Holiday Gift Guides 2018

I’m a little over a week into my annual holiday - first in Mumbai and now in Dubai - and it’s been beautiful, warm & exploratory so far.  Mumbai & Dubai winters are like summers in the Bay - less pumpkin spice latte, more sugarcane juice, which I don’t mind at all! :) I’ve been sharing my travels & finds on socials and it’s been fun reading everyone’s comments and questions along the way!

Christmas came early here in Dubai this week.  It was pure joy meeting my niece & nephews after ages, and getting THE BEST hugs! Watching them tear up that wrapping and get excited about their gifts was an absolute high point

Coming to today's post! Even though I’m 8000 miles away, I wanted to partake in the holiday spirit closer to home, and share some fun gift ideas with ya as you shop for the holidays! Picks from some of my favorite shops. Gifts for the home, her, him & the kids. 3 gift guides in seasonal hues.

I enjoyed putting these together & I hope they prove useful to you (and hopefully introduce you to something new :)) as you shop for everyone on your list. Enjoy!

Wrapped my gifts in plaid wrapping paper (local shop) & blue ribbon (my mom’s closet)!

Blissed Out In Black & White

1. Plaid pajamas - cozy & stylish - for your sister or BFF. Love the pink hearts on the collar.

2. Nothing spells luxury like Dyptique candles - for the hostess with the mostest!

3. Jonathan Adler Muse - this gold interior votive is a stellar pick for the home

4. Askinosie small batch dark chocolate - a great gift for the dark chocolate lover. These come recommended!

5. Antelope gold brass sculpture - a little piece of luxury for a modern home

6. For the adventurous woman - this monogrammed satchel by Tuckernuck - love, love, love.

7. Steve Madden leopard mules - a comfy and stylish gift for mom!

8. Monogrammed leather money clip - great quality for a great price

9. Faux holiday cedar wreath - bound to be used more than once!

10. Gold wheat picture frame - obsessed! Add a great picture & gift away.

11. The prettiest hand-embroidered Chinese pottery napkins - classic style for someone who loves to entertain

Bold Hues

1. A fun-in-the-sun Moroccan heart tote - a great holiday gift, perfect for a future tropical holiday

2. Monogrammed candy striped catchall - adorbs!

3. Voluspa Gardenia Colonia room spray - whiffs of delight

4. Sculptural earring by We Dream In Color - for the cool girl (she’s bound to love it)

5. This printed scarf is STUNNING. A beautiful blend of colors, such great style.

6. Cheeky kitchen towel - for the baker

7. I adoooooore this pillow. That’s some stunning embroidery! And love is a mood for every season.

8. Super sleek French steak knives - gor-jus!! .

9. Coral sculpture - coastal chic and a graceful gift for the home
   
   

Seasonal Strokes

1. Hi-Bye mustard gloves - suuuuuuuuper cute teenager gift

2. Wood carved mermaid necklace by Meri-Meri (Meri Meri makes great stuff for kids - I’m a fan!) Bought this for my niece and she loved it.

3. Who says you can’t gift yourself something for the holidays. This camel coat by Madewell is such a classic. I recently bought a pair of Madewell jeans and found their quality to be exceptional.

4. Love this classy tech roll up by Mark & Graham. Soft supple leather, in many seasonal colors. Monogram it! A great gift for a man on the go.

5. I came across this Oscar de la Renta necklace on sale at Nordstrom Rack- it’s a statement piece and at a good price (for designer wear). Glam-girl gifting

6. Funboy giant pool floats. The oversized swan is gorge! I bought my nephews the rainbow because they prefer lounging to sitting. Funboy has a variety of shapes to choose from - kids would LOVE these!

7. Seasonal style with this window pane scarf.

8. A rosemary topiary for the kitchen - for someone who likes pots and plants (or who loves to cook!)

9. This super fun Print-Making kit by Kid Made Modern. Both my niece and 5-year old nephew were HOOKED. She made an abstract art piece and he a scenery. We were at it for a good 2 hours and I was surprised at how patiently they went through all the steps with me. They were really INTO it. Highly recommend!

