Luxe for Less: Hamptons Beach House

In my opinion, a successful interior designer can make the most out of every budget.  Even when the budget is high, every project does have a budget and it's amazing how quickly it vanishes!  On my projects, I like to focus on blending high and low-end pieces to create a space that is both stylish and liveable.  

One of the things that I miss about living in the U.S. is the access to affordable furniture and design accessories at stores like West Elm, Z Gallerie, Pier One, Target, Home Goods etc…  

Recently, friends of mine made a very grown up purchase and bought a beautiful beach house in the Hamptons.  I've been working with them, using their inspiration photos and finding affordable pieces to fill their new home.  While the house is near the beach, my friends will use this house all year long and do not want it to feel overly beachy.  The vibe is light and airy, while still incorporating luxurious pieces to create a year round space.

Below are a few examples of their inspiration images and what I've suggested.  If you're interested, don't forget to check out my design site here.

All inspiration images can also be found on my Pinterest page.

Chair/ Side Table/ Lamp/ Coral/ Sailboat Print/ Chandelier/ Curtains/ Sofa/ Pillows / Coffee Table/ Garden Stools/ Sisal Rug

All inspiration images can also be found on my Pinterest page.

Lamp/ Curtains/ Bedding/ Architectural Print/ Figure Print/ Side Table/ Headboard/ Brass Knot

Designer Inspiration: Lilly Bunn Weekes

Today I wanted to share one of my style icons, Lilly Bunn Weekes.  To those of you in the design world you've definitely heard of her by now.  She is an amazing NYC based interior designer.  I stumbled upon Lilly's blog a few years ago and ever since have been following her growing design business.  Her designs have a polished preppy style with a young twist.  

A native New Yorker, Lilly started her career as a fashion editor at Town & Country Magazine, then moved onto McMillen Inc. before starting her own firm a few years ago.  She is someone that I look up to, both stylistically and as a businesswoman, not to mention, she is a mother of two adorable girls that she often features on her blog.  Although she has taken a break from the blogging, I often see new projects of hers pop on on Pinterest and thought I'd share some of my favorites that are featured on her website.  Enjoy!

P.S. If you're interested in seeing more, here is a link to Lilly's design website; as well as an article in Elle and one in Vogue.

How amazing are these turquoise lacquered walls?!

Lilly says that she likes to base her designs around neutrals pieces, with pops of color and interesting accents tied in.  I totally agree with this strategy.

Most NYC kitchens are so small and Lilly makes great use of every space here.

Fab sofa!

I have a minor cheetah/leopard obsession and have always wanted a runner in this pattern.  The wall to wall is amazing!!!!

Such a sweet girls room.  I love the Jonathan Adler mirror and lamp, Ive been on the search for similar pieces in the UK since Jonathan Adler UK is so marked up!

I am a sucker for monograms and who doesn't love those Porthault heart sheets?!!

These silhouette portraits are amazing, I think they are Carter Kustera.  I may have to get these for Baby Girl NC.

Great use of color and materials.  I love that nailhead detail combined with the trim on these chairs.

Im always afraid to use bright colors, but this bedroom is definitely inspiring me!!

For more projects from Lilly checkout http://www.lillybunn.com.

Inspiration Exchange: Happy Friday

In the spirit of the weekend, I couldn't help but share this.  Happy Friday and have a great weekend!!!!

Preparing for House Guests

A snapshot from our home in Nantucket.  Yes, thats little Buckley hanging out in the right hand corner.

I love everything about hosting guests.  I love the excitement of catching up with friends, I enjoy having an excuse to buy fresh flowers and prepare the guest room.  Now that we live abroad we tend to host guests a lot; we also stay with family and friends when we go back to New York.  As a result, I have a lot of ideas about what works, what doesn't and what to do to make your guests feel at home during their visit.

Here are my top ten tips:

1. Welcome your guests with a snack/meal/drink etc… Recently, on our girl's trip to Ireland, my mom and I stayed with a friend of hers at her beautiful home in County Cork.  Upon walking in the door, we saw that our lovely host had prepared an incredible lunch and urged us to sit and enjoy.  It was certainly a great deal of work for her, but we were tremendously appreciative; especially after an early morning flight and a 2 hour drive.

