We’ve spent our lives defining, refining and feeding our senses ~ the aroma of freshly brewed coffee, the soft hand of a cashmere wrap, the taste and texture of the perfect warm croissant, the aural warmth of a solo cellist, the look of an intriguing still-life arranged and rearranged in our home or studio. Here, then, is our treasure trove of delights. It is by no means complete as our list of ‘Favorites’ is lengthy. As bon vivants and sensualists, we indulge our senses more than most! We’re always on the search for our next discovery, so please send us some of your personal suggestions. Perhaps they’ll make our list?

XOX,

The Matisse Twins

ESSENTIAL LISTENING

Tori Amos
Bluetech
DJ Spire
Sia Furler
Goldfrapp
Nicola Hitchcock/Mandalay
Rena Jones
Led Zeppelin
Peaches
Tool
KCRW
KEXP
C89.5
NPR

ESSENTIAL READING

My Prescription for Anti-Depressive Living ~ Jonathan Adler
The Economics of Happiness: Building Genuine Wealth ~ Mark Anielski
Prescription for Nutritional Healing, 4th Ed. ~ Phyllis A. Balch
Biomimicry: Innovation Inspired by Nature ~ Janine Benyus
Speed Cleaning ~ Jeff Campbell
Think Like a Chef ~ Tom Colicchio
Eccentric Glamour ~ Simon Doonan
The Complete Sherlock Holmes ~ Arthur Conan Doyle
I Love Led Zeppelin: Panty-Dropping Comics ~ Ellen Forney
The Princess Bride ~ Willam Goldman
Music Lust ~ Nic Harcourt
Natural Capitalism: Creating the Next Industrial Revolution ~ Paul Hawken, Amory Lovins and L. Hunter Lovins
The Green Collar Economy: How One Solution Can Fix Our Two Biggest Problems ~ Van Jones
Animal, Vegetable, Miracle: A Year of Food Life ~ Barbara Kingsolver, with Steven L. Hopp and Camille Kingsolver
Superheroes: Fashion and Fantasy ~ Harold Koda and Andrew Bolton
Off the Cuff: The Guy’s Guide to Looking Good ~ Carson Kressley
Miss Manners’ Guide to Excruciatingly Correct Behavior ~ Judith Martin
Under the Tuscan Sun ~ Frances Mayes
Style Statement: Live By Your Own Design ~ Carrie McCarthy & Danielle LaPorte
Cradle to Cradle: Remaking the Way We Make Things ~ William McDonough and Michael Braungart
Home Comforts: The Art of Keeping House ~ Cheryl Mendelson
Cunt: A Declaration of Independence ~ Inga Muscio
Our Bodies, Ourselves ~ Boston Women’s Health Book Collective
Oxford English Dictionary
Book Lust ~ Nancy Pearl
The Omnivore’s Dilemma: A Natural History of Four Meals &
In Defense of Food ~ Michael Pollan
The Julie/Julia Project ~ Julie Powell
Songs of the Gorilla Nation ~ Dawn Prince-Hughes, Ph.D.
Vegan Fusion World Cuisine ~ Mark Reinfeld and Bo Rinaldi
Mythology ~ Alex Ross
The New Basics Cookbook ~ Julee Rosso and Sheila Lukins
Swell: A Girl’s Guide to the Good Life ~ Cynthia Rowley and Ilene Rosenzweig
The Four Agreements ~ Don Miguel Ruiz
Succulent Wild Woman ~ SARK
The Fifth Sacred Thing ~ Starhawk
The Bombshell Manual of Style ~ Lauren Stover
The Elements of Style ~ William Strunk, Jr. and E.B. White
Dare to Repair: A Do-It-Herself Guide to Fixing (Almost) Anything in the Home ~ Julie Sussman and Stephanie Glaka-Tenet
The Sacred Balance: Rediscovering Our Place In Nature ~ David Suzuki and Amanda McConnell
The Vegetarian Epicure ~ Anna Thomas
Eats, Shoots and Leaves ~ Lynne Truss
Domicilium Decoratus ~ Kelly Wearstler
The Heart Aroused: Poetry and the Preservation in Corporate America ~ David Whyte
Style A to Zoe ~ Rachel Zoe

FAVE ‘ZINES

Bust
Conscious Choice (RIP)
Dwell
Elle Décor
In Style
Metropolis
Readymade
Saveur
SEED
T Magazine
Vanity Fair
Vogue
W

