Cafe Francais {in Paris}

Okay, the next time I go to Paris, I have another stop...
The latest coffee cafe from the Beaumarly group is rocking my world today. How chic is the modern dramatic look in this cafe. It's so very Kelly Wearstler and for me, knocks any old cafe out of the park. I would go here strictly to take photos of the sky painted ceiling, prance around on the glossy black and white floor and sit in the luxurious leather seating.
Beyond excited to see such modern deco out there in the world. Hello Cafe Francais


How to beautify your Vanity...

 
There is something I love so much about being at home...
I am the kind of girl that takes her time getting ready just because I love it. I especially love to style my home vanity area like its in a photo magazine. It makes the mood just that much more dramatic and glamorous...and you know where I find most of my inspiration? Tumblr. It's one of my favorite obsessions. Do you follow tumblr or bloglovin?
Anyhow, beauty products make the perfect decor. Perfume bottles, powder holders, brushes, etc. I adore anything and everything that has gold, really I just love it all! 

10 things that rocked my world this week...the downtown Manhattan edition

I partnered up with NewYork.com for a little something, and spent an afternoon checking out lower Manhattan. I couldn't help but snap photos of my favorite things around the area. Thank God for my iphone which provides the ultimate camera for snapping quick pics...
 1. The architecture on random blocks of downtown Soho. At times, the look can be so soft and European looking, yet in colors that are very New York.
 2. The character of Little Italy. I love this oversized statue of David just sitting outside a little cafe. It's so random but so charming all at the same time. 
 3. The insides of churches are so gorgeous. Most of the new churches in other cities these days are so modern and while beautiful, they don't have the charm or color that the old ones in New York do. New York always keeps it true.
 4. Hotel front desks. Always chic, professional and glam. This one happens to be the Mercer hotel, one of my favorites for a little bubbly. The purple back lit lobby is bangin'. 
 5. If you have ever gone down to Wall Street and walked into the old buildings, this is what you get. I fell hard for this entryway. 
 6. Central Park will never get old for me. Hands down my favorite place in the city. 
 7. I love how our city always meets our needs. Down in the Financial District, the tourist booths have ties. Each neighborhood has a different need. The little booths up in my Upper East neighborhood sell Pashminas, go figure. 
 8. We all know my obsession with gold. How fab is this brass wastebasket down on the streets of Wall Street. Hello. Can I get one for my apartment, please? 
9. Most people say this city is lonely, and I get that. However, never have I been in a city where more strangers have my back than ever. Our city is full of people standing up for one another. I kind of love it. 
 10. Lady Liberty. I really love her and her green.

 BONUS: my two favorite photos of the day:
 I love this womanly mermaid figure...
and please tell me how incredible is this entryway?
 all images by me.

Highlights of High Point Market Spring '13

This seasons market did not disappoint. Everyone really stepped their game up in terms of design and trends. I thoroughly enjoyed my time in the design showrooms, I got inspired to do so many new things. I love the sign of a hot and busy market. It means business is happening, people are making money, I love it. The above little vignette was in C.R. Laine, one of my all time favorite looks...chinoiserie.
Here are a few trends I saw that I loved! 
 
This blue glass mirror was so moroccan + the Art Deco Mexican mirror by Laura Kirar for Arteriors.
 
 
 
 
 
 
all images by me...

Flowers for the home...

While I would like to think I could be home to recharge and relax, I have no time to even think about taking a break or day off. Sigh. My newest client, however, has me incredibly excited to get to work. Before I jet to LA next week for LCDQ (is anyone going to be there?), I'll be styling a campaign for a really premier floral company here in New York. They are beyond one of the best in the business and I can't wait to get to creating this look book.  
 My inspiration will come from home decor. Not your ordinary tabletop setting, but looks showing how incredible florals can be in home decor. I love the way they look in china pieces. It's so feminine and pretty. I also love florals on the desk or anywhere really for that matter. 
 I love how fresh the green is on the stems of fresh flowers. The best way to show that off is through a gorgeous clear glass vase. 
all images via this page. follow more here and here.

10 things that rocked my world this week...High Point Market Edition

Oh my goodness. I think this is the first time in years that I have ever gone more than 1 day of not posting and talking to you guys. While I am sort of in shock and a little remorse, I have had the craziest month ever. I've been so busy, I don't even know what day it is anymore. Among all the wonderful things that have happened recently, High Point Market was surely the best and I want to share with you what my favorite parts were...

