Inspiration from the Sea

Just when you thought we were done with coral, seashells, and other seaside inspirations, the couture collection from Jean Paul Gautier brought it back with a sexy, mystical twist!



I've been keeping my eye on the couture shows, just to see what might pop up to inspire me, and I LOVED this collection!



It seems like a mix of an oceanic underworld meets ming dynasty... and the umbrellas are heavenly!



Mmmmm. I might have to translate this into a room like I did with the Balenciaga collection last fall...

Feathery Goodness!

How warm and lovely is this chandelier from moss?



It's made entirely of white goose feathers... I can't imagine how you would keep this clean, but it's such an original piece. I would love to see it in a girly powder room of all whites and soft pinks.

It also comes in rooster feathers which could be very dramatic in a darker space...

J'Adore Marion in Ricci

My favorite dress by far at the SAG awards the other night was French actress Marion Cotillard in Nina Ricci...



A stunning, simple silvery grey that literally made me gasp when she walked out to present. LOVE IT.

Room of the Week 1.30

While this room may not be the most glamorous or original I've ever seen, I chose it because it's such a perfect example of juxtaposition and balance. The simplicity of the pieces make it a lesson in design.

Red is one of the hardest colors to design with, because it can overwhelm a space so easily. In this case, each side of the room is balanced with the red stools on the right, the red print on the left. The wood chairs lend warmth to an otherwise stark white dining space, and also compliment the warm tones used in the kitchen itself. Even the slate grey floor adds to the room by mimicking the stainless steel appliances and adding depth. On a style level, this room is a wonderful blend of modern traditional as well!

Perfect Registry Continued... Black Chandeliers

As I noted in my earlier post, Anna at Perfect Bound asked me to participate in her "Registry Bliss" series last week (which apparently she is turning into a regular thing, so if you've got your own list, sent her a shout!). Another tough item for me to decide on was a chandelier. I feel that everyone should have one gorgeous statement piece to hang in their entry, above the dining room table, in the bedroom... wherever you want to add a bit of drama and glamour - no matter what size your home or budget.

My first instinct when Anna asked for this list was to go big, so I went right to the Baccarat Black Crystal Chandelier.



It's absolutely stunning and over the top. But then I thought... well, I might as well look around a bit more to see what other black glass chandeliers were out there... and came up with a load of options!



I love the smoky glass used in this piece from Horchow. It makes the chandelier feel a bit less heavy than the Baccarat one. (Pssst... I think that this is the same exact one here for less!)



This beauty is from Pieces. I love the idea of the round bulb in the chandelier - it gives it a dramatic deco feel!

And then of course there's always a lovely Murano Glass...



After these stunners, I started thinking a bit more economically - space and price wise - so I found a few smaller pieces as well...



This little one is from Black Orchid Interiors in the UK.

And what might be two of my favorites (because I can actually afford them!) are these little ones from Lamps Plus



This is actually a dark amber glass, which I think is a really nice warm option (and only $299!).



This piece is larger, but I love the idea of the black finish with the clear crystal detail - such a beautiful contrast. This piece is only $790, and you can find it right here.

Portrait Love

Back in October I blogged about my new obsession with finding the perfect portrait. I fell in love with one on ebay, but it got away. Well, in the last week, my interest has been refreshed by spaces and places featuring gorgeous and intriguing pieces of art that I am coveting for my walls.

It started with a few different rooms. This first one from Abbey Goes Design Scouting and popped up a few weeks ago.



Then, Anna at Absolutely Beautiful Things blogged about this portrait found at Soulful Adornments, (don't you just love that name?).



Haunting, isn't she? I absolutely love it.

And then... I came across this amazing home featured on ATLA that is not only an incredible example of how to mix multiple styles, but has portraits EVERYWHERE!









Check out the entire slide show to see more inspiration!

So, now my hunt is back on. But I fear I have some competition as the portrait love seems to be spreading these days... watch out ebay!

Registry Bliss at Perfect Bound

Last week, Anne at Perfect Bound asked me to contribute to her week of "Registry Bliss" and I happily agreed! I was charged with picking out five fabulous fantasy registry items, which you can see here . I had such a hard time picking my top favorites, however, that I figured I'd share some of the gorgeous pieces I found in my search, starting with the china.

