La Dolce Vita

Wednesday, November 21, 2012

Anatomy of a Home: The Study

Happy holidays from Lauren with The Semi-Designed Life! I'm here with a snuggly Anatomy of a Home. We're talking about the cave of the casa. In my eyes, the study needs to be a dark, lush corner that oozes a bit of man-ness.

This study is super mantastic. But, the gentleman of the house was all like, "hey, lady friend. I made you a zebra chair for you to sit in. So, please, join me." Except that you can totally tell that the man gets the seriously cozy spot. At least he's accommodating the ladies.

Anatomy Lesson #1: Your study needs legit seating. For all the ladies and the man friends. If you can swing it, upholster the coziest spot in a super lady fabric so you're certain your spot will never be stolen.

Elle Decor

This study makes me a happy camper. This is how real humans live. Perfectly imperfect in so many ways. So often are bookshelves statically styled (I'm victim to this) that you never actually read your books. This room is lived in and loved.

Anatomy Lesson #2: Live like a real human. The study is one room where the misplaced looks perfectly placed.

Habitually Chic

Well, hello buffalo check! This small classic print gets a punch of happy by finding it's way on the walls. Plus I feel like a man could stand in front of it and be camouflaged. Manouflaged, if you will. Sassy.

Anatomy Lesson #3: Be bold with your man fabrics. Then take a step back and say, "whoa, I need a bit of velvet in my life."

Traditional Home

This Hermes-y nugget is a super efficient use of space. And look at that faux bois wallpaper. It's like you're working in the woods. Besides feeling like you're camping in this room, it offers one clutch amenity: Booze.

Anatomy Lesson #4: You really can't get more manly than a study bar. Just can't. End of story.

Tuesday, November 20, 2012

Dissecting the Details: Glamorous Entryways

Hello Lovely LDV readers! Nancy of Marcus Design here, with the very 1st installment of 'Dissecting the Details,' a title that's a bit of a pun on my day job as a biology professor. I love to pick apart spaces that I adore in order to figure out what it is about them that makes me swoon. So, for each post I'm going to focus on one designer and deconstruct their signature style in a specific room. For today, we'll look at the entryway designs of one of my most favorite NY-based interior designers, Christina Murphy. Christina has glamorous, regency, young traditional taste; let's take a closer look at the makings of a Christina Murphy entry:

High gloss walls or bold wallcoverings- Saturated hues in high sheen or, fearless use of pattern, like this gold and teal Florence Broadhurst paper will be a definite conversation starter.

A show-stopping mirror - Whether antique or modern {like this round one from Zgallerie}, Christina loves to use a classic mirror or oversized art in lieu of a mirror.

Fabulous scones - This gorgeous sconce from Circa Lighting would preferably be placed symmetrically, and would add a second layer of light to a chandelier overhead.

A pair of statement chairs - Again, placed symmetrically, Christina tends to choose upholstered chairs in a bold fabric or a striking shape like the quatrefoil chair & the glamorous brass chairs above.

Simple console table styling - Just a beautiful potted orchid and maybe a pile of books will do. Definitely a clean & inviting look!

And there you have it, a full dissection of these fabulous spaces from the 'Queen of Entryways.' You can definitely see there is a common thread and a formula Christina Murphy uses to make these spaces work so magically. I'd love to acheive this look in my own home!

Monday, November 19, 2012

The Perfect Jeans: One Pair, Two Ways

A couple of weeks ago, I professed my love for James Jeans, particularly their skinny styles. Well, my recent denim discovery takes skinny jeans to a whole new level! James Jeans’ Couture Collection exemplifies the brand’s dedication to creating the most amazing fit possible. All of their jeans are designed and made by hand in the United States with completely original patterns, sewing, studding, detailing, and applied washes. Everything James Jeans designs is based on their customer’s demand for fitted, quality denim that consistently flatters a woman's body and lasts a lifetime.

I’ve been wearing the Couture Skinny 1285 style (pictured above) lately and have loved all of the figure-flattering details—they basically suck everything in! The jeans feature suction thigh wrapping, vortex waist contouring, hip padding, and sculpted bottom volume for a little boost. I’ve often waxed poetic about the fact that a great pair of black skinny jeans is absolutely essential to every stylish woman’s wardrobe. It’s the perfect canvas for dressing up or down. Today, I’ll share a couple of chic looks, one for day and one for evening that would be so easy to achieve with a pair of James Jeans Couture Skinny 1285 in Matte Black.

{Effortless Style with a Slight Edge}

{ 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 }

{Classic Black from Head to Toe with Polished Accessories}

{ 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 }

How would you wear this fabulous pair of black skinny jeans? Which outfit is more in line with your personal style?

Through December 31st, James Jeans is extending a very generous offer to La Dolce Vita readers! Use code “JJ003” and receive 25% off your entire purchase (offer expires 11/30/12).

LDV Gift Guide: For Him

In my experience, guys can be notoriously hard to shop for. Would you agree? Maybe it’s because we’re not into all of the same things or because men don’t readily embrace jewelry, accessories, and other gift-ready items as much as women do. No worries this holiday season, though! I’ve been compiling this list of fabulous, thoughtful items for the stylish gent in your life now, so I hope you’ll find something just right for your guy!