So with Lulu DK on my mind lately (see yesterday's post), I was on her blog and read that she was showing a small amount of her work at Clic Gallery in Easthampton. Being right up the street from me, I had to jump in the car to go take a look!






I walked right in to see some of the best design books staring back at me. Of course, leave it to Christiane Celle (of Calypso St. Barth's fame) to open a gallery that displays books with the same thought as the art! I always love forward facing book shelves!





Notice the Damien Hirst skateboard on the top shelf (upper right) hanging out amongst this very well curated selection of books? I love how it seems so casually placed.





Behold the Lulu piece! Even from afar it's so amazing.





With birds, bathing beauties, beasts, and beautiful flowers, this piece entitled "Hello Minerva" would make me feel like smiling and dancing every time I looked at it. There is such a festive tone to it, don't you think?











Clic also had these awesome pieces by surfer Tony Caramanico. He kept his surf journal from the 60's and a few years ago, he began blowing up, digitally printing, framing and selling the pages.





I mean, talk about inspiring me to step it up on the journal keeping! These are AWESOME in person!

One of my favorite go-to books for inspiration is LULU by textile designer and artist extraordinare Lulu De Kwiatkowski. It's packed with her amazing collages that depict her magical and worldy childhood and tell a very unique design story from her point of view. In a recent revisit to the book, I was drawn to a specific Bohemian-esque collage and it prompted me to find some pretty fabulous coordinating items to start an inspiration board with...check it out.




Dream



Speak



Reflect



Think



Shine



Glide



Sit



Dance



Relax



Lounge



Sparkle

Mary, Mary,



quite contrary,



how does your garden grow?



With silver bells



and cockle shells



and pretty maids



all



in



a



row.

1. Calypso Cocktails Sale

Shop in any of the six Hamptons locations and save 20% off of your purchase!
Click here for details.



2. Opening of the FEED Projects Temporary Shop

Lauren Bush and Cynthia Rowley celebrate the opening from 6:00pm-8:00pm at the Cynthia Rowley store in Montauk. The temporary shop will be around until July 7th.
Click here for details.


3. The Nature Conservancy's 10th Annual Beaches and Bays Gala

The gala will be held at 7 p.m. on the beautiful grounds of the Conservancy’s offices at the Center for Conservation. Longtime trustee Barbara Slifka, whose extraordinary support of local and global conservation work is unparalleled, is being honored. This event es especially important to me because I bought my old house (the one that's shown in the current issue) from Barbara Slifka!
Click here for details.



4. Southampton Antique Fair

At the Southampton Antique Fair you'll be able to find antiques, furniture, jewelry, vintage clothing, glass, ceramics, artwork, and a variety of collectables from 9:00am-3:00pm.
Click here for more details.



...Staying in Manhattan this weekend?

5. The Veuve Clicquot Polo Classic on Governor's Island

This is one of the most highly-anticipated events of the season, attracting a fashionable crowd from around the globe, and featuring the glamour and excitement of polo, “the sport of kings.”
Click here for more information.

How is it that it only takes us a few seasons to forget how to acclimate to the other seasons??? I always forget how much STUFF that a family of three needs during the summer! From carrying anything from snacks to sun tan lotion, it's important to have the perfect beach tote to ensure that all belongings are accounted for and stylishly being held. Here are a few of my personal faves!



Here's the bag I just bought for the summer. It's called the "Goldie" by Beau Soleil and it's made out of 100% undyed cotton canvas and undyed recycled rope handles! The only downside is that it's on back order until July 15th. I want it now!



LeSportsac is always a brand to rely on! This great-sized, durable "Erika Contrast Tote" looks tough enough to withstand the sand and maybe even a two-year-old!



Talk about a conversation piece. Not only does this Sea Bags Large Surf Tote draw attention for it's cool "SURF" detail, but it's also made out of 100% recycled sails.



Free City is one of my favorite brands because it's made in the U.S.A, and it's also pretty darn cool. I love this casual Life Nature Love Tote for a quick trip to the store or a long day at the beach.



Now here's the way to tote in style. This Pucci Foresta Print Beach Tote is entrancing. No need to fear, it's made of coated canvas to keep it's precious Pucci surface clean and safe!



