"Baby, it's cold outside" croons Ella Fitzgerald. And man, is she not kidding. With my Russian hat and parka, am off to tackle the day but in my head, I'm wishin' I was holed up in Aspen or Asheville apres skiing, fireside with hot toddy in hand instead of billing paying, errands and hustling. It's a holiday, the city is cleared out and the temperature has dipped too far for my tastes. But for now, these inspirations will have to do.
I know, I know it's soo cheesy but I sure love Valentines. Maybe it's all the pink or the champagne or flowers being delivered but I am fully on board. Romance is a good thing and celebrating it is a great thing.
via Paris2London Tumblr
Here are a few things I'm inspired by this VDay.
People Making An Effort
A friend recently had a full on seat down dinner party in her two floor apartment overlooking Fifth Avenue. The apartment itself is so pretty but what was really great was how she went all out for dinner. There was a champagne bucket filled and good crystal out. We had name cards and candles were everywhere. She greeted us at the door with cocktails and sent us home with a treat bag including recipes from that night's dinner. It was truly rockin' awesome. She put it all out and gosh, did we all not appreciate it. It's fun to do dinners every once in a while that really are a lot of work. Yes, you heard me all you "lifestyle experts" who say it isn't "hard" or "time consuming" cause it is. So tonight, I am making the food myself (sorry, Citarella) and buying fun booze. I'm polishing the silver and ironing the linen napkins instead of using cute Caspari ones, even for cocktails. I'm going to some trouble in a good way. And for friends I love. So Pam Scurry, thank you for gilding the lily and inspiring me to step it up. We loved every minute of it!
Drinks Bar at Pam's very grown up sit down dinner party last night.
Beautiful Flowers Really Do Make It All Better.
I'm a sucker for flowers. Sucker. I won't have money to buy a latte but I don't want an apartment without flowers. Just doesn't seem right. Here's what was at the flower market this morning.
One King's Lane's talented floral designer, Meghan Guthrie, did a nice write up on how to get a better bouquet. Check it out here.
DIYers, here's a tip. Take a tight picture of a beautiful bouquet like this then blow it up on your copier and wrap around an inexpensive bunch of roses for a gift or wrap a gift in it.
People who dress up.
I don't want my table to outdrew me. T Magazine's video with Lee Radiwill made me want to run out a buy a real suit and white cashmere scarf. I mean, how great does she look?? It's worth watching this 12 minute video to learn more about this elegant woman. The dame oozes style.
** I once heard that being well dressed is the ultimate form of politeness. Love that.
Neon Art
Ahead of his time, my Dad gave my mom a neon heart that sits in the kitchen and has always made me smile so this sort of art has always held a special place in my heart.
Make Vday a month long affair and head to Times Square to see British artist, Tracey Emin, takes over Times Square with her cool neon art. Read more here.
Via Net-a-Porter
** Check out my first Houzz Tour. Thanks to homeowner, Lawrence, for letting me come talk it up and for designer (and dear friend) Richard Johnson for allowing me to feature it.
Real snow has finally come to NYC and the spareness of winter is feeling right. Inspired by Friday's blizzard, I'm loving all things cozy.....
and white....
and fur lined....
While I love nothing better than rich fabrics, loads of textiles layered up and oodles of life littering a room, there's something about the dead of winter with it's quietness and frozen beauty that makes me want to purge, build a fire and get down to the basics. Perhaps it's because life is spinning a bit wild that I'm craving nordic style-simple, edited, clean. Or maybe it's all those scandinavian cabins on tumblr and pinterest or the fur throws in all the catalogs on sale but whatever it is, I am seriously onboard. Here's a few interiors that make me want to jump a plane for Denmark.
And isn't this nugget of a kitchen so charming?? simple simple simple yet gorg!
Pinterest ranks second to coffee as addictions go for me. Do ya'll agree?? It's a happy place to get instant inspiration and go on a creative jaunt without ever leaving my parson's desk. I am ammmmaaaaazzzeed at the great "eyes" out there and have found some of my favorite pinners aren't big brands like J Crew or Kate Spade but smaller designers, tastemakers out there. Today I decided to give a few of my favorites a shout out.
