This weekend we’re looking forward to popping uptown and getting our fill of the Upper East Side. Our first stop is Sarabeth's for a delicious, leisurely brunch. Whether we’ll have the Spinach & Goat Cheese omelette or the Seafood Cobb Salad we haven't decided, as both are just too good.

After lunch we’re headed to the much talked about Gutai: Splendid Playground exhibit at the Guggenheim, open through May 8th. We’ve heard that it is Japan’s most influential postwar avant-garde collection. The exhibit is divided into six different thematic sections that explore Gutai’s work and process. Definitely not to be missed.

With sunny days in mind, we’ll stroll through Central Park, iced coffee in hand. We'll top off a delightful day with cocktails and bites at Earl's Beer and Cheese - the Earl's Taco looks like a must-try.

Spotted in the video - Sonia Floral Marine Duvet.

Kay speaks about pulling inspiration from art, history and the world around her. Here in the studio, she surrounds herself with images of everything from current fashion shows, classic interiors and ancient tapestries.

Get inspired, watch the video>

Our new Bath Collection features Modern Ribbed, Graphic Jacquard and Draper Stripe bath towels. Both the Modern Ribbed and Draper Stripe collection are made form 100% long staple Turkish cotton. Woven for durability and combed for softness, these towels will only get better with each wash. The Graphic Jacquard collection is made from 100% fine, yarn dyed, ringspun cotton. These geometric towels are deliciously thick, ultra-absorbent, and these too are made to last.

Shop the new Bath Collection to find the perfect pattern and palette for your bathroom – they are the perfect everyday luxury.

First stop The General. We know what you’re thinking –trendy modern Asian cuisine for breakfast? Not exactly.. They have just started offering baked goods for the morning crowd - and we are not talking muffins and bagels. We’re headed there for Coco Puffs with Coco Cream doughnuts and a breakfast pretzel bomb, or two.

Or for a more substantial brunch we’ll head to Il Buco Alimentari. They have something for everyone from home-made ricotta with jam and fruit to Torta Pasqualina (Tuscan kale, eggs, and parmagiano). We’ve also heard the olive oil cake is heaven paired with prosecco - noted.

After strolling up Bowery and possibly getting a coffee at standby Peels, we’re heading up to the MoMA to gather inspiration at the Bill Brandt: Shadow and Light exhibit. Bill Brant is a founding figure in modern photography and this exhibit displays his evolution from working as a photojournalism during WWII to his famed series of nudes. We can’t leave before stopping by Inventing Abstraction, 1910-1925. The exhibit celebrates the rise of the abstract movement and traces its path via artists and mediums, and through nations and time - a must-see.

To cap off the day we are headed east to Battersby. We have been dying to try this Smith Street gastronome-mecca and think this is the weekend. We may try their spontaneous tasting menu, however, the current menu may be too good to pass up. We’ll have the Crisp Kale Salad, Fettuccine, Fregola Sarda, Crystal Valley Chicken… one of everything, please.

Once back in SoHo we think a stop by the new Rogue & Cannon will be the perfect night cap. Their cocktail menu is unparalleled and if you didn’t get enough at dinner they have an interesting menu with late night classics and a few rogue offerings sprinkled in (like a peanutbutter burger!).

Looking forward to the weekend - looks like it will be a good one.

As you know, we love to create designs for the home that are unique, special and timeless, yet fresh. Although this approach is best experienced in person (as you know if you have seen our gorgeous flagship store!), we created our e-catalog to give you the best viewer experience possible. We start with our Ten Favorite Decorating Essentials - our must-have list created to inspire your home décor and showcase the breadth of the line. We then continue to introduce classic and trendsetting ideas, how-to’s for creating the chicest room or moment and more. We hope you will be inspired by the collection and new e-catalog.

Explore the new collection here>

Find your sofa style: the Simone Sofa blends european glamour with uptown chic, and the Wright Sofa is your go-to for clean lines and comfort. Add a Zig Zag or Arden Mist pillow for a splash of spring.

The Astor Sofa looks handsome paired with the coveted Mallory Chair (seen here is uber chic Zebra Geo upholstery).

New pieces are arriving every day so stop by to find your next treasure.

The Interior Design Show opened with a party featuring Kia Motors and their love of aesthetics and mechanics. To show case their newest cars Kia asked IDS guest speakers Douglas Couplan, Jürgen Mayer H., Karim Rashid and our Christiane for patterns with which to cover one of the new cars. We toyed with the idea of our classic Transportation print, but decided to stay true to our roots - bird's the word.

Chinoiserie Duvet Set>

Click the image below to watch the entire Q&A.

The Salon Series is a host of evenings where we invite brilliant and inspiring people to interview at to our flagship store, 77 Wooster. Stay tuned for the next night of all things design.

For the Entertainer - triangular candle holders, sure to add to any cocktail party conversation; a coffee and tea service that could easily grace the set of Mad Men.

For the Art Lover - a striking raven framed in red.

For the Old Soul - hand-carved letter openers are the perfect gift, both beautiful and useful.

For the Gourmande - vintage salad servers and salt & pepper shakers are the perfect couple.

Which would your Valentine love?

Happy pinning and bonne chance!

While wandering Tribeca, we came upon jewelry designer sisters Noriko and Akiko Sugawara. Similar to us, they are inspired by nature, travel and New York City. Their pieces are both contemporary and timeless - you simply can't go wrong.

Last summer, while antiquing near Montauk we came across local chocolatier Mali B Sweets. Their unique flavor combinations caught our foodie eye – Bacon Sea Salt or Milk Chocolate Pretzel Bar anyone?

Being purveyors of luxury doesn’t stop with the home. We seek out the best for every aspect of life, which is why we had to share RICA Bath & Body. RICA products are handcrafted, all natural and are inspired by traditional beauty recipes dating back generations. We’ve noticed tradition and quality tend to go hand in hand and we can’t get enough of the Oat & Honey Milk Bath – it’s the perfect remedy for winter skin.

We stumbled upon Morgan Parish’s classic designs at a small showroom right here in SoHo. Everything is handmade with the best quality materials in the USA. Their leather pouches and horsehair key chains are the perfect gift for the girl (or guy) who has everything.

Happy Valentines Day gifting!

Ok I am obsessed. Already. If you haven't already heard, Vine is taking the mobile sharing world by storm. And I am loving it. I posted my first video yesterday while getting inspired for our fall color palette. What is Vine? Read all about it here > Come join the party...let's get inspired! Just search for "Christiane Lemieux" - happy Vining! ]]> Tue, 05 Feb 2013 16:53:54 +0000 http://www.dwellstudio.com/blog/weekendagenda-matisse/

What are you up to this weekend? We're looking forward to seeing the new Matisse show - In search of True Painting - at the Met.

This show is a bit different than a normal artist retrospective. The curator placed several variations of Matisse's paintings side by side, so that we - the viewers - can examine the detailed differences ourselves.

Matisse was obsessive about reworking his paintings - he often revised them again and again.

He tested different techniques like painting dark colors over bright ones to create a soft underglow, or playing with varying styles of brushstrokes to produce interesting textures.

About his meticulous nature, Matisse said he wanted to "push further and deeper into true painting."

We love that for Matisse, the process of creation was just as important as the finished canvas.

We're looking forward to letting our eyes linger over each piece and trying to spy all the intricate variations and tonal nuances in his work!

Images via The New York Times and Vogue.

Five years ago I was traveling in Nepal, one of my favorite destinations for inspiration.

I had recently renovated my loft apartment and was searching (as I always am) for textures and details to add to my new home or to inspire my work.

By chance, I came across a young couple who were making the most beautiful and luxurious silk and wool custom rugs - and it was love at first sight. I knew I had to have them make the rugs for my apartment.

After much back and forth with them, getting the exact size, color and construction just right - my rugs arrived a few weeks later.

The rugs became an obsession - and everyone that stepped foot in my home became as obsessed with them as I was. I knew that if my friends and I could be THAT taken with a rug, I needed to bring them to the DwellStudio customer as well. So I set out on a mission: to recreate my beautiful rug with our source in India.

The talented people that make our Mini Stripe rugs are as obsessed with pile and quality as I am - each piece is made with the most luxurious wool, and a thread of viscose is shot through to give a bit of shine.

These rugs are the perfect non-neutral neutral - and go anywhere. Our entire office is now obsessed with the rug - we all have them in our homes.

Here you see it in our EVP, Jennifer Chused's Brooklyn apartment.

P.S. this year we were live pinning on Pinterest from the event, so make sure you follow us for all the latest DwellStudio news!

For all things cutting-edge culture Nowness rules.

Our senior designer Jenn is obsessed with Sight Unseen for the coolest studio visits.

To satisfy our thirst for all things French (and those amazing fashion illustrations) we turn to Garance Dore.

For beautiful interiors and on-the-road views from Peggy's travels On Blue Pool Road is endlessly inspiring.

For the most artful interiors, we love For Pilar.

When we're in need of a little masculine haberdashery you'll find our design department browsing Mr. Porter's Journal.

And of course for closet envy we adore The Coveteur.

We love daydreaming about the beautiful spaces captured by The Brick House.

Can't get enough of the aesthetic musings from I'm Revolting.

We turn to Miss Moss for everything from food to fashion to house tours.

We adore the whimsical fashion and home-inspo guides from Penny Weight.

Totally obsessed with the dreamy interviews and house tours on Tales of Endearment.

Who are you loving right now? We would LOVE to know!

We wish we could jet set to London this weekend to see Dutch artist Berndnaut Smilde's stunning cloud portraits (dubbed the Nimbus series) at the Ronchini Gallery.

Berndnaut creates these breathing images by injecting a delicate balance of smoke and moisture into a meticulously backlit room.

The final product is a set of surreal photographs - clouds floating indoors. The images feel so magical, don't you think?

What are your weekend plans? We would LOVE to know!

Images via This is Colossal.

This weekend we suggest heading uptown to see the beautiful Fortuny exhibit at the Queen Sofia Spanish Institute.

The show is devoted to the Venetian textile maven Mariano Fortuny.

Fortuny was born in Grenada, Spain in 1871, but travelled widly with his family—North Africa, Paris, Rome—collecting artifacts, decorative obects and a wealth of inspiration along the way.

This wordly taste and wide-ranging interest is immediately present throughout the show. His textiles are composed of Persian motifs, while his groundbreaking fashions reflect his passion for all things Asian.

