Posts Tagged ‘books’

October 24th, 2013 No Comments

a last look at the famed chelsea hotel

If you have lived in New York City I’m sure you have your own story about times in the hotel- once a place where artists, writers and musicians took up apartments. But now it’s being renovated into luxury apartments. It’s not as well known for it’s design or interiors but for who lived there, the parties that happened, the conversations and yes, some deaths. Vanity Fair takes a look at some residents and their apartments. I thought it was worth sharing the link today. See the slideshow and interesting commentary here. For more stories about the hotel there is … Read more

October 18th, 2013 No Comments

home cooks from around the country share their winning recipes on Food52.com

Concord Grape Smash anyone? You’ll find the recipe below and on Food52.com. We are loving this site that has contests 52 weeks out of the year for winning recipes from “inventive home cooks” throughout the country. They also compiled the winning recipes into books. Currently there are two volumes available on Amazon.com. Wouldn’t these books make great gifts for the cook on your holiday list this year? We think so!    

September 17th, 2013 No Comments

at home with carolyne roehm

Since we started off the week yesterday with an image from one of my favorite floral books (Bringing Nature Home) I thought I’d continue the week with my favorite books for inspiration. I’ve always been a fan of Carolyne Roehm and I often go to her book “At Home with Carolyne Roehm” for seasonal table setting and decorating inspiration. Although my tables are usually a bit more minimal I love her over the top parties and gorgeous setting of her home. It reminds me a lot of the Ralph Lauren aesthetic. What is so nice about this book is … Read more

September 16th, 2013 No Comments

this week’s color palette: rusty reds & royal blues

One of my favorite floral inspiration books is called Bringing Nature Home. Photographed by the amazing Ngoc Minh Ngo, whom I’ve had the pleasure to work with several times on projects, and floral arrangements by Nicolette Owen. Broken up into the four seasons it not only has breathtaking florals with sometimes unexpected pairings but it has beautiful calming interior shots. This is an amazing book to give as a gift or just to treat yourself. – Lynn Butler Beling As we do every Monday we have selected Benjamin Moore paint colors which are listed on the color … Read more

September 11th, 2013 1 Comment

how would floral & event designer matthew robbins plan his own wedding?

You can finallly find out! Matthew Robbins‘ gorgeous wedding is featured this month in Martha Stewart Weddings. Matthew, a brilliant floral and event designer and a long time contributor at Martha Stewart Weddings (a contributor to our blog too!) also has a book to help you plan your wedding entitled Matthew Robbins Inspired Weddings. Although you can view Matthew’s wedding online in the link above this is one print issue you’ll want to actually have in your hands and scour over. Issues are on sale now so best to pick up your copy before they are gone!  – Lynn … Read more

May 16th, 2013 No Comments

the blue book from house beautiful, 350 inspiring ways to decorate with blue

House Beautiful’s little BLUE book is a great decorating reference. Measuring only 5 1/2 inches by 7 inches in size, this a totable book that you can keep in your bag. It doesn’t just give you inspirational photos of rooms, but designer’s tips and paint suggestions that they have actually used. It also goes room by room on how to interject blues to their best advantage in every area of your home. Suggestions and examples of color pairings, like blue and yellow are also very helpful.  

May 10th, 2013 No Comments

potted shrimp…with an edible flower topper!

As you all probably know by now I’m a huge fan of my friend Peter Callahan‘s mini creations. I’m constantly amazed by his creativity. While scouring his book, Bite by Bite: 100 Stylish Little Plates You Can Make for Any Party, for some ideas for Memorial Day Weekend I came across his Potted Shrimp. The recipe is in his book- which I recommend getting if you already haven’t- but Peter also gives the tip that you could skip making the pastry pots and serve the shrimp in clean one inch flower pots. How divine!  Here is a good link … Read more

April 26th, 2013 No Comments

entertaining with victoria amory: 3 recipes for tomato & orange gourmet cooking sauce

Victoria Amory, cooking and entertaining expert, has four gourmet cooking sauces available now on hsn.com. Today she shares three unique recipes for her tomato and orange cooking sauce. This month Victoria also launched soups and entrées on hsn.com, so you can simply purchase her ready-made foods and your guests will think you are a gourmet chef (We love this!). Make sure to pick up Palm Beach Entertaining too, a book Victoria co-authored. We bet you’ll love it as much as you love her recipes and foods.  

April 17th, 2013 No Comments

flowers with michael george: lilac is in the market, it’s spring!

Lilac is spring and it is in the market. Remove the lower lateral spikes from the branches, keeping those with buds. Keep the branch long, leaving a plume at the top- 10 inches or so. Buy at the market until local lilac becomes available. Use tall lilac branches in tall vases and the side pieces that you cut in smaller vases. To add a little more luxury mix a few peonies in with the lilac (shown above). Late spring is here and few warm days will reveal her glory, hurry up! – Michael George. Check out Michael’s amazing book, … Read more

April 2nd, 2013 No Comments

this week’s color palette: gray, yellow and cream- straight from photographer liz banfield’s cheerful studio

Photographer, Liz Banfield shared the gray paint color with us in her lovely studio- it’s Benjamin Moore’s Wickham Gray. Her designer, Janet Gridley, layered in creams, golds with pops of fun and energetic yellow. We’ve selected Benjamin Moore‘s Banana Yellow and Bavarian Cream for the remainder of the paint palette for you to work off of if you love this combination.  A cream sofa piped in yellow is a wonderful way to introduce color without a huge commitment. The designer’s use of natural fibers like sisal & jute make the cool gray color look and feel more approachable … Read more