The Clock is Ticking...

Time is running out! The deadline for the first Decorum Design Forum Giveaway is this Saturday, February 28th. In order to be eligible, you must register and have 10 posts by the deadline. Remember, you can do this by starting your own topics or commenting on topics that were created by other members. Read all of the details for the giveaway here. If you need some ideas on what to post about, click here.

Image via Twig Hutchinson

Feeling Under the Weather

A Dreamy Bedroom by Mary McGee

I feel completely awful today. My nose is stuffy, my head hurts, and my stomach is in knots. I guess today's blog posts will have to wait until tomorrow, so I hope you'll check back! I think I will be spending the rest of the day curled up with a cup of hot tea and The Memory Keeper's Daughter, which I just started reading. I also have an itch to watch a good chick flick so I may do that, too. I'm crossing my fingers that I will feel better by tomorrow!

In the meantime, check out a preview of what's to come when The Hills returns to Mtv. As staged as most of it probably is, I actually look forward to having it return after the complete fakeness and lack of drama on The City. What do you think? Do you plan to watch?

And P.S., if you are a member of Decorum, remember that the deadline for our first giveaway is this Saturday! A winner will be drawn on Sunday. You can get all the details here.

Sponsor Spotlight: Circa Lighting

Circa Lighting has become synonymous with timeless, classic, well-made lighting. The company was founded in 1998 in Savannah, Georgia by Gale Singer. However, she was in the business ten years prior to opening her first store, as she used to work for Visual Comfort (owned by brother Andy Singer), the company which manufactures most of her lighting. After the Savannah store proved to be a success, flagship stores were opened in Atlanta, Charleston, and Houston. The company continues to grow and will hopefully expand into other parts of the country in the future.

Circa's mission is to offer "quality lighting, lamps, and accessories that are as beautiful as they are timeless." The product line is comprised of thousands of items, each of which come in a variety of finishes and all of which are sure to appeal to various design aesthetics. The pieces in the collection were designed by some of the country's foremost designers including Alexa Hampton, Thomas O'Brien, Michael S. Smith, Clodagh, Barbara Barry, Bill Blass, Sandy Chapman, Eric Cohler, Suzanne Kasler, and J.Randall Powers. There is something for everyone from traditional hand-finished bronze pieces to crystal lamps, and industrial-inspired ceiling fixtures.

My love of Circa Lighting is very well documented. I think that it is a fantastic company with products of phenomenal quality. Every fixture is handmade and all of the metal finishes are done by hand. Circa is a company that forgoes the trendy and the "now" for pieces that work as well today as they would have forty years ago and will forty years into the future. The designs are timeless, the service is attentive, and the quality is superb.

I have put together a collection of some of my favorite fixtures, including new and classic items. Please keep in mind that these images are not to scale and refer to the Circa website for measurements. If there isn't a Circa Lighting store in your city, make sure to visit the comprehensive website that includes a vast selection as well as a fabulous design portfolio featuring a handful of well-known projects which have utilized Circa Lighting products in their designs (the images of interiors in this post are from Circa's portfolio).

Gilded Age: The Paris Flea Market and Percival Chandeliers

Industrial Redux: Country Industrial Pendant, Eugene Pendant, Yoke Pendant

Elegant Minimalism: Caged Lantern with Paper Shade and Morris Lantern

Lucky Clover: Basil Flush Mount and Quatrefoil Floor Lamp

Pretty and Pristine: Double Twist and King George Sconces

High-Glam: Savoy, Ida, and Ruhlmann Sconces

Architectural Elements: The Berkshire Obelisk Lamp in Quartz and the substantial Belgravia Lamp in White Marble

Gold Standard: Fang Gourd Lamp in Antique Burnished Brass and the Crescent Table Lamp made of Quartz on Antique Gold Leaf

Modern Eclectic: Lucille Table Lamp and Lotus Table Lamp

Classic with a Twist: The Kate Table Lamp in Polished Nickel and the Tall Terri Table Lamp in Quartz

Red Carpet Winners: The 81st Annual Academy Awards

Anne Hathaway looking radiant in Armani Privé

I really enjoyed last night's Oscar ceremony. I liked the format with the classic songs and the outlining of the process of creating a film. I found it interesting and refreshing. My husband found it tedious and boring, but I digress! One thing that did not disappoint this year was the fashion. There were some truly beautiful gowns present. With the exception of Sophia Loren's monstrosity (we'll excuse her though, because she looks incredible for her age), I can't really think of any major misses. I didn't love Kate Winslet's dress and I was on the fence on Tilda Swinton's Lanvin ensemble. I thought it could have used one less ruffle, but I wanted to like it. All hesitation aside, here are some of my favorites from this year's Academy Awards.

