Daly Essentials

Lilly Love

2010-03-04T15:35:00.000-05:00

My friend just alerted me that Garnet Hill is now doing Lilly Pulitzer bedding. After spending 4 summers working for a Lilly boutique, I have more pink and green printed stuff than anyone ever needs and in fact already own a quilt and shams... I'll be honest, I was feeling soooo over it.

But I'm totally wowed by this bedding set! I'm thinking the shams might just be the pops of pink I'm looking for for my new bedroom. They've done a great job merchandizing it too. I've been wanting a white upholstered headboard like the one here and the accessories on the night stand are fabulous off of the bright walls! I'm loving this more modern, sophisticated style of Lilly.

I think the new bedding has re-awakened some of my Lilly love. Although I know I won't be buying any printed apparel again, which I know for certain because the boyfriend has confirmed that hs is NOT a Lilly wearing guy, I'm just DYING over the paper products.

I think the alligator plates, napkins and coasters would be just perfect for my housewarming party! I still get totally freaked out every time I see a gator now that I've moved south!

I don't know why, but I am just obsessed with the idea of Lilly playing cards!

Although I may not be able to justify $20 on playing cards, this market bag is a lot cuter than the one I have from Whole Foods and I can save the environment at the same time!!

And we spoil our dog with just about everything else, so how can I not get her a matching leash and collar?!

My dream of dressing in tennis whites has died...

2010-02-25T22:50:00.001-05:00

After trying on a tennis dress today and wondering "why does this look so ridiculous on me?" I've come to the realization that I don't even know what a tennis dress is supposed to look like on much less what the tennis fashions are these days...

Which led me to wonder, who do I want to be my tennis fashion icon? Anna Kournakova maybe a little too sexy, Serena Williams a little too wild. And then I remembered -- Melanie Oudin and her amazing shoes at the US Open!

You can design your own pair like them at adidas.com!

but first I'll give you a little background on my relationship with tennis..

I've never actually played.... but when I was college, I came across the CUTEST tennis skirt one summer when I was working in retail. I was looking for any excuse to justify its purchase. I considered wearing it as a running skirt - I mean what could be better than that - wear comfy spandex underneath but not feel so exposed!?!but my friends told me was a completely ridiculous idea...

Funny how now Lulu Lemon has 3 different styles of running skirts on their website...

I TOLD you it was a great idea!!

It was about that same time that my mom told me I was not allowed to start any sports simply because I liked the apparel associated with it. (Bermuda's were kind of in that summer and I was also considering golf.) That kind of put the tennis thing on hold for awhile, but for Christmas 2 years ago, I asked for a racquet and some sneakers, but found that finding court time in NYC was more of a challenge than I was looking for.

Now I live where it's warm most of the year and there are tennis courts a plenty! Thus the adventure today in tennis outfit shopping.

It was just one of those commical things where I started trying dresses on and had to keep sizing up and sizing up until I realized I was never going to be comfortable playing tennis in what is effectively a bathing suit with a 2 inch skirt attached...

I finally ended up with a fairly simple skirt by Nike --- to bring it home and realize that it's labeled a GIRLS size medium, not a womens!? At this point, I'm beyond confused.. but it does explain why it was cheaper than the other ones I was considering!

Ironic though -- the whole reason I got into tennis is now becoming my biggest obstable! But regardless, I've got to hit the courts in my girls skirt and ugly sneaks, if only to give myself the reason to invest in a pretty pair like Melanie Oudins!

My amazing Palmetto Bluff adventure

2010-02-22T17:25:00.005-05:00

On Martin Luther King Day, I found myself with a little extra free time. The granite place that I had planned to visit with my Dad was closed for the holiday and the weather was just beyond beautiful.

We had driven past the sign for Palmetto Bluff, which has a fairly non-descript entrance from the main road. I thought I remembered it being the location of the Tree House, but being new to the area and with the South Carolinian's over-use of the word "palmetto", I was no longer sure if this was the site for the Tree House or just one of the many developments down here.

We decided to chance it and I'm so glad we did!!! It ended up being the best afternoon! The drive in is about a 4 mile long path between overhanging trees covered in spanish moss. You pass a bridge overlooking the marsh and it's truly breath taking and immeadiately relaxing.

Although it's new construction, the architecture is done in true lowcountry style down to the gas lantern street lights and pavers on the road. Pictured here is Buffalo's restaurant where I enjoyed a lunch of fried green tomatoes, roasted portabella flatbread and a chocolate chip cookie. I'm salivating just thinking about it, but besides the menu, the setting is just fantastic with fireplaces inside and a beautiful patio overlooking the water.

These are the awesome water views I'm talking about!!! And these are just the pictures that I took myself.. It's even more beautiful when you check out the photos done by the professionals.

The restaurant also looks over to this adorable chapel. I could barely contain myself during lunch as I was declaring " Dad, THIS is where I want to get married!!!"

Isn't it just so cute?!!? I had always thought I'd end up getting married on Nantucket, but that's what's so great about this place, it really feels like the "Nantucket of the South." Beautiful with the historic charm, but with better weather and easier to get to!

Here's the adorable inside!! It will have to be a small wedding, but when my brother came to visit, he and I were already calculating how many people we can cram in a pew. (And amazingly I have not scared off the boyfriend yet with this wedding talk haha!)

But don't worry, while I've started to pick up the southern use of"y'all," I'm still in the NYC dating mentality and in no rush to go down the aisle -- ALTHOUGH, The Inn at Palmetto Bluff was just voted #1 Resort in the US by Travel and Leisure which I'm nervous will eventually lead to higher prices and limited availability as it becomes increasingly well known. I'm simply in love with this firepit/adirondack chair/palm trees combination.

The site once housed the Wilson mansion which was built in 1902 for a wealthy New York banker. The structure burned down in 1926, but the stone stairs and columns remain. I just find the ruins fascinating! There's just something about aged material and that connection to the past that I love.

As you can tell I'm kind of obsessed and I'm certain that I'll share more pictures of Palmetto Bluff in the future since I make sure to go there at least every time we have guests in town!! Above is a picture of some shops and I haven't even been into them yet, I still have so much to discover there!

You had me at The Treehouse

2010-02-10T11:15:00.003-05:00

I've started dating a great guy here and in one of our early conversations he shared with me this amazing company, Reclamation By Design. Now, I don't often watch videos on the computer, but he recommended that I watch their Tree House video.

I was floored! I'd been loving the look of recycled building materials - all the wear adds so much character!! But this home is just so far above and beyond what I could have imagined. You have to watch the entire video - it's awesome, I mean it's basically what made me fall for my boyfriend! ha ha

Here are a few pics of the house, but really they don't do it justice like the video does.

The doors leading into the library are handmade chestnut originally located in a 19th century New England goverment building

I just die over the ceiling in this kitchen. I really wanted to add beams in my living room renovation, but just decided it wasn't really going to work in my 80's contempo space. (Hilton Head unfortunately had a big hit of development in the 80's so rather than gorgeous low country architecture, we're kind of stuck with a bit of a mess.)

Budget restrictions prevented me from having salvaged wood floors or beams on the ceilings, but I am going to have a beam for the mantel. Reclamation By Design not only designs homes but they also sell reclaimed materials, so I'm very excited to check out what they have. I love the piece they used above the fireplace in the tree house.

This picture is not from the tree house, but I just wanted to share it as my inspiration for my fireplace. We ended up going with a limestone instead of concrete, but you can get the idea. I can't wait til it's complete!

It's grey and rainy outside and raining coffee on my grey walls inside

2010-02-02T10:54:00.001-05:00

I'm trying to keep the blog from becoming a running list of my living through a renovation complaints...

But I'm really wondering, what interior design god did I offend today that had me trip on the edge of the torn up flooring and spill my coffee all over my freshly painted bedroom wall???

I'll be completely honest though, I haven't fallen in love with the grey that I picked for the walls... (Sherwin Williams Grey Screen SW7071).

It's way too lavender.... is this a sign that I should repaint in a new shade!?

Shopping Sick

2010-02-01T10:44:00.006-05:00

I realized yesterday, that I'm suffering from some shopper's malaise. I'm feeling a bit unfulfilled. It's not that there aren't some fabulous places, which I've been dying to share with you... It's just that I'm realizing, in NYC, I walked everywhere I went. Which meant that every single day was at least a window shopping adventure. Unless you consider Home Depot a shopping adventure (which I do not), I'm only getting a good shop in about once a week.

Shopping to me is less about actually spending money and buying things, I mean let's be real, I'm not a Rockefeller. But my thrill with shopping is seeing new objects, trends, colors and finding inspiration.

I also realized, to my shock and horror that it took so long to notice (that's what happens when your house is turned upside down with renovation construction) that I haven't signed up for any catalogs to my new address!!

Of course, straigh off to J.Crew I went and now in 2-3 weeks, I will have my catalog and all will be well again.

I can at least get to a J.Crew outlet store down here, but the one true void in my life --- West Elm. Just going to the website to sign up for the catalog made me swoon.

But now that I have diagnosed my problem, I'm working on ways to fix it! Another contributing factor was that I was missing the blog, but with the house design process there just wasn't the computer time to do it! But I think we're getting there!!

Best Wishes for 2010!

2010-01-02T19:10:00.001-05:00

Cheers! I hope everyone's New Year has started off with happiness!

I started the year with some manual labor - my dad and I cleared out our VERY overgrown yard! (This is the first time in years that I've been productive on New Year's Day, but that's the plus side of this slower way of life. Our 8:00 dinner reservations were considered on the "late" side for NYE!) Now we can actually see the property line markers which means.... we're having a landscaper friend come over tomorrow to talk some ideas!! Now the fun stuff really begins.

In my month or so off from blogging, we've had new plumbing and a hot water heater installed, exterminators, termite guys, chimney sweep, heating and air guys, and a handy man all do their maintenance and had 10 trees cut down. Next week, we get a new roof. So far, all of these things have been necessities that were just part of buying a foreclosure. No fun before&after pics with these guys...

But, the next step is just about to get started... kitchen, floors and landscaping... and I'm just so excited to start sharing with you the spaces we've chosen for inspiration and the process and drama of going through the renovations... and finally some day, the before&afters.

I think it's going to be a good year!!

Photo Credits: G. Dela Cruz Photography via Flickr

I know I've dropped off the face of the earth...

2009-12-04T10:18:00.004-05:00

I'm sure you all got concerned when I started missing Pink Wednesday posts! My past few weeks have been crazy; my computer went into a coma, I moved to South Carolina, and it took a VERY long time to get internet installed.

I've moved into a house that needs a lot of work, so I'm really excited for the before and afters!