Among his most famous designs was the stunningly simple, yet groundbreaking Delphos dress (named for the Greek oracle Delphi). The dress is composed of intricately knife-pleated silk and produced in a pantheon of color-ways.

His sheaths were among the first to showcase the female form in a loose, body-skimming silhouette—free from cumbersome corsets.

His iconic designs were adopted by modern artists of the time like dancer Isadora Duncan and her daughters. The model Tina Chow became a fervent supporter in later years.

This exhibition also highlights Fortuny's multi-layered career. He was a celebrated photographer, painter, printmaker and textile designer.

In fact his famous his textured wallpaper is still in production today.

Fortuny's groundbreaking designs are thoughtful and timeless. We love art that has the ability to transcend history and become apart of the cultural dialogue on society.

Fortuny y Madrazo: An Artistic Legacy runs through March 30, 2013.

What are your weekend plans? We would love to know!

(clockwise from top left)

1. We love to add drama with lighting, and the perfect way to do this is with an artfully sculptural lamp.

2. Sometimes all a space needs is a shot of color. Hanging modern artwork is an easy way to brighten up a room.

3. Don't have the budget for a new sofa? No worries! Pop a graphic pillow on the sofa for an instant living room facelift.

4. Home organization is always at the top of our New Year's Resolution list. Choosing a handsome bedside or coffee table is a chic way kickstart the organization motivation.

5. One of the easiest ways to update a room is to add interesting pieces like decorative accessories—like jewelry for the home. A simple brass candle stick can add an interesting layer of glamour.

6. We hear that some people are afraid to use a bold rug, but a graphic rug in vibrant hues can add a jolt of excitement to an otherwise neutral room.

What are your favorite ways to update your space? We would love to know!

See more snaps from Morocco on Pinterest and follow Christiane on Twitter and Instagram for live updates!

All images via Pinterest.

Have a lovely New Year's Eve!

(Image via Flickr.)

A Hot Toddy by the fire at the Bowery Hotel is our favorite cold-weather remedy.

(Image via B/Eats.)

Nothing beats ice skating in central park.

(Image via Blog.)

The stunning Swarovski snowflake above 5th Avenue.

And the holiday windows, of course!

We love the amazing public art installations throughout the city like Madison Square Park's Buckyball, a towering 30-foot tall, illuminated sculpture.

What are your favorite things about NYC in the winter? We would love to know!

Happy Holidays!

P.S. check out our London City Guide to see our favorite hot spots!

How-To Guide: DwellStudio Hip Holiday Garlands

1. Print pattern or image on both sides of paper.

2. Cut into strips that are around .5" wide.

3. Attach strips with colorful tape to a string about 1" or 2" apart.

(Image via London2012.)

See: Pre-Raphaelites exhibit at Tate Britain

Our design team is loving the Victorian era right now. Tate Britain is putting a spotlight on some of the artistic radicals of the 1800s with its stunning show. The exhibition is full of luminous Victorian Avant Garde paintings, sculptures and photography by champions of the movement, including Dante Gabriel Rossetti, William Holman Hunt and John Everett Millais.

Shop: James Smith & Sons

If you're obsessed with quality and craftsmanship (like we are) then you must stop by this Victorian-era umbrella shop. Founded in 1830 and still owned and run as a family business, the master craftsmen here still construct umbrellas and walking sticks right in the basement of the New Oxford Street location—where attention to detail is of the utmost importance. Plus, we're pretty sure that every dashing haberdasher in London carries one of James Smith's well-crafted parapluies!

Imbibe: The Bar at the Dorchester

We adore this elegantly furnished watering hole, with its lacquered mahogany walls and Dale Chihuly-like glass installations. We suggest sticking to the classics here like the house specialty, the Martinez, which is made with Old Tom gin and recreated from an early 18th-century recipe.

Eat: Portrait Restaurant in the National Portrait Gallery

(Image via Telegraph.)

This rooftop resto may seem like an unlikely spot, but the views of London are breath-taking at this little known British gem. Anything but stuffy, we suggest noshing on Butternut squash soup and the Duck Breast while gazing at the London Eye, Big Ben and Nelson's Column.

Sleep: One Aldwych

(Image via Hotel Traveler.)

Sometimes sleeping in high-style is a must, and One Aldwych tops the haute list. We love this tradition-with-a-twist hotel—Edwardian style architecture with sleek modern updates. Central located in Covet Square, the building was actually constructed in 1907 by the same architects who designed The Ritz in Paris.

Stay tuned to Christiane's Twitter for live updates from London.

And thanks to Assouline Publishing and Housing Works! We can't wait to see everyone at our next design event at 77 Wooster.

How-To Guide: DwellStudio Place-setting Cards

1. Print pattern or image. Print image on both sides of paper.

2. Trim paper to 5.5"x10.5" and fold in half.

3. Punch holes around the border of paper.

4. Insert fasteners and cut 3.5"x3.75" rectangles out of contrasting paper, tape to top of place setting.

5. Personalize with name or menu.

P.S. Check out our Toronto City Guide to see some of our favorite places!

(Image via Wikipedia.)

See: Art Gallery of Ontario

With a sweeping exterior designed by the Toronto-born Frank Gehry, this artful oasis is one of our favorite out-of-the-way gems of the city. Right now we're obsessed with the Frida & Diego exhibition. It's a fascinating look at how this artist duo's passionate romance informed their paintings. We always leave a few minutes to sip coffee in the light-filled atrium after walking the museum, and you should too!

Shop: GH Johnson

(Image via EatDrinkBeMerry.)

This urban interior design mecca is always on our must list when we're in the area. They've been a Toronto mainstay since 1946. We love browsing their chic collection of modern, unique and vintage pieces. Plus you'll find some of our favorite DwellStudio products!

Imbibe: The Black Hoof

No classy Canadian cocktail hour would be complete without a stop and sip at this newly opened watering hole. We love their modern twists on classic cocktails... like the delicious Tea & Sympathy or the devilish Hoof Manhattan. Plus their cured meats and charcutier are not to be missed!

Sleep: Gladstone Hotel

Housed in a gorgeous Victorian building this forward-thinking hotel is equal parts art destination and chic sleep boutique. Each room was uniquely designed by a contemporary artist, and there's even a savvy gallery in the lobby. We love the artful concept here!

Eat: Ursa

We love the dark, moody interiors and local Canadian cuisine at this intimate resto. It's hard not to feel a little romantic noshing on Ursa's exotic mushroom dishes among their cascading filament lighting and sleek stained walls.

Stay tuned to Christiane's Twitter for live updates from her Robert Allen design talk today in Toronto.

Whimsical and fun, our colorful Felt Garland is the perfect gift for your most creative and crafty friends.

We think these sweet and simple Floating Feather Ornaments will add a layer of elegance to the home year-round. Plus these ornaments come in a giftable set of 7 for easy giving.

We partnered with heritage brand Pendleton to update their classic wool blanket with our signature prints. Our Chelsea Stipe Dove Throw is the perfect blanket to cozy up in style with on chilly winter nights.

Adding a festive yet elegant touch to the home is easy with our beautiful laser-cut Wooden Snowflake Ornaments. Plus, this set of 12 comes wrapped up in a pretty ivory box, which makes them effortlessly giftable.

Our Chinoiserie Pillow is our most beloved pattern, and we love how it adds an instant layer of fresh and crisp style to the home.

Browse our Gift Guide and our Holiday e-Catalog for more inspiring gift ideas!

Have a HAPPY Thanksgiving from all of us at DwellStudio!

The glowing view down 5th Avenue.

We know the holiday season has officially arrived once the famous Swarovski Snowflake takes its place over 5th Avenue.

We couldn't get enough of the fantastical Cirque du Soleil-themed windows at Bloomingdale's

It's a visual feast filled with 3-D animated scenes, acrobats and hand-painted murals.

Bergorf’s windows were inspired by the Jazz Age.

How cool are those Art Deco details and beautiful plumes?

Barney's went for a neon electric look...

with an imaginative mixing of Disney characters and fashion stars. Can you imagine a meeting between fashion writer Suzy Menkes and Minnie Mouse?

We absolutely adored the twinkling snake wrapped around Bvlgari!

Henri Bendel partnered with the Brooklyn Museum to design displays that evoke 1920s fashion.

The main window was mocked up to look like the department store's interior from 90 years ago, complete with mannequins wearing outfits inspired by actual Bendel designs from that era.

And Harry Winston was all a-glitter!

Have you seen the Holiday windows? Let us know your favorites on Facebook... we would love to hear from you!

(Image via National Geographic.)

See: The balloons on the night before the Macy's Thanksgiving Parade

A tradition since 1927, the giant character balloons are slowly inflated and brought to life on the streets around the American Museum of Natural History. We love walking along Central Park West to catch a glimpse of some of the classic parade characters.

(Images via MTV.)

And of course we adore the watching Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade!

(Image via Cottage in the Oaks.)

Shop: Zabar's

It's a New York tradition to order a turkey and all the trimmings from the legendary Zabar's. Plus we can't leave this New York food institution without a basket full of amazing cheese from their well-stocked counter!

(Images via New York Times.)

Imbibe: Cocktails at the Wadorf Astoria

Sipping a hot toddy in the lobby of this grand hotel and watching the uptown crowd flow in and out of the beautiful Art Deco building is a lovely pre-Thanksgiving dinner treat. And the holiday decorations are an amazing sight!

(Images via Slash Food and Blog.)

Go: George Balanchine's Nutcracker

(Image via Jaunted.)

This classic ballet begins the day after Thanksgiving and it's a true a magical feast.

Eat: Edi and the Wolf

(Image via Huffington Post.)

For a non-traditional meal, we love to check out the culinary scene at this Austrian hotspot. This year's Thanksgiving specialty... roasted duck with pretzel brioche sounds delicious.

The Plaza

For a taste of old New York on Thanksgiving night, nothing beats dinner at The Plaza complete with all the classic trimmings. We even found this vintage Turkey Day menu from 1899!

(Images via Lucky Penny and Ephemeral New York.)

We would love to hear about your Thanksgiving traditions over on Facebook!

Imbibe: The Bee Hive

(Image via Flickr)

Located in Boston's hip South End, this artful spot is always celebrating something. With live music, abstract paintings, low hanging chandeliers, dark interiors, moody wallpaper and exposed brick—design lovers and party-revelers alike will feel at home here. We love to stop in pre- or post-dinner for a cocktail and a little nighttime people watching!

