Happy Halloween!

Vintage Furniture

Here is a fun retro photo that I found of a very 60's full living room set!

Spooky and Stylish

Here are some spooky accessories that have the subtle taste of Halloween.
1. An updated classic from Penguin, Dracula for the the bedside table

2. Who doesn't love the Haunted Mansion at Disneyland? You can place some haunted portraits of your very own in your home through hauntedportraits.com
3. As Victorian style makes a comeback, so does the Victorian tradition of taxidermy. Paxton Gate in San Francisco's mission district will fulfill all of your taxidermy desires!

Style de Vélos

A classic mode of transportation has been making a big comeback lately and even more so over the summer months. Spandex bike shorts are no longer a requirement and with gas prices cemented at sky-high prices now is the time to jump on the bicycle bandwagon. Check out these ultimate velo indulgences:

Liberty of London created a Target bicycle first, but the Missoni bicycle caused a near panic when it debuted in stores last month and is now available for inflated prices on ebay.

I am in love with the limited edition kelly green Kate Spade bicycle from Adeline Adeline in NYC

Not ready for a permanent commitment? Most major European cities have bicycles available to rent by the hour with convenient stands set up all around to dock and undock at your convenience.

Don't get caught without a stylish helmet that could pass for a hat from Yakkay.

I also must pay tribute to one of the original designers to use the bicycle as his personal canvas, Paul Frank. His bicycles were inspired by the Southern California beach culture and are a more affordable option to some of the swankier designs above.

Karl Lagerfeld for Coke

I'm not sure what the point of these adorable bottles are, but it sure brought a smile to my face when they were handing these out in London on the street last week! How could you not love the design of this bottle! It is definitely too cute to drink. This is the 2nd collection of bottles designed by Karl Lagerfeld for Diet Coke!

Color Story Monday: Colored Appliances

The colored kitchen appliance gained popularity in the 1960's when the avocado color was introduced and after that trend ended it seemed no one wanted to see color at all as everything was about white appliances in the 1980's. Today, any color goes appliance wise and it is a fun way to give a little life to the kitchen.

1. Big Chill makes a wide range of retro appliances in funky colors like mint and butter yellow, but they also have a custom color service available.
2. The La Cornue is a French tradition and the Provencal Blue or Glossy Red would make a grand statement in a neutral kitchen.
3. For a cheap and chic way to add some colorful kitchen appliances check out the Bodum line of small electrics
4. The Kitchen-Aid stand mixer is a pre-requisite for bridal registries, but go for a bold color like pear or persimmon.

Brunch for the Coffee Purist

All good coffee shops in London come from the Aussies, and St. Ali is a new London standout originating in Melbourne. The exterior is very discreet and while only 6 months old, local hipsters flock to this caffeine mecca on the weekends.

The atmosphere is relaxed and the design is a cross between urban warehouse chic and cozy Victorian. The multi-story living wall and skylight brings life to the cavernous space. The reclaimed wood floors and brick work remind you that you are not sipping your latte in a cookie cutter Starbucks. Kraft paper menus on clipboard and a bottomless supply of water served up in your own table-side carafe are personal favorites, and the food and service are top-notch.

Kitchen continued...

One last shot from yesterday's kitchen with some fun accessories.

A Fresh and Clean Kitchen

I worked on a house that put in a new kitchen over the summer and I'm so excited about how it turned out! White cabinetry, butcher block countertops, and stainless steel hardware and accessories make for a clean and simple kitchen that would fit in with anyone's lifestyle. We styled it up with citrus colors and fresh green herbs, but this kitchen could handle anyone's color palette.

Apartment Therapy

I was really excited to be a guest blogger yesterday on Apartment Therapy and have my London flat featured as a house tour. Here are some photos as well as a link to the full post!