Archives for February 2017

02/17/2017

Travel Style Guide: What to Pack

The realistic traveler does not depend onÂ valets and bellhopsÂ but will raceÂ through terminals to make a 15Â minute connection. A sensible traveler will not pack optional hairdryers but travels with an edited collection of items that coalesce–wrinkle-free compact piecesÂ thatÂ can be spot cleaned in a hotel sink. To keep from looking like you followed tips in a “What to Pack” guide, throw in a few accessories with aÂ sharedÂ accent color thatÂ addÂ verve toÂ holiday snaps.

On the Plane:Â Distinguish yourself from the black nylon cases by wheeling a statement piece.Â While delays and turbulence are parÂ for the travel course, lighten the mood with comedic socks and bright baggage.

: 1. Bellagio Suitcase

: 2. T. Anthony Hat Case

: 3. Sassy Minnie Socks

Rolling suitcase 2. Hat Box 3. Socks

In the Case:Â You don’t need to travel with aÂ steamer trunk forÂ aÂ curated collection of dependable comfort piecesÂ without lookingÂ slouchy. Affordable accessories are lightweight additions that polish a look for those who rather leave the priceyÂ baubles at home.

: 1. Holzweiler Paisley Silk Scarf

: 2. Classic Stan Smiths

: 3. Kayu Design St. Tropez Bag

: 4. Scuba Jacket with Hoodie

: 5. Eugenia Kim August Hat

: 6. H&M Shirt Dress

: 7. Elizabeth and James Knit Pants

: 8. Pink Mirrored Aviators

: 9. J Brand Alana Crop Jeans

: 10. Gladdi Strands Necklace

: 11. Eberjey Gisele PJ Set

: 12. Loro Piana Semicircle Duo Shawl

: 13. Hollister Woven Scarf

: 14. Ily Couture Skirt

: 15. Toscani Ballet Flats

Scarf 2. 3. Straw tote 4. Veronica Beard blazer with hoodie 5. Panama hat 6. Shirt dress 7. Knit pants 8. Sunglasses 9. Skinny jeans 10. Beaded necklace 11. Pajamas 12. CapeÂ 13. Square Scarf 14. Silver Pleated Skirt 15. Foldable Flats

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Posted By jdemontravel

02/07/2017

Floret Flowers Take the Chill Out of Winter

Winter doldrums have hit. The sad, spindly trees. Wearing so many layers I will need a reintroduction to my toes come spring. A dog who refuses to go out. While the change of seasons has its allure, I’d rather visit winter over a long weekend in an alpine cabin with heated floors. A way to beat the cold is to bring in elements that remind us of warmer days. Cut Flower Garden accomplishes exactly that with the best of the forgiving seasons without having to spend on an airfare headed south. Erin Benzakein is the master floral designer and maverick in the farm-to-centerpiece movement, sharing insight and inspiration from her farm, Floret Flowers.

Erin Benzakein gathering her tools of the trade.

From designing a flower bed to bundling a bouquet for Mother’s Day, Erin’s easy-to-follow guides enlighten on gardening and styling. The book also provides detailed information on the most popular blooms like dahlias, peonies and roses.

Erin grows around 400 rose bushes in countless varieties.

If you are at a loss on how to mix flowers ideas abound. Other insider morsels include increasing your bloom’s vase life by cutting the stem’s ends and using cool, fresh water. Learn how to make market tied bouquets, floral crowns and, as this is a seasonal guide, holiday wreath.

Lilacs should be picked early in the morning or evening to minimize wilting.

From seed to stem, lush imagery alongside expert guidance elevate the book from coffee table darling to dependable resource guide.

Cut Flower Garden has that alluring combo in being both beautiful and smart.

Photography by Michele M. Waite for Chronicle Books, 2017.

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Posted By jdemontravel

02/03/2017

Designer Tara Bernerd’s Contemporary Style

Art Deco meets futurism in the spaces designed by Tara Bernerd, as if Jay Gatsby time traveled to the early 2000s and decorated his modernist den. In her new book, Tara Bernerd: Place (Rizzoli), Bernerd guides enthusiasts through a visual journey with a striking representation of homes, hotels and luxury interiors across the globe.

Contemporary is far from minimal in this space within a yacht.

Bernerd has pedigree. She worked with Phillippe Starck, contoured her training into her own aesthetic, and struck out on her own by establishing a firm in London. Bernerd’s layered approach respects curated pieces, an attention to art, and a genius approach to lighting.

Melding texture and tone while an attention to art and lighting add intrigue.

She understands how to make a place both inviting yet sophisticated with a clever assemblage of accents and treatments to warm up a room.

In this Hong Kong penthouse, a rich mix of textures, materials and treatments coalesce.

Subdued color schemes with the occasional injection of a statement shade, parlayed with a variety of materials, keep the designs from looking hackneyed.

A bathroom deviates from expected marble and white with an exquisite blend of color, pattern and materials, as seen in this space’s balance of brass and black with classic marble.