Sleep: The Liberty Hotel

(Image via Swell City)

Housed in the former Charles Street Jail, this luxury hotel makes for a historical and haute stay in Boston. Built in 1851 by architect duo Gridley James Fox Bryant and Rev. Louis Dwight, the building's storied past is honored in three eating-and-drinking spots with playful references: Clink, Alibi and Scampo. An airy 90-foot central rotunda, which houses the main lobby, is topped by a cupola that was formerly covered over, and magnificent, original floor-to-ceiling windows overlook the landscaped patio.

Eat: Lala Rokh

(Images via Zagat)

Nestled in Boston's adorable Beacon Hill neighborhood, this Persian restaurant is a tasty romantic hideaway. We suggest leaving the food decisions to your waiter... then sit back with a glass of wine and enjoy every saffron and garlic-infused dish.

See: Mario Testino at the Museum of Fine Arts

(Image via MFA)

No one captures the excitement of fashion, royal life and wild happenings quite like Mario Testino. After strolling through the Chinese sculptures, European paintings and contemporary decorative art collections at this cultural mainstay make sure to linger a little longer among the oversized glossy images of celebs, socialites and beautiful people.

An authentic haunted house in Rhinebeck.

Heading out for a Halloween stroll.

Put a bird on it... even for Halloween!

A ninja stops by the local bank... it's a suburban Halloween!

Ending the night by a cozy fire.

What did you do for Halloween? We would love to know!

P.S. Check out our past adventures at High Point Market >

During the presentation, Christiane divulged this year's signature DwellStudio creature—the gazelle—chosen by our design team for its chic and majestic qualities. She also touched on some of our key themes like our modern riff on a zebra stipe, elements pulled from nature, graphic botanicals and mix + match basics in glamourous metallics.

Also on hand were Robert Allen's Christy Almond, VP of Fabric Design and Hannah Alderson, Director of Fabric Design who gave the group insight into the technical design aspects of the collection. After the presentation, we hunkered down for a delicious lunch from the The City Bakery right in the Robert Allen Design studio. We had a lovely time meeting all the creative and tech-savvy bloggers and chatting about design trends over lunch!

Thank you to the awesome Robert Allen team for hosting and thank you to all the amazing bloggers... it was a great event!

In the living room: A palette of neutrals is contrasted by the graphic pop of a Robert Swain painting.

In the bedroom: Christiane says, "I wanted to create a sanctuary in the middle of New York City--something calm and quiet.”

In the dining area: Christiane says, "The Baroque chandelier hangs a bit lower to create a sense of intimacy without making diners feel hemmed in."

Read the full post over on One Kings Lane >

P.S. Head to One Kings Lane to take advantage of our exclusive flash sale >

P.S. Shop our Labor Day Sale for up to 70% off our favorite pieces!

P.S. Enter our Update Your Space Sweepstakes for a chance to win $5,000 in DwellStudio product!

P.S. See our adorable gifting ideas for baby girls and baby boys.

Christiane layered a few found seashells into her tablescape to keep the decor natural and breezy. (Can't you just smell the sweet and salty sea air?)

On the menu for the evening was eggplant and kale from Quail Hill Farm...

and grilled snapper...

and roasted fingerling potatoes.

How do you set the table for outdoor dining? And what are your favorite late-summer dishes? We would love to hear!

And thank you to all our Facebook friends for sharing these sweet moments with us!

Alfie's Antique Market

If you love unique and madcap antique finds (like our founder Christiane)— you’ll have your fill at Alfie’s Antique Market. This old-school market is stocked to the hilt with amazing vintage pieces. Plus, we hear Alfie’s has a trendy rooftop café for those post-shopping alfresco munchies.

Zara Hadid-designed Aquatics Center

One of the Olympic sights I'm looking forward to seeing is the Zara Hadid-designed Aquatics Center. We love this innovative architect here at DwellStudio. Her sweeping structures are impressive feats of industrial design with fierce style.

Edmund de Waal at the Waddesdon Manor

This stately home plays host to a range of exhibits throughout the year. As huge fans of Downton Abby, we're excited to get our fix of proper Brit-manners by way of ceramicist Edmund de Waal’s latest porcelain exhibition. We're anticipating an opulent journey in a baroque lifestyle!

Tate Modern

The Damien Hirst Exhibit: We're always intrigued by Damien Hirst's renegade artistic style from his colorful dot explorations to his avant-garde animal sculptures, this retrospective is a top priority.

And the Tino Seghal Exhibition: This provocative installation artist explores the cross-section between public and private with his innovative performance art pieces. It's sure to be mysterious and fascinating.

P.S. What would you see? We would love to know!

P.S. New Yorkers we know you love a good bargain, but aren’t you glad you won’t have to stand in line, rifle through bins or check your purse at the door?

Shop the Sale >

Related Posts:

NYC Sample Sale

Sample Sale, 2010

Sample Sale Mayhem

The Sophisticated Margarita

Summer's swelter is best handled with a frosty cocktail in-hand. We adore this sophisticated twist on the classic margarita. Inspired by one of our go-to downtown haunts—Spice Market's—Ginger Margarita is easy to mix-up in large batches. We love to prep it in a tall pitcher and let guests serve themselves with our chic fish tumblers.

Stress-Free Kebabs

We love to pull out the portable Hibachi Grill and let guests prep their own skewers with an assortment of protein and veggies. This keeps the vibe low-key and gives the host a chance to indulge in summer's laissez-faire vibe. We were inspired by this Mediterranean standard.

Styled Antipasti

Setting out a medley of antipasti bites on stylish serving platters gives guests something to nosh on throughout evening. We love cruising the olive bar Zabars for a mix of cured meats, cheese and raw veggies.

For more stylish entertaining tips check out Christiane's beach-side lunch and see our full summer collection.

Follow us on Instagram for more behind the scenes previews!

(Woody, second from right, with the DwellStudio team at our flagship store opening party.)

Tell us about your relationship with DwellStudio.

Working with DwellStudio has been absolutely amazing. It has truly been a collaborative effort that combines DwellStudio’s design talents with Precedent's ability to execute those designs in a way that makes the product incredibly comfortable and a great value.

(Our upholstery fabrics in the Precedent factory.)

What’s the story behind Precedent’s commitment to American-made?

We are fortunate to have an experienced group of craftsmen who are passionate about quality. We build our products right here in North Carolina. The dedication to quality just cannot be replicated in another country. We feel an obligation to our workforce to keep jobs at home. Perhaps we could save money by sending our production offshore, but it would never be worth the sacrifice in quality.

(New chairs awaiting assembly.)

Where do you source materials?

We source all of our wood products domestically, most coming from within 300 miles of our manufacturing facility. To the extent possible, we source fabrics from domestic sources as well. We find the quality and reliability of stateside textiles superior.

What are some of your favorite pieces in the DwellStudio line and why?

My favorite is the Hans Chaise, which we just introduced at the spring High Point Market. If you like the Hans Chair, you're going to love the chaise!

(A sneak peek of our new Hans Chaise at our flagship)

From the sofas in the collection, Larkin is my favorite. I love the clean lines, and it so comfortable. From the wood collection, the Gate Armoire is very elegant and very chic!

(Woody on the Precedent factory floor.)

Shop American-Made>

Where are you from originally?

I grew up in Sacramento, and I moved to New York from San Francisco.

What brought you to New York?

The California lifestyle is amazing, but when you’re from there it can get a little boring. I wanted something that would pick up the pace, and New York offered that.

Where do you live now?

Clinton Hill, Brooklyn

What’s your role at 77 Wooster?

I’m the General Manager here at 77 Wooster—think of me as your Girl Friday! I’m the person you meet when you first walk through the door. I’m the person telling you how amazing the product and aesthetic is. I'm the person telling you how to get a stain out of fabric. I’m also the person who will schedule your delivery for the same day!

Favorite part of the store.

The workstation. It’s expansive. It’s a conversation piece. It’s never too crowded, even when the store feels crowded. It’s the perfect pause in the store.

Favorite part of your home?

My living room. I’m a giant fan of PBS. I love to escape into my sofa-time, and catch up on some Masterpiece Theatre. I love old Quincy, Miss Marple and old Sherlock Holmes.

What are your go-to spots in Soho.

I tend to gravitate toward the steadfast, old-school Manhattan staples. It’s Café Habana over on Elizabeth and Prince—that Mexican corn is the best deal in town.

It’s Balthazar—a glass of champagne there and French Onion Soup and you’re in a whole other dimension. I love to take the New Yorker magazine there and read at the bar. And Lucky Strike still has the best happy hour!

Favorite DwellStudio find?

Our Gazelle table in the gold finish—I love the gilded hue.

What's your everyday style?

I’m very vintage-eclectic with a touch of modern. My outfits have been so inspired by all the vintage pieces in the store; they add so much personality to the overall aesthetic. (Follow our 77 Wooster board on Pinterest for more behind the scenes snaps).

(A one-of-a-kind turtle magnifing glass at 77 Wooster.)

Reading anything good right now?

I hate to say it, but Instagram has taken over my reading time! Every moment I would usually read a book; I find that I’m picking up Instagram and reading through the posts, and adding to them! We even installed Instagram screen savers on the in-store computers that pull from DwellStudio's feed.

Any other iphone app obsessions?

Google Translate and Emoji Texting—they just bring smiles to people’s faces!

Make sure you say hi to Mishel when you stop the DwellStudio Flagship. And tag us #77Wooster in your Instagrams, so we can see your favorite finds!

Related Posts:

DwellStudio's Guide to SoHo

DwellDialouge with... Meyer's Davis Studio

DwellStudio Store Opening Party

Behind the Scenes of our Street Art for 77 Wooster

I served ice cold cucumber water in our chic little fish glasses. One of the entertaining tips I’ve picked up over the years is to add a few cucumber slices to a pitcher with a lid, store it in the fridge upside-down for a few hours before guests arrive—et voila! You’ll have water with a refreshing spa-like taste. It really adds a layer of luxury to a casual party.

Our beach-side lunch table was set with these sea creature plates—made by Laura Zindel—a very cool artist from Vermont.

They provided the perfect complement to our ocean-side setting.

I’m obsessed with our Napeague serving platters—inspired by my favorite beach town retreat, Amagansett. I kept the mood casual by placing silverware on a platter.

Allowing guests to grab utensils at their leisure while keeping the styling of the luncheon chic and organized.

I served one of my favorite summertime dishes—grilled asparagus—on a matching Napeague serving platter. This dish is so easy to make, and it’s a true crowd pleaser.

