Setting the Table:: A Fragrant Herb Bouquet

A table setting would never be complete without a flower arrangement.  The spring and summer months are filled with luscious floral blooms, so it is inevitable that they will end up in a pretty bouquet front and center on the table commanding all of the attention.  Also in abundance during the summer are herbs - parsley, basil, oregano, sage, mint and lavender, just to name a few that are very inexpensive and can be picked up at your local farmer's market.  On a recent trip to the flower market, instead of picking up another variety of dahlias or roses, I opted for a fragrant mixture of sage and lavender. The color palette couldn't be prettier, soft foamy greens blended with textured French lavender and when nestled into a antiqued silver vessel the result is organic yet beautiful.   

Currently Inspired:: Pinterest Picks

Recently I have been fueling myself with as much inspiration as possible and here are some of the images that have been the catalyst for creative research.  I hope that everyone has a wonderful weekend, savoring the moments of summer.  

Poolside Dreaming + Swimwear Picks

Today might only be Thursday but I have my sights on the weekend.  Although I rarely find myself lounging my the pool that doesn’t mean I wouldn’t love to jump start the weekend by doing so!  Recently I have come across so many serene pool settings on Pinterest I couldn't help but find myself daydreaming and inspired. Here are just a few of my favorites in addition to some bathing suits that I am currently loving. Speaking of swimwear, have you checked out Net-A-Sporter yet? I love to workout but I think their edited selection might take that to a whole new level!

Currently Inspired:: Pinterest Picks

I am very eager to start the weekend early, what about you?  It's hot in New York and the only thing on my mind is the beach and other outdoor activities. I hope that everyone has a great Fourth of July! See you back here Monday.  

Our Wedding (Part III) :: The Little Details

Happy Monday everyone, I hope that you had a great weekend! Since it was such a beautiful weekend, I tried to spend as much time outside as I could, including a nice Father's Day brunch on our terrace and a stroll down by the river and a visit with the family to the Smorgasburg.  I am excited to bring you the last installment of our wedding which includes the details that made our day special. You can check out my wedding photographs here and decoration here.  

Romantic, rustic with a touch of whimsey was the feeling that I really wanted to create in each detail  of our wedding.  Since we were getting married in a rose garden, I wanted to incorporate a concise floral theme, consisting of season garden roses and peonies by adding a rose botanical print for both our wedding pamphlet and our menu cards.  For our favors, I wanted to tie it back to the venue where we had our dinner, Frankie's 457, a fantastic restaurant that also produces their own olive oil in Italy.  I decanted olive oil into small bottles and added a custom floral label that was placed at each setting.

Inspiring Interiors:: A London Townhouse

Let's talk dramatic interiors - dark walls, emerald green velvet with glowing light.  Everyone once in a while I stumble upon a moody interior like this that makes me want to paint all of my walls a dark inky blue or black shade to provide a dramatic effect.  This is a London home belonging to a stylist and a photographer couple that of course have an amazing eye for design.  I adore that inside of the darker interiors there are pops of white and yellow to break up the palette.  Here is a peak inside of their home.  P.S. I am working on our honeymoon photos, they will make their debut in a few days!

Our Wedding (Part I) :: Our Dinner Decor

Well, we are back! After a wedding that felt like a fairy tale and a honeymoon that was stretched out for nearly two weeks in France and Italy, I have many amazing stories to tell.  They say your wedding day is one of the best days of your life and I could not have agreed more.  Not only did I marry the most amazing man and my best friend, but I was surrounded by the people that mean the most to me.  In order to tell how everything unfolded I am going to break it up into three parts starting with the reception decor.  And the honeymoon, oh, stay tuned! I took so many photos to try to capture the beauty of France and Italy and I hope that I was able to do it justice.  

When choosing our wedding venue the most important thing was that it was a reflection of who we were as a couple.  We decided to forgo the traditional reception and do a dinner where there conversation would be flowing, the location a bit rustic and the food would be exceptional.   Frankie's 457 in Brooklyn was an easy choice, not because it is around the corner from where we live but because it had everything that we wanted and more - exposed brick, long tables, a European flair (we adore the rambling grape vines and twinkling Thomas Edison style lights that create a romantic ambiance) and delicious food that would have our guests talking for months to come.  Since I have a great love for styling, flowers and baking, I decided to take on all three - it might seem crazy for a bride to do such a thing but this is something that I live for and being a bit particular (okay huge perfectionist!) I wanted to be the one behind the scenes, plus this is something I would dream of doing one day.  

