Friday Musings: Equestrian Style, Part 2

Here they are, my very fashionable Grandparents. The top two pictures are the Conrads, Walter "Gramps" and Lillian "Nanna". Gramps is the man who taught me everything I know about horses, but I have to say, the only boots I ever saw him wear were cowboy, but he pulled off the lace up look quite well!

Nannas pants look to be true jodhpurs with the traditional hip flair. I love how Nanna & Gramps both have a little bit of their winter socks peeking out at the top, something I think we will be seeing in the upcoming seasons, not to mention the Buffalo Plaid she is sporting.

The other pictures are of the Brennans, Ed "Grandpa" and Hellen "Grandma". Grandpa and Grandma used to take weekend drives for picnics, and they always dressed well for them. I am not aware of Grandma and Grandpa ever riding horses, they certainly were not equestrians, but they looked fabulous for their outings.

I miss my Grandparents dearly, but I am so happy to have these photos to help influence my style. Now, time to start shopping for my jodhpurs and lace up boots!

This is how I remember Gramps :)

Food for Thought:

I was on the road for over 6 hours today. After a bag of Jack Links Sweet & Spicy jerky and a bag of almonds, all I want is a a salad, well, salad and a loaf of Ciabatta. I made a pit-stop at Whole Foods... :)

Let Me Just Say Wow...Grey

I am a huge fan of grey, it is the most versatile and hip neutral around. Yes, it is sexy, it is also glamorous and grown-up. It can be paired with a bright color such as yellow, coral or turquoise, but when paired with a bright color, it helps to ground it. It is gorgeous with smokey plum, and I am going to do a grey, smokey plum and coral scheme...someday! I am doing a grey room for some clients, but it will be grey, ivory and a touch of turquoise, some black lacquer and a touch of gild.

The room above is a classic elegant contemporary style. I love the 50's glam of the accent chairs and the casual fun texture of the side table.

The screen wall behind the bed is fabulous. The clean lines of this room are very sophisticated, possibly a little more manly for some, but it could be feminized with a lovely hand painted silk on the screen.

Again, this dining room is quite classy and contemporary with the clean lines, the pop of ivory with different shades of grey.

Ahhh, the pop of coral, the contemporary table and art, I cannot imagine a more fitting color for the backdrop. And those side chairs, gorgeous curves, I need to do more research to see what they are made of, they are fantastic! Can you picture with a touch of plum? I can ;)

My fondness for yellow and grey is no secret. This bed and bath is simply stunning! I do love the yellow barn door...and the nubby throw, the little chandi over the tub...what a great design.

Trend Tuesday: Equestrian Style, PART 1

In a recent http://style.com/, Trends + Shopping, equestrian style was featured in the mood for. The equestrian trend that will be quite prominent this fall has been on the scene before, I believe Ralph Lauren does something equestrian every season. I have always been a fan of equestrian attire, even though I ride western, I love riding boots and I think I will have to add a pair of jodhpurs to my wardrobe this year.

This blog is actually going to be a two-parter. While visiting the parents this weekend, we went through some old pictures. Many of the pictures were of my Grandpa and Grandma, and let me just say they were some hip and trendy peeps! I will do a follow up blog on Friday after I get back to the office where I can scan the fabulous photos.

More on Friday...

Fab Find of the Week: Korakia Pensione

One of my favorite blogs, http://andreareh.blogspot.com/, often talks about hotels and pools. Andrea shares the same passion for being a proprietress of a "hotel/motel, Holiday Inn", sorry I digress...anyway, I have a passion for Palm Springs. "It" was the place to be. Being able to walk out your patio door to the pool, what could be better?

Korakia Pensione is in Palm Springs. I am loving the courtyard and the Mediterranean vibe that this hotel has. It was named as one of the "Sexiest Hotels" by Forbes Travel, and yes, I would have to agree. The pool, the spa, the grounds, the rooms, this is a "must do" for me! The rooms are gorgeous and they do movies outdoors, the classics.

! Next blog on Korakia Pensione, http://www.korakia.com/, will be while I am there!

Blog Break

Hello my readers. I took Thursday and Friday off for family reasons. I will be back Monday with a "Fab Find".

Have a great weekend :)

Let Me Just Say Wow...Domino Archives

I prefer to have my blog written by 5 p.m., but after 5 has its perks, I get to enjoy a glass of deliciously refreshing Mediterranean white ;) I had a busy day today preparing a style board for a client, but luckily I spotted this room yesterday while doing research. This "casually elegant" apartment was created by the owner herself, fashion designer, Beth Blake.

