Serena & Lily'd!

Did y'all hear that sound? That was just me being style slapped by the Serena & Lily Summer catalog! Damn! These ladies sure know how to serve some sass...prepare to feast:

Sop some up at $38 for a 4-set...these outdoor lights are just adorbs...they're a little on the pricey side at $150, but there are 7 lights in the strand and they come with these sweet, white powder-coated shades, so they're the real deal:

Well, just shut the FU*& you and unfold some chic with these babies:

They're $295 each or $260 each for 2 or more...well, and what do we have here...the new Hennie chair, also $295 each:

More rattan right-ness can be had with this:

Oh, y'all, more hot rope action:

These yummy pendants are all on SALE for $69.99 each, so y'all better scoop 'em up quick-like:

And these stools are just slaying me with cute...they could work ANYWHERE:

And then there's these ladies, who just refuse to not be noticed:

Hold the phone headboard...

Hurry and take y'all-selves to Serena & Lily for all this and even MORE chic beyond belief!

Hello Thrift Whores...It's Thursday!!!

While out on a recent style hunt, I stopped into this gem of a thrift store, called Life Boutique Thrift, in Park Slope, Brooklyn:

Ok, maybe it's called Life Boutique-N-Thrift? Hmmm...

Well, whatever in hell it's called, get my back, biotches...I'm goin' in!

And brace y'all-selves for the situation I've just stumbled upon:

Glorious 80's side table realness partnered with a bust of a woman reading! Oh, Tangy! This one here just needs some polish and some chic chandelier shades and she'll be ready to SERVE y'all full-on style...

And don't overlook Ms. Hollywood Regency here who's convincing y'all that she deserves a spot in your house...

This incredible mid-century footed glass style slapped me at the check-out counter, when I was told it was half-off the sticker price! Guess who bought three more to make it a 4-set?!

So I grabbed even more glassware from the half-off hideout:

And this precious Grandbaby is actually a kitsh-chen timer, y'all....oh $1.00 ecstasy...she was half-off too:

Y'all, this week's thrift whoring has worked me over...just the way I like it! Savor IT! The staff at Life Boutique was super friendly and really helpful..they even brought out water for Brandon! Precious dollbabies! The best part is the store is chock full of awesome treasure waiting to be discovered...go out and get your thrift whore on already!

SALE ALERT: Pop & Pops Tote Bags

Y'all, get yourselves to Fab.com, where my friend Tyler's tote bags are on sale for the next two days! They're tres chic and really well made... Go get 'em before they're gone!

Get Thee to the Barn...of Pottery!

So it is that the Barn has spoken and if you're looking for some hot new wares for your space I suggest you look no further than the new Pottery Barn catalog...uh huh, those Pottery peeps must be exhausted with all this new style they're slaying us with! Check this shiot:

All of this chic can be had at Pottery Barn...note that some items are internet/catalog only, so don't spazz out if you stop into the store and can't find some of these things! Happy Shopping, y'all!

Repeat Progress Report

Earlier this week I'd posted about repetition of pattern and how I was going to apply this technique in my own bathroom, gettin' all kinds of D.I.Y.-dirty on y'all...here's the pattern I'm working from:

Here's what bathroom looked like:

Here's where it's at now:

And:

Obvi, I decided to play with scale here, so my bird cages are a lot LARGER. I also deliberately left the birds out for fear of it going way too juvenile and I think this really works. Plus, this makes it much more conceptual, overall, since me and Dyl are now the 'birds' in these larger than life cages...and who doesn't like to get some cage play once in a while?! Chirp! Chirp!

I'm doing all this painting by hand and though exhausting, it's also fun b/c the pattern has a real line drawn/illustrated quality about it, so I can't really make any mistakes...well, I can and have, but they're easily corrected. Basically, it doesn't have to look perfect...it's interpretive of the original and it's super-quirky! My plan is to paint the other three walls in the same way, so check back for more progress updates and more detailed how-to action!

Happy Thrift Whore Thursday, y'all!

HousingWorks has worked me OVER with these stylish goodies:

But WAIT, there's more... And what do I spy hiding out under here, hmmmm? Well, for $2, whatever the hell it is, it's also coming home with me...now, y'all this is what being a Thrift Whore is all about-- fast, chic, cheap style! Yummy! Now go out and get your hunt on, Whores!

Sidewalks of Style...

