GIFT GUIDE | VALENTINES DAY

I adore anything pink and Valentine's Day is the perfect holiday to celebrate this happy color.  I hope you enjoy shopping with this gift guide I put together.  Such adorable things for the ladies in your life.  

1.  Personalized Bedding, Napkins or guest towels.

Leontine linens is the epitome of chic.  Their coloring and monogram styling are just beautiful.  I would love that bottom pink number in my guest bathroom.

2.  Heart Jammies 

Roberta Roller Rabbit has the most comfortable, Pima Cotton PJ's you'll ever touch.  How obsessed would you be with your husband if he got matching, pink heart pajamas for you and your little one?  The perfect gift.

3.  A sweet pink friend

Pottery Barn Kids has the most adorable little doll.  Dressed in pink and white stripes, it is a great gift for your little one to cuddle with while eating a delicious heart cookie on Valentines Day.

4.  A Bright Fedora

Net-A-Porte updates a classic with this fun ribbon.  I usually wear solid bathing suits or bikini's on the beach so this would be a great accent.  

5.  Stationary

Parker Thatch nails it with this adorable elephant note card.  A fun gift for someone any age.

6.  Mini Resort Wear

Minnow Swim is my new go to for Georgia's swimwear.  The ruffles are so adorable on her chubby little body and the neutral palette is classic and perfect.  The above is my absolute favorite that she will be wearing all summer long.

7.  Earrings

Rebecca de Ravenel's drop earrings are still a go to of mine, even though they have been around for a while now.  I always try to scoop them up on sale through Moda when I can.  This color is pretty and will be great for spring wedding season and summer cocktails.

xx

VIOLET REVISITED

I wish I had a picture of my bedroom as a child.  It was a Mario Buatta-esque full canopy bed in purple chintz with matching chaise, framed by purple painted walls.  Denise even had a matching dress made for my favorite doll which sat on my perfectly purple, mini french desk chair.  It was a bedroom fit for a little princess and I was obsessed with it.  As an adult I never thought of incorporating this color into our work until recently.  Inspired by a few new clients we started envisioning a way to create sophisticated, feminine flair that wasn't pink.  Now we have two beautiful, chic rooms in this palette that we cannot wait to share.  Paired with gray or a lime green, it is an absolutely beautiful color.   Here are a few ways to incorporate this color in a minimal, subtle way..

Paint your walls!

This bathroom in one of Aerin Lauder's homes is absolutely beautiful.  The lavender walls are almost white - the paint is muted down to the perfect shade.    Paired with dull brass fixtures and a classic venetian mirror, this bath is simply elegant.  Paint is easy and inexpensive to change, especially in a smaller space.  This is the perfect, non comital way to add a pop of color in your home. 

On your windows!

How fun is the above dining room?   The lavender panels are an amazing accent paired with traditional gracie wallpaper.  Using a color like purple on your windows adds a punch of unexpected color.

Accessorize!

Lacquered boxes or porcelain is an easy way to add an on trend color to any room in your home.  Spice up your bedside or living room end tables with a pop of purple.  

As an accent fabric!

We love an ikat... especially a colorful one.  If you don't see yourself fully upholstering a chair in a colorful fabric, throw pillows are an easy way to add color.  The above living room by Ashely Whitaker is a great example of such.

xo

Missy

IN WITH THE OLD, ADD TO THE NEW

We love simple, clean decor, but we also abide by the notion that your home needs to have a personality - it needs to be lived in and filled with accessories and colors that make you happy.  We usually like to add at least one piece of a "lived in" antique to every space no matter how modern it may be.  "In with the old, add to the new"... It always creates a sense of warmth and comfort.  Denise always decorated with armoires in years past.  It was almost a staple, but over the years they unfortunately became passé.  However, recently we have been loving the idea of bringing them back.  Below you can see why...

They are perfect for linen storage in a larger bathroom.  It is an easy way to add substance and elegance to an otherwise simple space.

If you don't have room in your bathroom, but do on your landing, why not have one there?  They are beautiful on their own, but when lined with our favorite monogrammed towels and bedding they become a showstopper - almost like artwork.

Or we just adore having using them without doors as a closet in your child's room.  We would take it a step further and paint the back a fun color ... just perfection.

Take our advice and add an element of old to your space.  You'll be surprised at how happy & new it makes you feel.   

xoxo

A MODERN APARTMENT

We love that people come to us for all style profiles - we currently have projects that reflect traditional, transitional & modern design.  One fun project we are working on is for a couple transitioning from a larger home on Long Island to a new, smaller apartment.  They are now closer to the action in New York City and they want the style of the apartment to reflect their more modern lifestyle.  They are ditching all of their family home's traditional furniture and are now going for a more clean look with pops of colors.  Here are some of our ideas so far.

Option 1:

This Milo Baughman-esque sofa is a cool take on a classic piece.  The brass legs are expected on a chair, but interesting and different on a sofa.  We would pair it with a pop of color on velvet accent chairs and a statement light fixture.  Lucite pieces are perfect for a small apartment because their transparency give the allusion of space.   I love this look personally because it is modern without feeling cold.

