Shop the Editor’s Summer Picks

With Summer’s arrival comes movies in the park, music street festivals, and my all-time favorite (even though I’m a vegetarian) barbeque get-togethers.  It’s not so much the grilling outside that I am drawn to as it is the enjoyment of hanging out with close friends in a backyard or park on a hot summer day.  When the new summer collection of Chilewich Placemats arrived, I knew I would be needing them for those bright and sunny occasions.

Chilewich placemats come in a variety of patterns, with Rain Collection introducing two new collections designed in great vibrant colors, perfect for those outdoor festivities.  Made from woven vinyl, these placemats are durable and easily washable; just throw them in the dishwater at the end of the party for a quick clean up!

Chilewich Colorblock Placemats available in Clover, Cloud or Surf

Chilewich Seaglass Placemats available in Mediterranean Blue, Natural, or Frost

With such a great assortment, feel free to experiment.  I love the idea of mixing the Clover Colorblock and Frost Seaglass Placemats for an eclectic, contemporary vibe.  Who says you have to select just one!

From July 2nd through July 5th save on select summer fun items at Rain Collection.  You may view these sale items here.

Have a happy and safe holiday weekend!

We find a lot of people that have accounts with Rain Collection share their Wish List with friends and family. In this same spirit we have decided to share our Wish List with you just for fun.  These Lists will give you a peak into the personal style of various Rain team members. We hope you enjoy looking at them as much as we have enjoyed creating them!

We invite you to share your thoughts, opinions, ideas and even Wish Lists if you feel like joining us.  My Wish List can be found in our ‘Find a Wish List‘ feature.  Look for a new Wish List blog post each month throughout the summer.

My top five picks are in the images above. Happy Listing!

So, it’s Friday, and as the weekend approaches, my mind drifts off to Tuscany…a captivating countryside with old world sensibilities.  I think back to the times of my life I spent there, how the entire city shuts down so families can eat together, my morning cappuccinos from the ever-so-sweet barista Marcos, and trips to the country for wine and cheese.

This got me thinking… Cheese and wine, so simple, so elegant, so tasteful.  How fun it would be to host a soiree with  my closest family and friends.  And then the wheels kept turning. What would I need to pull this off?  An extraordinary set of wine glasses.  A glass that’s strong, medieval.  A glass that, when held by an individual, creates a mood of opulence as the wine infuses the senses.  A glass like Jan Barboglio’s Goblet Wine Glass.  And just like that I’ve chosen my glasses, which wasn’t difficult, as I have been eyeing them for some time now.  This was just the beginning…

What comes next?  No cheese and wine party would be complete without the perfect serveware for, you guessed it, a selection of the most interesting and pungent cheeses.  For a strong, sophisticated look I adore wooden pedestal trays.  Available in different sizes, they can be stacked one on top of the other for a monumental display within a small gathering or scattered throughout the room with a variety of different cheeses and fruits for a larger get together.  And to top it off, ceramic cheese markers, already inscribed with the names of 6 different cheese varieties.  How simple is that!

To accomplish the Tuscan ambiance I need just a few more things...

A wine chiller.  Which doesn’t have to be a wine chiller at all really.  Instead I opt for Jan Barboglio’s Ballinito Canister set.  With stainless steel inserts, they are a great option for ice and wine and allow for a variety of wines to be chilled at once.  Not only that, but they mesh perfectly with my chosen wine glasses and compliment the traditional wooden trays.  And when the party is over, they can be used to store my favorite snacks!

A memento.  As a hostess, I always recommend a parting gift.  Something that your guests can take with them, to remember the enjoyment and laughter, intelligent conversations, and perhaps inspire them to enter into the world of decanting, a delectable art form.  With a large selection of Stone Wine Coasters available, I could grab a couple of sets and divide them into individual gifts.  Great for use at the party and to be kept as a memento when it’s over.

Wine and Cheese.  Kind of a given, but we mustn’t forget the purpose!  Choosing wines from different regions and offering a wine tasting of sorts seems like the way to go, and perhaps even asking guests to bring their favorite cheese gives an immediate sense of belonging and allows for instant conversation.

And that’s that.  Stemming from an inspiration of years ago and influencing friends and family to be their own connoisseurs; a Tuscan-inspired wine and cheese party at it’s finest!

For a complete selection of wine party gifts and ideas, visit our Wine & Cheese page at RainCollection.com.

My eye is always on something new at Rain Collection, and my wish list always growing.  I have this obsession for constantly reinventing my space and myself, and a love for finding the perfect piece for that perfect statement.

When the Jan Barboglio Pajaros Vessel first arrived I fell in love.  This type of love only comes around every so often, and I have already mentally placed this vase in multiple vignettes in my home.  As one of the most inventive and creative artists of our time, Jan Barboglio creates a world of perfect juxtapositions with each piece she designs: masculine yet feminine; rustic yet elegant.  An artist sure to bring a statement piece to every home, one to be loved and used time and time again.