Don’t you love the summery palette of the green and blue and yellow?

This Driftwood Candelabra is one of my favorite pieces from our summer collection.

Each one is so unique because it’s made from reclaimed grapevine. I used it as a centerpiece, and it was an instant conversation piece.

And my son had a great time playing with it too!

What are your favorite ways to entertain in the summer? I’d love to know!

Plus, see all my must-haves for summer>

(Joshua stand paddling with Isabelle and William.)

Q: How has becoming a dad changed your outlook on life?

A: Upended all my priorities; my life revolves around my kids and I wouldn’t have it any other way.

Q: What’s the life philosophy/approach to life that you what to impart to your kids?

A: Be an individual and true to yourself. Experience nature and travel the globe.

Q: What’s your best dad moment? Any anecdotes?

A: One thing will always stand out - I was skiing out west with my daughter, and she skied on her own for the first time right beside me, top to bottom of a big mountain. I was awestruck. The most important thing I have learned as a dad - work will always be there and so will your friends that matter, so make the time to take them to school, go on a field trip and be on the sidelines cheering. It’s only a finite period of time and it’s wonderful.

Don't forget that Father's Day is this Sunday, June 17th! Check out our Father's Day Gift Guide and Steven and Josh's must-haves for last minute gifting ideas. Plus make sure to enter our Facebook photo contest (ends this Sunday!) for a chance to win our Hans Chair and a $500 Gift Card to Steven Alan!

Related Posts:

Meet Joshua Young: DwellStudio's President Joshua Young talks about raising kids in Soho and his favorite neighborhood haunts.

Meet Steven Alan: Designer, Steven Alan talks about fatherhood, style & his fave kid-friendly neighborhood spots.

Father’s Day Gifting – The Limit: Christiane's on cool gifts for dad.

(Steven camping with Max and Lea)

Q: How has becoming a dad changed your outlook on life?

A: It has given me a broader outlook in terms of importance and urgency and has taught me to be more patient.

Q: What’s the life philosophy/approach to life that you what to impart to your kids?

A: Whatever you choose to do, do it well and try lots of stuff early on to figure out what you enjoy.

Q: What’s your best dad moment? Any anecdotes?

A: The day the kids were born. I highly recommend being present at birth and always be prepared for the inevitable birds and bees questions.

Don't forget that Father's Day is this Sunday, June 17th! Check out our Father's Day Gift Guide and Steven and Josh's must-haves for last minute gifting ideas. Plus make sure to enter our Facebook photo contest (ends this Sunday!) for a chance to win our Hans Chair and a $500 Gift Card to Steven Alan!

Related Posts:

Meet Joshua Young: DwellStudio's President Joshua Young talks about raising kids in Soho and his favorite neighborhood haunts.

Meet Steven Alan: Designer, Steven Alan talks about fatherhood, style & his fave kid-friendly neighborhood spots.

Father’s Day Gifting – The Limit: Christiane's on cool gifts for dad.

We were so excited that Christy Turlington Burns and Tiffani Amber Thiessen stopped by to congratulate Christiane. (Did you see all their live tweeting?).

Our in-house DJ kept the party going with his mod-inspired turntables. (We even spotted a few people dancing!).

And it was great to see Joanna (she writes one of our favorite blogs A Cup of Jo) and Ariane, the HATCH Collection designer.

Towards the end of the night everyone started to get comfortable and cozy up on our sofas and one little guy even tried to setup the first 77 Wooster sleep over!

Thanks to all our lovely friends and family for joining us for a toast!

The renegade spirit of New York street art aligns seamlessly with our founder Christiane's entrepreneurial spirit and her no-fear approach to taking risks and pushing the boundaries of success. So it's really fitting that to generate some street level buzz about our opening day we mounted our very own work of graffiti art. Once whispers of a possible street art collaboration started to travel around the Studio, one of our in-the-know staffers quickly connected us to CS Krew and within a week plans were set to adorn the empty, gated-lot just around the corner from our flagship.

We've always called Soho home—the company has really come of age in this neighborhood (our first offices were just down the street on Canal). And over the years we have loved playing witness to the innovative—and to put it simply—rad street art installations in our own backyard.

Thank you to Carlo Van de Roer for his video skills and to Duotone Audio Group for composing an original score and to CS Krew for collaborating with us. We LOVE our installation!

The Limit tops my list this year (right after our own handsome gifts, of course) as the perfect gift for all the stylish dads in my life, and by the way it definitely leaves those I LOVE DAD coffee mugs in the dust.

(Phil Hill racing his Ferrari via Wikipedia.)

(For more Studio-approved gifts check out our Father's Day Gift Guide on Pinterest.)

We've been so humbled by all the amazing press we've received about our flagship store. We would love share some of the stories...

1. Apartment Therapy

2. Casa Sugar

3. The Editor at Large

4. HGTV

5. Examiner.com

6. Traditional Home

(P.S. Follow us on Foursquare to reveal exclusive DwellStudio tips about our favorite Soho stores!)

(P.S. Follow us on Foursquare to reveal exclusive DwellStudio tips about our favorite Soho stores!)

(P.S. check us out on Foursquare for exclusive tips to our favorite Soho haunts!)

We can't wait to meet you in NYC!

P.S. are you on Foursquare? Make sure to follow us and check-in to the Flagship store when you're in New York!

Where do you look for new recipe ideas? Here are a few of our favorite food inspiration staples...

Roost is a visual feast of dreamy food photography with a focus on gluten-free baking. We're entranced by this blog's beautiful images and interesting recipes.

We're obsessed with our recent discovery of The Food Life. Fashionable tastemakers dole out their personal food fascinations from underground restaurants to secret family recipes.

Sunday Suppers holds classes and events in Brooklyn with a focus on seasonal and organic ingredients. We love the communal vibe this site encourages.

You already know about our love for Kinfolk Magazine. But we've recently discovered their gorgeous food films, which always leave us salivating for more.

Where do you go for food inspiration? We would love to know!

We asked Robby to let us in on his secrets for baking cupcakes with a fresh summery twist. We can't wait to test out his zesty tips this weekend!

P.S. For more Behind the Studio snaps head to Pinterest. And take a look at Robby's last batch of cupcakes.

Say hello to spring with our roundup of flowering instagram snaps! P.S. Head to Pinterest for all our sweet spring-in-NYC moments.

It was Delaunay’s approach to art that really made our designer swoon— combining color and buoyant brush strokes to produce movement and rhythm. Delaunay was a visual virtuoso of sorts; she dabbled in everything from conceptual painting to fashion design. After researching popular prints from the Art Deco era and studying Delaunay’s abstract concepts, the design team honed in on the chic and trendy rose motif from 1930s Paris. Our designers made this retro print new again with jaunty spirals and a brassy palette of bronze and lavender that references Delaunay's Avant Garde sensibility—bold, undulating and graphic.

Shop Deco Floral Bedding>

Inspiring images from the book Color Moves: Art and Fashion by Sonia Delaunay

Shop our decorative vases>

Shop our debut dining collection>

We're loving Melanie's new photoblog 52 Weeks! Starring her family—husband Richard, daughter Violet and son Rockwell—Melanie captures all the stunning moments in her life. From finger painting to bath time to cross-country trips, 52 Weeks is a strikingly honest peek into the everyday life of this true creative soul. And a perfect example of the Undecorated life!

Melanie we love seeing the world through your lens!

P.S. Peep this clip straight from the Undecorate archives to see Melanie in action! (That's our Christiane Lemieux chatting in the background!)

Keep an eye on our New Arrivals page for an updated listing of all the fun new products you'll see on the pages!

Keep up with Christiane  - she loves getting tips from our readers while she's on the road! You can also follow her visually on Pinterest.

1) George Sofa | 2) Franklin Media Cabinet | 3) Zig Zag Citrine Rug | 4) Hans Leather Chair | 5) Ribbed Globe Vase

You can follow Victoria's "bohemian modern style" on Twitter, Facebook and Pinterest. Share Victoria's Spring Style Picks using hashtag #SpringPicksFromSFGirlByBay.

Thank you thank you, Victoria - we adore you!

1) Compass Mirror - I love absolutly everything about this vintage inspired flea market mirror find! It's timeless style will be a focal point in any room.  

2) Milo Coffee Table - My heart swoons over this round coffee table. It's feminine curves and gold coloring make for the perfect living room centerpiece. 

3) Hans Leather Chair - "I'll stop the world and melt with you" is what you will sing when you sit in this luxurious ode to Scandanivian design.

4) Batavia Citrine Pillow - I believe a pop of ikat is a must in every household!

5) Gold Triangles Vase - Luxe metallic details help your flowers pop even more!  These looks great styled in a cluster or standing alone.

Aren't her picks fantastic?  You can follow Erica on Twitter, Facebook, YouTube and Pinterest. Use hashtag #SpringPicksFromPSIMadeThis when sharing her lust list. 

PS - Thank you Erica! 

1) New Edward Angled Sectional: I love the clean lines of this 1950's inspired sectional. The scale of it makes a great anchor for a living room.

2) Haviland Table: The gracefully curved legs add warmth to the room and are a nice contrast to the straight lines of the sectional. It also goes nicely with the cocktail table I chose. I placed the new Pebble Double Bulb Vases in Blue on the side table to add some color to the room.

3) Milo Coffee Table: I love the travertine stone top - it's perfect for drinks and stacks of your favorite shelter magazines! The round table centrally anchors everything and it's the perfect spot for Dwell's Slanted Candleholders.

4) The Octagonal Mirror: I love the bright brass finish and the patina on the glass. It gives it a nice antique mirror feel. I hung it horizontally over the sectional. The warmth of the brass ties in nicely with the casegoods in the room -- the end table and cocktail table.

5) For added fun I placed two of the Zebra Sky Papier-Mache heads on either side of the mirror. They are great conversation pieces and add a bit of humor to an otherwise elegant space!

You can also find Melissa on Twitter and Facebook - be sure to tell her we sent you! Share your love of Melissa's picks with hashtag #springpicksfrommelissa. Thanks Melissa!!

Don't forget to follow Joy on Twitter, Facebook and Pinterest - we know we do! Share her picks using hashtag #springstylefromJOY!

First up is one of our absolute favorite New York City gals: Joanna Goddard. If you're not familiar with her blog Cup of Jo...well, you've been living under a rock. :)  We love and everyone we know loves it. Check out the items she is hankering for to freshen up for spring:

1) Hans Leather Chair - Every living room has one extra comfy armchair that people all call dibs on. This Scandinavian-inspired chair is the one I'd nose dive into when watching TV or reading magazines. It would feel like a big hug!

