During the early 1900's Martin and Osa Johnson set out to explore the uncharted African landscape. Documenting majestic wildlife, sweeping Serengeti scenery and vibrant tribal culture, Martin and Osa introduced the world to the splendor of Africa with their early nature films. Their documentaries ignited a fascination and hunger for adventure in the American consciousness. Chic tastemakers of the era romanticized the idea of a grand safari vacation. Suddenly taking expeditions through the African bush was en vogue! It's this notion of the 1920s Golden Age of Adventure that inspired our current crop of pillow patterns. Rich colorations, zebra motifs and art deco prints echo that trailblazing safari spirit!

Peep our designers' mood board for their visual narrative.

Images clockwise from top:

Rifle Paper Co.

The Selby

Martin and Osa Johnson Safari Museum

Paris Hotel Boutique on Pinterest

British Vogue Archives

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!)

1 - On styling your space to look like a home:
"I think it’s the personal that makes a house a home. I love the heirloom things that people have mixed in with their furniture — celebrate the things that have history. Those are the pieces that make your home personal."

Deborah Needleman's living room via New York Magazine

2 - Must-have products:
"I swear by the Crypton cleaning products. They are expensive but I have used them to get red wine out of a cream rug and it has worked. They have given me the freedom to let the kids jump on the couch!"

3 - On making your home feel fresh:
"I love fresh flowers — I do that when I remember. Little tweaks can make your space feel almost redecorated."

photos via Saipua

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

We love how bright and cozy Ruby’s nursery turned out, and how adorable are those tiny gold shoes?

Joy, we LOVE how you dwell!

Get the Look:

Savoy Glider

Rosette Blossom Rug

Mid-Century Crib

Owls Sky Storage Bin

Mid-Century Dresser

Changing Station

From the Undecorate outtakes

via Cindy Thompson on Pinterest

via Elaine Gaito on Pinterest

via Vogue

via Poppytalk

via The Brick House

WATCH THE VIDEO->>

Get The Look!

1 - Gazelle Papier Mache Head

2 - Savoy Glider

3 - 5 x 8 Loop Texture Rug

4 - Changing Station

5 - Mid-Century Dresser

6 - Draper Stripe Throw

7 - Conversion Kit

8 - Mid-Century Crib

9 - Giraffe Push Toy

10 - Woodland Tumble Bedding

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.

The rest of Callahan's home is pretty incredible too - you can see more photos here and here.

To build your own city scene, get the look here!  Callahan, we love how you dwell!

Lots of great new things mixed with old. Exposed brick with modern details.

That bookshelf spanning two floors is stunning - we love it when books provide the most dramatic statement in a room.

The master bedroom features our Draper Stripe bedding in Chinois Blue....mixed with a great graphic rug.

And we love how they mixed our Draper Stripe shams with all kinds of other bedding to create that grandma's attic effect...

Tiffany and family....we LOVE how you dwell!

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. 

And we were immediately hooked and wanted to see more...so we asked. It turns out Bethany and her husband Peter have been long-time DwellStudio fans. We love their laid-back Miami style.

As Bethany puts it: "We love Mid-Century modern design…we love the combination of vintage and modern together."

If only all our strollers and diaper bags could look out over such a view, right?

Nikola, Bethany and Peter in Miami, FL - we LOVE how you dwell!

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!

You can watch the full panel discussion by replaying the live-stream video HERE.

The love between a home's inhabitants is what makes the space feel truly personal at the end of the day.

Whether it's your sweetheart, child, pet or best friend - we hope you spend the day surrounded by love.

We're very excited to share this latest labor of love with you - our Inspired Interiors digital catalog. Those of you who are on our mailing list should have received this newpaper-style look book by now. Those of you who aren't? Get on it!

It's full of inspirational images that we hope will guide you to some new ideas for your home.  It also goes into a little more detail on each of our furniture lines so you understand why we think these pieces are so special.

All you do is click on the little circles to shop the items in the catalog - they will take you directly to the product page. Go ahead, start shopping! 

Would LOVE to know what you think!?

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.

Yesterday we were the lucky recipients of some beautifully wrapped boxes, in which we found this delicious pot of honey. In order to appreciate the coolness of this honey, you have to see the location it comes from. If you're not already aware, let us introduce you to the Chandelier Surf Shack in Montauk, NY:

We have long been admirers of this shack, mostly for it's truly Undecorated essence.

The grandmother's attic-meets bohemian surfer vibe immediately sweeps you up. A lovely visual burst of color we're all craving in the dead of February.

Who wouldn't want to lounge in these big kid tee pees, scattered across the lawn?

We love the Hudsons Bay blankets and monogrammed pillow cases in the camp-style bedroom. 

And Chandelier Founder and Creative Director Richard making that delicious honey...we can't wait to dive in for a taste of summer.

All images courtesy of NY Times.

We spotted Angela Hardison's bedroom on her blog, thanks to Will...we love how Angela uses citrine accents throughout the room, mixing them with graphic patterns. Of course, our Draper Stripe bedding is the center of the design story, which we love.

Angela, it goes without saying...we love how you dwell!

We love how this unknown person brought the bedroom to life with great modern art, clean lines and (of course) our Draper Stripe Poppy bedding.

via Modern Findings Tumblr

#1: PUT A HEAD ON IT The trend of putting the head of an animal on well...anything.
#2: OCTOPUS The octopus is the new "it" girl in design!
#3: LOVELY BONES I saw skeletons everywhere....they are the new curio must have.
#4: PHOTO REAL This trend uses the digital image to make a surface appear to be natural/real, like this "wood-plank" wall. It's also used to make the surface look old or worn with texture - I call this "digital distressing."
#5: MAXI TAXI This trend celebrates anything stuffed in any setting.
#6: ANATOMY CLASS Slightly creepy, but the obsession with old school medical models, things in formaldehyde and glass jars has become quite the movement.
#7: THE MOUSTACHE The new "bird" in design.
#8: STITCH IT A throw back to our needlepoint days.
#9: TASSELS I saw tassels everywhere!  In decor, jewelry, fashion...
#10: CABINET OF CURIOSITIES This trend won't go away....My fave is the form it took in the Alexander Mcqueen exhibit at the Met.      

I love to travel and I love a good hotel. Our latest family vacation was to Tulum, Mexico. It has been dubed the new St. Barth's, but it was amazing anyway. As always, I booked my getaway on Tablet Hotels and they asked me to report back on Be Playa. Check out the feature here, and a few additional snap shots from Instagram below...

The decor is very vintage-modern with rustic edges.  Very Undecorated.

The gorgeous pool was a nice respite from the sandy beach when we needed it. 

Love the found pieces used as decor.

The beaches were amazing.

But my favorite thing was the tacos.

Let us know what you think!

Here's the question: "I bought the Big Floral Citrine rug and am looking to plan my living room around it! Which fabrics coordinate?"

And here's the rug - with some of the suggested fabrics. What would you recommend?

1 - Shadow Trellis // 2 - Ikat Dot  // 3 - Shifted Stripe // 4 - Ikat Trellis // 5 - Almonds // 6 - Masala

Photographed by Jasmine Gregory for Refinery29

Which do you like better, her Seattle digs or the new SoMa loft? 

Get the Look:
Batavia Dove Duvet Set 

The mix of bright, patterned accents with more neutral bedding give the space a fun, but not overwhelming look. Don't you think?

Shop the Look: 
1 - Elephant Frame
2 - Gio Animals Wallpaper in Grass
3 - Geometric Knit Blanket
4 - Grey Squares Fitted Crib Sheet
5 - Zig Zag Lapis Rug
6 - Century Crib

We've seen some cute parties in the past, but this one might take the cake!

Big thanks to the Real Simple team for the sweet feature (we're blushing!) 

Sarah also has a few DwellStudio Pillows accenting her bright, white bedroom and we spotted a familiar looking book in her room as well... 

A pair of DwellStudio throw pillows accent Sarah's sofa...

No DwellStudio here... we just loved this wall!

Sarah is clearly a supporter of the No Rules Approach to Interior Design - we spy Undecorate in her bedroom! 

Sarah, we love how you dwell! 

We're launching 3 pretty new patterns for baby plus we're breaking up our sets so you can buy your crib bedding piece by piece - pick a bumper or leave it out, and then mix your way to the perfect set for you...

Everything will be shipping in March - get your orders in now so you don't miss out!

Fauna and friends are at play in the forest in Woodland Tumble!  In this mix: Bumper, Pin Dot sheet or Woodland Tumble Sheet, Solid Moss Skirt or Woodland Tumble Skirt, Play Blanket, Boudoir Pillow, Rug

Bright, colorful and graphic Rosette has a simple sophistication and storybook charm. In this mix: Bumper, Check Sheet or Rosette Sheet, Solid Pink Crib Skirt or Rosette Crib Skirt, Play Blanket, Boudoir Pillow, Rug

And don't forget to check out our new Vintage Blossom collection as well!

Just a quick thank you for the lovely and hospitable folks down in the Atlanta AmericasMart for hosting me this past weekend at market. I gave a talk on kids design trends, then sat on a panel with the brilliant Maxwell and lovely Heather about how social media changes the design industry. I think I can speak for us all when I say we had a fabulous time...

Here's a shot of the three of us with some new friends. Clearly we had a ball!

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! 

1 // 2 // 3 // 4 // 5

Here he is enjoying a thoroughly DwellStudio playtime with a Zoo Shape Sorter while decked out in an Owls BodySuit!

BIG thanks to his photog Mommy, Kristen for letting us share! (see more cuteness here...) 

Asher - we LOVE how you Dwell! (and we may need to fly you out to NYC for our next catalog shoot...)

Shop the Shoot: 
Owls Short Sleve BodySuit
Zoo Shape Sorter

*Photos by K. Holly Photography

Carrying on the tradition of Scandinavian woodworking, Irving has an exposed wood frame with clean and simple rectilinear lines. The hand contoured wood base gives the chair a floating effect.

Have a great weekend!

We are already pretty big fans of the citrus-y hue, so we're excited to see it get a little more play. It's the perfect color to mix in with neutrals to energize a room (or wardrobe for that matter!) Will you be using more Tangerine this year?

clockwise from top left: 1 // 2 // 3 // 4 // 5 // 6

Love the colors, love the simplicity - Natasha we LOVE how you Dwell!

Get the Look:
Draper Stripe Rug
Dot Fun Crib Set (DwellStudio for Target)

photos by Bonnie Tsang (quickily becoming the offical photog of How You Dwell...)  for Matchbook Magazine 

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!

We're kicking off the New Year with a fun How You Dwell for you. It's no secret that we love The Glow - and while drooling over their most recent post we spotted some familiar bedding. The lovely Rebecca Minkoff's son Luca snuggles up with our Organic crib set in Ovals!

The frames above his crib hold pieces of wrapping paper from a special gift, love that! 

Luca, we love how you dwell!

I imagine that Alaia needs this kind of clean interior to decompress from his creative life. His clothing shares the clean architectural lines of the European Mid-Century but combined with the most beautiful details.

It is my hope that we can infuse this philosophy into our work this year.... perfect lines combined with perfect details.

Azzedine Alaia - you are my Style Icon as this year closes!

(images via the New York Times)

Shop the show house:

Batavia Pillow
Gate Pillow
Labyrinth Pillow
Chinoiserie Duvet

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

This is my next design destination. This hotel makes me want to redecorate! I am loving the monochromatic interiors - from the all white to the all gray. I love the clean design mixed with the original interior architecture. I am also in love with the floors. The gray wide plank floors are amazing. I need to check them out in person...

