10 Things I Can’t Live Without: Erin of Apartment 34

Today the lovely Erin of Apartment 34 will be sharing the “10 Things” she can’t live without. Erin’s blog is always filled with delicious images and delightful inspiration for both fashion and interior design. She has such a lovely sensibility that is truly reflected in her list of things she cannot live without.

1. A warm cup of coffee to start my day. After the husband and I honeymooned in Italy this summer I'm half awake and fussy-headed without my morning cappuccino.

2. The highest heel - I'm already 5'11'' but my husband is 6'6" so I'm just trying to meet him eye-to-eye!

3. The change in seasons - the shift from summer to fall, winter to spring always feels like a new beginning.

4. An eye catching cocktail ring. It's my go-to accessory. You can take a pair of jean and white tee and dress the whole look up with just the right ring.

5. A long leisurely meal. I love food, especially when it's home cooked, shared with dear family and great friends. There is nothing better than gathering together in the kitchen with a delicious glass of wine to cook and then around the dinning room table for laughter, food and fun. There's no better way to spend a Friday evening!

6. Couch time ~ with a warm throw, a comfy pillow and a stack of the latest glossies and I am one very happy camper.

7. Fresh flowers - they're my absolute favorite way to brighten any space. When peony season comes around, you should see my house - I go more than just a little crazy.

8. A great bag - I'm usually on the move from dusk till dawn so I need to be able to bring a good chunk of my life along with me.

9. Blogging - it's my daily outlet for all things in life that I love, admire or covet!

10. Chloe! My 10 month old Frenchie - no matter how bad my day, I smile from ear to ear to when I see that face.

Setting the Stage: Guest Bedrooms

{I’ve taken a similar approach with our guest bedroom: fresh flowers, crisp linens, bottled water, and some personal touches.}

One of my dearest friends is arriving from California today to visit for a couple of days. While I have prepared an itinerary filled with fun activities that I know she’ll enjoy, one of the most important things I’ve done in anticipation for her arrival (or that of any guest) is preparing the guest room. A guest room should be comfortable and should be a welcoming expression for your guest. An air mattress or your old comforter from college simply won’t cut it! You should put thought and effort into the space where your guest will be spending their visit. For example, I recently purchased a new embroidered duvet cover and made sure that all of the linens were pressed and crisp. I also made sure to include bottled water, fresh flowers, and a travel alarm clock. To add a few more personal touches, I wrote a handwritten note welcoming my friend and included both national and local Houston magazines, so that she can get a better feel for what is going on around town. I’ve included some beautiful examples of guest rooms, but what I really want to know is: what do you do to make your guests feel especially welcome when they come to visit for a few days?

{Mary McGee}

{The look of Francisco Costa’s bedroom is pure perfection. I love it!}

{Monelle Totah via ELLE DÉCOR}

{Ashley Goforth}

{ELLE DÉCOR}

{Nuevo Estilo}

This Week’s Quote

{Image Source}

La Dolce Vita + Pepper Design

{My sweet little model, Tate loves to strike a pose!}

Morgan from Pepper Design recently asked me to participate in her Friday Interviews series. I really enjoyed thinking about her insightful questions and picking my own brain for a change, since I am usually interviewing others! The interview went up this morning. You can check it out here. Happy Friday!

Fabulous Room Friday 11.12.10

I love the chic simplicity of this bedroom. Nearly everything is white: the oversized, tufted headboard, the linens, the drapes, even the drum shade chandelier. The French-inspired bench and chair add both texture and charm to the room. They give the space a more lived-in, collected feel. Anything too modern or minimal would have taken the room in a completely different direction. Personally, I love a bright bedroom with crisp white linens. Would you prefer to see more color in this room or do you like it as is?

I am looking forward to spending time with some old friends this weekend. I will also be working on some exciting things for High Gloss and will be getting my house ready for my friend, Jeni who is coming to visit from California next week! Have a great weekend!

 

{Image Source}

The Style Files: Anne Sage

Anne Sage is best known for her celebrated blog, The City Sage which covers everything from interior design and fashion to food and art. She is a fiercely talented writer and has a sense of style that is all her own, which I would describe as quirky chic. Anne’s most recent project was the co-founding of Rue Magazine, where she serves as Executive Editor. Whether she is styling, writing, or conceptualizing a shoot for Rue, Anne applies her charm and stylish sensibility to everything she creates.

Name: Anne Sage

Occupation: Stylist, Writer, Executive Editor and Co-Founder of Rue Magazine

Current City: San Francisco, CA

LDV: What inspired you to begin your career in editorial and lifestyle blogging?

