30 May

A HEAD OF THE TRENDS

Confession – I have a thing about animal heads. And they are having a moment!

I think it started with the pink paper-mache moose head I did in grade school (late 80’s of course). I had a momentary foray into real taxidermy, until I realized that ordering such online might actually result in the killing of an animal for me to have such décor. We wanted a rhino head over the bed…but not under THOSE circumstances… HELL NO!

Contrary to the recent New York Times story on the over-styled house – http://www.nytimes.com/slideshow/2012/05/17/garden/20120517TOTEMS.html – if you have an animal head in your mix and it’s already deceased, (even if you did not hunt it yourself) there is a part of me that would much rather see its beauty celebrated than trashed. So bring on the animal heads!

Even my five year old came up with his own take on this last year.

Super Antlers? Or Super Hook?

After a four month search for accents for my newborn’s nursery that are both graphic, happy, engaging, and timeless but fun…I decided on paper-mache animal heads.

And what do you know…there’s a trend out there right now.

West Elm calls theirs “Animal Sculptures”…how PC! They are even more attractive because they are made by Aid For Artisans in Haiti.

Dwell Studio does a very modern, very Dwell version- Animal Head.

And finally, like light at the end of the tunnel – John Derian has come to my rescue with these gorgeous additions to our world. Little Paolo has been smiling ever since their adoption and move to our home in Westport.

Giraffe and Zebra – our Wild Things

25 May

I See FF

This year, VP+C was on site at the International Contemporary Furniture Fair (ICFF) with Dornbracht, and while the company’s the new Horizontal Shower is fabulous, we noticed a few other showstopping designs, as well.

Check out what caught our eye at ICFF this year…

Parvez Taj is always armed with fun business cards that double as samples of their contemporary prints. Up for grabs this year were shimmery illustrations printed on brushed aluminum. With each one so unique, it made selecting ONE quite challenging, it took all my might not to leave with all of them!

Local NY design studio Horgan Becket displayed tables and lighting fixtures from its Mesh Collection. Loving the balance created from the contrast of the industrial mesh against the organic wood.

Stickbulb by RUX re-imagines the floor lamp with this design. Made with LED lights that protrude from each leg, it provides generous lighting for such a minimalist, streamlined design.

Wallpaper is making a strong comeback! These Aimee Wilder designs for tots are too cute!

Sandback showed beautiful handcrafted tables with intricate inlaid patterns.

Shrinerack offers a fun way to stack your shoes!

Rich Brilliant Willing, winner of last year’s ICFF Best New Designer Award, pleases the crowd again with their unconventional lighting fixtures.

With such great finds this year, we’re already counting down the days until ICFF 2013!

18 May

When In Minneapolis, Have a Heyday at May Day

Popular, thoughtful, and delicious…and I’m not talking about myself!

I’m talking about May Day, a local coffee shop in Minneapolis that I recently visited on my trip to the heartland. The fair-trade shop, which is committed to earth-friendly practices, serves up a variety of vegetarian and vegan offerings, and is particularly a hit among those of the indie/hipster persuasion…as well as wannabes like me.

When I wasn’t cow-tipping or getting lost on Interstate 394, I enjoyed a creamy spinach quiche, a homemade 7-layer bar, iced coffee and, of course, the people-watching. I decided May Day to Minneapolis is the East Village to NYC. Everyone is way cooler than I–indicated by nose rings and hippie dreadlocks– and I saw more TOMS shoes than there are people in my hometown. No, but really.

So, if you find yourself in “The Mini Apple” and have had enough of the Starbucks variety, do check out May Day. And remember to recycle your napkins when you’re done!

18 May

Healing with Essential Oils

The scent of peppermint was noticed in a meeting this week, which prompted me to share my secret – I dab a few drops of peppermint essential oil behind my ears for a little burst of energy. It seemed to peak interest, so I decided to share the benefits of a few of my favorite essential oils…

Lavender is at the top of my list. It is one of the most powerful remedies in the plant world, offering hundreds of benefits, including relief for burns, migraines, insect bites, skin problems, infections, stress and nervous tension.

Peppermint is not just great for energy and alertness, it also relaxes spasms, strengthens gums, stops hair loss, lifts skin, induces firmness in muscles, promotes memory, clears congestion, eases breathing, reduces fever, and relieves stomach ailments.

