Minor Obsessions

top left: Rag and Bone Folsom sandals | top right: Valentino Rock Stud Low-Heel sandal

middle left: Sam Edelman Sutton Wedge sandals | middle right: Nanette Lepore Absulute Wonder

bottom left: Ancient Greek Sandals Medea Wedge | bottom right: Prada Two Strap Applique sandals

Back in April, the New York Times ran a feature entitled, The High Spark Of Low Heeled Shoes.  As someone who struggles with walking (at least like a normal person) in sky high heels, the whole article really resonated with me.  Don't get me wrong, I have a shoe closet full of four inch stilettos and wedges but these hardly, if ever, get worn.  I also have all sorts of cute slip on flats and flip flops.  But, completely missing from my shoe wardrobe (and most notably this past weekend) are the of the moment mid range heels.  I'm loving the idea of adding at least one pair of neutral-go-with-everything low heeled sandals to my shoe collection this summer.  They all look as comfortable as they do chic.  And, with all the great sales going on, I'm thinking at least one pair of these is heading my way in a UPS truck soon.  Which one is your favorite?

Prince Among Prints

This past Tuesday, I had hinted a bit on Instagram about some exciting happenings here...the fact is we had a whole day of shooting with professional photographer David Prince, his crew and stylist Molly Fitzsimons.  This was all done under the direction of Family Circle Magazine.  It was a full house with the publication's Home Style Director, Judy Prouty and Photo Director, Tina Anderson.  All in, the whole day was so much fun for me and my family.  Since I can't share the actual photos David took this week, I thought I'd share some of his spectacular work from his portfolio.  A big personality, David has a great eye and managed to make the day fly by with his antics all while still remaining intensely professional.  Hopefully, the next time I blog about this day will be in mid August, when the September issue (that we are scheduled to be in) of Family Circle comes out!

Wednesday Wants

earrings

Last week I had lunch with one of my very close friends, a former buyer for Neiman Marcus, it's always so fun to see what she's wearing...and what this friend is wearing is always so good! I couldn't help but admire her pretty gold earrings aloud, at which point she moved her hair aside to allow me to get a better look. From where I was sitting, I was sure these were really expensive clovers (possibly Van Cleef and Arpels?) but my friend couldn't wait to tell me that these chic little flowers were in fact Tory Burch's Shawn Metal Stud Earrings and only $78.00.  I love them so much, and the silver option is pretty cute too!

New A-Muse-Ments

Today I'm sharing some of the latest work from Muse Interiors.  If your new to my blog, Lauren Muse helped me with the renovation of my own home back in 2009 and we are currently working on bringing my tired family room back to life.  So, obviously, it's safe to say that Lauren is one of my favorite designers.  Speaking of favorites, I think I spy some Martin Lawrence Bullard fabric on those dining room chairs...delicious.

Monday's P.O.P.

patriotic purple

Hope you're all enjoying a lovely Memorial Day...the weather in the New York area is at last cooperating with us today, it feels so good to finally get a feel for summer.  I'm taking the day off from the blog to spend some time outdoors with my family, but I wanted to let you know about a fun giveaway going on here all week AND to remind you that today is the last day to take advantage of the zhush.com Memorial Day Sale (enter SUMMERTIME at check out for 15% off everything!) Now is a great time to stock up on all those teacher gifts, wedding and shower gifts and also hostess gifts that you just know you are going to need this summer! 

image via: StyleMePretty

Sunday Giveaway!

Leave a comment below for a chance to win this highly entertaining audio book about a fictional lifestyle blogger's personal drama.  Giveaway starts today and will stay open until Friday, May 31, 2013.  Winner announced Saturday, June 1, 2013. Open to continental US residents only. Good Luck!

“Bestseller Andrews is at the top of her game, delivering a smart, funny perfect-for-summer read with a hopeful heart.” – Publishers Weekly, Starred Review

LADIES’ NIGHT

By Mary Kay Andrews

New York Times bestselling author of Summer Rental and Spring Fever

Read by Kathleen McInerney

TAKE A SPLASH OF BETRAYAL, ADD A FEW DROPS OF OUTRAGE,

GIVE A GOOD SHAKE TO PROPER BEHAVIOR, AND TAKE A SIP OF A COCKTAIL CALLED… LADIES’ NIGHT!

Grace Stanton’s life as a rising media star and beloved lifestyle blogger takes a surprising turn when she catches her husband cheating and torpedoes his pricy sports car straight into the family swimming pool. Grace suddenly finds herself locked out of her palatial home, checking account, and even the blog she has worked so hard to develop in her signature style. Moving in with her mother, who owns and lives above a rundown beach bar called the Sandbox, is less than ideal. So is attending court-mandated weekly “divorce recovery” therapy sessions with three other women and one man. When their “divorce coach” starts to act suspiciously, they decide to start having their own Wednesday “Ladies Night” sessions at the Sandbox, and the bonds that develop lead the members of the group to try to find closure in ways they never imagined. Heartache, humor, and a little bit of mystery come together in a story about life’s unpredictable twists and turns. Ladies’ Night will have you raising a glass and cheering these characters on as they rise, fall, and make amends throughout this delightful summer read.

The audiobook is read by the very talented Kathleen McInerney, who has narrated several of Mary Kay Andrews’ bestselling novels to much acclaim, making this audiobook the ideal beach listen this summer!

 

zhush.com Memorial Day Sale

 

Another Story

Have you been to the Kips Bay Show House or read any of the reviews?  I haven't made it into the city to see this, but I do know that show houses in general can be a tricky thing. The room designed by Sara Story received a lot of (controversial) coverage, enough to prompt me to go back and re-visit the Sara Story Design portfolio.  I had written about Sara's work before and sure enough it's still as lovely as I remember it...maybe even more so!  Plenty of fresh, modern inspiration and Sara now has a new wallpaper line that also looks very enticing.  This all sort of reminds me of a decor version of "runway to reality"... are you getting that too?

