La Meilleure (The Best) Table

In celebration of the upcoming holiday of gratitude, here are a few selected tablescapes spirited with style, objet d'art, and wonderfully crafted combinations full of luxe inspirations and elegant settings perfect for any festive fete. - KL

High/Low
"I set the table the same way I get dressed. I guess I have a lot of clothes." - Miles Redd, featured in the November 2009 issue of House Beautiful - {housebeautiful.com}
I love how Redd showcased a high/low look by featuring a tablecloth from Urban Outfitters and pairing it with a mix of old porcelain selections.

Glimmer & Shimmer
"Blue is not traditionally associated with the season, but highlight it with small touches of gold, as in these spray painted miniature pumpkins and a place card written in gold ink, and the color can become a happy participant in holiday revels." {marthastewartliving.com}
I'm all about a touch a glimmer, especially in a metallic gold. A simple way to glam up any traditional table.

Clearly Modern
"Instead of fresh flowers, white Manzanita branches were laid down the center of the table to create a lush landscape. White miniature pumpkins were hollowed out to make votive candle holders. The look was minimalist and still had the feeling of Thanksgiving. It was luxurious and elegant." {colincowie.com}
I'm a huge fan of lucite in the dining room and am inspired by the organic touches Cowie used in place of a common centerpiece. The wood branches and candles aglow give the stark room a feeling of warmth and a fresh take on modern luxe.

Country D'Jour
Currently featured on {foodandwine.com} Rich shades of orange and blue are fail proof for a luxe rural scape worthy for any festive feast and perfect for any garden to table culinary delights.

Rough Luxe
"In this casual dining room in an early 20th-century hunting cabin, engraved silver goblets and julep cups used as flower vases complement hand-painted brown-and-white china." {southernaccents.com}
This is the perfect combination of shiny and rustic, a great way to showcase antique pieces with new found treasures.

Here are a few added inspirations...

No holiday table can be complete without the new tabletop collection by Kelly Wearstler for Sferra. The neurtal color palette highlighted with pops of metallic enables endless creative creations for any stylish setting. {kellywearstlerforsferra.com}

I adore these luxe selections made by Cassandra Lavalle and featured on her beloved blog coco+kelley. Check out {cocokelley.blogspot.com} to get her thoughts on this trés chic holiday grouping all inspired by the featured black and ivory plaid dress. Tartan gone glam.

Love a taste of simple adornment with a slight Edwardian edge. This vignette was masterfully crafted by Jimmie Martin LTD and would make an ideal setting for a late night snack of leftovers. {jimmiemartin.co.uk}

Ad Hoc

Seems like I have food on the brain these days...well with Thanksgiving just under a week away, it's pretty much all I am thinking about. Holiday cooking aside, I have to share a new favorite book by Thomas Keller that has the most approachable and delicious recipes. I can't begin to tell you how much I've learned so far just by flipping through the pages (pour salad dressing around the bowl instead of on the leaves, toss for even coverage; when blanching broccoli rabe, boil water in super salty water first). There are many other tips that will enlighten the novice cook and definitely perfect one's skills.

Recently I tried out a salad recipe (among a skirt steak recipe as well, but I loved the salad so much, I had to share) that is absolutely divine. No this isn't a cop-out recipe blog post today just because it's Friday but it's something that I truly think anyone of you can make to really impress dinner guests or even just yourself!-BH

FALL SALAD (pg.136, w/dressing on pg.179)

Mixed greens
Blanched baby leeks (if you can't find baby, regular leeks are fine)
Parmesan cheese
Fuyu persimmon *
Pine nuts
Prosciutto de San Daniele *
Sherry vinaigrette
(*ingredients purchased at Carmine's Gourmet Market in Palm Beach Gardens)

SHERRY VINAIGRETTE

1/4 cup sherry wine vinegar
1/4 cup red wine vinegar
1 to 1-1/2 cups extra virgin olive oil
Whisk the two vinegars together in a bowl, then whisk in one cup of the olive oil in a steady stream. The vinaigrette should look broken and not emulsified. Taste balance of oil to vinegar and adjust adding more oil if necessary. Refrigerate covered for up to a month.

While there were no real instructions as to how to assemble the salad, I layered mine with greens tossed w/leeks, then sliced the persimmon very fine and placed them on the heap of greens, put sliced parmesan on top and the pinenuts and proscuitto were the crowning glory. I am sure you can toss all of the ingredients and serve the proscuitto on the side if you'd like. There are no rules which makes it even more fun! Enjoy!

Hungry to Give!

