Tiny Luxuries

In a supersize world, mini delights remind me that some of the finest things often come in small packages.

Although I encourage living large, I find pleasure in my tiny car with no back seat—it forces me to make focused decisions on what to take traveling and what is truly necessary for my daily jaunts around town.

For some reason, I think the mini-Oreo cookies taste better than the regular sized ones. When I eat a couple of them, there is only half the guilt and all the satisfaction! Although I see a majority of the coffee lovers ordering up a venti size brew, I seem to have the most memorable conversations over the smaller sized double espresso. It could be because it takes me to another place mentally, like Europe, where ordering an espresso is a quick and easy daily pick-me-up ritual. After coffee, I will always take the mini-sized Altoids over the regular-sized ones and the spearmint version seems to strike my fancy over the peppermint.

In day to day business, I love my Blackberry Pearl phone. It is sleek, simple and the perfect mini-size compared to most Blackberries. Not only are the conveniences of it remarkable, the fact it can fit in my pocket unnoticed is an added perk. I also enjoy the Elph camera, which fits in the palm of my hand, but has great power in taking beautiful photos of client spaces, friends and family.

Spending this past weekend in San Francisco, I discovered my appreciation for a hard style clutch purse over a larger luggage version. What do we really need a purse to hold? Lipstick, license and loot? A clutch accommodates all of it and eliminates the need for an adjustment after a day in the city.

During the colder months, I also love the flicker of several small votive candles. Ikea sells them by the bag. They provide just enough for a little twinkle in the night and provide a little more ambiance than a larger single candle. Couple the candlelight with a small two-stem floral arrangement in a silver bud vase and voila—instant atmosphere!

Obviously, we all appreciate the small package that contains the unexpected bauble, even more so in a Tiffany blue box—that is a given. However, I prefer to recognize the everyday luxuries—even though they may be small, they bring mighty pleasure to our day to day activities of life.

Rooms With Soul

Ever been in a persons home and it just feels good? There is just something about the way you feel when you are in the space. For me, that happens when a room is not decorated with furniture & objects that were collected in a fast shopping spree weekend, but collected over time. I think this holds true whether it is a modern or a traditional space. The period is not really the point. Rooms with soul have layers. Variety. Interest. A chair picked up at a flea market. A lamp that had been saved up for purchase for months, but is just perfect for the room. Books that are truly read. A sofa with a worn spot where the dog sleeps. A painting bought on a trip to Venice.

To create a more interesting space, buy what you love. You do not have to have a specific spot for something you are purchasing. If you see a side table that stirs an emotion, get it.

Choose paint colors that you find interesting. Take your favorite piece of red pottery to the paint store and have them match the color. Painting a room is one of the cheapest & easiest things you can do to create visual interest. If you don’t like it, paint over it.

Only have what truly has meaning for you in your home. Edit and then re-edit. An uncluttered space allows the good stuff to breathe. It allows your eye to fall upon items of interest.

A home composed of treasured belongings not only makes you feel good, but it makes your guests feel they are seeing a part of you, not a page from a furniture catalog.

Have fun on the hunt!

Simple Entertaining

Entertaining doesn’t have to be complicated—preparing for it can be quick and fun for both guest and host.

Start by sending out an invitation. I say ditch the email or text message invite. Get a little more personal and send out postcards. They are unexpected, don’t have to be formally printed and cost less to send than regular invitations.

Keep decorating simple. Choose a focal point, such as a mantle, and go to town. Use lush greenery or unscented candles and votives for extra ambience. Flowers from your yard or the grocer can be but into bud vases or mint julep cups and sprinkled throughout your focal area and added to bathrooms.

Bring in the bar. I recommend hiring a bartender. The party is for the host to enjoy, too–spend it with friends instead of fixing cocktails. Use a desk or other sideboard if you do not have a formal bar and make sure each guest is served promptly after their arrival.

Make it special. Tiny upgrades, such as monogrammed napkins, provide some impact and can be used all year long. When it comes to food, if you want to kick things up a notch, have a local eatery or gourmet grocery cook the main dish in your own cookware. Macaroni and cheese, pot pies and other hearty dishes look and taste so great in ramekins. Each guest can have their own personal version and it will look like you cooked them yourself. All you have to do is call in and drop the dishes off at the grocers the day prior to your event.

Pump up the volume. Hiring a band can be a little over the top and requires planning and space. Instead create a playlist on your IPod specific for the event, drop it in a speaker system and hit “shuffle”. A little dancing at a party is always encouraged at our house!

It is Your Choice

What now? An uncertain economy distorts our view of the future. Some consumers of luxury and design are hesitating. How should we respond as designers and lovers of living well? Should we follow the decline with excuses, or determine our own destiny?

Should our business be determined by the market, or shall we determine the market for our business? Even in good times our intention is all that matters. No matter how good business “used to be”, today, our choices are about how good business is, and more importantly how good business will be in the future. We choose our goals and formulate our plans to achieve them. What are yours?

