Savvy Home

Delightful Daily: Sensational Corkness

2012-06-04T08:45:00.002+09:30

Miles Redd

Delightful Weekend

2012-06-04T04:53:00.001+09:30

Worthy Links: 01.06.12

2012-06-01T21:30:00.000+09:30

So I promised you some great links this week and they are good! But please forgive me if my usual babbling is kept to a minimum this week, I'm really in need of lots of sleep and a bit of girlfriend time...

Mr. Lively wrote the sweetest post on Jess's blog following their engagement! A must read. Congrats lovers!!

Sarah shared a few great office organizing tips.

Rachel shared 5 simple tips for choosing happiness. I'm happy to see she is doing well after a difficult time.

Erica shared the perfect summer salad: strawberry cashews and quinoa, yes please!

Bailey introduced me to my new favorite color: orangery. A mix between Hermes and Veuve. Perfect.

Cheers to the weekend!

Delightful Daily: Spanish Colonial Splendor

2012-06-01T08:00:00.000+09:30

via Dabble Mag

Top 5: Kips Bay Decorator Showhouse in Review

2012-05-31T22:04:00.001+09:30

Today am over on Damask & Dentelle sharing my views on this year's Kips Bay Decorator Showhouse. I'm also sharing my Top 5 rooms, can you guess what they are?

Read the full review here.

Delightful Daily: Bedroom for a Perfectly Rainy Day

2012-05-31T11:11:00.001+09:30

Photo: Colleen Duffley via Traditional Home

Blogfest 2012: New York in Detailed Review!

2012-05-31T11:03:00.001+09:30

Hi all! So it seems I'm still struggling with getting back into regular blogging routine this week, which I will unashamedly blame on my crazy week in New York and Toronto and the tiredness that ensued. But enough complaining, let's recap a few of my highlights.

I arrived in New York late Sunday afternoon after a perfectly lovely drive through gorgeous upstate New York and kicked off the week with a bloggers meetup organized by the lovely Viviana. As we were all chatting away into the night, it felt like I had known those ladies for years.

Tobe, Naomi, myself, Christine, Vanessa, Christine, Viviana, Mackenzie, Alex, Sarah, Elizabeth, Becca, Erika, Meg, Natalie, and Jen.

The night finished off with a perfectly lovely dinner with Tobe, Naomi and Meg at Extra Virgin in the West Village. Tip: do try the truffle mac and cheese! MmmmMmm!

Christine, myself, Naomi, Christine

Day 1

Monday morning, a few of us bloggers got a free blow dry at Drybar, organized by the lovely Chassity. There was free flowing champagne, iPod docking stations and chick flicks playing on the TV screens.

We couldn't really ask for more. We even got to meet the architect behind Drybar Flatiron and the owner of the Drybar chain, Alli Webb.

Back row: Christine, Naomi, Melissa, Tobe, myself

Front row: Erika, Erica, Amanda, Chassity, Mackenzie, Meg, Alli

We kicked off Blogfest by visiting the Kips Bay Decorator Showhouse. My oh my were we in for a treat!

Alexander Doherty

Many of the rooms were sensational but three stuck out from the crowd: Thom Filicia's lacquered green foyer, Alexa Hampton's dramatic bedroom and a decorator I only recently discovered: Alexander Doherty's collectors bedroom.

Thom Filicia

There are a few moments in one's life where you see a room so perfect it becomes the sole inspiration for your future house. Alexa Hampton's bedroom did it for me. The walls were lacquered in the perfect warm charcoal grey and the ceilings were silverleafed. Spectacular.

Alexa Hampton

After Kips Bay, we hopped over to the Savant showroom for a party hosted by Thom Filicia. We got to hear him speak, learn more about the integrated home automation systems of Savant, mingle and meet a few talented designers such as Nick Olsen (yes, I was slightly starstruck), Jamie Meares and the lovely ladies from Tilton Fenwick.

The night didn't end there, as we kicked off a few blocks away to Lure Fishbar, to meet a few other bloggers that were in town... The evening finished off at Merc Bar across the street.

