Scarf Talk

I must say that scarves are an essential part of my wardrobe and as much as I love them long and cozy, I might just reconsider getting a few of those sassy small handkerchief-like scarves. They probably would not keep me warm but they look totally adorable on Mav :) Dears, would you wear them? xoxo

(via 3191 Miles Apart)

Megan Mullally's earthy eclectic home

I was surprised when I saw Megan Mullally's house tour in a recent issue of Elle Decor. I guess because I only know her as Karen on Will and Grace, I didn't think her personal style would be so laid back because she's so good at playing a rich NYC elitist.

What do you think?

so spa like
Possibly one of my favorite kitchens. It's so real for a Hollywood star isn't it?


Go to Elle Decor to see all the pics.

Tie Me Down

My bow obsession continues with charming soft-leather bow-tie bracelets. Don't you just love the pinked edges on those cuties? I'm sold! xoxo

(via blue moss)

A Beautiful Traditional Kerala Home design - Video

Click on the Play button to start the video


© Youtube

Industry in the entryway

This table is amazing!  The contrast with the simplicity of the walls and the stairway is just perfect.

image via SOM blog

Home on Nantucket

Three sisters share this house by the sea on Nantucket. J. Gwynne Thorsen was in charge of the architectural and interior design. Unfortunately there are not many photographs of the interiors so these will have to do.

The entrance façade features a pergola covered with New Dawn roses.

An oil by Ben Austrian, which introduces the living room’s rabbit theme, hangs above the mantel.

Displayed in the bedroom of the upstairs tern suite are 18th- and 19th-century dog portraits.

The red hummingbird suite on the second floor opens to a private balcony. A pair of hand-colored 18th-century botanical prints are near the banquette.

Dutch doors allow a view from the kitchen, at the south, through the house to the ocean.


Antique kismos chairs around the dining table.

Photography by Peter Vanderwarker

All images and information from Architectural Digest.

Sailing, Baby!

 Last night I was talking to a friend about kids, boats (you know, all that girly stuff) and suddenly I remembered the free feeling you get while sailing! Dears, how does hopping onboard of Windjammer in Rockland, Maine sound? Just image the cool breeze dancing with your hair, eating homemade sandwiches with pickles and keeping an eye out for birds and seals. Ohh...what a dream, there is no other feeling like that!...How is that for a weekend fantasy? xoxo

Ps: Don't forget to enter our GIVEAWAY...if you haven't already:)

Color Inspiration : Pink and Orange

Awaken your senses... Pink and Orange is a refreshing color combination with zest!

Original watercolor paintings and prints available on Etsy.

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Toby's Nursery, Part 1

It was so much fun to work with Joanna on her adorable baby boy's nursery!

When we were looking for cribs, the ideal was the Oeuf Sparrow - but the cost was a little prohibitive. We ended up using the Olivia crib from Walmart's Baby Mod line. It's a really great crib for the price ($300) and I think Joanna has been happy with it. The adorable dots sheets are from Dwell. I sewed the crib skirt from a one yard remnant of yellow linen I already had.

We really loved the idea of doing something with clouds in the room (originally we were thinking about this bedding). Joanna wanted a black-out shade for light control with nap time, so we bought a vinyl roller shade online cut to fit the nursery window. I drew out some cloud shapes on cardboard and played with the design a little until the layout looked right.

Then I traced out the shapes and painted out the background with regular latex paint. I used a sample pot of Glidden's Peacock Blue and that was more than enough for two-three coats on the shade.

Make sure to really let the paint dry - give it at least two days before you mess with it at all. I love how this project turned out!

We paired the clouds shade with some simple gray and white linen curtains that I sewed myself.

I tried something new with the header and sewed in little strips of ribbon for hanging rather than doing a rod pocket.

The goal was to make the creases in the hanging drape more pronounced than the effect of a rod pocket - more like a pinch-pleated drape. I need to experiment with this a little more, but I am happy with the way these stripey curtains look with the cloud shade!

Joanna was excited about the idea of a gallery wall of family photos in the room. I collected some new and vintage frames for her photos and brought a huge box with me on installation day.

A quick note about gallery walls: I've hung a bunch of these types of arrangements. I've used kraft paper templates before (= ridiculous waste of time) and I've tried just eyeballing the arrangement (= a million extra nail holes). Here's how I figure out the lay out of a gallery wall. It works like a charm for me. It's fast and there are no extra nail holes in the end.

