Friday Finds: Pretty in Pink, Get Organized, Ralph Lauren Sales and Giveaways Galore!

Time to play catch up for the week, as it has been a whirlwind. Fighting off a cold, carpal tunnel pain, preparing for house guests (change of plans with said house guest), adoption issues and more!

Here are happenings around the web for this week.

Pretty in Pink

If you have EVER wondered whether or not you could pull off a pink room, head to Ragland Hill Social, and view Gwen’s Week of Pink. She pulls images from everywhere (including one of my favorite rooms above from Mary McDonald) and shows you a myriad of ways to use pink in a sophisticated fashion, in tones ranging from salmon, to rose, to hot pink and fuchsia. She also has amazing images of pink desserts, I got hungry just looking at them!

And I completely missed this the other day, but Gwen featured an image from my very talented friend Katalin. We worked together a lifetime ago in NYC. Her photostream on Flickr is full of amazing pictures of her Scotties, her crafts and her pictures from abroad.

Speaking of pink, The Container Store is having their first ever Work Smart Office Sale. I will share some expert tips with you next week about how organize your office. Meanwhile, I want some of our file folders, which are heavyweight to stand up to daily use, and feature adorable patterns (hello, pink zebra)!

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And you can download desktop backgrounds, inspired by the exclusively designed collection of Interior File Folders. Guess which background I currently have on mine? I think I will try them all.

Ralph Lauren Home

One Kings Lane has Ralph Lauren Home and Ralph Lauren Furniture sales starting today! 2/28 is your last chance to get a $10 instant credit with your free membership (to be used by 3/30).

Giveaways:

Last day to win a $50 Nest gift card from Nest Interior Design.

Enter to win an online room makeover from Doxa Home (and read all about the talented & sweet Jaime Rogers in All The Best this week). And I expect a BIG thank you if you win, as this is huge!

Become a fan of World Market on Facebook, for a chance to win a trip for two to Greece! Contest ends 2/28.

Have a great weekend, I will be cleaning, organizing and resting my wrists.

Mid-century Mania: Alexander Girard

I am considering the Flora Rug Kit (shown above) for our bathroom. We have ceramic tile, but it is so cold on bare tootsies, plus, I love the vivid and colorful print of this rug.

It features leaves, birds, flowers, butterflies and more, all in master mid-century designer Alexander Girard's folk art-inspired style and vibrant palettes. Girard (1907 – 1993) is best known for his textile designs for Herman Miller, from 1952 to 1975. He created fabrics for the designs of George Nelson and Charles and Ray Eames, as the head of the fabric and textile division.

The next time we are in Santa Fe, we will have to visit the Museum of International Folk Art, to see the Girard’s collection of folk art, which numbers over 100,000 pieces. He and his wife Susan started collecting on their honeymoon in 1939. The Girard Wing at the museum houses a permanent exhibition, Multiple Visions: A Common Bond, designed and installed by Girard in 1982.

For even more Girard, Urban Outfitters has an assortment of pillows and wall art, an affordable way to add a little mid-century.

International Love Pillow

Hand and Dove Wall Art, 12x24”

And on the higher end, House Industries has an entire collection of Girard objects, including groovy fonts, puzzles, blocks and more.

Alphabet blocks, for the modern tyke.

 Alexander Girard amassed a huge collection of nativities, many which are featured in the Girard wing. I have wanted a modern Nativity for a while, it is a splurge, but I love it!

Get Inspired: Michelle Nussbaumer

One Kings Lane has a section on their site called Get Inspired. Full of designer bios, tips and images, it features many of the top interior designers today.

I always learn so much from the experts, and I love to share my finds with all of you. I think of myself as an “information gatherer” and my blog as a way to compile all of this information.

Today’s designer is fellow Texan, Michelle Nussbaumer, owner of Ceylon et Cie. Known for dramatic interior design, Michelle’s mantra is "More is more. Less is never more. Less is obviously less. Who wants less?"

Here are my favorite images and tips from Michelle.

Great example of how to display art.

Love the oversized blue and white vases!

The graphic wallpaper keeps the dark wood, sculpture and rugs from being too heavy.

Tips:

01 I love the drama of painted patterns on floors and ceilings. If you don't have a decorative painter or can't afford one, try wallpapering the ceiling.

02 Invest in pieces of quality that you truly love. If you buy things you love you will always find a home for them.

05  Don't just have the typical sofa in front of the fireplace with two chairs. Instead, have multiple seating areas and small pull-up chairs and stools. This makes for a much more comfortable and intimate atmosphere.

In order not to make this post extremely long, I only highlighted a small portion of her work! I highly encourage you to visit OKL for a full biography of Michelle, her tips, and more images of her work.