I love this J. Crew Seaside Tote because it's so versatile. It's neutral enough to work with any outfit (or swimsuit for that matter) and the gold handle adds a nice flair!



No one says sand and surf better than Roxy. This Wild Side Bag in Hot Lava Pink is so fun and I like the fact that is has a closure so no sand comes home with you.

Our current issue has a resounding spin-art theme. Therefore, I thought it was appropriate to give a little credit to the Spin Art King himself: Damien Hirst. Hirst is one of the most wonderfully controversial artists but also produces such whimsical, beautiful pieces with no sense of anger...go figure! Check out our new slideshow in the MEDIA ROOM to learn more about this amazing artist and to see some of my favorites pieces of his incredible works of art!

Our friend Nedra over at Jennifer Delonge in California wrote us an e-mail a few weeks ago telling us that one of her close friends called her and relayed the above story to her. Little did she know that Nedra actually knew me and knew all about the spin art party! Both Nedra and I thought the coincidence was all too funny and I had to share! I love that Felicity let the spirit grab her and started making impromptu art! I guess the lesson here is to use washable paints when spinning in case the rhythm hits ya!



Nedra's friend's daughter Felicity looking very sweet and innocent while showing off her spin art. :) Her incriminating handprints were all over the wall-I love it!



If you look REALLY close, you can see the blue handprints still lingering on the wall. Anyone else get inspired by our trip to the park?

As seen in the KITCHEN this volume, my daughter always eats our homemade popsicles. Although sometimes I wish she could eat popsicles for every meal, the mother in me tells me that's NOT ok. I must admit that I have considered a spinach popsicle, but I can't figure out a way to make it a different color! What is it with kids and the color green as related to food that makes them go "yuck"? There should be a study! I wonder if Nate's mom had this much trouble getting him to eat something green? My daughter is definitely a very picky eater so I'm constantly trying to come up with new and innovative ways to get her to eat. Here are some fun things I've seen in my research.

Above: Panda Pancakes! I might skip the chocolate smile because if I know my daughter, she would lick it off and say, "I'm all done!" Other than that, these would make for a fun and delicious breakfast.



The Nick Junior website has such fun recipes based off of their many children's shows (all of which I've memorized the theme songs to). Left is a Diego-inspired veggie snack and right is a healthy fruit depiction of Tasha from the Backyardigans.



So while we may ooo and ahhh at the look of these crispy aquatic treats, my daughter would never eat them without the ketchup, that's why I use Annie's Natural Organic Ketchup or Organic Ville Organic Ketchup, which is sweetened with Agave. There have even been studies that show that Organic Ketchup can help prevent against certain cancers. For more information on this, just google "organic ketchup". You will find plenty!



My daughter absolutely loves hummus, it's my "go to food" for her. I love the idea of doing something fun like "hummus pizza" to make it different. So cute AND it's organic!...getting her to eat the olives, now that's a different story! Maybe Nate's mom cut his into shapes of furniture that he could rearrange around the plate?

CELEBRATE NATE BERKUS DAY! :)

It is no secret that almost all of the best product lines come from interior designers themselves. Take for instance, Jennifer Delonge in this issue's Guest House or Jonathan Adler whose chairs are featured in our Family Room. These two have really raised the bar on the way we think about "children's" furniture!

I can't wait to see who comes out with a new fabulous line next. For now, I wanted to share a few of my top picks with you. Whose line or products are your favorites?

Above image is The Regale Armchair from Bunny Williams' Beeline Home Collection.




Laura Kirar's entire collection for Baker is amazing, but the Syro Chandelier is definitely my favorite!



Jamie Drake, like me, is a designer who isn't afraid to use color! His fabric line with Schumacher is no exception.





Only Thomas O'Brien could make a cotton jar sexy! I wouldn't want my cotton to live anywhere else.



It's hard to choose which one of Kelly Wearstler's lines I love the most. I think I like them all equally! I do think that it's difficult to find an eye catching rug so I appreciate the fact that she sprinkled some of her magic designer dust with her rug collection for Patterson, Flynn, Martin.