My 8 year old computer has been revived. The IT people didn't really understand why I couldn't just accept that it was time for a new one, but I explained that I would rather spend money on shoes than a new comp! But I did end up buying a netbook as part of my Black Friday shopping (yes, I woke up at 3 am). So all of those pretty pics I've filed away can be transferred to the new computer!

I'm guessing that it might be a few weeks before I get back into the regular blogging routine. I'm still getting settled from the move, I left the old computer in Connecticut, so can't do any picture transfers til Christmas, and let's be honest, I'm still worn out from blogging on an 8 year old computer.

So I hope everyone had a lovely Thanksgiving and I look forward to being back soon!!!

Summer (and Fall) Reading

2009-11-17T18:35:00.002-05:00

I'm sure you've noticed that I've cut back on my posts. I've been having an aversion to my computer. With nice fall weather, I've been more drawn to spending time outside and one of my favorite things is finding a warm spot in the sun to read! So I thought I would share a few of my recent reads I finished this one in like 2 days! When my mom started reading it, she was like umm, I know this family! And yes, it's just like Kelly writes, her dad and brothers knows just about everyone in the lacrosse world, including my dad!

I love the dog and the setting in this book!I've loved all of Malcolm Gladwell books that I've read including Outliers and Tipping Point. Now that I've read Blink I think I'll need to bring ever future boyfriend of mine to see that guy that can predict the outcome of relationships with a 95% accuracy!

I finally just read this one... I don't know what I was too busy doing when there was all the hoopla about it on Oprah. But regardless of it's accuracy, it's a great story and has helped many people deal with their addictions or their relationships with addicts.

WARNING: THIS BOOK IS HIGHLY OFFENSIVE, but also so ridiculously hilarious. It's essentially an out of control frat boy's tales. Don't read it if you are even a little bit conservative. But if you do read it, don't read it in public - it generally leads to laughing so hard that you're crying and then you draw attention to yourself and then people want to know what you're reading, but you're too embarrassed to tell them. They've made it into a movie too!

Photo Credits: Amazon, although honestly, I'm more of a library kind of girl, saving my money for shoes!

Gift Ideas

2009-11-16T15:40:00.003-05:00

I can't believe how fast this year has gone by! It's actually almost time to start considering holiday gift lists... One of my college classmate's mom makes quilts and bags out of your old t-shirts. So if you're having a hard time parting with those t-shirts that really shouldn't be worn in public, take a peek at her website! Keeping these memories can make a great gift!

Ebay Insanity

2009-11-11T14:54:00.004-05:00

For this pink Wednesday, I've been obsessing over these Asics sneakers. I know, how lame, right? But I finally thought I had found the perfect running shoe!!!Most people think any old sneaker will do, but I've finally realized it pays to shell out the money for the more expensive running shoe, because they do in fact have more support etc. I've found that this style Asics is a great fit for my "sensitive feet" - but the down side to finally finding my sneaker soulmate is that I never get to pick "pretty" shoes; I get stuck with whatever color is out that season. So I'm sure you can imagine how excited I was when I went onto the Asics website to find out that they had made this GORGEOUS color sneaker!

Now the shopping drama begins... I went straight to Foot Locker (where I buy my sneaks when its time for 30% OFF to friends and family). Ugh, not on the website, but I email asking if they will carry this style... basically their answer was NO. I check the Asics website but find that there aren't any stores locally that carry this color.

Off to Ebay I go, where there is a "buy it now" pair for $79.99 or an auction ending in 2 days that was at $50. So my plan is to watch the auction, and if it goes above $79.99 then go to the "buy it now" pair. Well obviously someone else has this idea too! So after a bit of yelling at the computer I find that I am hopelessly left with the option of buying them at $130 - which is still less than their $160 retail, but once I have that $79.99 in my head, I'm determined to get them for that price! (Does anyone else ever suffer from this ebay induced insanity?)

So for the past week, I've been furious with myself for not just buying them at $79.99 the first time, and then more recently, furious with "Joe Shoe Man" for not accepting my "best offer" of $79.99.
Which brings us to today, where thankfully, on the way home from dropping someone off at JFK airport, I needed to take a bathroom break. Fortunately, I was too grossed out to stop at a rest stop, and instead insisted on going at Saks on Greenwich Avenue, in Greenwich, CT. Obviously, I couldn't refrain from doing some light shopping which eventually lead me in to a shoe store where I wanted to see if they had my sneakers. They didn't have them on display, but I thought I would ask anyway... unfortunately they didn't have my size but brought out a size up... and OMG... EWWW they look nothing like the picture!!!!! What I saw in person was this horrifying florescent pink color, and that's just not what is showing up on my computer monitor. So just like that obsession over and done. I'll just get the red pair that are cheaper on ebay anyways!On the other hand - I saw these Hunter wellies at Saks - and they are 5 times more fabulous in person!!! but they still have that $395 price tag.

I've never been a huge fan of online shopping because I know how photos can skew things.. but ugh.. what a day of online pics vs reality!

Today's wish list

2009-11-09T13:56:00.003-05:00

I'm kind of loving these 2 dressy things from J.Crew right now.. Maybe I could wear this silk taffeta bow monde dress to a February wedding?

I really really want these La Plume Satin Peep Toes, but I think they're a little out of my price range at the moment.. ugh.

Small spaces

2009-11-05T18:25:00.003-05:00

I swoon over this woodwork..

but I know in reality I'd get a little claustrophobic in this darling space!

Photo Credit:Haven in Paris

Pink Wednesday

2009-11-04T13:39:00.002-05:00

Here's one of David Hicks designs that I thought was cute for it's preppy pink and green!

Work Relationships?

2009-11-01T19:15:00.003-05:00

My friend sent me this card... I think it's hilarious - I mean working in fashion and interior design, there's definitely a better selection of gay men!

Pink Mini

2009-10-28T11:37:00.002-04:00

How cute is this Vintage Mini? It's new by Annechovie and available in her etsy shop!

Flipping Out

2009-10-27T14:46:00.000-04:00

I believe I have mentioned how much I LOVE LOVE LOVE Flipping Out. But with the cannot miss reunion episode on at 10 pm tonight, I need to reiterate my obsession with Jeff Lewis and Jenni!Home design combined with the ridiculousness that is Jeff, makes for the best thing on tv! If you've missed any of the episodes this season, run to your DVR - Bravo is replaying episodes from 3-6 today and from 8-10 until the reunion starts.

Coincidentally, I am going out to get pumpkins today, which I am quite excited about!! I've refrained from having them in NYC for fear of attracting critters but yay for spending the weekend in the burbs! I want to do something fun for their design... I was thinking I would try to do Jeff's and Jenni's face on the pumpkins, but for some crazy reason I can't seem to find any "Flipping Out" pumpkin carving templates! I may have to go with this haunted house template - at least it has an architectural theme!

Photo Credits: Bravo and DLTK Kids

Thad Hayes

2009-10-26T09:00:00.003-04:00

Thad Hayes was another celebrity sighting of mine at the D&D event. He was signing his new book and was part of a panel at Dakota Jackson showroom. Although I was a little disappointed that Thad wasn't chattier during the debate on 21st century style, I'm not at all disappointed with his designs. I love the soft neutrals in this Fifth Avenue Apartment. that pop of color above the couch is just perfect! stunning light fixture!

a beautiful Wainscott home

Happy Wednesday

2009-10-21T09:00:00.001-04:00

Alicia at Alicia B. Design shares my passion for pink! She just did a post of some gorgeous pink drapes that you must check out! This pic is my favorite. The flower art and light fixtures make the room feel so fresh but it's still perfectly feminine for a girls room.

Renter's Renovation

2009-10-20T09:00:00.001-04:00

The fabulous blog, A Cup of Jo posted on Grant K. Gibson's renovation of his San Francisco apartment. I loved it because it's gorgeous and uses a bunch of budget friendly details. Of course I had to go the New York Times article and get the rest of the pics to share!Grant offered to renovate his apartment in exchange for 2 months free rent ($3000). Yay for such a great idea and a friendly landlord. The biggest drawback to renting is not being able to make changes to your apartment. It's great that the landlord was willing to essentially contribute to the project. Other budget friendly updates: the architectural drawings behind Grant are torn from an old book and mounted in $20 frames. The apartment is on the third floor of this Presidio Heights building. Before the renovation, "it was like a circus in there" but those west facing bay windows convinced Grant that it was worth the effort. Grant gave the apartment a new color palette by staining the floors and painting in a neutral colors. You know how I feel about dark floors off of white - LOVE LOVE LOVE!He splurged on the hollow banquette beneath the bay window allowing extra storage and seating. The Bamboo roman shades are from Target!

It's a Williams Sonoma Home couch but pillows in a Fortuny fabric "add an extra element of luxury." Mirrors on the back of the cabinet create more depth in the space.

The old portraits, some of which were purchased from a local flea market give the space an element of sophistication.

The Turkish rug and crocodile tray table were hand-me-downs from a client - I'm jealous!
Believe it or not, the bed is from Pottery Barn Teen, but he altered it by attaching a headboard. "If I buy something at a retail store, I try to think of how I can make it even more comfortable, more functional, more beautiful." So that's why I still subscribe to Pottery barn kids and teen catalogs!Such bold use of color is rather unconventional for Grant, but he likes the cozy, den-like feeling that this blue creates.

The bathroom was tiled with 99 cent tiles. Grant has an aversion to traditional toilet paper holders, so he purchased this trophy on Ebay to do the job here; what a fun accessory it is!

"I've created a space that I just love," Grant says, "When I do find the right place to buy, I'll want to do all of the same things I did here." I love it too! and when I find the right place to buy I also want to do a lot of the same things, although I'm sure I'll add a few girly elements!

Photo Credits: Paul DeSilva for The New York Times

David Hicks

2009-10-18T21:54:00.006-04:00

I've been hearing a lot about David Hicks recently and I figured it was about time that I check him out!I immediately fell for this picture on his website of his country home in Oxfordshire where he designed the crenelated Gothic pavilion and created the surrounding gardens. Born in then English country side, David launched his interior design career in 1954 with the decoration of his own home. He then emerged as one of the most influential designers of his generation. He became well known for his bold use of color and pattern. When he couldn't find the fabrics or carpet he wanted in the market, he began designing his own which were often geometric in pattern. His style is known for seamlessly mixing antiques with contemporary furniture and modern art. How stunning the detail on this table?Some of his designs give away their 70's and 80's time period - but not this one! I love it for it's timeless style.That snake skin table is amazing! I'm loving the bold red of the upholstery too.David frequently used canopies in his bed designs. Some of the patterned fabrics that he chose feel heavy and dated now, but I do love this one.David Hicks' son Ashley has developed new fabrics, carpets, and wall papers inspired from his fathers designs. They are available from Lee Jofa, Stark Carpet and Cole and Son.