Top Row: Elizabeth, Alex, Amanda, Tobe, Chassity, Naomi, myself, Christine, Erika

Bottom Row: Nicole, Tamra, Grace, Meg, Victoria, Becca, Natalie

Day 2
Day 2 started bright eyed and bushy tail at 8am on the 44th floor of the Hearst Tower, overlooking Central Park.

The morning was packed full of inspiring speakers which included Newell Turner, Darryl Carter, Jon Call, and a few others. Needless to say it was inspiring! Check out my tweets from May 22nd for all the inspiring quotes!

Newell Turner, Michael Herold, Jill Goldberg, Jon Call

After, we jetted off to the D&D building to visit the Lee Jofa and Brunswick & Fils showrooms where we also heard Alexa Hampton speak, interviewed by Ann Maine, editor in chief of Traditional Home magazine. Boy was she entertaining and inspiring! The best quotes are on Twitter.

Alexa Hampton and Ann Maine

Later that day, we visited the Elle Decor Modern Life Concept House, grabbed a bite to eat at the Ace Hotel with the lovely Tobe and Naomi, and made our way to Everswoon's launch party hosted at Marissa Perry Atelier (home of some of the most beautiful engagement rings I have laid eyes upon). We finished off the night on a non-descript rooftop with a lovely group of girls. Needless to say we had become fast friends.

Tobe, myself, Naomi, Tamra, Marissa

Day 3
Wednesday started slowly as we trekked our way to visit ABC Carpet and Home with Victoria, Tobe and Naomi. Of course there was endless amounts of goodness to look at and we barely made it to Interiors Magazine panel where Miles Redd was speaking. Good thing we made it and got to exchange a few awkward words with him before the panel started.

Miles Redd, Marisa Marcantonio, Peter Aaron, Michael Wollaeger

That evening, the lovely Grace and her sister Becca invited Victoria and I to see Evgeny Kissin and the NY Philharmonic Orchestra at the Lincoln Center. After 4 encores, we made our way to the exit but we suspect he played a few more. It was a magical concert! Evgeny Kissin, as we learned a bit later, is one of the top 5 pianist prodigies in the world, and I can see why.

Victoria and I finished off the night at David Burke Kitchen, where I ate a delicious dish of scallops, celery root puree and braised pork belly. Delish.

The morning after, I met up for brunch with Victoria and the lovely Julie at the Standard Grill where we chatted over Bloody Mary's. I wish I would've had more time with these girls but it was time to go.

Gosh, I think this is the most link heavy post I've even written! I could go on and on in details about all sorts of fun facts from this action packed trip but I feel this is already enough of a novel. If you're still reading, you may go see my Blogfest photo album on Facebook!

Delightful Daily: Good Bones Great Pieces

2012-05-30T12:39:00.004+09:30

Lauren and Suzanne McGrath

Designer Crush: Alexander Doherty

2012-05-30T12:06:00.001+09:30

When I walked into the collector's bedroom below at Kips Bay Decorator Showhouse, I knew Alexander Doherty was to become one of my new favorite designers.

Even though I made a fool of myself upon entering the room by exclaiming: "Oh my god, I LOVE this room!!!" to which Doherty incredulously replied: "Now how many rooms have you said this about today..."; it turned out to genuinely be my favorite Kips Bay room (alongside Alexa Hampton's bedroom and Thom Filicia's foyer), and Doherty turned out to be quite the gentleman. Besides, he physically kind of reminds me of Jeffrey Alan Marks no?

Anyway, I loved the art, the coral lacquered dresser, the daybed, the chair, the sisal carpet, the paneled walls, basically everything.

As soon as I got home, one of the first things I did was delve into his portfolio. Oh my, this man is seriously talented!

How about this apartment for the perfect bachelorette? Just as he did with his collector's bedroom, Doherty proves here that he has a real good eye for art. The colors also work perfectly together: I love the pink shades, gold and duck egg cushions mixed with the earthy red rug.

Mixing antiques and classic design with contemporary art is one of my favorite things in the world and it doesn't disappoint in this room.