 1. Traditional Home + Junior League of Greensboro had a showhouse this year. It was extraordinary. I met new designers and saw some older favorites too. The rooms were incredible. I will post more on them soon, but for now this room was done by Miles Redd. It was light pastel blue (which was really hot at market this year) with chinoiserie and beautiful browns. gorgeousness. 
2. So, I pretty much spent most of my time at The Suites at Market Square. Hands down my new favorite building because there was just so much there. My favorite part was the revamped Antique + Design Center, which had me trolling around for hours. To my completes surprise I got to antique shop with Paula Deen. She was looking so good and really was just as fun as can be. We both got some good  things at a super steal! 
3. My favorite score...this Virgin Mary statue. It was literally a whole slew of shenanigans to get her home on the plane with me but she was worth it. 
4. The Stanley furniture showroom was out of control good. Woodson and Rummerfield helped give the showroom a huge makeover with serious style. It took their traditional style furniture to the next level and blew everyone away. The party was a blast, I felt like I was at a wedding at a mansion! 
Here I am with the duo and all their fabulousness. I miss working for them so much.
 5. I also got to meet the fabulous Aerin Lauder who is launching her very own home and lifestyle collection. She is totally a girl after my own heart because everything the does is in gold! Hello. 
 6. Global Views will always be a company after my own heart. They partnered with Zinc Door and hosted a super lovely dinner in the showroom where we got to see the latest and greatest of things. And  quite possibly got the best gift bags of all time. The showroom was AMAZING.
7. Yes. This modern version of shabby chic room was part of the showroom and literally rocked my world. I mean this wallpaper. Hello. Could it be any more perfect for Spring?
 8. I've always identified with Princess Jasmine, its the dark hair thing. So, when Aladdin was hanging out on a gorgeous magic carpet I couldn't help but hop on and snap a photo. Also because I'm just kind of a silly person sometimes and I really wanted to check out the carpet. 
 9. You know how sometimes you see things and you ask how much they are then you find out they are sold, and it breaks your heart. Well thats kind of what happened to me here with these gold chests. Ugh. But even so, they were ridiculously shiny gold a gold I rarely see and that made me so happy. 
10. The suites had a few of us from the design world, give tours of our favorite shops around market. It was a blast! We all had such a good time traveling around the showrooms together. 

Sherwin Williams National Painting Week {My bedroom makeover}

 
Yep, it's finally here, my purple bedroom paint makeover. I mentioned last week that I was going to show you pictures of my new bedroom look, now that its national painting week I am sharing the story. When Sherwin Williams reached out to me about joining NPW and assigned me the color purple, I jumped at the opportunity. For me, purple is a gorgeous color, but I never decorate with it. I'm not really sure why, its just usually a last accent color but nothing I've ever really wanted to work with. At first I considered painting a piece from an antique store but then I thought, I really need to shake up my all white bedroom and make it more of a cocoon for blissfully deep sleeping. Game on!
I ended up going with the Emerald line of paint, in the color called "soulmate" and I absolutely love it. It's so soft and muted, reminds me of a color you would see in Paris. It completely softens the more modern furnishings I have in my bedroom.
I think most of you know how much I was feeling the all white thing this winter, but painting my room purple was everything I needed and more. Now my teeny little manhattan bedroom is such a cozy little jewel box. 
My most favorite area is my vanity. I absolutely love getting ready here and something about the purple sort of makes it feel more luxurious, especially with my little pink velvet vanity seat.
I really love the color at night too. It's such a dream to sleep with. Who would have thought I would love my purple bedroom so much? I'm not finished with the entire room, I need more art on the walls , a few more choice accessories and I think I am considering a new bedding look, too. For now, I am thrilled with it. 
Purple can be interesting to accent, so I went for white, black and gold...Here are a few of my favorite pieces...


Be sure to check out my purple co-hort The City Sage and her adorable makeover, or the rest of the bloggers and their color makeovers. They are not to be missed!

photography by Michelle James

My Springtime accessories...


This seasons High Point Market is fast approaching (I fly out this weekend) and I'm scrambling to try and find things to pack. With so many showrooms to see, parties to attend, meetings to get to I need to be smart about what I choose to bring with me. Days are long, but incredibly exciting...who's coming with me?
Thanks to Coach I have been supplied with my shoe essentials from their new spring collection which I must say, metallics and wicker weaving are everything right now.


