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

SYMMETRICALLY CHALLENGED

Often times when we think of the word symmetry we automatically assume "the same".   People can mistake "sameness" for boring.  However, when speaking in terms of design if a room is not symmetrical it can seems off balance.  When Denise & I walk into a space our eye automatically fixates on anything that is throwing off our perspective.  We are drawn to it, obsessing over it and we immediately have to fix it.  Whether invited to or not - haha!  I thought this was a unique obsession, something inherited from my similarity symmetrically obsessed mother.  However, we realized that we were in good company a few years ago when attending an event with the esteemed Mario Buatta.  While accepting an award he chastised the group for not handing him two statues.  He said he couldn't possibly move forward with his speech only holding one award is his hands because it wasn't symmetrical!  It would drive him crazy!  This is when I realized our obsession wasn't nutty, it was innate!  Here are a few tips to help the symmetrically challenged.

Exterior Perfection

Curb appeal is everything.  What people see when they pull up to your house is what will carry through their visit.  Who wouldn't want to have the above front door?  The evenly spaced, manicured boxwoods, the amazing double pulls on a door with beautiful, intricate millwork?  Even the stripes are evenly spaced.   By simply placing two planters with manicured boxwoods on either side of your front door you will immediately add charm and character to your home. 

In Your Backyard

 I am in awe of this boxwood wonderland.  The lattice work perfectly frames both the garden and the home and there are even an even number of dormers!  Yes, I have OCD.  It is perfection.  

An Even Entry 

An entry should be something that makes you happy as soon as you walk into your home.  This picture is a perfect example of how symmetry can be anything but boring.  It can be colorful and pattern filled, but still pleasing to the eye.  This wallpaper is a chaotic, but calming feature when paired with perfectly balanced accessories.  

Perfect Proportion 

This living room by Mark Sikes shows that balance in a room does not have to mean using the same pieces of furniture, obviously.  In the above he pairs a french upholstered chair with a Billy Baldwin Esq slipper chair.   The proportions of both chairs are similar so they work perfectly together.  He also balances wall space on either side of the fireplace.  A door on the left is paired with a chinoiserie bookcase on the right.  The difference in height is made even by adding ginger jars and artwork.

If symmetry isn't your thing we are obviously obsessed and happy to help...  

Whether you ask us to or not {wink wink}

xoxo

m&d

HUMOR IN DESIGN

It's a gloomy, 18 degrees out, we have a million deadlines and my little munchkin is sick.  To say I am stressed out is an understatement.  However, there was a glimpse of something today that definitely brought a smile to my face.  We are re-vamping our website and while looking through old client photo's this afternoon I found the first photo... the pineapple photo.  Denise and I create each job with the motto "don't take yourself too seriously".  Every home is personal and we always try to add humor where you least expect it.  In a New Canaan, CT job these adorable, preppy chic pineapple lamps perfectly perched on their lucite pedestal did the trick.   Whether it be through accessories, unexpected fabric choices, artwork or just a certain color on the wall... humor is a simple way to add personality to any room.  Below it are some other design moments that definitely make me happy.  I hope they do the same for you. 

1.  Our room in a New Canaan, CT job

2.  Sarah Bartholemew | Miles Redd

3.  Mark Sikes

BEFORE & AFTER | CHELSEA PROJECT

We love updating our clients apartments and creating their vision.  A lot of time young professionals just don't have the time to make their apartments home.  Or they just don't know how to create the home that they see for themselves in their heads.  That is where we come in!  This couple wanted something fresh, cool and comfortable with pops of color.  They wanted it to be "preppy-chic", but modern given the loft vibe the layout created and the neighborhood in which they lived.  Above are some before and after photos.  We think we created what they were looking for :) 

LIQUID LACQUER

One of our favorite new clients is an adorable, fun couple in a pre-war apartment on the Upper East Side.  We love when clients aren't afraid of color and taking risks and this couple is super stylish and on board with anything.  One element that we are definitely incorporating in this project is lacquer.  On the walls, on the ceiling, the furniture, the accessories.  When mixed with traditional lines, we can't get enough.  It looks like smooth, colorful, ice- just so chic and cool.  