Another reason why I love this town:

For a Style Scavenger like me, a simple stroll down the street can be an adventure...and in a town like NYC, where most folks just deposit unwanted items right on the curb...it's like finding treasure without having to do much digging! And let's be honest here y'all, sometimes you just don't want to have to work for your style. This chair has clean lines, even though she's a bit of 'big gal'... and she's probably harmless, but I tend to avoid curbside cast-off upholstered pieces b/c Lord only knows what kind of party is raging under that fabric! Though, I have scooped up some winners-- my sofa was rescued from an East Village street, but she got completely rehabbed...bless her! Always scavenge with caution! Anyway, my favorite thing about this chair...the sign:

I love that some thoughtful soul took the time to type up a sign for their chair! And even better still...it looks as though that sign has actually been sat on! Genius! Oh, just another afternoon in NYC...I'm going to the dry cleaners and oh, wait, let me try out this free chair...I've been needing something for the living room...y'all some of the best things in life really ARE free!

Repeat=Chic

Y'all, here's a HOT tip...repetition makes for one stylish space, if done in the right way. No, this isn't some ancient technique passed down by the decorators of yesteryear...it's really current and makes a huge impact in a space...what is it? This:

By taking a pattern, whether it be a wallpaper or fabric and repeating it on multiple surfaces in one space, you get repetition (this also applies to well-edited collections/collectibles, btw). Sometimes you also get a massive migraine too but there's pills for that...ingest, y'all! This treatment can be a chic way to really amp up the glamour and drama in a space, particularly one that's smaller or has peculiar architecture, like an dormer room. I know it seems counterproductive to completely envelope a tee-niny room in a cra cra pattern, but when executed well, the endless repetition, tends to erase the physical structure & boundaries of the room, so you're left with a seemingly vast expanse of space. Are y'all keeping up?

I use repetition a lot in my work, but have never gone full-on immersion like the above genius example...until now. Our bathroom is a cute spot and will make the perfect place to have a pattern blow out! YES! Here's what it looks like: I have this amazing shower curtain that I scored from Urban Outfitters, that sadly enough, is no longer available on their website: So since I can't buy more shower curtains to use as fabric for the wall treatment (which depending upon the specific application, isn't a practical thing in a bathroom anyway)...I'll be painting this pattern, by hand! Uh huh, I'm an absolute d.i.y. dork that way and I enjoy self-torture! But, since it's so organic and hand drawn-looking as it is-- I feel confident that I can re-create it, even if it's not perfect. I'm also going to play with scale of the pattern, just to give it more dimension when it's on the walls...and since I have existing tile work partly covering every wall, I don't have to paint as much...holla! If y'all were to tackle a similar project, remember you don't have to go to such extreme lengths by hand painting a pattern b/c there's a ton of fabrics that are also available as wallpapers or some fabrics can be used with spray starch and made into wallpapers as well...check out my former co-worker and friend, Kristin Appenbrink's post about it on Real Simple's Simply Stated blog, here. And check back soon for progress posts on this project! You're forewarned-- It may take a minute, y'all!

Disa REVEALED!

Y'all, it's been a wonderful journey and I'm thrilled to share the results of Disa's House Of Destiny...special shout out to Hector Sanchez, who's an amazing photographer and a great friend...and thanks to Disa and family for putting up with all of the cra cra! Enjoy:

And of course, for the REAL Disa diehards...check out this special bonus 'behind the photo shoot' video to learn some indispensible table-setting tips!

It's Thrift Whore Thursday, y'all!

There's very few things in life that delight me more than a thrift store. Or whores. So put the two together and throw in a thursday and you've got a situation as 'licious as when peanut butter met chocolate. Yummy!At a recent stop into Goodwill I spied all kinds of treasures that just had to be shared...

Some things have real potential, like this:

Cute enamel fondue set, $8.99? Well, shut the fu%$ you!!! And this poor soul is either just lost in heinous forever or, with the right paint treatment and modern shade will style slap us all into America-Home-of-the-Free-liberty-realness! Ding a ling and spray her with some paint already!

That must be a dinner bell going off, 'cause look who's at attention right here:

But don't fluff, er fret, y'all 'cause these babies are a score: And this just screamed at me, she's so cute: Creating a stylish space is about having pieces that truly reflect the unique people who live in it. So, whether y'all are looking for kitsch or class, I hereby style slap y'all to take a minute and stop into your local thrift shop. They're like a value candy store filled with treasures, inspiration/ideas, and hiliarities...you just have to keep an open mind. Plus your purchases usually go towards a good cause, which is never a bad thing. Happy hunting whores!

