Morning Inspiration: Orange & Grey

Spring may still be months off for those of us here on the east coast, but apparently some evil cohort of retailers and magazine publishers has decided to, give us 3 months to ponder which spring trench coat we're going to buy, and start looking at them in stores and print now.


For those of us who live in the 20 degree world and are still wearing 3 sweaters this equates to months of torture. I'm tempering my mid-winter blues with a bright pop or orange mixed in with some cozy grey cableknit.

Orange & Grey Inspirations by agiffin featuring chain necklaces

Burberry Frill-trimmed wool-blend trench coat, $995
Rock and Republic Chickory - Grey Pewter, $460
Kenneth Jay Lane - Enameled Statement Necklace (Orange) - Jewelry, $229
Hermes vintage style silk scarves Hermes.com, $305
Matthew williamson escape accessories ORANGE, 198 GBP
Petrie Apartment Sofa, $1,499
Mmcgoo Se _ Finish20 Exact _ Orange _..., $157
Cece leather and canvas ballet flats - J.Crew, $128
{ABCDesign Life}: .orange and grey interiors.

I'm also rockin some cool "greige" nails, which is a big step for a sticktly baby-pink for life kind of girl like me.

Workin' It

The white glossy Parsons Desk has always been my gold standard of beautiful workspace pieces, and when I bought myself one last year I left the store feeling like a real life grown-up. But this little lovely feeds my white glossly addiction AND my constant need to make pretty piles out of my papers. This little cutout would rock my world.

Spotted on This is Galmorous

Thursday Tabletop: Gold Rush

Gold flatware is eternally chic and kicks any sweet little dinner table's a** (see White House protocol for proof). This is one of those trends that I probably would have gagged over 5 years ago, but has since become modern and of the moment. I've been trolling ebay for a set to pick up for my own use.

First spotted in a holiday spread featuring Aerin Lauder (who makes anything cool to me)

via 100 Layer Cake, mixing it with with my other fav, stripes. Throw in some kind of bold color and it would be my trifecta.

Sleek and modern, these are just the style I'm lusting after. All I've run into thus far are very ornate vintage sets, but I'm not giving up my search just yet.

Do you like me? Circle Yes or No

How fantastic are these Save the Dates that incorporate old school and "yearbook yourself" photos of the Bride and Groom and their close friends. Using aliases for their friends of famous singer real names (the Groom is a musician) and characters from Christopher Guest movies fit perfectly for the fun vibe of this couple. Recognize Cherilyn Sarkisian...i.e. Cher?? Yup, that's me.

Real Life Details: Brial Shower Brunch

Nothing inspires me more than seeing how people translate inspirational details into real life events. This wedding shower, thrown by some friends, took party inspirations from a recent Martha Stewart Weddings spread that incorporated black and white photos of the couple, and threw a beautiful bridal shower brunch. Life is in the details:

A Bellini bar let guests mix their own juice creations and stretched the champagne

Delicious treats from DC's Red Velvet Cupcakery provided a morning sugar rush.

Stacked white ceramic cake stands collected from flea markets were a perfect pearch

From the pages of Martha: B&W photos of the couple were affixed to vases and candles with photo squares.

Favors included the some of the bride's favorite things, including tulip bulbs and homemade cookies.

Photo Credit: Nathalie Rothert

Words from the Past

A few years ago when my grandfather passed away, I wrote about how he pushed himself and those around him to a more passionate life. A life filled with possibilies you didn't think were possible and the fierce determination that you already have everything it takes to make your dreams come true, you just have to work at it. As our family dried our tears and began the task of clearing out the material things that made this man so unique to so many, I came across a small box in his personal office that was nondescript as anything on the oustide, but beautiful to those who knew him on the inside. Inside this old file box was stuffed full of quotes, jokes, life lessons, random musings and all the inspirational words that made this man who he was to other. Filed away, tucked on a shelf. As someone who keeps notebook after notebook full of sayings and pictures and words that seem to mean nothing to anyone but me, this little nondescript box was like finding a connection to someone who meant so much to me. This year for Christmas, my grandmother gave me the box as a gift. And now it sits on my desk, next to the trinkets that sat on his and reminds me that he left these important life lessons, historically catologed next to dirty jokes and old bits of speeches.

"Life is too short to sit back and let it go by"

So I'm not.

Note to Self: Don't Forget

Spotted on Beach Bungalow 8 and Pinterest

P.S. Pinterest has been in my life for all of 12 hours and I'm completely obsessed. Who else is using it? Is anyone else a little stumped by the navigation?

Thursday Tabletop: Affairs of the State

Yesterday's State Dinner for China has DC all aflutter like we just got a bunch of celebrities drunk and laughed at RDJ's jokes all night. A much more serious affair, but still a dinner party with all the trimmings. There were a few table schemes for the night, but my favorite was the gold and smoky gray with pink accents. You can't see them in this image, but the chair were all lucite with colored cushion to match the table lines and add a hint of modernness.

Washington Post did a nice recap in the printed Style section today. Yes, print, remember that? My favorite was the diagrams of the seating arrangements showing which celebrities got to make small talk with world leaders. BD Wong hit the seating jackpot at the President's table. Fingers crossed he did his best Father-of-the-bride/Howard Weinstein impression for Michelle Obama.


Incase you're so inclined to host a little modern version of the state dinner for your friends this weekend, here are some inexpensive resources: charger, stemware, linens, flatware


And a little "WH" carpet round up, just for kick. At first I though I hated Michelle's dress, but I think I actually just hated the wrap she had with it. The pattern is kind of growing on me.

Designer Maya Lin and Daniel Wolf

Henry Kissinger and his wife Nancy who looks stunning in my opinion

All photos: Washington Post

Faux Bois Bad-Ass

Lately all things faux feel, oh so right. Maybe it's this logo that has me all excited. Or maybe it's just the coolest texture kid on the block right now. Go on with your bad-bois self.

1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12

Invite Inspiration -(STOP)-

With electronic invitations piling up in our virtual mailboxes, reverting to technologies of old feels completely fresh and modern. Telegram Stop sends authentic looking telegrams with the ease of any evite. Whose the coolest party on the block now? -(Oh, STOP)-

Love, Love, Love, Hate.

I love to imagine myself sitting on this sofa.




I love the new emerald green colors that are sprouting up everywhere (red carpets included)


I love the work of this philly-based style duo. Watch out for what comes out of the new chevron'd floor studio.

I hated the Dynasty meets Golden Girls wardrobe reunion that traipsed down the carpet last night. Apparently the stylists are on strike.

LA Destination: House of Honey

When a dear friend recently departed our nation's capitol for the warmer design terrain of the California, I immediately started making lists of all the fabulous shopping destinations I wanted to hit on my next visit. South Pasadena based House of Honey just shot straight to the top of my post-it. Designer Tamara Kaye-Honey has a showroom and portfolio that infuses vintage cool to her modern west coast, already-cool, vibe.

Tamara boldly goes where many of us only dream of going with bright color and pattern. And makes it look perfectly sophisticated and pulled together instead of like you're living in a CB2 catalog. Her portfolio contains dozens of images of private residences worth drooling over:

I'll start my morning here every day, yes please.

Those not fortunate enough to have friends couches to invade in LA, can still get the vintage loveliness from the online shopping section of the House of Honey website. Fair warning: if you fall hard for awesome chairs, you might just want to stash your wallet in the freezer before browsing the site.

Don't say I didn't warn you.

And a great little quote from House of Honey's website rationalizing my deep seeded desire to drive a U-haul to my neighborhood flea market every weekend.


*All photos via www.houseofhoney.la