Light the Fire, Baby!

"Baby, it's cold outside" croons Ella Fitzgerald.  And man, is she not kidding.  With my Russian hat and parka, am off to tackle the day but in my head, I'm wishin' I was holed up in Aspen or Asheville apres skiing, fireside with hot toddy in hand instead of billing paying, errands and hustling.   It's  a holiday, the city is cleared out and the temperature has dipped too far for my tastes. But for now, these inspirations will have to do. 

The Glamor Girl. 

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The Swed

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The Crafter 

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The Islander

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 The Nester

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The Modernist

Travel & Leisure

The Skier

Travel & Leisure

 The Nordic 

Rue Magazine

Cheers from my (pretend) fireplace. 

Live large,

Frances

Valentine's Inspiration

via Paris2London Tumblr

I know, I know it's soo cheesy but I sure love Valentines.  Maybe it's all the pink or the champagne or flowers being delivered but I am fully on board.  Romance is a good thing and celebrating it is a great thing. 

via Paris2London Tumblr

Here are a few things I'm inspired by this VDay. 

People Making An Effort

A friend recently had a full on seat down dinner  party in her two floor apartment overlooking Fifth Avenue.  The apartment itself is so pretty but what was really great was how she went all out for dinner. There was a champagne bucket filled and good crystal out. We had name cards and candles were everywhere.  She greeted us at the door with cocktails and sent us home with a treat bag including recipes from that night's dinner. It was truly rockin' awesome.  She put it all out and gosh, did we all not appreciate it.  It's fun to do dinners every once in a while that really are a lot of work.  Yes, you heard me all you "lifestyle experts" who say it isn't "hard" or "time consuming" cause it is.  So tonight, I am making the food myself (sorry, Citarella) and buying fun booze.  I'm polishing the silver and ironing the linen napkins instead of using cute Caspari ones, even for cocktails.  I'm going to some trouble in a good way.  And for friends I love.  So Pam Scurry, thank you for gilding the lily and inspiring me to step it up.  We loved every minute of it!

Drinks Bar at Pam's very grown up sit down dinner party last night. 

Beautiful  Flowers Really Do Make It All Better. 

I'm a sucker for flowers.  Sucker. I won't have money to buy a latte but I don't want an apartment without flowers. Just doesn't seem right.  Here's what was at the flower market this morning. 

One King's Lane's talented floral designer, Meghan Guthrie, did a nice write up on how to get a better bouquet.   Check it out here.


DIYers, here's a tip.  Take a tight picture of a beautiful bouquet like this then blow it up on your copier and wrap around an inexpensive bunch of roses  for a gift or wrap a gift in it.

People who dress up.  

I don't want my table to outdrew me.  T Magazine's video with Lee Radiwill made me want to run out a buy a real suit and white cashmere scarf. I mean, how great does she look??  It's worth watching this 12 minute video to learn more about this elegant woman. The dame oozes style.

** I once heard that being well dressed is the ultimate form of politeness. Love that.  

Neon Art

Ahead of his time, my Dad gave my mom a neon heart that sits in the kitchen and has always made me smile so this sort of art has always held a special place in my heart.    

Make Vday a month long affair and head to Times Square to see British artist, Tracey Emin, takes over Times Square with her cool neon art.  Read more here.

Via Net-a-Porter

** Check out my first Houzz Tour.  Thanks to homeowner, Lawrence, for letting me come talk it up and for designer (and dear friend) Richard Johnson for allowing me to feature it.

Live Large & with lots of valentines....

Frances 

White Rules

Real snow has finally come to NYC and the spareness of winter is feeling right.   Inspired by Friday's blizzard, I'm loving all things cozy.....

and white....

 and fur lined....

While I love nothing better than rich fabrics, loads of textiles layered up and oodles of life littering a room, there's something about the dead of winter with it's quietness and frozen beauty that makes me want to purge, build a fire and get down to the basics.   Perhaps it's because life is spinning a bit wild that I'm craving nordic style-simple, edited, clean.  Or maybe it's all those scandinavian cabins on tumblr and pinterest or the fur throws in all the catalogs on sale but whatever it is, I am seriously onboard.    

Here's a few interiors that make me want to jump a plane for Denmark. 

And isn't this nugget of a kitchen so charming??   simple simple simple yet gorg! 

**all photos from pinterest

Live large, 

Frances 

Newsy Bits

The NY Gift Show just ended and it's been a week.  This picture sorta sums it up.  That said, happy to see small spaces in the news so much lately.  In case you've been hunkered down too, here's the skinny. 

Back in July, Mayor Bloomberg announced a contest called adAPT NYC to develop "innovative micro-unit apartment housing model."   The winner of "My Micro NYC" has been announced.  The winners? We all are as 40% of the building on 335 E. 27 St. will go to low and middle-income New Yorkers.  (YEAH!)  Read about it here.  

