Preview of J. Crew's Fall 2011 Collection

Thursday, March 31, 2011


Even though Spring is just upon us, and Summer not far off, New York Magazine includes a first look of J. Crew's Fall 2011 collection, available in stores August through October.  I'm still on the fence with loving J. Crew's clothes these last couple of years....  I miss the classic styles and basics that they built their reputation on.   I like the handbags and totes from the Fall collection for their color & shape, but the clothing as a whole seems to lack structure, leaving little indication of the overall inspiration.  Is it thrift store chic? Or Annie Hall meets downtown hispter?  Not sure....  

Diptyque Candles ~ The Loveliest Understated Accent

Wednesday, March 30, 2011

About 7 years ago, I got hooked on Diptyque candles while doing personal cooking for a former client.  She lived in a wonderful building on Peachtree Street, and would keep a lighted Diptyque candle out in the hallway, so as you got off the elevator & approached her door, the fragrant accents filled the space.  She continued to have these candles quietly, yet strategically placed through out the apartment, allowing for the slightest intake of delicious aromas when moving from room to room. Never overpowering, Diptyque candles live gently & perfectly in any spot they're lit. Currently, we're burning Feuille de Lavande in our home, and I've held onto (long after its been burned) the pink candle - Roses - that my sweet husband gave to me to light & enjoy while getting ready on the morning of our wedding.  Can't make up your mind on which scent to try?  My recommendation for your first Diptyque purchase is Baies.

Currently placed on our Living Room fireplace mantel, burning the most loveliest lavender fragrance

A gift from my sweet husband to light and enjoy while getting dressed for our wedding 

If you can't make up your mind with which scent to try, my recommendation is to try Baies


In the Mar/Apr 2011 issue of Lonny Magazine, I spotted Diptyque candles in three separate residences featured  

Placed on a bedside table
{Image Via Here}

Placed on an entry table
{Image Via Here}

Placed on a bedside table
{Image Via Here}


Check out the video below of Diptyque's newest fragrances --  2 candles, that when burning at the same time, create a wonderful new scent

Kuntzel + Deygas Roseros -- Click Here for Purchase

Atlanta Friends >>> Blackberry Farm Cookbook Signing at Williams Sonoma

Tuesday, March 29, 2011


Join author & chef Sam Beall at the Lenox Williams Sonoma for a cooking demonstration and book signing of his published book, The Blackberry Farm Cookbook, Wednesday March 30, 5:00pm.  Blackberry Farm is the loveliest of country retreats, located in Walland, TN.  Nestled in the Smoky Mountains, Blackberry Farm continues to set a standard that has garnered a reputation of exceptional service, serene accommodations, and refined farm to table cuisine.

At Auction >>> A Selection of Albert Hadley's Personal Home Furnishings

Monday, March 28, 2011

Sotheby's highlights a selected collection of legendary interior designer Albert Hadley's personal home furnishings, in their upcoming sale -- Fine English and European Decorative Arts. The auction is being held this week in New York, Wednesday, March 30 & Thursday, March 31.  I've spotted a couple of items up for auction in previously published photos of Mr. Hadley's New York apartment.  Click here for info on all 38 lots available at Sotheby's and click here to read more about Mr. Hadley's apartment featured in the December 2010 issue of Lonny Magazine.

Albert Hadley
Photographed in his New York Apartment

Lot #667 -- An Art Deco Mahogany Dining Table (as featured above, positioned behind Mr. Hadley)

Lot #656 -- A White-Painted Bookcase Modern (as featured above, positioned behind Mr. Hadley)



Interior of Mr. Hadley's Apartment
{Image Found Here}

Lot #662 -- A Nail Sphere by Armin Postler on a Red-Painted Metal Table by Leavitt Weaver (as featured above)



Interior of Mr. Hadley's Apartment
{Image Found Here}

Lot #673 -- A German Baroque Parcel-Gilt and Green-Decorated Leather Trunk Possibly Berlin, Circa 1740 (as featured above, underneath the bookcase)

Lot #666 -- A Low Bookcase Modern (as featured above)

Excuse My Absence ~

Thursday, March 24, 2011

Blowing Rock, NC

Please excuse my lack of posts over the next couple of days....  I am heading to the Blue Ridge Mountains and staying at a dear friend's mountain house near Blowing Rock, NC.  I am beyond excited for this long overdue reunion with a group of 6 fun & fabulous college friends.