I love the quiet restraint of each room and the beautifully modern, yet classically Parisian color palette.

Of course it's not missing that touch of the extreme with the tropical birds as the pop of color in an all white and black room...so chic.

Want to meet me there? Let's book it.

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. 

01 - Dachshund Menorah // 02 - DVF Long Sleeved Dress // 03 - DwellStudio Mallory Chairs // 04 - DwellStudio Peacock Pillow // 05 - Dogeared Wish Necklace // 06 - Zabar's Mini Black and White Cookies

Happy Chanukah!

01 - DwellStudio Curtis Table // 02 - Mulberry Gloves // 03 - OHTO Mechanical Pencil // 04 - Vosges Truffles // 05 - Apothecary Matchstick Bottle // 06 - DwellStudio Shape Sorter

01 -Picnic Time New York Jets Single Bottle Wine Sack Tote // 02 - DwellStudio Vintage Blossom Tray // 03 - DwellStudio Franklin Media Cabinet // 04 - DwellStudio Hooded Towel // 05 - Friendship Bracelet // 06 - DwellStudio Zebra Head

And don't forget to sign up for our Gift Guide Giveaway! There are still three days left to win! 

Shop the Look:

Gate Azure Pillows

Papier-Mache Animal Heads

We wanted to get into the spirit of the season of giving, so starting today on our Facebook page you can sign up to win one of the great gifts featured in our gift guides!

We are giving away one a day for the next 5 days, so don't miss out - get yourself signed up now here! We'll announce the giveaway of the day every morning on Facebook - so check back each day! 

And now, here are Kimberly's gift picks!

01 - Rifle Paper Co Assorted Hello Cards // 02 - Labyrinth Lacquered Wood Tray // 03 - Draper Stripe Poppy Sheets // 04 - Owls Long Sleeve Playsuit // 05 - Butter London Girls Night Out Gift Set // 06 - Timex® vintage field army watch

Check out this cute video. Plus you can enter to win thte gifts I wrap up (and more!) here> http://bit.ly/vwHUNp 

Shop the Shoot:

Woodland Memory Game

Owls Stamp Set

Zoo Shape Sorter

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

1 - DwellStudio Vintage Blossom Throw // 2 - One Year Gym Membership // 3 - DwellStudio Peacock Duvet //
4 - A box set of DVDs // 5 - ShutterFly Photo Book // 6 - DwellStudio Candles

We can't get enough of these singing Brooks Brothers sheep from Taxi TV!

1 - Sheepskin Rug // 2 - Holbein Sketchbook // 3 - The Mikri Vigla Necklace by Nettie Kent // 4 - DwellStudio Gate Pillows // 5 - Via DesignSponge // 6 - Tickets to Prima Donna at the New York City Opera 

Congrats Bingka and Andrew, she is absolutely beautiful!

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

She embraced a mix & match aesthetic and created a gorgeous home that really captures the Undecorate philosophy. Here are just a few shots of her home - see the rest in the Holiday Issue of Rue!

photos by Bonnie Tsang

 And be sure to check out the super cute behind the sceens video of the shoot!

Ship Bri's Loft:

Draper Stripe Ash Duvet Set
Draper Stripe Citirine Rug
Labyrinth Persimmon Pillow
Sheepskin Rug

1 - DwellStudio Slanted Candle Holders // 2 - Spiel des Jahres, 7 Wonders // 3 - DwellStudio Chelsea Stripe Pillows // 4- DwellStudio Draper Stripe Throw // 5 - Lyrics of Stephen Sondheim Box Set // 6 - Broadway Tickets

It's like the real-life version of our cardboard castle... 

1 - DwellStudio Hans Chair // 2 - Diane von Furstenberg Gold Flatware // 3 - DwellStudio Draper Stripe Duvet Set // 4 - Le Creuset Dutch Oven // 5 - DwellStudio Pair of Peacocks // 6 - DwellStudio Madison Tote

1 - DwellStudio Diamond Cut Egg Vase // 2 - Tickets to Hansel & Gretel at the MET // 3 - DwellStudio Chelsea Stripe Throw // 4 - Star Wars Lego Set // 5 -  L.L. Bean Signature Shirt // 6 - DwellStudio Peacock Pair

Are any of these on your list?

Jerry Seinfeld. Jon Stewart. Colin Quinn. Not Bad for a 10 Year Old Birthday.

Join me on Monday, December 5th. Baby Buggy will celebrate its 10th birthday with a night of performances by Jerry Seinfeld, Colin Quinn and Jon Stewart at Avery Fisher Hall.

Ticket sales will support Baby Buggy’s work to deliver critical items like cribs and clothing to families in need.

Orchestra and First Tier tickets are available at $125 and $200 through the Lincoln Center box office: www.lincolncenter.org or call 212-721-6500.

Today's guide comes from our Senior Designer, Blaire: 

01 - Woods from the Forest Wooden boxes // 02 - Steven Alan Janis Wool Felt Fedora // 03 - Dwellstudio Draper Stripe Major Brown Throw // 04 - Terrain Pastry Board // 05 - Koziol Kitzy the Deer // 06 - Stay Sharp Horn Whiskey Tumbler (set of 2)

Here's a peek at the Global Modern Luxe collection - it's all available now on our site!

We worked to make the collection mix and match seamlessly, so it's easier than ever to work the chic global style into any home! Which new print do you like best? 

Q: How do you define your Style?
A: Our house is an old farm house so it dictates a casual country style of its own. I have a lot of antiques that have been passed down to me by my family that I mix in with art and objects from my friends and favorite designers. I like things comfortable so there are a lot of cozy places to sit and lay down. There is a bit of the Cabinet of Curiosity going on here as well.

Q: Who is your favorite designer? 
A : I make housewares so I tend to like others that do the same. I like John Derian, Diana Fayt Patch NY, Klein Reid, Douglas Little… the list is very long.

Q: What’s your favorite piece of clothing?
A: A t-shirt and jeans with a cashmere sweater.

Q:  Idea of the perfect family vacation?
A:  We went to St Thomas for Christmas last year.  All we had to do was get up, walk to breakfast and snorkel all day. Perfect.

Q:  Number one tip for new moms/dads?
A: I have no advice but to trust you own instincts. You know your child best.

Q: Most embarrassing fashion era?
A: Has to be big hair 80s.  My hair tends to get big no matter what I do, and I had a “layered look” in the early 80s  you can really only imagine it.

Q:  What are the top 3 things that happen in your world every day?
A:  Working in the studio, asking “what should we have for dinner?” and I love you.

Q: What’s one thing you could never live without?
A: Hugs from my husband and son.

Q: Where’s your favorite place to visit?
A: My family has a house on a Lake.  It is always my favorite place to go.

Q:  Your favorite kids’ book?
A: Don’t let the Pigeon Drive the Bus by Mo Willems. When my son was first starting to read he memorized every word and could act it out.  He totally related to that pigeon’s frustrations.

Q:  If you could only eat one thing for the rest of your life, what would it be?
A:  Cracked Pepper Kettle Chips.

Q:  What was the last song played on your ipod?
A: The sound track to the Woody Allen movie Vicki Christina Barcelona.

 
Q:  What’s your hometown’s best kept secret?
A: Strolling of the Heifers, a cow parade in June.

Q:  Your favorite neighborhood haunt?
A: We just bought a turntable so we can spend a lot of time at our local record store “In the Moment” in Brattleboro. 

Q:  How do you decompress?
A:  Porch, wine, food, friends.

Q:  What do you think is the best gift to get? To give?
A: The best gift to get is other people’s time. My friend Sharon just came over with a homemade bowl of grits and shrimp, for no reason. That was amazing! I like to give people perennials to plant in their yard, the gift that keeps on giving.

Q:  Tell us about your favorite room, or piece of furniture?
A: Our back porch is amazing in every season.  I love the kitchen table that my husband made for me out of the wood from an old shed we had to tear down. 

Q: Do you have a favorite DwellStudio Pattern?
A:  The new Thistle Vine pattern!

Thank you Laura!

Thank you Kelly & Violet! 

Shop the Shoot: 

Deco Bed>

Chinoiserie Bedding>

Orb Objet>

Papier-Mâché Animal Heads>

(and is 4 days only)

Happy shopping!

...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! 

CAITLIN!

Grabbing the second place slot is Sarah and coming in 3rd is Diana!

Congrats to everyone, we were seriously inspired by all of your boards and can't wait to see what you can do next year!

Here's another look at our winners:

Be sure to email us: blog@dwellstudio.com to claim your prizes! 

Will you be embracing a simplistic table this Thanksgiving?

** And don't forget to vote in our Modern Thanksgiving Contest! Voting ends tonight...** 

Leif, we love how you dwell! 

*images via Apartment Therapy 

Thank you to everyone who entered our Modern Thanksgiving Contest! We were seriously blown away by all the amazing entries - and will gladly accept an invite to any of your Thanksgivings.

Our team of judges have reviewed all the entries and picked our 5 finalists!

Head over to Facebook now to start voting!

(And read about the finalists after the jump!)

Textile Designer Kay's choice for the final 5 was Sarah Wiedmaier:

Carrie, our Senior Merchant's pick for the final five is Linda Garrido:

Senior Designer Jennifer picked Caitlin Flemming's board to go to the final 5:

Sherry, our Senior Design Manager voted Diana Samper into the finals: 

And last but not least Senior Designer Blaire's pick is Yvonne P:

1/2/3/4/5

Pendleton Woolen Mills was founded in Pendleton, Oregon, in 1863, the only American mill dedicated specifically to producing Native American trading blankets. Native Americans in the West had always used woven, patterned blankets for shelter, warmth, ceremonial use, and as a kind of trading currency. When white settlers came along, the Native Americans came to favor European-style woolen blankets, especially if they had vivid colors.

Clockwise from top left: The women’s 49er, introduced in 1949; Designs from Pendleton’s 1915 catalog. (via Slate.com); Pentleton for Opening Ceromoney; Pendleton for DwellStudio, The Beach Boys. 

In the 1920s, Pendleton expanded their production to men’s virgin wool sportswear, including classic plaid work shirts. After World War II, they introduced womenswear, starting with the classic 49er jacket (from 1949) that became a runaway success.

By mid-century, Pendleton was well established in the American popular consciousness, worn by housewives and surfer boys alike. In the late ‘50s, a surfer boy band called the Pendletones came on the scene. They later changed their name to the Beach Boys (have you heard of them?), but continued to wear Pendleton shirts over tee-shirts, including on their album covers!

Recently, Pendleton has managed to stay totally relevant, especially for a 100-year-old company. This is partly because of a renewed interest in Native American patterns and designs; it’s also because of a recession-era desire for solid, well-made goods; and of course it’s because you can’t beat a classic. The company has kept itself fresh by teaming up with various exciting brands. Some of their collaborations include Ace Hotels, Urban Outfitters, Levi’s, Shwood eyewear, Comme des Garcons and Opening Ceremony and of course DwellStudio!

You can also shop the collection on our website, or find one of our fabulous dealers near you!

Chocolate Dots Bib/Paper Dolls Bib 

Visit us on Pinterest for more! 

How great is this room? Very simple, very personal and VERY stylish. Don't you think?
Peacock Dove Shams

Check out the full Mag HERE> what do you think!? 

We’re shaking things up a little for the 3rd Annual Modern Thanksgiving Contest. This year we want to see what your dream Modern Thanksgiving table would look like.

Here’s how it works:

1. Start a Pinterest board named “My Modern Thanksgiving” and start pinning inspirations and pieces that you would use to set and decorate your perfect table. Make sure to tag your pins #ModThksgving so we can find them! Tweet them to us too for extra points: @DwellStudio! (Need a Pinterest invite? Let us know!)