I am a huge fan of casual elegance, also known as "contemporary elegance" in my language. This room is so beautiful, yet comfortable and sexy. The sofa and snakeskin coffee table, sexy. The goat-hair rug is scrumptious, and sexy, I just want to be barefoot on it. I swear the mirror was made for that wall and the mantel...fantastic arrangement! We don't often see lamps on a mantel, we should, and I promise to do my part, to bring "sexy back" to interiors and find homes for lamps on mantels.

Trend Tuesday: "DISCONTINUED"

Today's trend was not exactly a good one, but it was mine. The console above was from West Elm. It was the perfect console for a client, but it is "gone, baby gone". After another hour of searching the world wide web for a rattan console...I found a fabulous substitute, not rattan, but fabulous nonetheless, at Crate & Barrel.

Now the console was not as tough of a find as the chair. I wanted a certain look: wicker or some woven grass with wood and removable cushions to re-upholster. After many hours of shopping, I stumbled upon this one from Grandin Road. The name of the chair, "Tamara", search over, NOT...

I did find another, but man, what a frustrating day. I do not likey the "DISCONTINUED" trend, this is a trend that needs to be banned to the island!

Fab Find of the Week: Vetiver

Vetiver is a grass that comes from India. It is a fragrant grass that is used in many, and I mean many, fragrances. The root of this grass is where the essential oil is derived. The Vetiver root is also used for mats. In South Asia, these mats are hung in doorways and kept moist. When wind from outside or from a fan passes through the mat, it actually cools the room. Cooling combined with the fragrance, the Vetiver mat is a cooler and room freshener all in one!

When I saw that Gaiam, www.gaiam.com, had a bath mat made from Vetiver, I had to say "brilliant"! The Vetiver fragrance is released from the mat each time you step on it after a shower and it's a great for exfoliating your feet, fabulous!

Friday Musings: Novica

I discovered Novica, http://www.novica.com/, this past Christmas. I made Mom a necklace for her birthday and I thought earrings to accompany it would be a good gift from Pa Pa. An amazing Alpaca poncho (for moi) and three fabulous pair of earrings later...

Novica, in association with National Geographic, is a site that gives "artists and artisans around the world a global platform". The items are unique and you can actually learn about the artisans themselves. There is such a vast variety of goods available, take a look, jewelry, clothing, home decor and much more. I have my eye on a few cuffs, including the one above, hint, hint.
I am loving this painting and this side table is so freaking adorable!

Food for Thought: Taco Trucks!

Porter, my four legged assistant, and I love Thursdays. We spend the afternoon at the Colorado Horse Rescue, then cool off with a beer at Oskar Blues with Aunty Al. Now Oskar's has very tasty food which I nibble on from time to time, but Thursday is "Taco Truck Day", and has been for three years now, when they don't hide on me!

Since leaving Northern San Diego County I have missed many things, friends, family, the beach, Trader Joes and Juanitas in Leucadia. But I am happy to report that when a friend and I stopped at "Dos de Oros" on Colfax one day, it was love at first bite! The Carne Asada is fantastic, although my regular (they see me coming and have it ready for me!) is a bean and cheese burrito. Bean and cheese burrito and jalapeno carrots, gotta have the carrots! There were times in Cali that I would be craving the carrots and had to buy a burrito since the carrots were gratis.

This is not my taco truck, this is one in San Francisco. If you happen to see this one, or one wherever you are, I highly recommend giving it a try, it's a truly yummy addiction...

Enjoy!

Let Me Just Say Wow...Modern Country

I wanted to go through some magazines for ideas today, but I have gone through all of my current ones, since there are not many available anymore. There are however some great ones online, but I wanted to be outside and since I still have a connection that comes out of the wall and plugs into my computer...I'm so old fashioned! However, I am happy to say that my tastes are not old fashioned. Some of the ideas I liked back then, well, me likey no more. I even had a mag from 1991, it provided not one tear sheet. I forgot how popular maple was, it was everywhere!

I did find this cute little modern country room in "Country Home", July/August 2003 that would absolutely work nowadays as well. The comfortable slipcover sofa; the mid-century stainless steel industrial carts; the straight lines of the 1920's garden chairs; the very contemporary glass cocktail table; the fabulous texture of the jute rug and the coir panels. I absolutely love the coir mesh panels! I immediately jumped online to find the coir mesh and believe it or not, they are used in landscaping to keep the ground from eroding, huh, who would have thought?