Enchanting Gardens:: Great Dixter, East Essex England

One of my favorite editorials this year thus far has been 'Dream a Little Dream' featuring Georgia May Jagger in February's Vogue UK.  The lace dresses, dreamy landscape, wild flower fields all captured during the 'golden hour' are just magical.  In my research, I came across the beautiful garden where this stunning editorial took place, the Great Dixter Gardens in East Essex, England.  The grounds are home to a large estate situated around a variety of different gardens.  Here is just a glimpse of the beautiful grounds. Do you have a trip to England planned? Here is all of the information you will need to visit the garden.  

Scenting the Home with Rewined Candles

Among the swaying Spanish moss, candy-colored homes and salty air in the southern town of Charleston, South Carolina exists a boutique candle company that has both heart and soul.  I love discovering brands that from start to finish create products that emulate luxury.  Rewined Candles does just that by crafting gorgeous candles that have scents inspired by fine wine.  Not only are these natural soy candles housed in repurposed wine bottles, you can see the process here, but they are handmade and hand-poured in Charleston. The Mimosa candle radiates like a burst of sunshine.  Inspired by the beloved brunch drink, this fragrance includes a sparkling champagne note blended with freshly squeezed orange creating an uplifting aroma. This brunch staple is of course inspired by the fragrant mimosa that is currently blooming in the South of France (I was lucky enough to pick up at the flower market).   The Pinot Noir candle eludes to a bit of mystery and omits an intriguing aroma of fig and cranberry that mixes with violet and leathery undertones just like that of the wine itself.  If you are looking for a new candle range, I definitely recommend Rewined.  

A Few Beautiful Things

Happy Valentine's Day! I hope your day is filled with love, lots of love.  What a week it has been, busy yet exciting between work and fashion week the days flew by leaving my  head spinning. I love meeting other bloggers and this week I met the wonderful Merritt, Rachel and Emily and had a fun dinner full of laughs.  I am looking forward to the long weekend ahead which I plan on baking, enjoying the snow and tuning into the beginnings of London fashion week.  

These photographs by Alice Gao are just dreamy

This is one of my favorite winter palettes, light pink and white

Seventeen years old and writing a cookbook, Izy is insanely talented both in the kitchen and behind the lens

This winter picnic has my mouth watering

I dream of owning my own business and when I do I would like my meetings to look like this

Everytime I read Mimi's stories I want to be transported to France

Floral arrangements inspired by Dutch paintings are simply stunning

Image via Elle Poland

{Inspiring Interiors} Eclectic & Colorful

Happy Monday everyone!  Was it me or did the weekend fly by incredibly too fast?  If so, how about I brighten up the beginning of the week with an interior so colorful and eclectic it is equivalent to a dose of caffeine.  This space belonging to Edie Parker founder Brett Hayman is just like her clutches, statement worthy.  I absolutely adore the Venetian glass inside of her bedroom, it is as if there are clouds floating in her room.  Hayman has a knack for bringing life to a space even if the majority of her rooms have white walls, she manages to incorporate a pop of color that adds both vibrancy while not being overdone.  I hope that everyone has a great week!

{Artist Spotlight} Sara Winward Flowers

As you know I adore flowers - their color, texture and aroma.  I stumbled across Sara Winward Flowers via Pinterest and immediately fell in love. Her arrangements are organic, whimsical and echo that of a still-life.  I adore these bouquets because they incorporate poppies, a flower that I have been trying to get my hands on in the flower district for the past three weeks. They are currently being imported from Italy, but apparently the crop isn't that great this year due to the large amount of rain fall, but stay-tuned.  For now, I hope you love her work as much as I do.  