There are so many ways you could go when it comes to settings for the the table - big over the top patterns, simple white, banded gold or platinum, subtle colors... the choices are seriously endless.

So I started with pieces trimmed in gold...



Clockwise from top:

The Martha Stewart for Wedgewood, Wedding Band Taupe collection might be my first runner up because I love the combination of the taupe with the gold, the modern simple style, and how it could definitely be used as an everyday china. My second runner up is Haviland's Illusion in Chocolat, designed by Barbara Berry. (A deep chocolate rimmed in gold? What's not to love?) I also liked the trellis-like pattern on the Etoile dinnerware by Bernardaud, the rich pattern of the Old Japan by Royal Crown Derby, and the gorgeous teal and gold combo in Anna Weatherly's Colours collection in Celadon.

Then I remembered how surprisingly inspired I was by the pinks used in Gwyneth Paltrow's dining room...



So I found a few of my own to love, even though I'm fairly positive I'll never get a guy to agree to these patterns. (PS - Does anyone else hate the chairs she chose for this room? Love the color, but they are SO contemporary...)



The Silk Ribbon collection from Ralph Lauren, the new Ribbon Stripe collection from Martha Stewart, and Missoni Margherita in Pink.

And finally ~ my favorites from Hermes. You just really can't go wrong with these...

Happy Girly Weekend!

One of my best girlfriends is in town, and I can't wait to run around LA with her... she's a shoe junkie, so in honor of her visit...



A fab little collection of candy colored heels from Marie Anoinette! One of the most visually fabulous movies I've ever seen... with a perfectly yummy wardrobe. So, to all the ladies - have a fab weekend and do something wonderfully girly for yourself. You deserve it ;)

Room of the Week 1.24

I'm a wee bit late on posting today's Room of the Week for three good reasons.

1) After a long day at work, a long week of fighting a cold, and throwing a little dinner party last night for my roommate's birthday I was totally wiped out today.

2) I still haven't scanned about a million worthy rooms that are sitting in a stack and have been for the past... oh, two years.

And 3) My best friend Erin is coming into town tomorrow (yippeee!) which meant that today was spent CLEANING! Luckily, I was hunting through listings for Italian Villas (oh the life of a blogger) and came across this dining room and kitchen which might be the most wonderful thing I've ever seen (from an Italian girls' perspective anyway...)



The light! The warmth! The gorgeous table that still wouldn't fit my huge Italian family, and the KITCHEN! The curved shape is stunning. That can't possibly be the whole thing because there are no cabinets, but I can see the stove on the left, and tons of counter space, a little island table, and then a great big fridge. Heaven! Mostly I'm just in love with the way these two spaces flow into each other. In my perfect world, there's a long fireplace on the other side of the room to complete the picture. *sigh* I think I'm in need of a vacation!!

orGLAMic

or-glam-ic: When natural or organic materials used for design meet modern glamour decor.

Shall we use it in a sentence..?

This dining room is positively orGLAMic.




Or, it could be used as an adjective...

This bedroom makes me orGLAMic.



Ok, perhaps that's taking it a bit too far...

But I've been searching for a way to describe my aesthetic lately, and I think that's it. I love a clean glamorous or modern style, but I have to have some warmth to balance it. I love using raw woods or materials with wonderful texture along with sleek pieces in materials like acrylic, lacquer, or mirrored surfaces with simple modern silhouettes.







And yes, the innuendo is intentional. Because really, how else should you feel about the space your inhabiting? So, what do you think? Have I lost my mind, or will orGLAMic catch on? ;)

I Love....

These cutout tables from Suite NY.



Made from acacia wood with a natural wax oil finish, they give provide that raw organic feel that I love, with a modern shape. The white is almost glamorous.

I'm going to have to come up with a term for this... like orGLAMic. Or maybe that sounds too much like orgasmic. Which pretty much sums up how I feel when I can find the perfect mix of these two styles... hmmmm...

Jewelry Alchemy

Well, seems like everyone this week has posted on their favorite cuffs, so I thought I'd add to the trend with one of mine by goldsmith Melissa McClure at Jewelry Alchemy.



Gorgeous, right? Perhaps it's my short stature, and the fact that my wrist are so tiny, that makes me wary of huge bangles and cuffs weighing down my arms. They just don't seem to work on me. But THIS! This I could do!