Now that I'm all set with footwear, what I really need to find is the perfect handbag. Something in a great color for spring time in the city and also big enough to carry around all of my decorista tools + supplies. There are so many chic bags out there, I need your help deciding which one to go with. I'm a very classic girl so I like clean lines and beautiful colors. 


COMPLETELY CRAVING CORAL

I don't know what it is about me these days but I am bringing in new flowers every other day because I am loving different colors throughout my home. Is it a little weird that now that I have colored my bedroom, I am dying to color up my bathroom in a really bold and totally random color? I think it might have something to do with National Painting Week being this week....my bedroom makeover post coming soon.
Now I am doing everything I can to hold myself back from getting a can of coral and painting my bathroom away. The color is just so happy and beautiful and would perk me up every single morning that I take a shower. 
 How rich and majestic is this color, its just killing me right now. So good. 

I even adore coral accessories on a more neutral wall, thats fab too. 
Should I do it, should I take the plunge???

images 1-amanda nisbet. 2+4+6- houzz. 3+5 -elledecor.com 

Dining in Madrid, old hollywood glam style


Ever since I went to Madrid, I have been dreaming about going back. The first stop on my places to visit...The Restaurant La Terraza del Casino. This restaurant is designed by Hayon Studio and I am just blown away by the glamorous style.
 I'm absolutely in love with the hostess desk, this bit geometric shaped white thing is just perfection. Topped off by a beautiful little gold lamp it makes such a grand statement.
 The choices of chandeliers really set the tone for the space, all of the swag and old hollywood glamour that you could ask for. 

My favorite part might be the diamond patterned mirrored wall. It is such a match made in heaven with the black and white checkered floor. Oh, and the oversized fruit art just does it for me too. So fresh.
 

images via haydon

10 things that rocked my world this week...April 14


1. This week was such a special week for me. First of all, I got to have my favorite person in the entire world spend time with me in the city. My grandmother, America, is probably the most fabulous woman I have ever known. She's 96 and still so with it. She is in town for my cousins wedding. Everything I am is because of her, she is the original decorista..."O.D." I am obsessed with her, we have had such a fun week together.
 
2. We went to go see the musical, Annie. It was so good, I was crying by the end of it. However, I couldn't stop staring at the building. It was incredibly beautiful. 
3. The warm nights this week were just so magical. I love this city when its warm out like that. 
 4. I finally got my Ankasa pillow that I custom designed. I will have to tell you all about it. I am overjoyed with how it turned out! 
 5. This can of Sherwin Williams high gloss white paint has literally taken over my apartment. Get ready to see a lot of white beautiful things in here. 
 6. I couldn't resist doing some window shopping this week with grandma. We stumbled upon an art deco lighting store and probably looked in the window for 20 minutes. Full of gorgeousness.
 7. We spent a lot of time in this room over the weekend. My aunt is one of the most talented decorators I know. This little lavender corner really stuck me. 
 
8. This little breakfast was our favorite time together. The tabletop decor was simply divine.
 9. The wedding table. It was so stunning in person, this picture doesn't do it justice. 
10. On another note. My blog + website is getting a full on overhaul. I am so excited to get it up and running so you all can see it. Yay.

My bedroom makeover...

So, a while back I think I mentioned something about painting my bedroom from shocking white to dramatic purple. At first I was hesitant but I was feeling I needed something a little more jewel toned. I am getting so excited to share my new bedroom with all of you because I am so happy I decided to take the plunge. 
What inspired me? Well, Sherwin-Williams is celebrating National Painting Week beginning April 15th, and they asked 14 top design bloggers to get creative with our very own paint projects! Each day next week, NationalPaintingWeek.com will feature color inspiration, painting ideas, expert tips, product information and one-of-a-kind projects from all of us to give some serious inspiration for your own spring home improvement projects.
Out of all the purples, I needed something soft yet decadent. I went with "soulmate" and I am so in love.

Stay tuned! 

The perfect bathroom wallpaper...

Right now my bathroom is such a bore. I mean its soft and white and things are so serene but now that its spring time I'm just craving some color in there. While I was leaning toward stripes, I suddenly got the inspiration to add some green to the walls. Perhaps a little bit of leafy wallpaper (which are usually my favorite).
Martinique wallpaper is a classic, but when I saw this lily pad number in kate spades southhampton home, I was pleasantly surprised with how fab it looks, too. 

1- here 2-kate spade southhampton  3-here  4 & 5-lonnymag