A New Mr & Mrs Smith Contest: Clue #1

Last month, I featured the first in a series of trivia contests that I have partnered up with stylish travel experts, Mr & Mrs Smith to bring to you. The first contest featured the gorgeous Hacienda San Antonio in Colima, Mexico. Well, a new month is upon us, therefore it is time for a new contest!

The contest will begin today and will continue over the course of four weeks. The objective is to guess the name and location of the property I am describing. I will post a new clue at the beginning of each week during the four week period. At the end of the four weeks and after the four weekly clues, a winner will be selected at random from all of the correct entries and will receive a $100 gift card from Mr & Mrs Smith good towards a hotel stay at the location of your choice!

Clue #1:

The rooftop pool at this hotel is absolutely fabulous! So fabulous in fact, that an episode in season six of Sex and the City was filmed there. Samantha was famously turned away by the concierge who didn’t know who she was. Ouch! Luckily for Sam, she was able to sneak the girls in after she adopted the persona of “Miss Annabelle Bronstein”, a club member who had left her card on the counter in the lobby bathroom. Carrie, Charlotte, Samantha, Miranda, and Stanford proceeded to lounge poolside until they were kicked out!

The pool is still a hot spot for New Yorkers, especially during the incredibly hot summers. Anyone who wants to cool off and be part of “the scene” makes a point of getting into this exclusive property’s rooftop pool.

If you think you know the answer, send an e-mail to LDVcontest@gmail.com. Write "Mr & Mrs Smith" in the subject line and make sure to include your first and last name, the country you live in, along with the name and location of the property you think I am describing.. Also, please let me know if you would like to receive more information from Mr & Mrs Smith, including insider travel tips and details on exclusive member benefits. To be fair, only one entry will be allowed per person per contest and please be sure to use a valid e-mail address because the gift card will be sent to the address you provide!

Sample e-mail:

My Name: Jane Doe

Country I Live In: USA

My Guess: Blakes Hotel in London, England

Yes, please tell me more about Mr & Mrs Smith

This Week's Quote

April Giveaway

The Perfect Reading Nook from Domino Magazine

Since launching Decorum Design Forum in February, we have had fun monthly giveaways for our members. In February, we gave away a crystal lamp from Circa Lighting, last month we gave away a couple of down-filled trellis pillows, and this month there will be TWO lucky winners!




Earlier this week, we learned that Domino Magazine's website and forums were permanently taken offline. In an effort to commemorate all of the wonderful interiors created by Domino over the years and to quench our undying thirst for such images, I will be giving away TWO copies of Domino: The Book of Decorating at the end of April.



The giveaway is open to both current and newly registered members (membership is completely free!) during the month of April. On April 30th, I will draw two names from the first 100 members who have a minimum of 10 posts. You can earn your posts by starting new topics, or simply by commenting on topics created by other members. Click here to visit Decorum. Good luck and happy posting!

Back in Business!

I am happy to report that after issues with our server at Decorum Design Forum all day yesterday, the forum is back up and running smoothly again today. Thank you so much for your patience!

Like a Kid in a Candy Store

I've always loved a bargain. Especially when I find something fabulous of great quality at an equally great price. In the tradition of Gilt Groupe and ideeli, a fantastic new concept has just launched. One Kings Lane was founded by Susan Feldman and Alison Gelb Pincus in an effort to offer their members highly sought after homegoods for 50% to 70% less than retail. "One Kings Lane buyers go direct to the world’s top home decor brands and secure the best prices for our members. Members access these great deals through our online 72-hour, brand-specific sales events". In addition to their extraordinary sales, One Kings Lane also provides tips and inspiration from some of the most respected interior designers in the business. This month, they are featuring Kenneth Brown.

The current sales events include Ann Gish textiles, gorgeous pieces from Lunt Silversmiths and Atticus tabletop goods, fabulous pillows from Chelsea Textiles, and linens from Serena & Lily, as well as Dwell Studio. They are offering some amazing things for really great prices. I noticed that most items are priced between $20 and $100. If you're interested, you should hurry! Remember, the sales only last for 72 hours and membership is by invitation only. If you'd like to join, click here. You will be required to enter the e-mail address of the person who invited you (ladolcevitablog@hotmail.com) or they will put you on a waitlist. Happy Bargain Shopping!