AS: I've been obsessed with magazines, writing and journalism since I was a kid. I even started a nature club in my neighborhood simply for the excuse of making the club newsletter. I worked in brand planning and consumer strategy after college and though I liked it a lot, I needed a more creative outlet so I started The City Sage. Of course, the rest was history!

{Anne with her friend and colleague, Bri Emery at the Ace Palm Springs Halloween Bash}

LDV: What do you love most about it? What is the most challenging aspect?

AS: I most love connecting with all the incredibly talented and creative colleagues I'm fortunate to have. Getting together in once place and watching the magic happen is what life is all about! The pace gets to me lately. Life has been non-stop for about 9 months and shows no sign of slowing down. There are some days when the thought of writing another email makes me want to chuck my laptop out the window!

 

LDV: Where do you find inspiration?

AS: I'm a huge history nerd, so I find a lot of inspiration in the annals of time. Everything from museums--the American wing at the Met in New York occupies a particular spot in my heart--to my own daydreams and musings as I drive through California and imagine the lives of the pioneers who settled the state. I read a lot too, historical fiction mostly, so that feeds the fires of my imagination as well.

LDV: Who are some of your personal style icons?

AS: Katharine Hepburn circa 1940, Allie MacGraw circa 1970, Betty circa now.

{Image Source}

LDV: How would you describe your own style?

AS: Timeless with an edge. I love a crisp white shirt with unexpected proportions; tall ceilings and elaborate moldings paired with an ultra-modern pendant lamp; a classic red lip offset by the geeky appeal of giant horn-rimmed glasses.

{Image from a Shoot with Jamie Beck that Anne Recently Styled}

LDV: What is the trait you most admire in a person?

AS: Unabashed and unrestrained authenticity. Give me your whole self and nothing less. I promise to do the same.

{Image Credit: ELLE DÉCOR, November 2010}

LDV: What is your principal weakness?

AS: I'm a black-and-white thinker. I do things 'perfectly' or not at all. As you might imagine, this causes me a lot of trouble, because a) nothing is every truly perfect and b) a girl can go crazy trying to prove otherwise!

{Image Source}

LDV: What is the best piece of advice you have ever received?

AS: An old friend told me before I went to college that it was okay if I didn't like it. And guess what? I didn't like it! But I got through it. And her words return to me every time I find myself faced with something I don't like but that I have to do. It's okay not to love every moment of every day; just keep the end goal in mind and even the crummiest task becomes doable.

LDV: What do you consider your greatest achievement?

AS: Definitely, without question, Rue Magazine is my greatest achievement. If you told me one year ago that I'd be the co-founder of a magazine, I'd have called you crazy! But I poured my heart and soul into it and behold! It's alive! And the fact that I did it with Crystal--one of the most wonderful humans on the planet--only makes the accomplishment that much sweeter.

{Anne and Friends After Wrapping a Recent Shoot for Rue in Palm Springs

Image by Feather Love Photography}

LDV: What is your idea of living “la dolce vita”?

AS: Surrounding myself with good friends, working together and playing together and having so much fun doing both that you're not sure where one ends and the other begins. Oh yeah, and a snuggle session with my cats.

 

Bloom: Peonies. Always peonies. The smell that takes over a room, the way the petals unfurl as the blossoms age, the range of colors that even a single bloom can contain: peonies are angels in flower form!

Food: If we're talking treats, I have a love/hate relationship with ice cream. It's so tasty but it makes my tummy hurt every time! In the healthy department, I'm kind of obsessed with Perfect Foods Bars. The peanut butter cranberry flavor is the tastiest combo since, like, ever.

Drink: Coffee. My Starbucks drink is a quintuple venti americano with one pump of white mocha. I go to bed looking forward to the moment the next morning when I can take my first sip!

Thing to Wear: Right now I am living in the Blue Life Lace Hoody that I got from Planet Blue. It's chic enough to wear with slim pants and heels for a business lunch, casual enough to throw on over your bikini when you take a vacation, and cozy enough to pair with sweats for a night in. The ultimate multi-tasker!

{An Iconic Slim Aarons Photograph set in Palm Springs}

Destination: I recently enjoyed my first stay at the Ace Hotel in Palm Springs, and I'm counting the days 'til I can go back. It's a desert haven of lo-fi cool. Fortunately Rue will have a presence at the Hitched Event at the Ace, so there's not much time at all until I can reprise my visit!

Season: Spring! The sun returns and with it comes new energy and the feeling that anything is possible.

Meal: Homemade pasta with sauteed fresh tomatoes and basil. Roasted broccoli on the side. I could eat that meal every day for the rest of my life!

Musician: Goodness, gracious, I have so many favorite musicians! All-time tops include Paul Simon and Dolly Parton. But I love finding under-the-radar stuff too; I recently learned of a San Francisco-based band called The Rhombus and have had them on repeat ever since.

