Wild Things

 

I'm loving these beautiful pillows that are a part of Tempo Luxury Home's Fable Collection. With a wool blend front and cotton velvet back, they feel as good as they look. The watercolored quality adds a certain something that makes their colors slightly undefined (in the best way), and they strike that balance between whimsy and elegance that I simply can't resist!

*All images from Tempo Luxury Home.

Before & After: Fire Island Porch

Before:

After:

Before:

After:

This vacation house was cluttered and neglected when the new owners moved in, but we turned to the power of paint and organization to whip it into shape. By creating two zones, one for dining and one for lounging, we opened up the space to create a logical flow. Minding the scale of the room, the dining table was custom made with reclaimed wood by the Sapienza Brothers Vintage Lumber Co. The dark wood paneling was making the space feel small and dated, so we used Benjamin Moore's French Canvas on the walls, Swiss Coffee on the ceiling, and Pratt & Lambert's Ancestral for the trim to brighten everything up. The result gave us a light and airy space perfect for dinner with friends and relaxing on a lazy summer day.

Christopher Marley

 

It was several years ago that I came across Christopher Marley's amazing creations, and I was instantly obsessed. While I lean towards pretty things like seashells and butterflies, I'm also fascinated by his compositions with beetles, fossils and carnivorous plants. Admittedly, I'm a little phobic when it comes to bugs, but he has managed to arrange each piece in an inorganic way that makes me less afraid and more amazed by the details of their natural forms. I may not have thought that hanging bugs on the wall was my way to make an artistic statement, but after seeing these beautiful works, I've definitely changed my mind.       

All images from Pheromone Christopher Marley

Dream House: Sitting Room

Summer has me craving cool neutrals and clean lines. I couldn't help but dream up a rustic contemporary sitting room starring some of my recent favorites:

1. Lucia Della Citta Wallpaper by Jill Malek 2. Barbara Barry's Lotus Floor Lamp 3. Ben Soleimani for Restoration Hardware Grey Satta Rug 4. The New Traditionalist's Chair No. 29 5. Dmitry & Co. Glassos Coffee Table 6. Couronnes Chandelier from Bourgeois Boheme. 

How High Should You Hang a Chandelier?

I've had a bunch of friends ask me if there are any rules on hanging heights when it comes to light fixtures, so I figured it was post-worthy. Here are my basic guidelines:

• I usually try to hang light fixtures so that the bottom hits at 7'-6" from the floor. This rule is sometimes broken if you have a double height ceiling or something beneath the light fixture.
• If you are hanging a chandelier above a table, I generally like the bottom of the fixture to be 30" to 36" off the table.
• If you are hanging a light fixture above an island, I like the bottom to hit at 36" above the counter to give you a little more room.

There you go!

*Photo by my talented friend, Stephania Stanley.