Go Design Go

2009-10-15T13:36:00.005-04:00

The D&D Building started a blog called Go Design Go which launched last Wednesday tying in with the fabulous Fall Market that I keep talking about!It showcases new products, hot trends, bargains, design books and more! It's still so new, but I'm excited to see it develop as more readers find out about it!

More D&D Fun!

2009-10-14T09:00:00.000-04:00

While attending a discussion at Lorin Marsh, a show room at the D&D Building with an eclectic assortment of contemporary, traditional and transitional styles, I spent a lot of time looking at the art on the walls.It was all for good reason as the program included a panel of experts in the art business (an art advisor, a painter, a interior designer and a gallery owner). Conversation centered around the challenge of finding art for interior design projects. Part of the challenge is that it's often difficult for a client to verbalize what they want. Finding the right piece is more than just finding the correct combination of style and color scheme. It's more often about the reaction, feeling and sentiment that you experience towards it. I really fell in love with these paintings on display by Joseph Ginsberg. I'm drawn to how colorful they are with a distinct use of pink! They feel playful and friendly and I like their modern style. I can see these fitting in perfectly off of my white furniture.

I find that learning about the artist helps a lot in understanding their art. As an art history major, I guess I'm programmed to think this or my 4 years in college might have been a big waste! This last painting I found on Ginsberg's website along with that he likes to create a magical mix of nature and art in his work. He goes beyond interpreting the world by interacting with it; his pieces experience nature's touch when they are rained upon or wind carries items across them. He also likes to use nontraditional materials, having previously used axle grease and motor oil to create art to jolt the senses.

Design Crush

2009-10-13T09:00:00.002-04:00

When I went to the D&D Building last week, Jonathan Adler was the love of my interior design life. But now, there's a new man I have a crush on... Michael Bruno! He's the founder of the fabulous website 1st Dibs which he launched after moving to Paris and becoming enamored with the Paris Flea Markets. He's so cute and was so personable during the morning session, Evolution of Design, a discussion looking at the way the Internet and TV have affected the design world. Michael shared his goal of connecting the Paris antiques market to the rest of the world. Since launching the website in 2001, it now features seven million listings per year and has expanded to include jewelry and vintage watches and most recently vintage couture. This is his gorgeous Paris apartment, where obviously I will be living once he realizes that he loves me just as much as I love him!I've yet to figure out if our relationship will be more of the Will and Grace variety ... but I'm not concerned; this fireplace is gorgeous!!!Every single piece in these rooms are so unique! When I go to new places, I love to look around and take in all of the details of the space -- it drives my friend Kim CRAZY when we're at restaurants because she can never tell if I'm paying attention to what she's saying....but wow, it would take me years to finish looking this place over!Another thing I love is that while I can't necessary afford the gorgeous antiques on the 1st Dibs, the website includes an editorial section focusing on designers. This section doesn't help the website make any more money, but Michael loves how they add personality to the site.

So do you love my new design boyfriend?

Paper Dolls!!

2009-10-09T13:02:00.005-04:00

One of my new learnings from the Fall Market at the D&D Building that I went to this week, and let me just mention it was everything I hoped for and more! Fun celebrity designers, entertaining discussions, fabulous food and cocktails! I will be talking about it for days....

anyways, the morning panel included James Andrew, of the blog What is James Wearing.

His website is now a new addition to my favorite blogs. His outfits and poses are beyond! I don't recommend these outfits for just anyone though -- it definitely takes a certain person to pull it off!And in addition to sharing his daily outfit choices, you can download a set of paper dolls of some of his most iconic outfits! Ba-nanas!

The Pink Ribbon Tour

2009-10-07T09:00:00.001-04:00

Isn't pink such a nice color for fire fighter's uniforms!??! I'm 100% serious in saying I think they look fabulous and not just because they are for a wonderful cause! I just learned about this wonderful organization, The Pink Ribbon Tour, when it came to East Hartford, CT, a town not too far from where I grew up. The group includes fire fighters, police officers and leaders in the community raising awareness and money for the fight against cancer for women in this country.

I love the idea behind this organization because they're taking a male dominated profession and supporting not just 1 type of cancer, but all women's cancers, and they make fabulous color choices!

OMG OMG OMG!

2009-10-06T14:32:00.004-04:00

I get to see my most favorite designer tomorrow --- Jonathan Adler!!! He's speaking at the D&D Building as part of their Fall Market Event.

Other fab speakers include Michael Bruno from 1st Dibs and Heather Clawson from Habitually Chic.

And the day is full of fun lectures etc! I will be sure to fill you in on my favorites!

Shopping surprise

2009-10-05T09:00:00.000-04:00

Does this guy look vaguely familiar to you?It's Emmett McCarthy from Project Runway season 2! I happened upon his boutique in Nolita and fell in love with a necklace! It wasn't until I got home and looked at the website that I realized the owner was a designer from the show! I love seeing what the designers are up to now... hmm maybe that's a potential blog series.. Where are the project runway designers now???

Vladimir Kagan

2009-10-01T15:52:00.003-04:00

I just discovered Vladimir Kagan Couture and I'm so glad I did --- apparently all of Hollywood: Brad and Angelina, Courtney Cox, Demi Moore, Uma Thurman, etc AND fashion designers such as DVF, Roberto Cavalli and Elie Tahari are all collectors of his furniture. In the words of the New York Times "Vladimir Kagan is one of the most important furniture designers of the 20th century. Furniture designed by him in the forties, fifties and sixties has become iconic to Modernity and an obligatory reference to every designer. He is the creative grandfather of a whole new generation of designers." Vladimir was one of first to use organic shapes in furniture design. Vladimir's first interest was in painting and sculpture, but after studying architecture at Columbia, Vladimir joined his father, a master cabinet maker, and learned the ins-and-outs of furniture making.He opened his first store in NYC in 1948 and has participated in many prestigious projects over the years. He most recently opened Vladimir Kagan Couture in the New York Design Center, where all of the furniture is custom made in New Jersey.
It's this style of seating, the Omnibus, that Tom Ford selected for all of the Gucci stores.

My personal faves are this coffee table/seat called the Pouf. I love it's unconventional shape and material for a coffee table and the chrome base which is so iconic of Vladimir's designs. Also, I'm kind of obsessed with the salvaged wood beams in the background. I saw them in the show room and I think they are a great sculptural accessory!

My other love is this chair: la ronde. It's even better in person when the pillows are messed up just a bit and not quite so exact.

In addition to his innovative designs, Vladimir's other claim to fame is that he's married to Erica Wilson who has a really cute shop on Main Street on Nantucket! She's known for her needle works, but even more than that I love the clothes in her store. She's got some really unique pieces for women and the most adorable kids clothes!

Chair Fun!

2009-09-30T21:43:00.001-04:00

Elle Decor did a fun little piece on If Money Were No Object: Chairs and a couple were just perfect for today!Happy Pink Wednesday! This one, called the Sushi Chair (fun name!) is by Unica Home. With stunning walls and floors like these, it's amazing that these Ligne Roset chairs can still keep your attention!

You know how I love sophisticated things in kids rooms? I think a chair like this Julian Chinchester one would be perfect. It's a cute print with elegant lines, how perfect!

Wedding Weekend!

2009-09-29T21:33:00.000-04:00

I went to a beautiful wedding this weekend - a true dream wedding, with the castle included!

It was in Huntington, NY, at Oheka Castle - which is stunning!

I had all of the best intentions of running around and taking a bunch of photos; I even brought a huge bag instead of a cute clutch so that I could tote around my very large camera, but catching up with friends and drinking martinis sort of interfered with my plans! Our chauffeur drove us up the beautiful, long driveway. The weather was just about perfect!We were dropped off in front where we were greeted by a red carpet. Although of course we wanted to walk around a little and take a few photos. I will say that while cobblestones make for an authentic and beautiful paving stone, it's not so easy on the ladies in heels! Up the grand stair case we went! With additional flowers and candles, it was even prettier on the wedding day!The ceremony was held outside, looking out onto the gardens. With this facade as the back drop to the wedding procession, the girls's already pretty dresses were even more elegant!I actually missed the loggia - there were too many amazing appetizers inside that I never made it out. The formal dining room was where the wedding cake and the dessert bar were served - I'd never seen (or eaten) so many amazing desserts in my life! I never actually found this path - I mean you can only go so far when your heels are aerating the lawn! But it is somewhere on the castle grounds and I kind of liked the pic!Built in 1919 as a summer home, Oheka cost $11 million to construct and was (and still is) the second largest private residence in the United States. After Kahn died in 1934, the property passed through a series of hands, at one point being a retirement home for sanitation workers of NYC (imagine going from picking up trash to living in a castle!) and was later the site for the Eastern Military Academy. By 1985, the building was in almost complete disrepair, with no plumbing, electric, windows or doors. Isn't that just painful to think about!? Fortunately a developer and a non-profit organization began a restoration which is 70% completed.

Photo Credits: Oheka Castle and Elliot Kaufman

I need this!

2009-09-28T11:29:00.003-04:00

Sigh... why don't I have one?I want a pretty dressing room! and this is the dressing room of the J.Crew head designer Jenna Lyons -- you can be sure it's full of many fabulous things!!

Photo Credits: Adam Chinitz - for Metropolitan Show House, Domino Nov08

Pink Wednesday

2009-09-23T11:04:00.002-04:00

Happy Wednesday! Here's the pink room I'm loving this week! I found it on From the Right Bank to the Left Coast - Alek did a fun post about black chandeliers!

Photo Credits: Baccarat

Hamilton Furniture

2009-09-22T10:00:00.000-04:00

One of my stops last week when I was running around NYC was at Hamilton Furniture. Its show room drew me right in with its white upholstery and lucite tables. The company specializes in "simple, elegant, unadorned pieces that will compliment, not compete with almost any style." While the firm doesn't offer those over the top, WOW pieces, so many of their styles have that easy, clean style that I love!

This year, keeping up with trends, the company has worked with Benjamin Moore to expand their line of painted finishes. They also are expanding their lucite styles and are now creating colored lucite to launch next spring.

But I didn't just love the furniture, I was also so impressed with the quality and efforts of the company to design green product. Producing domestically while using farm grown mahogany, the company maintains competitive price points and quality details.

It's high time I hit up the High Line!