Please Stand By...

I just received an e-mail from my I.T. guy saying that the network server for Decorum Design Forum is currently down. We are working on the problem and should have Decorum up and running again very soon. Thank you for your patience!

It keeps getting better...

The foyer features a 1970's mirrored console table, vintage shell lamps, a couple of stools in the most gorgeous shade of blue, and a vintage chandelier.

On Monday, I featured a style profile on the fabulous design work of Angie Hranowsky. Shannon, of Pink Wallpaper was sweet enough to leave a comment suggesting that I take a look at Angie's new home, which is featured in the current issue of Charleston Home Magazine. She had piqued my interest, so of course, I checked it out. The article, entitled "Mid-century Glamour" could not have been more aptly named. I am head over heels with the way Angie designed and decorated her family's new home. She truly encapsulates what it means to have a chic and trendy home.

The streamlined house was designed by Elliott Constantine and built in 1974.

The story of how Angie, her husband Victor, who works as a personal chef, and their two children came to live in this house is hilarious! When the family moved to Charleston, they purchased a tiny, 1950s bungalow, which they quickly outgrew. The bungalow was located two houses away from Highway 61 and the little house was bursting at the seams as the family expanded. The Hranowskys decided to move to a more family friendly place and fell in love with the Riverland Terrace neighborhood.

“I’d never been on this street before,” says Angie of Lakeshore Drive, an obscure stretch of the maze that is Riverland Terrace. Curled up barefoot on a low-slung sofa, she launches into the love story like a breathless teenager. “I came around the back way and suddenly saw this place and was like, ‘Holy cow!’ I stopped immediately, saw there was a “for sale” sign, and thought, ‘I am going to buy this house right now. Right now, I am going to buy this house. Surely no one else wants it—everyone else in Charleston wants piazzas and cottages and this is just too modern.’ So I called right then, but the realtor said they were closing on it the next day. I almost started to cry.”

Long story short, Angie proceeded to visit the new owners and offer to take the house off their hands as they were moving in! They said they would think about it and Angie decided to stalk the house on a weekly basis (if contractors were brought in to make upgrades and renovations, she knew it would be a bad sign for her) for the better part of a year until the owner called in the fall saying she was ready to sell. The Hranowskys updated the floor plan, installed wood flooring, and features like a glass paneled railing on the back porch. The rest is history and the house is absolutely fabulous!

The living room offers fabulous views of the backyard. Angie had two vintage chairs upholstered in her favorite, La Fiorentina fabric by David Hicks.

The vintage sofa was recovered in pink velvet and stripped of its back cushions in order to show off its clean lines.


The Saarinen "Tulip" table chosen by Angie is the perfect complement to the streamlined, mid-century look of the house. She paired it with John Stuart chairs from the 1960's with deep magenta upholstery, and a zebra print rug.

I love the carrara marble treatment on the fireplace! I also love the rich shades of purple and gold used here. I think color is so important in homes whose architecture is very streamlined. It keeps them from looking cold and clinical. I am in love with the fabric used on this vintage chair (Suzani by Donghia)! Does anyone know where I might find something like it that doesn't cost an arm and a leg?

The kitchen is simply gorgeous! Angie removed the upper cabinets, opting instead for open shelving. The beautiful backsplash is made of glass and has a slightly iridescent effect, reminiscent of mother of pearl. The cabinetry was painted black, the counters are stainless steel, and the island was topped with Calcutta Gold marble.

Angie's house is filled with vintage finds that are both in keeping with the architectural style of the house, yet feel completely current and trendy.

The den is separated from the foyer with a fretwork screen. The room features a Milo Baughman chair and sofa, an Oly coffee table, and several vintage finds. Notice that the color palette is more subdued in this room.

The solid doors bejeweled with chrome hardware lead to the master suite. The vinyl chair is from the Paris Market in Savannah.

The master bedroom features floor-to-ceiling windows, dark wood floors, seagrass wallcovering, and a fabulous chrome bed. The Suzani-style bedspread is gorgeous!

Even their patio is super stylish! I love the furniture and pillows they used as well as the open, airy feel of the home, both indoors and out.

All images via Charleston Home Magazine