From boxy bags to ornamental statement jewelry, Kate Spade’s camera-ready designs exude a time when women rolled their hair into chignons and really knew how to wield a cocktail shaker. All of my experiences with Katy came with a happy, ice cream licking thrill. She lit up a room and not simply because of her beauty and fashion sense that had a jolt of something special. As I once wrote in a profile about her for Country magazine, Kate was that fun-loving sorority girl you wanted to get to know.

Kate Spade pictured in her Manhattan showroom for Country magazine in 1999.

Despite her success Katy was approachable and generous. She openly shared her stories, giving her timeless accessories increased value. Sharp-witted, Katy did not hold back on the demise of manners, why we could not regard a more graceful time when lunch at the Plaza was an occasion to dress for–if a club sandwich speared with an embellished toothpick made an effort, so could we. Her empire exuded all of her Spade-isms, even the logo of an ace of spades showed her attention to excellence with classic presentation. Katy’s last venture, Frances Valentine named after her daughter, identified her trademark style with creative detailing that was less mainstream, more Kate. She will be greatly missed and we wish her family love and peace during this sad time.

There is an irony to an alluring dressing room, a place intended to facilitate getting ready by storing your wardrobe with the organizational elan of a fashion savant. Yet this space designed by Marcia Tucker is so inviting you may not want to leave. It is pretty, modern and functional yet toned down from being overly girlish ascribed to divas with a penchant for feathered accessories and lingerie so delicate you have to import purified water to clean it. “The excitement of preparing for a weekend away, or a few nights out without having racks of clothes and overwhelming options, this space is artfully curated to enjoy the moments of getting ready and taking time to enjoy the process,” says Tucker.

Dressing room designed by Marcia Tucker, featured at the Kips Bay Decorator Showhouse, reveals that you do not need a tiara and vault of cosmetics for a modern, feminine space.

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Any pom pom not violently shaken by a cheerleader is my obsession. The colorful, textural balls add punctuation to an accent with character and fun. In Craft the Rainbow, Brittany Watson Jepsen dives into a prism of color to enlighten readers with her exciting projects. Jepsen is known for her blog The House that Lars Built which is, naturally, explosively colorful. It’s no wonder that such a spirited creator has a bit of a tussle when it comes to that essential necessity called storage. Her solution is to cultivate pieces that match her vibrancy with pom pom baskets.

The Color Roster:

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After a winter blotted with Nor’easters, school closings, sick days and awaking to yards littered with fallen trees and live wires that suggest the apocalypse, we’ve given up on hygee. Strong drink and enough electronic time to contribute to the recent power outages is a quicker fix when faced with suburban armageddon. Spring’s imminent arrival would be put into question if it were not for all the camp and tick brochures padding our mailbox. If the calendar is accurate, and we are not experiencing climate change doomsday, genuine beach living approaches. More than ever we crave laid-back, coastal spaces that advocate opened windows in lieu of air-conditioning. Colors inspired by the sea with a sun bleached feel. Light furnishings, cotton textiles, and nautical motifs that seal an organic style reminiscent of water activity. Relaxed Coastal Stye by Sally Denning aptly illustrates this sand crusted lifestyle. Featuring a concentrated dose of authentic beach homes with the veneer of sea air and beach collections, the weariest of winter storm veterans will be satisfied.

Following a sea-inspired palette along with trappings of the beach creates a coastal space.

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