Option 2:

The client likes a yellowish / mustard accent color which we don't use often because like orange, yellow is not one of our favorites to work with.  This option gives hints of yellow without it overwhelming the palette.  Grey's work well with a modern space and different shades of it also create warmth here.  This console is great for an apartment because it is small and thin.  We would probably add a banana plant in the corner of this option.  Also, maybe a pair of upholstered x-benches in a small scale yellow pattern if the client wants more yellow involved.  

Rugs and paint color are tbd on both.
We'll keep you updated on this project on instagram with the hashtag #avalonGNproject

--xo--
M&D

MET GALA | THE REAL BEAUTY

The obvious choice for discussion with regards to the Met Gala would be the fashion.  Year after year the creativity and beauty really leaves me breathless.  However, this year I wasn't inspired by the dresses.  What really made me stop and stare were the tablescapes and flowers inside the coveted event.

Done by the renound Roul Avila, the decor was absolutely striking.  Above are a few inspirational shots via Vogue.  The style in its entirety is so us - the pinks, mixed with a modern take on traditional blue china and gold Chippendale chairs.  The sophisticated, but understated gold rimmed glasses, the delicate terra-cotta planters filled with pops of colorful florals.  That boxwood, floral wall?!!  I can't.  It is totally chic, but colorful and fun.  I absolutely love everything about it!

xo

Missy

AN APARTMENT KITCHEN

We are working with an adorable couple in New York City to renovate their new apartment.  We had already decorated their previous apartment so now our main focus is the bathrooms and kitchen.  Like most Manhattan apartments there is not a lot of space, but by opening it up a bit and focusing on a few key elements you can really make a smaller space seem larger.  Here are a few tips.

1.  Stick with the classics

When dealing with a small space we tend to go for classic shapes.  Stick with a shaker-esq cabinet.  If going for a modern feel go full shaker - which would be recessed paneled doors with clean lines (first two photo's above).  If you want a more classic vibe then add a little molding detail inset in the panel (last two photos).

2.  Focus on detail

Keep the overall lines clean, but focus on specific items where you can add character.  Above is a great example.  Stick with classic subway or carrara marble tiles, but add interest over your sink or stove by framing out a herringbone detail.   Also, choose hardware that is suited to your specific style - we love what was chosen in photo #2.

3.  Glass tiles can look chic

People have been choosing glass, colored tiles for a few years now, but the style can still work.  If done right, it can still look classic, but modern and clean.I would stay away from the blue that was popping up recently- go with clear or a light grey.  Paired with white cabinets it can really look beautiful.  Especially for a smaller kitchen in the city. 

I hope this is helpful!  We will post photo's of this kitchen's transformation over the next few weeks.  Check it out on instagram with the hashtag #lowermadisonproject

xx

missy

*all photos were taken from pinterest and I am unsure of the designers of each.

A FRESH, SPRING BEDROOM

With the Spring time weather finally here we wanted to let our readers know how we refresh our bedroom's for the season.  A bedroom should be a place that always makes you feel peaceful, comfortable and happy.  In those terms I would say that Spring is the season that most reflects the feeling of a bedroom.  With beautiful flowers in blooms, sunny long days and gorgeous weather it is the perfect time to make your bedroom feel inviting and warm again after a cold winter.  A few easy ways we perk up our bedroom's for Spring are:

1.  Clean, simple, but colorful bedding 

Your bedding should be everything.  It should be a reflection of your personality whether it be bold, calm, fun.  Whatever the case may be, at the start of Spring you should change it out for something new, something light and something pretty.  I am a huge fan of scalloped anything and bedding is the perfect way to showcase this detail.  The above set is expensive, but if you don't have a tremendous budget and just change out your pillow shams it still makes a huge difference.  Opt for a new set of standard and Euro shams.  For spring always choose white with a border in your favorite color.  Matouk, Frette & Leontine are obvious favorites, but you can browse Etsy for more affordable options.  Monogram them if you feel daring (we always do).  Paired with a less expensive pottery barn, organic white duvet cover (here) it is the perfect update for your bed.

2.  A light weight down duvet & throw

Speaking of duvets - your heavy, winter one should be a goner by now.  We purchase very expensive, quality comforters for clients and master bedrooms, but if your keeping it within a certain budget we love the ikea selection.  They have the perfect, super light weight comforter that we love for a guest room.  Also, for lounging you need the perfect light weight throw for the edge of your bed or draped over a chaise.  Leesa has a gorgeous one (pictured above).  The fabric is so soft and the neutral color goes with everything.  It also has one of my favorite details - stripes!  It is absolutely perfect for Spring.  Also, check out their amazingly comfortable lightweight mattresses.

3.  New bedside table accessories

Your winter months of colds are hopefully finally over so your monogrammed tissue holder and drawer full of cough drops should be put away for next year.  Opt for fun bamboo brass or silver frames and a new small vase filled with tulips.   Who doesn't want to wake up to fresh flowers?  Start your day with something that makes you happy.  Flowers always do it for me.  The above are both Aerin (of course).

4.  Monogrammed PJs

Lastly, I start every spring with a new pair of PJs.  Eberjay has the most comfortable pair and they are totally worth the money.   The color selection this year is perfect for Springtime and I always get them monogrammed at a local shop (because I clearly have a problem haha).

Four simple, easy ways to make your bedroom feel refreshed!
I hope you are enjoying this amazing, sunny day.

xoxo

missy