A few weeks ago, a friend of mine called upon me for some design advice. She asked "My boyfriend is redoing his guest room and wants to make it more beachy looking. We're looking for nice pillow covers for the day bed. Any suggestions?" I was informed that the current situation invovled approximately 15 current throw pillows of all different shapes and sizes! So, I thought it would be nice to suggest both brand spanking new pillows and also some pillow covers to be able to reuse what they already have. My suggestion would be to start off with two larger Euro Shams, and build upon those with approximately four decorative pillows, and anchor the daybed with two bolster pillows.If I had one bigger suggestion, it would be to paint the daybed white, but sometimes that's just not an option. So, without being able to do all that, I think these will make it work!

Here are some of my favorite options. I hope they work not only for the designing girlfriend in distress, but for everyone!















 

Sometimes I feel like I just can't keep up with keeping up with my home library! Everyone I turn around, there's another amazing book that has hit the shelves. I shared with you a few of my favorite colorful books to brighten up your coffee table, but now I have a few more to add to that vibrant list.

The above book, Product Design in the Sustainable World from Taschen is being released this month. With almost 200 pages of new sustainable products held within the boundaries of it's cover, I'm anxiously awaiting it's arrival!



This amazing Pucci book is definitely on my birthday, holiday, and plain old wish list. The limited edition book, which comes out in July, comes in a variety of Pucci fabrics! The inside doesn't sound too shabby either-it contains drawings, photographs, and candid shots from the Pucci archives.



We'll all have to wait until Fall for Stanley Jones and the Curwen Studio" target="_blank">this book, but it sounds like it will be way worth it. It chronicles the development of the career of Stanley Jones as an artist printmaker and includes famous works by names such as Henry Moore, Paula Rego, David Hockney, Ken Kiff, Elisabeth Frink, Barbara Hepworth, Ceri Richards and Man Ray

Public Architecture Now! is a brand new book that is now available by Taschen. It features some of the most unique public spaces all around the world. Not only will it look good on your coffee table, but it's sure to keep all of your guests intrigued.

Check out our recently updated I LOVE THESE: Books section for these fantastic titles and many more!

If you've seen the Kitchen in the current issue, you know that I'm a huge advocate of feeding my daughter healthy popsicles. She loves them and I love that she's eating something healthy. But what about us adults? With Summer approaching, I found some tantalizing recipes for popsicles that grown-ups can enjoy too!

The above popsicles are Margarita Popsicles! Click here for the recipe.



This Bellini Pop has peaches, sugar, lemon juice, and Prosecco. It's like your own little slice of Italy...on a stick!



These hip Martini Popsicles can be found at At Beverly Hills Hotel and Bungalows’ Bar NINETEEN12. Although, at $20 a pop (pun intended) I might have to try and coin my own version!



These Lemon-Vodka Cream Pops sound a bit decadent to me, but when you're in a "let them eat cake!" kind of mood, they sound like the perfect treat.



For those health nuts out there, or those who want a frosty treat in the middle of the day and don't abide by the "it's 5 o'clock somewhere" philosophy, try these delicious Protein Smoothie Popsicles. They sound like the ideal treat for a post workout cool-down!

With the recent passing of Memorial Day, I can't help but be giddy about the Summer and all of the delicious summertime things that are to come.I can't wait to be able to lay by the pool! In fact, I was talking to an architect friend of mine about pools the other day and he gushed over the ones designed by the late architect John Lautner.Of course, I had to look him up, and when I did, I melted. So, without further ado, here's some eye candy to supress your Monday woes!

(Note: Above image is of the Elrod House in Palm Springs, Ca. built by Lautner in 1968)





The Mar Brisas House (also known as the Arango Residence) is located in Acapulco, Mexico and was built in 1973 for Mexican supermarket magnate Jeronimo Arango. This paradise of a residence is 25,000 square feet! Lautner built the swimming pool in line with the beach below.



Another amazing view of the upper terrace and the pool.



Yet another spectacular view of the home. The curvature, made of poured concrete is incredible!

To see more tantalizing images of pools, check out all of the pool books featured in the Home Office.

Check out our favorites to purchase Earth and Heaven: The Architecture of John Lautner.

When I was looking for Bedroom Art for the latest issue I stumbled upon one of my favorite sites, www.nonchalantmom.com and I saw her feature on children's portraits. She featured some truly talented artists, like the above Karim Hamid.

I was inspired to put my fingers to the keyboard and see just who else is out there creating awesome children's portraits. I mean, who better to look at when you wake up than your own child?

