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Friday, March 30, 2012

Fabulous Room Friday 03.30.12

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This week, I’m loving this crisply tailored bedroom from a Connecticut home designed by Susan Bednar Long of S.B. Long Interirors. The color palette is ideal for a bedroom—a mix of soothing neutrals mixed with a pop of coral and a hint of blue. All of the chic furniture selected for the space has clean lines with a slightly modern edge fitting into the “new traditional” aesthetic so many of us love. I really love the series of convex mirrors above the headboard as well as the show-stealing brass Sputnik chandelier.
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I love the use of a bench at the end of the bed. I could picture my pup, Tate curling up on it each night. Notice how the coral is carried over into the custom console across from the television. The teal is carried into the fabulous lining of the beautiful built-ins next to the bed with the use of a gorgeous seagrass wallcovering, bringing texture to the space. This bedroom is polished and sophisticated with a few interesting items mixed in to give it a fresh vibe. Could you imagine yourself living in this space?
Have a wonderful weekend!

{Images via S.B. Long Interiors}

Thursday, March 29, 2012

Color Dose: Gold

Hello, everyone! Kelly here, back with another Color Dose.  There used to be a time when I was all about silver accents in both my home decor and fashion.  Now, I can't get enough gold.  Gold can make a space feel more luxurious and glamourous, or give it character and charm depending on how it's used.  Here are a few ways to incorporate a dose of gold into your decorating.


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SHOP:  (1) Furbish Beige and Gold Hide Rug   (2) Anthropologie Luxe Shine Wallpaper   (3) Jason Home Gold Wishbone   (4) Society Social Darlington Chair   (5) Jason Home Gold Hex Votive Holders   (6) West Elm Gold Flatwear   (7) Design Darling Rectangular Lacquer Tray - Metallic Gold   (8) Target Gold Chevron Lamp Shade (stores only)



Which item is your favorite?  Do you like to incorporate gold into your home?

Wednesday, March 28, 2012

Photo of the Day 03.28.12

Today, I am completely obsessed with this lush space. I love the combination of the simple, Swedish-style furniture paired with a bold leopard pillow, zebra rug, and beautiful orchid. The Fiddleleaf Fig adds texture and color to the space. I would love to see more of this place! I would probably use a few different accessories on the little table, but overall, this is a pretty stunning vignette. Would you ever dare to use two animal prints in one room? Conceptually, two animal prints could easily venture into Snooki territory, but they really make it work with the use of a neutral palette and clean, classic shapes here. What are your thoughts? Do you like this space?

 

{Image via Pinterest}

Beautifully Organized: Bracelets

Hello my dears! Arianna here of Arianna Belle Organized Interiors, back with more ideas for getting your home beautifully organized. In a previous post, I shared ideas on how to organize your earrings, and today I want to share a few ideas for organizing another category of jewelry - bracelets - including everything else we wear on our wrists like watches and bangles. A good option for those who like to have things put away out of sight, is to dedicate a portion of a drawer to them and use organizers to keep things separated and neat. Clear acrylic ones always look nice. Remember to measure before buying! For those who are more visually oriented (right-brained!) and prefer to have things out, trays are great for corralling pieces and keeping surfaces from looking like a cluttered mess. Another option is to hang them on a jewelry tree, which makes for a lovely display. Last but not least, a fun option is a keep them in pretty vintage cups. Look for ones with a wide enough mouth to fit the width of your pieces.
Hope this post inspired some ideas for your own home! Til next time!

-Arianna

image credits: 1 & 3 - photography by isa salazar via lonny mag blog, 2- photography by emily johnston anderson via glitter guide, 4- photography by douglas friedman via c magazine, 5-7 glitter guide

Tuesday, March 27, 2012

Woman of Style: Estee Stanley


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Estee Stanley is one of Hollywood’s most well-known fashion stylists with a roster of clients that includes Mary-Kate and Ashley Olsen, Penelope Cruz, Jessica Biel, Lea Michele, Sofia Vergara, and Elisabeth Moss. While Stanley continues to craft looks that top the “Best Dressed Lists” at every major event, she has more recently made a name for herself as an interior designer. Using the same keen eye and fabulous sense of style that has made her an incredibly successful stylist, she eventually found friends, family, and clients asking her to extend her services into their homes, transforming them into chic, one of a kind spaces reflective of the owner’s personalities and interests. The Southern California native has taken a very individualistic approach to her work and says she does not have a signature look, but instead works closely with each client to help them hone a look that truly reflects their own inner style.

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{It’s hard to choose a favorite space designed by Estee, but this one is mine. I love the bones of the space, the neutral palette and the gorgeous mix of furniture and accessories. The lighting is gorgeous and the beautiful mirror plays on the scale of the room rather perfectly.}

La Dolce Vita: What is your favorite period of design?
Estee Stanley: I don’t have a specific period that I really draw from, but I do gravitate more toward European design and architecture. Almost anything French or Italian makes me happy.



{Claire Forlani's Dining Room as featured in Domino Magazine}


LDV: Where do you turn for inspiration?
ES: I of course turn to fashion, and my travels to Europe. I just got back from Antwerp – it was my first time there and things that I saw there I am now using in a lot of my designs.
LDV: Do you like to mix in fashion references or influences when you are designing a space?
ES: Definitely – when I’m designing a home that has more of a colorful palette, I get more inspiration from my favorite fashion designers, Giambattista Valli and Dries Van Noten. If I am designing a more neutral space, I look more toward Mary Kate and Ashley Olsen’s The Row.