While we all know it's much better to give than to receive...It's even more delightful to give a gift that satisfies the stomach, encourages the gourmand, or enlightens a foodie! Here is one of a few Deux Luxe gift guides of the season that's all about, what else, food! -BH

Champagne of the Month Club, $90/month

artisan champagnes sent monthly

www.gratefulpalate.com


Calling all Italian food lovers: stock up with La Cucina Perfetta

Marinara, pomodora sauces, penne pasta, olive oil, balsamic vin., fleur de sel salt

$195, www.ilmulino.com

La Cucina: The Regional Cooking of Italy

www.amazon.com

Create your own flavors of ice cream/sorbet/gelato and personalize the labels!
$50/half gallon
www.ecreamery.com

Custom engraved cutting boards
(different styles available)
$89, www.inthisveryroom.com



Pomegrante Salt & Pepper Shakers, $99, www.michaelaram.com

Show someone they're "salt to the earth" with this six pack of artisanal salts

$101.25, www.deandeluca.com

Give the gift of organic chocolate with this six stack of chocolate mexicano chocolate disks

(Flavors: cinnamon, vanilla bean, yerba mate, guajillo chili, cacao puro and salted almond)

$27, www.tazachocolate.com

Cheese lovers will adore these agate cheese plates!

$60-$75, www.jaysonhomeandgarden.com

Rock On

Photo by: François Halard
A tabletop vignette displayed in Kelly Wearstler's beach house. A group exhibition in miniature, includes two midcentury abstract paintings, a vintage “iceberg” lamp and a rock crystal ornament by contemporary designer Robert Kuo. - Featured in the Nov 2009 issue of Metropolitan Home - metropolitanhome.com

Right now I'm loving the naturals, rock crystals, marble, wood, stones, malachite, both in accessorizing myself and my home. Upon flipping through the latest issue of Metropolitan Home I was delighted to see that Kelly Wearstler is also loving the naturals as she made apparent in the accessory selection of her Malibu beach house. Though I wasn't really a fan of the overall look and feel of this latest Wearstler endeavor (I know, a shock to myself as well) I was taken my the lovely tabletop objet d'art vignette she coordinated and displayed within the interior. Inspired by the glamorous yet raw aesthetic of the grouping, here are a few of my favorite rock crystal accessories good enough for both the wardrobe and the home. Rock on. – KL

Quartz crystals - healing, meditating, and energizing crystals have powerful vibration frequencies that interconnect our energy fields with those of the earth bringing balance for the mind, body and spirit. - ABC Home - abchome.com

Kara Ross large raw amethyst necklace – kararossny.com

Large rock crystal table lamp by Carole Stupell, Dual, New York - 1stdibs.com

Crystal votives, Anthropologie - anthropologie.com

Transcending Boundaries

Early yesterday morning, I drove pedal to the metal with such enthusiasm to get to DCOTA. I was really looking forward to the day of events that comprised their celebrated Fall Market day at the immense design center. I started my morning at the Jeffrey Michaels Showroom to listen to the illustrious product and textile designer, Lillian August speak about her new fabric line for Fabricut. Aside from discussing fabrics, she expressed some of her personal design philosophies and interpretations of what the public wants and needs. She did say that the public still relies on Interior Designers and we are still in demand for expert guidance! I hope she's right! I feel the public is getting much more savvy with design and there is more available in the way of furniture and accessories that are more accessible via internet and design stores. However, just because it's available, doesn't mean it's being placed, or incorporated successfully. Mrs. August has five gorgeous furniture and accessory stores in Connecticut that also provide design services. She says that designers are still her main client and that she designs for the designer.
Among some of the things she expressed yesterday morning, she did say that "color is what we respond to first" and she has assembled her fabric books into two colorways: Neutral Palette: soft taupes, chocolates, golds and off white linen tones; Colour Palette: Greens, soft blues, rusty oranges and some reds. Another point she expressed was the importance of proportion, scale, color drama and NO HEAVY DRAPERY! She really believes that in this economy, people are opting for lighter fabrics, simple adornments, and trying to the "let the light in" literally...but I also think figuratively.

Lillian August with her two sons whom she started her business.

Lillian August also designs a furniture line for Hickory White.

http://www.lillianaugust.com/

Lillian August and me.

The main attraction of the morning was the panel discussion among top designers: (from right) Hutton Wilkinson (moderator), Trina Turk, Miles Redd, Vladimir Kagan, and Ralph Pucci. As many already know, Hutton used to work alongside Tony Duquette before he passed in 1999. Duquette is known for his over the top interiors, stage sets and window displays, as well as statement jewelry with precious and semi-precious stones. Hutton has taken over the brand and currently designs in the vernacular of Mr. Duquette. Trina Turk is a women's sportswear designer and has collaborated with F.Schumacher and created indoor/outdoor printed fabrics. Miles Redd is a New York based designer with Southern roots. His design career started early in his life, having worked for Bunny Williams as well as John Rosselli before going on his own. Vladimir Kagan has the longest career on the panel and has a multi-faceted career as being an interior designer, contemporary furniture designer and sculptor. Finally, Ralph Pucci is surprisingly not a designer nor artist but a mannequin and business visionary. Sounds odd, but he's amazingly brilliant. Mr. Pucci (not to be confused with the fashion label) is the eye behind all the talent that is represented under the Ralph Pucci furniture label. I was definitely excited to hear what the panelists had to say! Here's a snippet....

Hutton Wilkinson asked where do the designers begin when they have a new project:

(Hutton injects his own answers into the questions as well)

HW: The flooring! Parquet....carpet... As with jewelry - it begins with the stones. The stones tell the story.

TT: Start with an idea, a color story, or a pattern/print.

MR: Floors and walls! Once you get that right, you can put anything in the room. Find a theme, build off of that.

