Pursuing Paint

I love the feel of a room with dark hardwoods and white walls (or white walls with a subtle tinge of color).  


This has only been solidified with my recent reading of Vicente Wolf's Lifting the Curtain on Design.  I have long admired his work-but the book gave me a glimpse into his design process, and I think he's an utter genius-the way he melds his travel inspiration from far-flung and exotic places, translating them in to his design projects are inspirational and aspirational.  His monochromatic rooms are subtle and soothing, yet intoxicating.  But I will save more of my praise for a separate post before I veer too off topic.


In my last home, the espresso floors were an easy choice, the paint colors were not.  After much deliberation I ended up loving the color I put on my walls: Sherwin Williams Nuance.  Most people that came in to my house went through the same exercise: they tried to pinpoint the exact hue and often came up with blue-ish, green-ish, gray-ish, which was immediately followed by an inquiry as to the name of the paint color to add to their repertoire.

This time, I am searching for a subtle true gray cast (without it going blue or green).  Picking paint colors can often be the last link in uniting a space and with endless colors with varied undertones that change in different casts of light, it is often one of my hardest design decisions.  Picking paint colors is a true art.


Case in point, nuance doesn't exactly look green-ish, gray-ish, blue-ish here, and that's why it is so difficult to ultimately pick your color by just looking at a small paper sample.  It pays to limit your choices via the color swatches, pick up a few actual samples, paint a small portion of your wall (or paint a posterboard and tape it to the wall), and return at different points in the day to see which color you like best.


Serena and Lily has their own line of paints.  Their website is chock full of visual delights, but this image stopped me in my tracks.  Here was the perfect paint color!

This vignette also reminds me of this photo from Rue Magazine--an image that wowed me (Windsor Smith):

I love the color of the paint in the Serena and Lily image, light, almost white, but with a subtle gray hue.  I thought I had found the winner, but after putting a call into the company, they were unsure of the color and didn't believe it was from their paint line.


However, Serena and Lily have other beautiful paint colors to choose from I don't think you can go wrong.  Here are some of the colors I could definitely see myself incorporating in to our home.

See their entire collection here.


Still on the hunt for that elusive perfect color!

New York Fashion Week: Rebecca Taylor

New York Fashion Week is upon us.  I enjoy admiring both the insanely unwearable works of art, alongside the clothing I would love to pluck right off the runway and add to my everyday wardrobe.  Rebecca Taylor's line typically runs toward the attainable and wearable side.  

Her show is full of ready to wear sheer, flowy, feminine pieces.  Mainly moody tones of black and grays, shades of blue and magenta, with flashes of emerald jewelry.  

The belted and ruffled dresses, especially those with her signature leopard prints are speaking to me.  And topped with that gray (faux?) fur jacket, so chic!

I'm enjoying watching the shows online live and re-living the one's I missed via photographs.

Valentine's Day Redux

My husband who is usually the sweetest and most thoughtful man, forgot Valentine's Day last year, and me, being the hopeless romantic that I am, had a hard time letting him live down that he forgot to get me a card.

Blame my ideas of Valentine's Day on my horoscope, I'm a dreamy Pisces, or the fact that I may be guilty of growing up on one too many romantic comedies.  Although I believe in cherishing those you love everyday, I don't mind an in your face holiday that gives you an excuse to celebrate love.

This year, our night started with a huge surprise.  I usually suggest we forego gifts in favor of taking our yearly international vacations...but my husband didn't listen this time.  He knew I had been eyeing purses with a cross body strap, but I wasn't expecting something this over the top.  Whenever you see this box, it can cause some excitement!

This welcome surprise was followed by a dinner at one of our new favorite restaurants, where we savored spinach and cheese empanadas and mouth watering pan seared dumplings...

And finished off with a delicious dessert hand delivered by our adorable niece and nephew (who are 19 months) ...aka my sister-in-law.

I hope everyone had a wonderful Valentine's Day celebrating with the one's you love whether it be friends, family, significant other, or with an indulgence for yourself!

A Valentine's Escape

Take out your suitcase, we are going somewhere romantic...

Let's pack a few Valentine inspired pieces and we are on our way...

Of course, what better place to celebrate Valentine's Day than in Paris...

Images via mrmrsglobetrot

Here's to LOVE! 

