Thursday, January 27, 2011

Design Obsession......Ruthie Sommers

image via here

I had a not-so-super day today.

We couldn't get to NYC because it currently, looks like this.



Anyway, we spent most of the morning arguing with a less than nice Airline desk attendant.

Serenity. Serenity.

On to something to improve my mood, the lovely designs of the even lovlier, L.A. Based designer Ruthie Sommers.

I remember when I discovered Ruthie's gorgeous design aesthetic in a Domino article about her daughter  Eloise's (precious name) baby bedroom.



I'm really into her mix of pricier antiques and re-purposed vintage finds.

And because I'm really into pink and chocolate brown rooms right now, I'm loving these pictures.



 This office is FABULOUS.

images via Elements of Style 

My friend Liz would die over this room. Eclectic Style meets Southern Charm.
That love seat is a recovered/piped vintage find. 
Love it.


 Her dressing room.
Dreamy.

 Full view of above room.

images via 1stdibs.com

Ruthie outside her former store, Chapman Radcliff

I'm loving that Ruthie's design sense is unique and that she's not afraid to take risks.
I also love the mix of Hollywood Regency, Southern Charm, and Eclectic Style.

It doesn't hurt that she's also from the South and cut her teeth in NYC.
My hero!


Wednesday, January 26, 2011

It's ALMOST HERE.....

image via civileats.com

Countdown to NYC: ONE Freakin' Day!


So my man-friend and I are going on a little datey-date on Sunday night.

the man-friend and I on NYE a couple years ago.
(this year I was sipping Veuve in my PJ's, not a picture worth sharing)

and because we're super indecisive, we still haven't figured out where to go.

My restaurants priorities work pretty much like this:

Decor, Mood, Food Quality. 

In that order. Shallow?

Here are my thoughts/options.




Ok ok, So MAYBE I want to go there because it's one of the places that Bethenny and Jason went to on Bethenny Getting Married? I've never been a celeb follower before, but let's face it, she's pretty darn cool and she appreciates good food.


But also, look at the chic decor.


 and the menu looks DE-lish.



A friend of mine went there on the night she got engaged, and still refers to it as one of her best meals ever.





Gotham is an oldie and a goodie in my book.
My fam and I stop here pretty much every time we're in NYC.
Great Food, Awesome Atmosphere.


 image via dailymail.co.uk



This place looks pretty rad.
They change the decor every season.
Which really plays to my A.D.D. design tendencies.
And the food looks yumm-ola.

Winter

 Spring

 Summer

Autumn

So, anyone care to weigh in?

And while you're weighing in, please cross your fingers that our flight isn't cancelled due to snow!

Monday, January 24, 2011

NYC Apartment Style via Hollywood


image via cinemablend.com

Countdown to NYC: 3 Days

Isn't life more grand in the movies sometimes?

That's probably why some of my favorite New York City apartments are actually movie sets.

Like Jennifer Lopez's apartment in The Back-Up Plan




Or Jennifer Aniston's apartment in The Bounty Hunter



 It doesn't hurt the scene when Gerard Butler is sitting on your perfectly styled couch.

And of course Carrie Bradshaw's Apartments in Sex and the City

Which has been through a few changes....

As a single girl.

A recently jilted bride.

And a married lady.


Sunday, January 23, 2011

Four Days until Taralluci!



Countdown to NYC: 4 Days.

4 Days until breakfast/lunch/coffee time at Taralluci E Vino.
Right by Union Square on 18th St, it's a sweet little Italian/French Bakery/Coffee Shop/Wine Bar.
Warm Croissants, Crispy Paninis, Fabulous Wine, and Yummy Cappucinos. 

My friends Liz and Andrew introduced me to it last September and I'm in love.

Next time you're in NYC, stop on by!

You'll feel like you're in Paris....or Florence.... or just good ol' NYC.



Have a lovely Sunday!

Saturday, January 22, 2011

5 Days Until NYC.....5 Days until ABC!


image via So Haute Blog

Countdown to NYC: 5 DAYS

Which means, 5 days until I get to visit my beloved ABC Carpet and Home.
Pretty much the BEST home store on the face of this planet.



