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Monday, September 30, 2013

Greek Key Pillows for Sale

Greek Key PalomaHappy Monday! I was so excited to get these gorgeous Greek key pillows, but unfortunately, at 24” they are just a tad too big for my loveseat. I wish that they could work on the larger sofa in my family room because I am obsessed with them. Alas, I am going to have a smaller pair made, but I’d love to see these beauties go to a good home. They are black linen, 24” square pillows with an ivory Greek key appliqué (down inserts included). The work is all done by hand and they are in pristine, new condition. I’d prefer to sell the pair together. Each pillow is $198 plus shipping. If you’re interested, email me at paloma@palomacontreras.com. Merci beaucoup!Greek Key Paloma2

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This Week’s Quote

masquerade

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Friday, September 27, 2013

Fabulous Room Friday 09.27.13

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Good morning!  I hope you’ve all had a great week. This week, our “Fabulous Room” is a chic bedroom designed by Robert Passal. The space is warm, romantic, and sophisticated with its bold yellow walls and drapes. I love that Passal opted for such a bold color palette—yellow, moss green, navy, and orange, yet he executed it in a way that doesn’t feel at all overwhelming but rather rich and tailored. There are several statement pieces throughout the room from the oversized antique brass lantern and playful ottomans to the gorgeous tufted moss velvet chair (love it!) and the haunting artwork. Because Passal is based in New York, I would venture to say that this home is in New York, but it seems to have a very Southern sensibility, wouldn’t you say? I could totally picture this room in a home in New Orleans’ Garden District or perhaps in Charleston thanks to the architecture of the space and the mix of formality and cheekiness of the room’s design. Fabulous indeed!Snip20130927_74 Snip20130927_72

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If you love Robert Passal’s style as much as I do, be sure to check out his Tastemaker Tag Sale on One Kings Lane this Sunday. I got to preview the items and his event will be filled with fabulous treasures! Have a wonderful weekend!

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Thursday, September 26, 2013

Jet Set: The Huntley Hotel Santa Monica

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Hello LDV readers! Brendan here of (BAD) Blog About Design. For this Jet Set post I decided to take us to the city of Santa Monica, California. What I like about Santa Monica is that it's not only incredibly beautiful, but also the perfect transition location from summer to fall. The Huntley Hotel is a luxury hotel located near the beaches of Santa Monica. During the summer months I'd prefer a hotel right on the beach, but during this time of the year I don't mind the walk, especially since the hotel is located right next to shopping and restaurants. (ABOVE) I love the entry way of the hotel. It's very grand and has a strong sense of California design. If you look at the center building, you'll notice the elevator which has views of the outdoors. I'd be a little nervous taking the elevator during a storm!
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(1) The lobby is full of unique pieces that feel both modern and retro. I love the two wood armchairs directly in front. The chairs look like chocolate! This lobby feels very inviting, and has many places to spread out and relax while you wait for your suite to by ready after a long plane ride! With so many different pieces in the space which piece is your favorite? 
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(2) The Penthouse is a top floor restaurant that has sweeping views of the ocean. The restaurant serves American, Asian, and Pacific foods. The design of the restaurant is very elegant and sleek. I love the drapery and chandeliers above each table. The curtains bring a lightness to the area.
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(3) The suites have a modern-retro vibe. I like how the T.V is displayed, by propping the T.V up, the suite feels more spacious. At the Huntley there are many different types of suites that one can stay in. From standard guest rooms to presidential suites, whatever your preference, you're sure to enjoy the rooms!
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(4) The suite's bathrooms are very modern. The wood textured ceiling and walls soften the stone. Even though I prefer bathrooms with a bit more kick, I really like the simple design here. When you're on vacation you don't want your head spinning from the loud design.
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(5) A view of the Huntley from the front doors. The curtains really soften the exterior. The curtains scream a little Palm Springs to me! What do you think of the hotel? Have you stayed here before? Share in the comments! Below are a few fashion picks to pack with you to California!

Curated Shopping by Chic Haus

CHIC HAUS STYLISH RETREAT

What happens when two super stylish shop owners join forces to create a curated shopping experience for their customers? In the case of Danielle Benson, owner of Haus of Mason and Anna Kohler of My Chic Nest, their collaboration has resulted in some fabulous design inspiration for anyone looking to spruce up their home. Haus of Mason offers a beautifully curated assortment of accessories, rugs, bedding, lighting, art, accent furniture, and vintage finds along with custom drapes and pillows. My Chic Nest is a brand “dedicated to creating timeless, unexpected and high-quality designs that are accessible to all of us.” My Chic Nest offers furniture inspired by several design periods—Art Deco, Hollywood Regency and anything in between. Best of all, My Chic Nest offers “chic décor to the masses—for a song”.

Danielle and Anna recognized that their customers are very similar and could benefit from seeing how their various pieces worked together, so they culled their design expertise and experience in the furniture and decorative accessories industry to create a series of ten beautifully-designed spaces using upholstery from My Chic Nest and furniture, lighting, and accessories from Haus of Mason resulting in Chic Haus. You can use the Chic Haus vignettes as inspiration and select individual items from them or you can buy the entire professionally-designed set-up. If you recently moved and are working with a blank slate or if you want to do a big design overhaul, but don’t know where to start and don’t have the budget to hire a designer, look no further than these ten stylish, ready-to-go vignettes!  These are just a few of my favorites. To see the full series of Chic Haus spaces, click here.

