Design Manifest drops in!

Everything I want out of my living room! Thanks Naomi!

When I saw Naomi's of Design Manifest crazy cool eclectic digs on Design Sponge, it was all I could do to steady myself while wave after wave of straight up goodness smacked me in the face. Never would I have imagined that my new Orangerie duchess chairs would inspire her to bring her super snazzy style over to the new NYC apartment via mood board!  "I envision this is a small apartment of a city gal who loves traditional-with-a-twist and certainly isn’t afraid of color." Well, hot damn.  She figured me out quicker than my own husband.

Meet Naomi here and see more of her work at Design Manifest here!

My Cocktail Ring Bambabies!

Society Social & Loren Hope introduce the "On the Rocks" cocktail ring collection

After months of scheming and designing, I'm excited to announce the latest addition to the Society Social Hostess offerings the "On the Rocks" cocktail collection! My little bambabies! I teamed up with darling jewelry designer of Loren Hope to create sparkling cocktail rings perfect for the cocktail-laden hand. The shank is custom-designed (our craftsman actually wittled down a mold! craze.) and incorporates elements from my bar carts- think faux bamboo!!

We only used genuine gemstones and glass cabachons, some vintage, to keep the rings snazzy and classy. holler. The whole process was so incredible and not to mention fun- I have a wonderful new friend in LHD's brills designer! To see the lookbook click here and to see the rings click here or here. My favorite is the genuine malachite! I'd love to know what yours is?

Weekend Picture Book

Travel killed the Tree

With me traveling almost 3 weeks out of December and Christmas now being a bi-state affair, it looks like I will not have the pleasure of dressing a tree. I was reminded of this as I was putzing around Apartment Therapy and stumbled upon several creative alternatives. While clever and most inventive, I just couldn't quite get excited about not having a tree.
We've never been the type to buy one of those crazy tinsel-ly whites one, or even an artificial one at that, and the absence of this tradition is making me quite nostalgic! I love the rich smell of pine and ornaments glittering amongst the twinkle lights.

I'd love to know what you do when such "tree-less" years face you. Doesn't Febreze have some kind of Christmas tree scent to help ease the pain? ;) Below- Alan and I on a more traditional, less travel-ridden year!

{Wall tree & Christmas tree chandelier via Apartment Therapy}

Scale, darlings.

One more inch and that my friend is a bed. 

Scale, scale, scale. While I would love nothing more than to have this big daddy lounger in our new place, it would leave people asking "Would you like any room with your sofa?" This is a sore topic. I begrudingly gave in to the Mr. who insisted like the world would be over if he didn't get his way that we needed a monstrous (okay, I exxagerate, but I'm bitter) sleeper sofa.

so.fa.bed.

I agree we will have guests galore considering our location, but it's totally throwing me, even if it is covered in the pretty metallic fabric that I picked out. Everytime I see an adorable more peitite piece, this happens-*Le sigh* I'm pretty sure Alan wants to trade out his presh sofa at this point ;) Have you won, or lost if you're me, any decorating battles lately? Let's lament together.

Small space lover like me? Totally loving these tips by Apartment Therapy, especially no. 10!

How the Duchess was born...

Deciding below with my cutter and sewer, Janie (who I've known since before my baby sis was born!) where to place the patterns for my Society Social Duchess who eventually won the honor of Orangerie! We decided not to center spot to eliminate as much waste as possible, and I really like how the repeats aren't identically placed on each chair. I feel that a little less "put together" adds balance and a bit of charm to such a sophisticated print.

We used a double self welt for the seat back border because you seriously just cannot get enough of this fabric and then were off to upholstery! Abel has been so wonderful in helping me with all my diy (ahem, do-it-someone else) projects and as always did an impeccable job despite me excitedly watching over his shoulder!

Not long after, there was happy dancing! I'm just so smitten with how the Duchesses turned out!

Earlier this week my tufted ottoman went through the same process. I chose a cut velvet geo pattern for a tactile element, and I'm loving how the "citrine" acts as more of a neutral to ground the over-the-top accent chairs.

Well, what do you think? pssst! I'm planning on adding many more fabrics to the Society Social site (this being one of them. not so bad being the guinea pig ;) would love to know if you agree!

Delightfully Chic

I love nothing more than seeing dreamers dream big! My darling friend Tiffany and fellow blogger is opening up shop to help tame her fashion and design nerves that have been frazzled over the past three years in a job that makes her less than inspired. Having been in the same place makes me even more giddy to present a quickie sneak peek of her new line of gifts and home accents launching next week! Be sure to stop by the Delightfully Chic shop!! Congrats on going after it, Tiff!