Happy Holidays & a Wonderful New Year!

I am leaving for the Cayman Islands tomorrow with my whole brood - cannot wait!  See you in 2012!

In the meantime, I want to leave you with some (completely random) pretty pics...

via a room somewhere

via automatism

via desire to inspire

via desire to inspire

via desire to inspire

via house of turquoise

via stellan herner photography

Union Jack Round Two...

Back in March I posted about the Union Jack and how it seems to be a new trend in interior design.  Apparently this trend has not died down because almost a year later I am still seeing the British flag popping up everywhere... and I am still loving it.

Are you diggin it?

via design files

via design sponge

via design sponge

via desire to inspire

via houzz

via room envy

via teo jasmin

via visual vamp

via room envy

Enter...

An often neglected piece of residential design is the interior door. Typically, homeowners paint their doors whatever white they choose for their moldings and call it a day. I admit that I am one of those typical people.

However, lately, I have been playing with the idea of painting both my moldings and my interior doors an actual color. The color I am thinking is grey (which I often tell my clients isn't really a true color but I don't think I am daring enough to do something as bright and funky as some of the images below). Although I do envy those that are that bold...

What do you think?

via design is mine

via desire to inspire

via Farrow & Ball

via House Beautiful

via style files

via design sponge

via you are my fave

HAPPY THANKSGIVING!!!

Hope you all have a very Happy Thanksgiving!

W Hotel South Beach

My husband and I just got back from a very well needed mini vacation to celebrate our ninth anniversary. What an amazing get away to share with my favorite person in the world!

Being that we are members of Starwood Preferred Guests, we chose to stay at the W South Beach in Miami. For those of you who are not familiar with Starwood - become familiar! It is the best rewards program out there for anyone that loves to travel.

Typical with W's trademark style, the South Beach location is chic and modern. The "living room" area, which is W's innovative take on the traditional hotel lobby, encompasses five separate lounge areas, large scale art and a library with numerous beautiful coffee table books.

The bar/ lounge was stunning boasting Allegro Vivace Suspension lights by Foscarini and purple leather tufted ottomans. If only I could think of an appropriate place to put one of those ottomans in my home!

The rooms were sleek but did not live up to the same visual appeal and attention to detail in the public spaces.

Have any of you visited the W South Beach? What did you think of the design?

I especially loved these red velvet lounge chairs that popped out amongst the furnishings mostly neutral palette.

Window Treatments...

As a designer, one of the most common requests I receive is people needing help with their window treatments. There is a lot of jargon when it comes to drapes, shades, curtains - what have you - as well as a lot of details to consider.

If you have large windows, there is nothing more dramatic than floor to ceiling drapes. When done properly, they add a sense of romance and warmth to the room.

Here are some shots of different fabrics, colors etc - you can even install them in a bathroom!

via chic tip

via delikattissen

via desire to inspire

via desire to inspire

via freshome

via one hour

via one hour

via one hour

via one hour

via carolina eclectic

Swivel...

So, I am designing my living room and have been on a mad hunt for awesome swivel chairs. My living room is directly off my den which already has two swivel swan chairs. The swan chairs are beautiful classic swivel chairs that sit in between my sofa and the television so that guests can either watch TV or swivel around to converse with others lounging on the sofa. Ah, the beauty of the swivel...

Swan Chair, Suite NY

Because I have a fireplace in my living room, and based on where the fireplace is situated, I am again in need of swivel chairs.  See below for my top choices and let me know what you think...

Grande Papilio, B&B Italia

Pumpkin, Ligne Roset

Pop, Ligne Roset

D'Urso, Knoll

Milo Baughman Thayer Coggin, 1st Dibs

(Obvously reupholstered in a hot colored fabric...)

I am leaning towards the first two...  Which do you like best?