09/05/2019

Tackling a Guest Bedroom Makeover

There’s a lot of head scratching that happens when you are given a room that in no way represents what it will become. It’s like cheating off an exam from someone who will receive a F. Start fresh and study the space. This bedroom seemed smaller than its true size because of a clutter of random pieces that suited the room’s function as a multi-purpose play area. Bins of toys and an open floor may be fantastic if the plan is to erect Lego skyscrapers but an extra bedroom meets more practical needs.

Color and pattern connect the theme of this room makeover.

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08/30/2019

The Charms of Disconnecting: Creating a Simple Country Home Retreat

While influencers continue to squeeze the hype out of hygee, here’s another back-to-basics Norwegian discipline to follow with catchy phonetics: Hytte, simple country homes that urbanites escape to from the rigmarole of city life. They are basic structures, with minimal electricity and furnishings, which is deliberate. The no-frills appeal dissuades you from a material mentality–enticements are found in the outdoors and leisure activities like the arts, cooking, music and intellectual play. The calm, controlled scheme in our featured East Hampton beach cottage follows the spirit of hytte. It’s intention is to restore, unwind and spend time outside. A reminder of a classic lifestyle that becomes increasingly challenged in our everyday lives.

Decor and leisure accents pull together the theme of a restorative home.

 

Creating a Unified Look

A paired back design is even more crucial in a smaller home. The locale, home’s time period and innate aesthetic are natural influences for the scheme. Once the style is established, connect through the rooms with a studied treatment. Here, the white foundation captures that epic Hamptons light. A palette of yellow, blue and hints of neons and black are both cohesive and modern. The materials are beach-resistant cottons, painted wood with modern and vintage furnishings to offer style and utilitarian comfort. There’s a roaming-through-a-gallery feel, which is intentional considering the graphic inclusion of art.

Texture and color connect the design.

Furnishings

Select solid pieces that are functional and support the theme. A vintage provenance always seals a personalized look, like a rattan living set painted in an unexpected color–functional and unique. Pillows, woven ottomans and Turkish throws add a comfortable texture and color. The chunky rope rugs warm up the room, which soothe bare feet and keep the space bright and upbeat in the cooler seasons.

Classical Pieces: More than Accents

To reconnect with a simpler lifestyle bring in supporting elements. A record player, deck of cards and an abundance of books are not only part of the decor but part of the routine. Candlelight creates a soft, soothing mood that goes well with music. Thus, weaning from our devices and sketchy coastal wifi has less of a bearing when reuniting with simpler pleasures.

Resources:

Yellow Rope Walk rug, Beach Bum basket: Colonial Mills

Dip-dyed stools: Serena and Lily

Turkish throw: Turkish-t

Record player: Crosley

Posted By
08/23/2019

Slow Movement Travel – A Quick Reset in Litchfield, Connecticut

With so much talk of “Slow Movement”, some clarification may be needed for those who thought it meant a meditative walk at a holistic spa. Slow Movement is applicable to all facets of living, such as slow food, which is derived from an organic origin, to making genuine human contact by being less plugged in to our devices. It’s about conducting life at a thoughtful speed over frantically checking items off a mental To Do list while gulping down liquid caffeine. Considering that Slow Movement offenders abound, sometimes you need to physically remove yourself from the everyday. When making such a selection, choose a Slow Movement environ like Litchfield, Connecticut. This colonial town is less than three hours from the fast, electric hub of New York City yet its connection to the outdoors, history and pastoral setting make it the ideal destination.

A view from across Litchfield’s town center, a locale that preserves its heritage.

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08/14/2019

Annual Fragrance of the Year Awards – And the Winner Is….

Awards have brought rise to red carpets and laminated restaurant reviews. Film, food and fashion all vie for recognition and we’ve honed in on a category that peaks the senses or, specifically, the nose. In our annual Fragrance of the Year Awards, a lot of sniffing happens so we can honor the year’s best scent.

