November 3, 2015

Setting the Tone with Brass this Holiday Season

It's November and we are officially in the thick of the holiday season, which means it's time to get the house ready to party! Adding a little brass tone to your house is one of the quickest ways to accessorize your house with a festive spirit. Switching out knobs, pulls, and fixtures with those featuring aged brass tones will bring a feeling of rich, warm, inviting depth to even the most minimalist modern of spaces. And, nothing says family like a warm inviting interior. Forget the bright, loud, brass of the 80's, these brass tones are anything but tacky.

I love an antique French daybed in, well, any room, but when paired with the brass globe chandelier, the room is elevated to pure holiday-ready chic.

From the dining room and kitchen, to the living room, bathroom and bedroom, there's a place for brass tones. These tones are the jewelry of the home and pop against saturated walls, whitewashed interiors, and graphic wallpapers alike.

If swapping out fixtures is not in the budget or you run out of time before the turkey is on the table, brass accessories such as vessels and candlestick holders are the perfect way to add a little holiday tinsel.

Design Notes
Here are some tried and true resources to nail your brass tone holiday decor.

For lighting: Arteriors is a go to for inventive of the moment lighting - the brass polished Liberty Pendant is one of my favorites and, with its perforated pin-holes would cast an amazing holiday lighting in any room. West Elm also offers affordable chic lighting options - the Abacus Hammered Metal table lamp in antique brass would immediately transform any sideboard into a holiday-worthy cocktail bar.
For accessories: The Goodwill and other thrift stores are a mecca for finding brass candlesticks, vessels and objects reminiscent of the 70s. For those in a time crunch, West Elm and CB2 also offer a reasonably priced selection of brass goods. A generous row of CB2's Bubble Sphere in copper on the holiday table would be a glamorous alternative to a holiday table runner.
For faucets and fixtures: Waterworks offers both classic and sleek modern options in brass.

November 2, 2015

Tour Roussillon - Soaked in Ochre and Perfect for Fall

by Brandi Brown in Jet Set

Ochre and orange are having a seasonal moment and no where else on the planet does the color orange like the village of Roussillon in Provence, France. Oranges, reds, yellows and even soft pinks cascade across the village, making this Provincial village the perfect design trip to be awe inspired by the Fall's seasonal colors.

The technicolor glory of this hilltop village is reflective of the palette of the old ochre quarry that resides at the base of the village. A visit to the town would not be complete without a tour of the ochre quarry and its Mars like caverns. The village houses sit along cobblestone spiraling streets all saturated in what seems to be 50 shades of ochre. Situated at the top of a red cliff offering stunning views of the contrasting green Luberon valley, Roussillon is one of the most photogenic villages of Provence. Which also means that Roussillon is a tourist haven in the Summer, but virtually empty during the off-season of Fall. If you're in search of a Fall destination, Roussillon offers seasonal appropriate beauty.

Images by Brooklyn Boheme.

October 30, 2015

Celebrating with Steven Stolman: Confessions of a Serial Entertainer

by Brandi Brown in Decor, Fetes

I was lucky enough to tag along with my friend to Hudson Grace's book signing party this week for Steven Stolman's latest read: "Confessions of a Serial Entertainer". When I was invited to the party, I thought, a party in a handsome boutique surrounded by legendary designers, beautiful hand crafted vessels and cocktails and wine, sounds like the perfect retail therapy to me. And, boy was I right!

San Francisco's design royalty filled Hudson Grace in support of their friend's book. The roster included interior designer Ken Fulk, who I have a major design crush on. I tried to contain my childlike giddiness while the ever charming Fulk told me some of his design tales (apparently, a Fulk authored book is in the works and anticipated to be released next Fall...I can't wait!...Santa, are you taking note?)

Bound in a beautiful Tiffany blue with attractive illustrations, Stolman's book is a fun tutorial for successful entertaining and the perfect present for this Holiday Season. Stolman offers inspiring and practical advice in his book, such as an affirmation that store bought is OK but put it on a pretty plate and destroy the evidence. The boutique setting was the perfect compliment to such an elegant book - it was no coincidence that a book about being the hostess with the mostest was presented in THE boutique for lustworthy entertaining wares. Cocktails presented in Hudson Grace stemless glasses circulated the room on silver platters, whilst party goers were surrounded by a backdrop of greater goods meticulously curated by Hudson Grace.

