Dress Envy

Victoria Beckham makes the most exquisitely constructed dresses.

Bag Envy

Derek Lam. yum

A little change.

Excess Halloween accessories+ a little winter cheer=

Ole!

Shoe Envy

Do I need to explain myself? You can buy these at Net-A-Porter

West 4th

Chair Envy

Today begins another daily entry, I Envy. This will include designs, furniture, art, and things (i.e. magical shoes) that i find particularly beautiful/unique/inspiring. They will be short and sweet but will include purchasing information if you are so inclined. cheers!

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Garden of Eden outdoor furniture by Ontwerpduo
Give me a magical garden and I'll swing in my birdcage chair all day!

Upper East Side Christmas

Once again, I was commissioned to do some freelance decor for my favorite Upper East Side family. I was hired to make a star, decorate the tree, and put up some lights around the house. Simple.

The star was inspired by the one atop the Crosby Street Hotel lobby tree (first photo below). I made it with a Styrofoam center, floral wiring, wooden dowels, ribbon, and lots and lots of Martha Stewart glitter. Man, I love Michael's.

HAPPY HOLIDAYS!!!

La Colombe

Hotel Inspiration.

While doing some decoration research and meandering the Soho streets with my friends, we stopped by the Crosby Street Hotel. Interior designer Kit Kemp created a truly unique design palette which reflects my own. Not only is it LEED certified (meaning that it is certifiably environmentally responsible/GREEN) but it is cozy and stylish. The art and furniture is eclectic (hearty natural woods, exquisitely painted armoires, oil paintings, silkscreens, photos, and plush fabrics) which creates a comfortable, less stuffy atmosphere than many upscale hotels. Also, like all Firmdale Hotels (and many boutique hotels alike), each room is individually decorated. I only wish I could have stayed for tea, or even better yet, a night in the Meadow Suite...

The Meadow Suite (photo taken from website: Crosby Street)

The Drawing Room (my photo)

Lobby Chair (my photo)

"This was the day I woke up and the air smelled different and instead of just sitting there I tried to make something change. This was the day that dreaming began."

-Sarah Noel (dear friend & dreamer)

or so they say

glow of the first snow

Art Show NYC: Ryan Metke

If you're in NYC on December 15th, don't miss out on my friend Ryan Metke's art show: HARPOON @ Openhouse Gallery (201 Mulberry Street), 7pm. His work tells stories with notes of pop culture, topography, symbolism, and inspiration from the likes of Robert Rauschenberg. See you there!

More info on Ryan: http://www.ryanmetke.com/

Global Inspiration: London

Like New York City, London is incredibly cosmopolitan. It bustles with culture, music, fashion, art, and oh the architecture! Living in London for five months, I was constantly finding new, old, and beautiful things to photograph...

chocolate

mind the gap

it happens only in london

pop!

camdentown

not english food

the real thing

dripcastles cumbria

London is also the perfect launching point for inexpensive travels throughout Europe. Check out Easyjet, Ryanair, and the Eurorail. During my time in London I traveled to Barcelona, Rome, Prague, Dublin, and Amsterdam, each for under $100!

Interior Decor Spotlight: Deborah Molinelli

When I walk into someones home, I always hope to be greeted with a feeling of comfort. This can be created many ways; with colors, textures, lighting, furniture, and art. Several of my friends have a knack for design and decor, and so I'll be spotlighting the homes that make me feel, well, at home.
Deborah Molinelli's home is comfortable and warm without losing sight of a natural yet whimsical approach to design...

Mini-interview:

What are 3 words that describe your {home} design style?

Cozy, comfortable, well-appointed.

What would you consider to be your main influence?

Nature, colors, textures.

Do you have one tip that people could take with them?

Choose carefully --

you're responsible for your own environment.

And always have flowers.

"All I can be is me, Whoever that is."
-Bob Dylan

New Jersey Picnic, 2am

Inspired by

Artist Spotlight: Barbara Robbins

Drive By Shooting

All of Barbara's photos are taken while driving (herself).

17th Street.

"The irony of commitment is that it’s deeply liberating — in work, in play, in love. The act frees you from the tyranny of your internal critic, from the fear that likes to dress itself up and parade around as rational hesitation. To commit is to remove your head as the barrier to your life."
-Anne Morriss

Happy Thanksgiving!

I am thankful for...dive bar bathrooms. Among other things.

From Z's bed.

(phone) photo fix.

There has to be something said for the constant availability of my cellphone's camera when I come upon a --as I do nearly twenty times a day-- spontaneous Kodak Moment. Also, despite the poor quality, I kind of like the weird coloring and texture of each photo. Thus, I will have a daily (phone) photo fix...starting now.

about 4pm, home

Learn to Read.

It's a little upsetting to me how many of my friends and associates do not read. It's also fairly embarrassing to admit that I was one of these people a little more than two years ago. I blame it on college... Since living in New York City and taking the Subway nearly everyday I have re-discovered my love for reading. Not only does the commute time fly by (and the annoyances stay at bay), but I've found that both my imagination and grammar have expanded. Inspiration does not have to come from things you see, touch, hear, or taste, but also from things that your mind can create from the plot, prose, and images written in the pages of a novel. I truly fell hard...amazed by the emotions that a single book can drag out of me.

Learn to Read (some of my favorite authors):
If you are into Humor: David Sedaris, Chelsea Handler
If you are into Pop Culture: Chuck Klosterman
If you are into Sex, Drugs, and Money: Bret Easton Ellis
If you are into Learning: Malcolm Gladwell, A. J. Jacobs

If you are into Crazy: Chuck Palahniuk
If you are into Classics: John Irving, John Steinbeck

For some help to find a book (Thank you Sarah!):

http://www.whatshouldireadnext.com/search

Personal Archives.

(Mom and I in Madison, Wisconsin. Fall of 1987)

As you can see, I've been taking photos since I could walk. Since then I've studied photography in London, graduated from the University of Massachusetts Anherst with a BFA, taken photos for various websites, magazines, headshots, and exhibits.

All of my past experiences affect the way I think and design now; thus, a look at my (more recent due to computer issues) personal archives...

and more...

"Come on you raver, you seer of visions, come on you painter, you piper, you prisoner, and shine!" -Pink Floyd