And once I've finished shopping/drooling I can go next door to ABC Kitchen and relax at this gorgeous bar with a glass of wine.

Editor's Note: Yes the mirror behind the bar is antiqued mercury glass. And yes, I'm OBSESSED with it.


Happy Saturday!!!

Friday, January 21, 2011

A Friday Treat....Guest Post from Elizabeth of Elizabeth Olliver!


photog courtesy of elizabetholliver.com

Countdown to NYC: 6 days.


For this part of our series, I've asked my friend Elizabeth (the designer of the FABULOUS Elizabeth Olliver Line) to guest post about a room in her home she'd like to change and her design ideas for it. She has amazing taste in fashion, and her home design style is no different.


Enjoy!


If I could change any room in my house it would definitely be my home office. Although I should give myself a break since we just moved into our precious new house last year, my office drives me crazy! Personally, I can’t work in clutter like this. I just find it to hard to be able to concentrate in a space that’s not perfectly decorated…it’s so uninspiring.

Since I spend half my time in New York my home office has gotten neglected. I plan on redecorating after fashion week and below are a few of my ideas. My taste tends to gravitate towards beautiful antiques mixed with Hollywood regency style, and I love splashes of color!

Here’s some of my inspiration:








{All photos via houzz.com}

For a desk I’ve always wanted an old farm table. Long and skinny so that I can spread out all my designs and look at them in one place all together. This one is perfect! It’s currently residing in Denmark at Fils de Fer (this store is basically the entire reason I am dying to go to Denmark!)



 
I would then flank both sides with two of clear Glass Bottleneck lamps from Layla Grace.

{Photo courtesy of Layla Grace)

For a desk chair I would love to sit in the Louis Arm Chair from Jonathan Adler. I love the linen fabric in a dark color!


{Photo via Jonathanadler.com}


For guest chairs I want to place two of the Curved Upholstered Chairs from West Elm across from my desk.


{Picture via West Elm)





…but reupholstered so they don’t look like my grandmother’s house in this beautiful Istanbul Sunset pattern from Calico Corners.

For a rug I would love to put down a beautiful off- white cowhides. This one’s too expensive, but you get the idea.
{Photo via neimanmarcus.com}

Since I’m always in need of a full size mirror for fittings and stylings, I’m going to need a full-length mirror. I’ve always dreamed of owning a huge mirror that leans against the wall, but since my office height isn’t that big I’ll settle for something smaller. I love this antiqued brass mirror from Restoration Hardware.

{Photo via restorationhardware.com}

I’m currently obsessed with beautiful wallpaper! I think Schumacher makes some of the most beautiful designs, and on the back wall of my office above my built-in bookcases I want to put this Imperial Trellis print in Citrine. My flutters a little every time I visit it online!

{Photo via fschumacher.com}

I’m currently growing my inspiration library. So I’m in desperate need of some bookshelves. (Side note, my latest installation into my library was a fabulous purchase from etsy…the 16 volume series from the 70’s called The Art of Sewing! It has some of the most inspiring pictures and how-to details!) Back to shelving…to help cut my costs a little I would purchase these Expedit shelves from Ikea. They are finished on all sides so you can lay them vertically or horizontally. I would lay them horizontally.

{Photo via Ikea.com}




Last but not least I am going to need a cabinet to hold all my fabric swatches and samples. I am OBSESSED with red lacquer anything, and when I came across this blog post on the blog Little Green Notebook written by Jenny Komenda I knew I had found my dream cabinet. (I love her blog, it always has the best DIY projects!)

She spray painted an old cabinet she bought for $45 with this gorgeous color from RustOleum. A little polishing on the original hardware and she had a beautiful new piece! This will be my DIY project for the office; I plan on recreating Jenny’s beautiful piece using an old cabinet from a flea market.

{Photos via Little Green Notebook}



Thank You Elizabeth for the wonderful post! You can visit Elizabeth's gorgeous clothing designs at ElizabethOlliver.com and read her blog too!