Office (e)scape

The lovely Cassandra of coco + kelley asked me to be a part of her "Style (e)scapes Week" featuring stylish offices and workspaces. Please check out my guest post for a sneak peak into my personal office as well as my favorite work space.

Spanish Style

A Gorgeous Living Room from Nuevo Estilo

It's no secret that I am a huge proponent of anything Spanish. The culture of Spain and its people is beautiful in every single facet and interior design is no exception. While the Spanish revel in all styles, I have found that their interiors are most often either A. very eclectic feeling as if they have been collected and carefully curated over time or B. they are sleek and modern.

Enter the aptly named Nuevo Estilo Magazine, which translates to "new style". If Domino and Elle Décor had ever had a love child, it would have been this publication. It features incredibly chic interiors which often include an eclectic spin. You'll find gilded antiques and Bertoia chairs in the same room and they do more than make it work, they make it look fabulous! They excel at blending together so many differing styles, yet they never fight against each other. Instead, they seem to balance each other out.

The Spanish have succeeded in their approach of taking the best from multiple influences (just as their ancestors did with Roman, Moorish, Jewish, and Christian influences) and making them work together in creating a unique design identity.These Spanish interiors are among my favorite from Nuevo Estilo as they are a reflection of the way stylish Spaniards live and they exude the same vivacity and warmth as the people.

The matador or bullfighter and flamenco dancer are images that are often conjured up when one thinks of Spain.

Chairs by Serge Olivares

The use of busts and antlers along with the shelving in this room are quite reminiscent of Domino.

I love the use of symmetry in this glamorous room.

I absolutely adore the shape and color of this sofa. Notice the use of green throughout the room along with the industrial console and vintage Bertoia chair.

This rust colored sofa looks very similar to the green one in the previous picture. I like that they have played up the height of the space. Notice the beautiful chevron floors.

Another classically beautiful room. This one is by Marino, Cassinello, & Isa features items from many different styles, but they blend together quite well. I especially love the chandelier, gothic mirror that looks like it may have been made from an antique window frame, and the beautiful rustic console. The floors aren't too shabby, either!

I wouldn't say that the furniture or art in this room are my favorite, per sé, but I so love the white-washed floors and the gorgeous and enormous gilded gold mirror in the background.

This room is at once relaxed and elegant.

Another Domino-esque room

The vibe is eclectic, kitschy, and vibrant.

I would imagine that the person living in this home would have a bold personality and a passion for the arts. The overall neutrality of the room is balanced out by bold colors in the furniture and art.

A beautifully-done neutral room...all that's missing is a beautiful chandelier.

I love the dining table and chairs used here.

This room feels so classically elegant.

This is beyond cool! The vintage industrial-looking shelving unit is actually a display case from an old pharmacy.

I love that this room, despite it's dominant cozy cottage vibe, manages to infuse a little modernity through the use of a very stylish mantle and modern occasional tables.

A variety of styles come together beautifully in this flat.

This room exudes effortless elegance through the juxtaposition of antiques and modern furniture.

How do I love thee? Let me count the ways. Let's see, there's the cool glass coffee table, to-die-for floors (seriously, how gorgeous are they?), modern sawhorse desk, Parisian flea market chandelier, industrial-looking table lamp on the right, convex federal style mirror, and gorgeous cognac colored leather chair with the most beautiful patina.

All images via Nuevo Estilo

Mr & Mrs Smith Contest: The 4th and Final Clue!

This is the last clue in the fabulous Mr & Mrs Smith Contest. If you were waiting for the fourth and final clue before sending in your guess, be sure to e-mail me with it by Sunday! Next Monday, 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 #4: This magnificent hotel is located about six hours from New York City by plane and is about a half hour from the ocean. Private chauffeured transfers are included from the airport to the hotel, so you can begin your vacation in luxurious comfort.


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, the name and location of the property you think I am describing, along with a link to the landing page on the Mr & Mrs Smith website. Also, 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: The Bowery Hotel in New York, New York
Landing Page: http://www.mrandmrssmith.com/luxury-hotels/united-states/new-york/the-bowery/
Yes, please tell me more about Mr & Mrs Smith

If you would like to review the first three clues, click here.