2009-09-21T11:00:00.000-04:00

I had heard great reviews about the High Line since it opened in June, but I FINALLY just went to see it this past week! It was just as amazing as I hoped it would be!I lucked out with gorgeous weather!There was fabulous people watching! I mean the clothing and style is just amazing!The natural plantings and the way the original rail ties are blended into the landscaping is really quite striking. Many compliments to James Corner Field Operations and Diller Scofidio + Renfro, the landscape architeture firm and architecture firm responsible for the breathtaking design. Many great sites to take in - I found that some of the dilapidated buildings were so visually intriguing. Isn't it interesting to see the old building and tracks juxtaposed against the new path?Other fun sites include this seating area which looks out onto the avenue below.I loved these chaise lounges! In addition to beautiful green space, this park includes several lovely seating areas, perfect for taking a snack from the Chelsea Market. The High Line was originally built in the 1930's to remove train traffic from Death Avenue, as 10th Ave was known due to the high level of accidents between the street level trains and road traffic in the busy industrial area that was the meat packing district.
The elevated tracks were designed to run over the center of blocks rather than over the avenue to avoid some of the negative conditions of elevated tracks and allowed trains to connect directly to factories and warehouses. The tracks were used until 1980 at which point the space sat vacant for many years.

Fortunately for us, in 1999, Friends of the High Line is formed, advocating preservation and reuse as a public space. Now, the High Line is open from Gansevoort to 20th Street, with plans to open 20th to 30th street in 2010!

It's such a great place to spend an afternoon in NYC!

Photo Credits: the High Line, Huffington Post and Flickr.

Heads Up!

2009-09-19T20:58:00.001-04:00

Gorgeous floors are always noteworthy, but I've been loving quite the opposite recently. The details of this ceiling adds so much sophistication and the sense of high quality to the room. Even when tonal, the dimension of the ceiling adds so much character to the room. I'm loving those globe light fixtures too! You know how I've been loving that rustic look of salvaged wood --- I think this one might be my favorite! Sadly, my house doesn't have any fun ceiling details. I'm stuck with plain old white ones... although that's better than popcorn ceilings -- ugh, one of the worst trends of the 80's!

Photo Credits: Eric Roth, House Beautiful, La Dolce Vita, Eric Roth

I Married Adventure

2009-09-18T00:45:00.001-04:00

I'm swooning over this book!I just can't think of a more fabulous book than one that is zebra print! It's the first edition of Osa Johnson's Married Adventure, published in 1940. I first fell in love with it when I went to Elizabeth Bauer Design - here's a picture of them in her store. Ugh.. but it's $224...

And another fabulous book is giraffe print too!

I recently saw the zebra one used to style with in a catalog-- I think it was a Pottery Barn,--I mean it was practically taunting me to buy it.. so I'm going to have to start doing some serious ebay shopping --- I think you can find it for as cheap as $40 but I don't want to end up with one in terrible condition either!

Happy Wednesday

2009-09-16T21:40:00.003-04:00

I really need to get a blackberry or a least a computer that is less than 8 years old so that I can have better internet access for blogging.... but what can I say, I really prefer to save my money for jewelry, shoes or fun things for the apartment!
But as part of my NYC running around these past few days, I found this fab pink thing! It's from Cote France which makes gorgeous items in the French style of the 17th, 18th and 19th century. It's all hand crafted and the finishes are very authentic but one of the plusses to having it not be a true antique is that you can get it finished in wild colors like this pink one!

Photo Credits: New York Design Center

Guest Blog for your fashion pleasure, by www.WearingWhiteAfterLaborDay.com

2009-09-14T13:56:00.002-04:00

This week, your favorite Daly Essentials author is very busy running around Manhattan taking care of a million to-do's and won't have Internet access for a few days. In her absence, she asked me to guest blog and introduce some of her loyal readers to my own madness for style.

For a light afternoon treat, I took a walk uptown past the plethora of shops along Madison Ave. Always a fan of shopping, but never a fan of the 'ghost shop' phenomena (that environment which occurs mid morning, in areas of Manhattan when most people are hard at work and only those unemployed recent grads like myself are stalking the racks) I was cautious to enter any stores. But feeling bold (perhaps because I was sporting my new peep-toe ankle booties which give me a rock n' roll illusion) I entered one of my favorite localities. (I should note my style is more prep school meets Soho, less reform school meets lower east side, but every now and then I like to mix things up). As expected, the store was as vacant as a McDonalds next door to a modeling agency, and all eyes were immediately upon me like high beams. I gave my polite, 'I don't need your help' smile, and proceeded to the sweater display. Printed cardigans in lovely 12 gauge merino lined the table like ripe strawberries, waiting to be plucked. Though I hate to disrupt a perfectly folded display, I also cannot buy something without tactile inspection.

Not yet was my hand at the collar of the first ripe sweater, when a saleswoman was on me like white on rice. "May I help you with that?" she rhetorically asked me as she snatched the wool from my hand and held it between her well manicured, lithe fingers. I smiled, but felt like old peeling wallpaper, crumbling in on myself in her shadow. I stepped quickly (and as gracefully as I could manage in brand new shoes) to the left to a rack of jersey dresses. A furtive glance to the right revealed the amazon saleswoman was distracted by a fellow employee. In my moment of peace, I desperately felt around inside a printed floral dress for a price tag. Mercy was on my side, and I was able to see the reasonable $88 in bold font on an ivory tag dangling from the inner collar. By time the superior giant returned her focus to me, I was proudly clutching the frock under my arm where she couldn't take it from me without a fight. Victory. I made my purchase and headed home to pack my new find for my upcoming honeymoon.

My own blog is www.WearingWhiteAfterLaborDay.com, come visit me and leave me some feedback if you'd like! ~Christina E.

Dining Out

2009-09-11T09:00:00.001-04:00

Tonight, my friends and I have dinner plans at a really cute place: Corner Shop Cafe. I love it because it's got a great laid back atmosphere and a ton of vegetarian options. Their website has a bunch of cute pics that I thought I would share!

I love the exposed brick wall and great light fixtures!

Check it out next time you're in the neighborhood - it's on Bleeker and Broadway.

It's finally here!

2009-09-10T09:06:00.001-04:00

I've been waiting for months... Today is Fashion Night Out in NYC!

It's an event started by Vogue along with NYC & Company, the City of New York and the Council of Fashion Designers of America. Paired with the beginning of 2010 spring fashion week, the event was designed to encourage consumers to shop again after this tough year of recession.

Not that I need someone pulling my arm, but 700 retailers will be participating with all sorts of festivities such as give-aways, celebrity appearances, and musical performances. You can also be sure to grabs some champagne and hors d'oeuvres and perhaps a make over too! 40% of the proceeds from the sale of Fashion Night T-shirts will be donated to the National September 11 Memorial and Museum.

In addition, a city wide clothing drive will take place, donating new and gently used clothing to the NYC Aids Fund.

This is such a fabulous event for the city! I just can't wait for all of the festivities tonight!!

Pink Wednesday

2009-09-09T15:47:00.002-04:00

Mean Girls was on twice this weekend! I don't know why I get so excited to watch it on TV since I own the DVD, but I do! I watch it almost every time that I see it on!! This kitch is complete with the barbie pink radio! Perfect for a Barbie dream house!!

Photo Credits: Flickr

Philadelphia Art Museum

2009-09-08T14:16:00.004-04:00

I went to Philly again for Labor day weekend! We took advantage of the Philadelphia Art Museum's "Pay what you wish" policy for the first Sunday of the month!

Walking up all of those stairs to get in, it's no wonder that Rocky used them for training!My favorite exhibit was the Shopping in Paris: French Fashion from 1850 to 1925. While the older corseted and skirted styles are fabulous to look at, my favorites were the styles from the 20's. Like this black dress on the left - with the long pearls - so fabulous. And my most favorite, is the one in the back right. (Sorry, I didn't bring my camera along on this adventure since some museums frown upon it). I just love that coral top with the beading and fine silver pleats. My other favorite exhibit was Visual Delight: Ornament and Pattern in Modern and Contemporary Design. There was some really great furniture!

I was quite pleased with what the museum had to offer! There were a bunch of the classics as well as a lot of fun modern pieces too!

I can't wait for the Inspiring Fashion: Gifts from Designers honoring Tom Marotta to open!

Photo Credits: Philadelphia Art Museum and Flickr

Cliff Walk

2009-09-04T00:03:00.000-04:00

Several weeks ago, my parents and I were visiting family in Rhode Island and as we were leaving, my Dad asked if I would like to stop by "Nupert" (like rhymes with Rupert). I sort of paused and was like "If you mean Newport, then yes!"

It's such a cute town. We had been given great advice to go to the Cliff Walk, which I am so glad we followed! The walk was gorgeous with great views of the water and the mansions! I'm not much into being the tourist taking photos. (Living in NYC, tourists are the bane of my existence). But everything was so just so beautiful that I just couldn't help it! All of today's photos were taken by me - but it took me about a month to figure out how to get them onto the blog, so in the mean time, I've forgotten some of the details about the buildings - sorry! But I remember thinking how lucky Salve Regina was to own this mansion. And if I were to have a mansion, I'm really loving this French Chateau style.
This one is also now owned by Salve Regina. How nice it must be to go to college with such beautiful historic buildings!

This one I know is the famous Breakers and I just learned that it was built by Cornelius Vanderbilt. Now if only he could have used his energy to build such gorgeous buildings on the Vanderbilt campus, I could have been as lucky as the Salve Regina kids. As it's name suggests, the Breakers is on a tip of the cliff just where the water breaks. Watch out or you will get splashed! I thought the gate to The Breakers was rather spectacular!This cute little thing is the children's play house at The Breakers.

I was really hoping to get a good look at the ground level of this newer construction neighbor to The Breakers, but unfortunately, these residents actually want some privacy and I couldn't get too close!

Views south from The Breakers

One last house on the walk before we decided to head back.

I took this one as we were driving through town, literally hanging out of the car!

Driving between Bristol and Newport, we kept seeing this building sticking out in the distance. Being 22 stories high, in what is otherwise a rural area, we were so intrigued as to what this could possibly be. How could zoning possibly have allowed it's construction!? It's the Carnegie Abbey Tower and while it may be fine in a city or more developed area, it's just so out of place in Portsmouth. All I can say is that I much prefer the old mansions!

Pops of Pink

2009-09-02T17:58:00.002-04:00

It may be late in the day, but I'd never forget a pink Wednesday!

Isn't this space pretty with the pink accents?

Photo Credits: House no. 8 via Pink Wallpaper.

2 4 6 8.... who do we appreciate?!

2009-09-01T20:25:00.003-04:00

Another one of my new shopping finds is Haus Interiors --- it's on Elizabeth Street in NYC - a street definitely worth checking out for a bunch of cute shops!

Here's a pic of the store - showing off a ton of their great accessories

One of my favorites were these plates. I thought they were pretty cute. They fit into that white with black text thing that I've been liking recently.

