Oscar de la Renta

For over 50 years, Oscar de la Renta was known for his iconic and timeless designs that graced countless runways and red carpets as well as the White House.  A favorite of Jackie Kennedy, Sarah Jessica Parker, and Amal Alamuddin,  he was the first American fashion designer to show at Paris Fashion Week in the early 90's.  The designer is best known for his classic ball gowns, evening dresses (and Hillary's pantsuits!) but in recent years, he branched out to create bridal collections and ventured into the home with designs for furniture, fabrics, carpets, and decorative objects.  In celebration of his legacy, see below for some covetable home items that I love.  The pitcher even comes with Oscar's favorite recipe for Dominican Rum Punch!

“I’ve lived every day to the fullest, and I’ve had a marvelous time. I’ve tried to be nice to the people I care about and ignore the ones I don’t. I enjoy what I’ve done.”

-Oscar de la Renta (1932-2014)

 

Nursery Inspiration!

My latest project is very near and dear to my heart.  It's our baby's nursery!  We could not be more excited!  We don't know the gender yet, so I've pulled together a gender neutral color palette of mint, gold, and white.  I've always loved this retro rocker and think it pairs perfectly with the modern lines of the crib and dresser.  How cute is the little house tissue box?  The crib sheet is by a local Houston favorite, Biscuit Home!

1. Mid-Century Dresser | 2. You Are Loved Print | 3. Polka Dot Pillow

4. Elephant Nightlight | 5. Maison Tissue Box | 6. Mint Crib Sheet 

7. Mid-Century Crib | 8. Retro Rocker | 9. Moroccan Leather Pouf | 10. Piggy Bank | 11. Sheepskin Rug

Color Crush: Passionate Pink

From hues of pale rose to vibrant magenta, pink was the color of choice on the red carpet at the recent Met Gala.  The annual Costume Institute fundraiser brought together many stars, celebrities, and models draped in the quintessential color of Spring.  These gorgeous gowns inspired me to take a look at various decorative patterns and objects in shades of fuchsia, mauve, coral and blush.  The retro pink fridge is my favorite!

1. Shimmer Stamp Triangles Pillow

2. Swizzle Chandelier

3. Pink Citron Candle

4. Painted Desert Rug

5. Moroccan Leather Pouf

6. Retro Fridge

7. Dipped Buoy Vase

8. Rose Quartz Platter

9. Oh Carmen Print

10. Garland Wallpaper

Cinco de Mayo Inspiration

Cinco de Mayo is a few days away and I'm sure many fiestas will be in full swing by Friday.  Not only did I meet my husband on May 5th, but five has always been my lucky number.  In celebration, I've pulled together a few favorite Mexican pieces for the home.  

1.  Otomi Pillow 

2. Equipale Rocking Chair   

3. Shelly Table Lamp   

4. Polanco Tile 

5. Olivia Pendant   

6. Embroidered Pillow   

7. Flower Stool

Oscar Fashion at Home

I always look forward to the excitement and anticipation of Oscar night.  As much as I appreciate the movies, my true love is the red carpet fashion.  From Lupita's softly flowing "Nairobi Blue" gown to Jennifer Garner's shimmering fringe column dress, this year's styles did not disappoint.  The stars lit up the red carpet and these similar chandeliers will light up your home with equal glamour and beauty.  My favorite is Kate Hudson's gorgeous Versace gown and cape combined with Cyan Design's Treviso Chandelier.  Both exude classic Hollywood glitz with a modern twist.

oscars at home.jpg

Kate Hudson in Versace / Cyan Design Treviso Chandelier

Camila Alves in Gabriela Cadena / Cyan Design Bella Vetro Chandelier

Jennifer Garner in Oscar de la Renta / Restoration Hardware Odeon Chandelier

Lupita Nyong'o in Prada / Circa Lighting George II Chandelier

Year of the Horse: Equine Inspiration

Happy Lunar New Year!  According to the Chinese zodiac, this weekend marks the start of the the Year of the Horse.  In celebration, I pulled together a few decor items with equine flair.

Clockwise from top: Horse Patagonia by Leftbank Art | Horse Leg Stools in House Beautiful | Samarcande Pillow by Hermes | Faline Library Table by Oly Studio | Marble Horse Head Sculpture by Global Views | Ellen DeGeneres and Portia de…

Clockwise from top: Horse Patagonia by Leftbank Art | Horse Leg Stools in House Beautiful | Samarcande Pillow by Hermes | Faline Library Table by Oly Studio | Marble Horse Head Sculpture by Global Views | Ellen DeGeneres and Portia de Rossi's Horse Barn in Elle Decor | Faux Driftwood Horse by Z Gallerie | Ceramic Horse by Jonathan Adler

Las Vegas Market Favorites

Last week, I had a fun and quick trip to Vegas to visit the Las Vegas Market.  Held every six months, the market consists of 1,500 furniture and decor manufacturer showrooms all housed in three buildings at the World Market Center.  There were so many new design trends to take in and I came home with plenty of ideas!  Below are a few of my favorites from the show.

Cyan Design Vertigo Gold Leaf Chandelier

Cyan Design Vertigo Gold Leaf Chandelier

Arteriors Heath Andirons

Arteriors Heath Andirons

Four Hands Baroness Josephina's Sofa

Four Hands Baroness Josephina's Sofa

Noir Furniture Philip Chair

Noir Furniture Philip Chair

Stanley Furniture Charleston Beaufain Dresser

Stanley Furniture Charleston Beaufain Dresser

Ren-Wil "Separations" Wall Art

Ren-Wil "Separations" Wall Art

Pheromone by Christopher Marley Urchin Mosaic

Pheromone by Christopher Marley Urchin Mosaic

High Low: Go for the Gold

I am loving all things gold right now.  Maybe it's all the glitter and sparkle of the holidays but I constantly find myself drawn to the glamorous warmth of gilded paper goods, pillows, furniture and accessories.  I'm also looking to add a few metallic pieces to a current project and found some lovely side tables in the process.  What better way to add sparkle to a room than with a golden accent table?  It's a great way to add some shimmer without going overboard.  Below are a few favorites available in both high and low options! 