 

CHIC HAUS MODERN BACHELORETTE

{Modern Bachelorette}

CHIC HAUS GLAM GODDESS  

{Glam Goddess}

CHIC HAUS VINTAGE CHIC

{Vintage Chic}

CHIC HAUS ECLECTIC BOUDOIR

   {Eclectic Boudoir}

CHIC HAUS MOD SOPHISTICATION

{Mod Sophistication}

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Wednesday, September 25, 2013

Style Spotting: Black, White, and Pink

Hi La Dolce Vita readers, it's Lindsay from The Pursuit of Style and I'm back with another edition of Style Spotting. When I was searching for inspiration for this month's post I looked back at my recent pins and noticed a pattern almost immediately: black, white, and pops of hot pink.
The equation couldn't be more simple or the results more chic. Just add a hot pink element to a predominately neutral room and watch how it transforms the space. The perfect balance of playfulness and sophistication. If you need inspiration look to the offices of Ruby Press and Carolina Herrera--they're killing it!
Ruby Press | Lonny
Carolina Herrera's OfficeOnce you've added some hot pink to your home, go ahead and dress up your basic black and white outfit with a shock of hot pink too. The same equation applies.
Style Spotting | The Pursuit of Style
Love the looks above? Here are a few suggestions to help you achieve them. The Sabrina coat is at the top of my wish list! It's the perfect shade of hot pink.
Style Spotting
I hope you enjoyed this month's edition of style spotting. Be back next month!

Tuesday, September 24, 2013

LDV Top 10: Fall Booties

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Fall is officially here! Miraculously, it has actually felt like it in Houston the past few mornings. Fall is my favorite season and my fall clothes are my favorite clothes to wear, though the season is rather short lived here. Although it is still fairly warm, I have started to break out my booties. As much as I love riding boots for comfort and polished style, booties are fun and are usually a bit more edgy. I’ve rounded up the booties I am currently lusting after this season. You’ll notice I included some classic laidback style staples like Rosie Huntington Whitely is famous for wearing along with a few more polished styles more similar to the pair Olivia Palermo has on below. Which pair makes your heart go pitter-patter? Do you prefer tall or short boots?

booties rosie  {Rosie loves short booties. She is frequently photographed in various pairs while traveling.}

booties op {Olivia looks so chic here. I love this pair!}

booties moto {This girl definitely went for an edgier look which is just as stylish.}

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{ 1. J.Crew Aiden Ankle Boots | 2. Rag and Bone Classic Newbury Booties | 3. Rachel Comey Mars Booties | 4. Tory Burch Mae Booties | 5. DV by Dolce Vita Jaxen Booties | 6. Lucky Brand Eloy Booties | 7. J.Crew Parker Ankle Boots | 8. Cole Haan Cassidy Booties | 9. J.Crew Collection Rory Calf Hair Ankle Boots | 10. Diane von Furstenberg Cherise High Heel Booties }

P.S. J.Crew and Piperlime are currently having sitewide sales so you can save on some of these booties and anything else your heart desires! Use promo code “SHOPFALL” to save 25% off purchases over $100 at J.Crew and promo code “THANKYOU” to save 20% off at Piperlime through midnight tonight.

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Monday, September 23, 2013

London in Still Frames


This weekend, I finally had a chance to upload our photos from our trip to London. We took several hundred photos and I uploaded quite a few of them to Facebook, but I wanted to share a more edited version with you guys, showing some of the highlights of our trip. The first time we went to London in September of 2009, we really lucked out with the weather-- think 70 degrees and sunny everyday without a drop of rain. We didn't get quite as lucky on this trip and with the exception of a few glimpses of sun here and there, we experienced quintessential London weather-- cold and rainy throughout our trip. Luckily, we were prepared and we were in one of our favorite cities in the world, so we didn't let the damp weather put a damper on our fun! 

We saw a lot of London's famous sights and enjoyed a more relaxed pace this time around. Highlights of our trip include a visit to the Victoria & Albert Museum which skyrocketed to the top of my list of favorite museums, afternoon tea at The Wolesely-- a gorgeous restaurant designed by David Collins and housed in an historic building, shopping at Liberty of London and Fortnum & Mason, partaking in pub life, and a second visit to the Tower of London. I am always blown away by the elegant architecture throughout the city, the rich history everywhere you turn, and the cleanliness of this vibrant metropolis, made even better in a time when William, Kate, and Prince George are at the height of their popularity. Fabian and I had a wonderful trip and look forward to visiting London again in the future!

{The London Eye and the River Thames}


{Big Ben and the Houses of Parliament}

{Westminster Abbey}

{Trafalgar Square}

{The National Gallery}



{An Elegant Crescent of Townhouses in Westminster}






{The Royal Courts of Justice}

{Contrast of Old and New: Highrises in the City behind The Tower of London in the Foreground}

{Fabian at the Tower of London}





{The exact spot where Anne Boleyn was beheaded in 1536 at the Tower of London}

{Billionaire's Row next to Kensington Palace}

{Kensington Palace}

{Queen Victoria's Wedding Dress-- I was shocked to see how tiny she was. I'd be surprised if she was five feet tall. Kensington Palace currently has a great fashion exhibition showcasing the gowns of Queen Elizabeth, Princess Margaret, and Princess Diana.}
{Stunning Portraits of Princess Diana and the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge by Mario Testino}

{Somerset House}

{Tudor Architecture at Liberty of London}

{I love this building near Buckingham Palace!}

{The Wolesely-- So gorgeous!}




{Afternoon Tea at The Wolesely}


{Rainy Day at the V&A Museum}

{Furniture Exhibit at the V&A}



{St. Paul's Cathedral-- I prefer it over Westminster Abbey. It isn't quite as historic, but it is so stunningly beautiful.}



{St. James' Park}

{Gardens at Buckingham Palace}


{Buckingham Palace}