2. Next Thursday we will pick our favorite 5 boards and post them to our blog and Facebook.

3. After all the entries are up, we'll open the polls - All our designers will also be ranking the finalists from 1 - 5 as well,  and the winners will be determined by a combined score of votes and our designers rankings! Winners will be announced on Tuesday November 22nd.

The Prizes:

1st Place: $500 shopping spree on dwellstudio.com

2nd Place: $250 shopping spree on dwellstudio.com

3rd Place: $100 shopping spree dwellstudio.com

Can't wait to see your pins!! 

1. Room by Jessica Gersten Interiors, 2. George Sofa in Linen Ash, 3. Urchin Objet, 4. Turner Chair in Kerala,
5. Ogee Ash Pillow, 6. Labyrinth Persimmon Pillow

Mats - we love how you dwell and you have impeccable taste.

Enjoy! What are you adding to your wishlist this year?

Did you guys know about our new scented candles? We have three divine scents - everyone here has a different favorite, but mine is the Red Currant. Check them out - I love the packaging too. My go-to hostess gift for the season!

What do you think of our Urchin? 

Gorgeous home in Tokyo from The Selby

The Madrid apartment of stylist Jaime Lacasa via Honestly...WTF? 

Check out more great spaces on the Undcorate tumblr!

1/2/3/4/5

Happy Halloween! (if you're on Pinterest follow us HERE!)

It reminds us a little of the fabulous Victoria's dark wall and Chinoiserie paring....

What do you think of the look? 

Want a closer look? Check out the great video by The Home:

Fall '11 Market Interview with DwellStudio from TheHome.com on Vimeo.

Diana Vreeland was the ultimate style icon.  Her extensive career as a tastemaker started off with a long career at Harpers Bazaar and ended at Vogue as the editor in chief.  And it all started when the editor of Bazaar spotted a chic housewife at the St. Regis hotel.  She helped launch the careers of many photographers and actors including Richard Avedon, Lauren Bacall and Edie Sedgewick.

Here are some of her memorandums from while she was at Vogue.  This one is my favorite, I love that the cover sitatution is a “drastic” emergency.

 
She also translated her great fashion sense into interiors and worked closely with Billy Baldwin.  She famously told him that her living room at 550 Park Avenue should be inspired by a garden...but “in Hell”.  How amazing is this room in all red?  This would be gutsy today, nevermind in the late 50s!

Also loving her bedroom with the matching drapery and wallpaper.  Supposedly the silk scarf on top of the bed is where she would arrange her accessories for the day. 

*images via Flickr, The Runway Room, Letters of Note 

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! 

Big Floral comes in Citrine and Persimmon and adds an awesome kick of color and pattern to any room. We especially love it paired with our Franklin Media Cabinet. What do you think?

Sabrina Soto - we love you and we LOVE how you dwell! 

Welcome DwellBaby Ruby! 

1/2/3/4/5

Which do you like best? (Visit us on Pinterest for more!)

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

The room was designed by Jennifer Hsu, and we have to say – we LOVE how she dwells! 

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

The George Sofa is the star of our Fall Catalog  - we love it so much we had to put it on the cover! George has a simple, easy-going shape - with a few luxurious details, like the slight swoop of the arm and the extra cushy seat. Here's a look into the design process we went though with George... 

What do you think of George? (if you haven't gotten the fall catalog yet don't worry, you can browse online here>!)  

DwellStudio's papier-mâché animal heads

Even before the invention of paper, the ancient Egyptians had ‘cartonnage,’ which was basically proto-papier-mâché using papyrus fragments bound with plaster. Once paper was invented in 2nd-century AD China, papier-mâché soon followed, a kind of byproduct of papermaking. As knowledge of papermaking spread, so did papier-mâché, and by the 10th century it could be found throughout Western Europe and across the silk route, from Persia to India, China and Japan.

Papier-mâché was often reinforced with lacquer, a varnish that occurs naturally in Asia and yields a durable and hard finish. It produced such a strong material that the Chinese made their war helmets out of lacquer-reinforced papier-mâché. In other cultures, papier-mâché became used for masks and festival goods, penholders and small boxes. 

1. A painted and lacquered papier-mâché box from India, early to mid-17th century, at the Metropolitan Museum of Art, 2. A 19th-century Cambodian headdress made of papier-mâché reinforced with leather, glass and wood, at the Metropolitan Museum of Art, 3. A corner cupboard by Henry Clay, c. 1780-90, made of “japanned” papier-maché on a mahogany carcass, 4. A cake basket, circa 1850, in painted and gilded papier-mâché, inlaid with mother-of-pearl, produced by Jennens & Bettridge,  who also made Queen Victoria’s papier-mâché wedding present, 5. An early 20th-century takaan wooden mold for a papier-mâché mask from Paete, Philippines, from Haig’s of Rochester 

Papier-mâché became extraordinarily popular in Western Europe in the 17th century, when Portuguese and Dutch traders began importing many objects from Asia. The most sought-after objects were lacquerware, so expensive that they were mostly found in royal and aristocratic collections. So European craftsmen began to imitate these pieces using papier-mâché. An inexpensive and pliable substitute for wood and tole, papier-mâché became a favored technique among designers who used it to make furniture, trays, pianos, buttons, and even horse-drawn carriages. In imitation of Japanese lacquer, many of these objects are inlaid with mother-of-pearl and other exquisite materials.

The Victorians were huge papier-mâché fans, because the material could be molded into all sorts of elaborate shapes and ornaments. Queen Victoria herself received a decorative set of papier-mâché trays as a wedding present in 1840. Although there were many professional papier-mâché artisans, it was also a favored craft for ladies to do at home. The heads of Victorian dolls were crafted out of papier-mâché – you can still see some in antique shops and flea markets.

In some cultures the molds for papier-mâché sculptures are themselves an art form. Since the 16th century, the Philippine town of Paete has been renowned for its papier-mâché scuptures which are built on carved wooden molds called takaans. The beautiful hardwood takaans are now considered works of art in their own right. 

Although plastics replaced papier-mâché in industrial production in the 20th century, it is still used in decorative and theatrical settings across the world, and is especially favored in masks, parade floats and other festival ephemera.

DwellStudio Vintage Blossom Pillow and Matelasse Coverlet

A Chinoiserie pillow 

Silver Triangles glasses

Blaire, we love how you Dwell! 

The world lost a true visionary yesterday.  Steven Jobs was one of those rare people who truly changed the way we all live. In some ways, we may not be able to grasp the extent of his legacy for generations to come, but what is real to me is how his work has shaped the growth of my company.

I began this company with a Mac desk top. I remember tracing the repeat for the Circles pattern on the window of my living room, then scanning the file into the desk top!  

From those humble beginnings, Mac products have been prevalent at every milestone of the company's growth.  There was always some new product that we coveted and were so proud we could invest in - the clamshell laptop, the iMac, the iPhone and now the iPad, which has proven to be an amazing tool for everyone - from desiger to salesperson to receptionist. 

"Most people make the mistake of thinking design is what it looks like. People think it’s this veneer - that the designers are handed this box and told, ‘Make it look good!’ That’s not what we think design is. It’s not just what it looks like and feels like. Design is how it works." - Steve Jobs

As seen in Lucky Magazine, the Franklin in French Oak/Gold Leaf

The Franklin in Smoke/Silver Leaf

Here's our take on the gorgeous room (and see more options over on Pinterest) 

1. The room in Royal Pains, 2. DwellStudio Mallory Chair, 3. DwellStudio Sebastian Pedestal Table, 4. Royal Pains, 5. Italian Campaign Canopy Bed, 6. Yellow Charleston Screen, 7. Benjamin Moore Alligator Alley, 8. DwellStudio Draper Stripe Bedding 

We're still in search of the perfect wallpaper match - let us know if you find it! 

It all started with our Robert Allen fabrics - then sketches and more sketches....

Color groupings, textures, wovens and prints all pull our signature pattern looks together...

We worked very hard to make it easy for anyone - professional or not - to pull together a beautiful layered look.

We also added in a full range of amazing solids and fashion colors - this season we are feeling lavender, aubergine and all shades of gorgeous purple.

The dusty lavenders and purples made a dramatic group...

And room....all of the fabrics are created to go with the furniture silhouettes.

It was incredible to pair fabrics with forms.  The furniture came alive.

We hope you get as inspired as we did mixing colors, textures and shapes.  Happy designing!

If you need help pulling your whole look together - let us know!  We are always available.

Must be something in the air.  I did a Style Icon feature on John Dickinson a while ago and now these are up for auction! BID HERE>

Donald Deskey is most known for his streamlined, deco-inspired furniture.  But I am loving this bold and colorful abstract oil painting!  Feels very current even though it’s more than 50 years old! BID HERE>

I think wall mounted nightstands are a great solution for a small bedroom because they provide a surface without taking up too much space.  The combination of walnut and slate is very sharp!  I wish I had these right now. They would look perfect with a great pair of vintage sconces. BID HERE>

Beautiful and exquisite silver piece from Christofle but designed by one of my favorite Scandinavians, Tapio Wirkkala.  I love how it feels like they are growing out of a mound of sand but it’s actually metal. BID HERE>

These are great chairs.  Clean lined but with just enough design details to be interesting.  I like how the slats are exposed on each side of the cushion, it feels so graphic. BID HERE>

If I had an unlimited budget with which to furnish my home, these chairs would be in my dining room right now. The leather just gets better and better the older they are. BID HERE>
 

*Stella McCartney, Giambattista Valli, Dries Van Noten, Maria Oosterwijck, Rachel Ruysch

Get a room like Rex's with our Transportation collection! 

1. DwellStudio Ellipse Matelasse Bedding, 2. via House & Home, 3. Eloquence Lyon Mirror, 4. Mirrored Dresser, 5. J. Crew 

What would we find in your Mom Cave? 

 
Clockwise from top left: Owl Sweatshirt - Bobo Choses, Bear T-Shirt - Mini Rodini, Tiger Sweatshirt - Soft Gallery, Owl Hoodie - Finger in the Nose, Owl ID Tag - DwellStudio, Owl Dresses - Soft Gallery, Reindeer Dress - Max and Lola 

What are your favorite back to school trends this season? 

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>

1. DwellStudio Vintage Blossom Throw 2. Carolina Herrera S/S 2012  3&4. Chinoiserie Chic

What is inspiring you this week? 

The whole casual and cool thing extends into the store décor too. Billy has something going on that feels very right on, quintessentially American and not trying too hard. I love and salute that.  

Billy Reid – you are my style icon.  I want to wear your clothes and hang out in your world. 

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! 

In Jakob Jordaens’, As the Old Sang, So the Young Pipe (1638-40), you can see an elderly woman in a hooded wicker chair designed to protect the sitter from draughts and chills.

Wingback chairs developed during the 1600s in England and the Netherlands, where cold winters made the hearth the center of the home. There, furniture makers were producing special chairs with little wings so as to protect the sitter from harmful Northern European draughts and, when positioned in front of the hearth, to retain the warmth of the fire. 

’Sleeping Chayre’ from Ham House, c. 1670s, with red silk upholstery brocaded with silver thread, and an adjustable back.

In the second half of the 17th century, furniture in England got considerably more comfortable and sophisticated; this was when upholstered furniture became the norm, with armchairs and sofas replacing hard wooden seats. During this era, a new chair type was developed that was so comfortable that it was known as a ‘Sleeping Chayre.’ This chair had wings that helped the sitter stay warm, and its back could also ratchet to different angles for sleeping.