Here's what I found:



This was one of my absolutely favorite finds! I mean, how cool is it to be able to turn your own kid into a cartoon?? I'm pretty sure they would think it was equally as entertaining.



Those eyes! Those curls! Ok so this little girl is clearly a great subject but artist Tracey Costescu did a beautiful job of capturing her essence.



I'm not surprised that I found this fun custom silhouette on Etsy. It seems like that's where all of the coolest stuff comes from! You can have one made in any color under the sun. My problem would be stopping at just one. :)



Portrait artist Stephen Bennett is clearly handy with a paintbrush. I love the way his portraits all have a prismatic glow, it's like a subtle Warhol effect!

I received the following email last week from a friend who is expecting:

"...everyone keeps telling me i must get a glider to rock the baby, with a high enough back for head support...and as far as i can see from my research..they are all soooooo ugly."

I can certainly agree with her! Everyone agrees that gliders are the best option for comfort, and believe me, you will spend a lot of time in whatever chair you decide on as a new parent! I have spent several overnights in mine. When it comes to finding a stylish one, it's slim pickings!

Luckily, I found the Presidio from Serena & Lily, as featured in the Bedroom Essentials list of the current issue. It's sleek, simple, and best of all it comes in customizable colors! Just when you thought it didn't get any better...it comes with a matching customizable ottoman too!I found four more that will rock your world as well!


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Here are four of my other favorite gliders:



The Clayton Adult Glider from PoshTots is sleek and sophisticated. It's the perfect happy medium for anyone with a Nursery or Bedroom that's on the border line of modern and traditional, also known as transitional.

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The Luxe Glider by Jennifer Delonge comes in a plethera of amazing colors. It's tailored but has just enough attitude to stand out amongst the crowd! I wouldn't expect anything less from Jennifer Delonge.

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The Monte Luca Glider by Genes has nice lines and a tall supportive back. I would definitely get a slip cover made that I could a)clean and, b) add a skirt to cover the base.




The City Adult Glider by Jennifer Delonge is just plain cool. Not only does it come in my absolutely favorite color (neon chartreuse!) but darnit, it's just plain cool...wait did I already mention that?

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We all want to create the most beautiful, cute, or magical (depending on the parent), spaces for our children. Susanna Salk brings to us the first big beautiful book of kids rooms that I have seen! If you want inspiration on how to create the perfect space for your child, all you have to do is open to any page in this book and there you will be, looking at inspiration! If you'd like to see for yourself, you can buy the book here.

I have personally been in a couple of these rooms and talked about them after. Isn't it interesting how a well conceived space can leave such an imprint on you?

Some of my faves:



Page 100-101:
I was once in this room when I was talking with Sam White (the Architect who did this space) about renovating our little house.  I remember walking around the corner and looking in and feeling a moment of a gasp! It is so simple and so fun all at the same time! It is a complete room, no doubt about it! Talk about a quiet scream! That's how I would describe this room, and that is a compliment!



Page 36:
Besides the fact that this room is just plain awesome, I fell in love with the fact that the digital canvas walls were done by the father who is a photographer (a very famous one at that.)  I wonder if he'd tell me how he did that! The image he chose is absolutely stunning and, as he had intended, it adds such depth to this room. What a wonderful thing for a child to look back on!



Page 29:
Man does this space spell out C-H-I-C! I love the loft-like feel, it's so open and airy yet beautifully anchored by the flanking chairs.

My advise on designing spaces for children would be to choose your pieces wisely because if you do, they will be able to grow with your child. Also, something I've learned in doing children's rooms, which has only been reinforced by this amazing book, is not to forget to have FUN. Kids are only kids for a short time and they have the rest of their lives to have a serious room void of stuffed animals and rocking horses. Let your imagination run wild and you and your children WILL NOT be disappointed!

To see the fabulous interviews from Susanna's opening party on The Editor at Large, click here.

 

It was hard for me to pick only 5 Bedroom Essentials for a Guest Room, and I realized that I left out a very essential essential, pillow candy! One of the best parts about staying at a hotel is getting some delicious treats left mysteriously on your pillow. Why not recreate that feeling for your Summer guests? I would leave the 4-pack blue box of hand-painted chocolate from Maribelle New York. The chocolates are all so unique and come in flavors like champagne and early grey tea!




Even the packaging is tres chic!