Since we have been busy working on a Nautical themed house, everything with Anchors and Rope has been catching our eye. One of our all time favorite nautical pieces is from a collection designed by Annie Selke for Vanguard Furniture. The whimsical ropey detail makes for a great accent piece in an entry or a bedroom to fill a space or create a focal point.

Kelly Wearstler used the Ropey chair in her design at Maison 140 in a rich orange.The splash of color really makes it a statement piece. It can be anything from beachy chic to high volume glamour.

Here are a few minimalistic bathrooms that really transcend typical design and turn the “loo” into an exciting retreat. Borrowing ideas from art, nature, and pure imagination, these bathrooms are far from ordinary.

An avant garde approach to bathing…

For the master bath of a house that French stage designer and director Jean-Pascal Lévy-Trumet built in a suburban Paris neighborhood, the dramatic egg-shaped concrete bathtub was custom-fitted to his body. The walls are sheathed in sheet metal, and the light fixture is from the 1950s. (Elle Decor)

The dark gray texture of the concrete walls and the skylight with light pouring in feels strangely natural. This shower feels bare and beautiful to me.

Concrete plaster rendered walls shower wet room running water shower rose skylight real home L etc 01/2008

The lengthy clean lines and gilded edges in this room create simplistic elegance.

This shower/bath combination seems like an optic illusion and puts its bathing subjects on display.

Bespoke custom made combined glass shower and bath made by 23 Degrees stone marble wall tiles wall mounted fitted taps real home L etc 03/2008

Become one with nature. The scenic view from this bath creates the perfect relaxation retreat.

The low-slung Spoon tub by G.P. Benedini for Agape is placed before a wall of windows that offers stunning views of the woods and ravine outside the Toronto home of designers George Yabu and Glenn Pushelberg. The vanity is made of carved rain-forest marble, the sink and tub fittings are by Dornbracht, and the floor is paved with Portuguese limestone. (Elle Decor)

One of my favorite design trends is KNOTS! Leave it to Kelly Wearstler to make a sailing knot cool! using a ground linen fabric with heavy cotton knot embroidery, the House of KWID turns sailing knots into high fashion for the home. The fabric comes in 3 colorways and works fabulously as an upholstry fabric or as a decorative pillow. At over $400 a yard, I’m sticking to pillows.

Ann Gish also puts her spin on “the knot” with her crushed silk napkins. They retail for $30 a piece, but you can re-create the same look on a budget. Just take some napkins made of thin material… wrinkle them up… then tie a knot in the center, and voila… A fresh new look for a tired table.

Dransfield and Ross have been trendsetters for years in the world of bedding and pillows. Their “Flagship” line of pillows just screams Nautical Chic. The “knot board pillow”(below) would be great in a little boy’s room by the beach.

I love to use a trunk for pretty much anything besides travel.  Trunks are wonderful because they are add beauty and storage! The perfect combination of art and function. Place one at the foot of the bed; between two chairs as a table; or stacked in the corner.

These striped Vintage Linen cubes by Dan Marti Design are one of our favorite new finds.  The parchment edging is one of my favorite parts.

Tommy Hilfiger uses his Antique Louis Vuitton as the perfect coffee table.  

Goyard and Louis Vuitton trunks are some of the coolest collectors items. Depending on their condition, they can be worth a pretty penny.

Goyard Trunk close up

At a golden globes pre-party, they Aaron Thomas placed trunks under acyrlic covers that protected the prized possessions from spills. A very innovative idea.

from WWJD: Aaron R. Thomas blog

One of my favorite fixes for sprucing up a room is adding some candles or reed diffuser sticks. Who doesn’t want their home to smell nice and inviting for everyone who walks in?

It’s surprising how big of an impact sense of smell can have on our mood. Senseofsmell.org says “Fragraces can have a beneficial effect on irritation, stress and depression and can further enhance the positive factors of happiness, sensuality, relaxation and stimulation.”

I love to have candles burning whenever I’m home to set the mood and scent the air. At Blossom, we carry a few lines like Voluspa, Thymes and our newest edition Dayna Decker! Dayna Decker is my favorite line of candles because its an overall sensory experience. Their candles are made of a vegetable oil blend and feature a super cool Eco-wood wick which makes a soft crackling noise while it burns. I am obsessed!

If candles don’t really do it for you, then try an oil diffuser! They are really low maintnance… all you have to do is flip the sticks every couple weeks to strengthen the scent in the air. My favorite scent? Leila by Dayna Decker.

LEILA: Grapefruit, Bergamot, Dewberry, Lemon Flower, & Amber Musk

the astounding work of Michelle Nussbaumer

Josie Natori's home

In these economic times, there aren’t too many people “throwing caution to the wind” when it comes to shopping for their home. Each purchase must be made carefully, taking into account whether or not it is a good value.

In the latest issue of Elle Décor (November 2009), they ask four women who are major players in the design world this question:  “What does value mean for you?”

Two of my favorite responses were by Josie Natori and Michelle Nussbaumer. They say,

“It’s not about doing something just to be inexpensive. It’s about craftsmanship. Our fragrance is not only a fragrance, the bottle is a collectors item.”(JN)

“I sell antiques and furniture of provenance. Something to be passed on or something that will work in a future home. It’s a onetime investment that pays innumerable dividends.”(MN)

When it comes to choosing the pieces that will define the space you reside in, its important to realize when to splurge and when to save. Its vital to think of the long-term benefits vs the drawbacks of spending a few extra bucks.

A quality piece of upholstery can cost triple the price of a piece that lacks in craftsmanship, but it will definitely outlive the latter. I say, if its going to get a lot of use, or it is going to be a focal point in the room, don’t be afraid to make the investment. Sometimes those pieces we fall in love with are worth every penny for the feeling they evoke when you walk into the room.

Jan Showers.  The metallic walls add a touch of sparkle and glam.  The light bouncing off the walls makes the space feel larger and works great in small rooms.  You can buy metallic paint from Ralph Lauren.  I do recommend having a professional painter because with the sheen you see all imperfections on the wall.

Regent Metallic Paint from Ralph Lauren

Filigree from Taibaut. There are so many different options for wall paper. I find the metallic wall paper to bounce just enough light around to make narrow spaces seem larger and glamorous.  Check out the different Taibaut wall papered rooms below.

Bedroom with a metallic wall paper gives the room a glamorous feel.

Dining Room with a casual metallic wall paper.

Gold-Metallic-Pouffe from Graham and Green. Add a touch of Moroccan to your room with this beautifully embroidered pouffe. Its also a great way to add more seating.

This melted and molded Andromeda Murano glass chandelier will make quite the statement in any room. The chandelier evokes the ” melting of wax” and is available in many different sizes and 7 different color schemes.

When I found this light on Vivre I got chills. The price tag is substantial at $37,500, but  the Swarovski crystals and Japanese pearls dripping off this Glam Rock chandelier by Erickson Beamon beckons to Glamor aficionados.

The Serena drum chandelier from Oly is such a great piece.  This fixture will be at home above a round table or as a pair above a kitchen island.
This octopus chandelier from Timothy Horn is amazing. It belongs in a modern mansion on the beach.

This season the CHICEST designs are going SAFARI. Here are some ways to give a room personality using animal prints

Some wild ideas

Ralph Lauren animal decor

A custom zebra runner

The black and white zebra pillows add some drams to this monochromatic room.

I love the SNAKE SKIN bar accessories from KIM SEYBERT.   So glamorous!!!

John Derian Decoupage AFRICA SAFARI plates.  These look great as a collage on the wall.