Quartz Salt and Pepper Shakers anyone?  A perfect solution to having a set that can go from your cupboard to your dinner table in two seconds flat.  I love the natural raw element of the quartz this set brings to any situation, not only because it’s oh so elegant, but the risk of breaking these as they fall out of my overstuffed cupboard is highly unlikely (yes, this has happened one too many times).

And what woman’s wardrobe wouldn’t be complete without the perfect go to handbag?  When Rain Collection introduced Kisim last year, I made an omen to carry every bag in this incredible collection.  What I’m craving now?  Kisim’s Cutout Bag in Brown.  A menswear inspired, nylon tone on tone striped bag with leather trim.  Classic combination = Instant chic for a girl on the go.

What makes Montes Doggett so special? The design speaks for itself with its clean lines and understated elegance. We also love that the creators support fair trade and use only the finest materials available.

The simplicity of Montes Doggett pieces ensures it will fit into virtually any kitchen’s design style. It also helps keep the focus on the tasty treats that are being served on them. Chefs lovingly labor over the beautiful creations they will share with their guests. The serving pieces should be equally as interesting without overpowering their creations. Montes Doggett accomplishes this perfectly.

‘From start to finish, only the finest natural materials are used and each piece undergoes rigorous processes to ensure unparalleled workmanship. Clay of the highest quality is selected from the Andes Mountains of Peru. The clay is ground, shaped and fired for durability and to make each piece lead-free and microwave-, dishwasher- and oven-safe.’

Our favorite fact about this collection is that ‘Montes Doggett believes in fair trade, respects indigenous artisans and celebrates the inherent beauty and craftsmanship of pottery made by loving hands.’ Rain introduces you to this collection hoping you too will enjoy the loving care that comes with creating and being surrounded by the love of friends and family.

NYE is an occasion that is very special to us all. From the hostess to the guests, this night is one we will remember all year. The effort, thoughtfulness and organization that go into this night are endless for your hostess. A token of appreciation is sure to bring a smile to their face and show them how much this night means to them and to you.

Our Amethyst Bottle Stopper and Crystal Bottle Stopper are fantastic gifts for a hostess that already has it all. These bottle stoppers are a must have for anyone who loves entertaining. We also love the stunning natural beauty of our Brazilian agate coasters and plates.

Looking for a more classic hostess gift? Our Champagne Gift Box will give that little something extra to the toast of the night.

No matter what you choose your Hostess will appreciate your thoughtfulness. Say farewell to the past and welcome in the New Year with style and class.  As always, if you are having difficulty finding the perfect gift for your hostess feel free to talk with one of our stylists toll free at 877.348.5558. We are happy to help and enjoy the challenge!

Chilewich takes tabletop and floormat design to a whole new level, offering a stunning array of colors and patterns. They infuse style and function into each piece, engineering unique home décor products. Although modern in design, the seemingly simple and ancient technique of the woven textile eases into any home decorating style.

The Chilewich placemat will perfectly frame and accent your tablesettings. Patterns such as bamboo, swirl, and basketweave are meshed with a color palette including chocolate, pistaschio, cranberry, camel, charcoal and an eye-catching indigo. The easy to care for plynyl indoor/outdoor floormats are washable, quick to dry, and resistant to mold & mildew.

Chilewich is one of our favorite products. Rain Collection not only recognizes Chilewich for their cutting-edge designs, but for their continued commitment to improving the environment indoors and out. We hope you will enjoy the Chilewich line of products as much as we do!

Rain Collection is an online boutique specializing in style and service. We are a premium resource for home décor, personal accessories and gift items. On our website you can discover the latest designs and trends, while locating hard-to-find and exclusive items.

We feature designers and brands you may already be familiar with, but also focus on finding stylish, up-and-coming designers to offer a unique shopping experience. There are many talented artists in the industry that lack exposure. We hope to offset this by presenting these lesser known lines alongside popular brands and designers.

Some of our favorite up-and-coming designers right now are Kisim handbags, Denise Disharoon jewelry and Jan Barboglio home products. Keep your eye out for these labels. The level of quality and style in these lines is impeccable. You will see us talking about all of these in more detail here on our blog.

There is always a buzz and excitement every time a new shipment arrives at our warehouse. Opening the boxes becomes a group project and a celebration. Part of the goal for Rain Collection’s blog is to enable us to share this excitement for our products, while offering tips and information on the current styles and trends in both home and personal style products.

You can now find us on Facebook and Twitter. We encourage anyone to contact us at any time for personal service. We value your compliments and complaints equally as they both help us provide a higher level of customer service. Please let us know if there is anything we can do to improve your shopping experience with Rain Collection. We hope our selections will inspire you and look forward to helping you develop and create your own personal style.