Secretly Fancy

double time

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i received kelly wearstler’s new book rhapsody not once, but twice for my 30th.  tempted to keep both copies, so i can have some kelly within my reach at any moment, i am reminded why i love wearstler’s designs so very much.  i will admit, there are times when her rooms are a bit noxious, almost a panic room vibe, nonetheless i am just about always drawn to her aesthetic.  she is a color wiz kid, taking ridiculously bold moves that just about always pay off.  she is glam without being obnoxious. every space has a sense of humor and marvel. its not fancy for fancy’s sake.  rhapsody captures kelly and thus captures me.  check it out 

cue… the bar cart

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 images: via pinterest

what is fun, fabulous, and secretly fancy!?!? why it is none other than my latest obsession, the party on wheels known as the bar cart… the idea of a piece of furniture with the sole function of entertaining just makes me happy.  the bar cart makes the statement that if a party didn’t happen last night, the next one can’t be far away and at any moment bubbly will be popped and a strong drink will be shaken or stirred.  i am on a quest to find the perfect one to bring that james bond sex kitten vibe to my too formal living room and am leaning towards the gold family although adding a pop of color would be an extra fun effect.  sprinkling some gorgeous flowers and a candle or two puts this moving feast for the eyes over the edge for me… place those flowers on a few stacked vintage books and boom!  all is good in the world.

animal instinct

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animal shoes
here are links to these beauties: slip on, ballet, pump




 i was so enamored with the head chairs in the above dining room, that i just may do the same in mine.

images: jak & jil, house beautiful, amber interiors, all the pretty birds, jak and jil, pinterest , hanneli

animal prints have been spotted everywhere from the runway to décor to everything in between.  I have never been a huge fan of the feline friend look however I am now a believer that when done right, it can be that element of surprise that makes everything come together and like most things I gravitate to, it totally has a sense of humor, every stripe, every spot has a little wink that goes along with it. if you are going to attempt to play with the animals remember, proceed with caution, but if you play your cards right, you can wind up with something that is fun, fearless, and maybe even secretly fancy.

orange you glad you stopped by today?

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One of my all time favorite entryways
i nearly passed out when i came across this orange Ming style coffee table by Jardins de Fleur… need it now
watch in amazement as the perfect orange strips animal print off all tacky connotations…

life would be complete if i could get dressed in the above dressing room and wear one of the two secretly fancy outfits below…
orange you glad

equestrian love

here is a shelf in my real life closet. i use an incredible hermes scarf (gift from my in laws) and some fun hermes boxes to add color. even gaga in the background goes with orange

images: pinterest, alltheprettybirds, marmalade interiors, windsor smith, jardins en fleur, dovecote, vogue, polyvore, atlanta home and lifestyle, sassinteriors.net.
the color orange speaks to me for many reasons.  the equestrian connotation is inextricably linked to the ‘hermes’ orange.  the color is bright evoking feelings of joy, however still dignified, it also makes me think of fall, my absolute most favorite season.  it has come time for me to begin a re-do of my living room and i have chosen orange as my accent color. it’s the perfect complement to dark wood antiques with gold accents and you can play with its meaning when it takes the shape of a Ming coffee table, like the one i am lusting after.  whether its décor, fashion or life, orange will always be a go to color for me. i couldn’t resist putting together a few style boards of some outfits that are infinitely cooler because of their orange accents.  so chic.

take me away part deux

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Dreamy

it’s high time that i leave this country for another, far more exotic land filled with adventure and romance, however due to a recent purchase of a dream home, i am officially at dock indefinitely.  unbeknownst to my bank account, i have schemed up a fabulous outfit that will scratch my itch for the great adventure i’m dreaming of… literally dreaming of.  then, one day when i do get to that far away land, i can rock this perfect glam yet effortless get up and smile, thinking of the days when i could only wear this around my home.  the insanely scenic photograph above has been in my files for a while now, and I don’t know where it is or where it came from, however the colors, vibe and magic of this place are nothing short of perfection.  The floral dress is by zara, who has had some amazing pieces this season and speaking of fantasy, the jonathan adler dressing room is tres tres tres chic! 

horsing around

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Images: house beautiful, mikkel vang, sanity fair, house beautiful, house beautiful, elle decor



i have had the pleasure of riding horses since around age 6, so I am always drawn to equine art and décor.  the beauty and strength of a horse is fitting for so many different aesthetics and styles. whether you’re super fancy traditional or fresh modern and fun, these gorgeous creatures can add something special to any room. with an animal as infinitely expressive as a horse you can bring some serious emotion to any space: strength and dignity? playful and carefree? , histories most trusted steed always delivers.

funny friends

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images: houseofturquoise.com, adesignerspot.com, elle decor, net a porter, thegoldentouch.com, architectural digest
this color combo has me confused in the best of ways. not in a billion years would I think to pair an acid green with a punchy turquoise, however i guess that’s why they’re not paying me the big bucks… yet. the relationship between these two colors is… complicated.  the acid green really cuts through the softness of the turquoise, making an otherwise calm and collected color, a bit edgy.  how cool are the two doors?  these are totally separate galleries in Sag Harbor that appear side by side.  loving the unexcepected.

the dynamic duo

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images: elle decor, lakbdesign, house beautiful, neza cesar, skona hem, schumacher chaing mai dragon
i have never met a turquoise i don’t like, but then again sometimes my beloved color turquoise needs a friend to bring out the best in herself (that’s right turquoise is in fact a girl).  enter fire engine red… these two colors, when combined always seem to make for a beautiful and dynamic interior.  the intensity of the red brings out the spirit and energy of the turquoise and together they are pretty much unstoppable. It’s no wonder that my favorite Schumacher fabric, chiang mai dragon happens to feature this color combo.


the emerald city

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images: elle decor, gucci s/s 2011, schumacher, elle decor, house beautiful, natasha law, 2modern blog

the emerald trend in fashion and décor has been going on for a while now. it was crystal clear exactly how hot emerald was at this year’s golden globes, where emerald ruled the red carpet.  i am partial to greens and blues… always have been, but there is something so special about this emerald character that has come to play.  it evokes a calmness, which is why I love my greens and blues, but it also exudes opulence which is so fun and secretly fancy.

the peacock chair – my latest obsession

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images: unknown elizabeth taylor, gq magazine, la roux album cover, fleur wood, black & spiro, unkown, paul schmidt
wicker & glamorous… two words that should never go together until… the peacock chair came to town.  this chair which looks like some sort of exotic throne has been around for decades, providing a glamorous backdrop for old Hollywood gals, current day fashion mavens and all else who grace this wicker anomaly.  elizabeth taylor takes it to a new level in the photo above, with her effortless beauty.  as for me… i hope to be a proud owner of my own wicker (gasp!) throne in the near future.