styled living simply achieved by Jacqueline deMontravel
Mermaids take note, there’s a new hairstyle securing the beauty glitterati’s attention. The reign of long romantic hair with tendrils that move beautifully with water is giving way to a freer style — the French bob. And once you insert the word French before a term, you know it’s got to be chic.
When you decorate with the color wheel’s version of Reese Witherspoon, you want to find ways to tone it down while preserving its optimism. Such was the case when designing a yellow-themed guest bedroom.
A white-painted room allows for the statement color and accents to stand out. When selecting the yellow shade, we went for a school bus yellow over a softer lemony hue. It was natural to weave in black accents to add a sophisticated contrast.
The trundle bed, the room’s main furnishing, is painted in Benjamin Moore’s glossy Decorator White. A layering of yellow linens and pillows reinforce a cozy, styled feel. There’s a mix of block prints, mud cloth and hand-painted textiles that are both controlled and add design appeal. The black patterned carpet by Hook & Loom brings in a subdued, whimsical feel while adding another warm texture.
One statement artwork piece is all you need on the walls to keep the colors from looking too manic. A Stray Dog Design chandelier that gives the impression of tamed seaweed increases the wow factor.
Whatever shade of yellow you choose, there won’t be any downer moments in a room with this bright color. From happy faces to a radiating sun, yellow pays homage to iconic emblems of cheerfulness. It’s the ideal color to design a room with impact.
Brighton Rug, 3’ x 5’: https://hookandloom.com
Chucho Chandelier by Stray Dog Design: https://straydogdesigns.com
Handwoven Fringe Tassel Clouds Pillow Cover: www.ichcha.com
Peshtemal Bath Thow: https://turkishtowelcompany.com/
There’s more to come from COVID’s restrictions than an errant face mask clogging up the laundry gasket. A new, freeing mentality has emerged, which is especially true with travel. The summer of ’22 and vacationing has rebounded with fervency. Cars are packed with beach tents, Kadima boards and groceries stocked with mini cereal boxes and a lot of condiments. International travel is so robust, escalating gas prices won’t keep those over shelter-in-place from jetting over the high seas. These past years have earned us the right to explore new territories. We even have new vacation travel terms as a result.
When filling up the Denali costs the same as a 2020 plane ticket to Bermuda, multi-tasking summer accessories are a must. Our picks include woven seagrass glassware to fashions and linens that can take you from the beach to sunset cocktails. The best accessories this season perform double duty to maximize summer living.
Six weeks to plan a holiday event, update the dining room, maybe even organize a wedding can be done with limited nail-biting moments if you’re organized. But an entire home update, including two bathrooms? Follow these no-fail steps we used when renovating our house for the summer season with limited stress and stylish results.
For design savvy moms who rather paint a bathroom than be confined in bed with a tray of pancakes, we have the ultimate Mother’s Day gift list. Not only should you save her from courtesy-nibbling a rich breakfast she eats once a year, but give her things she’ll love.
Forget a mother daughter mani pedi, but three beautifully constructed jute nesting baskets that don’t smell like they came off a cargo ship with livestock will make her swoon. From stowing away unsightly odds and ends to using as trash receptacles, even as a stylish accent, these baskets will become workhorse pieces anywhere in the home. (Baskets pictured with Hook and Loom rug and Indigo and Striped pillow.)
Prices range from $60 – $230
Mother’s Day is a time to show gratitude to our ultimate caregivers and treat mom to a day of pampering. What do mom’s really anticipate on her day? Flowers! Arrange for a delivery of her favorite blooms with a thoughtful note attached and that’s a double swoon.
Mother’s Day is arguably the biggest delivery day of the year. The tradition of giving Mother’s Day flowers is a symbolic gesture that dates to the ancient Greeks. They were used in springtime celebrations to honor the divine mother goddess Rhea. During the Middle Ages, Mothering Sunday was established in the United Kingdom and Ireland on the fourth Sunday of Lent when Christians visited their mother church, which is where they received the sacrament of baptism.
The modern incarnation of Mother’s Day began in 1913 to honor the mothers of earthly homes, the Virgin Mary, and Mother Earth. The tradition evolved to a day when servants were given Sunday off so they could visit their mothers, perhaps attend church services with them, and they picked flowers on their travels home to give as gifts. Flowers represent spring, rebirth, and beauty – all qualities of motherhood.
While flowers have enough loaded symbolism to generate a lively discussion in a lit class, what truly matters, is giving an arrangement of mom’s favorite flowers is guaranteed to make her day.
When you prepare a meal for someone it feels pretty great. Even a beautiful tray of cut veggies and hummus shows care. If someone were to take a few bites and then throw away their meal, reactions could get emotional. This happened when I served dinner recently to close family — “respect your food” was said repeatedly. Learning to respect your food is an ethos that covers health, positive engagement, and enjoyment.
Mid-winter can drag, literally. The holidays are now a memory, Valentine’s Day is just a day, and hygge is losing its cache. There is only so much wood to chop or scarves to knit. Which is why mid-winter breaks were created. Whether you hit the slopes or shed down to a bikini, you deserve something new to add some resort style during your time away.
The Charlyle Midi Dress by Perry Walker is a multi-tasking dress: easy-to-pack in wrinkle-resistant silk, stylish and comfortable.
Every February, or earlier thanks to holiday marketers, our bleak winter environment is saturated with red, hot pink and an abundance of hearts thanks to Valentine’s Day. Many aren’t as receptive to Feb. 14th’s arrival and its treacle overtures of romance. Not everyone is in a relationship. Some prefer not to participate in a cliched holiday. We have a solution — celebrate Allentine’s Day, which is a Valentine’s Day that includes everyone you love. Here, we provide simple Allentine’s Day celebration ideas that deliver on fun.
