Niba Home

I have never been to Miami but hope to go one day soon. When I do make my way to South Florida, you can be sure that I am going to stop in the store Niba Home. Niba Home is run by Nisi Berryman, who was once the Miami City Editor for Metropolitan Home Magazine. Niba sells everything from high end furniture to decorative plates and fun pillows and throws. You can check out more amazing photos of this store at Niba Home'swebsite.

Inspiration from Design Inc.

With the craziness of everyday life, I think it is really important to take some time to just stop and relax once in a while -whether it be a few minutes everyday or once a week for several hours. One way I relax is to spend time outdoors. Something about the fresh air, the sun, and the breeze helps me to totally zone out. I really wish I could have an outdoor space like the downtown deck pictured above.

This beautiful outdoor space was designed by the Canadian design team Design Inc. Design Inc. has been on HGTV Canada for four seasons and I only recently discovered that you can watch this amazing show on the Fine Living Channel Saturdays and Sundays at 7:30pm (hello Tivo!). Below are a few highlights of projects that have been featured on the show. You should definitely take some time and browse through the portfolio of rooms showcased online. There is so much inspiration!

Some More J Crew Love

Ok... I swear I don't work for J Crew and I promise I will cool it on the J Crew posts for a while but I had to mention them just one more time. The past two seasons we have seen J Crew shoot their ad campaigns in Paris and Rome, and now they are doing it again in Palm Springs. That's right, the latest photo shoot took place at the fabulous mid-century classic Kaufmann House in Palm Springs, CA.


Many of you may recognize the home from Slim Aarons book "A Place in the Sun" where this famed shot was taken many years ago. You can check out more fabulous pictures on the J Crew website. I also spied yet another fantastic necklace that I desperately want. I really should just stop going to the website because it has become a bit like torture.

Fabulous Foyer!

Images Courtesy of HGTV Canada

How amazing is this foyer? So clean, modern & chic. I love the Asian accents and of course the Madeline Weinrib rug. I think these photos show just how much you can do with a small space. Don't ignore the entry in your home folks! It is the first thing a person sees in your home, so it should be AMAZING!

One Day...

I am feeling very uninspired today and therefore have been daydreaming more than usual. My daydreams have been about visiting exotic places (big surprise) and taking luxurious month long vacations. If I had the opportunity to go anywhere in the world at this very moment, without a doubt I would want to go to the Singita Game Reserves in South Africa. I honestly cannot imagine a place that is more beautiful. I think I'll start saving money now so that I can make this daydream a reality.

Hip Hilton Home

Everyone needs to run out and get the March issue of InStyle Magazine immediately... seriously. It is 482 pages of pure bliss. One of the show stoppers in the issue for me was the profile on Nicky Hilton's home. It is so unbelievably chic and fabulous. I was actually a bit surprised about Nicky's decor style because I thought it might be more like her sister Paris's home which is very pink barbie. Hilton's color palette of black and white with touches of color is fabulous and ultra modern. It is the perfect pad for a mid twenty something Hollywood socialite. The issue also showcases Eva Longoria's to die for shoe closet, along with photos of rooms from Diane von Furstenberg, Loulou de la Falaise, Betsey Johnson, and Jacopo Etro. AMAZING!

Photographed by Paul Costello. 




Could you just die over this vintage Chanel serving tray?


Love the combo of the banana leaf wallpaper with the pink chairs. So Beverly Hills Hotel!


I never thought I would like a glossy black patent leather headboard but I think it looks amazing in Nicky's bedroom. So glamorous!

For a comparison, below is a picture of Paris Hilton's pink bedroom.



To watch Nicky give a personal tour of her home, check out this link. I cannot even begin to handle her shoe closet. TO DIE FOR!!!

Mondrian Scottsdale

Earlier I mentioned amazing designer Benjamin Noriega-Oritz and this past weekend I had the opportunity to visit his fabulously designed hotel, The Mondrian Scottsdale. The hotel is ultra chic and modern with a very sensual lobby bathed totally in white. Apparently Ortiz was going for a Garden of Eden theme, describing his design as "pure, naked, [and] pre-sin." I am not so sure how the life size sheep and chinese porcelain stools fit into this theme, but it somehow works.









At the Mondrian, I had an AMAZING meal at Asia de Cuba - a very trendy Asian meets Latin fusion restaurant. I am usually somewhat sketchy of trendy restaurants since I often find that the food does not live up to the hype, but Asia de Cuba did not disappoint. Everything from the mojitos, to the appetizers, to the spectacular desserts was delicious. My only complaint would be the very unappetizing mural of a rooster on the wall. I guess it's a small price to pay for culinary heaven!

Huntington Library

One of my favorite places to visit in California is the Huntington Library in Pasadena. In addition to carrying an impressive collection of art, the Huntington has the most incredible botanical gardens that spread over 120 acres. Nothing is better than spending a lazy Sunday browsing the gardens and ending with afternoon tea in the tearoom overlooking the Rose Garden. I cannot wait for the new Chinese Garden to open in a few weeks!

Molly Sims' L.A. Home (a little inspiration for Friday)

One of my all time favorite homes is Molly Sims' Los Angeles home featured in the February 2005 issue of InStyle magazine. I always turn back to these tear sheets when looking for inspiration. I'm sure many of you saw Molly's Soho loft in the latest (and last) issue of InStyle Home. In all of her homes, Molly worked with Beverly Hills based designer Kishani Perera of Fuse-id. You should definitely check out Kishani's work. I think her interiors are so sophisticated and glamorous.

To see a great interview with Kishani, check out Decor8's fabulous interview with her. To see another one of Molly's homes (how many does she have?), also check out the FABULOUS blog M.A. Belle to see photos of a more Asian styled home, as well as those of her NY apartment.

Cashmere Interiors

I am completely ashamed to admit that I watch the show Cashmere Mafia. Not only does the title of the show make me irrationally angry but the show itself is a Sex in the City wannabe that doesn't even come close to filling in the void that has been in my life since Sex in the City went off the air. Nevertheless, I continue to watch the show and have found that the thing I probably like best about it is not the clothing and shoes but rather the interiors. I especially like the modern glamour of Lucy Liu's character's apartment.






Here are some other images from the show.