Yesterday we celebrated Lucas’ baptism and we had a great time. I decided to go with Madeleine Patisserie macarons because of their incredible taste. And in no way was I disappointed about their packaging, they came in very cute brown boxes with pink silky paper wrapping the gorgeous and delicious macarons. I’ll post more pictures of the decorations next week. I hope you’re enjoying your weekend.
I am sorry for the lack of posts this week. I’ve been busy running around to organize my little one’s Baptism this coming Saturday. I’ll be posting pictures this time, I promise. Not everything has been tiring and stressful however. Between running around I made sure to stop and smell the roses, well actually stop and try the macarons. Yummy!! I’ve been to two new places that I hadn’t tried yet in NYC: MacarOn Cafe and Madeleine Patisserie. They were both good, but Medeleine macarons were superb and turned out to be my favorite. The only problem is that MacarOn Café adds a nice touch of detail where the macarons are served in a gorgeous presentation box (below). Not that I’m shallow, ladies, but I love everything with that kind of details. I’ll let you know which one I chose next week.
In another note I want to thank Christina and Charlotta. These two lovely ladies have honored me by mentioning Belle Vivir in their fantastic blogs and for the generous gesture of the awards they have granted me. Thank you Christina and thank you Charlotte. You two are fantastic with great blogs and it’s an honor being awarded by you.
Kitchens that look like anything but kitchens and I love the idea.
In Olivier Gagnere’s kitchen the cabinetry is covered in crocodile-embossed leather. Now that’s fancy. Below is the kitchen in Rose Tarlow‘s house. A very interesting woman with impeccable style I discovered through Joni. If you, by any chance missed this post you should read it. Rose Tarlow’s great style and intriguing personality will inspire you to continue to keep being yourself and to be different.
Yesterday morning I attended an early breakfast hosted by Architectural Digest before the Architectural Digest Design Show would open its doors to the public. It was a great opportunity to meet interesting people and also to get a private small tour of the show. The show was very well put together. Each booth was set to look like a real living space, which I personally think makes exhibitions far more interesting to designer eyes compared to booths with only free standing furniture with no relationship to each other. One of my favorite exhibitors and probably the one with the most beautiful booth was The New Traditionalists. Their furniture does honor to its name. It’s American style meets European style in a very up to date comfortable living way. I love all of their pieces. Later I had the pleasure of attending the seminar “Selling Design in a Changing Economy” given by Vicente Wolf, Dakota Jackson and Mitchell Gold. Beside the seminars interesting and informative part I enjoyed the charm of Vicente whom I had the pleasure of meeting afterward. Of course the star of the show for me was Dining by Design so I made sure I paid a visit and absorbed as much as I could. I also took pictures of a few of my favorite tables for my lovely readers to have some table setting inspirations. Enjoy.
None of these pictures give enough credit to any of these gorgeous table settings but especially the table designed by David Beahm for Continental Airlines which was among my favorites. The table looked like an interior garden with climbing, twisted dry trees with real orchids, bulbs and leafs on them. The round banquette were upholstered in a green silk embroidery fabric with I think, removable wood seats on top of it. The table was entirely mirrored and each table top was different but in such a subtle way that you don’t really notice it until a few minutes pass because all glasses were clear and the difference in plate color were very subtle.
A closer shot of the attached orchids. Below is a more organic table designed by Architectural Digest and Moore & Giles. I loved the detail of a different quote on each plate.
How cute is this Manhattan table setting designed by Marc Wilson designs and Marc Tamayo for Manhattan Magazine. Those yellow cabbies and the NYC hallmark buildings are so much fun.
The delicacy of this table and a movie by Audrey Hepburn as its background was such eye catching especially with that beautiful crystal cascade in the middle. Designed by David Rockwell from Rockwell Group.
Going through my files I came across Rose Anne de Pampelonne’s home. A Parisian limestone mansion built in 1900’s and redesigned by the designer who is also a baroness. The multi floor mansion that she shares with her bank-president and baron husband Bruno, was featured in Elle Decor a little while ago and has since been in my files because of its eclecticism and use of different hues. Asian antiques and porcelain, indigenous fabrics, sculptural antique fishing baskets hung as art, African mask, velvet and brocade fabric are gracefully combined in harmony layering this sumptuous home.
Rose Ann de Pompelonne photographed by Roger Davies.
These two kitchens are completely different yet I love them both. The high ceiling and the cleanness of the black and white of the first image serves as the perfect background for the collection displayed on wood shelves. Whereas the bottom kitchen’s layout and tall closed cabinets is a more traditional approach, the apple green cabinets keep the decor fun and young. I also think it is a very cool and child-friendly detail to letter the doors.
Photographers Roger Davis & Deborah Whitlaw respectively through Coastal Living.