End of summer

2009-08-31T12:13:00.000-04:00

I thought this was fun to look at! (Paul Newman has always been one of my faves!)

I hope you are all enjoying your last few days of summer!

Photo Credit: Unknown

LES shopping

2009-08-28T13:10:00.000-04:00

Yesterday, I had a great shopping day; I wandered down to the Lower East Side - a neighborhood that has so many fabulous boutiques, but I really never get to enough!One of my notable stops was Dear:Rivington. I had heard about it from Other Things Pretty and Duskin and was excited to check it out. I'll be honest, I didn't really do my research - I just saw some great pictures and knew that I had to add it to my list of places to see! It did come as a bit of a surprise that it was avant garde with a strong Japanese sense of style. The items there don't work for my personal style but they were so much fun to look at! There is a mix of vintage items as well as new design.

Although my poor roommate was not ready for it!

Quotes from the roommate:"What is this!? a shirt? A dress!?" "Oh come on, no one would actually pay that much for this!?" "Umm, these things look dirty" (they're vintage)So yes, it may have been a bit over the top, but it was fun to see! Another of my wild finds was Craig Van Den Brulle. I mean it's all completely unaffordable. I think the most tame of my loves there is this mirrored dresser. It's only $6,500 (ha) -- and actually one of the only items on the website that didn't say " price:contact dealer".

This set of 6 chairs was one of the items there that I loved because it's insane. I mean I think this only works in maybe Miami or Cali? And what I loved more was learning about the designer behind it. Milo Baughman, born in 1925, grew up in Long Beach, California. Being a creative child, his parents gave him carte blanche at the age of 13 to design their new family home. How wild is that?!

And the last of my crazy loves from the day are these Arthur Court Torchieres. They're just about 3 feet tall! So strange, but I love it!

All in all, I had a great shopping day, there were so many new, strange, unexpected items that I saw. It's just a nice change of pace sometimes!

Art in the Age of Mechanical Reproduction

2009-08-27T14:49:00.000-04:00

Another one of our fab finds in Philly was this boutique slash art gallery located in Old City on North Third Street. Art in the Age of Mechanical Reproduction "firmly believes in empowering artists producing high quality work marked by fine craft and intellectual vigor." And with that mission they provide a unique array of men's and women's apparel, jewelry, body products, mixed in a setting of visual artist's, musician's and author's works.

The space is gorgeous with the vintage exterior signage and original brick walls.

The floors are beautiful too!

Kim and I loved this dress and were so tempted by the 40% off sale that was going on while we were there!

But our favorite was this Billy Kirk leather bag - comes with adjustable straps. (Unfortunately accessories were not part of the sale!)

The lovely book selection reminded me that I've been meaning to read In Defense of Food.

And I was introduced to this book, which is now on my reading list.

This is another of the must sees in Philly. The mix of boutique and art gallery makes for such a unique experience - don't miss out!

Pink Chanel

2009-08-26T14:52:00.001-04:00

My favorite pink thing this week is the season premier of the Rachel Zoe Project. I DIE now that Flipping Out and Rachel are on! The first episode was all about Rachel getting her 5 clients: Debra Messing, Eva Mendez, Demi Moore, Anne Hathaway and of course Cameron Diaz - who got to wear this gorgeous Chanel gown, ready for the Golden Globe Awards Actually getting her hands on this dress was QUITE the to-do, including many phone calls and a request to Karl Lagerfeld to remove a sleeve on the dress. It was a nail biter waiting to see if it would all work out!

It really bummed me out hearing how the recession has caused designers to significantly cut back on the amount of couture gowns they produce. Of course it makes sense financially, but they're so pretty!

If you don't get Bravo, I highly suggest you reconsider your cable plan!!

Photo Credits: via Splendicity and lelaluxe.

Philly Visit!

2009-08-25T17:32:00.000-04:00

My friend Kim just moved to Philly, so I went down to visit for the past few days. She hadn't started her new job there yet, so we were able to spend 4 days walking around the city, exploring and finding fabulous restaurants, bars and shopping. It was so much fun!One of our shopping finds was Matthew Izzo, which is located on North 3rd Street. The street is a fabulous place to shop, boasting a bunch of boutiques and art galleries. Matthew is shown above in the store which houses apparel and accessories on the first floor and furniture on the second.

The website doesn't include quite everything in the store - so I feel as though I must describe some of the jewelry that I fell in love with! There was a really fabulous natural and champagne jewel bib necklace that was really a steal at $46. At the time, I thought that I could try to replicate it at home myself, but really I just should have bought it! There were also a bunch of gorgeous jewel bracelets that really have that vintage vibe that I'm loving so much right now! We almost didn't see the stairs in the far back corner of the store that led up to the furniture show room. Thank god we found them because it's really quite wonderful. They have such a wide variety of vintage and new pieces. It's really such a great space. I also thought that the prices weren't bad either. It's certainly not cheap, but I felt that there was a lot in the $200-$300 range and not just small accessories, but like tables or a chair in that price bracket. One of my favorite furniture finds was an old drafting table. It was big enough that you could use it as a dining table. Perfect for me - had all of the character of being used for over 50 years and reminded me of my fun drafting classes that I took in high school. The next time you are in Philly you should really check this place out.

Photo Credits: Flickr (Go Phila.com, Nogoodnik, and City Life Philadelphia)

2010 Ikea Catalog!

2009-08-24T16:30:00.001-04:00

I don't know if anyone is quite this nerdy... but I just got back to my apartment from being away for the weekend to find the 2010 Ikea catalog... and let me just say, it was heaven! I spent 2 hours going page by page, turning corners down and using my blue highlighter to mark all of the items I love!I know that not everyone is such a fan of the mass production, but the company has made an effort to lower prices since last year as well as introduce new and exciting product. I'm also a firm believer of mixing high and low and that you can make basically anything feel unique if accessorized properly.

A several months ago, Ikea sent out a survey to its email list asking for suggestions. I went into LENGTHY detail; having worked in retail, I think it's important to nicely voice constructive criticism, because without feedback how else will they know how to fix the issues!? I was so excited to find in this catalog that Ikea really listened. My biggest complaint was that while I loved the product in general, when they ran promotions, it was always on the product that I found the least interesting. I'd get the promo email, get excited and then get annoyed that nothing on sale was remotely special. My suggestion was to pick product that was more popular because if I saw that, I'd be more likely to run to my nearest Ikea that weekend. Remember this design board from a post I did in April? If not, check it out here. Anyways, I was so excited to find out that both the couch, coffee table, and square side tables were part of Ikea's new lower pricing strategy!

So rather than lowering the prices on items that I would never buy anyways, their price cutting included my 3 loves:

Karlstad Sofa - was $499, now $399

Lack side table - was $12.99, now $7.99

Lack coffee table - was $29.99, now $19.99

Other new loves from this catalog:

Dvala full/queen duvet cover set - $19.99 for a duvet and 2 shams -- it's cotton, just plain white - but for a price like this - I could dye it a beautiful grey, or get it monogrammed and still wouldn't feel bad when I would inevitably want to redecorate in 2 years. Koldby Cowhide Rug $249 - you know how I have been loving these!

Ludde sheep skin rug -$39.99 it looks a little funny in this pic, but it looks normal in the catalog picture!

And this isn't just nearly all - I suggest getting your own copy of the catalog and go to town!!

Meow!

2009-08-21T10:28:00.000-04:00

I'm taking this idea from Domino - a while back they had done a cute photo gallery of all of their pics that had pets in them... and being a pet lover myself, I had to do one too!

So cute!!

Kids Rooms!

2009-08-20T09:00:00.001-04:00

I'm loving these kids rooms because they feel sophisticated but still friendly!

Photo Credits: Vallone Design, Sunset, Elliston Lutz, Tradional Home Mar08, Traditional Home

It's Pink day!

2009-08-19T09:00:00.000-04:00

Happy Wednesday! Here are a few funny ones!

Some sculpture in MontrealI hope this pic is real and not photo-shopped! A pink flowery light fixture! Fun for a party or a girls room!

Photo Credits: Flickr

I'm so predictable!

2009-08-18T09:00:00.002-04:00

I picked these pics with the intention of doing a random design day... but surprise surprise, it turns out there is a theme to what I'm liking: White! I'm loving the casual look here of tons of pillows thrown around on the couch and the open windows and white washed beams are to die for! I can't say I'm loving the orange shag, but I think the mirrored coffee table is fun!

I guess the second theme is that I'm loving black text and numbers on a white background.

Photo credits: Marie Claire, Elliston Lutz, Desire to Inspire, Ashleys Busy, Caitlin Moran.

Engagements!

2009-08-17T14:46:00.003-04:00

So I guess weddings are on everyone's mind. I've had 7 friends get engaged this summer!!! --- so I figured I'd share my FAVORITE wedding dress. I don't have any plans to get engaged soon, and I wouldn't want this beauty to just go around unworn!!

It's the tulle cascade wedding gown from J Crew. I've been eyeing this thing for years! I love that it's a little bit unexpected with all of those tulle ruffles!

J Crew has so many sophisticated dress options at a really good price! So if tulle ruffles isn't exactly your thing... there are plenty of other gorgeous options.

Congratulations to Sarah, Kelly, Lauren, Julia, Jackie, Joanna, and David!!!!

It's AC season, but I'm loving these fireplaces!

2009-08-13T21:30:00.003-04:00

I had the lucky experience of waiting at a doctors office last week... and I mean lucky because they had a ton of old design magazines. So between the magazines and the air conditioning, I was quite pleased to spend almost two hours there rather than at my hot apartment!! One of my pretty finds was this Atlanta house owned by interior designer Kay Douglass. It was the gorgeous fireplaces in this home that kept drawing me to it! Kay removed the original green marble which seemed too formal and replaced it with this concrete and salvaged wood mantel. Another gorgeous concrete fireplace is in the library. I'm loving the materials in this outdoor room. The brick work, slate flooring, and woodwork on the ceiling are beautiful and add so much texture and dimension! I also love the mirror and chandelier, I think details like this really help blend the line between interior and exterior spaces.

There is a fourth beautiful fireplace in the master. Having a fireplace really adds such warmth and elegance to a room.

Unfortunately not every pic of the house can have an amazing fireplace, but this shot at least has those stunning french oak doors that lead outside to the loggia.
Steel casement windows in the dining room add for a beautiful detail.

All of the character that this 1932 Tudor exterior has, the bricks, slate roof and vines... I just love it!

Photo credits: Traditional Home OCT 2007

Check out the party at Hooked on Houses!