1. Smythson Leather Passport Cover 2.  Kate Spade Double Bow Ring 3. Made by Girl Love Pattern Print 4. Marc by Marc Jacobs Mademoiselle Danger Watch Pendant Necklace 5. D&G Striped Cotton Sweater 6. Tory Burch Reva Satin Clutch 

Be Mine!

FOR HER:

1. Kate Spade Tweed Kylie Skirt ($295)

2. Smythson Be Mine Leather Notebook ($60)

3. Jonathan Adler Hot Pink and Natural Nixon Throw ($295)

4. Voluspa Panjore Lychee Candle ($18)

5. Anthropologie Genie's Dwelling Perfume Bottle ($32)

6. Trina Turk Ogee Pillow ($138)

7. Anthropologie Cherry-Trimmed Bag ($118)

FOR HIM:

1. David Donahue Traditional Fit Dress Shirt ($125)

2. Ferragamo 'Cagiliari' Tie ($160)

3. Apple iWatchz Q Series watchband for Ipod Nano ($24.95)

4. Creed Original Santal ($270)

5. Burberry Check Square Cuff Links ($165)

6. Puma Benecio Canvas Drip Shoes ($50)

Vogue Australia: Is it Spring Yet?

With all the winter weather we've been getting lately, I have been craving spring.  I am yearning for bold and bright colors, flowy graphic patterns, and an exotic vacation, preferably with a margarita in hand.  When I saw this gorgeous feature in Vogue Australia that had me from the cover, I realized they may have read my mind.

 

 

1. Milly Cocomo Cotton and Silk-Blend Dress 2. Kenneth Jay Lane Beaded Earrings 3. DVF Printed Silk Shirt 4. Marc by Marc Jacobs Totally Turnlock Sasha 5. Forever21 Fab Ethnic Print Skirt 

6. Topshop Bandeau Bikini 7. Topshop Waterfall Skirt 8. San Diego Classic Big Brim Hat

Decisions & Powder Bath

Decisions, decisions!


We have been participating in a slew of meetings to decide on all the details that will go in to the home we are going to be building (pending our house closing either today or tomorrow-fingers crossed that things will continue on track)!


While the task may seem daunting, it has actually been going quite smoothly, and dare I say, lots of fun!  I have dedicated a lot of time to researching different products: paint colors, countertops, tile, materials, you name it.  


With the prior research I completed while renovating our past house, coupled with the endless inspiration I have garnered via blogs, magazines, design books, being out an about, and through travel-- I have so many visions in my head that I cannot wait to implement.


I am toying with the idea of adding a vessel sink/above the counter sink to the powder bathroom.  Being both a small space and one that is used often, I feel comfortable having free rein to inflict some whimsy and drama including perhaps graphic wallpaper/metallic paints, foregoing traditional bathroom lighting fixtures for pendant lighting, and countertops in materials that I may have not considered otherwise.


Now to determine which direction I want to go forward with:

Image via Decorpad

I think I will veer away from carrera marble in this instance.  With all of the other carrera marble I plan on using, I don't want my house to end up looking like the Flagler museum (see here).

This concrete basin from Ann Sacks is my favorite, with this faucet, it is a dream.  (Note: there are only a few left in the company and they are currently half off-it's a steal!)

Image via Decorpad

A sink in natural stone strikes that balance between old world and modern, and this bathroom makes it quite glamorous.

Image via Elle Decor

There is the brass option.

Image via Kohler

Image via Decorpad

Image via Remodelista

White porcelain or a white vessel sink is classic but maybe too safe.  I love the juxtaposition of the modern sink over rustic wood.

I also adore the above bathroom with the dark hardwoods, I have been fighting the builder tooth and nail to be allowed to install dark hardwoods in my powder bath, and have agreed to sign any waiver necessary (This is just like the controversy of installing carrera marble in a kitchen all over again).  I think I am emerging victorious from this one!

Image via Decorpad

There is the stainless variety that I think would feel more at home in my kitchen than my bathroom.

Image via Aphrochic

It's yellow so therefore perfect in my mind, what an unexpected pop of color.  It would surely delight guests!

1. Titan Marble Round Vessel Waterworks

2. Spool Basin Ann Sacks

3. Chiseled Marble Oval Vessel Sink Signature Hardware

4. Aliminum Vessel Lavatory Sink Rohl

5.  Watercove Wading Pool Lavatory Kohler

6. Crucible Vessel Above Counter Lavatory Kohler 

7. Timpani Vessel Lavatory Countertop Kohler

8. Yellow Vessel Sink Rensup