2) Thompson Glider - When I first had my baby, I would have given my left boob for a glider like this. (Too bad it didn't exist yet!) Instead, I sat in a stiff armchair and just daydreamed about rocking my sweet baby to sleep. If we have a second baby, I'm going to order this immediately! Plus, the chocolate dots fabric is too cute to resist.

3) Mayfair Bed - The MayFair Bed's angled headboard would make you feel tucked in, like you were climbing into a little hideaway. You'd feel so cozy and cuddled up while reading books in bed.

4) Owls Cylinder Storage Bin - This cute storage bin would be perfect for baby's toys--or dirty laundry in our bedroom. Right now, laundry piles up in my closet, but it would be a treat to have a hamper that actually brightens up the room.

5) Draper Stripe Citrine Runner - Years ago, I saw a house tour in Domino Magazine with a yellow striped rug, and I still haven't gotten that image out of my mind. I'd love this adorable rug for the hallway leading into our apartment. What a cheerful way to be welcomed home!

You can connect with Joanna on Twitter, and Pinterest - we love to follow everything she does! To share Joanna's picks, use hashtag #SpringPicksFromCupofJo

Thanks, Joanna!

Joanna's picture courtesy of Oh Darling! Photography. 

For her part, Christiane will give the blow by blow of how we created this particular product: the DwellStudio Shape Sorter. You would be surprised at the trials and tribulations our team went through to make this toy perfect.

If you're in the NYC area on Thursday night at 7pm, please reserve your spot and come say hello!

From Christiane's Instagram this morning... a Valentine-inspired breakfast. Happy V-Day!

Here they are looking at our wall of catalog covers...many of which feature Isabelle (bottom, left in the owl sweatshirt). How cool to see your classmate on a catalog cover!?

Josh and Isabelle explaining exactly what we do here at DwellStudio. There were lots of questions.

The kids running into our conference room where they designed their very own toy cut-out robot. 

First, they had to look at some of the toys that we make here.

Then, they got to work starting sketches of what they thought their robot might look like.

Each kid took home a goody bag to keep them inspired and making more toys....such a great day to be in the studio.

Row 1 // The props table Row 2 // The team at work - and more porps! Row 3 // Cooper set up for an interview and our antelope table roaming the set... (coming soon!)

Follow along on Instagram for more! 

Have a great weekend!

August documented the trip though food photos (a favorite of ours) here’s what we were eating in China!
Top - These are just cucumbers, but very fresh and crunchy and artfully cut! Bottom - These are the most delicious mushrooms I have ever had...so good! They were cooked with chillies and ginger.
Top - Fried rice with some veggies, also yummy. Bottom - A tasty pork dish that Rachel enjoyed!

Shop the show house:

Batavia Pillow
Gate Pillow
Labyrinth Pillow
Chinoiserie Duvet

Or stop by Eclectic Living if you're in Louisville!

Next time you're in the Bay area - stop into GUMPS and say hello from us! 

(Pictures thanks to Photo Design by Odessa!)

Here are just a few instgram pics from around the city! (Follow me on instagram for more..!)

Row 1: A pair of Santa's browse for street art, The Botanical Gardens in full holiday colors. Row 2: Rockettes in the Christmas Extravaganza. Row 3: Skating at The Standard, our Christmas tree travels home via bicycle. Row 4: We start with the star, The Tree at Rockefeller Center. 

It was a blast. Thanks to all who came! Here are a few pictures from the night:

Congrats Bingka and Andrew, she is absolutely beautiful!

Here's Sabrina snuggled up in her brand new DwellStudio Swaddle Blanket!

Thank you Kelly & Violet! 

Shop the Shoot: 

Deco Bed>

Chinoiserie Bedding>

Orb Objet>

Papier-Mâché Animal Heads>

...and stay tuned to your email in-box tomorrow - we're announcing our biggest sale ever! (You don't want to miss this one!)

This Thanksgiving, I’ve been thinking so much about the physical accoutrements of entertaining – the placemats, the votives, the plates– but what about that intangible, all-important aspect of being a host AND a guest, the etiquette!

Etiquette might seem like an outdated concept, a throwback to white gloves and tea gowns. So what is modern etiquette? What rules should we remember to live by this Thanksgiving? 

I consulted some ultra-reliable sources, the Emily Post Institute (why not go straight to the Etiquette Queen?) and the English etiquette authority Debrett’s (and who knows more about etiquette than the English?), and came up with a few key tips for gracefully navigating the holiday party season. 

For the host:

- As a host, invite your guests at least a month in advance, longer for any guests who might be traveling (Whoops, missed that deadline!)

- In the invitation, make sure you’re clear about what kind of event it is – how formal or informal – so people don’t over- or under-dress.

- If people are staying with you, set a beginning and end for the visit, so there’s no misunderstanding or awkwardness. Three days is typically a good duration for a visit.

- Be as flexible as possible – Debrett’s says, “You must be infinitely accommodating”! If a guest asks to bring a friend and you have the room, you should try to include them! Similarly, if a guest has any dietary restrictions, do your best to accommodate them. 

For the guest:

- RSVP and do it promptly! If you’ve been invited as a family or with guests, let your host know exactly how many people will be coming. Don’t show up with uninvited guests. 

- According to Debrett’s, one must never reply via email to an invitation that wasn’t sent by email – in other words, a snail-mail invitation requires a snail-mail response, unless the invitation offers an email address as an RSVP option. (Not sure I follow this rule, though about half the invites I get are evites, so that might let me off the hook!)

- Offer to contribute to the meal, but follow your host’s lead. If you or your guests have special dietary restrictions, the Emily Post Institute recommends offering to bring a dish that meets those needs: “Grace is a vegetarian – I’d love to bring a delicious tofu dish if that’s OK with you.”

- Don’t be late! Respect your hosts’ effort and planning. And – a related tip – leave on time. Don’t overstay your welcome! - Offer to help clean up.

- Avoid controversial or painful subjects. As the Emily Post Institute says, “This is a day to be together in a spirit of generosity and thankfulness for all you do have. Let it be so.”

- Say thank you with a phone call or a note. Emily Post suggests a handwritten thank you note, but I never do that – is it OK to email your thank you??? 

This season I will make an attempt to write a physical thank you note to my hosts. I really do think nothing is better.

Happy Thanksgiving! 

I mean, look at these sweet faces - how can you help but smile?
Sidney and Marlo hamming it up on set (and charming us all...!)
A peek at the set up of our new Vintage Blossom bedding! 

Can't wait to share more! 

Welcome DwellBaby Ruby! 

Which pattern do you think we should get him to make next? 

The Touch & Feel Zoo sounds tres chic en francais, n'est pas? 

Here's one of Onna holding Parker, does it get any cuter? 
 

We are so excited to show you a sneak peek of the behind the scenes hand crafting of our new decorative animal heads. We have partnered with the amazing Aid to Artisans. Our animals are hand crafted in Haiti! When you put them on the wall they look good and you can feel good too.

Here's a look at the process: 

Check out the finished products here>

It's a great rainy-day project (we built ours durring Hurricane Irene!) and the kids had a blast decorating and moving in to their cardboard creation. 

Here's a peek at the process, check out Built By Kids for the full How To!

Thanks to Timothy and the Built By Kids team for including us! We can't wait for the next project! 

Our Customer Service Super-Star, Robby, stopped by the Go Burger truck last week, here's what he thought of his meal! 

Philly Burger: 8 oz sirloin burger on toasted sesame seed bun with melted provolone, peppers, onions and jalapeno peppers, served with a side of skinny fries.

The fries are truly perfect. The crispy-outside, soft-inside ideal that so few restaurants have perfected. The burger is expertly cooked, juicy without being pink inside, and the provolone cheese is fresh and creamy, countering the spiciness of the jalapeno peppers beautifully. The sesame bun was toasted to order, and that kind of attention to detail is impressive anywhere, and more impressive at a food truck. The onions get lost in the shuffle, but it’s a small quibble with a great burger. Also, they take credit cards! A food-truck first? Hopefully not the last. 

Luckily the storm passed though the city without doing any major damage... and most of us were even able to get back to work first thing Monday morning! 

Rachel made these fun stop-motion gifs with a cool iPhone app: Gif Shop! 

We're very excited that Gump's is bringing a modern and fresh look to their baby area, with DwellStudio's storage bins and layette.

In the fall I always admire the variety and beauty of the Christmas ornaments and the choice of toys under the tree! Lookout for DwellStudio's Fall 2011 Toys at Gump's this year - they are truly GREAT for babies and toddlers.

(photo by Kelsey Combe)

I'm not amused by babies acting like mini adults—in fact, I'm chastened. Because about five months ago baby heard me say "eBay" and repeated the word back at me several times in a row. Sort of cute but more disturbing because then I had to ask myself whether I talk about eBay too often. Probably.

The other day as I arrived at home, the UPS driver pulled up. Baby heard me talking to the delivery man from upstairs and when I went up and explained that I'd been waylaid by a delivery, baby's exact words were, sort of, "Go downstairs. See package."

So there. My sweet, innocent baby not only knows about eBay but he has also noticed the packages that inevitably follow some time on eBay.

I'm currently trying to address my online shopping addiction. Out of the mouths of babes, as they say.

Carson Kressley of Queer Eye! He gave our new kids bedding pattern, Unicorn, his stamp of approval!  

Here's a peek at a few pictures from the night - 

The DwellStudio decor collection on display!

Top: Adam and Bingka enjoying the evening, Bottom: Dwellites and the Modern-Twist team! 

Thank you to everyone who came out for the event (despite the downpours!) Stay tuned for more pictures, comming soon!

Top: Design Meets Real Life in the DwellStudio booth, Bottom Left: Cozy new Draper Stripe Throws, Bottom Right: Montgomery Side table from the NEW furniture collection!

A peek a our new wood toys - arriving this fall!

Top Right: Thistle Blossom Pillows, coming soon! Top Left: Haviland Bunching Table. Bottom: A pow-wow before the day kicks into full gear (with a backdrop of new rugs!)

Top: A few new accessories, Bottom Left: A peek at a new kids bedding pattern, coming this fall, Bottom Right: Zig-Zag rug, coming soon!!

We are very excited for the new collections! What do you think? Which do you want to see more of? 

