Below are a few kitchen accessories to put a stylish spin on dining at home.

Kitchen mitts & tea towel, Wrapables.com

Can opener, Norman Copenhagen

Silicone cutting boards, Wrapables.com

Bird and cloud salt & pepper shaker, MOMA Store

Crustacean platter, Violet.com

Pandora Design flatware, Barneys.com

Linen napkins, Anichini

Glassware, MOMA store

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Get a fresh start in the New Year with a fresh look at home.  Read on for 10 inspiring ideas that are economical and eco-friendly without compromising STYLE!!!

ORGANIZE

1      Stress-free bathroom

 Bathroom accessories, Restoration Hardware

2      Easy access closets

Silk drawer organizer, The Container Store

3      Clutter-free desks

Magazine box, See Jane Work

REFRESH

4      Rejuvenate walls with eco-friendly paint

 Mythic Paint

5      Update a tired sofa with new pillows

Pillow, Michaela Scherrer

6      Liven-up a room with fresh cut flowers

 Bouquet, Belle Fleur, NYC

CREATE AMBIANCE

7      Illuminate for mood

 Oil lamp, Opossum Design

8      Infuse scents with a pretty diffuser

 Scent diffuser, Anthousa

GO GREEN

9       Maintain home appliances for lower energy bills

 Machine cleaner, The Laundress

 10     Recycle – donate old things to a favorite charity

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Read on to see my list of Best Dressed Interiors ‘08.

BEST DRESSED BOUTIQUES: 

Christian Dior boutique, Paris (image from Interior Design, Feb.08 issue)

Chanel boutique, Los Angeles (image from www.nitrolicious.com)

3.1 Phillip Lim boutique, Los Angeles (image from Interior Design, Nov. issue)

BEST DRESSED RESTAURANT/ HOTEL:

 Restaurant Gordon Ramsay, Los Angeles

Hotel Tides South Beach, Miami Beach

Wishing you all things wonderful for 2009!!  Celebrate in Style.

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Holiday soaps, Gianna Rose Atelier

Christmas is my favorite holiday of the year, no matter how frantic it gets. I love the decorations, the lights and feeling of goodness. I especially enjoy finding cool gifts for relatives and friends.

Read on for some gifts that are on my list to give, and a few on my own wish list. The best part about these gifts is that they have oodles of style!!

HAVE A CHIC HOLIDAY!!!

Sommelier corkscrew, Alessi

Scent surround spray, Jo Malone

Chocolate, MarieBelle

Jellyfish keychain, Kate Spade                  Solid perfume necklace, Marc Jacobs

Children’s books, Miroslav Sasek

Coolpix S610, Nikon

Playing cards, Tiffany & Co.

Cocktail ring, Mesi Jill

Oulala handbag, Lanvin

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With Thanksgiving only a few days away, why not skip the conventional and go for something different when decorating for the holiday.  Instead of the traditional fall hues, use a favorite moment in fashion to inspire the table setting. 

Above is a suggestion from Oscar de la Renta’s fall 2008 collection.  Purple and plum convey the richness of fall, and will add fashionable flair to your Thanksgiving table. 

Read on for more suggestions about how you can translate this look to your holiday decor.

Here are some quick styling tips:

*Go monochromatic with either color.

*Mix – plum and purple work well together as Mr. de la Renta so adeptly illustrates in his fashions.

*Lighten up – like in the Oscar de la Renta skirt, you can add accents of white or clear.

*Flower arrangements in a single color of one or more types look chic.

*Mixing seasonal  fruit and vegetables with flowers make a stylish and expensive looking centerpiece.

*Add elegant sparkle with long tapering candles or cluster of votives.

And here are some accessories to inspire you:

PURPLE

Dibbern glasses

 New Arcadia glasses

McCoy Design votive

Z Gallerie votive

PLUM

Kate Spade china

Crate & Barrel dinner ware

Dibbern wine glass

Kim Seybert napkin ring

Kim Seybert napkin

Williams Sonoma runner

CLEAR

Conran candle holder

 Z Gallerie candle holder

 HAVE A FABULOUS AND STYLISH THANKSGIVING!!!

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Ever wonder what it would be like to go into Tiffany and play with the jewelry?  Just walk into the store, and try on the rings, bracelets or necklaces without waiting for a sales associate to present them on a velvet tray.  And you don’t have to feel bad if you don’t find that perfect piece until the tenth one, or you’re just trying it on for fun.  Now, you can with Tiffany’s new store concept that just opened at the Americana at Brand in Glendale, California. 