{Inspiring Interiors} A Marrakech Retreat

Are you anything like me in that you have a  list up-to-there of places to visit?  At this point I have the Maldives, Seychelles, Scotland, South Africa (for a safari) and Morocco, just to name a few.  When I came across this serene retreat featured in the February issue of Elle Decor in Marrakech I know why I want to visit so badly.  Traveling to me is about relaxing but more about experiencing new places and getting inspired by design and color.  I adore the use of white textures that create a bright and breezy space, isn't it just dreamy?  

Get the Look:: The Perfect Headboards

Happy Monday everyone!  I hope you had a nice and restful weekend and that you were somewhere warm, although that might be hard to come by since the entire United States is going through a deep freeze.  Since the weather feels like we are living in the North Pole a warm and cozy bed is essential this time of year and One King's Lane is making this even easier since they are having an amazing sale now through Thursday on beds and headboards.   Here are some bits of inspiration and my picks from their sale.  Happy shopping!

Currently Coveting:: Florals, Stripes & Hints of Gold

Is it me or is this week going by incredibly fast?   Yesterday we were greeted with a beautiful snow storm that painted the city white.  Even though I am enjoying the winter wonderland outside, inside I am coveting graphic black and white stripes, feminine floral prints and golden details.  I especially have my eye on the Threshold Hexagonal Table that has a gorgeous faux shell inlay and that black and white dress from Malene Birger.

{Le Week de Paris} The Gardens of Versailles

Have you ever visited it a place that transformed the way that you see beauty and the world?  I have been lucky to have a few experiences like that Paris, of course, but also Oia, Santorini (those white buildings against that indigo Aegean Sea).  Another place that I still talk and dream about is the Gardens of Versailles, the sprawling grounds created by the Sun King, Louise XIV, so much so that I even wrote my final major Art History paper on the subject before graduating from college.  I am enamored by the quest for perfection that was achieved in the gardens - the perfectly sculpted hedges, the glistening statues, the reflecting pools.  Located just a short train ride from Paris, the gardens and the chateau are so immense and beautiful it is almost too much to absorb.  I hope that you have enjoyed this little bit of Paris that I shared here this week, I hope that my passion and down-right love for this city has inspired you to either visit or to return.  And as Audrey Hepburn said "Paris is always a good idea" - I couldn't agree more.  Bon Weekend!

Inspiring Interiors:: A Clean Slate

As I mentioned in Monday's post, I am trying to enter the new year with a clean slate, especially when it comes to our apartment; however this is hard for someone that loves objects and collecting things (magazines, candles, coffee table books).  I think that less clutter equals a cleaner mind, so in the hopes to get me inspired, I have gathered these images from my interiors Pinterest page to guide me in the right direction. I love the openness, the organization and the overall happiness that a white interior can bring. Continue for more...

A Luxurious Life:: Villa Life

If there is one thing on my bucket list it is to rent a villa in either Tuscany or Provence with friends and family. I would love to spend a relaxing week in the countryside eating the local food (cheese, bread, olive oil and chocolate) and sitting in the town squares sipping the strongest espresso.  I recently discovered Red Savannah, an amazing on-line destination for people looking to do just this but throughout the world.  There are just a few of the villas that I would give just about anything to stay for a week.  Continue for more...

Pinterest Picks

I hope that everyone had a great weekend!  Mine was a busy one spent with family and friends and doing some final decisions on our wedding details - I will be sharing soon! I thought I would begin this week with some things that have caught my eye on Pinterest. I just adore Miroslava's canary yellow heat to toe look and the new collaboration between Amy Merrick and Rifle Paper Company.  I hope that everyone has a great Monday!

Inspiring Interiors: A Beautiful West Village Home

Haven's Kitchen, owned by Ali Caye has been one of my favorite discoveries in New York.  One day while strolling out of West Elm, I peered into a shop that was beautifully decorated and had an aroma of fresh espresso, so I was definitely intrigued.  Haven's Kitchen is a hybrid of a bakery, cafe and general store that stocks goods like Bellocq Tea and Mast Brothers Chocolates.  Her West Village home was recently featured on Domino Magazine's new site and it is a truly beautiful space, from the floor to ceiling windows that allows the light to filter into her home.  On another note, and I apologize for the delay, I am so excited that Domino is back! I have all of my old issues that I have refused to get rid of - they have been with me on 4 different moves, so I think it is love.  I hope you enjoy her home as much as me. Have a fantastic weekend!