Lemon is another essential oil with amazing health benefits. It helps insomnia relief, boosts the immune system, weight loss, treats asthma, brightens complexion, lowers blood pressure and improves circulation

Check out this great chart of all the essential oils…

http://www.ausslifespice.com/wallchart/essential-oil-chart.html

16 May

Do What You Love

One of the great things about being a newcomer to New York is that I can still attend exciting events and be in complete shock and awe over them. Maybe after my one-year anniversary I will need to start acting more nonchalant about things.

This past weekend I was able to see the New York City Ballet Company perform at the David Koch Theatre at Lincoln Center. I was taken by how beautiful Lincoln Center Plaza is, as well as the glorious interior of the David Koch Theatre. I went with an old friend, who used to be a ballerina and was equally appreciative of the performance. The night was broken into three performances. The first, “Two Hearts”, was a heartwarming love story by Benjamin Millepied featuring effortless dancers using their bodies to tell a tale of human connection. As the night progressed I saw everything from brightly colored costumes twirling across the stage to dramatic modern dancing. My eyes were captured on each and every graceful move. Even when they were bowing at the end they never lost character and continued to look stunning.

It’s a beautiful thing to watch people do what they love and feel the most passionate about. For me there is nothing more inspiring than people creating art that is unique to whom they are. And it makes me stop and think how important it is for everyone to keep inspiration and happiness in your life. Not everyone is lucky enough to be a ballerina and perform at Lincoln Center, but the ability to do what you love is always there. Whether it’s reading, soccer, painting, playing music, keep it in your life as often as you can! And that’s my little Aileen advice for the day

11 May

Fight For Your Right To Barneys

While the subject of gay marriage is no laughing matter– no matter which side you ask – I’ve been thoroughly amused lately by the humor being deployed to draw attention to the issue. While politicians are battling it out in nearly every state, these amateur civil rights comedians have also been cracking me up with some pretty amazing signage, bringing charm and levity to a pretty serious situation. And as my mom says, the secret to any good marriage is simple: laughter.

11 May

Break The Ice

As warmer weather settles into our neck of the woods, the sun shines longer, New Yorkers are nicer and most people make the switch to iced coffee. Mmmmmmm… so refreshing, right? Yes! Until…

…It gets so hot that you pick up your morning Starbucks and halfway down the next block you look in your hand and realize you have some sort of warm, sweaty, 1/2 water, 1/2 coffee concoction and you’re like…….

Lucky for you, I’m here to remind you of the perfect solution – coffee ice cubes. It actually gets BETTER as the ice melts!

It’s tough to find a coffee place willing to go the extra mile, but a quaint little shop near our office called 88 Orchard goes the distance.

88 Orchard- 88 Orchard Street, New York, NY 10002 (212) 228-8880 ‎

Cheers!

03 May

Taking Flight

We were all inspired this month by the transporting of the space shuttles to and from Washington on the back of a 747. It was a sight that reminds us of the power and beauty of human ingenuity and biomimicry–from the Wright Brothers’ first flight to Steve Jobs’s first iPad. And to think that by the time our children today are in college tomorrow, trips to the moon will be commonplace for those who can afford it…

“The desire to fly is an idea handed down to us by our ancestors who, in their grueling travels across trackless lands in prehistoric times, looked enviously on the birds soaring freely through space, at full speed, above all obstacles, on the infinite highway of the air.” – Wilbur Wright

Original images of the Enterprise in route to the Intrepid via JFK are courtesy of Martin Perry:

“I think if you do something and it turns out pretty good, then you should go do something else wonderful not dwell on it for too long. Just figure out what’s next.” – Steve Jobs

27 Apr

Looking on the Bright Side

George Gershwin and I have a lot in common… We’re both big into songs about summertime, though mine usually have a little more of a dance beat. We also really like to wear neon in the summer sun. I can’t confirm this statement, exactly, but I’m pretty sure I’ve seen a photo of him rocking hot pink shades, and that’s good enough for me.

Some Benjamin Moore Brights: Mango Punch, Mexicali Turquoise, Florida Pink, and Limelight

That said, I’m happy to announce the next round of VP+C color favorites: brights. Inspired by a few Benjamin Moore hot hues, above, here’s a sneak peek at my summer wardrobe essentials:

Highlighter Haute

Bad hair day? Feeling puffy? Put on a pair of these. BAM: instantly hot.

Lisa: Tape My Word For It

Last year, we had the pleasure of helping designer extraordinaire Christopher Coleman give a Weston, Connecticut house an incredible, vibrant color makeover. Though I tend to stick to more muted tones in my own home, I cannot stop thinking about one simple update, which I’m probably going to need to replicate.

In the 5-year-old son’s room, Coleman added visual interest to pretty gray walls with bold stripes of multicolored masking tape. I am obsessed with the funky, fun effect and am pretty sure even the least crafty among us could create something awesome.