Natalie Portman is absolutely gorgeous. She has the most divine features! Despite the fact that she would even look beautiful in a potato sack, I thought her pink Rodarte was perfection.

Best Supporting Actress Nominee, Taraji Henson looked lovely in a cream Roberto Cavalli gown and Fred Leighton necklace.

I don't think Marisa Tomei has aged at all! What is her secret? I think she is 39, but she could easily pass for 24. The Versace gown she chose looked gorgeous on her.

Penélope Cruz said she had had her eye on this Balmain gown from 1950 for ten years. The lovely confection was perfect for an event like the Oscars. Though I thought she looked beautiful, I do prefer to see Penélope with her hair down and in a slimmer silhouette. I feel it suits her better.

Sarah Jessica Parker, often a fan of a full silhouette, looked lovely in Dior Couture.

I really liked the simplicity of Angelina's Elie Saab gown. It served as the perfect background for her gorgeous face and the divine Lorraine Schwartz jewelry she wore.

All images via Oscar.com

This Week's Quote

Jet Set: Mr. and Mrs. Smith

Mr. and Mrs. Smith's latest guide for stylish travel, The Global Shortlist

I was simply thrilled when I was first approached by Mr. and Mrs. Smith about establishing a partnership a little over a month ago. We share a common love of travel and boutique hotels, so I was immediately intrigued. Mr. and Mrs. Smith was named and established long before Brad and Angelina became Brangelina.

The real couple behind the pseudonym is actually comprised of Tamara Heber- Percy and James Lohan, an incredibly well-traveled couple with the vision and gusto to have their first book, Mr. and Mrs. Smith UK/Ireland published after it was rejected several times because several publishing houses simply didn’t understand it. Eventually, the pair persevered, and have published several books, including their most recent, The Global Shortlist, a must-have collection of the most beautiful and unique hotel properties in the world. They have also gone on to establish themselves as authorities in the world of stylish travel. Their website, Mr. and Mrs. Smith, is an invaluable tool for anyone looking to plan a vacation. On the website, one can research a multitude of destinations, read reviews by their review panel (I am hoping to review some hotels!) and card-holding members who receive many perks (such as complimentary tours, discounts on hotel stays, cocktails, and upgrades), and of course, book their stay at hundreds of stylish boutique hotels across the globe.

I recently had a conversation with co-founder, Tamara Heber-Percy, who so graciously agreed to share some of her favorite travel memories and destinations with the readers of La Dolce Vita.

Co-founder Tamara Heber-Percy

LDV: Why did you decide to start Mr. and Mrs. Smith?

THP: As a couple, James and I were always looking for hotels to get away to from the city for a weekend. We found time and time again that the glossy brochures and lovely pictures a lot of hotels put forward were nothing like the real thing when we arrived. The straw that broke the camel’s back was a disastrous weekend we had been looking forward to for a while. When we arrived everything started to go wrong – from the impersonal, indifferent service to the dirty bedroom and chintzy décor – we just couldn’t wait to get out of there. At that point, we realised that to avoid any future hotel calamities we needed a hotel guidebook we could trust. There was nothing out there at the time that offered the kind of recommendation you’d get from a friend – so we decided to write it ourselves.

The Dylan Hotel in Amsterdam is one of several boutique hotels designed by Tamara's favorite interior designer, Anouska Hempel.

LDV: What makes a hotel worthy of being part of your collection?

THP: We actually wrote a blog post about what makes a boutique hotel that outlines the criteria we apply when visiting places. We don’t operate a star or rating system – I always felt that you want different things at different times. On some occasions, you might go somewhere lavish and luxurious, but if you are looking for a quick weekend getaway you might find a country inn or a stylish farm stay more appealing. We represent all types of hotels, from three-room bed and breakfasts to luxury hotels, vacation rentals and rock-star villas – and the thing all of them have in common is that you feel special the moment you step through the door.