1. Arteriors $570 / Crate & Barrel $349

2. Zinc Door $723 / High Fashion Home $509

3. Zinc Door $373 / High Fashion Home $279

4. Arteriors $1320 / Urban Outfitters $149

Emerald and Embellished

It is very possible that I was the only kid at my middle school who stashed copies of both Vogue and Architectural Digest.  To this day, I'm in love with the glossy images of edgy fashion and sumptuous home interiors.  I kept so many copies of each subscription that tall stacks had accumulated in my bedroom by the time I left for college.  Back then, I didn't see much of a connection between the two magazines.  Today, interior design and fashion are so closely connected that names such as Vera Wang, Missoni, Ralph Lauren, and Trina Turk can bring to mind both runway styles and home decor.  Designers have bridged the gap and one art often directly informs the other.  

It comes as no surprise that emerald, the 2013 Pantone color of the year can be found everywhere right now from pumps to pillows.  The jewel tone has taken on different forms throughout the year but now that the holidays are in full swing, the deep verdant hue seems particularly fitting.  

I recently visited Tootsies, a local Houston boutique, in search of a holiday party dress.  It was a lucky coincidence that I happened to stop by during a designer meet and greet with Trish Wescoat Pound, founder and creative director of Haute Hippie.  I love the combination of glam details and laid-back bohemian style that she achieves so I was excited to meet the designer in person.  She showed me a few of her designs that are not only embellished but emerald!  

See below for some closet and home inspiration.  Check out the gorgeous lacquered emerald cabinets and brass backsplash in Cameron Diaz's New York apartment...

1. Haute Hippie Embellished Chiffon Dress

2. Essie Polish in "Going Incognito"

3. Haute Hippie Cowl Blouse

4. Kate Bosworth in a gorgeous sequin mini dress

5. Sarah Hyland in CH Carolina Herrera at the 2013 Emmy Awards

6. Christian Louboutin Loubi Croissant Clutch

7. Manolo Blahnik Maysale Mules

1. Z Gallerie stemware

2. Cameron Diaz's New York Apartment by Kelly Wearstler

3. Kevin O'Brien Studio Dots Velvet Pillow

4. Arteriors Roma Table Lamp

5. A modern Louis XVI chair upholstered in DwellStudio Malakos Fabric

6. Room and Board Murphy Sofa

7. Williams Sonoma Malachite Candle

Get The Look: Giuliana and Bill Rancic's LA Home

Right now I am in love with the combination of neutral tones and metallic accents.  The palette is even coming into play in our new home (more details to come)!  This snapshot of Giuliana and Bill's home showcases this classic, timeless trend.  I have scoured my sources to find high and low options to help you get this look for yourself! 

1. Ravenna Mirror, Restoration Hardware

2. Mayanne White Wallcovering, Phillip Jeffries

3. Noir Pegas Table, Wayfair

4. Mercury Glass Decanter, Ist Dibs

Travel Diary: Portland

In July, the Mr. and I had a chance to spend a couple of days in his hometown (and the city where we met!)  It's easy to find design inspiration in a place filled with great food, fab home décor shops, and beautiful outdoor scenery.  Sure, it may get a little rainy and gray in the winter but what's not to love when the Summer sun is out?  Here are a few of my favorite spots:

Manor Fine Wares is chock-full of everything from rustic furniture and lighting to adorable baby gifts, bedding, taxidermy, and Farrow & Ball paints.  It is also located on one of P-town's best shopping streets, NW 23rd.

Love this informal seating arrangement of poufs

Someone is keeping an eye on the jewelry... 

I find it extremely difficult to turn down French pastries when I'm faced with the real thing, which is exactly what you will find at Saint Honoré Boulangerie.  I stopped by for a quick croissant and café au lait.  Find your own classic bistro stools here!

Carb heaven

Baguette bakers hard at work

Classic French bistro stools

I guess you can say that I'm a bit of an ice cream snob.  It's just very hard to find premium ice cream that can rival the one and only B&J's.  By the time I walked into Salt & Straw, I had heard the hype about crazy flavor combinations (pear with blue cheese?) and farm-to-cone ingredients.  Well, after one bite I was SOLD!  They get bonus points for designing their NE Alberta Street store with true sustainability in mind.  The build-out includes reclaimed wood from the bleacher seats of Lewis and Clark College's original athletic stadium, barn wood from the barn at the Oregon State Hospital of One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest fame, rafters from a local deconstructed commercial warehouse, and native black walnut milled from locally-salvaged trees (source: Hammer and Hand).

This location is kitty corner from Manor on NW 23rd. 

Deliciously creative combinations of local ingredients

We did an early birthday celebration with family at Clyde Common , a cozy and casual tavern-style restaurant known for well-crafted cocktails and innovative fare.  Our meal began with a delicious starter: salmon cheeks, crème fraîche and chick peas served with a shot glass side of summery sparkling rosé.  Located downtown, in the very cool Ace Hotel (formerly The Clyde), this space has soaring windows, communal tables, and an intimate loft seating area upstairs.

Source: Kaper Design