0 alicia keys manhattan penthouse

I've been meaning to share this since I first saw it on Aphrochic, and since my computer is not cooperating with me this week I can't deliver the Design Talk webisode I promised today! So instead, check out these photos of the recently sold penthouse of Alicia Keys.


The marble fireplace wall paired with the dritwood coffee table is so cool.


Baby grand + Keith Haring


Graffic printed pool table + Ali poster


And lastly this dramatic dining room with those greek key arm chairs!

What do you think? I have to say that the living room space is my favorite.

0 tilton fenwick in the NYTimes

I had the pleasure of meeting these ladies last year at the Brizo Blogger 19 fashion week event and they were such sweethearts! It's great to see that their work is getting some shine from such a major publication as the NYTimes. I dream of the day that happens for me!

I'm loving the eclectic mix and pops of bright color throughout this home.





Photographed by Trevor Tondro for the NYTimes

0 the lux life in NYC

I'm always curious to see how celebrities live. In America we put so much emphasis on their appearance, what they are doing, who they're dating, and so on. We rarely get to see them at home though. Which, to be honest, I'm totally fine with - enough is enough with the celebrity obsession, really! But I have to admit, I do wonder how the inside of some of my favorite celebs homes' are decorated.

Sean "P.Diddy" Combs may be someone you love or hate, but you have to respect his business genius. There aren't too many like him in his field! Complex recently posted photos of his amazing NYC apartment and I had to share them with you!


How about that illuminated column flanked by this unbelievable view? And the venetian plaster ceiling that is so perfect it reflects the light.


Wonder what it feels like to wake up literally feeling like you're on top of the world?


His whole place is very contemporary and less ornate that I would imagine for him. Can anyone make out what this way art says?


Typical bachelor kitchen, with another amazing view.


Loving his lucite sofa and the closeup of that illuminated column. Looks like he's watching the city too... ;)


This very same lucite baby grand is in my fantasy home inside my head...


....and I cannot get enough of this VIEW!! Breathtaking.



---------------------------------------------
And don't forget, I'm collecting donations for my 2012 Room Service Atlanta project. If you'd like to make a donation, click the button below!

---------------------------------------------

3 first and best trip of the year

As you know last week I was in NYC as a guest of Brizo to learn about their amazing brand and experience Mercedes Benz Fashion Week. The Brizo team did a fantastic job making all the designers feel so welcomed & special and I had an amazing time. I wish I'd taken more pictures, but I was too busy taking it all in!

Right after I took this photo, I realized that Susan L. Taylor, formerly of Essence Magazine was sitting across the aisle from me. This was such a full circle moment for me because I grew up LOVING her magazine, and I'd had the chance to hear her speak at a conference I attended in high school. We chatted for a bit on the plane and it certainly was an amazing start to my trip! 

We arrived in the big city and were delivered to the fabulous Eventi Hotel just a few blocks from Times Square by a car service. 

The "living room" in the lobby of the Eventi...

....absolutely gorgeous! The entire hotel was designed impeccably. I wonder who designed it?
The first night we had a cocktail party to meet & greet all the other designers. Everyone came from all over the country but some of us "knew" each other via Twitter and had never met in person. Everyone was super sweet!


The next morning I got dressed up in my brightest colors for our day of Brizo brand training. :)



The team educated us on the entire line of products, including Jason Wu's upcoming line. It was so amazing to see how they draw inspiration, come of up ideas, and the process of putting them into production. Brizo truly does approach their product as a fashion line!



We got to see prototypes and give feedback on brand new designs & finishes. It was really cool to see the ideas, as well as here the design process of the industrial designers.

After class we took a short break before we were whisked away to the Hearst building to take a cooking class at the brand new Sur La Table located on the first floor. *Side Note* This was a "Mary Tyler Moore" moment for me! When I hopped out of that limo and saw this beautiful building in front of me, I wanted to do a cartwheel and squeal with joy! Haha





We made handmade pasta & pesto and ate everything we made. SO delicious!! And fun.


The next day (Friday) we had a champagne brunch before heading out to Jason Wu's show! 

On the way in a big Lexus came rushing in and out hopped Anna Wintour. Just like The Devil Wears Prada. I could not make these stories up y'all!! I snapped this photo before I almost lost it; I was too excited!! 

The show was AMAZING! I was in the first section, on the 3rd row. His inspiration story was so clear, the clothes were amazing and the music was phenomenal. I kinda want the soundtrack! You can see the entire collection here.


Lastly, we attended a cocktail reception at this penthouse with gorgeous views of the city. Jason Wu came, watched his show with us (this is the first time he got to see it!) and had a few drinks. It was a great ending to a fabulous trip! The entire trip was a DREAM. Thank you so much to the Brizo team for including me and I'm so proud to be a part of the Blogger 19 group now! 


I hope you enjoyed the photos!

1 flavor paper

Check out these AMAZING wallpaper designs from Brooklyn based company Flavor Paper. I dream about installing wallpaper like this for a client! They even have 'scratch & sniff' prints... Pretty cool.



Lenny Kravitz is a fan; he used one of their prints in his home music lounge as seen here. Look at that lucite baby grand!!



And here is the owner giving a tour of the studio in Brooklyn:



Visit their beautiful website to see more awesome designs.

3 eventi hotel

I'm so excited that I'll be staying right in the heart of Chelsea at the beautiful Eventi Hotel as a guest of Brizo later this week! The other designers and I have been emailing back and forth making plans for a meet & greet in the gorgeous bar for a cocktail (or two!) on Wednesday night. Can't wait!



Here are a few pics of this gorgeous contemporary hotel.


The exterior at night...


...Bar Basque inside...

...one of the guest rooms...

...another gorgeous suite. Love that sofa! 

And lastly, this is the awesome courtyard area outside the hotel. I'm hoping it's warm enough for us to enjoy it! It features "food trucks" and specialty beer vendors. Yum! 

I'm counting down till Wednesday!


Disclaimer: As a guest of Brizo, my airfare & travel expenses have been comped.

6 a jazzy retro kitchen

In 1960, Jazz Legend Louis Armstrong and his wife Lucille renovated the kitchen in their 1910 Queens, NY home. Looks like they had decades of style; this kitchen would look great in a modern home! I love the bright blue cabinetry and the lovely floral wallpaper. Good job Louis & Lucy! ;)



The exterior of their NY home.


L& L Armstrong


They had all of this cabinetry custom made for the space in their favorite color...


...and the kitchen featured top of the line appliances for that time period. Check out the double ovens & a microwave (which was a luxury!)



Both Mr. & Mrs. Armstrong were around 5 feet tall, so this chair frequently doubled as a footstool.


I just love this wallpaper - I would put it in my home today!


I'm drawn to this kitchen so much because it reminds me of my grandparent's kitchen. They didn't have fancy cabinetry or state of the art appliances, but it definitely had that mid-century charm! I spent a lot of time in there growing up, so kitchens from this era always bring a nostalgic feeling for me. Apartment Therapy has the details on how they put together this fabulous little kitchen. Find out how they got custom cabinets made with a musical twist! (Hint: Piano hinges!)