Since OKL is a members-only site, here how it works:

• If you are a member, log in, and look for the Get Inspired tab to find designer bios.
• If you are not a member, it is free, and gives you access to daily sales and more. For MDS readers, if you join by February 28, 2010, you receive $10 credit instantly (which is free shipping on orders of $100 or less).

For instance, I sent my friend, who signed up, got free shipping and got a great Mother’s Day gift for $20. I knew her mother-in-law loved owls, saw a daily sale with adorable pottery owls, and there you go. Easy gift-giving! There are always lots of great items under $100!

Invent Your Own Cocktail Party

Really interesting article in Food & Wine this month about a cocktail party for aspiring “mixologists”; where you invent cocktails using some basic knowledge. The party was thrown by rising-star bartender Eric Alperin of The Varnish in Los Angeles.

“Almost all great cocktails involve a few fundamental categories of flavor: strong, sweet, sour and bitter most commonly, plus the outliers floral, smoky and spicy (like cayenne pepper, a new drinks trend right now). With the right proportions, it's possible to play a mix-and-match game of ingredients, which makes coming up with a new drink strangely easy.”

Alperin deconstructed a couple of vintage cocktails for the guests, then let them start making their own creations.

Deconstructed Manhattan: rye whiskey (strong), vermouth (sweet) and Angostura bitters (bitter).

A Southside Royale: gin (strong), simple syrup (sweet), lime juice and champagne (sour) and mint (floral).

Of course, it isn’t a party without food. On my list of recipes to try from L.A. chef Jason Travi: Crispy Chickpeas, Creamy Semolina with Roasted Mushrooms (funny, I came THIS close to buying bulk semolina today. Now I have a recipe!), Pear Tartlets (made with phyllo dough and almond cream), and Bibb and Radish Salad with Buttermilk Dressing. I have all the makings for the dressing, but will substitute yogurt cheese for sour cream. I bought a Donvier Yogurt Cheese maker 10 years ago, long before the craze for Greek yogurt. Much cheaper to make it yourself; cheesecloth or a fine strainer over a bowl would work too.

Buttermilk Dressing
Recipe by Grace Parisi

Ingredients:

1 small garlic clove, smashed
Salt
3 tablespoons sour cream
3 tablespoons mayonnaise
1 tablespoon white wine vinegar
1/4 cup buttermilk
Freshly ground pepper

Directions:
Sprinkle the garlic with a pinch of salt and mash to a paste. In a bowl, whisk together the garlic, sour cream, mayonnaise and vinegar. Whisk in the buttermilk and season with pepper.

Notes:
Blue Cheese Dressing Add 2 ounces crumbled blue cheese.
Tzatziki Dressing Add 2 ounces crumbled feta cheese and 1 tablespoon chopped dill

Photo credits: Dave Lauridsen

My Style File: Jonathan Adler

1st Dibs has a great section in their online Introspective magazine: Style Compass. This week, Andrew Myers wrote about Jonathan Adler. I have mentioned my affection for all things Adler before, (don’t laugh at the teeny pictures on that post, it was a long time ago).

Jonathan’s book, My Prescription for Anti-Depressive Living, is a guide to making your home happy. Just looking at these images of his Palm Beach apartment makes me happy!
      

Friday Find: Magar Hatworks

Rows of vintage hat molds provide a handsome backdrop for "Naomi," an elegant ostrich-plumed topper. Magar's masterpieces start at $150.

I love hats, yet most of my hat wearing today is relegated to baseball caps. I do have one classic summer hat, a tan and natural woven hat with a wide brim. To this day, I still regret the winter one that I didn’t buy from Bergdorf Goodman my first year in NYC. It was black, wool and very Audrey!

Magar Hatworks, is the creation of Leigh Magar, a Charleston, South Carolina native. She was featured as one of Country Living’s 2009 Women Entrepreneurs. “Magar worked as a live-in maid to put herself through millinery school at New York's Fashion Institute of Technology, then spent another two years as an apprentice. At that point, her "funding" consisted of a single credit card, so debuting her designs at pricey trade shows wasn't an option. Instead, she screwed up her courage, cold-called a buyer at high-end department store Barneys — and landed herself a client.”

While it takes a certain panache to wear some of her creations, such as the “Naomi” above, others seem quite versatile and would be nice additions to a wardrobe. She is currently working on her spring collection for Barney’s; I can’t wait to see the finished results!

Magar hangs her creations on Shaker pegs screwed into flat pine molding.

Rufus, from the Fall 2009 collection

 Esther, from the Spring 2008 collection

Photographs courtesy of: Squire Fox for Country Living, Magar Hatworks

Valentine’s Day: Hooray or Just Okay?