The right home fragrance indicates a thoughtfully-appointed room.

ducks goose fragrance of the year winner

Typically we feature a variety of scents that stimulate the olfactory but this year there was one stand out winner:

Nest’s Velvet Pear

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08/06/2019

What It Looks Like to Have a Pillow Obsession

Step aside shoes, pillows have moved into the obsession category and it’s easy to see why. Like shoes, pillows are that fun little accessory that delivers major impact to an ensemble. They’re also a lot more comfortable than a stiletto.

Despite a mix of pillows, they link together from shared patterns and color. Bring in coordinating accessories with a rug, art and coffee table accents to unify the look.

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07/29/2019

Dieters Beware – Create a Kitchen You’ll Never Want to Leave

If there’s one place to be adventurous, it’s in the kitchen. Current designs are those pretty kitchens that follow a formula of white tile and stainless appliances that are so high tech, with a few clicks to your Smartphone they may be able to make you breakfast. For other tastes, kitchens are like summer and Christmas, there is something comforting in the nostalgic. Merging what’s new with the classics is always our go-to method, throw in some personal touches, and you’ll achieve the ultimate kitchen.

Create a kitchen of distinction by adding bold colors and unexpected details.

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07/18/2019

Forget the Dinner Reservations – Why Dining In Is the Best Summer Option

Arriving at a Hampton restaurant on a summer weekend, expect to be greeted by a chirpy, college-bound hostess saying there will be an hour wait. Compelling Instagram feeds aren’t enough to sustain time at the bar with an enraged stomach. Take control of your summer meals by dining at home with the right set up.

Artisanal foods and a styled table setting creates a personalized atmosphere that’s as good as any leading restaurant.

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07/10/2019

Resist More – Edit Your Pieces for a Designed Result

Try going an entire day without buying something. While this is not a trendy celebrity challenge of the moment, the thought sheds light on our behavior as a consumer. During this East Hampton small cottage series, our team was confronted by an accumulation of so many belongings it had that overwhelming step-into-an amusement park feeling–and not in a good way–more like getting sick on your unfortunate neighbor scenario.

A few good pieces come together after an intense deliberation process.

 

A move is a therapeutic process that allows you to scale down to your basic needs. By evaluating what you want, editing out extraneous items that no longer hold value, you can effectively design a space that has a controlled theme and function.

The first area we tackled is a living room corner. Art is the key element to this home’s aesthetic, thus finding a place for so many important works is a worthy yet doable challenge.

A larger selection creates more of a challenge on choosing the best fit.

The Final Process

We chose “Doheny“, a large abstract painting because the wall could accommodate such a  piece and it looks less manic than a compilation of smaller works. The soft colors have enough touches of the seafoam green to compliment the vintage statement chair. Small accompanying accents like the blanket and stools offer both comfort and visual appeal.

If a lesson could be gleamed, avoid future impulse buys and choose something that will fit.

Resources:

Doheny painting: ducks goose

Stools: Serna & Lily

Blanket: Annie Selke

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06/29/2019

Small Homes Are Trending, Here’s Why

Dissecting millennial traits has become popular sport for marketers, interpreting their love of Ubers and anathema to anything DIY, but this group can be quite practical despite the initiative. Take their preference for smaller homes, which maximizes square footage over superfluous space.

The modifications to this 1950s East Hampton clapboard and how to unearth its inherent character with modern updates will quell the desire to sling a wrecking ball to a period home. Where to spend, when to save and learning to embrace the appeal of a smaller home will all be explored in this series that will be profiled in real time.

Renewing the trend of a smaller home and its worthy traits, which capitalizes on shared time, charm and practicality.

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Posted By
06/12/2019

How to Determine Quality Items

There’s good retro, like worn out Levi’s and malted milk shakes sipped with the swivel of a soda fountain chair. Then we have bad retro—sideburns and pine tree air fresheners that make you want to vomit in the back seat of a cab. Currently I am packing for a new home, a process that has reunited me with unopened boxes that didn’t make the cut from the last move.

A push-button phone in a statement color is too innovative to toss, making for a worthy accent for a styled vignette.

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