Another contest that caught my eye is  "Designing for Disaster Relief".  It's a challenge to develop temporary 400 square feet housing for family of four.  Love.  Watching Sandy victims struggle in freezing temperatures makes this one contest worth getting involved in.   Winning design announced end of Feb. 

Good read on Life Edited.  "10 Tips for  Creating a Small Apartment You'll Want to Live in." 

Good read on Houzz.  Can You Live a Full Life in 220 Square Feet?

Good read on Etsy.  "Little Houses: Small, Hand Built, and Mortgage free!" 

You know I like to give you a new find so here's this week's favorite resource-CUSTOMMADE.COM!!

If you can't find the right size (insert anything in here) for your happy home, check out Custom Made. It's this cool website that hooks up furniture makers with customers who need something made to their specifications.  With a terrific video that walks you through the process really well.   All you need to do now is get started. 

Enjoy the Superbowl Show (you GO, Beyonce!)  Want to win "Most impressive dip" award?  Make this 47 layer dip for the 47th Superbowl.  

Whew....

Live large,

Frances  

Nordstrom's is Doing Some Good

It's Friday so it's time for .... "Doing Good".  Recently, I came across a store in NYC that is owned by retailer, Nordstrom's that is really interesting.  The shop, Treasure & Bond, donates 100%-yep -that's right, 100% to charities for kids in NYC.  It's located in Soho in a cool industrial space full of real finds.  

Lovely, right? 

See for yourself ... 

Way to go, Nordstroms!

Click here to see their list of brands you can buy.  

Click here to see the list of charities. 

Live large, 

Frances 

Small Upgrades

I was inspired by a blog posting over at Apartment Therapy this week on small splurges that can really make a difference.  Well, if there was ever a decorating mantra I have its make every thing count (yes, even that little stuff) because it can really be the easiest way to spruce up ever.  It's the best part of living in limited square footage. You don't hold on to stuff just 'cause.  It's either got to bring you joy or serve a purpose or its at Housing Works faster than you can say "DONATE!" 

Here are a few things worth upgrading that won't cost a pretty penny but can make a difference. 


Doormat
Show some personality Right Out of the Gate. So often this is a $5 mat found at a Home Depot-eque shop without a whole lot of thought.  And in NYC, these suckers get a work out so if it's time to retire yours, splurge on one that will add a little somethin' somethin'.   Ikea has this cutie for a song. 

Door Knob

An instant room upgraded, just freakin' upgrade from the $2 crappy door handle to something with more substance and style.  This is one of those things no one will really notice but like good highlights that just make you look like you have had a good night sleep, it'll just give the overall room a lift.  Love this black porcelain one from Rejuvenation.  

Kitchen (or Bathroom) Soap

No one wants to see some old used up (dirty!) bar of soap in your kitchen or bathroom so toss that sucker and buy a nice pump version with nice packaging that says "Enjoy washing your hands."   Williams-Sonoma has some beautiful ones. 

ps. While you are upgrading the kitchen soap, check out your sponge. If it looking dingy, buy a new one  

Pillows
It's the easiest way to change a sofa, switch out the pillows.  Use the same inserts and get new covers which can easily be stored under your bed when not in use.  Etsy has great ones and so does Furbish which has this lovely for $50. 

Pretty Catch All 
Everyone needs a drop bowl so wallets, keys, remotes, packs of gums, lipsticks, extra keys don't all end up everywhere.  And if you have to have one, make it pretty so it turns all those little things into a chic display.   This one from Etsy is fun  and hold a ton. 

Live large, 

Frances 

Pinterest Round Up

Pinterest ranks second to coffee as addictions go for me.  Do ya'll agree??  It's a happy place to get instant inspiration and go on a creative jaunt without ever leaving my parson's desk.   I am ammmmaaaaazzzeed at the great "eyes" out there and have found some of my favorite pinners aren't big brands like J Crew or Kate Spade but smaller designers, tastemakers out there.  Today I decided to give a few of my favorites a shout out. 

Best All Around Pinner (and one of the first!)..... HOLLY PHILLIPS-super talented and fun Interior Designer in Charlotte, NC.   

And here's one of her pins...

Coco Chanel's Apt via Pinterest (photographer not listed)


Another favorite pinned is MRS. FRENCH based in Portland, Or. Her style is super Portland if you know what I mean... and she pins A LOT. She also pins fun fashion things and travel related pins that are "wow" worthy.   






And here's one of her pins.....

Elle Decor South Africa via Pinterest



Another favorite Pinterester is.....




She is the queen of black and white and has a zillion followers devoted to her as well.


Here's one of her pins....

Black Tile (no photographer listed)


Happy Pinning!
Best,
Frances