Design Surprise

2009-08-13T09:00:00.001-04:00

Are you ever completely surprised after seeing the inside of a home?Here's the exterior and it's cute, definitely nice looking. I actually love the dark wood finish of the garage doors that shows all of that wood texture, but beyond that, I guess I didn't think all that much about it. So when I saw the pictures of this library and music room, I was floored by how bright it is. I'm loving the amazingly high ceiling, the clerestory window and just all of the light! I guess I didn't expect that such a big, bright space might be hiding inside that house!The living room too has windows just about everywhere!And so many gorgeous details - check out that ceiling. The hallway and fireplace are stunning. The wood of the doors and floors - wow!Such a nice clean kitchen. I always love the combo of white cabinets and marble. The details are so much to my liking!I just didn't imagine it would feel so spacious or have sooo many windows! Such a nice surprise!

Photo Credits: Traditional Home Nov 2007

Happy Wednesday!

2009-08-12T14:00:00.000-04:00

Enjoy these lovelies!

This is a pretty mild pic for one of my Pink Wednesday shots, but I really did love the pops of pink!

Photo Credits:Fritz Hansen, Flickr, Absolutely Beautiful Things

Collection

2009-08-11T22:34:00.000-04:00

Sorry about the delay in posts, our Internet has been out and I've been a little under the weather, so trekking around town to find free wireless hasn't been in the cards!

I had a bunch of fab friends in town this weekend and lets face it, I just can't party like I used to! It's either that or germs I picked up while riding the subway! Ewww! But we had a ton of shopping to do and so little time!

While they were here, I took everyone to see the J Crew collection store on Madison Ave and 79th street. The store is gorgeous every time I go!I love not only the clothes they carry, but it's also so beautifully decorated. I'm loving the floors in this picture above. Compared to the company's regular stores, 1035 Madison sells a wider assortment of high end goods such as cashmere, jewelry, shoes and evening dresses. And just like the apparel, the interiors have a more elevated feeling. The light fixture is gorgeous!Less product and the ability to show if off more easily gives the space a high end boutique vibe. I drool over the jewelry!And it has one of the prettiest and cleanest bathrooms around town!

Some of my favorite shopping finds there are:The Primrose Brynn Dress.I'm dying over ALLL of the new jewelry! I couldn't just pick a style or two. They've got that beautiful vintage style that it feels like you're picking them from your grandmother's jewelry box. J Crew has started to sell Barbour jackets! This style is one of their unisex ones... I could have found a picture of a woman modeling it, but this guy is just too cute!

The next time that you're in NYC you really should check out one of their collection stores. It's really cool seeing some of the product that you are familiar with, but it's presented in a whole new way.

White Inspiration

2009-08-06T22:18:00.000-04:00

Did you see this gorgeous house in the June Elle Decor? If not, I wanted to make sure you didn't miss out! It's the Hampton's home of Rita Norona Schrager, a former New York City Ballet Dancer. She says that she fell in love with the property because its colonial style feels more like Connecticut rather than the majority of the shingled homes in the Hamptons. Inspired by the Delano Hotel in Miami, Rita instructed her interior designer Hernan Arriaga that she wanted an all white color scheme. The mirror, which is an antique, is gorgeous!I'm loving the fireplace seating area. Fab chairs.The homes previous owner, Greg Yale is a noted designer. So when Rita moved in, the house had already been equipped with beautifully updated kitchen and baths and a simplified open floorplan. The dining table is a 19th century wine tasting table. I think that's all the encouragement I would need to have a glass or two at dinner! It looks nice here, but it personally drives me nuts when mixing sheep skin with white linens, the sheep skin ends up looking so yellow by contrast.... Of course it would be totally weird and fake looking if it didn't have a natural off-white hue... but it still bugs me!I'm loving the rug in here!In the library the all white rules were broken. The walls are covered with hand-appliqued tobacco leaves. I just love the effect - the texture and variation in color is fabulous! I'm digging the antler chandelier too! The house comes along with a gorgeous pool... and play house containing desks, a daybed and flat screen TV. I'd be happy with just the play house!!

For the inspiration behind it all, here are a few pics of the Delano Hotel located in Miami.

So pretty! It's no wonder Rita was inspired by it!

Check out the party at Hooked on Houses

Paper dolls for grown ups!

2009-08-06T09:00:00.001-04:00

I came across these from an old Desire to Inspire post and I just think they're awesome! They're from Harper's... created as a selling tool for advertisers. The lovely ladies are sporting Hermes, Burberry and other fabulous brands..

I just die thinking about how much fun I could have had playing with these magnatized paper dolls as a kid, I mean seriously I love them now.

I may never be a model, but I could certainly have a blast on the runway with these!

Pretty In Pink

2009-08-05T09:00:00.003-04:00

Happy Wednesday! I hope you're wearing something pink!Isn't this a beautiful room by Phoebe Howard?

Because it's one soft shade, it never feels too pink. It's the perfect color! I love that the grey painting adds such a feeling of sophistication.

Hillhaven Lodge

2009-08-04T09:00:00.002-04:00

I was going through some of my old magazines and noticed that I missed this beauty, Hillhaven Lodge, in the March issue of Elle Decor. It's now the home of Brett Ratner, the director of the Rush Hour movies. It's no surprise that this house is one of the most famous in Hollywood. Built in 1927 as the entertainment quarters of the Hoover Dam architect Gordon Kaufmann, the property was later owned by Ingrid Bergman. Subsequent residents included director Richard Quine, James Caan, and Allan Carr, the producer of Grease. When Ratner bought the property, it needed a little love. A previous tenant had turned the living room into a basket ball court, while Carr, the most recent owner believed in spending money on parties, but not fixing houses. I think Ratner has done an amazing job restoring the glory of this structure! I am so drawn to the wooden beams on the ceiling and the white planks on the walls. The floors are stunning too! Ratner insists that guests leave their shoes at the door to preserve their beauty! I'm loving the look of unhung pictures. There's something to that sense of un-done or unexpected that I like about them sitting on the floor. Isn't this room stunning!? The stone work is just beautiful! I'm loving those worn leather chairs! When renovating, Ratner's interior decorator, Waldo Fernandez felt that "it was all about making the best of what was here rather than knocking everything down and starting over." Working with the existing structures really gives it a sense of that rustic-chic look that I love! While restoring the basement disco that Allan Carr had first designed as a symbol of Hollywood glam, across the rest of the house it feels really masculine and eclectic.
I know I say this a hundred times --- but I love dark floors, white walls, and steel casement windows. And the beams are gorgeous too.

It's so cute from the outside too. It actually has 5 bedrooms, but I love that it doesn't feel so oversized. I should have known that Brett would have great decorating taste since I know him so well - ok the truth is we once at at the same restaurant, so we're practically best friends!

Lucite Love

2009-08-03T13:16:00.001-04:00

I'm also loving lucite! Isn't this fun?

Mirror mirror on the wall, or dresser, or table....

2009-07-30T22:26:00.001-04:00

I'm loving mirrored furniture! It works with any color scheme and because it reflects light, it helps to brighten a space!I first fell in love with the idea in this pretty space from Frou Frou Fashionista. The small dresser is so feminine and sophisticated! It makes for a good material for a table.

And fun for coffee tables too! I love how the mirror allows it to feel classic and sophisticated but also a little modern too!

Photo Credits: Made By Girl, Phoebe Howard, Vallone Design, Sue in Sydney, Canadian House and Home - Anne Hepfer, Canadian House and Home - Anne Hepfer.

Check out the parties: Hooked on Houses, Fifi Flowers and the Inspired Room!

Summer Hair

2009-07-30T10:17:00.000-04:00

I've been admiring Jen's and Lauren's hair for awhile --- I love the simple braid! So now I need to try it for myself! It seems perfect for summer. Hopefully this post is all the motivation I need!!

Happy Wednesday!

2009-07-29T09:00:00.003-04:00

Enjoy these pink pretties!

Photo Credits: Flickr - Kay, Belle Maison, Flickr

Wild Design

2009-07-27T22:07:00.003-04:00

Here are a bunch of designs that I'm loving for their ingenuity! I love the creativity and the wow factor of some of pieces like this table!

But I don't necessarily suggest replicating them! I think these kind of designs are best left to being unique - one and onlys!!

Photo Credits: Adam Chinitz for Metropolitan Home, Pierre Yavanovitch, Beach Studios, Beach Studios, Adam Chinitz, Adam Chinitz

Pattern Happy

2009-07-27T09:00:00.000-04:00

Patterned wall paper is old news, Alan the Gallant, a multi-talent design bureau located in Barcelona, works to apply their designs to anything you could think of! In addition to exteriors like this cute dock house, they extend their patterns to furniture, textiles, clothing, notebooks and kitchen appliances!Here's a new bike to add to my list of bikes I might want!Really, they do patterns for anything you might want!!! How fun! My favorite are the one's where the patterns is most unexpected -- ie the dock house and bike! And while we're talking about unexpected pattern... Check out this limited edition Jeep that Lilly Pulitzer has created! Wild!

A Summer Bike Ride

2009-07-23T21:36:00.002-04:00

Between warm summer weather allowing bike rides outside and the Tour de France (I've gotten totally hooked on watching it and have developed a huge crush on Lance Armstrong) I've had my eye out for bicycles! I've always loved this hallway for the wallpaper and gorgeous floors! Now I'm more focused on the bike! I used to think baskets were so old ladyish on a bike, but I've come to adore them! Really, anything that lets you carry more shopping around is good by me! The bike is a surprise in this space but easy storage - hanging from a ceiling!A bicycle adds such a nice element to a room! I'm starting to wonder, can you decorate with them even if you don't plan to ride it?This one looks so good in the space too!
Now, if I decide to get a new bike... I might have to get this one!! Because.....It comes with a hidden flask! Have you seen anything funnier?This bike is pretty fun looking too! And I just couldn't resist this photo!!! I know that our puppy would NEVER have sat still enough for this kind of photo!

Photo Credits: Cafiero Select, Country Home, Glen Proebstal, Mika Jornal, Hollister, Hollister, Jenny Nordberg via Cup of Jo, Flickr - Troeth.

Check out the parties today: Hooked on Houses, Fifi's Flowers and The Inspired Room

Pamplemousse Design

2009-07-23T09:00:00.000-04:00

I had come across advice from Delphine Krakoff, an interior designer based in New York that I loved. She advocates incorporating perks of Old World refinement into every day living. Case in point: she suggests monogramming your clothes hangers. "The more pedestrian the item, the more it benefits from being made uniquely yours." Loving that philosophy, I had to find out more about her! She grew up in Paris, which you can see a bit of a French flair in some of her designs designs. Her firm, named Pamplemousse Design, is the french word for grapefruit. And also one of my favorite French words because it seems sounds kind of funny! I'm kind of loving that wild coffee table! A darling nursery!I like the mix of modern sleekness with the more detailed curves of the chairs.
Pretty stuff!

