No words are needed explain why this new hotel in Sicily is inspiring.
For more pictures of this stunning place, please click on their website HERE:
Buon weekend!
(I’m going to dream about the bedrooms. I know it.)
The design and fashion blogosphere is buzzing this week about the debut of DOMAINE Magazine.
This online publication was created by the same women, Katherine Power and Hillary Kerr, behind another favorite, WHO, WHAT, WHERE.
Sara Ruffin Costello’s, former creative director at DOMINO, living room.
This site is fantastic. There are articles about home décor, fashion, and yes, even recipes (bacon mac and cheese).
Plus, it’s interactive. You can leave comments. Love it.
I enjoyed the article about interior designers Jeffrey Alan Marks and Ross Cassidy. I’ve never met Jeffrey but Ross is a sweetheart. I’m not saying that just because he complimented my skirt in L.A. last year. Ross was very kind to pose in his red pants so I could Tweet the photo to my friend, Erica, a noted Red Pants Pathologist.
Looking forward to checking out the rest of DOMAINE.
Buon Weekend!
It’s a Ponte Weekend in Italy.
While most of my friends are out of town, I’m using this weekend to catch up on work and to get organized for next month.
I would love to spend some time in the country this weekend. Instead, I will go to the park.
Fountain, Villa Borghese Park
One of my favorite parks is Villa Borghese. If you are visiting Rome, it’s a great place to go for some peace and quiet.
Buon weekend a tutti!
I was reading LONNY magazine last weekend when I came across the gorgeous work of Brittany Asch.
Asch has a great eye and her use of color is inspiring. Looking at these arrangements makes me swoon. Truly beautiful work.
Buon (and bello) Weekend!
Photos: Brrch.com
I’ve written about “the mix” before. I absolutely adore the European style of mixing traditional and modern design elements.
Clearly, I must add the book FRENCH ACCENTS to my interior design library.
Can we talk about the moldings in this living room? Stunning!
Me: “What are you doing this weekend?”
Friend: “Cambio di Stagione.”
Yes, it’s that time of year… we have to swap out our Winter clothes for our Spring/Summer clothes.
My friends in Italy who are fortunate to have enough closet space to avoid under-the-bed boxes, still do Cambio di Stagione. Clothes that need to be dry-cleaned are dropped off. Boots and other other Winter shoes are taken to the cobbler.
My closet is tiny. I guess one benefit is even if I could afford to buy the clothes I want, I would have no place to put them.
As I get ready to Cambio di Stagione, I dream about more closet space.
Aerin Lauder’s Manhattan Apartment Closet
Photo: ELLE DECOR
Closet designed by Lee Ledbetter
Photo: Architectural Digest
Closet designed by Jodi Foster
Photo: Jodi Foster
I’m seeing a lot of orange for Spring.
I do like the color but I don’t have any of it in my home and very little of it my wardrobe. I went to Syracuse University. Trust me, I have worn my share of orange in the past.
SU!
Photo: Syracuse.com
Every time I jog past the Hermès store on Via Condotti, I sigh. One day.
It’s time to bring some orange back into my life. For my home, I’m thinking pillows with a pop of orange. Like this Moroccan style one from D.L. Rhein.
D.L. Rhein Mocorran Pillow
Photo: D.L. Rhein
I like how subtle the orange is in this room. I will buy some fresh orange flowers to help brighten up these rainy, cloudy, March days.
Modern Orange
For my closet, a pair of Repetto Ballerinas would be perfect. I’m trying to add more color to my wardrobe.
Orange Repetto
Photo: Repetto
I did see an orange wrap dress in a store window the other day. Hmmmm, that might be too big of an orange commitment for me!
A new Pope was elected this week. We still don’t have a Prime Minister. It’s kind of nuts but I digress.
The determined sun fought its way through today’s stubborn clouds and after a week of horrendous weather, we finally had a few hours of sunshine. The angels sang.
Perhaps it’s a little early for Spring cleaning (the horrible weather is scheduled to return on Sunday afternoon) but I would like to get started on some projects this weekend.
Thoughts of Spring brought me to the photo below.
How lovely is this space designed by L.A. based, British born, Peter Dunham?
A Beverly Hills Family Room Designed by Peter Dunham
Photo: Architectural Digest
We had a chance to visit Peter’s showroom during Kathryn M. Ireland’s Design Bootcamp. His showroom was filled with beautiful things and Peter was very charming.
I think those chairs need to be in my home.
Buon Weekend!
In 2011 the Italian fashion label Miu Miu started Women’s Tales, a series of short films about women directed by female directors from all over the world.
Their most recent short was directed by Ava DuVernay. Ava won the best director award at the 2012 Sundance Film Festival.
Here is more information about Ava’s short from Miu Miu:
The Door, by Ava DuVernay, the fifth Miu Miu Women’s Tale, is a celebration of the transformative power of feminine bonds, and a symbolic story of life change. The symbolic centre of The Door is the front entrance of the protagonist’s home. As she opens it to greet a friend in the powerfully framed opening scenes, she is shrouded in an oblique sadness. “In the film, characters arrive at the door of a friend in need, bringing something of themselves,” explains director DuVernay. “Eventually, we witness our heroine ready to walk through the door on her own. The door in the film represents a pathway to who we are.” Clothing is also a symbol of renewal, each change of costume charting our heroine’s emergence from a chrysalis of sadness. In the final scenes, she takes off her ring, pulls on long, black leather gloves, and walks, transformed by the emotive power of the clothing, through the door.
Not a word was spoken, but Ava told a beautiful story. For some reason, I didn’t recognize Gabrielle Union at first!
The Door combines three things I’m passionate about, dècor, film, and fashion. Several of the pieces in the short need to be in my closet and hello, that house!
I’ve seen many films with “a glass house in L.A.” set design but this one really captured that L.A. loneliness vibe. I loved it.
People ask me all the time what is the difference between a mood board, an inspiration board, or a presentation board.
The terms are used interchangeably, but a presentation board is the one that you would show to a client.
A mood/inspiration board might be used only in house as you brainstorm design ideas. The presentation board shows the client the actual materials/furniture you plan to buy for the space.
I prefer to do these boards the old-fashioned way (I like to touch and feel everything) but with clients who live overseas or travel a lot, a digital board is the way to go.
I finally bit the bullet and bought Photoshop. Of course I was on a killer deadline for a project and had to turn around my boards pretty quickly.
Did I mention that I had never used Photoshop before? It was straight up drama trying to get these boards done. Fortunately, I have talented friends like Nicolee Drake who are also patient teachers.
Mood boards are very popular with interior designers, fashion designers, and graphic artists.
I love what interior designer Nathan Turner says about the Picasso inspiration in the short clip below. It’s for Pottery Barn and Nathan breaks down the process in a way that’s fun and accessible.
If you’re in L.A. check out his store on Melrose. It’s filled with beautiful things.
I hope you have an inspiring weekend.