 Smoked-Tea-Infused Chocolate Pots de Crème

I admit it freely, we are not big on celebrating manufactured holidays in our house. Don't get me wrong, I love my husband, and I love being surprised by a special dinner, or flowers, or gifts. But, the pressure to perform on one specific day led to some unrealistic expectations early on in our marriage. Luckily, we have passed that stage, and have a more laid-back approach to to our V-Day celebrations.

However, I do welcome the chance to make food that is above ordinary, something we wouldn’t make every day. My husband is an excellent cook, so we both embrace new recipes with gusto!  Smoked-Tea-Infused Chocolate Pots de Crème sounded exotic; visit the Chocolate Desserts slideshow, to drool over the amazing photographs by Christopher Griffith! Food as art! Bon Appétit has more ideas for Valentine’s Day, such as 17 Sexy Dishes, How to Cook for Two, Impress for Less and more.

As for gifts, it makes his life much easier if I just suggest what I like. Here is what is on my list:

When I was admiring all the Palm Springs color that is Trina Turk, I ran across these Jewel Crusted Rings. Be still my heart, only $88!

Stella is my signature, but Prada’s  ‘Infusion D’Iris’ has intrigued me of late. Nordstrom has a gift set for $100 (which includes the 3.4oz EDP and 8.5 oz body lotion), for the same price as the EDP. Plus, you can click and pick-up.

As someone who loves interior design, an E-Gift Card from One Kings Lane would be great. Available in amounts from $25 - $1,000. Candles, luggage, stationary, home, kids, rugs, furniture and more! If you recall, I got these great Working Class Studio melamine plates at OKL. Membership is free, and you receive $10 credit instantly if you join by midnight PT on February 28, 2010.

So, what are you plans for Valentine’s Day? Laid back, or full force romance?

Photographs: Christopher Griffith for Bon Appétit, Nordstrom, One Kings Lane, Trina Turk

Best Paint Colors for Brunettes (updated)

I love these articles - how to choose the Best Colors for Brunettes.
Just as certain colors look best next to our skin, it would make sense that certain colors are more flattering to use on our walls. I am leaning towards the Glowing Apricot, or Perky Peach for my closet, perhaps with True Pink on the inside back of my shelving.

My bathroom is Robin's Egg and the bedroom is Guilford Green, but I am wanting something cozier on the bedroom walls as we have high ceilings.

In my father’s house, I found my parents turquoise and lime green bedspread from 30 years ago. It is so funny how everything old is new and hip again. I love it and it will go well with my orange velvet curtains once I get around to hanging them!

So, the above was posted in 2008. It is interesting to revisit old posts, and see how things have changed. And to see that it takes me forever to make decisions, as my walls are still the original shades! However, I do still have those strong accent colors in my bedroom.

While all the colors are still wonderful, I find myself drawn to clearer and brighter shades today. My picks for 2010 have been updated to include the new shades I am leaning towards. Have you found that your color palette has shifted, either stronger, or softer recently?

My Picks for 2008:BENJAMIN MOORE TRUE PINK 2003-40: "I can't think of a better room for a brunette than Harry's Bar in Florence, with begonia pink walls and dark wainscoting. The tablecloths and napkins are the same pink with a hint of blue in it, which makes it a tad cooler. Rich colors are really flattering to brunettes, while blondes just fade away. But stay away from sweet, or anything that looks like it would be appropriate for Easter." -JARRETT HEDBORG

BENJAMIN MOORE GLOWING APRICOT 165: "This apricot reflects on your skin to make you look healthier and more youthful. Who in their right mind wouldn't want that? It has multiple pigments, so it transitions during the day and takes on a richer hue at night. I've used it in living rooms, dining rooms, bedrooms -- with celadon, muted blues, cocoa browns, or creams." -BARBARA BARRY

BENJAMIN MOORE PERKY PEACH 2012-50: "What makes a dark-haired woman look good is a glow of color. This soft, sensual peach has the romance of candlelight and the warmth of cashmere. If a woman paints her bedroom this color, a man might think it's too feminine until he's in it. But then he would feel enveloped and embraced, warm, cozy, taken care of -- all those things people like to feel." -SUSAN ZISES GREEN

My Picks for 2010:

RALPH LAUREN BAJA ORANGE IB62: "I'm Italian, and it's very Italian to use orange. Think of those luxury brands with orange logos -- Hermes and Pratesi. I see it lacquered on a ceiling, with cream walls. Or you could get that faded Tuscan feeling by using it as a wash in the living room. A lacquered orange library with black bookshelves would be totally sensational. Supermodern, superchic." -MILLY DE CABROL