Happy Wednesday!

2009-07-22T09:00:00.001-04:00

Here are a few pink lovelies for you to enjoy today! How fab is that pink ruffly throw?!

This funny set up is from Milan's Design Week -- I thought it was pretty cute!

Photo Credits: Flickr- Belledame73, Home and Garden, Flickr

Hang Ten

2009-07-21T09:00:00.000-04:00

I love the creativity of this gate!Isn't it so much fun!? Such a perfect pic for summer!

Photo Credit: Francesco Bittichesu

Brick Walls

2009-07-20T09:17:00.000-04:00

Brick walls give so much character to a space. I like the way the materials provide texture and dimension. I'm always so jealous when someone has one in their home! Isn't this room stunning? How perfectly does the arc pattern of the bricks fit over the bed? I like they way that they have paired pretty, feminine bedding against the rustic wall.

This large brick hearth adds so much warmth to the room -- both literally and figuratively speaking!

I like how much the color tones of the brick vary in this wall. It provides a really interesting pattern. The blue bedding is a pretty color here too!

Photo credits: Belle Maison, Eric Roth, House and Home

Hotel Missoni

2009-07-16T22:35:00.000-04:00

There's a fab new hotel in Edinburgh: Hotel Missoni. Decorated by the creative director of the fashion house, the hotel is distinctive and iconic of the brand. While the exterior is discrete, the interior is wild with color! Get ready for the exciting visit!!Check in here! So fun and modern! Certainly beats a Holiday Inn!Get a dose of color on the way to your room!One of these may be your room! I think the second one with the butterflies is my favorite! I kind of love playing "find the missoni geometric print" in each room! Gorgeous bathrooms too!
Once you feel settled in - grab a bite to eat, or check out any one of these great spaces the hotel has to offer:

It's quite fun isn't it? Missoni plans to open another hotel in Kuwait in the fall, followed by one in Cape Town, South Africa before the 2010 World Cup. There are also plans for Oman and Brazil in 2011.

Photo Credits: Courtesy Photo via WWD, Hotel Missoni, and Flickr.

See what Hooked on Houses, Fifi's Flowers and The Inspired Room are up to today!

Forget email, I want these note cards!

2009-07-16T09:00:00.000-04:00

I've found some really cute note cards at Gadabout Paper. I think I need to order some! Here are a few of my favorites!

I love how she sneaks in your monogram in these last few images!

The Rules

2009-07-15T09:00:00.002-04:00

According to my favorite movie, Mean Girls, girl world has a lot rules. You can't wear a tank top two days in a row and you can only wear your hair in a ponytail once a week. Oh, and we only wear jeans or track pants on Fridays. Now, if you break any of these rules, you can't sit with us at lunch.

And of course, we wear pink on Wednesdays!! This is of course my favorite because I love pink, so here are my fave pink finds this week.
This ottoman is such a gorgeous pop of color in this room!

This luggage would have been perfect for my trip to Nantucket!

This wild room is from the G Hotel.

Photo Credits: Designers Guild, Flickr - Simple Moth, G Hotel, Flickr

Take a seat

2009-07-14T09:00:00.001-04:00

I've found a bunch of picture of really unique chairs. I think I'm drawn to them because their interesting shapes and textures almost become sculpture for room.

I don't know if any of these make for the most comfortable seating option, but they are certainly fun to look at!

Photo Credits: Skonahem, Home Dosh, Eric Roth, Paul Costello, Mark Roskams via Desire to Inspire, Henry Hall Designs

It's time for Sale Shopping!!

2009-07-13T09:00:00.000-04:00

I just walked into a J.Crew store the other day and I was pleasantly surprised at how big the sale section was! And then I remembered - it's already July! One of the best times to shop because it's mark-down month for apparel retailers as they have to get ready for back to school and fall goods that are arriving in August.... It's great deals and really with the weather and everything I feel like summer has only just begun!These kinds of signs are all over stores and websites now... and there are some really great deals out there!But I always have to remind myself before I head out on sale shopping excursions... No matter how cheap it is, it's still not a deal if you're never going to wear it!

And sometimes I get all wrapped up in the excitement when I find something that I've loved all season that's finally been marked down. But the key here is will I still want this next year? Or even next season!?!

So I keep checking on the latest fall 2009 and spring 2010 trends to see if any new things I find on sale may actually have a life into the next season!

Fall 2009 keeps a muted color palette, mixing neutrals and washed out colors with a few pops of bright neons. Denim is skinny skinny (so skinny that Top Shop had invented a new word: Jeggings (Jeans +Leggings)!! Leggings are in too. Cardigans are long and loose, worn with both dressy and casual. Belts are huge.

Spring 2010 -- it's all about over the top --- it's designers way of saying enough already with this recession. Fabrics are unique and textured, tons of embellishments - beading, sequins etc. Colors are brighter, but neutrals still work as a nice base. More patterns and black. Lots of drapy fabric. Jump suits are still in.

Good luck with any sale shopping!!

Photo Credits: NY Magazine, Style.com, NY Mag, NY Mag, NY Mag.

Vacay!

2009-07-09T23:53:00.001-04:00

Today, I'm leaving for Nantucket where I will be vacationing for the next week. I am so so so excited! The island is really my most favorite place.

In trying to will my vacation to come sooner, I gathered some pictures by photographers that are based on the island. I just love these shots. Whether you're familiar with Nantucket or not, I think there's something so pleasing about beachy pictures!

I can't wait to see the harbor as we arrive on the ferry!

I'm excited for walking around town -- shopping and dining..

Biking around the island and seeing all of the sights...

And of course, heading to the beach!

Photo Credits: Jeff Allen images 1&9, Terry Pommett 2&20, Cary Hazlegrove 3,6,16-17,19,22 Nickleen via Flickr 4-5 7, Van Lieu 8, Dan Driscoll 10-15, 18, 21.

Check out the parties at Hooked on Houses, Fifi's Flowers and The Inspired Room!

My Latest Obession

2009-07-09T09:00:00.003-04:00

My most favorite thing right now is dark stained wood floors! I am completely obsessed with the combination of dark floors and white walls!This image may be familiar to you if you remember this post about the creative director at J.Crew, but I am just so in love with it! I die over the highs and lows in the color of the floor. The combo is stunning in a kitchen.... the dark floor feels so sleek and the bright white is so fresh and clean!And I love it when paired with marble in a bathroom... Beautiful in a bedroom! I don't think there is anywhere where it doesn't look just gorgeous!Yup! I still love it in a reading nook!And fab in a living room too! (Although I would either trade out the striped walls or the cow-hide rug - it's too much pattern for me)

Photo Credits: Domino, Unknown, Brooke Giannetti, Elle Decor, ABCD Design, Canadian House and Home.

We Wear Pink On Wednesdays!

2009-07-08T10:45:00.000-04:00

These are my favorite pink pics this week!! Enjoy!Photo Credits: Alcro via Purple Area, Massucco Warner Miller, Denis Porcher

Eric Roth Photography

2009-07-07T10:00:00.000-04:00

A bunch of the outdoor spaces from yesterday's post were taken by Eric Roth, which makes sense because he's an amazingly talented photographer! His specialty is high-end interiors, but he also offers lifestyle portraits, product and advertising photography. Here are some of his gorgeous interior shots!I think this room is stunning. The photo on the far wall is a fabulous focal point, and the bedding is such a nice pop of color and pattern. The light coming in those windows is fabulous. I love dark floors and white furniture!This room is definitely being added to my fave dining room files! I'm loving the built in shelves and skylights in here.

I love the juxtaposition of rustic wood flooring against the elegant marble.

Eric always captures so much light pouring into a room! Doesn't this picture almost look fake? It's almost too perfect!

I think the light fixtures in here are interesting.

Doesn't he take amazing pictures!?

Is Summer Weather Finally here?

2009-07-06T10:25:00.000-04:00

I hope everyone had a fabulous long weekend and a fun 4th of July!!

It finally stopped raining here and we've actually been able to start enjoying some time on our deck! We have a great fire pit and a lot of seating but it's nothing compared to these great entertaining spaces!
I'm drawn to the fireplace and white furniture here.... and I love any home with shingle siding! Isn't this a gorgeous outdoor kitchen?What a view!

I just die over this picture! Something about the lights in the tree just makes me fall in love with this spot!

Mmmm looks like a yummy barbecue!

Did any of you get to spend the weekend outside?? Perhaps in a space as gorgeous as these??

Photo Credits: Eric Roth, Eric Roth, Southern Living, Eric Roth, Unknown, Eric Roth

Colorful Kitchens

2009-07-02T21:32:00.000-04:00

Yesterday's post was all about my favorite kitchens, which you can see pretty clearly, I'm drawn to white cabinets and stainless steel.

But I'm seeing another trend out there which seems to be for those a little more daring --- colorful appliances!The yellow stove is a stunning pop of color in here! I love how it reiterates the yellow from the artwork. Colorful cabinets are fun too! I think it's a neat way of adding color beyond the typical wall paint.

So are you a white or colorful kitchen kind of person!?

Photo Credits: Canadian House and Home, Apartment Therapy, Asfour Guzy Architects, Apartment Therapy, My Home Ideas, Apartment Therapy

Check out the parties: Hooked on Houses, Fifi's Flowers, and the Inspired Room!

It's my party and I'll cry if I want too!

2009-07-02T01:16:00.001-04:00

Ok, so no crying... but my internet didn't work for SEVERAL hours today which does make me want to cry and it is my birthday..... so you're getting just a very quick post!! My few minutes on the finicky internet are being spent trying to get tickets to see Shakespeare in the Park with Anne Hathaway, but if it doesn't work out, I have to be honest I will be easily satisfied watching Princess Diaries!
BTW my dad went to college with that guy!! Maybe if I'm lucky he can give me a make-over for my b-day!! OR what I would love just as much is one of these gorgeous kitchens!! Do you have a favorite!??! I really don't care I'll gladly take any one of them!

Kitchen Photo Credits: Brian Gassel, The City Sage, Martha Stewart via The Newlywed Diaries, Brooke Giannetti, Paul Costello, Jessica Helgerson, House Beautiful, Domino, House and Garden, Charleston Home, Brooke Giannetti

Pink Wednesday!

2009-07-01T09:00:00.004-04:00

I laughed seeing these pink things this week... As much as I love pink, I just don't think it's the right color for houses or horses. I am however LOVING the car!!! There's a girl on Nantucket with a Jeep that is this same exact color, I used to see it and want it so so badly!

I'm not sure that this is what Ralph Lauren had in mind when they started their "pink pony" campaign.