Clearly, both designers and consumers have choices. Many clients are asking if this will be the right time to acquire another residence, invest in a business, remodel, decorate, nest or wait? When, how and with whom clients choose to design a new style of living that conforms to their choices about themselves and their companies is up to them. What we have learned is that the timing for clients to do so is always the consumer’s choice and never the designer’s.

However, when the time does come—and for some, it is now—the designer’s brand matters. Richly endowed with experience, education and luxurious value, its appeal energizes a client’s motivation, aspiration or inspiration to design. The right designer can pull off incredible creations that are both appropriate for the client and the space in any economy.

Many clients and vendors in the design industry, who are certain that their desire to live well transcends the uncertainty of the economy, will choose design. They will continue to imagine and find a way to make their vision a reality. There is a team of professionals including realtors, architects, contractors, interior designers and many other specialists ready and able to collaborate on realizing their client’s unique style at home, work and play.

Despite general economic uncertainty, I am confident that in 2009 some of the best design is going to be developed for some of the most deliriously happy clients and vendors. There is just too much real value in property, art, architecture and interior design, available from some of the world’s most talented professionals, to be pessimistic. For some consumers, this era may be a ‘buyers market,’ filled with potential for them to afford an experience with design that is more luxurious than ever.

We can not control the economy, but we can control our choices. Now is the time to choose to be inspired about the future and your environments.

Dress It Up!

It is the first week of the holiday season and we all have a party to go to. The first question for us gals is, “What ever will we wear?” Let’s keep this simple, classic and elegant with these easy suggestions of where to start…

• You can never go wrong in a little black or red dress. Adorn your frock with simple jewelry and call it “good”.
• Dress-up your denim. Black or dark wash trouser style jeans paired with a sheer, silky or embellished top makes a great look for an afternoon event.
• Wear all black or neutrals? You can instantly update your look with a long, oblong scarf in a chic pattern. Find bright styles or textured, pretty, ruffled versions in lieu of the silk square version.
• Mix fancy pieces with everyday items. Do a dressy top with a gray flannel pant or a crisp white button down with a large belt and black bottom.
• Shop your own closet. Pair together things you never would for a completely different look. You will be surprised what is hiding in there.
• If you’re going to buy something, buy one special thing that will get you through more than just the holidays. This piece should last you into early spring–no guilt if it’s a piece you’ll wear forever.
• An on-trend handbag or a shoe automatically updates your look. For extra sass, try a peep-toe heel or flat in a bright color.
• Don’t let the luggage bring you down–consider a clutch. Yes, this trend will be around for a long time and can still hold a cell phone, lipstick, driver’s license and American Express card.
• Anything metallic goes. Clothing, shoes, bags, accessories—you name it. They’re classic and seasonless—and all over the spring 2009 runways. Pick your piece and shine!
• Wear cashmere all year long! Get a sweater or a top in a fun color. A bright turtleneck or v-neck can make you feel sexy and snuggly all at once.
• The fitted tuxedo suit is a great holiday outfit. Wear it as a suit, or the pant or jacket alone. Even a pinstripe vest can add a holiday kick to your look.

How to Accessorize

• The number one accessory is a statement necklace. For a vintage feeling, layer them on.
• Big bangles in metallic or jewel tones also make a great layered on statement.
• If not bracelets, a big cocktail ring will do the holiday trick. They’re everywhere and inexpensive!
• Oh, ya—if you have diamonds, wear them. They are always in style!
• Keep nails dark or natural.

What to Avoid

• Big. Holiday. Sweaters.
• A matching set of jewelry. If you go with the statement necklace, skip the earrings (or wear a small, simple pair); if you wear large earrings, skip the bold necklace.

The Bottom Line: You should never look like you tried too hard. You want to present a calm confidence, a notched up version of yourself, not a completely different person. So keep it simple and celebrate the season!

Joie De Vivre

Last night, I just enjoyed a repeat playing of my favorite film, A Good Year, with Russell Crowe. Although I love the physical romance of the story and how a beautiful woman can so effortlessly interrupt Crowe’s character’s plans within his few days in the French countryside, I truly appreciate the beauty of Provence. The lifestyle, the imagery, the dress, the food and the relaxed vibe of the country is so intoxicating. We can learn from the beauty that this particular European culture and lifestyle has to offer.

It reminds me how enthusiastic I am about seeing—always looking, observing. My eye travels, often inspired by fashion and media. In design, we edit through a curatorial eye; some ideas and some things stay, others are eliminated, usually for the better.

I love how the French culture reflects style more than fashion. The more free design is from fashion, the better. When this is incorporated in design, the result is a place for the fashionable moment, but not dated by some trend. With an interior design background, I realize our clients would not appreciate decor that has an expiration date.

Our design clients have real style, are used to finer things and expect to spend some considerable money on some things, but not spend a lot on other things. Working with them is like negotiating their sense of style while feathering in our own flair. We collaborate. We give our clients space in which to speak, acting as a filter for their own expression. As our clients are educated about design and fluent in the language of interiors through their own research, it enables them to communicate more effectively with us. They are also well traveled, so it is easy to create a design process that yields elements of harmony—a mix of product, provenance, color, texture, history and temperament.