2. Clean Up! Along those lines, have the guest room made up with clean sheets and towels before your guests arrive.  A shower and a nap are priceless after a long journey.
3. Water.  Whenever guests stay with us, I always make sure to leave fresh bottles and glasses in their room and replenish each day.

4. Toiletries.  My husband loves to take the mini soaps from hotels.  I used to think that this was crazy.  However, I've recently come to appreciate this habit because I now have a collection of mini everything which I leave in the guest bath.

Clean towels and a collection of mini toiletries will make your guest feel comfortable in your home.

5. Local Maps.  At our family home in Nantucket, I keep a basket in each room filled with welcome goodies for our guests.  From time to time I update it, but it always includes a map of the island, a list of our favorite places, an assortment of local magazines and bottled water.  Personally, I think the best guests are the ones that are comfortable taking off on their own and exploring!

6. Fresh flowers.  Because who doesn't love them?

Water for your guest will save them a late night trip to the kitchen.  Fresh flowers, magazines and candles are great touches to create atmosphere in your guest room.

7. Keep personal items to a minimum.  When I know we have guests coming, I switch out the framed family pictures that typically sit atop my side table for a stack of magazines.  I like to do what I can to make my guests feel like the rooms is theirs.

8. Keep the house well stocked.  Unless it's your best friend or family, most guests will not go fishing through your fridge.  But I still like to be prepared before visitors come so that I avoid running out to the store while they are with me.  It's easier to have breakfast foods, coffee, snacks and alcohol on hand.

9. Short on Space? Even if you don't have a spare guest room, there is still plenty that you can do.  The couch can seem so much more welcoming when some fresh flowers, a homemade pack of toiletry essentials and a stack of fluffy clean towels are nearby.

10. And lastly… Feel free to say no! It's a lot of work hosting people and sometimes you might just have too much going to be able to commit to a guest.  That's okay!

DVF for Kravet

Diane Von Furstenberg is hands down one of my favorite designers.  From the iconic wrap dress, to her wide range of accessories, DVF designs feature fun prints mixed with chic and timeless silhouettes. Needless to say, I was thrilled when I learned that DVF and Kravet have collaborated on a series of fabrics and trims.

According to Kravet's website describes the line will bring "her legendary sense of print and color, as well as her confidence and boldness in mixing unexpected patterns and scales, to an exclusive collection of fabrics for Kravet."  From the looks of the online gallery there are lots of stand out prints that would be fun to mix and match or just to use as an accent piece within a room.

Here is a peak at the new collection:

Checkout these photos and more over at Kravet.

Explorations of an Ex-Pat: The Mews

Happy Friday!! Ive been quiet on the blog this week because I've been running around organizing my husband's birthday party.  The party planner in me cant help but turn every small get together into a fully decorated soiree and so I've been all over London sourcing for a fun filled Clam Bake (city style) taking place at our house tomorrow.

While we don't have a backyard, or even a small city garden to host the party, we do live at the end of a mews (a very English concept- a street comprised of tiny row houses, formerly stables, that have since been converted into residential units) and the party will take place on the cobblestone street just outside of our house. 

A snap from an impromptu dinner on the mews last summer.

When we moved to London, we fell in love with the idea of living in a mews house, essentially a cottage within a city, something we would never get in New York.  One of our favorite things about our street in particular is that we have wonderful (American!) neighbors, with whom we have hosted dinner parties and cocktail hour in the street.  I thought it would be fun for my American readers to get a sneak peak of some London streets.  So without further ado, here is a collection of some fab mews that might help those of you looking for a little English infusion in your exterior decorating!  

I just love the wisteria against the bright white house.  So beautiful!

Cobblestones and foliage are a common sighting on London Mews Streets.

Elegant exterior with fun toys in the garage!!

A well landscaped mews.

Proving that not all mews homes are tiny, this is a stately house indeed!

Pink door.  Enough said.