1. LEATHER SLIP-COVERED DINING CHAIRS
These relaxed leather slip-covered dining chairs have an elegance to them that is easily matched in practicality. They have casters, and a breakaway cushion under your legs, so there is not a hard block under the back of your knee. A dream to sit in and look at! Love the look! I’ve got 6 coming in an off-white leather.

2. COFFEE TABLE FROM BLISS STUDIO
This table gets extra credit points by adding the interesting circular detailed pattern in the cutwork on top of the table and continuing it in the base. It’s anything but basic!

3. SOMERSET BAY
I love this little console from Somerset Bay. It will tuck in about everywhere, in just about any home. It is great in an entry, a hallway, a vestibule, or under artwork in a living room. It’s uses are endless and this classic style could work in any home!

4. THE POUF OTTOMAN FROM CISCO BROTHERS – POUF 43 IN ROUND OTTOMAN
The Pouf is genius! I am so happy to enlist this new design trick to our repertoire. It’s genius. All those seams and pulled tufting on a radial dome! That’s a whole lot of figuring. It’s useful and fun to look at!

5. VAGABOND TARP PILLOWS
Truck tarps cut to look like European Country flags in neutrals. Raw edges, versatile styling and hardwearing. I’ll take oodles of ‘em!

6. THE LUCCIA SOFA FROM CISCO BROTHERS
High end casual – that’s the look + the quality and all the design points! I couldn’t resist it and you all are going to love it too! She should be here in about six weeks!

7. ANKASA BEDDING
We couldn’t resist this fashion forward line of amazing, luxe pillows and bedding. Textures, and intricate details I’ve never seen! All of these impossible details have been incorporated into gowns for academy awards – and they have put their skill to use in this beautiful line for the home.

8. LOUNGE CHAIRS
We bought a pair of these chairs. It was an emotional decision! I LOVE everything about these. There’s a grace about them. Their creamy tone makes them a bit softer and they could be paired with linen for a causal sophisticated space.

9. OLY STUDIO’S NEW PHILIP DINING TABLE
Love at first sight! Absolute design perfection! I can’t wait to use this in a project! I already have the client…

10. LOUNGE CHAIRS FROM CISCO BROTHERS
I loved looking at them. I loved sitting in them. These chairs are sooo special! I didn’t do them in the cotton velvet shown but a crisp linen blend perfect for the warmer weather!

Hey y’all! Greetings from the South! Adam and I are in North Carolina this week shopping the High Point Market. We wanted to share a few photos (we are taking with our iPhones) of what we are seeing and buying.

We are seeing a lot of relaxed looks. Even the high end is more buttoned down and casual. And let me say, what a great way to live. Comfortable. The wood finishes are reclaimed, bleached, carused, pickled, white-washed, and grayed out. The fabrics are soft, natural textures. Linens, wovens, velvets, leathers – attention is still in the details – but overall the affect is relaxed.

We are meeting a lot of the tastemakers down here:

Thomas O-Brien – the man who made Vintage Modern so very popular. He has a line of rugs through Safavieh as well as a new book out called “American Modern”. (He signed his book for me and I got a little shy – Here’s the photo!)

Thom Filicia (Queer Eye for the Straight Guy) – Just introduced a bold new eclectic vintage-inspired line through Vanguard. You’ve NEVER seen furniture like this before! I’m stoked to bring it to you. (We talked design with Thom for a good while, I even got a kiss on the cheek when we said goodbye. I dig that guy!)

Laura Kirar introduced a new nature inspired line of accessories and lamps through Arteriors. SO inspiring!

I can hardly wait till it all shows up at Alice Lane so I can share it with all of you! You’re gonna love it too!

Congratulations to Marta!

Keep watching for more giveaways, design tips and fresh ideas!

Today is the last day to leave a comment to enter our giveaway for THIS lovely pillow.

The winner will be announced tomorrow!

Good luck and Happy Friday!

What could be smarter than using a map as artwork?

[photos by Nicole Hill Gerulat]

The older the better! Use it as a great conversation piece. Use it to tell your story, where you’ve been, where your people are from, where you’ve traveled. It will make your room look smart, give it some history, and a sense of your well-traveled past and hopes for the future.

[photo from Elle Decor]

The other nice thing about maps are, they are usually big, which stretches your eye in a space and makes it feel even bigger.

[photos by Nicole Hill Gerulat]

We’ve hung this old map of Paris behind one of the beds at the store and it is a room changer! It brought that bed into another hemisphere. It has never looked more gorgeous!!! Try this trick at home in your own space.

[photo from Elle Decor]

Great in a home office, kids bedroom, family room… I have a set of 8 framed sections of one big map in my master bedroom. It’s dreamy! I can’t think of a room that a map wouldn’t add interest and a level of thoughtfulness to.

It’s that time again but this time we are doing something a little bit different…

We are loving all of the great pillows that we have right now and one lucky winner will be able to indulge in this lovely pillow! The coloring and style are so versatile, it will look great in any space!

Enter to win by following these rules:

• - Follow this blog and leave us a comment.
• - For an extra entry, post this giveaway on your blog, Facebook, Twitter, etc. Just copy the link into your comment on this post so that we can see it and your name will be entered twice.

The giveaway ends Friday, April 16th, the winner will be chosen at random and announced on Saturday, April 17th. Please leave your email address so that we can contact you! Good luck!

[photos by Ashlee Raubach]

The right throw pillows have solved a lot of design dilemmas for us. They can relate the sofa to the rug and/or other elements in the design scheme. Pillows connect the dots, so to speak. Pillows can animate a boring sofa and bring to life. They can update a room and introduce a new trend. They visually soften a space. Pillows add personality. Pillows can transform with the seasons. Add warmth and texture, or cool it down and add shimmer. They are the jewelry in the room. That finishing touch. That great pair of earrings and big bangle bracelet you always get complimented on – that is what the right pillows can do for your space.

Here are a few very important things when buying pillows: Use down inserts. If your pillow didn’t come with a down insert, replace it with a down insert. Otherwise your pillows are being used as a decoration, instead of adding comfort to your seat. And what’s the point of that?

[photos by Ashlee Raubach]

Almost always buy big pillows! 22″ to 24″ are my favorite for 98% of all sofas. People often use too many small pillows, and it adds visual clutter. If you’ll start with 2 large 24″ pillows in each corner and step down from there, you’ll find you may only need one or two more. Its not important to be symmetrical in laying out your pillows. You want it to look interesting and collected. Buying the right quality pillows, with genuine textures; hair on hide, woven leathers, furs, shell details, wovens, velvets, will give your decor a feeling of luxury and authenticity. It’s one area you don’t want to skimp. It’s the finishing layer – make it shine.

[photos by Nicole Hill Gerulat]

[photos by Ashlee Raubach]