However, at the same time, today, design is de-mystified, but saturated with options. Too many for most people, so clients need us as designers and consultants now more than ever to pull off their vision. And we are completely accountable to them for their trust in us.

Through what we see and experience, our lives can be balanced by looking ahead and doing our best to commit to being totally present when time is spent with family in the spaces we love. We show enthusiasm as we feel the pendulum swinging toward optimism and as we get back to basics within our lifestyles. Speaking to clients and vendors, we see people nesting, comforted and curled up with a yummy throw with family and good food.

So on Thanksgiving, we realize that we are extremely fortunate. Imagine—a career that beckons us to blend design and style with the romance of traditions. I can’t think of anything more delicious or inspiring. Sounds like the perfect scenario for a good year of our own.

Food Surely is Love

Food can relate us to a memory. Creating it with others is a kind of “communion of the stove”. Passing on the recipes and the sacred place of the kitchen to family members is one of the most significant terms of endearment we can offer. Diana Vreeland said it best when she expressed, “People who eat white bread have no dreams.”

Some people love to eat, some people love to write about what they eat, and then there are lots of people who love to read other people’s writing about what they eat. When listening to NPR, an interview with Gourmet Magazine Editor, Ruth Reichl, explained the new foodie book genre this way: “People are writing their lives in food. They are actually looking at the world food-first.”

This is exactly how my friends and family operate. Everything we do revolves around food. While eating breakfast, we plan for the next meal. We aren’t obsessive about it, but we are aware that food and the process of creating a great meal and sharing it together brings us joy and a sense of feeling loved.

This family activity of noshing and reveling in great eats has extended to our family travels too–to the extent that it has morphed into our own food memoir entitled, The All American Cookbook: A Collection of America’s Favorite Restaurant and Family Recipes. This manuscript speaks to anyone who wants to bring comfort home through food and cooking. The recipes serve as a valuable tool for home chefs and families to revisit fond memories and experiment with restaurant style cuisine. It also reveals our excursions and experiences with restaurant staff and the fabulous cities throughout the United States. Truly, it is a journal of our family travels, cooking and dining experiences, great quotes and inspiration.

In ‘The Gastronomical Me’ written by M.F.K. Fisher in 1943, one of the earliest food memoirs, Fisher says that when she’s writing about food, what she’s really writing about are larger things — about love and our need for it. She also comments that, “We would all be better people if we paid attention to our appetites.” I would have to agree. However, T.S. Eliot also has some great food words of wisdom when he suggests, “Never commit yourself to a cheese without examining it first.”

The All American Cookbook: A Collection of America’s Favorite Restaurant and Family Recipes is currently seeking the perfect publisher–surely to be decided over a scrumptious meal.

Carry On

You may have a few awkward moments this season–wondering if it is “right” to be decorating your house, dressing the dining table, wrapping gifts and preparing home-cooked feasts for your family and friends. Don’t get the guilts. It is important to carry on with your holiday traditions.

Remember the reason we celebrate the holidays. Watching the television or browsing store ads leads one to believe that the holidays are all about giving and receiving the hottest gifts. It’s easy to get caught up in the commercial aspect of the holiday season. Instead, take a step back and remember why you celebrate the holidays.

Set your creative juices to the challenge. Our family has an orange tree in their backyard that produces more fruit than we could ever eat during this time of year. Our friends and neighbors each receive a thoughtfully packaged cellophane bag of oranges with a lovely bow. Not only can the recipient use the oranges with dark green stems and leaves as an arrangement or centerpiece, the juicy fruit is a welcome change to the boxes and boxes of candy that are typically given out during the holidays.

Wrapping doesn’t have to be expensive either. For my financial services friend, his gifts are wrapped in the stock portion of the newspaper. The black and white print with a red or purple bow suits his personality and adds an element of the unexpected. For my world traveler friend, I printed off images of postcards from my computer to wrap her small gift. The 8×11 paper was the perfect size and the wrapping feels personalized.

Celebrate your community. A favorite tradition of mine is going downtown to see the Christmas Tree Lighting Ceremony. Not only is this event free of charge, it sets the tone for December. It is fun to grab a light meal in town, see the bulbs light up the night and then catch a few holiday lit homes on the drive back. Enjoy this with friends or family and make it a yearly event.

Holiday dinners can become a group effort. Who says that mom always has to bear the brunt of making and paying for the season’s feast. Make food interactive and have all guests bring their favorite dishes to nosh on. Who knows, maybe family and friends discover new favorite recipes that other members considered tradition.

Start a new tradition. The holiday season lends itself well to creating family traditions. Make homemade decorations for the tree. Bake homemade cookies. Holiday traditions engage the entire family in a fun activity. Your traditions don’t have to be costly as long as they’re meaningful.

Celebrating the holidays is the ultimate affirmation that we have faith in the year to come. Happy holidays and welcome 2009!