We've noticed a new dining trend and we like it.  It seems several up-and-coming restauranteurs are beckoning those nostalgic memories of summer camp and implementing them in their decor and food.  We first noticed it with Ruschmeyers in Montauk, which has become a family destination for many of us...and then again, last night, I dined at the hottest new place in Williamsburg: Masten Lake.  

While Masten Lake might not have tee-pees and rope swings everywhere, it definitely has that lake-front, camp dining feel.  The food, however, far surpasses camp-grade-quality.  More on that in another post.

Clean simple lines - lots of white with painted wood gives that fresh, pickled feeling.

White painted benches with simple, rough wooden chairs and industrial tables - all with fresh-from-the-field flowers.

The bar (and cocktail list) is filled with garden-variety ingredients like okra...another trend we are loving.

Even the waitresses felt a little like camp counselors, as they took my 3 year old son around the corner to inspect a grasshopper that had been hanging out with them all day.  A little slice of camp in the city.

It's "behind-the-scene" day (s) here on the Studio Blog. We thought you guys would get a kick out of these shots (clearly) of the Architectural Digest shoot.... I am sure to embarrass Christiane....

With styling by the wonderful Erin Swift, hair and make-up by the fabulous Sara Glick and photography by some of our favorite photographers: Gentl & Hyers. 

Working on blackberries in between shots.

A shot in the making...

Furniture lined up, waiting its turn.

Intense discussion.

As always, keeping up with my Twitter.

I mostly think of Emporio as a cozy, dimly lit place perfect for chilly fall or winter nights. Turns out it’s perfect for hot summer days, too!

We started with a light, refreshing watermelon and tomato gazpacho with a dollop of crème fraiche, followed by great flash-fried artichoke salad with pecorino cheese.

The porchetta panini was simple and thoroughly satisfying, stuffed with juicy, fatty, seasoned pork on crispy bread. Delicious!

Robby says: the trick to delicious red velvet is: equal parts cocoa powder and white vinegar + vegetable oil (no butter). Apparently, if those strict ingredients are not held to, by definition it is not a true red velvet cake, it's just a chocolate cake with red dye.  They were amazing so I'd trust this guy.  Happy Friday!

To celebrate the exciting new arrivals we’ve been sharing our favorite summer drinks! Here are a few more to top off the week.
 
Bingka’s sipping on No-jitos this summer and Ainsley is enjoying sweet Sangria…

 
Our fearless leader Josh’s favorite is a classic margarita on the rocks, with salt. He says the best one he’s ever had was from Dave’s Grill in Montauk.
 

 
What is your favorite summer drink? Let us know!

A huge thank you to Mrs Lilien, we are thrilled to welcome her to the Studio Blog: 

 

 
Hot summer days call for cool bitter libations, which is why the Negroni is my favorite summer sensation. It's bright and packs a pretty big punch, it's the perfect thing to sip during a leisurely lunch. I love this rendition for its unexpected twists, if you're looking for a summer cocktail, this is one that cannot be missed!

Cheers!
 

Don’t forget to browse our new drinkware collection, any cocktail tastes better in a glimmering gold glass!  
 

(images via Oprah.com and In The Mix)
 

I love this drink, the mix of heat from the jalapeno plus a cooling cucumber all in one drink, with a salty rim, is one of my favorite combos.

(image and recipe via Gastro Chic)

And to celebrate the arrival of our sparkly new glasses, we’ll be sharing our favorite summer drink recipes for the rest of the week - we’re kicking things off with Ashley’s favorite, direct from Texas.

So sit back, relax and grab a glass, cheers! 

(image via Smitten Kitchen)

Designer Rachel, is reading Bad Marie by Marcy Dermansky and says it's a "quick, easy, light read that’s entertaining and perfect for the park or by the pool!"

Our Southwest Sales Manager, Ashley, is reading Remember Ben Clayton, by Stephen Harrington. (She says it's "so freaking good!") 

Our resident foodie, Sherry just finished The Great Night, by Chris Adrian, "A modern day Mid-Summer Night's Dream set in San Francisco alternates between a fantasy world and reality - a great escape book for an afternoon in the park!!"

Barbara, is reading Robopocalypse, by Daniel H. Wilson. Sherry just read it too and describes it as, "a fun post-apocalyptic technophobe sci-fi thriller that  makes me wonder how we'd really live without technology."

And our Receptionist, Ashley is on the third book of The Hunger Games trilogy, Mockingjay. 

Josh just finished Life, by Keith Richards, and Christiane is reading Just Kids by Patti Smith.  

Adam picked up David Byrne's Bicycle Diaries.

After seeing the gorgeous Woody Allen film Midnight in Paris...instead of hailing a cab to JFK and boarding a flight to Paris, Molly walked straight to her bookshelf at home and pulled out Hemingway’s A Moveable Feast, "It’s been such a fun summer read...highly recommended."

Tell us! What's on your reading list this summer? 

 
What we need is a playroom organized like this one...

For a not-even-two-year-old, he's very good about cleaning up his toys, but sometimes one gets overlooked and lies in wait on the living room floor, catching me by surprise as I stroll by, barefoot as we're a no-shoes-in-the-house kind of family, and probably carrying a cup of coffee that I slosh all over the place as I reel from the agony of unexpected hard plastic under my feet. So we're looking for some toy storage solutions.

These guys are amazing but maybe more suitable for baby's room than our living room, where most of the toys live.

A friend suggested buying some vintage trunks for baby's toys which is romantic and lovely until I imagine baby accidentally locked inside said trunk. Plus trunks just make me think of Karl Lagerfeld on vacation. Husband has proposed something  more modern and space age but I'm struggling with spending thousands of dollars to store eighty bucks worth of plastic toys.

Given my track record for decorating decision making (we've been discussing reupholstering our dining room chairs since 2005) I probably won't come up with a stylish solution to this toy thing before baby is in college (or plumbing school—we're convinced that's the ideal profession, both lucrative and useful). So if you come over for dinner, um, watch your step.

The 10 ten things I love about France...

10. Butter

9. Baguette

8. Anything Hermes

7. The Burgundy Region (especially the DRC)

6. Couture

5. Cheese

4. Places des Voges

3. Hotel Meurice

2. Parisian Street Style – nobody does more with less

1. Fois Gras

Last week I was lucky enough to attend a great event  hosted by the lovely Moms and the City ladies featuring the amazing Pierre Dulaine and his students from the Dancing Classrooms program to celebrate the new book “Carla and Leo’s World of Dance” by Agatha Relota which introduces amazing traditional dances to children.

I was completely amazed how the dance transformed the children from kids into completely poised dancers worthy of a world-class stage. My daughter and son were transfixed.  We have read the book and tried the dances every morning since. It’s worth a read and the dances are absolutely worth a try.

The prop table and an art installation
Top: Paint swatches (how do you EVER choose!?) and the team reviewing shots; Bottom: Lights, camera action!

Christiane keeping up on her tweets. 

 Happy Friday! 

First, (as promised on twitter) our menu:

First Course: Roasted Baby Beets & Sugar Snap Peas with Shallot-Sherry Vinaigrette Baby Arugula and Pecorino Romano 

Main Course: Lemongrass-Poached Halibut with Red Quinoa and Ginger Jus Upland Cress and Citrus-Roasted Baby Carrots

Dessert: Malted Mousse with Milk Chocolate Sorbet and Sea Salt Flourless Chocolate Cake and Crisp Rice

Left to right: Andy Ackerman from CMOM, me, Belinda Chang, and Josh.

Our wine-glass filled dinner table with fresh peonies.

Chef Robb Garceau from Union Square Events overseeing his (very cute) sous chefs prepare our desert. 

Chef Garceau and the guys of Union Square Events....  

When Christiane was writing "Undecorate" I got to travel the country with her to all the amazing homes. Christiane and I were looking for amazing and stylish modern families. I think we both agree that as spectacular as the homes were,  it is the people we will always remember.

To all the moms across the country that inspired us this year. Happy Mothers Day.

 "I know this is cliche BUT... I would love to sleep in late (can anyone say 9:30 am!), have some breakfast in bed and enjoy a nice walk outside to enjoy the weather!"

Max and Rachel celebrating his first birthday. 

Here's another Studio Mom, Heidi, and her kids: 

Heidi's wish for Mother's Day is a day without fighting!

Happy Mother's Day to all our Studio Moms! 

What do you think of the custom "Madison"? Let us know....would you want one too…?

Top Left: Me, the Hostess Lela Rose, The Author and Chef Rachel Thebault.
Top Right: A gorgeous display of "Sweet Chic" treats.

Above: The beautiful book.

In honor of Mother's Day we want to know why your Mom is the coolest Mom in the World. Leave your reason as a comment and we'll enter you to win a signed copy of Christiane's new book: Undecorate.

We'll pick a winner Monday May 2nd! 

If you follow my twitter, you may have noticed last night the whole family was out partying it up at the Stella McCartney store on 14th Street.  They had a full-on bash with the new Lucky Kids team, celebrating the magazine, the new Stella Kids line, all benefitting Baby Buggy, an organization here in New York I love.  

We thought they were brave to allow kids to the party, but they were fully prepared with the most amazingly-talendted face painter EVER, an amazing balloon clown, a craft table, a photo booth, huge jars bursting with candy...clearly these guys know how to please a young audience. 

I snagged the card from the face painter and the balloon clown in case you need amazing people at your next party...

Face Painter: Faces by Derrick & Company

Clown: Polkadots the Clown

We are very excited to welcome the newest member of the DwellStudio family, baby Otto!

You know Otto's big brother, Tommy, from our catalogs. Welcome Otto! 

(Like Otto's birth announcement? You can order your own from Tiny Prints!) 

We have a lot of Moms around the office, and it is always so much fun to get the whole family involved in our catalog photo shoots.

Here's Carrie, her cute little boy Tommy and his baby-brother-to-be hanging out on set!

How cute are they? 

All the snow was a Jake favorite this year...

This year Jake also discovered his love for the cool cranberry bogs of Amagansett...

This is Jake's happy place - the ocean beach in Amagansett.  

Happy Birthday Old Man!

Our vote for Best Actor goes to the great Colin Firth for his performance in The King's Speech. 

We're giving the Supporting Actor win to Christian Bale in The Fighter. 

Miss Natalie Portman grabbed an overwhelming majority of our votes for the Best Actress win. 

And we're giving the Best Supporting Actress award to Amy Adams for The Fighter. 

