answer: In Praise of Shadows, Jun’ichirō Tanizaki.
I love to make playlists for inspiration. I’ll send you one. Working on a new one now for the next issue of Desert Dispatch, Wonder Valley’s hi-dez, lo-fi, atlas, almanac, fanzine and bulletin board which comes in the form of a biannual newspaper. Other than that, lately I’ve been really into the podcast “60 Songs That Explain the ’90s”. The host’s monologues offer an incredibly hilarious and very personal take on some of the best and biggest songs to come out of the decade.
Jay: Almost any Almodovar film… especially All About My Mother, Talk to Her, The Skin I Live In.
Al: The Taste of Things. I think Al could live in that kitchen.
These world creators! Jay: @pepideboissieu. Al: @salmon_creek_farm.
The best house upgrades are the things we made just outside the house: A pizza oven. An outdoor shower. A “haul-off” beachside mooring for the boat.
You can make Farrow & Ball colors in other paint brands bases that are less than half the price. Champagne taste, beer budget.
…from Nickey Kehoe.
Farrow & Ball’s Lime White. I’m also a fan of mixing tonal warm whites in one room.
A new go-to is Brad Leone’s signature griddle tuner from Lamson. It’s just a perfect-sized small spatula.
Timeless, warm, found.
Probably Frank Lloyd Wright’s Usonian homes. I first learned of them in high school art history classes. Al and I have driven cross country so many times we started getting thematic on the experience. A fun and immersive one included visiting a dozen FLW-designed homes on the drive across while listening to his biography.
Jay: Xtratuf deck boots, Jeans from Ordinary Fits, white tee, Kapital pullover.
Al: Beatrice Valenzuela shearling clogs, Rudy Jude wide wale cords, vintage orange sweatshirt.
Shop Commune.
An Interior Define U-shaped sectional.
I’m thinking we’ll be buying or building a sauna here pretty soon.
I first heard about Remodelista when I moved from Maine to San Francisco in 2009. I was lucky enough to shoot for it a couple times. We’ve used it often as a design resource for two homes and a hotel renovation. But I fondly remember using it when Al and I first got together as a way to find great homes to rent while traveling. This was before Airbnb became what it is and well-designed homes were a little harder to find. We found spots we loved and had great early memories in places like Istanbul, Tarifa, and Inverness, California, all thanks to Remodelista.
Thanks so much, Jay and Alison! Follow them and Wonder Valley @wondervalley and at welcometowondervalley.com.
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