I already have a project that I want to use them in, the Rocky Mtn. contemporary/beach home. The windows are tall and privacy isn't a priority, so I am going to pair the coir mesh with sheer white panels, talk about texture! I better come up with other uses since I will be getting 216' of this stuff (www.greenhousemegastore.com), maybe I should do some landscaping on the side?

Trend Tuesday: Moroccan Poufs

After my Fab Find of Moroccan sofas yesterday, I thought I would run with the additional fab find of the pouf. The pouf, along with the Chinese garden stool, with its ever changing look, make eye catching additions to rooms of any style. The pouf's above were used in somewhat traditionally classic living room in the home of George Stephanopolous and Ali Wentworth, featured in the May 2009, "Elle Decor".

This lovely room above was designed by the fabulous Kelly Wearstler.

The pouf is so versatile. It can be used as a side table, an ottoman for your feet or tush, and all the while it serves as an eye catching accessory being that it is available in a rather wide range of colors.

These may not be the traditional leather Moroccan pouf, but they are still fabulous! Photo courtesy of the much beloved and missed "Metropolitan Home".

Fab Find of the Week: Moroccan Sofas

While doing idea research for a client today, I came across this nifty sofa. I for one am a big fan of single cushion sofas, and tufting, and this one is no exception. This sofa was designed by Steven Gambrel and was featured in "House Beautiful", August 2009, for a home he designed in Southampton, New York. The "Glover" sofa just looks so inviting upholstered in John Robshaw's Gent's Stripe, but it would be equally fantastic in a lovely dove grey velvet, for a more formal, glam room.

When I find something fabulous, especially something custom designed, my instinct is to find a more accessible alternative...AND I DID
This fantastic alternative pictured above is available from http://www.tazidesigns.com/. They have many designs to choose from, not to mention some great Moroccan Leather Poufs and lots of other goodies. The sofa above is called "The Caravan", $1,600, available in camel or white...love, love, love it!

Food for Thought: Movie Fare

I have to say that one of the greatest things about Summer is outdoor movies. I for one plan on having an "outdoor theater" someday, but for now, the amazing Red Rocks venue will absolutely do! We here in the Denver area are lucky to have this phenomenal amphitheater, too bad Mother Nature wasn't in the mood for an outdoor movie the other night.

When we arrived at Red Rocks it was a bit breezy and there were a few rain drops, but we had great seats with the city of Denver as the backdrop for the big screen. Fortunately we were able to eat our picnic supper; Turkey Sandwiches, Marinated Asparagus and Cracked Pepper and Sea Salt Chips, before the wind picked up and started hurling empty cups at our heads!

The adventure was fun, but the blanket and umbrella just weren't enough to stave off Mother Nature. I sensed Mr. Tucker had had enough and was over the adventure, he had and was. So we waved our black and white checkered cloth napkins and surrendered to Ms. Nature...but we'll be back!

Smoked Turkey, Blue Cheese and Red Onion Sandwiches, "bon appetit", Sept. 2008

• 1 1/2 tablespoons olive oil
• 2 8 to 10 ounce red onions, cut into 1/3-inch thick rounds
• 3 1/2 tablespoons red wine vinegar
• 6 cups trimmed large arugula leaves, divided
• 3/4 cup mayonnaise
• Bread of choice, wheat, ciabatta, etc. (I used French bread)
• 12 ounces thinly slice smoked turkey
• 3/4 cup crumbled blue cheese

Heat oil in large nonstick skillet over med-high heat. Add onions and saute until soft and lightly browned, breaking up onion rings, about 8 minutes. Remove from heat; stir in vinegar and season to taste with salt and pepper.

Chop enough arugula to measure 1 cup; place in medium bowl. Mix in mayonnaise. Season with salt and pepper. Spread about 1 1/2 tablespoons arugula mayonnaise over each cut side of bread. Divide turkey slices among 4 bread slices. Top with crumbled blue cheese, dividing equally. Top with red onions, then whole arugula leaves and bread.

Enjoy!

Let Me Just Say Wow...Sexy Interiors

After coming across this bathroom in "Thom Filicia Style", it got me thinking. This is not the 1st time I have written about "sexy interiors", so I think this will definitely be a reoccurring subject, and a focus for my business. Sexy interiors are made up of different components; warm, sleek, comfortable, dark, smooth, reflective and texture to start with.

