Mary Randolph Carter

New York-based writer and editor Mary Randolph Carter worked her way through a number of positions in publishing -- including beauty and health editor at Mademoiselle and creative director at Self . These days, Carter is senior vice-president of publishing for Polo Ralph Lauren. 

Her home is an Americana fantasy packed with enough antiques, oddities, and memorabilia from her insanely rich story to fill a museum. As she says, “I’ve never stopped to think if I felt like I needed it. It’s not a matter of need; it’s a matter of what is going to have personal meaning to me.” Her style, too, is about layering, white shirts and chinos, and vintage everything from coats, sweaters and vests, to vintage hats, Frye boots and jewelry. 

Some of the books MRC has written (she has written eight);

 

 

 

I love her funky, fun, fabulous style. She does what I strive to do... 

dress for personal expression with unique fashion.

Style Like U  

Moon to Moon

NY Times

Sera Hershom-Loftus

 

This interior designer and stylist lives her Passion and decorates homes and spaces that are wildly romantic, infused with a spirit of artistic reverie

 

SEDUCTIVE INTERIORS
By Sera Hersham-Loftus

 

 "The innovator of The Seductive and Bodouir trend, this maverick decorator begins by showing us her early room designs, enabling us to see the evolution of this delightfully exotic style.Intoxicating mixtures of crumbling antique furniture sit together with retro pieces alongside a tasteful mixture of paintings, both modern and master. Huge blown up black and white photos of her favourite rock stars and beautiful women give all her room sets a look of being more than a little wild around the edges.
We will see that dark salons as well as very light ones can be just as seductive using Sera’s enchanting soft lighting. You will see her suggestions on decorations for Seductive Rendez-vous, Retreats and Travel. She will give you guidelines to create your own Moody and Magnificent Parlours, and Soft Focus Salons. She shows you how to create real emotions by designing rooms that are so exquisite and playful you will not want to depart."

 

I have always loved the Gypsy, Vintage, Bohemian look and find myself wanting to push the limits of this style in my personal wardrobe and home decorating. Every morning I pin on My Pinterest Board with things I want to wear, put in my home, find amusing and inspiring. Sometimes surprising myself in the items I fall in love with. When I found this book while perusing the book store I felt like I found something that speaks to me with my new look and attitude. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

These images are on the tame side but check out these

links for a little ~Va Va Voom~ in your decor

Sera of London         Pinterest         My Space

 

The Painted Home by Dena

I found a new book that is filled with colorful inspiration. The Painted Home by Dena Fishbein takes you on a tour of her home, Seven Oaks Ranch. Dena is an artist and has spent years painting every surface in her home, the results are stunning.

"Surround yourself with things you love", is Dena's motto and she does this with fun vintage finds. A home is never done, one can always find something that needs embellishing...

"Everything old is new again"

Last weekend was our local library book sale and every year I find some fabulouse books. My favorites are vintage design books...

Can you believe these books were published in 1960 and 1970? So many of these ideas are still fresh for today...painted furniture, animal skin rugs and room colors in orange, red and turquoise.

...and then there are some things that should stay in the 60's and 70's!

"I Brake for Yard Sales"

"I Brake for Yard Sales" is a new book by Lara Spencer, yes the Lara Spencer co anchor for Good Morning America. Who knew she was a designer!?

The book really doesn't have any new info for seasoned thrift shoppers...we know what great items can be found, but the images of her rooms are fabulous

The rooms are filled with an eclectic assortment of yard sale finds. I definitely recommend this book filled with inspiration.

good bones, great pieces

I just purchased the book good bones, great pieces by Suzanne and Lauren McGrath. The concept is that "every home should have seven essential pieces that can live in almost any room and will always be stylish. The authors explain how to place iconic items of furniture like the love seat and the dresser and rotate them throughout the home as the style or need changes."

The seven pieces do not include the essential bed, table and sofa. I agree with most of the pieces.

The love seat, demilune table and slipper chair are not on my list of 7 essentials.

Remember the sofa & love seat matching sets? Ugh, I remember selling so many of these matchy-matchy sets in the early 2000's, at the time this seemed like good design sense. Thank goodness we longer follow such strict rules and home design has evolved into more of an individual, one of a kind, make it yours concept.

Also a love seat is not very practical for seating, most of the time only one person sits in it and two can be a crowd (unless you're in love).

The demilune table is a versatile piece, but I learned long ago to always think about storage. No matter how large your home or the number of closets you have, it will fill up and the need for storage never goes away.

I find the slipper chair to be some what awkward. A chair with no arms is not a chair I would choose to use.

I would replace these pieces with a comfortable upholstered arm chair, small china cabinet and a credenza.

Find a comfortable chair, in a color you love and you will have it for many, many years.

A small china cabinet can be used for books in a den or living room, as extra storage in a kitchen or keep it in the dining room.

The credenza or buffet adds extra storage in any room and if you want to get real creative, turn it into a bathroom counter top with a sink.

good bones, great pieces

What are your 7 essential pieces?