Artist: Marc Chagall has captivated me since I was a teenager. The romance, the color, the energy of his work holds my attention like no other.

Film: I'm embarassed to say that I've lost my attention span for anything longer than 50 minutes; it's been months since I stayed awake through an entire movie. (Thanks a lot, internet!) However I do seem to recall having a serious affinity for Mary Poppins.

Television Show: I'm a sucker for anything British. Currently burning in my brain is a series entitled 'Misfits'. I won't even tell you what it's about. I'll just tell you to watch it and thank me later.

Book: Heyday. A hilarious and heartwarming romp through the year 1848. Makes me want to build a time machine and travel back to join the fun!

{Stacks and Stacks of Cashmere via}

Magazines: The usual suspects: Martha Stewart Living, InStyle, Lucky, Allure, Self, Shape, Women's Health, Elle, Harper's Bazaar, House Beautiful, Elle Decor, Elle Decoration UK, Inside Out, Vogue Living Australia, GQ. If it's glossy and pretty, I'll read it.

Blogs: Impossible to pick a favorite, so I won't even try.

Texture: Cashmere. I want to swim in a cashmere ocean, bathe in a cashmere sea. Sweaters by Feel the Piece will do in a pinch.

Fabric or Pattern: Stripes and leopard. Separately they rock the party. Together they blow the party into the stratosphere. Try it. You won't be disappointed.

Color: The soft pink hue of the inside of my kitten's ear.

Scent: Tom Ford White Patchouli. A little bit hippie, a little bit glam, and smells different on everyone. I love to catch a whiff of it on my scarf or in my hair when the wind blows.

Extravagance: Monthly facials with Polina at Flying Beauticians. I hate to wear make-up and would much rather take great care of my skin so that I don't need any extra goop!

Jacket Required

{The Foundation for these Three Looks: An Easy, White Tee and Black Skinny Jeans}

If you live in a warmer climate, like I do, then you probably appreciate the versatility that layers can offer. The weather in Houston has been all over the place. Just a couple of days ago, the highs were in the low 60s, now we’re back to the mid 80s and we’re projected to be back in the 60s by the weekend. There is no better staple in such a climate than a really tailored, chic jacket. I was recently perusing the jackets at Anthropologie and fell in love with three in particular. They are pieces that you could get a ton of mileage out of.  I’ve always believed that accessories can totally make an outfit, so I challenged myself to use the same foundation for three different looks. Each look starts out with an easy fitting white tee from J.Crew along with some skinny black jeans from Anthropologie. I’ve built upon that basic look with three different jackets and sets of accessories, mixing high and low for each look.

{Look No. 1: Classic Chic}

The classic lines of this jacket were the inspiration for this overall look. The collar and placement of the pockets reminded me of a classic Chanel jacket. Paired with the basic tee and jeans along with some classic accessories, this look is polished and chic and perfect for shopping, lunch with the ladies, and in some cases, even the office.

Jacket: Mavis by Sine @ Anthropologie

Shoes: Cece Leather Ballet Flats @ J.Crew

Ring: Crystal Bloom Ring @ J.Crew (I’m obsessed with this ring, by the way.)

Bag: Bleeker Bag by Mary Nichols

{Look No. 2: Boho Glam}

I love the glamorous vibe of this sequined blazer, but I know that if it were paired with the wrong pieces, it could fall into dangerous territory. I definitely didn’t want to go too literal or over the top with this jacket since it is such a statement piece on its own. Pairing it with the basic tee and jeans softens the look and the addition of these gorgeous cognac leather boots does just the trick! Since the jacket has so much going on, it’s important to keep the jewelry on the minimal side. The little Stella and Dot earrings are perfect with just about anything and the rings make just enough of a statement and have the perfect rough luxe vibe to match the combination of the jacket and boots.

Jacket: Sequin Flame Blazer @ Anthropologie

Boots: Apepazza Edvige Boot @ Nordstrom

Earrings: Baby Flower Post Earrings by Stella and Dot

Rings: Stacking Semi-Precious Stone Rings by Monica Vinader @ Net-A-Porter

{Look No. 3: Lady Luxe}

This look is completely alluring and perfect for a night on the town! The accessories are super glamorous, but the overall look remains tasteful since nearly the entire look consists of black. The tee keeps the look from being over the top while the leopard clutch adds a little edge.

Jacket: Tuxedo Blazer @ Anthropologie

Earrings: Petra Fringe Earrings by Stella and Dot

Bag: Animal Print Calf Hair Clutch by Alaia @ Net-A-Porter

Shoes: Cosmic Suede Pumps by Jimmy Choo @ Net-A-Porter

Bracelet: Crystal Grid Cuff @ J.Crew

 

Would you wear any of these outfits? Which is your favorite?