Secrets of a Genius

By far, one of the BEST shows on offer at HGTV is Secrets of a Stylist. Hosted by design star winner and stylist Emily Henderson, this show should not be missed! Obvi, I'm slightly biased b/c, like Emily, I too am a stylist with secrets, but more importantly, this girl just kicks ass! She's so smart, savvy, sophisticated and has such a wonderfully refreshing self-deprecating humor, you can't help but love her! Upon being born, the girl was just slapped with chic-- that's all there is to it-- bless her! Her designs are consistently phenom...I'm constantly slain by style every episode! For some bizarre and seemingly random reason, the show airs every Wed at 9:00 AM, at least according to HGTV's website, b/c you know, that's when most of the world is up and at 'em trying to get their design show fix on, but whatever...find your local listing of this show and watch, watch, watch! And if you're not home at that hour, by all means fire up that DVR!

It's Disa time!!!

Y'all it's been bed bath and BEYOND forever since our last Disa episode-- so sorry!!! A cliffhanger was never intended for the season, but sometimes a telenovela like ours can get turned around-- y'all know how it is...decorating is DRAMA! What follows is a culmination of the past several visits (& projects) to Disa's Maplewood manse on our road to completion served up in one scrumptious video feast...savor it y'all! Massive holla shout out to Dylan, btw, who made this masterpiece possible...love you! Cue fog machine:

More Hot dropped in July-- Janet Jackson style!

July just keeps on giving up bounty y'all! Check out my latest prop styling in this month's Prevention Magazine featuring Ms. Jackson, if you're NASTY, which I certainly AM. Shot by the amazing and effervescent John Kernick! I was also privileged to get to work again with the incomparable food maestro, Lori Powell, whom I first met and worked with back at Real Simple...she's tearing it up as the Food Director at Prevention now! Tear Lori! And of course this shoot wouldn't have been nearly as zany without Prevention's spitfire Photography Director, Marybeth Dulany, who changed all of our lives forever by singing One Direction's, 'What Makes You Beautiful'...check out these highlights:

Go out and grab yourselves a copy! Also, HUGE shout out to the REAL Nasty Girls on set, Andrea Greco and Nidia Cueva without whom I couldn't have done this story!!!

Drop it like it's hot...

Hope y'all are gettin' your bbq & fireworks on today in honor of our nations Bday?! Tear it up, America-- this is YOUR DAY! Celebrate yourself! July also happens to be the month that all my recent market editing assignments are hot off the presses! Check it:

Good Housekeeping feature, 'The United States of Style' shows y'all how to serve up Made in America chic-ery in your own homes! Oh tangy!

This story proved to be more challenging than y'all would think b/c there's hardly ANYTHING from the world of home decor that's manufactured from start to finish in our great country, but we managed to round up some gorg':

Shot by the uber-talented, Anna Williams and styled by genius dynamo, Marcus Hay I think this story turned out brilliantly! Shout out to the tireless two-some, Laura Eckstein and Sara Lyle at Good Housekeeping who did so much to rock the house on this one too!

And when you're at the newsstand gettin' your copy, be sure to also grab this month's Real Simple magazine for double style value:

Every July issue Real Simple helps some highly-deserving folks finish up a home nightmare and turn it into a room of their dreams! Now THAT'S a party, y'all know I had to be at! And lucky for me I was!

Produced by the Senior Market Editor a.k.a., Priestess of Chic, Kelley Carter and styled by Lili Diallo, who's styling is so beyond sophisticated, it's actually other-wordly, these homeowners weren't just served finished rooms, they were given glamour, sweetie dahling-- YES! HUGE Holla must also go to Amy Blier-Long, who schooled us in how a market editor really gets what they want, when she just called up the president/ceo directly b/c no one else at the hardware company seemed to have a clue! Oh hi, Mr President...I need 50 drawer pulls...like, tomorrow! Damn, grrrrrl!

I hope y'all can handle all this style that these awesome magazines are serving in July?! Happy 4th!!!

Street Sign Poetry

Sometimes I see things in this town that are just beyond genius and worth sharing...this window sign is one of them:

I have no clue why someone took the time to create this sign...it's an old store front in Brooklyn-- are they referring to their business going bust??-- but you can tell a lot of thought and time went into it... And the font is incredible!