10. For an older child who enjoys reading, this would make for a great gift. Jane Austen’s classics, in pretty clothbound covers. Great reads AND beautiful to look at.
    
    
    Anything on this list you absolutely love? Drop me a line in the comments!

House of Cards Inspired

I’ve just started to catch up on the sixth & last season of House of Cards (a little late to the party, I know!) and I’m totally crushing on the set decor this season! The homes and offices of the rich & powerful in this murky, murky political drama, have been created / re-created beautifully by set decorator Tiffany Zappulla. From the Oval Office, to a swanky oceanfront home, to the famous Hay Adams Hotel in D.C., she’s done an incredible job.

To think - at some point all these gorgeous sets would’ve been taken down & stored away. Send them my way people! I’ll gladly find a home (my home) for those Schumacher curtains.

I thought it’d be fun to ID some of my favorite elements in a few scenes. Here goes!

Oval Office Drama
Love the curtains framing the president’s desk. They’re dramatic and imposing but with a feminine touch - fitting for the first female president.

They’re in Schumacher’s Ravenna Embroidery Mineral. (shared by Schumacher in their monthly update). Also, it’s possible they took inspiration from Eisenhower’s Oval Office - I found this vintage shot and it seems reminiscent!

Want a similar vibe? Pottery Barn’s mineral blue linen drapes .

Pottery Barn - Mineral Blue

Paintings of the White House
I really liked the landscapes & seascapes. Lots of blues and greens. The symmetry lends the rooms an air of formality.

Similar - great modern landscapes by Chelsea Fly !

And a vintage oil painting found on Chairish

Love this glassy wave painting. Here.

Powder Room Drama
This might be one of my favorite scenes. Diane Lane is soooooooo good in it. As is that chinoiserie wallpaper!

Similar..
Cole & Son , Fromental - luxury
Spoonflower, Tempaper - affordable. The icy blue wallpaper at the bottom is Tempaper and it’s stunnnnning.

Feeling the Blues
Lots to love here - that very chic striped sofa + the equestrian art on the walls!

Here’s how I’d do it - Duralee’s camel back sofa in this Lee Jofa Kailash stripe fabric.

I came across 2 great sources for vintage equestrian art - Art-Equestrian.com by Suzanne Wilson & CanvasWorksDesigns.com

Bedroom Banter
Here’s Claire Underwood getting a earful from Jade, while I’m admiring the headboard in the background. Because, priorities.

Anyone else watching House of Cards? What do you think of this season? Did it live up to expectations?

Image Credits: Netflix, Schumacher

A Fall Play In Neutrals

I find myself being drawn to a whole lotta neutrals lately. Whether in interiors or fashion, I’m craving patterns and textures right now!  I thought I’d indulge it a little today. 

So while the season to entertain, savor a delicious meal and gather around with friends and family is upon us, here’s my take on creating a beautiful, layered Fall table. One that's textured and interesting, and fun to create!  I think it would make for the perfect setting in a garden - imagine a a backdrop of lush greens.  I’m calling her “Neutral Dreams”. Enjoy!

1. Start with a modern, textured table cloth like this linen tablecloth . by the Vallentine Project

2. Add on a wood charger topped with a white dinner plate.

3. Bordered napkins (love these papaya napkins from Serena & Lily), cinched with black wire napkin rings

4. Some bamboo flatware - keeping it relaxed

5. The absolute coolest - brass lassi cups! I might be obsessed with these. I came across some INCREDIBLE antique tumblers when searching online. And on my next visit to India, I’m not coming back without a set!)

6. Small terracotta butter dishes placed on lush green leaves from the garden. One for each guest.

7. Speckled ceramic salt cellars with brass spoons

8. And a couple small baskets of breadsticks

   Now for the centerpiece,

9. Take an antique glazed pot and give it a burst of parrot tulips! A simple yet charming centerpiece. Love the patina the pot adds to the table. (search for “glazed french pottery” online or on Etsy and you’ll see a bunch)

And we’re ready for a delicious meal & some conversation around the table!