DELICIOUS

Artisana Amazon Bliss ~ Bliss in a jar.
B & O Espresso in Seattle ~ Order the Valencia with a warm slice of Budapest Coffeecake. Hmmm…
Beecher’s Handmade Cheese ~ The best Mac and Cheese in Seattle. Go early in the day because they often run out of the Mariachi (made with a bit of snap!)
Café Flora ~ Seattle’s best vegetarian restaurant.
Cafe Gratitude ~ We love this small chain of vegan/veggie restaurants in SF, now expanding throughout California.
Central Co-op’s Madison Market ~ Our lovely natural foods co-op. Great bulk section. Good folks. Community owned and operated.
Chef’s Collaborative / Seattle Chef’s Collaborative ~ Great resources dedicated to promoting local sustainable cuisine.
The Essential Baking Company ~ The Rosemary Diamante and Olive breads are pantry staples.
Le Fournil, Ltd. ~ The best croissants in Seattle, period.
Lamill Coffee ~ Sophisticated, delicious AND beautiful. We’re hooked.
La Montecchia Fior d’Arancio Spumante Colli Euganie D.O.C. ~ The best dessert wine we’ve had in…ever.
Oh! Chocolate ~ The Parisian hot chocolate and (seasonal) sugar plums are to die for!
Poco Wine Room ~ Hip, cozy little joint for wine and small bites. The owners and staff are delightful and knowledgeable. Heed their suggestions - you won’t be disappointed.
Salumi Artisan Cured Meats ~ Fantastic meats and sandwiches. Order ahead and get there early. The line can go around the block and stays that way through lunch.
Slow Food USA / Slow Food Seattle ~ Great organizations dedicated to promoting good, clean and fair food.
Rancho De Philo Triple Cream Sherry, Rancho Cucamonga, CA ~ Serenity and sensuality in a glass.
Thai Tom ~ Some of the best Thai we’ve ever had. Prepare for a wait in this delicious divey joint on Seattle’s University Ave.
Via Tribunali: Antica Pizzeria Napoletana ~ The staff, the food, the ambiance…so good and sooo sexy.
Victrola Coffee and Art ~ Good coffee, rotating gallery shows, live music. Packed with locals.
The Volunteer Park Café and Marketplace ~ Our kind of third place joint. Sustainable business, delicious food and rustic charm.
Zhena’s Gypsy Tea ~ Love the tea. Love the tins. Love the story.

EROTIC

Agent Provocateur ~ Sassy lingerie and crystal handled crops, oh my!
Babeland ~ A fun and safe woman-owned sex-positive shopping destination. Stores in Seattle, LA and NYC are filled to the brim with fabulous toys and props for sensual pursuits. Fantastic classes and workshops are a must-try. Online presence, too, for those a bit shy. The staff are incredibly friendly, welcoming and knowledgeable.
Coco De Mer ~ Exquisite tools and lingerie to tease your senses.
Trashy Lingerie ~ Ready-to-wear saucy get-ups for the bedroom and costume parties alike. Custom ensembles and alterations available. Ever wonder where the ‘new’ Charlie’s Angels got their goods? We still want two of those racing suits that Dylan wore so well!

BEAUTY

Ballard Organics Lavender Foaming Liquid Soap ~ The perfect calming scent. The pump action gives you just the right amount of soap every time. Concentrate refill bottles available.
Ecco Bella ~ The Vanilla Herbal Body Lotion is heavenly!
Island Thyme ~ The Vanilla Lip Balm is so delicious.
Jane Iredale ~ Wonderful product line and the 24-Karat Gold Dust is gorgeous.
Kuumba Made Coconut Rose Oil ~ So yummy and emollient. In colder climates the oil stays in its solid form, but melts quickly when massaged between your hands.
Lavera Naturkosmetik ~ A lovely 100% organic cosmetic line out of Germany.
Mason Pearson ~ The essential hairbrush.
Pre de Provence ~ Wonderful and long-lasting triple milled soaps. We’ve used the Verbena (slightly astringent with a fresh lemon scent) and Olive Oil (earthy fragrance and very moisturizing) bars for years.
Rose Petals Rosewater ~ Instant mood enhancer and great for the skin.
Skin Deep: Environmental Working Group’s Cosmetic Safety Database ~ Fantastic resource for revealing what lurks inside your favorite cosmetic or body-care product. Buyer beware!
Weleda ~ The Wild Rose Facial Care line is divine.