1. Measure the length of the wall space you want to cover. In an open area where you have lots of room to work, put your measuring tape down on the floor, locked at the correct length so you can reference that measurement.

2. Play with the layout of the frames. Be sensitive to frame size, frame color, mat size, image color, image subject, etc.

3. Once you've found a good arrangement and the right spacing, take lots of photos of your arrangement on the floor for reference.

4. Start with the top left frame in the arrangement and hang that on your wall. Refer to your photos to note where to hang the adjacent frames (ie 4" down, 3" to the right, etc). It's easy to figure out where to put your nail if you're sensitive to the placement of the nail hanging mechanism on your frame.

It's not an exact science, but it really works well for me. I rarely have to make adjustments in the end. I think it took me about 20 minutes total to lay out and hang the gallery wall in Toby's room.

And lastly, hanging over the crib is one of my very favorite things in the nursery. Joanna's siblings bought this sweet sailboat mobile as a gift for Toby at the Ark in San Fransisco. They embroidered the sail of the blue boat with the numbers of their grandparent's sailboat! I love personal touches in any room, but something like this was perfect for the nursery!

Part 2 of Toby's Nursery tour is up tomorrow!

{Again, a HUGE thanks to Karen Mordechai for taking many of these photos above. Karen is a fabulously talented New York-based photographer. You should check out her portfolio, especially if you have a wedding coming up!}

Happy Birthday Pumpkin

Hubby (also known as Mike or Sweetie...or for this post, Pumpkin), has celebrated another birthday. He's forty (again). He's decided to stick with forty for another year...or so, and I couldn't help but oblige him.

Here's the Birthday Boy.

I made him a Pumpkin Spice birthday cake using pumpkins from the garden.

It was really delicious...moist and rich.

This is the recipe I used.

Happy Birthday Sweetie!

It Wasn't Easy Getting To The Willow Ball

Our day started out at the beach......

Everything was just fine until Cary said that he wanted to meet with some producers on an up-coming film. 

Instead of going to the party tonight.

I wasn't happy at all.

Cary had promised a long time ago that he would attend The WILLOW BALL with me!!!

As we drove back to the hotel.......

Here he is again trying to persuade me to go to dinner with his friends and associates.

I explained that I have been waiting all year to attend The Willow Ball with him.

I started to tear up......

Cary gave in.....temporary as may have been.....

he caved.

Of course....just like a man...

he was trying to get me to promise that we could leave early after making an appearance.

He said we could still meet with his friends later-

after the party.

I was standing my ground...

I wanted to dance and stay until dawn if the party lasted that long.

And then...... 

Cary pulls up in this!!!!!

He knew this would send me right over the edge.

"NO WAY" I said,

I am not going to The Willow Ball in that crazy sardine can car.

"I won't I tell you, 

I WON'T!!!!"

Well....I did and we arrived right on time.

You should have seen the movies stars that were there!!!

You still can if you go here.

Don't you know, Cary decided to dance like a mad man.

With, or without me.

I asked him to stop and spend some time with me....

He did.

Honestly, it is almost impossible to say no to him.

Could you???? 

We were definitely not having our best night together!!! 

He was still working on me to leave and meet up with his friends.

I was standing my ground.

Cary said..."You said you wanted to dance"

"Now let's dance!"

After a few rounds on the dance floor and drinks with his fellow movie star friends,

I agreed to leave.

In spite of our emotionally charged night, 

the party was outstanding and Willow had amazing food, drink and beautiful decor.

Her Manor Home rivaled Mara Largo for entertaining.

 

We gracefully said our goodbyes and thanked Willow for inviting us (ME).

Cary then drove me home in the sardine can car......

10 seconds long

See how the evening ended in this video.

My question to you is this;

'Could you say no to Cary?'

I hope you visit the Willow Ball.

Renee Finberg 'TELLS ALL' in her BLOG..... Interior Design, Palm Beach, Boca Raton,Ft.Lauderdale,Design Service, Window Treatments, TurnKey Interior Design Service,Paint selection, Floor-Plans,Online Interior Design, Design Center of The Americas, D.C.O.T.A., The Willow Ball