Cocktail Couture

Remember Kevin Sharkey's beyond fabulous dining room?  I am totally in love with everything (the chrome chairs upholstered in silk velvet! the framed Chinoiserie panels! those chandeliers!), and now I want monogrammed cocktail napkins.  Just like Kevin's...

They are so classic and preppy.  I can't get over that fabulous monogram...

I was talking to my friend, Brooke (who is incredibly chic, and she always has the right handbag for the right occasion), and I mentioned these cocktail napkins... and how much I loved them.  She agreed that they are completely fantastic and that she loved them too, but mentioned the need to shield them from any potential staining.  We wouldn't want to ruin them with red wine after all that, right?  I mean, we can't bleach them, that would ruin the monogram.  So, I said, "I guess we just need to be so wealthy that we have dozens of these stacked in our china cabinets, so if one is stained we just flippantly throw it out and quickly replace it."  And Brooke replied, "Then, why don't we just give our guests 100 dollar bills to use as coasters?"  Ok, fine.  She's right.

So, here are some great (easily affordable) monogrammed cocktail napkins that we can actually use... even if you're drinking red wine.

Monogrammed cocktail napkins from Horchow 

Classic hotel cocktail napkins from Pottery Barn

Monogrammed linen coasters at Gracious Bridal

Set of 4 cocktail napkins at American Bridal

Monogrammed cocktail set on Etsy

(she also sells sets in other colors!)

Or, try these geometric cocktail napkins (sans monogram) from Trina Turk!

Trina Turk Palm Springs cocktail napkins

Happy Wednesday, everyone.

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New Shelter Mag: Anthology

There's a new shelter magazine on the horizon, folks: Anthology.  While I love my online publications (and you know I do), Anthology will be a print magazine.  Gasp!  Print?!  Yes, print!  How exciting! 

Anthology is a magazine that will be published quarterly.  It will cover home decor, travel, design, entertaining and culture.  The leaders behind this new source of inspiration(!) are immensely talented and highly accomplished women: Anh-Minh Le (Editor-In-Chief) and Meg Mateo Ilasco (Creative Director).  I encourage you to read about them HERE.

I heard the news yesterday and already sent in my subscription!  Anthology will allow readers to subscribe annually, or you can buy individual issues!  How brilliant.  Learn more about how you can get the magazine HERE.

In the meantime, here are some sneak peeks at the first issue!

Welcome, Anthology!

And, if  you would like to see more, please visit Design*Sponge where Grace posted a wonderful article about the new magazine (complete with video entitled, "Print Is Not Dead!").

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20% Off at Horchow (Last Day!)

FYI, Horchow is offering a 20% discount on all lighting + FREE SHIPPING...  but, the sale ends today.  So, if you've been eyeing something, buy it today!

If my house weren't a disaster, with extension cords everywhere, and plastic drop cloths protecting us from dust, I would buy this one:

here

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A Wallpapered Coset

So, I found another great image of "Coranata Star" wallpaper.  This time, on the ceiling of a closet.  Again, I love this wallpaper, so I flagged this image for my own inspiration file. 

And, it has taken me to the entire subject of wallpapered closets.  I personally, think that it is a fabulous detail we all can afford.  It's a great way to use leftover wallpaper rolls.  (Or, if you impulsively bought those few rolls on clearance?  And, now you aren't sure what to do with them? Why not wallpaper the closet!). 

I also love the idea of wallpapering the interior of an armoire... It sort of feels like you're opening a jewelry box.

My friend, Jenny, used large sheets of craft paper to line the interior of her closet.  I love way it turned out-- it looks like vintage wallpaper!

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A Star Studded Ceiling

I love the idea of putting wallpaper on the ceiling, especially when it's as starry as this one...

from Canadian House & Home

How perfect is this for a kids room?  Or a teen room?  Or a family room?  I absolutely love it.  (The shape of the stars remind me of the Moravian Star light fixtures that I love so much.)

If you're interested, this wonderful starry wallpaper is called "Coranata Star" and it's available at Osborne & Little, find it HERE.  If you would like to order it, please contact me for details!

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New Slippers

Thank you, Target.  These slippers are SO comfy, very affordable ($15.00!) and perfect for a day like today.  It is raining outside, and I am home taking care of a sick husband.  These slippers are just perfect.  Thank you.

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I Love You, Blogs (and coffee)

Happy weekend, kittens!  It has finally started to feel like Fall here in Philadelphia, and yesterday I wore a sweater. For the first time since April.  I guess that means that summer is officially over, right? 