What a darling little cottage! It's the cutest roofline I've ever seen!

Photo Credits: Cherish Loves Pink, Unknown for the Pink Pony, and Dave Kliman

Massucco Warner Miller

2009-06-30T09:00:00.003-04:00

I've just found a new design firm that I love love love -- Massucco Warner Miller!!It's a group of three women based in San Francisco and I love their clean fresh design. The above is a picture of their office. I love their use of turquoise accessories!
This is one of the rooms that first caught my eye. I'm drawn to the fresh white color scheme with the perfect balance of accent colors and pattern. I think then coral and beige together is gorgeous!I'm loving this girls room --- the stonework on the far wall is to die for! Totally a fan of the wallpaper here! This sun room is part of the same DC house as the above bedroom pics.. what a fabulous house! I'm really digging the striped couch!This is the entrance to a gorgeous house in Sun Valley --- you don't have to be a skier to enjoy this beautiful space! It's a little darker and more masculine that I ususally prefer, but it's a perfect style for the setting and the architecture of the house. Mmmmm what a nice place to take nice apres-ski relaxing bath.

I'd very much love to enjoy that glass of wine here!
You had me at zebra print bed skirt! This room is from the San Franscico Decorators Showcase. LOVE the pops of blue and orange!

These 2 pics above are from the Inn of Chicago - so pretty!

Photo Credits: Massucco Warner Miller

Can I please have this Soho loft!?!?!

2009-06-29T11:00:00.000-04:00

I'm so in love with these pics of this apartment! It's located in the heart of Soho (the best neighborhood to live and shop in NYC!) and it's huge!!I love that white chesterfield couch!! And the mirror wall is a really cool way to add more light and make the space feel even larger than its already very roomy footprint.

Look at all of those windows!! I'm loving the look of the vintage posters too!This is my favorite style kitchen these days -- white kitchens with dark floors. I love the sheep skin rugs and leather chairs in this master --- again I'm so envious of those windows! And here's the seating area for this huge bedroom!!

Pretty chandeliers!

I love the grey walls in this pretty bath!

Photo Credits: ABCD Design via Desire to Inspire

Zebra Print!

2009-06-25T23:09:00.005-04:00

Doesn't a zebra print rug always look amazing!?!?

What about a zebra print bed too!?!?

I just love the pattern and dimension that a little animal print can add to a room!!

Photo credits:SKMBT, Domino, Domino, Coastal Living, Jonathan Adler, and Jamie Drake via Design Ties

Join in on the parties at Hooked on Houses and Fifi's Flowers and The Inspired Room

Yay it's Wednesday!

2009-06-24T10:46:00.005-04:00

Here are some lovely pink things to get you through hump day!! Enjoy! This is from the Semiramis Hotel --- looks like a fun/wild place to stay!

How cute are those lamps?

And a pretty necklace -- I'm loving the vintage jewels look of this J.Crew Necklace

To check out my other pink Wednesdays posts - see here, here, here, and here!!!

Photo Credits: Momoy, Flickr, Traditional Home, J.Crew

Runway Shows!

2009-06-23T09:15:00.001-04:00

Pics of the resort 2010 runway shows are just getting posted and here are a few of the images I'm loving! (I'll dig into trends etc later, but these are some of the outfits/items that I'm drawn too whether or not they're the next hot thing!!) I love this black jacket by Yves Saint Laurent.

I'm drawn to the abstract floral print of the top and the heavy drapes of this skirt by Thakoon.I want to be this this girl! I'm kind of obsessed with the wild print on the loose fitting pants and I love the drapey v-neck shape of the top! By Roberto Cavalli

Another cute top by Roberto Cavalli - I'm kind of liking the netural top paired with the bright prints on the bottom.

I beading pattern on this dress by Rachel Roy.

I'm kind of drawn to the outfit as a whole here - bright skirt with sequins, long cardi, abstract print top, neutral shoes, by Rachel Roy

I love the pattern and colors of this Prada dress - feels vintage to me!

I LOVE the pattern of this Michael Kors skirt!!

I love the loose, slightly sheer quality of this top. I think it would make for a nice beach cover -up!

I'm loving this Burberry Prorsum top!

I love the delicate girliness of this 3.1 Phillip Lim outfit!

What do you think!? Do you have any faves yet!?

Cardis

2009-06-22T00:31:00.003-04:00

If you haven't already hopped on then long cardigan band wagon, I suggest you do!

Long drapey cardis are definitely going to be in this fall and if you were thinking they were any too hipster-ish for you--- here's a pic of Katie Lee Joel wearing one at a barbeque on Montauk!
It looks so nice I just love it! The length is slimming and is definitely wearable with a sundress! On a sad note though.. I just read that she and Billy Joel are getting divorced...

Kids can be stylish too!

2009-06-18T23:07:00.003-04:00

I've been wanting to write about kids rooms for a while but I've been struggling with finding pictures!! I'm realizing that it's hard to make kids rooms that are sophisticated and original but still whimsical and cheerful.

Typically, I LOVE Pottery Barn, but their kids catalogs just reinforces the rule that girls rooms must be pink and boys rooms are blue. They are all very cute rooms, but they all feel kind of the same. This room belonging to Jenna Lyon's son Beckett, is a kids room that I love for being stylish and playful. Jenna, the creative director at J.Crew, comments "Everything is so predictable! We don't need to be so predictable. Instead, be inspired by something unique." The Domino article that featured her Brooklyn brownstone wrote "Lyon dislikes traditional baby rooms but still wanted a space where her child's imagination and burgeoning aesthetics could run wild (long live chalkboard paint!)" "We were trying to establish a way for design to be playful and engaging without being exclusionary," applying even to the nursery her characteristic philosophy of democratizing sophistication. To figure out what would be both whimsical to a child and interesting to an adult, she and [her husband] tried to picture little Beckett lying in his crib. What would he see? Bold stripes overhead, cozy sheepskin atop cowhide. "Pale blues and pinks can seem so uncreative. There's something fresh about yellow and white and a charcoal wall begging to be drawn on."

And I have to agree with Jenna --- break the rules a little bit with color, but include playful, inspiring objects.

I'm loving the bedding options shown here, made by Dwell Studio for Target. Using a dark wood crib is also a great way to give pink a more sophisticated feel. And don't get me wrong, I love pink, but sometimes it's actually nicer when it's balanced out with neutrals rather than green or purple! This is another cute room from Dwell Studio for Target. Isn't it nice combining unexpected wall colors with other kid friendly ideas? Japanese lanterns are a cheap lighting fixture that gives a dramatic result. This room is definitely feels kid friendly all-over, but what a fresh new color?!And as far as playful objects go, I thought this rug from Design Public was pretty cute with a bite taken right out of it! AND the grey ground can be a nice neutral in a room!How adorable is this hamper from Home Decorators !?Art - using nice framing with a playful theme is a great way to contribute to a stylish room. This cute print is a lovely Etsy find - from Bold and Noble This rug, from 2modern, as well as my next few pics aren't kids things at all, but that's what I like about them. They're playful and fun, but they're all shown in grown-ups spaces, so they're objects that can grow with your kids. A lamp that's been paper-mached-- a perfect project for an ugly lamp make it pretty and match your room!I would have loved mis-matched curtains as a kid!If you have any room for upholstered furniture, how fun is this couch?And big numbers and letters - I love them! This last room isn't a bedroom, but I wanted to include it because of its fun paint pattern!

So what do you think... can we throw that pink is for girls, blue is for boys rule right out the window?! (Just like the you can't wear white after labor day rule which I REFUSE to follow!?!?)

Photo Credits: Pottery Barn, Domino, Domino, Target, Target, Design Sponge, Design Public, Home Decorators, Esty, 2Modern, Design Sponge, Domino, Jake Curtis via Desire to Inspire, O!Rashew via Desire to Inspire, Belle Maison, Purple Area, Traditional Home

Check out the parties today at Hooked on Houses, Fifi's Flowers and The Inspired Room!

McAlpine Booth and Ferrier

2009-06-18T09:00:00.001-04:00

I had come across this picture on a blog at some point and I had to save it because I just thought the elements of the design were so intriguing. I'm in love with the beam pattern on the ceiling, the white walls and the wood floor, but I was also struck by the table choice - how unique!

So now I've finally gotten around to researching the team behind this design --- McAlpine, Booth and Ferrier.

It's an interiors firm with offices located in Nashville and Atlanta and I've learned that they do some grand interiors. I actually had to look up "classical architecture vocabulary" before I remembered that the triangular thing over that door is a pediment. But I do love the height of the windows in this space and the beautiful floors. There are certain elements that I love about this table and chandelier set up, but since I've become more modern in style, I feel a little overwhelmed by all of then wall detailing here. Their website includes many more photos of some of their fancy homes, which I am just shocked are located in the south and are NOT part of some castle in Europe! I love all of the white in here mixed with the dark and antique woods.Do I even need to tell you what I'm loving about this space (windows obviously!) It's so not my style, but I just thought this sink was beautiful. The firm also has a talent for the other side of the spectrum --- rustic lake houses. I just thought this space was so neat, it's kind of hard to tell where the building ends and the outside begins.

I also learned that McAlpine, Booth and Ferrier were in the March issue of "Garden and Gun" magazine --- yes "Garden and Gun" does anyone else think that that's a highly bizarre title??

On Wednesdays We Wear Pink!

2009-06-17T09:00:00.001-04:00

I hope you all were lucky enough to watch Mean Girls this past weekend - it was on tv at least twice, I know because I watched it twice!!

Here are a few of the pink things I'm loving this week!I'm loving the sophisticated but feminine combo in this room. The grapefruit color of the "Love" print pairs so nicely with the fuschia. It also makes me think -- do I need to get one of those mirrored dressers? It looks so pretty! This yellow and pink combo makes me think of pink lemonade!
I'm loving the girly update to these Adirondack chairs! Looks like such a fun party they'll be having.

Photo Credits: Made By Girl, Sarah Kidder Design Blog, and The Inspired Room.

Floor patterns?

2009-06-16T09:30:00.002-04:00

Patterned floors have been catching my eye recently.
I LOVE this Mary McDonald bathroom. The floor is kind of a neat way of adding some pattern to the room without having to do it through fabrics.

For an otherwise solid kitchen, the floor can add a nice visual element to the room.

Although sometimes I think they're a little overwhelming... What do you think??

Would you dare to paint your floors!?

I don't remember moving to Seattle!

2009-06-15T18:01:00.002-04:00

It's raining AGAIN! It was supposed to get nicer this week, but now I'm starting to wonder if I need to commit to a new pair of wellies! Anyways, I saw these Hunter Wellies that you can get from Jimmy Choo.
Expensive (they're $395), but cute right?