ARTIST OF THE WEEK - KIMBERLY APPLEGATE

Check out these lovely giclee prints from artist Kimberly Applegate. Her 5x5 prints of interiors focusing on beautiful comfy chairs are available to purchase for just $20 here. You can see more of her work including original oils and her latest commissions at her blog Joie de Vivre.

LADUREE and CAROL GILLOTT OF PARIS BREAKFASTS

Rumor has it that once The Plaza in NYC is finally finished with its renovation it will house the first US location of the favorite Parisian patisserie LaDuree. Life altering macarons aside, Laduree is famous for their stunning tea salons and boutiques throughout Europe and well as their branding in general which is the embodiment of French beauty elegance and charm. Take a look:



As I can see The Plaza from my 'day job' office my fingers are crossed they're planning to go for it and get the retail space and open a tea salon and not simply provide a few macaroons to the existing Palm Court Cafe. (as was the original rumor). I might as well move in if it's the tea salon as I'll host every 'out of the office' meeting there. ; )

Speaking of Laduree, take a look at these stunning watercolor paintings by Carol Gillet of the blog Paris Breakfasts. Many of her original watercolors feature Laduree's stunning packaging and are just so charming. She is currently offering a sale for her stateside readers. Pieces originally priced at $95, are now $80 plus free ground shipping through December 11th.

EVA ZEISEL

This post is about one of my favorite designers, the intriguing, spirited and lovely Eva Zeisel. Eva is world renewoned for her ceramics and industrial designs and when she was in her early 90s, she started designing tables. I can only wish I have her energy and creativity at that age. I am so drawn to the simple, fluid forms and the romantic curves of her pieces that I finally just splurged and bought myself her large pillow vase from Unica Home. -my first art purchase other than photography and so I can’t wait until my livingroom is complete so that I can display it.

Born in Hungary in 1906, Zeisel began her career at 18 as an apprentice potter. After jobs in various ceramics factories, she traveled to Russia where she worked her way up to art director of the state china and glass industry. In 1936, she was accused of plotting against the government by plotting an assassination on Stalin, and imprisoned for more than a year in a Soviet prison in solitary confinement. She resisted her interrogators until one day where, she “betrayed her dignity with a false confession.” But, rather than shoot her, as she thought they would, her captors deported her to Vienna, where she miraculously caught the last train out before the Nazi invasion. Unbelievable!

A few years ago, I had the opportunity to meet Eva at 'the day job' and came oh so close to working with her on a project. I just adored her. She has such an amazing spirit and sense of humor and even at 101 years old she is still designing today. I was crushed when the project was killed, to no fault of Eva's of course.




Top left: Eva, photographed at her Rockland Country studio, surrounded by her designs via NY Magazine
Top right: Pilllow vase from Unica Home
Bottom Left: Eva Small Med and Large Vases via Room and Board
Bottom Right: Harmony Vase from Nambe

KOO DE KIR

As I'm still spending every waking moment working on my website, this post will be short and sweet. I stumbled across a great online home design/accessories store today that I just had to share. I'm making an effort to take my home in a direction that's a little more shabby chic/modern vs shabby chic 'froo froo' roses. While my dream would be for Designer's Guild to open a NYC store, or at least offer shipping for items other than their pretty candles for now I'll have to settle for Koo De Kir. A very well edited Boston store that Wallpaper, Travel & Leisure and Home Furnishings Today list among the "World's Best" for Home Accessories.

Here's a few of my favorites. Enjoy!


Top left: Emma Gardner's washable suede pillows
Top middle: Eva Zeisel Upright Vase Series
Top Right: The Cortina Floor Lamp by Pablo
Bottom left: Emma Gardner Tibetan hand knotted wool rug
Bottom middle: Eva Zeisel Pillow Vase Series

THE MACBETH COLLECTION

The Macbeth Collection features the loveliest custom designed patterns decoupaged onto all kinds of useful items such as storage bins, picture frames, vases, umbrella holders and clip boards. She even has a collection of notepads, and my personal favorite, decorative file folders.

RENOVATION FRUSTRATION

This home renovation thing is really frustrating. I've torn apart what is left of my house in search of the cable to hook my camera up to my computer so that I can post some 'before pictures' alongside my inspiration photos. I can't find it anywhere. To add insult to serious injury, my office is a part of the renovation, and has been completely dismantled. My husband just set up the computer in another room and my entire "Blog File" has miscellaneously diappeared. ARGH!!! I was looking forward to posting an inspiration board for my livingroom and unfortunately I've lost all my inspiration, not to mention all of my bookmarks. : ( I did, however, find this one photo that is the basis for what I'm planning.



I already have the Rachel Ashwell Couches, well one couch and one really big loveseat. I scored my chandelier from the Elephant's Trunk Flea Market in New Milford Ct, which I highly recommend. It was the bargain of the century at $90 and is stunning. I'm having the tables made through Gypsy Farmhouse Antiques in Cedar Grove, NJ. Unfortunately, they don't have a website. It's a great antique store that is set up in a brightly painted old house right on route 23. In addition to 3 floors of fabulous antique finds, they custom make gorgeous furniture out of among other materails, old barnwood. More to come ; )

NEW JERSEY

Contrary to popular belief New Jersey isn't all mobsters, big hair and 'that smell' on the Turnpike when you leave Newark Airport on your way to New York City. There are some lovely and charming little towns scattered about each with an abundance of beautiful shops.

Via Oh Joy, I came across a new store in historic Red Bank, NJ called Bodega Shoppe. Owner, Mike Buess, who was formerly the PR director of my favorite antique jewelry house Doyle & Doyle, stocks furniture, wallpaper, vintage fashion and beauty books, Maribelle chocolates and teas, stationery from Lucy Jane Batchelor and Lena Wald jewelry among much more.

Parcel in Montclair, NJ is an upscale paper boutique with the charm of an old fashioned general store. Selling everything from stationary, packaging, vintage ephemera, and lovely gifts Parcel is one of my favorite local shops.