I leave you with this FABULOUS poster from Made By Girl.  For a blog addict (like me), this one says it all: blogs and coffee (or in my case, Nutella) go hand in hand.  I think I should get this for my office.

Happy weekend!

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Party At Kevin Sharkey's!

Since I just posted the pictures from Kevin Sharkey's fabulous apartment renovation, why not review the party pictures from his Housewarming Party! 

There are PLENTY of excellent entertaining ideas here!  Let's steal a few for your next party...

Kevin filled the long entry hall with simple helium-filled balloons-- the only party decor he brought into the space! I love how something so simple can bring such a big impact. Kevin said, "It felt like confetti was continuously floating above us."

Guests were served caviar and toast, and "dirty deviled eggs" (made with chopped olives).  The silver serving ware makes for a classic presentation.  This look never gets old with me.

Kevin's bathtub was filled with ice and served as a giant Champagne chiller!  What a great idea for small apartment dwellers!

(a helpful tip from Kevin: first fill the tub with bubble wrap, and use less ice!)

The adjacent shower was used to display Kevin's massive collection of Hermes boxes!

A sophisticated martini bar was set up on Kevin's dining room bar cart...  and, the lower shelf holds ping pong supplies!

Kevin turned his dining room table into a ping-pong table!  Guests were given bright orange paddles and encouraged to play...

They kept score on the dining room mirror...

with Chanel lipstick, no less!

Lipstick was used on other mirrors throughout the house too!  I LOVE this idea, you guys!!!  Of course, I might use a cheaper drug store brand, but you get the idea. 

Dessert included an OREO Cookie "Cake", served with glasses of milk!

(Kevin will teach you how to easily stack this thing HERE)


What a great party!  To read more about it, visit the link HERE.

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"Flattering light, good music, and of course Champagne and caviar make for a great party." 

-- Kevin Sharkey

(I agree.)

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Kevin Sharkey At Home

Last month, I was lucky enough to be invited to a "Bloggers Night Out" party, hosted by Martha Stewart Living Omnimedia.  The event was a total blast (read my recap here), and the one person I was dying to meet there (besides Martha herself) was Home Design Director, Kevin Sharkey.  I think that Kevin is so incredibly talented, and completely adorable to boot.  In person, he couldn't have been more gracious and down to earth... and, he's a superb dresser!  You'll understand why when you see his closet!

Kevin recently renovated his New York City apartment from top to bottom.  And of course, with the Martha Stewart Team, he chronicled the whole thing! Get ready for a ton of FABULOUS pictures here, people...  because, there are many.  I didn't want to leave anything out!

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The first thing Kevin did was bleach his dark wenge floors to a lighter wood... Now, the space reflects more light, and the lighter wood easily hides dirt!

His living room, with a soothing neutral palette....

and, a stunning view of the Hudson River!

Off of the living room, you can see my FAVORITE room in Kevin's apartment: the fabulous dining room...

He brought in loads of drama with these two chandeliers, reflecting so much light into this ultra modern space! The chrome chairs and the large chinoiserie panels are also to-die-for. I think that this space is complete perfection. I would love to have dinner here... it's prettier than most restaurants. And, that view!

The floating credenza holds all of Kevin's serving ware. I love the monogrammed linens and all that silver!

Kevin placed a floor to ceiling mirror at the end of the room to further reflect the space and make the dining room feel larger. What a smart trick?! The door to the right leads onto the small terrace, overlooking the Hudson River.

Kevin openly admits that Martha Stewart played a major role in organizing the kitchen. How could he go wrong with that?

The library in Kevin's apartment is also a wonderful space. It's clean and tailored, yet cushy and comfortable. Again, the room is filled with light, but this time, he has chosen to bring a bit more color into the space...

Kevin's bedroom also functions as an office. The space is flooded with light, and I love the selective use of texture (the lampskin rug!)...

The closet is drool worthy... especially by New York City standards. Look at all this space!

The bathroom was done in bright whites with polished nickel fixtures. The look is modern and fresh, but completely classic at the same time...

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Isn't his new place grand?  Kevin has posted many fabulous pictures of his apartment on the Martha Stewart website, in addition to informative videos showing us the ins-and-outs of the renovation process.  So, to learn more about this wonderful design project, go HERE.

Or, pick up the newset issue of Martha Stewart Living, where Kevin is on the cover!

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