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The Silver Thief

silver1 When I moved cross-country, I didn't bring much with me by means of furniture and home decor, but did tote with me my Father's and Grandparents' silver. I love the idea of integrating antique silver into any design scheme, particularly if it has any sentimental value. I get great joy from using my Dad's sailing trophies as jewelry troughs and bar accessories, and love serving my Pink Panty Punch in the same punch bowl my Great-Grandmother used for her parties in New Orleans. (Read more about the punch bowl's fruitful life, here). I look forward to one day flooding my home with their treasures as each one has a unique tale to accompany. I thought the recent story in Garden & Gun about the infamous "Silver Thief" was quite remarkable. Blane Nordahl, the man behind a long string of large-scale silver thefts in the south and beyond, has finally been charged after thirty years of suspected robberies. (Silver and the South often go hand-in-hand as it represented a new beginning after the Civil War. Because so much of it had been lost during the war, curating a new collection of silver post-war signaled that life would go on and people would prevail. I suppose Nordahl knew this all too well, too)...

Among other themes and takeaways, the article was a reminder to keep treasures like such under a watchful eye. Now I'm off to take inventory!

Read the full story here.

Bahama Mama

AD1 AD2 AD3AD6AD4When I began constructing this post, I realized I had inadvertently created a theme I seemed to be following. I do have the itch to travel and find myself recently intrigued by island homes and the lifestyle that inevitably accompanies. (If you missed "The Good Life" post, you can get caught up here). There is something to be said about jetting off to a home-away-from-home to enjoy the simple pleasures you so adore. I loved reading about Alessandra Branca's Harbour Island getaway. The photographs that accompanied the piece made me love sick for pink skies, refreshing cocktails, afternoon island breezes and the ease that comes with such landscape. I particularly like that Alessandra, a Chicago based interior designer, chose a deep coral-red as one of the prominent colors in her designs. The color compliments the lush greenery and natural colored textural elements throughout the home, lending to a cohesive yet non-fussy look. See the feature in Architectural Digest here.

More Than Just Margaritas...

las_alamandas_NET-A-PORTER's THE EDIT does a fantastic job of showcasing new travel destinations. The latest? A nod to Isabel Goldsmith-Patiño who is behind the vibrant beach resort in Mexico called Las Alamandas. The private suite-only resort is painted in a palette of tropical sorbets, the property dotted by palm trees, jasmine and lush gardens. The property lends to vitality in spirit and landscape - one that will certainly make my "Mexico Must" list.

Below, a few packing options to get you on your way (all available on NET-A-PORTER, naturally)...

silkOscar de la Renta's Embellished silk kaftan via earringsKenneth Jay Lane Hammered gold-plated earrings via clutchAlexander McQueen Punk Skull embellished satin clutch boxshoeCharlotte Olympia's Triton embellished metallic leather sandals via swim4Karla Colletto Rosettes appliquéd underwired swimsuit via bagBottega Veneta's Intrecciato tote via necklaceHervé Van der Straeten's tiered hammered gold-plated brass necklace via

swim3Lisa Marie Fernandez's Poppy Bandeau swimsuit via earrings2Marni gold-tone tassel clip earrings via

Blue Skies & A Rustic Calling

WSJ_1WSJ 3 WSJ_2While getting caught up on my WSJ Real Estate section, I couldn't help but be drawn to this unique 360 acre ranch in Stanley, Idaho up for sale. The sprawling property features breathtaking panoramic views of mountains perfect for hiking and skiing, converted sheep wagons for a rustic sleep retreat and best of all, a geo-thermal hot spring that flows into an outdoor tub. Pack your boots and whiskey, time for an adventure! Yeeeee-ha! Images via.

Garden Party Ready

frontgate1frontgate2frontgate3Admittedly, this particular catalog is usually put in the stack of discarded mail, however this month, it gave me pause. The cover is perfectly enticing and all things Spring, showcasing a garden oasis with two chic seating areas. It is a scene I would teleport to in an instant - truly my definition of heaven. If you're in the market for outdoor furniture, I encourage you to look at Frontgate. Currently, they are offering 20% Savings on all furniture sets. My pick? The Grayson Collection in white with jade cushion fabric. Images via.