Now, Best Picture was a very, VERY close race. The King's Speech barley inched ahead for the win. Black Swan and The Social Network tied for a close second. 

What do you think? Do you agree with our predictions? 

She's wearing a By Malene Birger top and Bally boots! Rachel, you are one stylish mama! 

Unfortunately, I had to miss all this Matchbook fabulousness in New York. My fantastic -and equally fabulous ( I met so many stylish West Coasters and I came home with some great inspiration) trip to the West Coast got in the way. However, my amazingly talented friend and Matchbook cover girl Lela Rose (super chic designer extraordinaire, super mom, amazing cook, worldclass entertainer, biking wonder, composter...I mean the list is way too long) was being feted - so I sent in team DwellStudio to document her night! Could she be any more gorgeous? And speaking of gorgeous...check out her place in Matchbook and this lovely piece in the NYTimes. I have had dinner at that table and it's out of this world....

 
Matchbook founders Katie Armour (top right) and Jane Lilly Warren (bottom left) (above) Coach Master Craftman hard at work...

Our lovely DwellGirls Nina and Crissie....

Cassandra LaValle and Bri Emery with Molly

Anne Sage talking to Sana of The Shade Store (top); Cassandra and Crystal Gentilello

Very, very yummy drinks by Embury Cocktails

A tasty spread of cheeses and a stunning chandelier at House of Brinson

 Make sure you check out Rue's 3rd issue if you haven't seen it- I think it's their best one yet! 

Several of us snapped pictures coming into work, we thought we'd share a few of our favorites.

These are all outside our office in SoHo- glad we didn't bike to work today! 

Some of us choose to brave the elements in boots that would make any outdoorsman proud: 

While others refuse to let  the sleet and snow interfere with their fashion:

Molly is ready for anything- with options for rain or snow.... 

What footwear do you choose in the winter? 

Happy Birthday Ladies!! 

After all our trips down south to NC, and all the blog posts about the amazing BBQ feasts we devoured, we realized the rest of the Studio was feeling a little left out. But that was nothing an impromptu holiday party catered by Dinosaur Bar-B-Que couldn't fix. 

Molly getting set up while Jake searches for the source of the meaty-goodness smell

Dig in!

What a spread! 

Jake patiently waiting for someone to drop a scrap- while Dwellites find creative ways to keep clean...

Delish. We're all ready for an afternoon nap--after we go back for seconds that is... 
 

Sidney is rocking our new Cars Pants while hanging out in the park with his big brother Benjamin. 

Our crew: from left to right: Bingka, Christiane, Adam, Molly

Alpha Workshops and NYCD did a great job with the decor...

Adam felt especially smitten with this guy.

Our glittery masks were a hit!

Bingka feeling peaceful.

Leaving the ball...heading down the street for yummy Mexican...the perfect way to end a fabulous night. 

We're getting our art projects on today, getting ready for the Alpha Workshops Masquerade Ball tonight at the New York Design Center.  A group of us are going - all the money earned at the event goes to Alpha Workshops, an amazing organization here in NYC.  If you're unfamiliar, make your self familar asap by browsing their website.

The theme is "Le Vrai et le Faux Chic" - celebrating the work of French artist George Goursat, otherwise known as SEM.  They are turning NYDC into turn of the century High Society Paris.  What could be better than that??  We'll post pics tomorrow, we promise!

PS - it's not too late to get tix, and you can also buy them at the door! Contact Barbara@alphaworkshops.org or show up (dressed to the nines!) tonight at NYDC at 7pm.

Gorgeous DwellStudio for Robert Allen fabrics in the window outside the showroom.

Hanging on the wall as you walk in...

Christiane tackling designers' questions and problems, one on one.

Philly - you're next....we're on our way as I type this post!

To fule my obsession with the Beekman Boys, Alex bought me "The Bucolic Plague" by Josh Kilmer-Purcell for our anniversary. It's a fabulously written memoir of how two city slickers make the transition into Old MacDonald farmers. It's full of stories of love, learning, mistakes, redemption and all things in between. Oh and GOATS! Lots and lots of goats! Be prepared to sit for a while- you wont be able to put the book down once you start it!

DAVE IS READING: Democracy in America by Alexis de Tocqueville

Surprisingly funny for a Frenchmen writing in 1830.

and The Secret Agent by Joseph Conrad

His descriptions of late nineteenth century London are strikingly modern.

SHERRY IS READING: On the Shortness of Life by Seneca

The real reason I'm reading this (besides the profound philosophical insights) is because it's part of the Penguin Great Ideas Series that have beautiful typography and gorgeous letterpressed covers. These are some of the simplest and loveliest book covers I've seen.

JODI IS READING: Confederacy of Dunces by John Kennedy Toole

Just started Confederacy of Dunces. It's a cult classic of absurdist comedy. I've been told it's like reading a long continuous Monty Python skit.

CRISSIE IS READING: Advertising: Concept and Copy, Second Edition by George Felton

and Media Planning: A Practical Guide by Jim Surmanek

Both for school- class just started last night- so I haven't gotten into them yet. But I imagine they'll be best comprehended dressed in 1960s attire and drinking whisky while listening to the theme from Mad Men..

Aren't they adorable!? 

But even if it's just one guest - a bag-full is required.  Always. If you're in the hood, stop by and have one with us.

Little Max came to work with Rachel today and he was all business: modeling our 6 month size for our new layette line. Rachel swears she doesn't dress she and Max in the same outfits, but what you don't know is that she un-rolled his jeans for this photo so they weren't identical.  Sorry, Rachel - we're not buying it.

Check out our design department’s little garden. Nina is very excited to share these DIY pots. They are super fun and easy:

1. Take a simple aluminum can and punch holes in the bottom

2. Print out a lovely pattern on a piece of paper and glue it on.

3. Take discarded food container lids to use as the plant saucer.

That clever Nina...

Note - he got his birthday wish. We are doing this on a daily basis...at the end of the year we are going to tally the outfits and crown a Mr or Ms DwellStudio!

Herewith, our current reading list:

RACHEL IS READING: How We Decide by Jonah Lehrer



Rachel says: "This is an extremely fascinating book for those who like non-fiction. It's along the lines of Malcolm Gladwell's Blink, and gives you profound insight into the inner workings of your own mind. I'm learning so much about myself by reading this book, and I can't put it down! It will surprise you to learn the motivation and unconscious reasoning behind decision making."

ELIZABETH IS READING: Enduring Love by Ian McEwan

Elizabeth says: "If the balloon boy incident intrigued you, then you'll probably like the book I started reading this morning: "Enduring Love" by Ian McEwan.  The story centers around a tragic accident in which a young boy gets trapped in a balloon- but without all the creepy publicity stunt aspects of the real life balloon boy fiasco.  I've only gotten through the first chapter, but I'm hooked!"

NINA IS READING: Tender at the Bone by Ruth Reichl

Nina says: "I am reading Tender at the Bone, written by Ruth Reichl, the editor-in-chief of the now defunct Gourmet magazine. It's a memoir focused on her childhood and teenage years, and the different relationships she had with her family and friends, and of course, food. It's not written in a way that is food-centric though, and it had a great narrative quality- very comforting and entertaining at the same time- so I would recommend it to anyone!"

MOLLY (moi) IS READING: My Life in France by Julia Child

It's like candy...I can't believe it took me this long to read this book. I gave it to my mother last Christmas when the whole Julie & Julia craze was happening and of course she loved it.  Julia Child's hilarious exclamations are exactly like her "character" on television and her (incredibly naive) portrayal of the political landscape of the 1950's, along-side the story of how MTAOFC came to be make for a delicious read.

Rain or shine, it doesn't matter - he can't get in that door quickly enough.  There are a lot of places that kids love that aren't necessarily good for them, but any parent's dream is to take your kid to place they love and know that he or she is actually being educated, stimulated and challenged...and CMOM is this fairy-tale place. 

Since this isn't the first time you'll hear about CMOM from us, I won't bog you down with all the details - you can read all about how this magical place speaks to kids of ALL ages here. But I do want to call your attention to their director, who is being honored tomorrow night at the first CMOM Gala, which we were fortunate enough to be asked to help decorate.

Andy Ackerman is one of those true New York gems - we will have much more to report about Andy after we attend the Gala tomorrow night...but we want to publicly commend Andy for being so passionate about children; their education, their health, their creative inspiration and more. He has dedicated 20 years to this very worthy cause and it takes a very special person to have that kind of commitment.

DwellStudio's partnership with CMOM is only beginning - tomorrow night's Gala is somewhat of a kick-off to a much bigger campagin we are equally passionate about regarding children's sleep and their investment in their personal space.  We hope you'll all take a minute to read about them, possibly donate if you have the means.  And by all means...if you have kids and live in or visit NYC anytime soon - run, do not walk to CMOM for a day of serious fun and education for your kiddies!

More later about Andy, CMOM with party pics!

10AM: Jenna walked in the door, proudly announcing that her vintage trench coat, purchased for $4.00, was back from the steamstress and looks GOOD!  After a shortening of the arms, a little shaved off the length...she is thrilled with her new (old) spring jacket.

11:00AM - One of many many design meetings that occur throughout the day.  This one is to finalize a top-secret new product line we are introducing later this year.  Hm....

NOON: Rachel stops by with our first peek at Maximus!  She braved the subway ride to bring him down to Soho, after much begging from the entire office.  We're all so proud!

Check out our first ever baby and kids catalog.  Are you on our mailing list yet?  It's so inspiring and full of great design tips.  To get on our mailing list, make sure you sign up on our Request a Catalog Page. Happy decorating!

The amazing new Bon Ton concept store on 5 boulevard des Filles du Calvaire in the Marais – just steps from Merci – is beautiful. This is a large scale store in the same spirit as Colette and Merci – replete with a café, hair dresser, a home section, a toy section and, of course, the signature clothes. The building itself is lovely. It must have been a town house. The white interiors with fabulous moldings and what is clearly the de rigueur black trim are a gorgeous black drop for the very special clothing. My daughter was in heaven (my son was asleep) and my very discerning husband was impressed too. From the special hand-made dolls to the great selection of exclusive toys, It’s really worth a trip to this northern tip of the Marais. We walked away with a little of everything! 