VK: Listen to the customer! Furniture should be comfortable, functional and practical.

RP: Timelessness is key to environment. Unique ideas and sculpture are also key.

From left: Ralph Pucci and Vladimir Kagan

Miles Redd

Trina Turk (left) and Hutton Wilkinson

What is the definition of luxury?

HW: Something one of a kind!

TT: Free time to do nothing!

MR: Space and time ("space" is a luxury when you live in NYC); custom made good for a person.

VK: Quality, individuality, something created for you and not found at Ikea.

RP: Quality, uniqueness, timelessness.

In so many words, they pretty much all agreed that luxury is something created just for you, that it is something nobody has and is personalized to some degree. Luxury need not be expensive, it just needs to be uniquely you. I couldn't agree more!

How do fashion and interiors inspire each other?

HW: Chandeliers and hardware are the jewelry to a room.

TT: Textiles, prints can carry over but scale is adjusted; colors are inspired but muted for interiors as opposed to the brightness of her clothing.

MR: It's a romance language. They are similar but have their own discipline.

VK: Look at a woman's closet for inspiration! [For interiors]...design more permanent products...fashion is out in six months, design lasts longer.

RP: Interiors and art....creating newness and putting together successfully

The discussion went on for a little bit longer and I walked away deeply inspired. I got a shout out from Hutton and Miles for being the pretty girl in the front row with a necklace on that inspired THEM! I'll be keeping my eye out for trims and drapery tiebacks that resemble my fabric and sequin collar necklace!

The highlight of my afternoon: book signing of "More is More" and chit chat with famed Hutton Wilkinson!

Photos by Brandie Herbst; second and third pictures from http://www.lillianaugust.com/

One to Watch

The worlds of fashion and interior design often intertwine and inspire each other. Whether its common seasonal trends or designer collaborations, I’m always finding myself looking toward to these two distinctive yet similar creative mediums to help enhance my personal style, both within wardrobe and interior. I couldn’t think of a more fitting example then upcoming décor designer to the stylish NY downtown set, Ryan Korban. At just 25, this design chicster has already set a tone and mood for what inevitably lies ahead. His fresh perspective, full of old world ideals and the revival of a lost romance set within urban settings, has already drawn the likes of multiple downtown stylistas eager to work with and display his talented visions. His collaborations with uber downtown chic fashion designer (one of my personal faves) Alexander Wang, has to be his best yet. I’m looking forward to seeing what could possibly be next. - KL

Photo courtesy of The Selby
Ryan Korban in bed at home. Love the simple yet luxe look for a bedroom.

Photo: Sherly Rabbani and Josephine Solimene - Courtesy of style.com
Alexander Wang and Ryan Korban at the recent launch party for Ryan’s new website. "I don't think there's anyone like him—he's super-sophisticated and super-luxurious, but has an eye that's fresh." - Wang

Ryan has designed both personal and commercial spaces for Wang. Here are some photos showcasing Ryan's work for the Alexander Wang showroom.
Photos courtesy of The Selby - theselby.com

Ryan also happens to be the creative director for Edon Manor, the very luxe accessory boutique located in Tribeca and owned by chic stylista Davinia Wang. I love how you see Kelly Wearstler influences throughout the style of the boutique designed by Korban.

Here are a few more examples of Ryan's work. Be sure to check out his new website. www.ryankorban.com

Ryan is a big believer in accessorizing a home just like you would a wardrobe. I adore that exact style sensibility.

Fit For A King

This weekend, I finally saw the movie, "This Is It" and was quite amazed by the entire production of the concert(s) that never was. Words can't do any justice to describe the level of multi-dimensional talent that Michael Jackson will be fondly remembered for throughout time. I finally got around to looking through my Architectural Digest magazine which featured some dated but never before seen images of the Santa Ynez Valley based "Neverland Ranch". This 13,000 square foot home, previously owned by William Bone, a real estate developer, sold it to Jackson in 1988. The photos were taken back then, shown with original furniture, however, Michael Jackson added some furniture and artwork over the years. I highly suggest picking up a copy of the November Collector's Edition of AD mag. As to not spoil it too much, here are some images that didn't make the final pages. -BH

Library- Oak wall and ceiling; hidden movie screen descends from ceiling.

Dining Room - Combination of 18th and 19th c. furniture; painting by Paul Clemmens, 1978, of Bone's Family.

One of the views from the library.

Wood sculpture that once was displayed in the Louvre.

Kitchen boasts portuguese tile islands, wolf ranges and ovens as well as skylights.

Gentlemen's Bathroom - Camel Heriz Rug, dark wood tones, brass and marble make for a rich, regal bathroom.

Barbecue area is made of Bouquet Canyon Stone and Douglas Fir. Refrigerator, grill, ice maker and other kitchen amenities make this outdoor space as useful as the indoor kitchen.

While this was interesting to peek at the home of the King of Pop, I would really love to see his personal collection of art and the O.T.T. furnishings he acquired over the years. I don't believe he lived in an environment this somber. It's Michael Jackson, of course!

Photos: William Bone and Harry Benson all courtesy of www.architecturaldigest.com