Best All Around Pinner (and one of the first!)..... HOLLY PHILLIPS-super talented and fun Interior Designer in Charlotte, NC.
And here's one of her pins...
Coco Chanel's Apt via Pinterest (photographer not listed)
Another favorite pinned isMRS. FRENCH based in Portland, Or. Her style is super Portland if you know what I mean... and she pins A LOT. She also pins fun fashion things and travel related pins that are "wow" worthy.
And here's one of her pins.....
Elle Decor South Africa via Pinterest
Another favorite Pinterester is.....
She is the queen of black and white and has a zillion followers devoted to her as well.
Check out the studio apartment of Swedish designer, Jimmy Schonning, in Stockholm. It's 495 square feet and chocked full of ideas. One King's Lane did a great write up. Read it here.
Another tiny home on my radar is this West Village apartment. Isn't the entrance just a gem?
Houzz ran a fascinating article on a 220 square feet space and how it's used. Read up on that here.
Houzz also ran one of my all time favorite homes from Portland designer, Jessica Helgerson. Her home that she share with her husband and two kids is just killer. Read more here.
Each of these articles is full of ideas and thoughts on small space living. Get ready to take notes & pin like crazy.
Lonny ran this lovely NYC studio apartment awhile back and it's stuck with me. It's well put together and has a definite layout and feels, well, grownup. It feels full but not too cluttered and clearly, every inch is used. This works to me because there is a unified look throughout the room. I love how there are REAL pieces of furniture, nothing "made for an apartment." Well done.
I love seeing towards the other direction as well The floating books frame up the foyer and the over sized painting above the desk defies the adage to put small things in small places.
Wanna get the look?
Paint your home a slightly antique white
like White Dove at Benjamin Moore.
Sofa.com
Add a nail head trimmed white sofa in a federal style.
With the annual January clean up, I'm inching to find some new inspirations for the new year. Whether it's a new color, fabric or look, I'm on the prowl. Here are a few things that have gotten my creative juices flowin' lately. Send yours! xo
Inspiration 1: Get my furniture to work hard for me.
From the delightful designer Eddie Ross, a chic foyer table that doubles as a dining room table. Read the story here.
Covers so many cool things and in the most perfect way.
Inspiration #4: Downton Abby Season Premier.
Nothing more needs to be said. Did you know that Downton Abby is FOUR TIMES the size of Central Park. INSANE. But the visual candy is too good to miss. And don't get me started on the amazing wedding... The sets are stunning. If you don't watch it, try it. Sundays at 9pm on PBS.
Inspiration #5: Paperwhites
The scent greets me at the door and they look good in any room. Leave it to nature to add some sparkle.
Inspiration #6: BRIKA Like a well curated Etsy, this little site is getting me excited (again) for handmade finds. Get inspired by the designers and their cool stuff. I promise, you'll find something worth pulling out the plastic for....
The tree is chucked, thank you notes written and Fa la la Lifetime's "12 Days of Christmas" has ended. It's full steam ahead into 2013 with new goals, a bit more zeal and life in NYC is fairly "deholidayed"except for one thing. The (wonderful) Christmas cards remain. What's a gal to do? Are you a tosser -someone who reads and immediately tosses? Or you a saver-someone who boxes up and stores? Well, you can't be one of those in our tiny spaces. I love getting pictures from friends and family to see fun (and sometimes funny) pictures and updates and don't like throwing them out so quickly. My solution this year was to put in a good old Paul Revere bowl on the "coffee table meets dining room table meets office desk" lack table. Here are a few other ideas if you found yourself in the same boat. And no, none of them involve your refrigerator which is the good old standby.
Create wall art!
C Magazine
Check out Sophia Coppola's apartment in C Magazine. More is More so LOAD them up. Hit an office supply store like Staples and get the largest bulletin board they have then have fun layering all your favorite pictures from 2012 including those holiday cards.
Ikea sells super cheap frames that you can pick up for a song then add to your gallery wall a few of the season's best cards. Don't have a gallery wall? Start one...
Hang'em!
Tilly Cottage
Get a modern light fixture like this and hang special letters, notes and cards from Christmas and the whole year! Tuck'em into a pretty mirror or painting!