An English Wing Chair, c. 1750-60, in the Metropolitan Museum of Art
 

In the 18th century, furniture got even more comfortable with the advent of spring upholstery. Easy chairs could be found in English and American homes by the early part of the century, and as designers embraced S- and C-scrolls, these became even more relaxed and cozy.

 
Hans Wegner’s “Papa Bear” Chair from 1951
 

The 20th century can be epitomized by the family room, the emblem of a new, informal lifestyle defined by leisure time and the nuclear family. In this context, the wingback chair became a stately 'status' chair for the heads of the household and their guests, but one that still served its cozy fireside purpose. Modern and postmodern designers have enjoyed tinkering with the wingback, exaggerating its curves or its imposing upright back, or adding a touch of anthropomorphic whimsy.

DwellStudio Cooper Chair

DwellStudio’s own wingback chair, Cooper, combines a modern aesthetic with the wing chair’s centuries-long tradition of melding style and comfort. Would you sit with Cooper?? 

Take a look at the collection and let us know what you think! 

We loved seeing our Transportation bedding in this SAP commercial.  And loved even more that it has "RUN AWESOMER" as the text. Thanks SAP!

Here's the full commercial:

Congrats Erin! We love how you dwell! 

If you haven't checked out the contest yet, here's the scoop- 

Send in your entries today to be included in the next round! And vist us on Facebook to check out the fun!

1. Bedroom via Lonny Magazine,  2. DwellStudio Papier-Mache Head, 3. DIY Ikea storage, via Apartment Therapy, 4. Pretty Shelving by Therese Hagatedt, 5. DwellStudio Paper Dolls Bookshelf

Are you on Pinterest? (We're obsessed!)

Head on over for more Undecorate inspirations! Happy Friday! 

(Oh, and don't' forget to check out our How You Dwell contest on Facebook! Send your photos to blog@dwellstudio.com to get in on the fun!) 

We're kicking off the contest with 2 rooms we've featured here on the blog! Head on over to our Facebook Page to check it out! And send in your submissions to blog@dwellstudio.com! We can't wait to see how you all dwell!

Pick up a copy for a peek at life with our fearless leader, as well as a few beauties from our new furniture collection! 

You can also find a dealer near you and check out the line in person. We'll have it available for sale on our site and at the ABC store starting in early October.  Let us help you design your dream home. 

The one must have on our fashion list for the fall - the Maxi Coat.  It's the fashion equivalent of wearing your favorite duvet or blanket  - you know how we feel about that.  The bolder the better and mix it up.

via the New York Times 

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. 

If you aren't too busy enjoying the weather, be sure to check out our Labor Day Sale - up to 70% off PLUS free shipping! (Now that's a celebration!)

 Have a great weekend! 

Left: Portrait of the designer in one of his interiors. Right: This plaster table is one of the most Dickinson’s most iconic designs.

In the 80s he even designed an entire line of furniture for Macys.  We’ve started to see his name and work pop up again in the last few years and his work still looks fresh.  He loved to experiment and twist things around – one of his most famous pieces is a white plaster table with legs and feet.  It definitely has an African tribal look to it and yet because it’s done in white plaster instead of rustic wood it feels completely different!

This Pine Trestle Table was designed in the 70s but is still relevant today.

Left: A typical Dickinson interior – layered and mixed. Right: This plaster twig lamp may seem ubiquitous today, but that’s because it was ahead of it’s time since it was designed more than 30 years ago.

Jack has our: Chocolate Dots fitted Crib Sheet, Chocolate Dots Roman Shades some Vintage DwellStudio toys, he even has a papier-mache giraffe head (it's not from us, but check ours out here>) 

Jack, we love how you dwell! 

Did you know we're on Instagram now? You can follow us @DwellStudio. We've been sharing peeks of the new furniture collection, you don't want to miss out...

Don't have an iPhone? Don't worry - we're posting some of the peeks over on our Facebook page too, check it out and let us know what you think! 

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! 

Been seeing a lot of the Pedro Friedeberg hand lately in a lot of interiors from Jonathan Adler to Kelly Wearstler, but they are usually with the fingers facing up...

...but I have never seen one with the palm completely open.  I love this – it’s like a stool or bench instead of a chair. BID HERE>

Haven’t heard of Harris Strong before but am digging this mosaic wall tile!  I think it would be great behind a sofa or in a dining room. BID HERE>

Not really sure what a magiscope is but as you all know I am a sucker for all things in faceted metal... BID HERE>

Unfortunately Paco Rabanne got a bad rap from licensing his name too much in the 80s (cologne, anyone?) but he was a design pioneer....and not just in fashion.  His interior wall hangings were legendary for their time. BID HERE> 

The above photo is hard to visualize, so here is one in situ from Elle Décor: 

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.

 
(via the New York Times)

Here are just a few of our favorite pins from her boards. (But be sure to check them all out, she has a fabulous collection!)

1. DwellStudio Hans Chair, 2. Missoni for Target, 3. For Me, For You, 4. Elle Decor, 5. Etsy  

Who are your favorite Pinterest pinners? 

Val did a great round up of this type of chandelier on her blog, take a look>!  

(Photo by Stacey Brandford, via I Want That Bedroom) 
 

Do yourself a favor and click on over to check out both of these mags - we think you'll love what you find! 

Group a few together to bring an easy and fun update of pattern (and texture) to a shelf or table near you!

 Check out the whole line and tell us which you like best! 

It seems like every time we turn around something new arrives on our site! Today is it these amazing papier-mache animal heads, a chic (and cruelty-free) update on safari style. These guys are handmade by a non-profit in Haiti that uses only recycled materials. Check out the whole herd here>

This Long Island fisherman's shanty turned summer home is fishy, gorgeous and very fun...a fitting end to this amazing summer.

(Elle Decor via automatism)

Check out more on the Undecorate tumblr>

Check out all the options here>, and let us know what you think in the comments for a chance to win a set of your own!* 

 Follow us on Instagram to double your chance to win! 

*(winner will be chosen at random on Thursday August 25th! Comment by Wednesday the 24th at midnight PST to be entered) 

To feed our obsession (and share it with all of you, of course!)  we're launching a new column on the blog - Across The Board. Every week we'll pick a "pinner" and feature one of their beautifully curated pin-boards.

To kick things off, here's our selection of favorites from Ashley C.'s board "All That Glitters":  

1. Thornton Design 2. via Toast 3. DwellStudio drinking glasses 4. Dwellings by DeVore 5. Big City Chandelier

Are you on Pinterest? Follow us!! 

We wouldn't be there without the support of all of our readers and I'd just like to say -

If you haven't had a chance to pick up the book yet - check it out and Undecorate! 

And head over to our Tumblr for more undecorated interiors! 

The colors are so refreshing and simple, don't you think?   

Kristen, we love how you inspire people to dwell! 

(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!  

Today's Dwelling With... comes from the very talented Jennifer Sarkilahti, the artist behind the jewelry line Odette New York. We are very excited to have her - we are all big fans of both her jewelry and her blog, be sure to check them both out! Thank you Jennifer for taking the time to dwell with us!

(interview after the jump)

Q: How do you define your Style?
A: I tend to gravitate towards earthy and minimal things with an occasional quirky vintage textile or interesting pattern here and there. This generally applies to my taste in fashion and the things I surround myself with in my home.

Q: Who is your favorite designer?
A: Eva Zeisel, Rachel Comey, Mina Perhonen.

Q: Most embarrassing fashion era?
A: The 80s. But it’s also the most nostalgic: feathered bangs, jelly shoes and pegged jeans, oh my!

Q: What’s one thing you could never live without?
A: My camera and stacks of books.

Q: Tell us about your favorite room, or piece of furniture? 
A: I have an old teak hand-me-down sideboard with sliding doors that my parents were getting rid of. I may never be able to part with it.

Q: Fill in the blank- “I never miss a ______ !”
A: A chance to travel. I just returned from an incredible visit to Greece and Turkey, and a trip to Thailand is on the horizon.

Q: Where’s your favorite place to visit?
A: In NYC, I love the peacefulness of the Temple of Dendur at the Met. I could sit in that space for hours.

Q: If you could only eat one thing for the rest of your life, what would it be?
A: A slice of Best Pizza’s white pizza with caramelized onions and sesame seeds.

Q: What was the last song played on your iPod?
A: Fleetwood Mac’s Albatross. It’s a beautiful and slightly haunting instrumental.

Q: What’s your hometown’s best kept secret?
A: I don’t think there are any secrets left in Brooklyn.

Q: Must read blogs?
A: Currently: Refinery29, The Makers Project, Wikstenmade, Lena Corwin, Miss Moss.

Q: Do you have a favorite DwellStudio Pattern?
A: Draper Stripe and Chinoiserie.

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!

Google Catalogs is a free iPad app that holds all of your favorite catalogs, and lets you to browse, shop and save your favorites on the go - plus it has a very cool feature that lets you create collages with your favorite products. 

Head on over to the App store to download the app - let us know what you think!

Sweet ride! 

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? 

A lot of you have been asking where you'll be able to see the new furniture collection in person.  Drumroll please...click on the image below to find one of our wonderful retailers near you. 

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.

We have so much more to show you...the line will be revealed on our website in the coming weeks. In the meantime, you can see a little of the article in the online version HERE.

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!

Fashion and swimwear by Stella Cove, Polaroid by Vanessa via Ink & Post, Sandals by Saltwater Sandals, Tote by Angela Adams for J. Crew, DwellStudio Skyline Hooded Towel 

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!

As soon as we arrived, delicious cocktails were served, equipment was quickly set up, and magic ensued. These gentlemen know how to host...and they know to relax, even with a crew buzzing around to make the most of the beautiful light. After shooting as much as we could, we realized we missed last call at the only local restaurant that could accomodate us...

Blankets were laid out on the dock, music turned up, photo assistants jumped into the water, and Molly and I hit the kitchen to make us a dinner with anything we could find in the cupboard.  We ended up with a delicious pasta, crusty bread and a everything-but-the-kitchen-sink salad. It was the best of impromptu summer entertaining.

The next morning, we made our way through the rest of the shoot.  It was a rainy day, but we felt like family after our long and merry night together. I love this picture of Melanie and Chase, who were old pals from Domino days...

When you read their chapter in Undecorate, I want you to know how much love and laughter went to each and every picture.

Image via this lovely blog.

In celebration of all things peacock - get 20% off anything with a peacock on it on dwellstudio.com for TODAY ONLY.  Just enter code PEACOCKRETURNS at check out to receive the discount. Click HERE to start shopping all things peacock. Ends at 10am EST on 8/4/2011. (Cannot be used on furniture or fabric orders.)

Little Shiloh Maize in NYC...we love how you dwell! 

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)

The room was designed by Kim of The Tom Cat Studio who gives some amazing advice, “Incorporate personal items that you love, not everything in a nursery has to be about baby.”
 
Chauncey Reid, we love how you dwell!

All images via Undecorate

Vist the Undecorate tumblr for more>

Kate, you put the Mmmm in mom.

4 Key Kate Pieces:

No 1: Hat. Preferably a fedora. Genius because it hides messy hair beautifully.

No 2: Hip and big scarf. Genius because it distracts from a ho-hum outfit beautifully.

No 3: High boots. Genius because it hides half your legs...a good thing in my case, not necessarily in Kate's.

No 4: Short shorts worn with everything. Not so genius for me, but amazing on Kate.

Clockwise from top left: Recycled Doll House, Jumpsuit, Dress, Sweater, Watering Can, Sunprint Kit, Outfit 

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.