Atlanta Friends >>> A Fabulous Beekman Boy Is Coming to Town

Wednesday, March 23, 2011


Josh Kilmer-Purcell, better known as one 1/2 of the dynamic duo, The Fabulous Beekman Boys -- a TV series based on his and partner Brent Ridge's adventures as former city dwellers turned country farm owners -- is heading to Midtown, Atlanta's Outwrite Bookstore on Friday, March 25.   He is in town to celebrate the paper back release of his book, The Bucolic Plague.  Join Josh from 7:30-9:00pm to hear him read some passages from the book, sign copies, and chat about last night's premier of the 2nd season of The Fabulous Beekman Boys.  Click here to read my previous post on Josh & Brent and watch the preview below for the 2nd season of The Fabulous Beekman Boys.

Trip to Northern CA Wine Country

Tuesday, March 22, 2011

I was living vicariously through my brother this week-end....  He was headed out to San Francisco for a business meeting and decided to arrive a day early for a visit up to the wine country.  I insisted he take pictures of his journey to Healdsburg, CA -- keep me in the loop of the accommodations and details of his restaurant visit.  He emailed all photos taken on his Blackberry while waiting to board for his flight back to NYC last night.  Anxious to hear his impressions, we spoke before he departed. He gave Honor Mansion Resort Inn a glowing review in every aspect of his stay and his dinner at Cyrus, a 2 Michelin Star restaurant, was over the top insanely wonderful.  Check out his photos below.

Honor Mansion Resort Inn, Healdsburg, CA

Honor Mansion, Exterior

Honor Mansion, Croquet Court

Honor Mansion, Grounds

Honor Mansion, Grounds


Cyrus Restaurant, Healdsburg, CA
{Image Found Here}


Cyrus Restaurant, Interior
{Image Found Here}



California Coast Line on the Way Back to San Francisco (above & below)


Style Watch >>> Trot Home

Monday, March 21, 2011

Trot Home, Peninsula, OH

I have my BFF Kasey Collins to thank for today's subject post....  she is living in Hudson, Ohio and turned me onto the nearby home furnishings shop, Trot Home. While scrolling through Trot Home's vintage offerings on their website and loving everything I see, it dawns on me where I have also recently read about this quaint storefront.  The Mar/Apr '11 issue of Lonny Magazine features the interior design style of Trot Home's owner Colleen Locke's personal reseidence, a Cape Cod style home and 200 year old barn located on 6 acres of land.  The interiors reflect a style Trot Home is known for -- a mix of contemporary & classic pieces layered with a chic edge and casual whimsy.  Check out more below.

Trot Home, Featured in Lonny Magazine, Mar/Apr 2011

I'll take this Yellow Craft Couch as is -- Love the original upholstery pattern (Lonny's photo seen above, bottom right) | Click Here for Purchase

Gilded Floral Lamp (Lonny's photo seen above, bottom right) | Click Here for Purchase

Campaign Dresser (Lonny's photo seen above, bottom right)  | Click Here for Purchase











Atlanta Friends >>> News from Bella Cucina

Saturday, March 19, 2011

Bella Cucina Artful Food | Virginia Highland Retail Shop
{Image Found Here}

Bella Cucina Artful Food, an Atlanta based specialty food company offering the most delectable Italian inspired culinary provisions, has announced news of their new retail store.  Presently, Bella Cucina's quaint storefront is located in the heart of the Virginia Highland neighborhood.  Expected to open May 1, Bella will move 2 doors down to a larger space to accommodate the addition of a "European style food hall" (I'm envisioning the feel of a scaled down Harrods, London food hall) and take away counter, cooking classes, and larger retail area.  Bellissimo!

Interior of the Current Bella Cucina Retail Store

Interior of the Current Bella Cucina Retail Store
{Images Found Here}

On the Radio Today

Thursday, March 17, 2011

My neighbor is an assistant to a local Atlanta interior designer -- Lee Anne Culpepper.  Lee Anne hosts a weekly radio show on the top to bottom topics of design & home maintenance/ownership.  My neighbor asked me if I would come on today's show and talk about the idea of "up-cycling" furniture and accessories.

My passion is turning up otherwise forgotten vintage home furnishings and bringing them back to a 21st century lifestyle -- either through paint, re-upholstery, or repair.  In our grandparent's generation, tables, chairs, sofas, etc...  were made of much higher quality materials and real wood, rather than what is being sold in most home stores today.  My feeling is that if we're going to recycle our newspapers, cans, & plastic, we need to fold that same mentality into our decor.  Ultimately, the idea is to move away from the idea of a "disposable" society and reuse what is already existing.

Click here to listen online....  The show starts at 3:00pm.

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