Extraordinary Home: Part 2

There is so much to share from this home and the gardens that I plan to do it in installments. I think of this house like a wonderful confection - to be savored a bit at a time. At this welcoming back entry you are greeted by a pink heart enscribed with the word Love. The door is wonderfully framed by the shutters and the arch.
Umbrellas and hats to your right...
and croquet mallets and jump ropes to your left!

A kitchen counterscape of lovely things.
The gorgeous porcelain box holds tea.
A microwave and wall oven marries with the art on this wall.
I really fell for these beautiful seascapes by artist Radford Wine.
Collected treasures on a gorgeous wood desk.
The faux bois piece was the owned by the late Bill Blass.
More whimsy; a little modern blue chair sized just right for a grandchild.

The view from the upstairs to the main entry. Light and fresh even on what was a very overcast day. Notice the two croquet mallets here too.
A bookscape of pink and orange, arranged almost as a present. More to follow in the coming weeks from this original home.

Boys in trenches and on trend

Trench coats are big this spring in womens wear and it's nice to see a few boys picking up the trend as well. Seen last night at the Darker Side of Green cocktail/after party, it was refreshing to see boys not in "all black" ensembles. Bravo to all! And see you at my party ;)

Spring Cleaning Tips: Making Your Closet Functional & Beautiful

Keeping a house clean is a year around task, however many bigger cleaning projects are saved for when the seasons change. Washing windows, cleaning upholstered furnishings and washing outdoor furniture many be some chores on your spring cleaning checklist. Getting your closet organized is also an important task as we go into spring and here are a few tips to help you get started:

Store. As you transition your wardrobe closet from cold-weather clothing to warm-weather clothing, make sure that you store sweaters, coats and pants away in zipped bags that protect your garments from moths and other pests. And before you store, make sure your garment is cleaned. The Container Store has some great storage options and a spring organization sale going on now.

Give. Donate clothing that you do not wear to a local charity. Don't know one in your area? Excess Access will match you with a charity organization in your zip code. They link each donation with the wish-lists of your nearby charities that can provide pick-ups or will accept drop-offs. And donors get tax-deductible receipts.

Organize. If you have a large or walk-in closet it's best to organize it into zones by season or garment type (i.e. work, casual, formal). Next arrange the clothing into sections for each category (i.e. blouses, dresses, pants, etc.). Then arrange the clothes in each section by color from left to right (i.e. black, blue, brown, red, orange, yellow, ivory and white). This makes it much easier to find outfits and is more pleasing to the eye. Wouldn't you agree?

Function & Style. To help keep shirts, shoes and sweaters arranged neatly I recommend stackable boxes with clear fronts like these tweed drop-front boxes. The clear drop-front allows you see what's inside and to access items without having to unstack them.

Plan. The Today Show recently highlighted Closet Lite, a high-tech clothing organization/planning application for your iPhone. It allows you to organize your clothing, create outfits, plan them for certain days and view them. This app can even create packing lists for any upcoming trips. Love this!

Speaking of trips - are you taking a vacation for spring break? If so, here are some more tips on packing for a trip.

Happy spring and happy organizing!

*images courtesy of House Beautiful, Martha Stewart, Canadian House & Home, Making it Lovely

Mcalpine Booth & Ferrier #4

This is my fourth post showing McAlpine Booth & Ferrier's work. Previous posts here, here and here. These are photographs that appeared last year in different magazines.


ELLE DECOR - August, 2009


ELLE DECOR - August, 2009


VERANDA - June, 2009


VERANDA - June, 2009





VERANDA - June, 2009. How about a picture hanging in front of a curtain?


VERANDA - June, 2009


VERANDA - June, 2009

More images right here.

Small House Makeover

Good morning to you dear readers. Some of you have asked to see smaller houses and rooms so today I'd like to show you how a house in Santa Monica, California, which had been billed as a teardown, was given a second chance by owner Julie Hart.


This is the front of the house before the remodeling began.


New oversize windows and skylights invite in the sunshine. Walls are painted a light-bouncing white, while white ceramic subway tiles brighten the kitchen.. For contrast, the wooden floors are stained in a custom mix of ebony and dark walnut shades; the high-gloss polyurethane top coat reflects even more light.

The bare living room before.

Owner Julie Hart sparks the mostly white interior with colourful accent pillows, Moroccan leather poufs, throws and pottery.

Casement windows open the redone master bedroom to backyard views.

With interior walls and the ceiling removed (and support beams installed), the living, cooking and dining now take place in one large open area at the front of the house. From there, traffic flows easily out of sliding glass doors to a new entertaining deck at the rear.

As funds allowed, a home office and laundry area was added as well as small garden with a bubbling fountain.

Photography Lisa Romerein.

All images and information from here.