1. Brice Marden  2. Labyrinth Ash Pillow 3. Labyrinth Duvet Set 4. Cy Twombly 5. Sol LeWitt

We picked a few of our very favorite Emily Henderson rooms to share - in case you needed a few more reasons to love her: 

Be sure to check out Emily's favorites for the DwellStudio collection>

(images via Emily Henderson/HGTV)

The rest of the line-up looks fantastic too - take a gander.

The couple behind byKenyan (Grace Kelsey and Kenyan Lewis) are two of my absolute favorite people in Undecorate - shooting their chapter and getting immersed in their world was an amazing experience. Their installation at Old & New really does incapsulate their personal style - stop by tonight if you have the time (142 11th Ave enter on 21st St) - and you'll get your very own glimpse into their gorgeously curated world.

Top: The entrance to Old & New, Bottom: Undecorate along side props on the byKenyan table.


Left: A byKenyan display, Right: Kenyan chats with a visitor. 

 Top: Kenyan and Grace's living room - I love the layers-upon-layers feeling, Bottom: an outtake from Undecorate - Grace and Keynan chatting in the kitchen over some cold beers.

 
Clockwise from the top: DwellStudio Garland, Dress: Simple Kids, Blocks: as seen in LMNOP Magazine, Geometric Dress: Bobo Choses, Chalk: Kristina Klarin, Owls Egg Carton Project: Small Magazine, Striped Bedding. 

What are your favorite colors for kids? 

How do you mix textures into your style? 

(images via The Sartotialist, Vanessa Jackman and Brigadeiro)

 
Clockwise form top: Kid by Phillip Lim, Cotton and Milk, CrewCuts, Kid by Phillip Lim, bathing suit and shark shirt - Finger in the Nose, 

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

Top left: some pups outside the bakery, Top Left: their delicious display. Bottom: Macarons and what Robby from our customer service team describes as a "life changing" eclair.

Anyone want a macaron? 

(Draper Stripe Sheets, Chinoiserie Pillow, and an old favorite, our Sparrow Duvet) 

Have you seen the film? What did you think? 

We love how this chair went from old and shabby to amazingly chic with just a coat of paint and our Gate Fabric! 

Do you like the finished product? 

Where ever you are headed be sure to pack in style with our kid friendly travel accessories. 

 
(clockwise from the top: Owls Short Sleeve Bodysuit,  Zinnia Rose Lunch Box, Bottle Holders in Chocolate Dots, Owls and Paper Dolls, Paper Dolls Short Sleeve Bodysuit, Sparrow Travel Case, Chocolate Dots Travel Case, Sparrow Bottle Holder, ID Tags.) 

While we're on the subject of travel - be sure to check out Christiane's interview with Tablet Hotels to find out all her favorite palaces to stay while circling the globe. 

Where will you be taking your travel gear this summer? Let us know in the comments! 

Check out the piece online here> 

photos by Eric Striffler for Hamptons Magazine 

photo by Heather Weston

For a number of reasons, this morning I had to put on a pair of white pants. I hate wearing pants (as opposed to jeans or shorts) but sometimes you've got to wear pants despite the fact that it's July, the swampiest time of year in New York City with the possible exception of August. And sometimes you're wearing white pants and sweating while you loop a tie around your neck, trying not to think how like a noose it is, and baby comes running into the room and wipes his sweaty face all over your legs. 

To be a parent is to be many things, among them, a giant piece of Kleenex. Babies love to blow their noses on shoulders or rub yogurt-covered faces against your chest and of late our son prefers hugging us, post-bath, to getting toweled off. All of which is to say: yes, co-workers, I'm aware of the smudge on my legs - it's sunscreen and baby sweat and there's nothing I can do about it now.

About a year ago now, I remember baby sitting on the floor of the kitchen happily banging a wooden spoon against a pot. It was a ploy to distract him while I cooked, and it worked, and it was one of those stock photo moments (baby covered with spaghetti also comes to mind) that you can't quite believe is really happening. Having a kid just proves the extent to which every cliche is true. I'm just going to accept it.

(You might remember Rumaan from our very first Dwelling With.... post. Well, we are very happy to welcome him back to the blog for our new series, Studio Dads. We'll be brining you parenting stories and tips from Rumaan and other Dads around the studio.)

Check out our Batavia Citrine Duvet set in Lisa Stasiulewiez's Seattle home, and our Deco bed (in Linen Pearl) in the Master Bed Room of Penelope McDonnell's Miami condo. 

Thank you to Michelle, Ellie and the whole Lonny team! Check out their latest issues on-line here> 

 Here's a peek at the shop - and a few example headboards to get you inspired. 

Top: Our Ornate headboard;Bottom Left: A selection of headboard shapes, nail head colors and wood finishes on display! Bottom Right: The Mayfair Bed

Left: Deco Headboard; Right: Ornate in a Twin  

Can't make it to NYC? Check out our step-by-step guide to customize the perfect bed for your room here> And start designing! 

 
These guys serve all the classics and everything is FRESH FRESH FRESH. Not the NYC street-style falafel I'm used to.

Just take a guess as to what kind of smoothie that is...can't? I'll tell you: banana, date & cardamom. Absolutely delicious. 

Just make sure you get there before the line starts to form...it will be down the street within the hour.

Top: I love the distressed wall with the paint from past paintings. Bottom Left: Krasner and Pollock on the lawn. Bottom Right: Pollock in his studio working on one of his drip paintings.

If you ever find yourself in East Hampton the museum is absolutely worth a visit. It is so untouched, almost if Lee and Jackson are still there.

Top: A view of the house exterior. Below: My favorite portrait of Lee Krasner. I love the chair, the styling and the slippers.

Top: Talk about undecorating!  The open eclectic interiors of the home really work with the golden light of The Springs. Bottom: Jackson working on his legendary paintings in his amazing studio.

Top: Lee Krasner's stunning work. Middle Left: I love the kitchen - it reminds me a little of fellow artist Caitlyn Wylde's Echo Park kitchen. Middle Right: The lovely porch of the house.

I thought I would throw this picture in too because it's a combination of so many of my style icons - a Billy Baldwin interior for SI Newhouse with an amazing Pollock.

What do you think of the look? A little over the top, or just right? 

Here are my picks...

I’ve never seen a lamp like this but I love the idea of it....it’s a lamp plus an easel to display artwork. Plus it’s in my favorite combination of brass and black. BID HERE>

I have always loved this chair...I love how the back and the legs are basically one beautifully crafted form. But not in the “bargain” category at $1,000 - $1500. BID HERE>

But this table is definitely in the bargain category at $100 - $200! It’s so simple but yet the curve of the legs adds a really elegant touch. I don’t think you could find better at Ikea. BID HERE>

Part of me misses the idea of a time when travel was a more formal and special event. Back when people had specific luggage for specific items of clothing....very different from how we live now. In any case, these are quite nice and I like the dramatic contrast of black and caramel leather. I think they’d be much more than $300 - $500 if you bought anything similar new today! BID HERE>

Ok, if this isn’t a bargain I don’t know what is...solid wood danish dining table, very simple round that extends to an oval shape with leaves at $500 - $700! BID HERE>

The weird thing about this is that I actually have all 50 of these issues! Now I feel like selling them to make a quick $500!!BID HERE>

Ikat is an ancient technique of patterning textiles that dates back at least to the 10th century and can be found basically all over the world: the Middle East, Southeast Asia, Japan and Central America. We get the word ikat  (pronounced ee-KAHT) from the Malaysian word mengikat, which means “to tie.” That’s because ikat is basically a process whereby you tie-dye the threads before you weave them into a textile: loose threads are tied into bundles to specify where the dye is able to sink in and color the thread.

If this sounds complicated, that’s because it is! Ikat weavers have to figure out where on the loose threads the dye should (and shouldn’t) go in order for it to form the proper pattern when it is woven on the loom. It gets more complicated as you add more colors. It’s like a very colorful but painfully confusing logic puzzle!

 
Bundles of thread are tied and dyed to produce the ikat patterns in modern Uzbekistan. Photo by Tim Stanley for the Victoria & Albert Museum.

Within ikat, there is warp ikat, weft ikat and double ikat. Warp ikat is made by dyeing the warp threads (the fixed threads that are attached to the loom), weft ikat by dyeing the weft threads (the threads that are actually woven in and out of the warp threads), and double ikat by dyeing both. The patterns are never perfectly aligned, partly because of the nature of weaving pre-dyed thread and partly because the dye bleeds into the tied-off areas of the thread, creating some degree of haziness – in Central Asia, the technique is known as abra, or “cloud.” 

Left: A weaver in Northeast Thailand weaves a weft ikat; you can see the warp threads are solid indigo, and the dyed weft threads below the shuttle reveal the pattern as she weaves. Photo from Mekong River Textiles. Right: Weaving a warp ikat in Uzbekistan. You can see above the shuttle that the warp threads are already dyed. Photo by Tim Stanley for the Victoria & Albert Museum.  

Given how complex ikat weaving is, it’s amazing that it seems to have developed independently across continents and cultures for hundreds – maybe thousands – of years. In each ikat-producing culture, regardless of specific technique, ikat has always been a prized status symbol because of the skill and time required to produce it.

Western cultures have embraced ikat for centuries. The technique and textiles first came to Europe via Dutch traders in Southeast Asia, Spanish explorers in Central America, and from travelers along the Silk Road, where the Uzbek ikat centers of Samarkand and Bukhara were important stops.

Our take on ikat (clockwise from top left): Batavia Citrine Duvet, Diamond Ikat Pillow, Ikat Dot Duvet, Batavia Pillow

Today most of the ikat we see in Western markets are Uzbek or Indonesian ikats, both indigenous to their respective cultures while also sharing a common technique across nations and centuries.

Talk about fierce personal style!! 

Check out more on the Undecorate tumblr>

(images Marilynn K. Yee/The New York Times)

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.

Don't forget- free shipping lasts until tomorrow! 

In honor of Canada Day and in in worship of Pierre – I am dusting off my  fringe jacket and jumping into our canoe for a paddle. Happy Canada Day! 

It's a beautiful morning here in lovely old Halifax, on Canada's east coast where we've come to visit our daughter for the weekend. Its a holiday here - today is Canada Day. Never heard of it? Well that's the first thing about being Canadian - we aren't bothered by that. We like our celebrations, just like our country, flying under the radar a little bit, like a really good secret, rather than march them out to the world's attention with a big brass band. Today the Queen (that would be our Monarch, the British Queen Elizabeth II) is in Ottawa inspecting the tulips (there are many - the Dutch just kept on sending them to us after the War), tonight a crowd will assemble for a free concert on Parliament hill that gets broadcast on the CBC, our national broadcast network, and in between we won't be doing a hell of a lot rather than making sure we've got enough BBQ briquettes, stopping in at Tim's for a coffee and a cruller, and reading the paper on the dock, maybe going for a swim.

One of the best things about being Canadian is that Canadians are funny. Wedged as we are between Europe and America we have some ironic distance from both. Did you know Jim Carrey, Mike Myers, Lorne Michaels and Dan Akroyd are Canadian? Yup. We are funny.

Linda Evangelista

And cute too! Gorgeously multi-cultural (we take our global fusion seriously here, I mean it's a government policy), our professional lovelies include Yasmina Warshame, Shalom Harlowe and the superest supermodel of them all, Linda Evangelista. Did you know, we have diamonds too? Yes, really gorgeous white pure ones, from the far north and they don't have anything to do with fueling military military regimes and financing civil war.