This room is one of my favorite. I seem to be drawn to purple more and more: it's moody and perfectly comfortable. In this case it does wonders with the blue and white china lamp, the honey tinted wood antiques and the pink shades found in the botanicals.

Seriously, how good is this? Dream home material right here. I couldn't imagine a more comfortable space to spend a rainy afternoon.

The paint colors Doherty chooses are so rich and perfect. I'm loving this dusty old pink with the black, gold and cream accents.

Pink and green is my favorite color combination right now so it comes as no surprise that I'm completely drawn to the room below.

I'll be back tomorrow with a more complete recap of my trip to New York but for now, I leave you with these delightful images!

Delightful Daily: Grasscloth Enveloped Bedroom

2012-05-28T13:01:00.000+09:30

Tommy Smythe's Bedroom via Style at Home

Delightful Weekend: Cheers to Summer

2012-05-26T22:30:00.000+09:30

Michele Bonan via Lonny

I'm Off to Toronto for BlogPodium!

2012-05-25T21:30:00.000+09:30

After New York City comes Toronto and I'm heading there today with the lovely Vanessa! Let's be honest, with about 14 hours of driving in 24 hours there is no way I would've had time to put together Worthy Links for the week, but I promise some great ones next week!

For now, follow my shenanigans on Twitter and Instagram, and here's to BlogPodium!

Have a fabulous weekend everyone!

Delightful Daily: Antelopean Living

2012-05-25T12:58:00.000+09:30

Nicole Hanley Mellon's Apartment via Vogue

Top 5: Small Space in the Big Apple

2012-05-24T23:01:00.001+09:30

I'm over on Damask & Dentelle today sharing tips on how to achieve the New York decorating style and deal with small spaces. I’m spending the week at Blogfest 2012 in New York City, so I thought it was an a propos topic.

Come visit!

Delighful Daily: Glossy Blues

2012-05-24T08:00:00.000+09:30

Thom Filicia

Gab Loves: 23.05.12

2012-05-23T22:30:00.000+09:30

1. War and Peace by Pablo Picasso Poster | 2. Rupert Lantern by Currey & Company | 3. Charlotte Mirror by Bungalow 5 | 4. MGBW Knox Gold Side Table 5. Journelle Julianne Jeanne Luxury PJ's | 6. Jayson Home Bertrand Pillow | 7. Parsons Console Textured Lacquered Grasscloth | 8. Lanno Aline Necklace | 9. Tattersall Plaid Rug | 10. Jonathan Adler Mod Dot Bowl | 11. Vintage Stainless Steel Cabinet

Delightful Daily: The Richest Colors

2012-05-23T12:48:00.000+09:30

House Beautiful

Making my House a Home: The Master Bedroom

2012-05-22T21:30:00.000+09:30

I just wanted to begin by saying a big thank you to the Savvy Home readers who left lovely comments and feedback about my last post The Entrance Hall. Being new to the game of blog writing, it was re-assuring to know that people liked the products and are looking forward to reading more.

So on to the next room, which just happens to be my bedroom!

My bedroom is located at the front of the house (north facing) and gets lots of light which I love during the daytime, but I’m not so happy about on the weekends when I would enjoy a sleep in! So when thinking about ideas for my bedroom, number one on the list for me is the addition of some curtains. I want to keep the room feeling light and airy, so I would choose light coloured curtains but make sure they have a thick backing to block out some of the light.

Because I have wooden floors throughout the house, I really want to create a greater sense of warm and luxury. I think the key element to making this happen in this room is a floor rug. When it comes to the size, I suggest the bigger the better. It should create a generous border around the bed and have enough room for side tables. The furniture pieces in the room are mainly ‘hand-me-downs’. Having a mortgage has meant that I’ve had to work with what I’ve got. The only item I am keen to keep is the Jericho table lamp from Ecochic which you see featured below.