{ Hello Yellow }

Image: west elm

Andy Murray had a bye in the first round Sony Ericsson Open

Last year, Andy Murray reigned supreme at the Sony Ericsson Open in Key Biscayne. This year, he went out in the second round against some guy named Mardy Fish, who's not even ranked in the top 100 worldwide. Murray had a bye in the first round, meaning he didn't win a single match. Ouch.

The UK tennis sensation, who has since become a part-time Miami resident, seems pretty emo about the whole thing.

"I haven't been tough enough on the court and that's what's most disappointing. Mentally, the last few weeks I've been really poor and unacceptable," Murray tells the Press Association.

Apparently, a psychologist is on call to help him with his game.

"I've been very happy off the court but not on it, and that's where I need to be happy just now because this is my career.

"I need to start to enjoy my tennis again like at the start of the year. I need to be that person again."

Roberto Forzoni, a psychologist who apparently has no problems talking about former clients with the press, says, "I'm there for him. We've got a good relationship and he can pick up the phone at any time. I'm going to be trying to contact him in the next day or so to see if there's anything I can do."

Keep him away from the Bright Eyes albums, doctor, because Murray sounds kind of depressed right now. Or maybe he's just desperately in love with his adopted playwright sister. Who knows with these tennis people.

Kim Kardashian Tosses a Little Glam Into Tennis Game

We're assuming this isn't how Kim Kardashian decided to end it with Reggie Bush.

But the E! star did perform a pretty fabulous coin toss prior to the tennis match on Monday between Roger Federer and Florent Serra at the Sony Ericsson Open in Miami.

Of course, she also looked pretty fabulous too.

source : ca.eonline.com

Meet Brian Stanziale of SLOANE

I originally met Brian through our mutual friend Niko Liakaris. We were all doing the "end of fashion week party" at the Soho Grand and Niko was telling me what an amazing store Brian has and about his designs - so of course I had to see for myself!
Brian's store is called Sloane and it sits unobtrusively on a corner on the edge of Chinatown. Walking into it you get the feeling that you're not in NYC 2010. It feels more like Berlin now or maybe NYC circa 1990: it's cavernous and racks are on wheels or hung from the ceilings with chains.



The mannequins are old and from various time periods and the desk is a sculpture that looks like haphazard stacks of wood. In short there is no polish or self consciousness to the space -which is refreshing!



And then there are the clothes. Brian's creations always begin from another garment -something that has been found at an estate sale, on the street or brought in by a friend. He works with what is there and transforms it into something else by adding and subtracting elements from the original piece, until it's a custom creation with wit and a touch of theatricality.


His clothes are like the best dress up box ever but with the fit and craftsmanship that take them beyond merely play. -Although playing is an important part of Sloane as well! It's not just a store it's a magnet for creativity. There is frequently a party or event taking place there and the vibe is friendly and welcoming to all comers. (the first time I went to his store Brian apologized for the disarray stating that the night before there had been a boxing match in a ring right where I was currently standing!)


I'm thrilled to know about Sloane and to share it with you and hope you get a chance to check it out for yourself. Also, we will be putting on an event there on April 17th which will be a party/shoot for their Lookbook. I'll be shooting it and the entire event will also be covered by Taff! an entertainment show out of Germany. So if you're interested in being a part of this let me or Brian know.



Following is my original Q + A with Brian.

What is Sloane? A store? Your atelier?
Sloane is all that and more! It is my store, and design studio, but also one of the coolest places in NY to party as well!

Are you the only designer?
Yeah.

Why remake old clothes instead of start from the beginning?
Because I really never enjoy making the same thing twice. It loses its value. And in addition to that, each garment that I have in front of me has a past, a story... a soul even (I know that sounds a little corny!)

How do you see fashion evolving in 2010?
I see more people starting to realize that it is ok to experiment.


Where are your favorite places to go out to have fun in NYC?
Under Sloane... Aaron Genuth, one of my parnters in Sloane, runs the party space that we have in addition to the store, which pretty much always houses some of the chicest people in NYC.


What do you find the most inspiring or challenging about NYC?
The fact that the city is a living entity.

Best advice ever given or received?
In fashion, if your not hanging on by a thread, then what's the point?

Sneak Peek into an Extraordinary Home!

What happens when an extraordinary person whose creativity and tremendous joy for living is expressed in her home? Well, yesterday I had the pleasure of finding out when I of visited one of the most beautiful and unique homes I have ever seen! Here's just a sneak peak to start with.
Above, lions from Beacon Hill standing guard at this writing desk filled with mementos and treasures.
A pink glass ball, just so, setting off this gorgeous blue and cream striped sofa. I didn't notice it the first time I entered the room so it was unexpected fun to come across it the second time.

Hats on chairs remind the cats where to sit and where not to. Philippe Starck - yes, Queen Anne chair - no. Come back tomorrow for more of this whimsical and joyful home - there is so much more beauty to share. And, thank you to Wanda Crossley of Matthews House & Garden and to the wonderful homeowner for sharing it all with me! It was a privilege.