I’ve been scouring the web for the sticky stuff, and have found some treasures. Want to try this out with me? Here are a few of my favorites:

Happy Tape has an amazing assortment of solids, prints and patters, and they’ve got fun curated multi-packs for those of us who have trouble choosing.

For primary brights, Blick has good basics (Perhaps Deb could do a Bay-inspired wall with these beauties?)

And of course, Etsy and Amazon are virtual treasure troves. Try searching “Japanese Masking Tape” or “Washi Tape”. Cute Tape has a spectacular assortment- I’m thinking of this one for my kitchen:

And in the “don’t try this at home” category, artist Rebecca Ward is doing out-of-this-world tape installs of her own (via one of my favorite blogs, Oh Joy!)…

Meghan’s Got the Catch of the Day

I’m really not one to fish for compliments, but I think I’ve reeled in a fintastic find—Kevin McHugh’s Swarovski Sailfish sculpture.

Inspired by his upbringing, when big game fishing was a way of life and sailfish decorated the walls of his childhood home, the New York City-based artist has cast his talents to include putting a glittering twist on his family tradition. Here, in a fiberglass rendition encrusted with more than 10,000 sparkling bright orange and hyacinth Swarovski crystals, McHugh reinterprets the trophy fish as brilliantly executed wall art. At only $8,000 it’s a real catch, don’t you think?

Margaux is Traffic Chic

I love street style–often literally. On a recent walk around the trendy cobblestones of Soho, I spotted some eye-catching brights:

Neon yellow against navy blue...so "in" right now!

Hello, Yellow!

Heidi has a passion for Passion Fruit

My favorite color of summer is the deep pink of my all-time favorite Starbucks drink: the passion fruit lemonade.

Every year, I wait for the first sunny, 70 degree day of spring to run for the closest Starbucks and grab my favorite in a Venti. I first discovered the vibrant drink during college when I noticed every student roaming the Boston Common on a bright, sunny day was sipping on the magenta liquid.

When I had extra time between classes it became a ritual to bolt for the nearest Starbucks to get my treat and then find a soft patch of grass on the Common. Even now when I’m walking on a crowded sidewalk in NYC, if I’m drinking a passion fruit lemonade…when I close my eyes for just a second and can almost hear the familiar tones of a Boston accent.

Julianne’s Joie De Vivre

My immediate thought when I saw this month’s bright and cheery Benjamin Moore colors was a recent trip to Laduree, a Parisian bakery on the Upper East Side. Known for their mouth-watering macaroons, Laduree is always packed with tourists and New Yorkers alike. My personal favorite flavors are caramel with salted butter and orange blossom. Paired with a cappuccino and a newspaper, these delectable goodies complete a perfect Sunday afternoon.

Michelle is “In Style”

They say love is in the details–and I couldn’t think more of the expression when it comes to accessorizing. I always keep my eye out for what’s trending in handbags, heels, and jewelry…so imagine my surprise when Margaux gave our team these bright, fun bangles:

…that just so happened to match “what’s hot,” as reported by In Style:

Uh-huh...that's right!

25 Apr

Sleepless in the City

Today’s Guest Blogger is the one and only Nicole Haddad, Design Editor
of New York Spaces magazine.

Here’s what Nicole’s up to when she’s not scouting sensational finds fit to print:

New York is an epic playground for theater buffs, thrill seekers and those of us who love the titillation an elusive, somewhat underground production can provide. Although most shows are well publicized (a bit of an understatement), the mystery behind British theater company Punchdrunk’s “Sleep No More,” lies in their lack of need to advertise. The immersive production takes place in a labyrinthine Chelsea location dubbed “The McKittrick Hotel.” Lasting approximately three hours, the David Lynch-like, and largely wordless performance, is based on Shakespeare’s “Macbeth,” though aspects of it recall Kubrick’s “Eye’s Wide Shut.” As an active audience member, you have the option to follow one of the characters, or journey off on your own to explore any of the many, many eerie rooms and corridors. Whichever route you choose to take, it will be a virtually solitary path. From the moment you step into Punchdrunk’s macabre version of Inverness Castle, you are separated from your companion, ordered to stay silent, and given a Venetian carvinval-style mask to wear the entire time—obscuring your identity in a sea of voiceless friends and strangers. Keeping in theme with the aura of suspense that pervades “Sleep No More,” I will leave the rest up to your imagination, and hopefully, to experience on your own.

The McKittrick Hotel is located at 530 West 27th Street, NYC 10001.