The New Prince of Pinot

pinot3jpg pinot4pinot5 pinot6 pinot2jpgGavin_Chaninpinotnoir1Gavin Chanin has been profiled as "30 under 30" in 2011, a "winemaker to watch" by our own SF Chronicle in 2012, and even one of Food & Wine's "winemakers of the year" two years ago. The Wine-World Wonder Boy's most recent accomplishment is his shared vision and partnership with Bill Price (wine enthusiast and serial entrepreneur), in the formation of LUTUM. LUTUM wine is focused on small-production, single-vineyard Pinot Noir and Chardonnay with grapes harvested from several of California's destination vineyards (pictured above). Their next release of Pinot will debut this May. Learn more here.

The Good Life

hick11jpg hicks1 hicks2 hicks3 hicks4jpg  hicks8 hicks9 hicks11 hicks13 hicks14 hicks21 hicks16 hicks16jpg hicks17 hicks18 hicks19 hicks20 indiajpgWe all know "lifestyle" and "the home" are words often used together when thinking about where and how we will live. We dream up idyllic visions of a humble ski lodge nestled under a bed of tall pines where we can sip our morning coffee from canteens and snowshoe under blue skies for the afternoon. We think about the fresh fruit we'd eat for lunch, the afternoon sea breeze taunting us to challenge our windsurfing abilities off the dock of our island retreat down south. We smile, placing ourselves in a quiet green oasis miles away from the city where we can drink iced tea for days and marvel over our own garden while enjoying the local paper with a loved one nearby. I find myself thinking more and more about the things that make me happy, the surroundings that speak to me, and the realization that, I can actually actively choose these things in my life.

When thinking about creating my own home, and ultimately, lifestyle, I always think about India Hicks and her beautiful home in Harbour Island. For those that know it too, I'm sure the above photographs are not foreign to you as her home has been photographed time and time again. However, I go back to these photos thinking about the good life. What does that mean to me? What do I want? What can I live without? What does my soul tell me? What is beauty mean in my life ? Life is short and we have the power to fulfill it accordingly.

Images via

The Sign of a Good Party

tableMy parents are very social creatures. I have a distinct memory of them revealing one Sunday morning that they "broke" their friend's kitchen counter-top from a late night dance party the night prior. (I think I was about 12 years old and too young at the time to appreciate their strong social pursuits). I've come across old Polaroids of belly dancers at my Dad's 30th birthday party, boozy couples cruises in the Bahamas and some "cheeky" photographs of a husbands vs. wives mooning competition at our neighbors house two doors down. Well, like Mom & Dad, I've thrown a few parties in my day and smirk thinking about some of the wild tales that developed from such nights. There are the noise violations from local policemen, a broken coffee table from a passionate (and very sweaty) co-ed karaoke to Journey's "Don't Stop Believin'," muddy footprints on the sunroof of my old Saab and many other tales that will forever refrain from being divulged. The point is, these obstreperous tales are what often, make a party a success. So, as host, embrace the quirky - sometimes stressful in the moment - party fouls, and carry on.

Bon Weekend!

(Above: a simple tablescape from our dinner party last eve).

A Table in the Making

item3_rendition_slideshowWideVertical_aerin-lauder-beauty-at-home-04-summer-entertaining-picnic-table tabletop8 tabletop7oscar plates cropped tabletop6VER-ANDREW-RAQUET-BAHAMAS-0ODLR tabletop5 tabletop4table9 tabletop3 tabletop2 table1odlr1 table4 table2  table7   table12jpgWe are hosting an intimate dinner at our house this evening and I've been thinking about the tablescape for days. I've had visions of greenery, soft candlelight, Spring blooms and anything outdoors on the brain.  I've curated a collection of inspiration above to help me design our tablescape. Now I have to get working on the playlist and chill the rosé... Images via here & here.