The other thing we have going for us is this land. Space, air, trees, rivers, beaches, mountains, you name it - we got it and it infuses everything about the way we live here, from the good (best skiing in the world at Whistler, most amazing cottage country and culture) to the not so good (we don't think twice about driving our cars and expanding our enormous carbon footprint).

Pierre Elliott Trudeau

The most stylish Canadian moments, I would have to say, would have to be the era of Pierre Elliott Trudeau, himself the most swish leader the world has seen in many decades with his rose in his lapel, his vintage Mercedes cabriolet, dressed in full buckskin for a canoe trip down the Nahanni, or dancing in a 70's tux with his hippie bride Margaret at Studio 54. And then he had the 'tude-flipping the press a "fuddle duddle," smokin a cigar with Castro, dancing a pirouette behind the Queen. This guy was an intellectual, a savvy politician and a sexy man of his age with style to burn.

Neil Young

Neil Young is another great key to good Canadian style - raw, personal, deeply honest, solitary, non-pompous to the extreme, his personal style statement of flannel shirts and denim, construction boots and unkempt hair got called "grunge" later when it was mimiced by Kurt Cobain and then put on the fashion runway by Marc Jacobs. But we know it's ours, just like all singer songwriters with a guitar these days singing with their quirky imitations of Neil and Joni Mitchell. They are just trying to sound and look Canadian. You can't fool us, but we won't bother to correct you, because its really not polite.

Montreal

Our cities too are incredibly stylish-sorry but Montreal is one of those magical places that lives in the imagination, sexy, sophisticated small, and totally cosmopolitan. And St John's Newfoundland? That place rocks out entirely to its own drummer.

Ultimately, the best thing about being Canadian is a shared sense that people are so greatful to have left whatever hellhole of war and struggle and privation behind them and come to this land of lakes and space and endless peaceful possibility for themselves and their children that the overwhelming sense one gets on the street here particularly in a multicultural city like Toronto, where we live, is one of deep gratitude that such a place exists here on earth.

And what do we have on our flag? No predatory animals or military stripes. We have a leaf, a maple leaf to be precise, that has wafted down off a giant tree and is swaying in the breeze, hopefully to the sounds of really great new Canadian music, Feist, Sam Roberts or Arcade fire.

We have made a very quiet Canadian promise to each other here, that if we are tolerant and respectful of one another, maybe the rest of the globe will take a lesson from us and start doing it too and the world will become a better happier safer and more humane place.

And I can't imagine any other, better promise.

The food is delicious....think gourmet Austrian, which of course means schnitzel and bratwurst of some kind, plus wonderful coffee and desserts. Here are some highlights from our meal.

Top left: Mmmm, just seeing the menu makes my mouth water....sausages, sandwiches, schnitzel!
Top right & bottom: The Viennese coffee was super delicious with perfectly foamed milk.
Top: The Hungarian Goulash was a study in perfection - big chunks of delicious and tender beef in a rich sauce just waiting to be drizzled over the buttered spaetzle on the side. 
Bottom left: And of course, no visit to Café Sabarsky is complete without someone ordering the schnitzel.  Who would say no to a paper thin veal cutlet breaded, deep friend then served over potato salad with lingonberries?
Bottom right: We felt guilty ordering all this heavy food and threw in a beet salad with goat cheese.
Another must have is the bratwurst. They offer a few different kinds but this one was especially tasty because it is smoked and stuffed with cheese!

Top: We had to case the dessert table to see what our options were before making a final decision. 
Bottom: On the left is the Klimttorte with alternating layers of chocolate ganache and hazelnut cake. It was light, airy and not too sweet. The Apple Strudel is on the right...flaky and delectable.

So if you are uptown visiting the Cooper Hewitt or the Met, definitely stop by Café Sabarsky! Even if it’s just to have a coffee and enjoy the beautiful room while practicing saying things like “Strudel” in a German accent.

You know we love a good dark wall around here, and Erin's set off her Peacock Dove bedding gorgeously, don't you think?

Erin, we love your style, and we LOVE how you Dwell! 

These fun placemats are made for doodlers. The hand silk-screened silicone placemats won't crease or rip and your kiddies can use them over and over, just draw with washable markers and then wipe clean. Perfect for road trips, restaurants - where ever you're headed!

Let us know where you'd plan to take your Kidz Box in the comments and we will enter you in a drawing to win one! 

 Check out all the Placemats here>

Chase Booth and Gray Davis' lake house (featured in Undecorate) has such a summery feel to it, we felt the need to share! We love how the vines reach in though the windows, don't you? 

Check out more outtakes on the Undecroate tumblr> 

Here are some highlights from my visit...although no photo can capture what it feels like to be there!

This is the most common view most people in referencing the Glass House.  But the site is more than just this one house.  Philip Johnson built the Glass House on a 5 acre parcel in New Canaan, Connecticut in 1949.  Over the years and until his death in 2005, he slowly acquired more land until the property had grown to 47 acres.  He continued to build structures on the property, using it as a lab to experiment with new ideas that would eventually be incorporated in his client projects.

The Glass House was essentially one large room.  The only enclosure was the bathroom.  Johnson chose his furniture very carefully so that it did not interrupt the views of the land.  The painting in the at the far end of the room is his nod to the past – he was not a true modernist in this respect, he always tried to infuse a sense of the classical in his work.  This is also seen in his choice to lay out the brick floor in a herringbone pattern.  

This structure is referred to as the Opaque Twin of the Glass House.  It is sited parallel to the Glass House but is offset so that when the viewer walks from one house to the other they are always approaching the entrance at an angle.  The back of the Opaque Twin features round porthole windows – during this period Johnson was experimenting with how to join disparate shapes like circles and rectangles in a visually pleasing way.

The Sculpture Pavilion was built as a structure to showcase Johnson’s growing sculpture collection.  It is a beautiful space, none of the walls are at right angles to each other and plan of the building is based on a Greek village with a center court.  Since the entire roof was a skylight, the sun would cast sculptural shadows on the angular planes of the walls and the floor.  This was Johnson’s way of encouraging the viewer to experience the architecture of the space itself as a sculpture rather than it being merely a gallery to showcase work. 
 

Clockwise from top left: Draper Stripe Poppy Duvet Set, Vintage Blossom Persimmon Pillow, Labyrinth Persimmon Pillow, Draper Stripe Persimmon Runner, Circles Persimmon Duvet Set

Are you a fan of red? What's your favorite summer color? 

The lovely understated exterior - all white of course.

Inside you feel like you've stumbled into a Maine lobster shack.

Top: Of course, the classic lobster roll - perfectly creamy with large chunks of fresh lobster. Perfect with that dry glass of rose you see in the corner. Bottom left: my 3 year old Lucas saying hello to his first edible lobster. I'm proud to say he loved it. Bottom right: My husband's lobster dinner with all the fixins: baked potatoes and corn on the cob.

What you don't see here is the lobster mac-and-cheese that was devoured the minute it hit the table. Don't walk - run to the end of Manhattan Avenue in Greenpoint. The coolest thing to hit the block this year.

Last week I ate at the Lion and I have to say as far as interiors go in restaurants - this is my current favorite.  It's the Undecorate of dining.  From the great creative minds at Chien Dao Studios - the restaurant was remodeled to bring it's patrons back to the 1960's when the original Lion was in full swing. Like some other notable restaurants such as the Minetta Tavern and the Monkey Bar - "authentic" looking interiors are the trend in New York. It may be a trend but these personal and eclectic interiors have become my favorite new development in restaurant design.

The original skylight in AMAZING...left distressed with it's original glass - the restaurant needs almost no other embellishment.

Black walls, brass accents, layers of great art and amazing chandeliers in a double height room - so chic I want to move in.

Left: The food is a gorgeous and delicious as the interiors. The soft shell crab salad was my favorite.
Top right: The dining room was bustling and the service was amazing.
Bottom right: Herbed bread and fresh butter - what could be better?

For more pictures and info on the Lion read here.

(all pictures via my iphone)

Harry Heissmann lives in Brooklyn Heights in an apartment so daring and personal that he defines the Undecorate style.  Harry is an avid collector of many, sometimes juxtaposing, things but in his hands everything looks as curated as a museum.  Talk about living with what you love!

Harry in his amazing home.

Harry is a decorator by trade, which might seem strange for the “undecorate” philosophy, but what I love about Harry is that when it comes to his personal life and décor – all rules he would follow for his (very lucky) clients go flying out the door as soon as he gets home. He is fearless in creating the exact space that he and his partner want to live in...which happens to be filled with his collections of Sprouts, pixies, snails – and covered in mirrored walls, wallpapered ceilings and vintage Barbie chandeliers...

Left:  Harry effortlessly mixes Murakami pillows with vintage Hermes and Miro wallpaper and fabric. Right: A Sprout filled kitchen.

Some of my favorite photos of Harry and his place did not make it into the book, so I wanted to give you a glimpse into the world of Harry that you don’t see in his chapter... 
Top Right: Pixies that give personality to everything. Top Left: Gnomes on the entry table. Bottom Right:  Harry and his friend. Bottom Left: The Master Bath with Marilyn Monroe's wallpaper.

I want to wrap this up by showing some of the amazing work Harry does has a designer. He worked with the legendary Albert Hadley (who was a student of Billy Baldwin- also one of my favorites) for several years when he first moved to NYC from Germany, and I’m happy to say that the magic of Harry’s imagination is very evident in his work. Take a look at some of the beautiful spaces Harry has designed...

Harry's personality shining through in these perched dogs. 

I love that a Tony Duquette snail made its way into this room...

I see Harry in this crazy chair and pop-art fabric.

From Billy to Albert to Harry...great personal interiors.
 

(Images via Scandalous Wall Talk, Harry Heissmann Inc, and Undecorate)

I love it all – is there ever enough tulle in the world?

For more info go to www.lanvin.com

(All images via Milk Magazine)

Step 1: Gather Your Supples
-DwellStudio Stamp Set
-Paint
-Construction paper
-Scissors
-Glue

Step 2: Paint You Background
We chose to do a bright blue sky!

Step 3: Set the Scene!
Get creative - we used our grass stamp for the grass and construction paper for the hills and a big round sun. Make some trees and bushes too.

Step 4: Get Stamping!
Using the ink-pads from your stamp set, stamp the animals you want in your scene onto construction paper... 

Step 5: Color and Cut
Use the colored pencils from your stamp set to give your animals a little color and then cut them out! 

Step 6: Glue it all down!
Arrange all your elements any way you want and attach them with glue or tape. 

 
Now you have your very own diorama! How fun is this to do with the kids? 
 

For us, dioramas may be an educational medium limited to museums and grade school. But in the 19th century, aka the Time Before the Internet, they were a popular form of mass entertainment.

According to the etymological dictionary, the word ‘diorama’ (from the Greek for ‘a sight seen through’) didn’t apply to the kind of miniature scenes that we know from our shoebox days until 1902. Dioramas were originally large-scale three-dimensional tableaux that sought to create lifelike scenes that transformed in some way, giving the viewers a proto-cinematic experience. In fact, one of the inventors of the diorama was Louis-Jacques Daguerre, who would soon create the daguerreotype, the first popular form of photography, so there really is a sense of evolution toward cinema.

 
Le Dyorama, an engraving by Marlet of Daguerre’s Diorama, 1824.

In the 19th century, some mostly anonymous artists were creating scale models of famous architectural sites or country estates. Whether these were done as commissions or for a general market, it isn’t clear. These kinds of dioramas occasionally appear at auctions and flea markets, and are sometimes considered folk art, depending on the artist, medium or subject.