Ken Fulk in the fashionable plaid suit and Steven Stolman signing a guest's book.

Hudson Grace proprietor Monelle Totah surrounded by her greater goods and design clientele.

Generous glasses of Rosé made their rounds throughout the evening.

Here are some of my favorite seasonal entertaining wares from the evening that any Serial Entertainer would lust for.

A monotone tablescape of sculptural wares would be a visual treat for any Holiday diner.

This white ceramic pumpkin would elevate any Thanksgiving table to chic.

White turkey serving dish and sea salt caramels, a must for any Holiday entertainer.

Antique cutting boards are the perfect way to present anything!

Marble platters with orange persimmons are a simple chic Holiday table setting.

Thanks, Steven for all of the wonderful entertaining tips - and just in time for the Holiday Season!

*Steven Stolman. Photo by Unabashedly Prep.*

Images by Brooklyn Boheme (unless otherwise noted).

October 28, 2015

Picasso in Paris

by Brandi Brown in Jet Set

One of the most anticipated museum visits of Paris this October was Musée Picasso Paris. I can't tell you how many times I attempted to visit this Museum over the past 6 years only to find that it was STILL closed due to a seemingly never-ending renovation project (it went vastly over budget and schedule). Paris unveiled the fruits of its extensive 5 year renovation last October (2014) and was celebrating the Museum's one year anniversary during my visit. The Museum has been criticized for its curatorial approach - discontinuity, void of art labels and the loose assemblage of themes. I, however, loved the Museum and would place it on my "must do" list for Paris.

Musée Picasso Paris is housed in a two-story 17th-century home, the Hôtel Salé, in the Marais. With its garden, courtyard and architectural eye-candy, the house itself is worth a visit. Plus, I loved the juxtaposition between the stately mansion and some of Picasso's more abstract cubism works. Overall, the collection is a triumph in presenting the complex art life cycle of Picasso and the breadth of his artistic skills (and sometimes terrible artwork) - from classic paintings, to sculptures, pen drawings and his more famous cubism works. For an amateur art lover like me, the curated collection is a great lesson in the evolution of a single artist over a period of time. And, unlike the overwhelming volume of the Louvre, Musée Picasso Paris can be visited within an hour, making it the perfect cultural pit stop in a day otherwise filled with shopping in the wonderful Marais.

The grand staircase.  It's difficult to imagine that this was somebody's home centuries ago. — The grand staircase. It's difficult to imagine that this was somebody's home centuries ago.

The modern white sculptural chandelier pops against the period details of the mansion, and a Picasso piece in the background.

A museum lover viewing some of the 400 plus works on display.

One of my favorites - Picasso's Portrait D'Olga.  I love the unfinished state of this piece. — One of my favorites - Picasso's Portrait D'Olga. I love the unfinished state of this piece.

A view into the garden from the wavy glass of the Mansion's antique windows.

Images by Brooklyn Boheme.

October 26, 2015

Scared Chic

by Brandi Brown in Decor

It's the week of Halloween! I can hardly contain my excitement as the weekend's festivities approach. Halloween is serious business around these parts, a true family affair. I spent the weekend decorating the house while the Mister was busy finishing up the touches on our son's DIY Thor costume (that's right, no store bought costumes for this crew). My take on decorating for Halloween is to keep it Scary Chic. I start by rearranging my daily decor items into creepy vignettes and then add a few Dollar Store Halloween props, such as spider webs, bones, and haunted family portraits. And, of course, lots of pumpkins. Who needs candy corn when you have this Halloween eye candy!

An antique French mannequin turned creepy with a rosary, crow and moss.

Via Catherine Nguyen - I love this moody and slightly eerie display.

Via Ciao! Newport Beach - I love the autumn foliage and wispy sticks of the chandeliers.

Fall bounty has never looked so good as in a wagon.

Vintage trophies are the perfect containers for bones and parts.

All images by Brooklyn Boheme (unless otherwise noted).