Little vacation!

Hello friends,

I'll be back to blogging next week! Miss you all!

Lamp-In-A-Box

I've had my eye on Lamp-In-A-Box lamps for quite some time now. I love the vintage mod look! They'd fit fabulously into a child's stylish space showcasing his or her interests. From superhero's to Barbie, from the Beatles to your own personalized lamp shade...these lamps and lamp shades are done quite well!

See any that work well for a space you are designing?  



I'm considering one of the superhero lamps for this space in my son's room.


Check out the company website to peruse the complete selection or to create your own   http://www.lampinabox.com/liab/ 
What other spaces in a home would you use one of these lamps?

Introducing Dunes & Duchess!

This past August I took notice of newly launched, Dunes and Duchess at the NYIGF. At that moment, I knew I wanted to further explore the brand...my interview with Stacy Kunstel of Dunes and Duchess.

Hamptontoes: What was the inspiration in the creation of Dunes and Duchess?

The Duchess:We are creative people. I'm a magazine writer/editor/stylist and my partner, Michael Partenio (the Dunes) is a professional photographer. We desired to make a company, make a product, make a life together. The result is Dunes and Duchess, a wildly romantic idea of lighting a candle, spending time with one another and doing something together for the rest of our lives. 



Hamptontoes: Dunes and Duchess offers gorgeous candlelabras, striking lamps and fabulously large hurricanes. I'm eager to hear details about each product. Please share! 

The Duchess: Our candlelabras are really tall, over-sized even...you can see under them without it obscuring the view of your dining companion. We offer two or four-arm candlelabras. The two-arm version being perfect for the dining table or on a fireplace mantle. As we developed the look of the candlelabra, it was brought to our attention what a striking lamp it would make. The large lamp is about 36 inches high and 20 inches wide...it looks amazing in a library or a living room. We also have a smaller version perfect for nightstands, smaller tables, offices and foyers. As for the hurricanes, it only seemed fitting to have the candlelabras outside. They look amazing in a garden, by a pool or on a deck.

  

Hamptontoes: Dunes and Duchess products are made in the USA! Whereabouts?  

The Duchess:  Our lamps and candlelabras are made in Pennsylvania and our hurricanes in New York. The candlelabras and lamps are made of solid wood that is harvested in the northeast and carries the mark from the Forest Stewardship Council. 

Hamptontoes: Do you do custom colors for clients? 

The Duchess: Yes, we just completed a metallic version. We can match just about any Benjamin Moore color.   

Hamptontoes: Where are your products sold?

The Duchess: We're in stores in Boston, Dallas, San Francisco, Chicago and Palm Beach.  Locally, we're shipping our first orders to The Drawing Room in Cos Cob, CT; Michele Varian in NY and Lillian August in Norwalk, CT. Customers can also e-mail us to order any of our products. In addition, we should be e-commerce by early November.  

Hamptontoes: What a feather in your cap to have your product featured in the Shippan Designer Showhouse in Stamford, CT. What room will visitors spot your creation?

The Duchess: We are thrilled to be included in the dining room designed by Kenneth/Davis!

Hamptontoes: I adore the name Dunes and Duchess! How did the name come about? 

The Duchess: I've always been called Duchy or Duchess. Dunes was a perfect fit for Micheal as he is a child of the sea. Island life is our favorite way to spend our days. Our logo, a crown and anchor, seemed fitting for how we like to live.    

Hamptontoes: What is the best way to stay up to date with Dunes and Duchess?          

The Duchess: We would love it if people followed our adventures on our blog at http://www.dunesandduchess.com/ or on Twitter or Facebook under Dunes and Duchess!

 What a treat to interview a company that brings a deep passion to their craft.  Stacy and Michael love what they do and that message is conveyed through their enthusiasm to create unique products. I walked away from our interview feeling like Dunes and Duchess represents a lifestyle...one that is about celebrating life, celebrating love, embracing family and friends...and enjoying it all with the ambiance created by a Dunes and Duchess candlelabra or lamp. What areas of your home would you use Dunes and Duchess products?   

Hamptons "Tory Burch" Happiness

Whenever I enter Tory Burch's shop I feel Hamptons Happiness! Not only are her fashions fab, but her boutique in East Hampton is a design delight!

Look at the handles on the orange door...love!

How amazing is the floor? How fabulous would this floor be in a home office, special study or in a beach home?

The little side table, the lucite tray and the striped rug...chic!

An over the top fun spot to peruse the shoe selection!

     Looking for a stylish pop of color in an accessory? I found it...loving these cuffs! All profits from the sale of this product go to the Tory Burch's Foundation....happy shopping   http://www.toryburch.com/p-130807-TORY-BURCH-FOUNDATION-STUDDED-CUFF.aspx?cid=753.

What elements of Tory's style do you champion?

Fall Market

I did my internship with Bunny Williams and have a deep respect for her amazing talents. I also fancy Miles Redd's interiors. Yesterday I was happy to attend two Fall Market events at the D & D that would have me seeing both gurus!  

Vaughan (to the trade) hosted a lecture and book signing for Bunny Williams' new book, Scrapbook for Living!  This book is loaded with Bunny's tips on how to make a house a home. Who doesn't want tips from one of the world's best? 

Hamptontoes & Bunny Williams
Scrapbook for Living would make a fabulous holiday gift!

Lee Jofa (to the trade) hosted the talented Miles Redd who not only has a thriving interior design business (http://www.milesredd.com/), but has also been Creative Director of Home for Oscar de la Renta since 2003. Oscar has launched a textile line with Lee Jofa and wow, there are some wonderful offerings!

Miles Redd (who too, spent time with Bunny Williams, Inc.) & Hamptontoes
Here are a few samples from Oscar's new collection, shown in the various colorways.

 The Lee Jofa room Miles designed Oscar's textiles. There is a richness to this room.

Check out Bunny's new book and Oscar's new textile line! 

Celebrating Sunbrella's 50th!

Yesterday I attended Sunbrella's NYC anniversary celebration. Sunbrella, along with Elle Decor's Melissa Barrett Rhodes and HGTV's Genevieve Gorder, gave an informative chat about the usage of Sunbrella textiles for interior rooms, outdoor spaces and nautical purposes. Sunbrella textiles are fade resistant and they offer a variety of patterns (florals, whimsical, geometric and stripes) and several textile options (velvets, sheers, chenilles) so that their products can be used for creations throughout the home.  

Velvets anyone? What an amazing selection of gorgeous colors! 

Sunbrella rugs? Yes, I just found out about them yesterday. Several options available with sizing, colors and shapes. 

The new hot pink color! And yes, Sunbrella makes throws too! 

Sunbrella textiles are great for seating surfaces, window treatments, pillows and more. What have you created (or would you create) using Sunbrella's durable and stylish textiles? 

Hamptons "Fall" Happiness

This summer I did a Hamptons Happiness series of all things Hamptons that make me happy! Here are two autumn Hamptons outings that offer lots of happiness!
  

If you have children, grandchildren, nieces, nephews or friends with kiddies, Hanks Pumpkintown http://www.hankspumpkintown.com/ is an absolute must! The fun offerings are plentiful: wagon rides, corn field mazes, drinking fresh apple cider, munching on roasted corn on the cob, climbing on all of the wooden toys, pumpkin and apple picking!

Your choice of three different corn mazes depending on how long you wish to explore!  

I like the simplicity of corn tied with a ribbon hanging on a front door for the fall season.

 

If you are looking for red carpets, glitter and glam then the Hamptons International Film Festival is your choice for this weekend! Check out the website for showings, events and dates   http://hamptonsfilmfest.org/.

The Hamptons are amazing year round!