Wednesday Wants

cuffs

Have you seen the new Jennifer Meyer jewelry collaboration with J.Crew?!  I have to admit, most of these designer collaborations really don't do it for me, but this one blew me away.  I'm a huge fan of Jennifer Meyer's jewelry and can often be found stalking her line at Barneys.  Of the four pieces that Jennifer designed for J.Crew, these Edith cuffs are my absolute faves...I think I need them both, right?  Any cool new collaborations catching your eye these days?

Rustic Modern Chic

I was recently asked to describe my personal style in three words or less..."rustic" and "modern" did not even make the top five.  But, that was before I saw this stylish townhouse designed by Amy Aidinis Hirsch, in the latest issue of At Home magazine.  I love the easy, breezy, chic vibe of this home so much, that now I want to redact my original style answer and start all over...(I'm very design fickle impressionable this way).

Obsession Du Jour: Jane Beiles Photography

I first became aware of the beautiful work of Jane Beiles Photography only just a few months ago, after a style stalking post I did about Nightingale Design.  A few emails back and forth later, I was excited to learn that not only does Jane live and work in the next town over from mine, but we even know some of the same people.  Up until now, I had naively thought that all the really great photographers that specialized in interiors live in big cities.  Now that I know that Jane is so close by, all I can think about is collaborating with this talented lady on something special.  Stay tuned...

Monday's P.O.P.

pleasing purple

Image via: Veranda

Sponsored Post: The Perfect Rug

Cleaning Natural Fiber Rugs: Sisal, Jute and Seagrass

 *This post was written by ThePerfectRug.com

For many, cleaning up around the home or apartment isn’t one of the most fun activities to participate in – but it’s necessary! However, some items are more difficult to clean and require some know-how. Natural fiber rugs, for instance, tend to keep relatively clean but can be difficult to manage because they accrue hard to remove dirt buildup as they age. Whether you own a sisal rug, jute rugor seagrass rug, let’s take a look at some employable maintenance habits for sustaining the health of their natural fibers.

1.     Rug Location: Because natural fiber rugs absorb water easily, you should place them indoors in a location with limited moisture exposure. Excess moisture increases the likelihood of mold growth and causes the fibers to deteriorate. A dry location will help improve your rug’s lifespan.

2.     Vacuuming: Possibly one of the most overlooked steps in the cleaning process, vacuuming serves to pull loose debris from the fibers. Unlike other rug materials, natural fibers require several passes with the vacuum to maximize dust and dirt extraction. Nevertheless, you should vacuum frequently because excess foot traffic, over time, will compact loose debris into the fibers, making future cleaning much more difficult.

3.     Stain and Spill Removal: One option to remove stains from smaller rugs is through the process of dry cleaning. For larger rugs, although this may sound counterintuitive, create a liquid cleaning solution (one teaspoon of vinegar, one teaspoon of detergent and 2 quarts of water). Once prepared, dampen a towel or washcloth with the solution and blot the area. It’s important to never rub the area or use regular carpet cleaning products, as they will damage the fabric. Furthermore, if the consistency of the spilt fluid is thick, you should gently scrape off the excess residue prior to using the solution.

4.     Drying: As mentioned previously, natural fiber rugs sustain damage in wet conditions; so drying your rug is of the utmost importance. If left to soak, the wet fibers will shrink, deforming the original dimension. Quick ways to absorb liquid include rolling the rug up into a towel or using a blow dryer (without heating the air).
Now, if you live in a dry, arid climate, it doesn’t hurt to give your rug a very light misting to maintain fiber flexibility.But don’t overdo it! There should be no visible water droplets. 

5.     Preventative Maintenance: Tactics like flipping the rug once a year will help extend the rug’s life. Also, the application of fabric protectors will aid in preserving the materials. Fabric protectors create a water resistant seal and simplify the cleaning process.
If properly maintained, a natural fiber rug can outlast many other styles and types. 

*All images via The Perfect Rug blog

Minor Obsessions

earrings | necklace | clutch | ice bucket | coupes | book | movie | shoes

It seems that the art-deco-jazz-age era of The Great Gatsby is back with an everything that's old is new again vengeance.  Including the movie itself...which I know I'll be seeing...just maybe not at the movies.  I can't even remember the last movie I saw in an actual movie theater.  Until then, I'll be getting into the flapper spirit with these fun fashion accessories, chic urns for champagne in some old school coupes and I'm even contemplating re-reading the book or even better, re-watching the Robert Redford and Mia Farrow version. How about you? Will you be catching this at the box office soon?

Modern Glamour

I fell hard for magazine editor Cynthia Frank's Southampton home in Elle Decor...(real hard) after going back to gaze at these interiors about five or six times, I figured it was time to just post some of these lovely images here.  From the location to the soothing color scheme of black, white and blue and of course the incredible artwork collection, there is not one thing I would change. Old world glamour meets modern luxury, by the sea...what's better than that?

Accessory Spotting

From time to time, I love to do a little round up of the images I've been collecting (pinning) that beautifully feature the same items that we sell here at zhush.com "in situ," especially when these very same accessories are styled really well.  Seeing these, always inspires me, even more so, now that I'm contemplating putting together a newer and bigger look book this summer. I can't believe it's been almost two years since we shot the last one ~ crazy!

white ceramic origami star image via Cynthia Brooks Design.com
bronze urchin image via
large brass wall flower (on sale!) image via K. Mathiesen Brown Design.com
colored pencils and brass holder set image via Lucy and Co.
gold ceramic elephant image via hey Billie
python tray image via Rue Magazine
chevron/zig zag frame image via Muse Interiors