Let's begin with warm: the walls practically hug you with their honey color. I'm not sure of the material, but it is natural, perhaps bamboo. The soaking tub is sleek yet warm being that it is copper, and the mesh lampshade! Thom said it best, "...a wire mesh shade becomes lingerie for your lighting.", indeed! The mirrored tile border at the top of the walls is stunning, along with the leaning wall mirror, they make up the sleek, reflective and smooth elements of sexy. Comfortable, the tub naturally, soaking tubs are amazing. Dark, well, even though the room is unbelievably warm there are still some dark elements to it as well. So many different textures make up this fabulous bathroom.


The dining room above was designed by Madeline Stuart for Dan and Luana Romanelli. No, this room really has no dark elements to it, but I can just picture it at night, naturally dark with fantastic lighting. The warmth and texture of the different woods and textured light walls, add to the comfort of the room. The gilded lamps, mirror and crystal chandelier are not only shiny and reflective, but they bring a touch of elegance to a rather non-formal, comfortable and laid back dining room. Absolutely inviting.

I was reminded of the beauty and importance of mirrors today while I was at Blondies (Cherry Creek North) getting a fabulous haircut by Cameron. Blondies has large framed mirrors leaning on almost every wall in the salon. Simply put, mirrors are sexy. Mirrors help us to see who we truly are, inside and out. They feed our confidence, and confidence is sexy.

Trend Tuesday: Bringing the Outdoors In

I think it is fantastic that the lines between indoors and outdoors have been blurred. The metal chairs above were originally used outdoors in a garden, but look so cool indoors around a big heavy dining table. Bringing the outdoors in just creates amazing texture, without trying too hard. The chairs above are from http://www.finecountryfurniture.com/, $157.00 per chair, great price.

This rug with it's snazzy zebra pattern is actually an outdoor rug available from http://www.ballarddesigns.com/, $59.00 to $549.00. While an outdoor rug may not be the best choice for comfort in a family or living room, they are great in the dining area, especially for families with small children, take it out and hose it off.

This wicker bar cart would look just as good inside as it does outside, again, it's all about texture. Bar cart from www.potterybarn.com, $299.00.

Fab Find of the Week: Utility Bags

I, like the majority of our female population, have a thing for handbags. I use a different bag every month and when my go-to June bag (a dragonfly silk messenger bag from Chinatown in N.Y.C.) had a blowout, I did some shopping. There are of course some fabulous designer handbags out there, but when you change your bag out monthly, well, it is not economically sound. Not to mention I like things that are different, like me! I have been coveting the bag above for some time now. It is designed in Australia, inspired by the bags that ranchers use in the outback. It can absolutely be dressed up with a scarf, a couple of broaches, or a flower pin, if one so desires. The price of this fabulous bag is a jaw dropping $69.95, available at http://www.backinthesaddle.com/.

The next great "non-handbag" option are the tool bags from Klein, another must have for me. The "camo" bag will be great for fall, available in three sizes, prices ranging from $52.00 to $59.75. I absolutely adore the stylish utilitarian looks of the Klein bags and talk about sturdy. The bag below is available in various sizes with prices from $48.75 to $58.25.

The Klein tool bags can be found at www.mytoolstore.com.

Food for Thought: Cherries & Ice Cream

There are so many wonderful things about Summer; the weather, flip flops, dining al fresco, outdoor movies, to name a few, and fruit. There are so many delicious options of fruit, be it melon, nectarines, plums and an absolute fave, cherries, and when you combine cherries with ice cream...

One of my fondest and funnest memories as a kid was sunning (hey, I was 7) with Linda, our longtime family friend, and eating Cherry Bordeaux ice cream while lounging on the patio. This is when my love of cherry ice cream started, thank you Linda.

There are many flavors of ice cream that I like, but French Vanilla is the preferred flavor in Summer so I can top it with berry sauce or cherry sauce. Cherries, aside from being delicious, also have another benefit, that of a natural sleep-aid, they contain melatonin. So what better sleep aid exists other than a bowl of vanilla ice cream with cherry sauce?

Frozen Dole cherries are great to use for the sauce...

• 1/2 cup of apple juice
• 1/8 cup of sugar
• 1 tablespoon of lemon juice
• 2 cups of cherries

In a saucepan over med-high heat, combine the apple juice, lemon juice and sugar. Bring to a boil; stir until sugar dissolves. Reduce heat to low-med.; stir in cherries. Cook about 7 minutes or until cherries breakdown a bit. Remove from heat and let cool. Makes 8, 1/4 cup servings.

Sweet dreams...enjoy!