I fell in love with Melissa's work when I first saw her simple twig necklace on my friend Annie.



The way she crafts these pieces - they seem to move with you. They're delicate and simple, but stunning, and I love the origin of her inspiration.

Her grandmother was a third generation jeweler whose legacy inspired Melissa's first collection based on the idea of a "family tree" necklace. But Melissa's process goes deeper than that too. She says, "Jewelry is the most intimate and durable of items we choose to place over important parts of our bodies - bracelets to pulse points, rings over the vein that is closest to our hearts, and necklaces that rest directly on our chests. It's how we express who we are and what is important to us." Which is why, of course, Jewelry Alchemy is the perfect name for her line.



Not only do I love Melissa's work, but she's such an awesome little chickadee. I love when she stops by the store because she's got such an appreciation for beautiful things and aesthetics, which is what we all love to share with people around here, right? So, here are a few more of my favorites from her, to share with you...

Just Jack

Confession: I have a bit of random obsession with certain British things. Like, how much better is UK Vogue? And when a lovely Brit comes into my store, I talk to them longer just to hear their accent. I love the way they say "brilliant!" instead of "great!", and the vocabulary is just the beginning. I love British names, like Gemma and Kinsey (yes, it's a name!). And I love love love the Union Jack. There's just something so strong and royal about it! But, not bring a Brit myself, I have a hard time flying the flag of another country for no good reason... that is until I saw this Union Jack created by Wary Meyers for a Brooklyn brownstone.





The subtle and natural colors of the wood make it so much more accessible as a design piece, versus the traditional red white and blue. The layers give such great depth and texture, and the custom framing using a simple moulding? Genius. Wary Meyers is one of my favorites for inspiration, actually, and here's why...



Instead of tearing down the moulding, or replacing it with a piece made to fit the original moulding, they painted in the spots where the moulding should be! How quirky and wonderful is that? And then they add details like this...



Disguising what can be an eyesore, and giving visual continuity by extending the paint - including the white detail and two toned grey - over the radiator.

*sigh* how perfectly brilliant :)

Here's to Flowers in Windowsills

Happy weekend!

What's a Working Girl to Do?

I'm used to giving more advice on living spaces than accessories, but I recently got an email from a reader, Hannah, who writes, "I'm graduating in May with a degree in economics and will most likely go into banking so I need something pretty conservative but not dowdy. Do you have any suggestions for VERY simple, preferably leather, briefcases/laptop bags that will not make me look like someone who wears pre-matched suit ensembles with pantyhose scrunched around my ankles?"

Well, I'm gonna say it right now. I was NOT the girl to ask about this because my first instinct was to say - why don't you get a nice little Louis Vuitton and call it a day? My second instinct was to browse through ridiculously priced handbags like this little beauty..



because, I really really really cannot find a decent 'briefcase' bag out there. SO, dear readers... do you have any suggestions for poor Hannah? Mine are below - probably not the best, but not the worst. Almost all leather, and somewhat conservative...

The Fashionista Bag:



Buckles and Studs on a workbag? Love it. This is my style for sure, but I'm also in a much more creative industry than Banking, so while I know I can get away with this, I'm not sure if it's a bit too fashionista for Hannah. This one is available at careerbags.com which carries a lot of other decent styles, including this one, which I would have to see in person to determine whether or not it's actually cool...



For a similar 'handbag' style that's a bit more simple, I also liked this one from Gina B. that also comes in a nice olive tone.



The Sexy Bag:



For me, adding something a little sexy to a work ensemble gives me an extra boost of confidence. This bag from Lodis (always a classic!) is sleek and sexy without screaming "look at me!". While the shape is pretty straightforward, it's the shiny high-quality leather that makes the bag.

The Brit Bag



No, I'm talking about that crazy Britney. This Brit is much more put together, and mimics that classic Burberry look that, let's face it, never really gets old. Available at Wrapables.

The Simple Bag



Ok, so it's grey and yellow which makes it an automatic for being in my favorites. Other great little details? The inside of the bag reads, "Crafted to love you back." How cute is that? The handles adjust to a shoulder strap, and you can be pretty sure that nobody else is going to have this bag at work... it's from Schambra in the UK.