High Victorian English Gothic Diorama attributed to Charles Grant, c. 1890. Mansion of Lord Cavendish, exhibited at the Columbia Exposition, 1893.

In 1890, the taxidermist and naturalist Carl Akeley created his first habitat diorama for the Milwaukee Public Museum. In 1909 Akeley began working for the American Museum of Natural History, where he created the dioramas of African mammals. His legacy is the Akeley Hall of African Mammals at the AMNH, where the vanishing and vanished landscape and animals of Africa are still frozen in time.

 
The African Lion diorama at the American Museum of Natural History, NY.

These sorts of large-scale dioramas are no longer part of museum practice, but miniature three-dimensional tableaux continue to inspire artists and designers (as well as war gamers and amateur military historians). In the mid-20th century, the artist Joseph Cornell created 3D collages inside shoebox-sized boxes that in some ways played off both Victorian decoupage, Akeley-esque taxidermy, and contemporary Surrealism. 

Joseph Cornell’s Untitled (Great Horned Owl With Harvest Moon), c. 1942, now in the Robert Lehrman Art Trust in Washington, DC.

A couple weeks ago, I took my daughter to Moomah, a café in Tribeca where kids can do craft projects. My daughter chose this Snow Owl Shadowbox (below), which came as a kit that she could assemble however she liked. Was this an homage to Joseph Cornell? To Carl Akeley? To Monsieur Daguerre? Or, as her final composition attests, to utter spatial randomness? Stay tuned - tomorrow we will show you how to make an amazing Dioramas with our stamp kits.

In the end, the Greek translation of ‘diorama,’ “a sight seen through” is an apt description of an art form that can be seen through various prisms: mass entertainment, fine art, hobbying, science, history and education.

The Snow Owl Shadowbox kit at Moomah Café in Tribeca.

Which is your favorite diorama?

If you have not had a chance to see the Color Moves: Art & Fashion by Sonia Delaunay at the Cooper-Hewitt it is well worth the trip. Delaunay is a huge style icon of mine.  From textiles to fashion to furniture, this Renaissance woman did it all and did it beautifully. 

Top: Sonia's sketchbook. Modern and amazing. I would like the black and white dress for myself.

Delaunay was born in the Ukraine in 1885. By 1903 she was studying art in Germany as a result of her amazing talent.  She married Robert Delaunay in 1910. Post World War I the family’s financial situation forced Sonia to work as designer in order to support her family. She started a fashion business Madrid and then in Paris, but her most successful endeavor was fabric design. 

Left: I love a great dot pattern. Right: Fashion so forward it is still relevant today.

As an artist Sonia was also instrumental in the Orphism art movement – the French Cubo-Futurist movement that she started with her husband, artist Robert Delaunay and their friend Guillaume Apollinaire in 1910. 

Left: Amazing geometric, amazing colors. Right: Lyrical and perfect.

Her designs are timeless and her influence wide reaching.  Sonia Delaunay – you are my style icon.

 (Images via The New York Times)

Colorful floral prints are always popular when the weather gets hot. What’s more unusual for summer are florals with a darker side. I’ve always loved these kinds of floral textiles on black ground popular in the 1930’s, and it’s so great to see that this trend is being embraced by certain fashion designers right now. Black really lends a sense of mystery to this normally cheery category of prints, don’t you think?

Images (clockwise from top):  Vera Wang S/S 2011,  Rachel Comey Assembly Top,  Thakoon S/S 2011, Butterflies and Roses print, via The Design Library, Illustration of long dress, Casa Vogue, Jill Stewart Resort 2012, Kimono, Zara, Black floral print, Casa Vogue

Get more info on the Union Square Greenmarket here>!

Happy Friday!  

1. Golden Greyhound Lamp, 2. A dapper Draper Stripe Rug, 3. Gate Duvet Set, 4. Use stacked vintage trunks as a night stand, 5. Every man needs a good chair, 6. A good pair of house shoes.

 The best part is- all their cards are totally customizable! Add your photos and your text and they'll even mail them out for you! Could it get any easier than that? What are you waiting for, start creating>!

In honor of Father's Day we chose to feature a very cool dad this week on Dwelling With... My good friend Daniel Lehmann is just that! In addition to being super dad to two adorable children, Jacob, 5 and Sophia, 3, he is also the founder of the awesome new company reCrib, a site where you can buy and sell used baby gear. I'm so excited that Daniel took a few minutes out of his busy schedule for this interview! 

Q: How do you define your Style?  
A: Ultra casual. Comfort is key, I like my jeans and t-shirts. 

Q: Who is your favorite designer?   
A: Probably Steven Alan.  My closet is filled with Steven Alan shirts.

Q: What was your most embarrassing fashion era? 
A: My wife would say faded jeans and golf shirts. That was what I wore on our first date, so I guess it couldn’t have been that bad – unless she saw me as a project.

Q: What’s your silliest nickname for your kid? Theirs for you? 
A: When Sophia was born, Jake couldn’t pronounce her name, so he called her More Pizza.  That has stuck – I call her More Pizza from time to time.  My kids don’t really have any nicknames for me – at least none that they’ve shared with me.

Q: Fill in the blank- “I never miss a_______!” 
A: Morning cup of coffee! I’m a coffee snob and order espresso beans from roasters all over the country.  So much fun to try them all.  Currently, I’m making my way through a bag of Ritual out of San Francisco.

Q: If you could only eat one thing for the rest of your life, what would it be? 
A: Pizza.  Di Fara Pizza on Avenue J in Brooklyn, to be exact.

Q: What was the last song played on your ipod?  
A: Please don’t ask that question.  Katy Perry, California Girls – but my kids chose it for our nightly after dinner dance party.

Q: What’s your favorite kids’ book? 
A: Curious George

Q: What’s your hometown’s best kept secret?  
A: I’m a born and bred New Yorker. And guess what - the people are actually really nice.  Not sure why we get a bad rap. 

Q: Your favorite neighborhood haunt? 
A: Kaffe 1668 in Tribeca. Great coffee and really good sandwiches too. 

Q: What’s your idea of the perfect family vacation? 
A: No doubt, a Caribbean beach vacation in February.

Q: Favorite kids game? 
A: Every morning after breakfast we play Nerf baseball in our living room.  We make sure the chandelier stops swaying before Mommy gets up.

Q: Must read blogs? 
A: The DwellStudio blog, of course, Apartment Therapy, and Design*Sponge.  I also read a lot of the tech blogs, such as Mashable, Venture Beat, and Tech Crunch. 

Q: What do you think is the best gift to get? 
A: This year, my kids got me a Yankees t-shirt, sweatshirt, and mug for my birthday.  I was pretty psyched.  

Q: The best gift to give? 
A: I’m in the process of planning a getaway to Europe for my wife’s 40th.  It doesn’t get better than a trip!

Q: Do you have a favorite DwellStudio Pattern?
A: Hands down, Transportation!

 Jordan, we love how you dwell! 

Top: left- Deborah Needleman via The New York Times, right- Eclectic Bohemian via House Beautiful
Bottom: left- Abita Springs via Undecorate,  right- Roman and Williams via Desire to Inspire

Check out more on the tumblr! 

When I think of the most amazing, layered, super-chic, mixed interiors Billy Baldwin comes to mind. William Williar Baldwin, Jr., was born in 1903 in Baltimore and grew up in a house designed by the amazing New York architect Charles A Platt. Billy briefly studied architecture at Princeton, he made the leap into decorating and by 1935 his work had caught the famous eye of decorator Ruby Ross Wood. He moved to New York and started designing for legendary taste makers such as Cole Porter, Diana Vreeland and Babe and Bill Paley.

I am particularly fond of Billy because he loved vibrant colors. In fact, he credits his love for Matisse as the inspiration for his clear color direction.

Billy was the godfather of the slipper chair and is famous for his high gloss chocolate walls - how chic?

Billy worshipped natural fibers like wool, cotton and linen. These are some of our favorites too...

Billy Baldwin you taste was impeccable. You are my style icon.

Clockwise from the top: Jil Sander Spring 2011, Anntian S/S 2011, Wallpaper via Serendipitous Life, Proenza Schouler S/S 2011, Ceramics via Bloesem, Table cloth via Decor8

What do you think of the watercolor trend? 

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! 

 
1. A Single Man 2. All in the details: Dries van Noten 3. Batavia is born: our Throw Pillow in Azure 4.&5. More Dries via Style.com

A mix of the Julianne Moore's room in A Single Man and the legendary Dries van Noten collection, where he mixed all those great ethnic fabrics with geometrics.  

We named it Batavia, after the original name of Jakarta Indonesia, when it was part of the Dutch East Indies trading company.

Check out the full collection here> 

Our Gio Lemon Crib set looking chic on a backdrop of Oh Joy!'s Petal Pusher wallpaper.

Top: The Nursery before and the inspiring invitations. Bottom: The finished product!

The end result is pretty amazing, don't you think? It almost goes without saying, but - Jackie, we LOVE how you dwell!! 

We love the variety food trucks bring to the regular weekly lunch options, and we’re really excited about Gorilla Cheese NYC– a grilled cheese truck! The small sandwiches come in everything from the classic American on wheat to the refined brie, prosciutto and strawberry preserves on French.

There’s also a gruyere option – and tater tots!!

A s’mores sandwich for dessert is brushed with a graham cracker mixture and stuffed with melted chocolate and marshmallow.

Top: Charlie, Rebecca, Henry, Emily and Grace on Atlantic Beach in Amagansett - one of the most beautiful beaches in the world. Top Left: Sleek Dunbar sofa. Bottom Left: A floor plan of the house Right: The Fishers on the front step

They just had the house re-done by the lovely architect Page Goolrick - who tells Dwell Mag, "I think an architect's job is to celebrate what people really care about and simplify and streamline the rest." Love the "undecorate" sentiment which turned into a beautiful space for the Fisher family.... 

Above:  I love the simple Mid-Century vibe...It's perfect for the house and the beach.

And of course, it was a happy surprise to spot our bedding looking amazing... 

 This makes me want to pack my bags now and head out to the beach. Happy Summer..

(images via Dwell Magazine) 

These chairs are a little bit out of character for me to choose but they have so much personality. The angle of those arms seem like one big invitation to sit down. BID HERE>

These tables would add a bright pop of color to a room...their shape and proportion is so perfect with the slim tripod base, but then they have that great mosaic top in such a fun yellow.  A great way to add pattern without using fabric. BID HERE>  

Josef Frank is most well-known for his fabrics but he actually designed furniture and lighting as well...they are a bit more rare to find since they were not put into huge production runs. I love this table – the simplicity of the rounded corners that scoop shaped leg detail is so nice.  The perfect balance of decorative and modern. BID HERE>  

For those of you who worship at the altar of Paul McCobb, his Planner group is probably seared in your brain. But this configuration is pretty unusual, I think the extra vertical cabinets on each side make the piece infinitely more interesting. BID HERE>  

Meret Oppenheim was a Surrealist artist and photographer whose work gained attention in the 1930s. She worked closely with Duchamp and Giacometti. The Surrealism is evident in this table with the birds feet base, but I also think somehow it still feels relevant today – great materials with an unexpected twisted element. BID HERE>  

Clockwise from top: Bow Bin, Cordula Kehrer; Celine Spring 2011; Burano, Venice, Italy; Blue Frame, Harry Allen; Dress, Anthropologie; Egg Bird House,  J Schatz

What are your go-to colors this summer? 

Right: This has me dreaming of drapes - Its architectural and really frames the room. Left: The fact that the walls, bed and window all match makes this very hip.

