Smeg Love

I had the chance to Breakfast Club in East London and in order to get to the secluded downstairs bar you enter in through a Smeg refrigerator door! In case you don't know what a Smeg is read below...

A SMEG is technology with style. Smeg is an Italian company that makes retro styled refrigerators that are extremely popular in the UK for their compact sizing ad outrageous colors. I recently spotted the Union Jack SMEG in Jamie Oliver's new restaurant Union Jacks.

Spring Flowers

Spring is here and the flowers in Paris over the weekend were gorgeous!

The Ritz had a particularly extravagant towering display filled with deep purples and greens!

Color Story Monday: Linen

Linen is everywhere these days from high-end to low-end home retailers and it is one of the best neutrals for any home.

1. Create anything with classic linen fabric from Pottery Barn
2. A linen headboard in the bedroom is timeless to match any paint color. West Elm
3. Linen combined with black place mats from Paper Trail
4. Natural Linen napkins from Haus Interior
5. Petit linen pillow covers from Mothology
6. A classic linen boat tote from General Store

Affordable Terence Conran

Following the suit of many low-priced retail outlets in America, Britain's Marks and Spencer has teamed up with Terence Conran for a line of home furnishings and accessories. It was a brilliant idea to select Terence Conran for a designer collaboration since he is highly revered in the UK. Check out some of my favorites from the line below.

Bachelor Fabric

It is not often that I find an accent fabric that I think is masculine enough for a bachelor pad. Inspired by the recent popularity and comeback of the mustache, this fabric is really fun.

Color Story Monday: St. Paddy's Day Redux

It is no secret that green is one of my favorite colors and in honor of the holiday represented by everything green here is a roundup of some green colored furnishings.

1. Era Armchair in Green from Design Within Reach
2. A distressed green sideboard from Wisteria
3. The Lack side table is so cheap you never have to worry about getting tired of the color. IKEA
4. The Pierre chair from Z Gallerie
5. 2-tone green and white barstool from ABC Home
6. Hampton Bar Cart, Clayton Gray Home

Spanish Hacienda Style

Last month I was lucky enough to take a vacation away from everything and go to Capella Pedregal in Mexico for some gorgeous warm weather. This resort is really a stunning example of Spanish Hacienda style both in the interior design as well as the landscape architecture.

The headboards are made out of a beautiful embossed leather with lime green accented bedding. Check out a close up of the detail work on the leather below. 

I love all of the bright ceramic planters filled with cacti and the rustic hand-carved wooden bench.

I wish that I had an extra suitcase to fill up with these hand blown glass hearts. They are used sporadically throughout the resort but really symbolize the tranquility of the place and make a great take home souvenir.

For Sale: Sex and the City Apartment

The iconic TV character Carrie Bradshaw lived in a dreamy brownstone apartment supposedly on the Upper East side, although the real life apartment is in West Village. For $9.6 million you can live in a piece of Sex and the City. Apparently it sold last November for $9 million, so despite a stagnant market these owners want a profit. Perhaps this profit is deserved for dealing with the hoards of female tourists who stop all day long to take photos in front of the famous doorstep.

Interior Therapy

My favorite TV interior designer is back tonight with his new show Interior Therapy! He is also guest blogging over at Apartment Therapy throughout the day today.

Travel in Style

A new travel magazine has hit the internet and I can't get enough of it! Wayfare Magazine will appeal to you whether you are a jet set frequent flyer or an armchair traveller this magazine. A must read for tonight!

Color Story Monday: Terrific Tangerine

Tangerine is on the design radar this Spring thanks its selection as the Pantone color of the year for 2012.