<span class='fancyPhotoDesc'>It's Oscar de la Renta and it was one of my dresses that I was going to wear to my wedding but ended up not. Instead, Lea Michele wore it to the Globes last year.</span><span class='fancyPhotoName'>Dress, Oscar de la Renta</span>
{This Oscar de la Renta gown was a contender for Estee’s wedding, but instead, she dressed client, Lea Michele in it for last year’s Golden Globes.}

LDV: How does your approach differ in designing a room from the approach you take when styling a client?
ES: It doesn’t. For me, everyone has their own individual style, and that should be reflected in their living spaces. There are no formulas to my designs – every project is based on who my client is. I like to hang out with my client for a few weeks before I can form my interpretation of them.


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{California Casual meets Parisian Chic in this Kitchen Designed by Estee Stanley}

LDV: Has living in Los Angeles influenced your design sensibility or personal sense of style?
ES: I definitely think it has helped me to have a more laid-back approach, and it has helped me incorporate that into every room of people’s homes in some way. For me, I try to make every room very cozy and livable, which I think is very LA.



{An Image from Estee’s Home Tour on The Coveteur}

LDV: Do you embrace trends or do you prefer to veer away from them?
ES: I veer away from them. I grew up in the 80s, where everything was a trend, and my style has matured a lot since that era. I like styles that are long-lasting and classic. I don’t want my clients to feel they have to change their décor every time a trend pops up.

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{A Recent Design Project in Malibu—The neutral color palette is perfect for the beach!}

LDV: If someone can only splurge on one big ticket item for their home or wardrobe, what should they spend their money on?
ES: Something that no one else has – search for that major piece that is one of a kind. Or if the piece is similar to something a lot of people own, look for that piece with a unique twist. For example, my dining table is basically a big slab of wood, and a lot of people have that style table. But I did a different kind of finish on my wood so it turned a more purple-grey, which I love. It has become a focal point in my home.

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{A Warm, Eclectic Bedroom with a Vintage, European Vibe}

LDV: Who has most influenced your career?
ES: My grandmother for her style, which I was fortunate enough to inherit from her. My grandfather for his work ethic – he survived WWII and worked so hard to build a successful life in America.


{Estee with Client, Ashley Olsen}

LDV: Who are your personal style icons?
ES: I would say Ashley and Mary Kate Olsen, as well as Karl Lagerfeld, Giambattista Valli, and Kate Moss.

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{This bedroom is soft, feminine, and romantic.}

LDV: What has been your proudest moment in your career as a fashion stylist and interior designer?
ES: I am proud every time I finish a project and execute my vision, and when I know my client is happy and feels at home.

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{A Gorgeous Kitchen featuring Several Vintage, Reclaimed Pieces}

LDV: What is your principal weakness?
ES: I’m obsessed with anything made of stone, marble and any type of wood, so I have to really exercise my willpower to not use them in every bit of my decorating!

{A California Cool Living Room designed by Estee Stanley}

LDV: What is your idea of living “la dolce vita”?
ES: Being lucky enough to have a great family and friends, and being able to hang and spend quality time with them.

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Artist: Cecily Brown, Banksy, John Currin
Restaurant: Madeo
Museum: Musee d’Orsay
Car: Porsche
Chair: Vintage leather wingback
City: Rome
Cocktail: Sea Smoke Pinot Noir
Go-To Outfit: anything by The Row
Season: Summer
Coffee Table Book: VOGUE Living
Paint Color: Dunn Edwards White Sand no VOC
Musician: Chris Cornell
Comfort Food: Spaghetti Bolognese
Film: Too many to count!
Material: Marble
Scent: Neroli
Extravagance: A good pair of Blahniks
Words of Wisdom: “Doesn’t matter!”

For more on Estee Stanley and her work, please visit her website.

Dream Home: Jessica Buckley

  Today’s “Dream Home” comes from the mind of U.K.-based, Jessica Buckley, of Jessica Buckley Interiors. Enjoy!Hello & good morning from Edinburgh! I've been reading La Dolce Vita for years now & always love reading guest posts for Paloma's infamous Dream Home series.... looking back over all the previous entries is like a hall of fame for designers and design bloggers so it's a real thrill to be part of it! So shall I show you around my dream home? Come on in.... First off, here's my dream house; a Georgian town house right in the centre of town with a fabulous front door to welcome you: The entry hall would be a taste for what's to come: classic architectural features and a stunning parquet floor, with lots of art & personal touches. I love a bench seat in a hall way too.

Everyone usually heads straight to the kitchen, so come on through & I'll make some coffee/margaritas. The banquette seating & tulip table in the window is the perfect spot to have breakfast on a morning when it's sunny & bright: Or a late night supper a deux in the evening: There's a great little butler's pantry where I stash all my favourite table linen & china: The dining room is dramatic - navy grasscloth on the walls with crisp white trims, brass light fittings, stunning dark wood floors and a silk carpet underfoot. Heaven.

Here's a look at the sitting room - I love all the great colours & the mix of modern & classic:

There's a huge gallery wall at one end of the room that looks like this:

There's a well stocked bar for when guests pop in for a drink: ...and a cute little desk near the window where I can pen all my correspondence: Here's the downstairs powder room which is lacquered lipstick-red: This is my study - the creative hub of the house! As well as a desk & chair, I have a sofa for when I want to sit back & read or a place to sit for anyone popping in to say hi & have a chat. All the bookshelves are stacked with design books and back issues of all my favourite design magazines.

Follow me up the stairs & I'll show you the bedrooms.... Here's my room. I love chinoiserie and think it's perfect for creating a pretty & feminine space. With my dream dressing room and en-suite: And here are the guest rooms. Some are formal, some are informal.... you can stay in whichever one you like best!

With awesome en-suite bathrooms in crisp black & white:

Last but not least, there's a great little garden at the back:

Thanks so much to Paloma for giving me the opportunity to show you around my dream home. If you're ever in Edinburgh then do let me know.... pop in & say hi!