Photo Credits: Alamy (tulips), 123Rf.com (breadsticks)

Inspo When Sourcing For A Client

Lately I’ve been on the hunt for some clean mid-century modern furniture for a client’s home and came across some fantastic inspiration while at it! Lauren Conrad’s former bright, airy Pacific Palisades home caught my attention with it’s clean lines & Cali casual vibe. All that natural light pouring into the living room - the neutral palette plays it up beautifully! I thought I'd break down and share what I love about this space design-wise & how you can get a similar look.

A few aspects I'm loving -
- the warmth and texture - a mix of woods, leather, brass, wovens & plants, against the all-white backdrop looks amazing and really warms up the room
- the delineated windows against the white walls - gorgeous
- a mix of vintage & mid-century modern elements. Like the antique brass coffee table ( a personal favorite she’s carried through different homes) with those incredible (teakwood?) lounge chairs - love their structure
- the mid-century modern rocker (adorable) seems to be having a moment - I’ve seen it show up in many a magazine pages this year!
- that big, beautiful oversized mirror above the fireplace

Here's some suggestions to get this look

1. planter 2. round brass mirror 3. rocking chair 4. white fringe pillow 5. paint - Benjamin Moore - Super White 6. tan leather sofa 7. brass vase (this one at Wayfair for much, much less, would look just as great), 8. woven bw striped pillow (love this shop The Little Market - fair trade, supports co-ops), or Etsy  9. wink pillow 10. wall sconce 11. rug 12. lounge chairs 13. garden stool 14. bw striped pillow 15.fringe throw 16. gold leaf coffee table 17. mongolian faux fur pillow 18. fiddle leaf fig tree 19. woven baskets 20. ace tray 21. hydrangeas in a vase 22. coffee table books - Tim Walker’s Storyteller would be an incredible browse, MAD creativity on every page.

Thoughts, questions? Comment away!

A Timeless Classic

Schumacher's Pyne Hollyhock is a bit of a legend in the design world. A timeless classic that instantly resonated with people when it first burst on to the scene in the 60s, and to this day graces the windows, walls & furniture of so many beautiful homes! 

I recently saw it featured on the cover of Schumacher's winter issue of The Bulletin (pic below) - and was floored by the simple warmth of the space and it's pairing with the striped chairs. Stop-in-your-tracks gorgeous.

Schumacher did a feature on Pyne Hollyhock & Nancy Pyne, whose home it was first introduced in. Famed designer Albert Hadley sourced this floral chintz for her home from England. Chintz wasn't in fashion at the time, but for Pyne it was love at first sight -  "My friends and family said "No, no no!" But I said "Yes - I like it."  

It was cool to read the origin story of this gorgeous pattern & I enjoyed reading about Mrs. Pyne herself!  Including her maxims for a well-lived life. My favorite - "You've got to never think about yourself, never, and you've got to think about other people".   Clearly, she's a lady with great style AND a force to reckon with.

Because of it’s popularity, the Pyne Hollyhock is an excellent study in how a pattern as exquisite as this can be applied in different ways in a home. Let's explore!

Nancy Pyne in her home at Cherryfields, 1987

... in her current home.  Style that endures.

In it's original color, charcoal.

Traditional glam. Love this mix of elements. A small sunburst mirror, leopard pillows & that exquisite Hollyhock headboard.

Powder room envy!!  

This pup is clearly living her best life

One of my favorite applications - crisp Louis XVI chairs

On a throw pillow,  a nice pairing with the bottle green

And finally, this dreaaaaaaamy bedroom (designed by Erin Gates Design) that has my name written all over it!  Modern elegance. I love how the swirly marble lilac pillow (modern) complements the grisaille wallpaper (a classic). 

Photo Credits: F. Schumacher,  The Glam Pad, Laura Design Co,  Schumacher Instagram - 1, 2