Right - Scalloped perfection - and the blush and citrine together are striking. Left - this framed bed works as a clever room divider too. 

Signature Hicks mix. Love the geometric carpet paired with the eclectic furniture.

Right: More mix Left: Hicks' loved a great dark wall - this deep chocolate is perfect.

Talk about curating a collection.... This makes me want to run out and buy some objects!

*All images via David Hicks: A Life of Design

Here's a glimpse of the beauty, which of course does not do the grounds justice. If you're in the NY-Metro area, do yourself a favor and go.

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....  

Today we're giving a simple palette of yellow, grey and white a graphic, modern twist by pumping up the patterns. Pairing it all with our Ornate headboard (customized with Vintage Blossom Dove fabric) adds a touch of whimsy to the bed.

Here's the mix you'll need for this look> 

1. Labyrinth Citrine Pillow
2. Trellis Dove Duvet Set
3. Pyramids Matelasse Dove Coverlet
4. Masala Citrine Sheet Set
5. Gate Citrine Pillow 
6. Ornate Bed upholstered in Vintage Blossom Dove 

Ok so this is not just a headboard, it’s a headboard PLUS.  Normally I wouldn’t go for all that “pomp and circumstance” of an upholstered bed with whole canopy but I love the mix in this room.  It’s traditional, modern, dressy and relaxed all at the same time.

I love this room...the lavish chinoiserie wallpaper is a rich backdrop that showcases and elevates a classic headboard shape.  Also, how cute is the little trundle?

This isn’t technically a headboard, but the high contrast and dramatic artwork hung right behind the bed makes a great statement.  I would love to recreate this look with a graphic print on a headboard with a clean and simple shape.

Regardless of how you felt about the last Sex and the City movie, there is no denying that Carrie and Big’s new apartment was pretty great, especially the bedroom!  I thought the oversize trellis on the headboard was so cute! 

For more on Headboards check out The History of the Headboard, by Anna Hoffman. Or start designing the perfect Headboard for your room on our site now> 

None of us could resist the creamy balsamic fig mascarpone ice cream and we all combined it with amazing red velvet, snicker-doodle and chewy ginger molasses cookies.  

Charlotte Strick is the Art Director of Faber & Faber, Inc. and of the paperback line at Farrar, Straus and Giroux. She's the an award-winning designer known for creating the jackets for books by Roberto Bolaño, Lydia Davis, and Jonathan Franzen, among many others. She is also the Art Editor and designer of The Paris Review, and the new mother of 6 month old twin boys. And somehow she found the time to give us this little Q & A! 

Enjoy!

Q: Who is your favorite designer?

A: I don't own anything by her yet, but I love Rachel Comey's clothing line. The pieces and fabrications are little works of art. I'm coveting her plaid print "Ply" dress with simple cap sleeves and beautifully draped bodice from her Spring collection. I'm too afraid to actually try it on. I don't want the love affair to go any further, or my wallet will be in trouble. Ours is destined to be a long distance affair. Sigh...

Q: What’s your favorite piece of clothing?

A: The cardigan, hands down. It's the perfect clothing item. It keeps you warm, without making you feel too bundled up. It allows for accent colors, textures, and patterns. It always looks relaxed even when it's the finishing piece, and unlike it's cousin, the jacket, it doesn't mind being stuffed in your bag when you're on the run.

Q: Fill in the blank- “I never miss a ______ !”

A: A meal! My husband can get very busy and go all day without eating. I'd be flat on my face by 10am if I missed breakfast, and an additional pre-lunch 11 o'clock snack is good too.

Q: Where’s your favorite place to visit?

A: My brother and sister-in-law's gorgeous home in LA. They have a pool that faces their back garden and beyond that a tremendous mountain rises up, completely untouched by developers. Being there at dusk, in their company, when the city is just beginning to light up down below, is all quite magical.

Q: What’s your go-to drink order?

A: For their calming effects, green or chamomile tea, but I'd never turn away a sparkling glass of Prosecco.

Q: Your favorite neighborhood haunt?

A: The last three Fridays in a row I've found myself in line at Bakeri on Wythe between N. 7th and 8th streets. The waitstaff all wear Rosie the Riveter jumpsuits and headscarfs. When you go, I hope they are serving their banana and chocolate bread pudding. The back garden, though not easily accessible with a double stroller, is a little slice of Williamsburg-heaven. Being there really does make you feel like you've tripped through the looking glass and found yourself in Europe.

Q: Must read blogs?

A: I'm really inconsistent about keeping up with blogs, but when I'm being conscientious here are a few places I'll go: The Paris Review, Design Sponge, The Casual Optmist, Faceout Books, From The Desk Of, the personal blog of fellow book jacket designer and gurus, John Gall and Henry Yee, and the blog of my London based, artist brother, Simon Neville. I'm also excited to read what my niece and her fiancé are up to at www.fairfolksandagoat.com. Oh, and from now on The Studio Blog, too.

Q: What do you think is the best gift to get? To give?

A: Without hesitation—fresh flowers. The less fussy, the better.

Q: Tell us about your favorite room, or piece of furniture?

A: I guess it would have to be our Hans Olsen dinning room table and three-legged chair set. The chairs have rounded backs and were designed to fit neatly into the edges to the table. They disappear under it when tucked in. It's perfect for apartment dwellers. Unfortunately the chairs are terrible for little kids (and also some wobbly adults), so we're considering preserving it by putting it into storage for a while.

Q: Do you have a favorite DwellStudio Pattern?

A: Since the arrival of our new, wee roommates, I'd have to say the "Owl" pattern. It reminds me of the Marimekko prints of my own childhood.  

Here are a few we've spotted and adored lately-

(top left: Remodelista  top right: Living Etc bottom: Refinery29)

What do you think? Are you a fan of a graphic and bold rug? Or do you like to keep it simple? 

Check out more on the Undecorate Tumblr>

Headboards have been a crucial part of beds since ancient times, serving multiple tasks of comfort, insulation and decoration. The ancient Greeks, for example, didn’t just sleep in their beds – they also dined and socialized in them, so the headboard doubled as a backrest. This was true during the Renaissance, as well, when the bed was the main piece of furniture and the social center of the home. In Northern climates, headboards also helped protect people from drafts on cold nights. 

Ancient Greek red-figure vase showing Achilles receiving visitors while reclining in his beautifully detailed bed. Attic skyphos by the Brygos Painter, first quarter of the 5th century B.C., at the Kunsthistorisches Museum in Vienna.

By the Middle Ages, the headboard had become an important decorative opportunity for elaborate carving, architectural paneling, or sumptuous upholstery. William Shakespeare famously left his “second-best bed” to his wife in his will, a bequest that was less ungenerous than it sounds, since Elizabethan beds were often significant assets: architectural four-poster affairs with carved headboards (though we’re betting she might have preferred royalties on Romeo and Juliet). By the 19th century, bedrooms had become private, intimate settings, but while beds were typically less ornate than in previous eras, headboards remained as decorative backrests that anchored the bed in the room. 

A 17th-century Dutch engraving shows a woman entertaining friends from her impressive bed. Abraham Bosse, “La Visite à l’Accouchée,” from the suite “Mariage à la Ville,” c. 1630s, at the British Museum.

Upholstered headboards evolved from canopied bed hangings. In the 18th century, Thomas Chippendale recommended covering a headboard in the same fabric as the bed curtains. By the late-19th century, headboards were commonly covered in tufted upholstery. An upholsterer’s guide from 1890, for example, shows a canopy bed with button tufting on the headboard as a simple but stylish alternative to fancy festoons and draperies. Throughout the 20th century, upholstered headboards were favored as a decorative yet comfortable luxury, a vestige of the elaborate draperies that once framed the most elegant beds.

Empress Josephine’s last bedroom at Malmaison, with her gilt ebony bed and upholstered headboard by Jacob-Desmalters, 1812.

Are today's beds any different from the ancient Greek or medieval ones? They may not be the social center of our homes, but they still multitask: we lean against our headboards with laptops or books on our knees, we use our beds as oversized desks, and I can’t be the only one who’ll confess to the occasional snack in bed. The headboard still embodies function, comfort and style in the home – just ask Mrs. Shakespeare.

With your custom DwellStudio headboard you start your own design history. Start creating your custom look >

Whatever your plans are- from hanging out by the pool...

to relaxing on the lake... 

Or just enjoying spending time outside...

We hope it is full of summer fun. 

Happy Memorial Day! What are your plans this weekend?? 

*Photos from Undecorate

What do you think? Pretty gorgeous right? 

What do you think? Would you add the flag of your home State (Provence, Country!) to your home? 

 
(Top image: Refinery 29, Bottom Left: Emily Henderson via SeeSaw, Bottom Right: Undecorate) 

Joy, it goes without saying, we LOVE how you dwell!! 

Can you spot us?? Check out the full issue here>

Check out more on our Tumblr>

Watch it now for a look behind the scenes at our NYC office and a tour of DS history... 

Christiane Lemieux: Deliberately Dwelling on It from Gestalten on Vimeo.

Brita, we hope it makes your summer just a little bit chicer.

Thank you to EVERYONE who entered - we were so overwhelmed by the your response that we think we'll have to hold another giveaway soon! What would you like a chance to win next?? 

Happy weekend! 

We are very honored! Thank you!

Check our Babble's full list of winners here> 

(Photo: Spencer Heyfron)

Read all about Rachel (and her adorable son Simon) on NYMag.com! 

We're currently pestering Bri to bring it to NYC so we can go too! Looks like so much fun, don't you think?? 

Let us know in the comments which pattern you like more & we'll pick a winner at random! 
 

Stay tuned for more - our Fall collection at Anthropologie is going to be amazing! 

Peas are in season so it would have been a crime not to order the English Pea soup. It was creamy and smooth with a wonderfully crispy crouton. Christiane loves this green juice. It tastes and smells like a spring afternoon.

We both had the farm egg and ricotta ravioli with lamb ragu. The ravioli was a study in cooking technique – inside the deliciously soft pasta envelope was a perfect soft poached egg! Amazing! I can still taste the lamb ragu looking at this picture.

Two perfect vegetable dishes – asparagus with onions in a warm lemon vinaigrette and broccoli rabe with chile and garlic. 

Sorry we couldn’t control ourselves when dessert arrived so this is all we have to remember the scrumptious Rhubarb Strawberry Almond tart. It was tart and sweet with a crust of finely chopped almonds. Mmmmmm....

Gillian has our Chinoiserie Pillow and our Draper Stripe Ash duvet set. Check out her whole home on Desire to Inspire and let us know what you think! 

And because we love a good fashion vs furnishings debate around here, how about a little Runway-to-Room inspiration brought to you by Undecorate and Mr de la Renta? 

Which do you prefer- a killer beach outfit or a stylish beach house? A red leather handbag or a red leather chair? 

*images via Style.com and Undecorate

Here he is cuddling up in our Draper Stripe Ash Bedding (seriously sweet, right?) 

Max, we LOVE how you dwell! 

We love this Parisian loft for its bold use of red, its stunning chandeliers and its gorgeous herringbone floor. (We also love the hidden flat screen TV!) 

Images form Cote Paris, via Belle Vivir

What do you think?

(Check out more on the Undecorate Tumblr>) 

The Bedtime Bash is held annually at Victoria Gardens in Central Park and it is so much fun for adults and kiddies alike - with carnival rides and games, crafts, activities, food and prizes for all! We will be there and there will be some great DwellStudio prizes.  Come and hang out with us and support this amazing cause.

Pictures from past Bedtime Bashes 

Visit BabyBuggy.Org to buy tickets or make a donation to the event! Hope to see you there!