Robert Stilin

Images from Robert Stilin.

Check out these images from East Hampton-based designer Robert Stilin. Fresh, clean designs. What stands out to me the most about his designs is the way his rooms compliment his client's art collections. That's not easy to do.

Prospect Park

We ventured out to Prospect Park in Brooklyn today. It really is as cool as they say. Much more laid back than Central Park. And you're allowed to grill there without getting in trouble with the Park Police, which is always a plus :)

Kane got to play an intense game of wiffle ball, and I got to relax and watch. Perfect afternoon! Now back to the daily grind tomorrow!

Happy Weekend

I'll keep it short and sweet tonight. I hope that everyone has a beautiful Memorial Day tomorrow. If the weather in NYC can be half as beautiful tomorrow as it was today then I'll be a happy girl.

Memorial Day Weekend Lunch

I went to the farmer's market this morning and picked up the most amazing fresh mini strawberries. Then, on the way home, I stopped at Savoy Bakery and got fresh croissants with lightly salted chevre.

It was all excellent together! Perfect casual lunch. Wish I could eat this way everyday!

Cheese, croissant, strawberries and Boylan soda. So good!

Hello Hamptons

I apologize for my absence yesterday! I ended up going to the Hamptons for a job installation last night and most of today and I didn't have access to a computer the whole time!! Well, I'm finally back in the city for Memorial Day weekend and believe me, I am ready for the long weekend!

The Hamptons are so beautiful. The houses are unbelievable. But, under all of that beauty is a lot of stress for an interior designer! Memorial Day is the official begining of the Hamptons summer season and everything has to be just right.

Here's a little selection of some of the houses available for sale in the Hamptons if you're in the market, or if you just want to dream!

All images from Sotheby's Realty.

Yoga

I took my first yoga class ever tonight. It was excellent. I wasn't sure what to expect. Would I be a total mess? Would I be good at it? Well, I guess I ended up being somewhere in between!

An interesting note about NYC: air conditioning is a luxury in old buildings. I didn't sign up for the hot yoga class, but I ended up getting hot yoga anyway seeing as it was 90 degrees (seriously) in New York today and the studio didn't have AC. Yay!  

Pratt and Larson Tile

If you're not familiar, Pratt and Larson is a tile company with tons of great styles. Their products range from contemporary to traditional with everything in between.

This is an example of one of their new items that I think is a success:

Image from Pratt and Larson.

This one not so much. But I won't hold it against them. Obviously there is someone out there creating a demand for fly fishing tile.

Image from Pratt and Larson.

Etsy Kitchen Accessories

Birch vases by Maari.

Vintage pendants by LampGoods.

Chartreuse blown glass vase by Corporan Glass.

Set of pineapple hand-blocked prints by The House of Bouton.

All of these Etsy accessories are super fresh and are perfect for adding a little bit of life into a kitchen that's feeling drab. 

Catskills Retreat

Image found via NY Times.

This little cabin in New York state was just featured in the New York Times Home & Garden section. Melanie Brandman, head of a PR firm in NYC, transformed a 900 square foot fishing cabin into this beautiful retreat. It is too chic. Tons of mid-century furniture, lots of natural light, just beautiful. You can read the article here, and check out a slideshow with lots more pictures of the house here.

Randall's Island

The view of East Harlem from Randall's Island.

The footbridge.

Kane and I took a long, long walk on Sunday morning. It was overcast, but still a beautiful and refreshing day. Our first stop was over the 103rd Street footbridge to Randall's Island. Kane trains people there sometimes, but it was my first time to go and it was so awesome! We've already got plans to go back for a picnic. The island is mostly devoted to public park space and athletic fields. How cool are those fields right under the bridge?

Lost Finale

Image from abc.

Wow. So, the final episode of LOST just ended. We had no idea that this little event was going to start at 7pm and keep on going until 11:30pm!

It was perfect. Everything ended as it should and (sort of) made sense, which is all you can really ask for with this show!

Now it's time for bed.

Space Savers

Living in Manhattan often leads to fantasies about having a second bedroom. Oh, believe me, I have plans for that future second bedroom whenever it comes to be! It would serve dual purposes as a guest bedroom and home office.

Last year Kane and I attended a Metropolitan Home magazine event (before the magazine went under) at Resource Furniture. They rep Clei, a line of high-end space-saving murphy beds that I quickly became obsessed with!! I saw their new styles at ICFF, and they are too cool.

Check these out. One of these days I'd love to have one in my double-duty home office!

Images from Resource Furniture.

There are tons of styles. Some with sofas attached, some without. They also have some really creative options for kids rooms.

Images from Resource Furniture.

Reminiscing

Image by Jeff Bennett.

Tonight, I'm picking what pictures we want to order from Logan and Logan's wedding. (Kane's brother and our new sister-in-law!) It made me just a little bit sentimental. I pulled out our own wedding album for a look. It's really crazy how quickly 2-1/2 years fly by!

That's one good-looking family!

Archivia

Images from Archivia. 

I've always loved a good bookstore. I admit, I could spend hours in Barnes & Noble. Nothing wrong with B&N, but small book shops are my fave. Archivia, on the Upper East Side, is a store where the inventory is totally devoted to art, design, architecture, fashion and all other things that are lovely. I went to the store's opening in 2007, and they've had me ever since.

Qlocktwo

Image from Gizmodo.

The Qlock Two is one of my fun little discoveries from ICFF last weekend. When it's on, a chronometer adjusts itself to the second, and different lights illuminate various words so that the time to the minute is always spelled out for you (literally). It comes in a handful of colors, but the black one is my favorite. I'd love to see it in an all-white kitchen.

Oh, and as a cool side note, the German company has also created a Qlock Two iPod app.

Photo Display

Image from S. R. Gambrel.

This bedroom is exceptional because of the photography, and the arrangement of the photos over the headboard. The colors in each piece compliment the others so that all together they create a lovely composition.

The lavender bedding is really nice, too.

Frances Mayes

It all started when I bought Under the Tuscan Sun at the Housing Works bookstore sidewalk sale for $1. I read it in days, then moved on to Bella Tuscany, then A Year in the World. Now, I'm reading through Every Day in Tuscany and loving it!

I have a minor obsession with Frances Mayes and this new book is just adding fuel to the fire! Her descriptions of buying a run-down house in Italy and renovating and living in it over time are just fascinating! Check them out if you haven't yet.

International Contemporary Furniture Fair

I spent a couple of hours at the Jacob Javits Center this morning checking out ICFF. There was so much stuff to see that it's hard to sum up in one little post! These are just a couple of my favorites.

White Flax chandelier by Jeremy Cole. Gorgeous.

Private Cloud rocking outdoor bed by M Kloker. The canvas awning is optional. I still don't know what I think about this one!

New Richard Schultz outdoor collection.

Chair by Johnny Swing. It's made from coins, and notice the rug is made of real $1 bills. This guy's website is absolutely worth checking out. Very cool.