Blog Archives

It's got a great....personality

6/28/2010

So it's time to move and you're reading the listings online or in the paper to see what's out there in your price range. But who can decipher that mess? Some of the confusion is the use of all those abbreviations: EIK, w/w, and CAC, for example. The shorthand saves time and money, but makes it difficult to figure out if the listing actually has the features you're looking for. By the way, those jumbled letters mean eat in kitchen, wall to wall carpeting and central air conditioning. NY1 has some helpful information to help you with the alphabet soup. But that's just one way real estate listings cause confusion.

Casa von Furstenberg

6/23/2010

Today is the grand opening of 4 of Diane von Furstenberg's 20 newly designed rooms for the Claridge Hotel in London. She has stayed in hotels all over the world and is known for her stylish yet practical aesthetic. My problem? I can't seem to find any pictures online! And, sadly, I'm not quite able to hop a flight to London to see the rooms for myself. Here's hoping the NY Times posts them tomorrow in their style section. If any of you have come across pictures, please send a link my way.

Inspiration-Kravet

6/23/2010

It's hard to flip through a home and garden magazine without coming across one of Kravet's ads that show the everyday item, like a black and white cookie, acting as the inspiration for some beautiful fabric or furniture. I like to poke around their site from time to time since it is chock full of good ideas.

Ikat done right

6/22/2010

Table setting, Eddie Ross

I've made my feelings on ikat clear in previous entries. I like it, but I don't feel it's worth a huge investment. In 10 years, that ikat print club chair (with ottoman) won't be rocking your living room quite the same way. Of course, there are exceptions. You've got a neutral room with lots of African art? That bench with the ikat print is still going to work really well. For the rest of us, Eddie Ross has a great article on his site that shows how to do ikat beautifully (and temporarily).

The shape of something stylish

6/18/2010

Silhouette pillow from West Elm

When you're five going on six there's not too many Christmas presents you can give your parents that are going to wow them. Macaroni necklace? Ashtray? Is that lump even an ashtray? But I (and every other kindergartener at Bowling Green) brought home a custom made silhouette, suitable for framing. I hope they're holding up that tradition at the old alma mater because silhouettes are the height of style these days.

Lifestyles of the rich and sarcastic

6/16/2010

Even Superman needs a place to unwind

I have a confession to make. In addition to reading all sorts of design and news sites, I enjoy a good dose of celebrity gossip. Stop judging. (You do it, too....admit it.) So imagine my excitment when I discovered a terribly snarky yet informative real estate blog featuring celebrity homes. The homes pictured are generally staged (and not always terribly well....) so don't get your hopes up thinking you'll see a whole mess of famous people stuff. But the author does go through the listing in detail adding a good dose of humor.

Country Living in the big city

6/11/2010

While getting my regular morning fix of New York 1 (that's the local news channel here in NYC), I caught sight of an interesting exhibit going on at the World Financial Center sponsored by Country Living magazine. It's a prefab house designed by New World Home , in conjunction with Country Living that's LEED certified. The idea is to show that a home can be fiscally and environmentally sound without losing traditional architectural detail. The exhibit runs through June 17th and is free to the public.

Inspiration pages

6/10/2010

I wanted to share a great site that is chock full of room photos from both designers and homeowners. If you're looking to make some changes, this is a good website to check out since room photos are conveniently organized by both room use (bedroom, dining room, etc) and color.

America(na) the beautiful

6/9/2010

Flag tray from Target for $15

There's just something about this time of year that practically forces us to embrace decorating with Old Glory. Perhaps it's because you've got Memorial Day, Flag Day and July 4th, all within a 6 week span. Or maybe it's because some people think summer and think crisp beachy Nantucket style. Whatever the reason, the kick off to summer always coincides with a bit of red, white and blue.

Contain Yourself

6/3/2010

There's an interesting article in the Times today about the growing (pardon the pun) popularity of terrarium gardens. They're an easy and inexpensive way for us apartment dwellers to have a tidy little garden. But see, I've been cursed with the black thumb of death (RIP herb garden....) and would like to avoid an arrest for herbicide. Could this supposedly self-sufficient set up be the answer?

<<Previous