Above is some inspiration...

x

THE RONALD MCDONALD HOUSE

Giving back is extremely important to my mom & I.  It is the main reason we participate in the number of show houses we do each year.  It is cleansing for your soul to donate time, money or whatever you can to something you truly believe in.  

The Ronald McDonald House is one of the most amazing charities I have come across.  Each year they help thousands of families dealing with the financial strain of childhood illness.  They provide so much help to families in need including, but not limited to  housing and financial help for entire families while their child is undergoing medical care.  This fall we are taking part in a special event where designers create little vignettes in which every item will be auctioned off to benefit the charity.  We've been lucky and very appreciative to all vendors willing to donate.  Above is our inspiration board thus far.  We wanted to create a bright and cheery room and cannot wait to be a part of helping to raise money for such a beautiful organization.

WE BID YOU ADIEU

The above are some of my favorite "vignetting" moments at this years Home is Where the Heart is show.  This years show house was wonderful to be a part of.  So many talented and sweet designers who I adored getting to know.  Tomorrow is the last day to check it out so if you live on Long Island and will be in the area, please stop in.  All tickets benefit the American Heart Association.

1. library by us :)

2. sunroom by my amazing friend, Melanie Roy

3. sitting room by Barbara Page

4. little girls room by NoliHahn

5. entry by the ever gracious, Kim Courtney Interiors 

FRIDAY'S FAB FIND

This chest of drawers.

With the cutey pie tassels?  I cannot get enough.  We found them recently and cannot wait to use them in one of our lucky clients bedrooms or living rooms.  Even in a nursery in pink or light blue? Aren't they so adorable?

I hope you guys have a great weekend!  Dee is headed out to Montauk for a wedding and I will be on Long Island house hunting with the hubs... I hope you have fun plans!

A SHOWER FOR OUR LOVELY AMANDA

Dee & I put together a baby shower for my beautiful sister, Amanda and her future little girl, Lilly this past weekend.  My Aunt & Cousin were nice enough to host it at their amazing house in Southampton.  It was a melt your heart kind of day filled with love and my favorite color-pink. 

FEELING THE BLAHS

I don't know about you guys, but I am completely over this winter.  New York City has been a disaster this winter.  At first it was a winter wonderland, but now it is anything but... I walk out my door and am slammed with freezing cold air, disgusting muck on the streets or a jammed pack subway because of the weekly flurries.  Our fam is headed to Palm Beach this week and I am so looking forward to the fresh air and beautiful beaches.  This summer craving inspired my post of color today.   I love comparing a great outfit to a fabulous room.  The pops of color in both the fashion and the decor really got me out of my winter blahs and makes me look forward to the warm months ahead.I'm loving this pink and orange pallete.  

The scarf is to die for and I absolutely adore the painting, headboard and linens in the above bedroom. 

How adorable is this couple?  They look like they are on the streets of Pairs, but I would love to have a pair of those pants for Palm Beach.  They would be perfect.  Also, I love the mix of modern and traditional in the above desk nook.  The lucite desk a dainty french, painted chair is a match made in heaven. 

As you know, we love a good monogram and this bedding is killer.  The thick scallop is a modern take on traditional and I am totally in love with the toile headboard.  The bathing suit cover up and the adorable stripped buggy on the left are pretty perfect as well.

Counting down the days until my feet are in the sand...

DESIGN ADVICE FOR THE NEW YEAR

We've come up with a few "Rinfret Guidelines" to consider this year when reinventing your home.  These are our classic principals when working on a new project.  

1.  Use restraint.

Don't overdue it.. think about it in terms of fashion.  How silly do people look when they have caked on make-up or too much jewelry?  Elegant and refined are your two key words to remember when designing a room.

2. Surprises always work. 

Nothing is more boring than a predictable room copied out of a magazine.. Have some fun with your home.. throw in a lacquered chair, modern art with your traditional pieces, or an unexpected animal print. 

3. Use color that makes you happy (even black).

Color guides for the coming year really don't matter.. Ignore them & use what you love.  Nothing changes a room faster than a fresh coat of paint.  White dove for woodwork always works.

4. Make it your own! 

A professional can always guide you with proportions, layout, current fabrics. Even when we design entire homes our clients personalities always shine through..  Add little details like monogramming, pictures and accessories to make it your own.  These finishing touches will let your home will reflect you!