STYLE

The Container Store ~ Bliss for neat-freaks and slobs alike. Organizing solutions for everyone and everything.
Henri Bendel ~ Our favorite shopping destination. If heaven were a department store, this would be it. The Matisse Twins LOVE Bendels!
Les Egoistes ~ Personal styling with a sophisticated and sustainable touch led by the eternally chic and fabulous Rebecca Luke.
Fred Segal ~ Choice selection. The epitome of laid-back California style.
Michelle Lenae Jewelry ~ Fabulous bling for men and women. Her ready-to-wear and custom designs are so beautiful and her demeanor is warm, and inviting.
Polite Society ~ Gorgeous selection and a beautiful ambiance. We wouldn’t change a thing! (That’s rare.)
Takashimaya New York ~ Oprah’s favorite and ours, too. We’d buy everything in the store if we could. Seriously.
World Lux ~ Exceptional writing instruments, time pieces and personal travel accessories. An authorized dealer of our pen of choice, the S.T. Dupont Orpheo/Olympio Lacquer GT.

GARDEN

The Copper Vine ~ Our favorite sweet garden store. Kim Hightower, the owner, is a doll and has such a great eye.
The Palm Room ~ Beautiful tropicals and succulents.

HEALTH AND WELLNESS

The Neti Pot Ceramic and Salt ~ A well-used tool in our homes. Perfect for cleaning out our sinuses after installation days and a must when visiting Black Rock City.
Kabuki Springs and Spa ~ Our favorite spa in SF. Simply elegant, beautiful and oh-so-relaxing.
The Olympus Spa ~ Four soaking pools. Seven dry rooms - the sand, salt and mud-jade rooms are our favorites. Tasty restaurant. Wet and dry treatments. Free entrance on your birthday! We can (and do) spend all day here.
Terra Green Gold ~ Thoughtful and powerful yoga instruction. Her Sunday night candle-lit class with live music in Santa Monica is a rare treat. (And popular - get there early for a good spot).
Tara Russell ~ Top-notch Pilates and Gyrotonic instruction. Her body has to be seen to be believed, courtesy of Pilates and Gyrotonics. We’re believers!

HEROES

Scott Brown ~ Director of Roosevelt High School Jazz and our personal champion and music mentor. Unprecedented third-time winner of Essentially Ellington at Lincoln Center.
Simon Doonan ~ Accomplished Author, Supreme Stylist, Witty Window Dresser and all around fabulous man-about-town.
Tom Ford ~ This phenom designer behind the Gucci comeback (velvet + charmeuse silk = yummy) powder-coated his farm tractors matte black. We likey. Can’t wait to see what he does in the film industry.
Van Jones ~ Tireless Community Activist, Author and Founder and President of Green For All.
President Barack Obama ~ Community Activist and Pioneer in race relations. First African-American president of the Harvard Law Review. First African-American to be elected President of the United States.
Dan Savage ~ Sex-positive Queer Pioneer and Columnist for The Stranger’s Savage Love.

SHEROES

Z Budapest ~ Author, Psychic and Diannic Wiccan. Started the Women’s Spirituality Movement and founded Dianic University Online.
Nzinga Camara ~ Dancer, Teacher and Choreographer of West African Dance. Artistic Director for Kouman Kele West African Dance Ensemble. A powerful dynamo of a woman with a queenly grace.
Hillary Clinton ~ Former First Lady and New York State Senator, and current US Secretary of State. Smart, savvy and a true survivor.
Suze Orman ~ Author and Personal Finance Expert. Her confidence is infectious.
Rachel Maddow ~ Political Commentator and Host of ‘The Rachel Maddow Show’. She’s also a Rhodes Scholar, an out lesbian, has a great sense of humor and is fiercely intelligent. That’s our grrrl!
Shiva Rea ~ Yoga Instructor and Yoga Trance Dance Innovator.
Kimora Lee Simmons ~ Author and Model-Turned Mogul of Phat Fashions. The Queen of Fabulosity.
Martha Stewart ~ The Hostess-With-The-Mostess and Founder of Martha Stewart Living Omnimedia.
Susun Weed ~ Herbalist, Healer and Author in the Wise Woman Tradition.
Joyous Judith S. Young, Ph.D. ~ Professor of Astronomy, University of Massachusetts, Amherst and Founder of the Foundation for Astronomy and Spirituality.

SUSTAINABILITY & SOCIAL JUSTICE

Bainbridge Graduate Institute
Capitol Hill Chamber of Commerce
Cascadia Region Green Building Council
Greater Seattle Business Association
Green America
Green For All
Net Impact
OUT for Sustainability
Seattle Greendrinks
SF Green Chamber of Commerce
Slow Planet
Sustainable Capitol Hill
Sustainable Seattle
Sustainable Style Foundation
The Vertical Farm Project
World Changing