The Duomo, Florence's Foremost Treasure

LDV: What is your favorite city in the world?


THP: That’s a very tricky question. For the buzz and the action I would choose New York. For the lifestyle (and my great family support network ) I’d pick London, and for sheer romantic spectacle, it would have to be Florence.

Rough Luxe Hotel in London

LDV: Do you have a favorite hotel?

THP: I’m not sure I’m allowed to, am I? I love them all. Seriously though, I love new things so my current favorite is the small but eccentrically formed Rough Luxe in London. It’s radically designed, visually arresting and totally unique. My favorite city hotel of all time has to be Blakes in London and my favorite holiday hotel is Ca’s Xorc in Mallorca – both of which I got married in (same husband each time, I should add!)

Melbourne, Australia

LDV: What do you predict will be the hot destination of 2009?


THP: Well, Mr & Mrs Smith are heading to Asia Pacific this year – we are opening an office in Melbourne, I think that Australasia and the Far East are going to be big this year.

The Beautiful Amalfi Coast

LDV: Do you have a favorite travel memory?

THP: Eating at La Tagliata, a tiny, family-run restaurant on the hills overlooking Italy’s Amalfi Coast. We stumbled on it looking for somewhere to have lunch – it was buzzing, packed with locals, and served great wine, seemingly endless antipasti and an astonishing quantity of delicious grilled meat. We must have been there for hours.


LDV: What three items can you absolutely not travel without?

THP: A good book, some earplugs, and my husband. But not necessarily in that order.

Romantic Splendor in Paris

LDV: Where are you most looking forward to traveling next?

THP: Apart from Australia, James and I are planning a short trip to Paris in a couple of weeks’ time. There are a few new boutique hotels opening so we’re excited about scouting them out, and we’re also booked into lunch at my favorite restaurant, Le Benoit. Food is definitely the way to my heart!

The Ca's Xorc in Mallorca, Spain

LDV: Who are your style icons?

THP: I love Anouska Hempel – not just her interior design which can be seen at several hotels in our collection (Blakes, London; The Dylan Hotel, Amsterdam) but also her clothes – at the age of 15 I was given a second hand dress made by Anouska and have loved her ever since!

LDV: What is your idea of living “La Dolce Vita”?

THP: Being able to spend time with friends around a dinner table covered in Italian food and great red wine.

Stay tuned as I have teamed up with Mr. and Mrs. Smith on a trivia contest and giveaway that will begin on the first of March!

Domino's Greatest Hits: Drew Barrymore

Drew Barrymore hangs out in her perfectly eclectic Flower Films office

Ever since last month's devastating announcement that Domino was being shuttered, it seems that its loyal fans are trying to keep it, or at the very least, the memory of it, alive. Earlier today, I came across a picture of Drew Barrymore out on the town with a friend. She was wearing the cutest 60s-inspired dress (I am obsessed with all things from the 60s right now, i.e. Mad Men, music, fashion) and it got me reminiscing about the feature Domino ran on the stylish headquarters for her production company, Flower Films, about a year ago.

Drew partnered with Ruthie Sommers to create a space that is equally fabulous and welcoming. A perfect reflection of Barrymore's personality, it borrows from many styles, both old and new, resulting in a space that seems to exude the same warmth as her personality.

Barrymore sought to create "a chic working environment that reflects each partner's personality."

The inspiration wall changes with each new film.

In order to create contrast between the oak furniture and brown leather chair, Sommers painted the hutch red and added a crimson border to the ivory drapes in partner Nancy Juvonen's office.

A vintage chair and vintage portrait of an unknown socialite can be found next to Drew's inspiration wall.

I love the sharp contrast of black, white, and green in the kitchen, which has become the heart of the office. The walls are painted in Farrow & Ball's Sugar Bag Light.

A detailed shot features the antique knocker on the unmarked door to the office. Some day, I will have a red door. Can you imagine if you were in the neighborhood and knocked on their door by mistake only to have Drew answer the door?!

The powder room also features unique vintage accessories. The walls are dressed in Farrow & Ball's cheerful "Ranelagh Papers".

So many amazing details! I love the "Kelly" Chippendale chairs by Chapman Radcliff Home and the white carved "Louis XV" mirror by Ames Ingham. The portrait in the center is of Drew's grandfather, actor John Barrymore.

All images via Domino