This Week's Quote

Jet Set: Palm Springs

Slim Aarons, 1971

It's no secret that I love to travel. However, I hardly ever go on vacation with the intention of relaxing. Some people prefer to take their holidays on cruise ships and beach resorts, which I am sure is great, but it's just not our style. Fabian and I usually opt for city vacations where we literally walk all day, hit up the museums, see the sights, take in the sounds, tastes, and smells, and immerse ourselves in other cultures. As incredibly fun and rewarding as our trips have been, they can also be a little tiring. Lately, I've been thinking about how nice it would be to get away for the weekend and just go somewhere to relax. No itinerary, no pre-planned events, just a weekend bag, some good books, and some sunscreen.

Slim Aarons, Kauffman House

Enter Palm Springs. It seems totally laid back, with a glamorous edge. The glitterati have flocked here since the 1950s and 1960s and it seems like it has had quite a big resurgence lately. Architecture and design buffs have been in the know about Palm Springs for a very long time, but as the Mid-Century and Regency styles continue to grow in popularity, so does Palm Springs.

When I think of Palm Springs, Slim Aaron's beautiful photographs from the 1960s and 1970s always come to mind. I think of the gorgeous Mid-Century architecture and glamorous cocktail parties filled with beautiful people and drinks with maraschino cherries and little umbrellas (they were cool back then). Wouldn't it be fabulous to see the gang from Mad Men take a little trip to Palm Springs?

Slim Aarons, 1961

Palm Springs has enough to offer to keep you entertained without feeling overwhelmingly busy. It is regarded as the "golf capital of the world" and has plenty of courses to offer any golf aficionado. One can revel in the beautiful architecture which is quintessentially Palm Springs, with its clean lines, use of glass, natural materials, and combined indoor/outdoor spaces. You could even take in a show at the Annenberg Theatre or go horseback riding.

If you are planning to visit this April, you can hit up the Coachella Festival on April 17th through 19th. It is kind of like Woodstock for hipsters. This year's lineup includes Paul McCartney, The Killers, The Cure, The Yeah Yeah Yeahs, The Tings, Morissey, Molotov, Franz Ferdinand, and about sixty other acts. If I ever make it to Palm Springs, you can rest assured that I will have the intention of doing little more than admiring the architecture and taking in the sun and relaxing atmosphere.

The Parker Palm Springs

Palm Springs has a plethora of stylish hotel options, or you can opt to rent a private house, though they don't come cheap. And remember...the goal of visiting Palm Springs is to relax! The Kelly Wearstler designed Viceroy Palm Springs has received a ton of notoriety and is a favorite of many with its regency-styled interiors and color palette of black, white, and yellow. As much as I love the Viceroy, I know that it has certainly made its rounds in the blog world, so I have opted for a few different hotels.


First up, The Parker Palm Springs:

This super stylish Jonathan Adler designed resort was once Gene Autry's Melody Ranch and Merv Griffin's Givenchy Resort and Spa. The Parker now sits on thirteen acres and features 131 guest rooms of various types, 12 private one bedroom villas, and the two bedroom Gene Autry residence. The resort also features a "five star diner" called Norma's, Mister Parker's brasserie, and the poolside Lemonade Stand. The resort is also home to four European red clay tennis courts, an 18 hole golf course and a spa. Coincidentally, it was also the subject of a Bravo reality show, "Welcome to the Parker", which just so happens to be the one Bravo show I haven't watched.

Next on the list, the Colony Palms Hotel:

This spectacular Spanish Colonial style hotel was once owned by reputed mobster Al Wertheimer and was once a legendary speakeasy and brothel. It first opened in 1936, then changed ownership in 1940, after which it was a haven for Hollywood's elite well into the 1960s. It recently underwent a fabulous facelift by designer Martyn Lawrence-Bullard. I absolutely love the bright colors, suzanis, and ethnic textiles. The hotel has quickly regained its hot spot status since its re-opening. Condé Nast Traveller featured it on its 2008-2009 hot list, calling it "a weekend retreat for Hollywood's music- and movie-industry elite and stylish guests from points beyond...A chic, poolside scene is fueled by the bar-restaurant Purple Palm."