1. Pantone 17-1463 Tangerine Tango
2. Embrace the exact color with the Pantone iphone case
3. Gradiated Stripe Rug in Tangerine from West Elm 
4. Chevron Zig Zag throw from Z Gallerie
5. Brighten a drab sofa with a tangerine patterned pillow from Z Gallerie
6. The Carnaby Talitha vase from Jonathan Adler
7. Coasters perfect for al fresco cocktails from Diane Von Furstenberg
8. Spice up the garden with a tangerine watering can from Crate and Barrel

City Style Guide: Telluride

I recently got married in Telluride which happens to be my one of my favorite towns on Earth. Telluride is also one of the most stylish mountain towns in the country and here are some of my favorite spots.

SHOP

The Gardenstore creates the most gorgeous florals including the ones that she created for my own wedding and my bouquet pictured above. Stop by for some amazing home accessories as well.
If your luggage gets lost, never fear Two Skirts can dress you in the most stylish apparel fit for Telluride.
Tweed Interiors has an adorable shop just off the main drag.
A must have take home souvenir is a box of chocolates from gourmet truffle maker Telluride Truffle
Alpenglow Beauty in Mountain Village is a stop off for beauty products and facials to help your skin deal with the harsh mountain elements.
Cashmere Red for all of your cashmere needs
Between the Sheets will keep you up to date with the latest magazines and books perfect for those snow days.
HUB Telluride has all of your tech needs covered and must have iphone and ipad accessories.

EAT

My go to spot for coffee and lunch is the Butcher and the Baker
Tomboy Tavern is the perfect stop for an apres ski cocktail and Bavarian pretzels. Relax in the rustic chic decor that looks like it jumped out of the pages of Restoration Hardware.
Check out Cosmopolitan's at the base of the Gondola for amazing cocktails and for dessert coffee and donuts.
Check out some of Nina Campbell's latest interior design work at the New Sheridan Chop House

DO

See a movie at the Nugget Theatre for a retro movie viewing experience
Check out the Free Box
Ski the Plunge during winter time
In the Summer check out the Farmer's Market every Friday

A Kitchen in Progress...

We have been renovating a kitchen that was 25 years old and it has been a fun project, but with every renovation it always looks worse before it looks better...

Demolition Day

Cats love construction work

New cabinets can look so plain before the hardware and stone gets installed, 

but the new appliances are shiny and bright!

The backsplash is making a big statement. 

Modern Wood Grain

I am loving the new Wild Woods collection from Phillip Jeffries. It blends the faux bois and metallics into one unique paper and would be amazing in a mountain home!

Bookmarc this!

While shopping around West Hollywood recently, I stumbled upon a concept shop by Marc Jacobs called Bookmarc. For someone like myself who hoards coffee table and art books of all sorts this shop was a dream. Next time you are on Melrose, load up your parking meter and waste away an afternoon drooling over endless literary gems.

Color Story Monday: Brass is Back

After a visit to the Kelly Wearstler store last month it seems that she is on a mission to bring brass back in style, but this is not 1980's high shine brassiness. Brass is making a comeback in an antique just found off the flea market floor type of way. I also wouldn't rush out to change out all of your hardware to brass, just adding a touch of brass is a fun way to mix metals in your home.

1. A claw bottle opener from Jayson Home and Garden
2. A brass rain drops sculpture from the C. Jere studio 
3. French brass brasserie table from Restoration Hardware
4. Twin Beacons lamp from Anthropologie
5. The dark antique brass finish from Nanz

Best Picture Design: The Artist

The Artist came away the big winner last weekend at the Oscars and so it is only fitting that I wrap up my Best Picture Design series with the black and white Hollywood Regency style of the 1930's.

1. Dressmaker's form from Restoration Hardware
2. Evoke Old Filmmaking with the Hudson Floor Lamp from Z Gallerie
3. Golden Mirror for a Golden Era from Wisteria
4. Vintage Shaving Mirror from Jayson Home and Garden
5. Hemnes Dressing Table with Mirror from IKEA
6. Schumacher Go Baroque wallpaper in black and white

Help!

When setting up a guest bathroom, you always want to have the basic remedies on hand for any type of ailment. With the Help! products from Target, this task couldn't be simpler.