I’ve always shied away from pattern but I’m learning to like this more and more which you’ll see in this month’s room picks. I think this certainly helps to add to the feeling of comfort within in the room. Due to the location of the door, the focal point of the room is certainly the bed. What I envisage is a beautiful queen sized bed with an upholstered bedhead paired with a crisp white quilt cover. At the foot of the bed, I would love a deeply tufted ottoman to throw my jacket at the end of the day or to have somewhere to sit to put my shoes on!

Despite having a wall of built-in robes, I still find I need extra storage space within the room. I would love to make a chest of draws a real feature piece within the room. To make the most of the light within the room, I would like to add a comfy chair where I can sit back, relax and read a good book (or design mag). And finally to add some much needed colour (and a little girliness), a mixture of patterned cushions, a few bright throws and a beautiful print or two.

1. Jericho Table Lamp | 2. Taupe Petite Zig Zag, Madeline Weinrib Pink Brooke, Volpi Turquoise Pillow | 3. Bliss Studio Ogee Commode | 4. Ballard Designs Castered Tufted Ottoman | 5. Crate & Barrel Hailey Teal Throw, Peony Assiro Herringbone Throw | 6. Grace 4 Print | 7. Madeline Weinrib Lilac Overdyed Suzani Vintage Pillow | 8. Tini Tufted Chair | 9. Arena Bedframe | 10. Tini Table IV | 11. Jill Rosenwald Fallon Rug

Look forward to hearing what you think, and please let me know if you have any suggestions for the room!

Alex | Design Stylish

Delightful Daily: Silver for the Ceiling

2012-05-22T08:00:00.000+09:30

Nuevo Estilo

I'm Off to New York City for Blogfest!

2012-05-21T21:30:00.000+09:30

I'm spending the week in New York City attending Blogfest this week, but I've prepared some lovely posts in advance for you. You're welcome.

I'll do my best to cover the event on Twitter and Instagram from my terribly expensive US roaming phone plan, but rest assured I'll also be recapping in nitty gritty details next week!

I'll be spending the week with my blog besties Tobe, Naomi, Mackenzie, Christine, Chassity, Meg, Tiffany and Alexandra and I hope to be meeting many more of you there! We'll also be graced with visits from Victoria and Julie so you know this spells out GREAT WEEK!

Here's to a memorable week!

Delightful Daily: Bright Yellow Pelmets

2012-05-21T08:00:00.000+09:30

via Glitter Guide's Tumblr

Delightful Weekend: In The City

2012-05-19T22:30:00.000+09:30

Gramercy Park Townhouse

Worthy Links: 18.05.12

2012-05-19T03:48:00.000+09:30

This coming week is a little exciting: I'm driving off to New York on Sunday and heading to Blogfest! On the 6 hour drive down to Manhattan, which I love for the breathtaking scenery of Upstate NY, I'll be indulging in one of my favorite guilty pleasures: cranking the volume and singing along to my favorite cheezy top 40 songs (ok I'm embarrassed now)! I may bring an audiobook along as well to make me feel a little more educated.

The point is, I LOVE long drives by myself. It's one of the few times I get to reflect, relax and enjoy the ride. So when I had the chance to fly or drive, it wasn't even a question. Besides: carry-on versus car space? Hello? I'll keep you updated along the way, but while I get ready for this week of mayhem, feel free to indulge in this week's worthy links.

1. Franki shared an article on allowing yourself to succeed

2. Naomi showed us the new John Robshaw collection for Duralee, some of these fabrics are YUM!

3. Victoria shared a simple yet totally gorgeous DIY. She has the eye!

4. I discovered a new designer crush thanks to Nancy. Traditional with a definite twist.

5. Two wise words to learn from this stunning apartment: statement and continuity. Thanks to Christina for sharing.

6. Jessica shared a brilliant 5$ DIY project!

7. Becka shared an interesting article on how to stay married for 15 years! Purely refreshing.

Delightful Daily: High Gloss Teal

2012-05-18T08:00:00.000+09:30

William-Christopher Design

Top 5: Tips for an Inviting Outdoor Room

2012-05-18T01:56:00.002+09:30

Today I'm over on Damask & Dentelle sharing my top tips for an inviting backyard. Come see what I have to say on the topic!

Happy Thursday!