Last, but not least is the Riviera Palm Springs Hotel:

The Riviera Palm Springs is a decidedly swanky and glam destination. The hotel first opened in 1959 and was modeled after the great Las Vegas hotels of the era. It quickly became a stomping-ground for the heavy hitters of the entertainment industry. It was a favorite of Frank Sinatra, Dean Martin, Elvis Pressley, Connie Francis, and Jayne Mansfield.

The legendary 24 acre hotel property recently underwent a modernizing transformation and just re-opened in the fall of 2008. It is a large property, featuring 406 luxurious guestrooms, the Circa59 restaurant, The Starlite Lounge, Bikini Bar, and SpaTerre, an 11,000 square foot Noble House signature spa. San Diego-based Rossi Architecture and Chicago-based Delarosa Studio spearheaded the architectural overhaul and new interior design on this project. The result is a modern spin on the regency style and is undoubtedly rich in both color and glamour.

I have these brown pillows in my family room!

So, what do you say? Is Palm Springs a place you'd like to visit? Where would you stay?

Sponsor Spotlight: Closetologie

Jennifer Grigsby is the brains behind the Houston-based, Closetologie. "Closet-ologie is your one-stop style/image/shopping site that will give you all of the tools and information you need to maximize your current wardrobe, edit out what’s not working and make wise purchases with ease and confidence. With the economic environment what it is today, you can’t afford to make fashion mistakes. Today, women are more conscious about making wise clothing purchases that still have great style." I love that Jennifer addresses the important of shopping smart in the current economy. It's all about finding basic pieces that you know will stand the test of time, with less expensive, fun, trendy ones.

Because of her background in science education, Jennifer truly understands the female psyche when it comes to shopping, dressing a certain way, or even in the way one approaches closet organization. Jennifer believes that "getting dressed everyday should not be a frustrating, stressful experience. Dressing and looking great everyday can make your day more harmonious. With only carefully chosen pieces in your closet, you will be able to pull together a masterpiece in no time. You will feel confident knowing that you look great. This confidence will carry-over into your day giving you the ability to focus on what’s important!"

Jennifer has a special system, called Methodology which is a step-by-step approach to creating an equally functional and fabulous wardrobe. The Closetologie website is filled with helpful information regarding the creation of a personal Lookbook, "The 10 Reasons Why Women Hate to Shop", and a quiz entitled, "Does your wardrobe need help?". If you have recently found yourself in a fashion rut or have caught yourself thinking that you have a closet full of clothes, but nothing to wear, make sure to check out Closetologie!

Literary Love: They're Here!

Like so many people, I absolutely fell in love with the gorgeous Penguin Classics series designed by Coralie Bickford-Smith when they debuted last November. The ten book series was inspired by patterns and each book includes a matte foil design. My birthday is in November, so I thought I'd ask for them for my birthday. However, at that time, they were only available in the UK through Waterstone's for about 40 pounds a piece.

Fast forward to mid-February, when I came across this blog post. I was ecstatic to see that they are now available at Chapters Indigo bookstores in Canada and that they ship to the United States. The best part, however, is that they are going for $14.99 Canadian, which is about $11 U.S. dollars! I ordered them a couple of weeks ago and received them about four or five days later.

Here they are in my home:

They are incredibly beautiful in person and I hope to pass them on to my children some day. I plan to go back and read or re-read each book in the series very soon. If you are interested in ordering a set for yourself, visit Chapters. Unfortunately, they do not show images of the books, but I do have the exact ISBN numbers. This is what I used and they were exactly what I was hoping for.

ISBNs:

Madame Bovary (9780141040318)

Great Expectations(9780141040363)

Sense & Sensibility(9780141040370)

Cranford(9780141442549)

Tess of the D’Urbervilles(9780141040332)

Pride & Prejudice(9780141040349)

Crime & Punishment(9780140455687)

Jane Eyre(9780141040387)

Picture of Dorian Gray(9780141442464)

Wuthering Heights(9700141040356)