KT.COLOR ROUGE FRAMBOISE 32.101: "I'm completely in love with these paints, originally made for Le Corbusier and mixed with pure artist's pigments, so you get these supersaturated jewel tones. This is the color of garnets, rubies, Japanese maple leaves, that red dress you wear on a first date that really sizzles. I see it in a dining room with red wine, a five-course meal, candlelight, and twinkling glasses." -AMY LAU

BENJAMIN MOORE CRYSTAL BLUE 2051-70: "There's something about pink skin and brown hair and a pale blue bedroom. It's very flattering to a brunette, I'll tell you, being brunette myself at one time. People look great against outdoor colors, and this is a sky blue with a touch of green, like a robin's egg but even paler. Use it with linen white woodwork and a blue-and-white toile." -MARIO BUATTA

Accessorizing Low Tables

One of my projects is to find a new coffee table for our living room. Once we got our new sofa, our current rectangular table became too large. The Eileen Gray table (shown below, in front of our sofa) is perfect for a side table, but obviously not functional enough for a coffee table.

We first need to determine what style to get, and then, how to accessorize. According to interior designer James Charles, in the Dallas Morning News, the best tablescapes have:

Composition – how objects work together
Variation – mix objects for color, proportion and contrast
Context – consider the room and type of table you have
Passion – reflection of what inspires you
360-degree perspective – look good from every angle
Patience – getting the right mix takes experimentation

So, with these rules in mind, I compiled my favorite examples from Accessorizing Low Tables, in Architectural Digest.

Cyan, a 160-foot yacht, designed by Nina Seirafi. Sofa and low table fabrics, Bergamo. Stark pillow fabric. (November 2009)

One of my favorite AD spreads has to be this apartment. Modern furniture set against the great bones of this apartment. And those lamps are huge! The low table and sofas, created by architect Chakib Richani for the Paris apartment of fashion designer Elie Saab, were “inspired by the cube.” (December 2009)

Thomas Pheasant designs his own home—a classically inspired contemporary residence in Washington, D.C. (September 2009)

Banana Republic president Jack Calhoun and Trent Norris restored and renovated their 1905 San Francisco Pacific Heights home. Low table, Therien. Sofa, Henredon. (September 2008)

In the Lowry Hotel’s Charles Forte Suite, located in Manchester, England, designer Olga Polizzi chose a Ruth Roland bust of artist L.S. Lowry—the hotel’s namesake—as the centerpiece on the low table. (May 2004)

Los Angeles-based interior designer Timothy Corrigan brought Château de Grand-Lucé—his residence in the Loire Valley of France—back to life. (September 2009)

The table is so unusual and doesn’t need any additional adornment other than the glass orbs. Geoffrey Bradfield redesigned his 1869 Manhattan town house and chose the Yves Klein low table from Sotheby’s for the library. “It’s very unusual for me to use funky colors,” he says. “I like clear colors.” (September 2005)

Another amazing apartment…the molding, those drapes! If I were to do traditional, this would be in my inspiration file (it is anyway, and I am a modern girl).  “The objective was to create a harmonious interplay of French and Asian styles, both classical and modern, in an apartment with high ceilings and original moldings and fireplaces,” says designer Christopher Noto of his pied-à-terre in Paris. (September 2009)

Photo credits: Ken Hayden, Marina Faust, Robert McLeod, Erhard Pfeiffer, Durston Saylor, Billy Cunningham, Mary E. Nichols, Matthew Millman, Michael Moran, Marina Faust, Gordon Beall, Andrew Twort, Durston Saylor, Andrew Twort, Marine Faust, David Marlow

Craving Comfort and Color

Where has this week gone? It is hard to believe that it is already Friday. The weather has been cold, gray and rainy, so I have been craving comfort food, my comfortable sweats and colorful images!

Here is what we ate this week:

 Chicken with Olives and Pine Nuts

 Zucchini Stoup with Herb Breadcrumbs

Both dishes were delicious in different ways. The sauce from the chicken was velvety and full-flavored, perfect with a crusty loaf of bread and a green salad. The soup was healthy, chock full of vegetables, warm and comforting.

All this dreary weather had me thinking about going on vacation…maybe sunny Palm Springs! Among my tear sheets was Trina Turk’s outdoor collection for F. Schumacher. This got me in the mood for color!

Bright and breezy shades of turquoise, citron, watermelon and marine are combined with smart neutrals such as sand dune and charcoal, giving these outdoor suitable prints a thoroughly modern appeal.

Maybe, as a temporary solution, I could buy some pillows to brighten up my living room. 

 
Or just to add some graphic punch in black and white

Whatever I do, come summer, this Loop de Loop Pacific Beach Bag will be mine!

available May 2010

photos: House Beautiful, Marcus Nilsson for Rachael Ray, F. Schumacher, Trina Turk