A little home set up  - so inspiring for a little girl

 A fantasy nursery set up

 The very hip mint with copper dot landing

 sweet bird mobile

 Lovely space and light

I walked over to the design department this morning and it looks like their Pantone books have exploded yet again. I got the scoop - they are busy at work on our new baby and kids collection for next fall. I see a lot of great oranges, corals, greys and mint green...and oh, is that a mustard yellow? Can't wait to see the patterns these will fill in...

picture -getty image

I am having a very serious mommy moment.  My kids don't eat and it's been going on for so long.  You have to understand the severity of this...you see I am French Canadian and I take food seriously - I dream about it, plan around it and I love to eat and I love to cook.  I had a fantasy about motherhood that involved me standing in the kitchen in my apron (ok - it's a chic DwellStudio apron)  stirring simmering pots of delicious home cooked local organic food with my kids smiling on  - their small hands holding out plates in anticipation of my wonderful  meal. They don't want anything.....There is no hiding veggies under spaghetti or any of those tricks...They are on to me and that just does not fly at our house.

My son will eat the following and only the following -

pizza - but if there is even a flake of dried oregano forget it.

waffles - but only Van's frozen and nothing else. Fresh waffles are apparently not waffles.

Grilled cheese with American cheese

French Fires

Vanilla Yogurt

Crackers

Goldfish

Pretzels

That is it!  Where am I going to hide the zucchini?

I will come clean and tell you that up until now I have been almost force feeding him vegetable baby food - because he seems to tolerate the consistency - but he's two and a half!

We are all going  to Europe next week and I am terrified of being away from my safety stock of food.

If you have tips, recipes or anything to help!  Let me know.  I will do anything....

First, I went to Sherry. As our resident foodie, I thought she would have some exceptional munchies. Found: 1 box Carr's crackers, 1 packet microwavable popcorn, 1 container Godiva Dark Chocolate Truffle cocoa, 1 box Yogi green tea.

My next stop: Nina's desk. Found: 1 box of Corn Flakes, 1 orange.

Next I went to Heidi's office. Found: 1 container sour Ice Breakers, 2 packets soy sauce, 3 mini candy bars, 1 package vanilla & cherry Tootsie rolls. 

As an aside, NYC schools were closed last week, so Heidi's daughter was here on Friday.  Check out the very professional looking signs she taped to mom's door:

Back on the trail, next is Jenna's office.  Found: 1 box Kavali crackers, 1 box Kamut flatbreads, 1 box dried apricots..and a lot more, but too much photograph. You can always count on a pregnant woman for good snacks.

And lastly, Josh, our President's, office...full disclosure, I did not do much snooping here for obvious {he's the big boss} reasons but thankfully Josh's snacks are always displayed front-and-center. Found: 1 container Archer Farms Peanut & Chocolate trail mix, 1 container Archer Farms roasted almonds, 1 container Gourmet Garage rocky mountain mix. Hm, nuts anyone?

What is your "go-to" snack for the middle of the day?

Maximus' first nap at home.

"Hi CL!  I hope things are good with you and at the office.  Things are good here with little Maximus - he is great but it is definitely exhausting!! I wanted to ask you about a book you told me about a month or so ago. I think it was healthy sleep habits happy child, was that the name? I wanted to order it and try to get Maximus on a good sleeping pattern."

Maximus & daddy relaxing

I could write volumes on this topic...I am a Sleep Sargent! Rachel, we will get Maximus sleeping through the night by 3 months!  I promise. My advice? Baby steps...

1st: Order black out shades for his room from The Shade Store

2nd: Read The New Basics and Healthy Sleep Habits Happy Child...and a little Gina Ford.

PS - Dr. Weissbluth, you are my god.

So, parents-who-have-successfully-sleep-trained-their-baby, what's your secret trick? 

Left: Carmen. Right: Molly. Dress: Rodarte for Target

Turns out...it’s Target Tuesday at DwellStudio.  We not only love working with Target -we all shop there too.  Today Molly (PR powerhouse) and Carmen (amazing designer) are both in identical Rodarte for Target dresses and I think they look fantastic.  This dress looks like couture.  Next time call me girls and I will get mine out too.

I'm sorry to say they are all sold out online but maybe you can find them in your local store!

We not only design baby products here at DwellStudio – we make a lot of babies too.  Congrats to Rachel Fresno, our production manager...she is being induced Monday!  Rachel is visibly nervous today – she is having her first – he weighs over 8 lbs – she maybe weighs 90...well we all know how it goes. She has been asking everyone who has had a baby for advice.  Jenna and I had this to offer her: get the epidural and get it fast. If any one out there has good advice for a first time inductee – Rachel is listening.... 

Good Luck Rachel and welcome to the world Dwellbaby Fresno!

Me at our photo shoot yesterday...trying to keep the nausea away.

I feel like I am walking around with a combination of mono and food poisoning....I can barely function. The second trimester cannot come fast enough.   It’s been 13 weeks already.... please relent your fury little growing embryo.  Here are some things that I have tried that have NOT helped.. 

·        Acupuncture

·        Magnets on my wrists

·        Sea sickness bands on my wrists.

·        Holding 2 fingers on the “nausea points” that are supposedly on my wrists.

·        B-6 supplements

·        Unisom

·        Ginger candies

And here are some tips that help me get through the day...

·        Plain Oatmeal in the morning – the good steel cut kind.

·        Lifesavers peppermint

·        Mary’s Gone Crackers

.        a ginger tea bag and a peppermint tea bag at the same time.

·        pop tarts toasted with butter

·        Starbucks passion fruit iced tea unsweetened.


Give us any tips that have worked for you!!

And a few more shots from the day...

Jonny setting up a shot.

The prop colleciton ready to go.

Vintage furniture waiting for their shots.

Yesterday a lovely (and very tall) reporter from BBC America, Caroline Hepker, came to get our CEO Joshua Young's take on how mid-sized businesses in the US are holding up in this economy.  Take a look at the clip here and listen for Josh on your local BBC radio station or watch him on BBC America. Unfortunately, the job report that came out today wasn't as hopeful as we would have liked. Here's hoping things get much much better in 2010.

Pre-interview chat.

Josh being interviewed.

The camera man went all over the office, filming us work...ever notice that it's difficult to work with a large camera man filming you?

As I was looking through everyones pictures from our holiday party I knew I had to share them with our readers.  This year we all crossed over the WIlliamsburg Bridge and headed to Brooklyn Bowl, a relatively new bowling alley/music venue/restaurant in Wiliamsburg, Brooklyn (also featured in the NY Times today).  The food is made by Blue Ribbon and can I just say that I believe their fried chicken can heal the world...  It really is the world's hippest bowling alley.

Our office split up into teams and competed to win prizes and glory. The pictures speak for themselves - enjoy!

Every morning my daughter and son wake me up and ask if we can do a project. I mean every morning... A project for them can be anything from making pancakes to dressing up but it usually means arts and crafts. I am always up for it if it means we can stave off the request for TV!  I usually have to execute this task before my morning coffee so it has to meet the following requirements – it’s easy, the elements of the project are around the house and the cleanup is not torturous (this is not only true of the projects but of just about everything in my life from cooking to entertaining to exercise -ok I never get a chance to exercise– make it great but make it easy too.)

We did this project again this morning and it was a hit - I call it the Cardboard Castle. Of course I like the minimal version – so chic – but the fun is in the decorating AND it’s great for play after. Turns out it’s perfect for cars, small animals and dolls.

All you need is:

1 cardboard box – any size will do

Scissors

Decorations – here your kids can do anything from stickers to paint.

Stickers and crayons = easy cleanup

Paint = not so easy cleanup

This morning we used glitter glue and acrylic jewels.

If you make a great one send us a pic!

Why didn’t I pull off a birth in Namibia? Are my allusions of taking my two kids on my work travels just a fantasy? Don’t get me wrong; I’ve traveled with Isabelle and William before, but they weren’t exactly the most Zen experiences – especially since somehow, we inevitably always end up in the very last row of the plane – yup, the one where the seats don’t recline – while the Jolie-Pitts undoubtedly fly private. So I was determined to harness my inner Angelina recently when I decided to take my three-year-old daughter away with me to Paris for a mixture of business and pleasure: our first Girls’ Weekend.

ISABELLE IN PARIS, PART UN: SETTLING IN

Confession: I’m a disciple of Marc Weissbluth (I highly, HIGHLY recommend his Healthy Sleeping Habits, Happy Baby) and have been practicing his sleep training for years. So the thought of catapulting my three-year-old daughter Isabelle into another time zone was perhaps the most terrifying part of our Parisian “Girls’ Weekend” together. What if she never got back on schedule (and in turn, I never sleep again)? I’m happy (well, ecstatic, frankly) to report that she was totally fine on the trip: after watching a little Dora on the iTouch.

Another mother in my office recommended this to me for travel – these little contraptions can be virtual lifesavers (at least it’s saved my life repeatedly). Sure, I could’ve bought one of those huge portable DVD players for the trip, but who wanted to schlep it along with the art supplies, snacks and stroller? Usually I’m ambivalent about the TV thing – but when traveling, all bets are off and I swear by its allure. There is no way one can do Montessori-inspired puzzles all the way to Paris (at least, I can’t!) Isabelle conked out so hard that I carried her off the plane, plopped her into her gate-checked stroller, rolled her into a cab and put her back into bed at our trip accommodations.

We stayed in a friend’s apartment (dubbed “Snowdrop” for its serene décor and location), which rents through a fantastic site called Guest Apartment Services (www.guestapartment.com). Renting a temporary place was more economical than a hotel and perfect for a toddler. Having our own kitchen was ideal – and yes, they did have Isabelle’s fave meal, chicken nuggets and frozen fries, at the Francprix around the corner!

No Joel Robuchon for her – there is only so much gastronomy a North American toddler is willing to try. I joke of course, but for all you moms out there who have only done Europe sans little ones, you’ll be relieved to hear that every restaurant has a Kids’ Menu shockingly akin to ours. So you’re not a failure if your child is not knocking back escargot and Steak Tartare – it’s all nuggets and frites over there, too!

Once Isabelle woke from her nap, we were off and running. Our first destination – a park, so that Isabelle could blow off some post-plane steam and get a taste of Paris’ gorgeous scenery. My park of choice – by way of Ile St Louis and Bertillon ice cream – is Place de Vosges.

This small, gorgeous destination gives one a breathtaking first taste of Parisian architecture, including the home of Victor Hugo, now open to the public (if you have a really, really well-behaved toddler). Even the sand box at Place de Vosges has a Hausmann-ian symmetry! Isabelle quickly made friends with the locals and seemed right at home. Now, with a nicely acclimatized, well-fed and happy toddler in tow, I could get down to the nitty-gritty: Shopping!