Designed in a color palette of neutral brown, white and cream, the store is elegant and welcoming.  Jewelry, ranging from entry to mid price points, are displayed openly.  Customers are also encouraged to open drawers to look and try on.  A departure from their traditional stores, this new store concept is more relaxed with a contemporary vibe to it.  Think a la Sephora for jewelry. Maybe they’re onto something.  I have never walked into Sephora and not bought something!

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John Galliano, Paris

As fashion week came to a close with the end of the Spring 2009 collection in Paris, the looks seen on the European runways were about optimism.  There was a sense of joy with all the colors, fabulous prints, chic shine and embellishments.  This was not a season of basics, but of supercharged glamour. 

With all the economic turmoil happening around us, fashion this season offered a bit of escape and a sense of hope. And there are some fun and fabulous ways to translate these runway trends into your home decor.        

Some key trends that came down the runways of Paris and Milan were the new greens (fern, jade, olive and celadon), tribal and ethnic chic, and stripes.  Below are some looks from the runway:

Louis Vuitton, Paris                                   Lanvin, Paris                   

Junya Watanabe, Paris                               Louis Vuitton, Paris

                                           Christian Dior, Paris

 Ann Demeulemeester, Paris                    Emporio Armani, Milan

 Marni, Milan

Here are some suggestions for bringing these trends into the home:

THE NEW GREENS (FERN, JADE, OLIVE AND CELADON)

      Side table by Kartell

House number by Serralunga

Fornasetti collection rug by Roubini Rugs

Wing collection chair by Richard Schultz

TRIBAL & ETHNIC CHIC

    Placemat by Lotus Arts de Vivre       

      Wooden napkin ring by SURevolution    

                 Driftwood candelabra by BoBo Intriguing Objects

  Fat Lava Pottery

Bedding by Josie Natori

STRIPES

Mayfair chair by Ralph Lauren Home

Bench by Missoni Home        

Wedgwod china by Jasper Conran

Throw by Missoni Home

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It’s that exciting time of the year in the fashion world where designers showcase some of their most stunning collections to the world.  As the Spring 2009 fashion weeks continue, we can take a cue from the colors, textures and patterns of these exquisite collections and find inspirations for our homes.

Some key trends seen at the New York and London Fashion Week were vivid and fun colors, bold prints, and lots of shimmer, gold and other metallic colors.  Spring is going to be fun, fun, fun.  Here are some looks from the runway:  

Oscar de la Renta, New York                     Matthew Williamson, New York

Luella, London

 Issa, London                                             Diane von Furstenberg, New York

Matthew Williamson, New York                   Marc Jacobs, New York

And here are some suggestions for translating these trends for the home:

COLORS AND PRINTS

India Madhavi’s stools for Ralph Pucci

Rob Jones’ chair for American Leather                                      

Stools by dk Vogue

Top to bottom: Mini bowls by Mustardseed & Moonshine, hand engraved glasses by Theresienthal and hand-drawn glasses by New Arcadia

SHIMMER

Christian Astuguevieille armchair for Holly Hunt and tree-stump side table from West Elm

Left to right: Globe lantern by Alison Spear for Stephanie Odegard Collection, Branches bowls by Vivre Selection, table lamp from Terzani.

Stay tuned for more inspiration from the runways of Milan and Paris in the following two weeks…

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Fashion and interior design never seem to stop inspiring each other, and for good reason.  I come from a fashion background personally, with stints at Chanel and Dolce & Gabbana in New York City, and I constantly look to the runway shows for inspiration. The influences don’t stop there, as many fashion houses now have home collections, so they can dress not just us in their fabulous to-die-for clothes, but our homes as well.  I cannot imagine a more fashionable life!

One such company I like to mention is Fendi Casa, the stylish and luxurious home collection by the venerable Fendi.  Last month I had the honor of being invited by Fendi Casa to be a guest designer as part of their Guest Designer Series.  I was given an area within Fendi Casa’s Los Angeles showroom to create a personalized interior using their furniture and accessories.  James Bond was my muse.  I could not think of a better person who embodies the same glamorous vibe and sex appeal of Fendi Casa’s collection as Bond. I decided to create a lounge where Bond in his immaculate Brioni suit can come to relax (and perhaps entertain a girl) in between his missions around the globe. 

On a side note, Bond is apparently ditching his Brioni suits after years and going with Tom Ford (former creative director of Gucci and Yves Saint Laurent) in the upcoming movie.  I can’t wait to see Mr. Ford work his magic!

Design Showcase by Seyie Design at Fendi Casa, Los Angeles – August 2008 

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