Y'all, I often have moments in my projects (& LIFE) where I feel the exact same way, but I always try to find the silver lining & the positive, even when it seems like its the furthest thing from my grasp...ideas don't always turn out like we want or expect, but just being open during the process can often yield more genius then you ever thought you were capable of in the first place!

Sweet Monday

Y'all there are tons of things to do when family comes to visit in NYC, but one of the best, by far, is Dylan's Candy Bar!!!

There's all kinds of sweet treats to enjoy but even more decorating 'lisciousness to be had...look at all this yummy:

Talk about color and pattern inspiration?!? Or what about making your own custom candy light box, like those stairs-- genius! Or imagine a wallpaper accent wall done in THAT pattern?! And yes, this is a gumball tabletop-- incredible!

True that, y'all! Enjoy!!!

REVEAL! Office! Dreams! Destiny!

Y'all, it's time to get some full-on eye candy! The office is complete, woohoo, BUT before any hot reveal action can occur, have to let y'all know about a slight curve ball with the design plan/furniture solution. I'd found those awesome Ikea desk/combo units (see previous post for pic) which my client was totally on board with. But then she wasn't liking the fact that when configured in the space, they would partially block the inspiration boards that would be retrofitted over the existing soundproof windows. And baby just can't have ANY kind of blockage...ok? Y'all know that's right...flush IT! So, with some slight design adjustments, each worker will now get to rock these as their desks...

Desktop:

Base 1 (right side):

Base 2 (left side):

I love this new solution! The butcher block desk tops will give us warmth...the bases will serve us lots of yummy storage (hide those computer towers whenever y'all can, biotches!)...mix them all together and you've got yourselves some kind of sassy-chic-home-away-from-home PR/communications office realness!

And just so y'all know how hands-on I am with all my projects...take a look at this mini mountain that I was pushing around Ikea:

But trust that mountain was conquered and an office was born, y'all:

Obvi, chairs will move in along with computers and the other inevitable office trappings, but this baby is ready to rock and roll! I'm really pleased with how it turned out and more importantly, my client (& her staff) have had their new office dreams AND destinies fulfilled! What more could I ask for in life, y'all?

Office Plan

My client threw me a conundrum, or tried to anyway, when she tells me that she needs me to decorate her new office. For a staff of four. In one room. Short sentences with periods equal drama. The pics are in the previous post...here's my plan of attack:

If y'all can't tell what in hell is going on with my sketch, here's the actual product sheet:

I love these cool Ikea desk/bookcase combo units! The lamps are just tres chic, no matter what day of the week it is. Cute cork and metal desk organizers. Clients' existing office chairs are gorg, so they're being re-used, which we love, not only for the environment, but also for the budget. And can we all just writhe around all over that cowhide rug? Go ahead, y'all writhe!!! YES! Clearly, I'm going for a very black and white/neutral color palette. Client is in PR/Communications...she's way hip and way savvy. I wanted to keep her workspace light and airy and unfussy. Let the color come in with her custom inspiration boards...oh, wait...I didn't mention those yet?

So, y'all saw the pics of the atrocious interior soundproof windows...I'm proposing we retrofit them as giant inspiration/bulletin boards! Made from what? C'mon y'all...HOMOSOTE!!! Call back! That's right, we're gonna just cut some homosote to size and take those odd windows and make them work for us! I'll upholster these with a nice neutral linen and frame them out with some chunky molding/trim...and since there are two windows in the space, this new office will score double bulletin board value so client can pin her PR & communications for days on end!

We'll just re-use the existing window treatments and give that space a fresh coat of white paint...and voila-- new office! Stay tuned for more process shots as it all comes together!

Ready...Set...Office!

One of my interior clients needed a new office-- fast and cheap (like my lovers)! As most of y'all know, that's a challenge I'm always up for...sassy scandals! Oh and this room has to comfortably accomodate four peeps...here's the new spot: Uh-huh I've always taken issue with interior windows in spaces, but actually, y'all, this is a former recording studio, so those are actually pretty standard fare. It's soundproofed and hung on a weird angle, that you can't really see in the pics, but I've got a plan for that mess...here's more BEFORE office eye candy: Stay tuned to see my design solution(s) on how I'm going to make this space really sing!!!