Nov 9th was my last post? Oh shiot, I guess I’m overdue for a giant Alexis Colby Style Slap right about now…but hold that hand, y’all! For the past couple months I’ve started my own LLC, Alchemy Eclectic, gotten three new interior dec projects and have still been prop styling! In fact, as I type this, I’m in the middle of a two week gig in San Francisco for Pottery Barn Bed & Bath – so, shut the FU*@ YOU! Love y’all, Grandbaby Blog A Dazzlers!!!

I’m excited to finally be able to share pics from a Brooklyn bedroom I designed almost two years ago…shot by the wonderfully talented Bob Martus.

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The art you choose to display in your space says a lot about “who” you really are… it’s not just a style statement… it can be a real journey into the psyche of the folks who live there… sometimes that’s a trip you’re eager to take– especially when we’re talking about yummy vintage yarn art– holla– or, it can be territory that’s best left uncharted. Meaning, anything incorporating LED lights. And scene.
Thankfully, the good peeps over at art.com have trusted yours truly to offer up my picks for adding some pizazz to your place… I tried to corral a varied collection of art, without loosing my style stamp of approval. Currently they’re featuring a gallery of floral and nature themed art that I selected. Check out my gallery here (just scroll down and click my face – y’all know you want to)… even if my suggestions don’t backslap you, you’re sure to find something that will help tell the world who you really are!

More often than not, I find myself mired in some sort of decorating dilemma or another. I’m looking for a certain THING for my apartment, a lamp, a coffee table, window treatments…whatever it is. I scour the market trying to find what I want, and a lot of times– like a lover– I find the perfect match! HOT! But, usually, the solution requires that I take matters into my own hands…oh ecstasy! And that’s when things get all d.i.y. dirty up in Patrician Court, y’all! Read the rest of this entry »

Y’all, believe it or not, Thanksgiving is just around the corner…and it’s not too soon to begin your planning to avoid last-minute manic panic…might I recommend this amazing article in the November 2011 issue of Essence magazine? Yes, considering I styled AND am giving style tips in it, I just might! Get yourselves a copy & get ready for yummy, y’all:

Y’all don’t need me to tell you that NYC isn’t hurting for chic stores. That’s one of the best perks of my job is that I get paid to shop– a lot. In doing so, I stumble upon some pretty amazing spots to get your style on. One of these is Modern Anthology.

Billing itself as “creative agency + retail lab”, this a double value discovery b/c in addition to the amazing store, they’re also a design firm. Genius style slap!
Located in the Dumbo area of Brooklyn, this has to be one of the best stores I’ve seen in a long time. There wasn’t a single item that I wouldn’t be happy buying. From clothing & bedding to furniture & accessories, the sophisticated selection is extremely well edited, merchandised and just…well, cool. Think: hip big brother’s room that’s no longer off limits!

The “lab” just oozes masculinity, which explains why I was drawn in to begin with—heehee– scandal! Vintage clothing, accessories & industrial furniture pieces are seamlessly mixed with awesome new offerings. This is the place y’all come when shopping for a gift for the guy who, “already has everything”. But make no mistake, thankfully, the owners of this place are total EOA— Equal Opportunity Aesthetes— giving guys AND gals the perfectly curated spot for some stylish retail therapy! Well played, my friends.

Y’all, I love using unexpected materials for projects…the other day while prepping for a shoot I was style-slapped when I came across these giant spools of baker’s twine at NY Cake!

Baker’s twine has such a cool, graphic quality about it. Love it paired with plain craft paper as ribbon for gift wrapping, like these two from Whisker Graphics that feature Air Mail twine, oh!

Or try using twine to tie ornaments on the tree. Thread some through small vintage ornaments and tie around the top of your glass jars from the recycling bin and you’ve got double the style value with some easy holiday vases! (forgive my holiday-centric ideas, but have already worked on three different holiday stories recently, so they’re fresh in my head) And take yourselves there by using colors other than the traditional red & white: charcoal grey (super chic!!!), orange, yellow, even turquoise—what?! These fun colors can work for any holidays or other festive occasions throughout the year.

The larger spools at NY Cake are just $17.99 for what appears to be like a million yards of twine & the smaller spools, $15.99. NY Cake also has a west coast location in L.A. (10665 W Pico Blvd), but y’all can also get your twine online from The Twinery (check out their fun blog too!) and Whisker Graphics Now go tie some on, y’all!

Some of y’all may or may not remember, but a while ago (Dec 2009) I’d shared that our former apartment had been selected as one of the featured spaces in the new Design*Sponge book– well, I’m thrilled to say that the wait is almost over! In fact, the book is available for pre-order on both Barnes & Noble and Amazon…check out this sneak peek below and order yourselves a copy:

It’s a rare thing when I actually slow down enough from serving y’all all this dazzle to relax. And thats just what I’m doing today. We’re at an awesome baby shower in Brooklyn, with amazing home-cooked food, cold beer and one of the BEST views in the world…THIS is summer in NYC and I LOVE this town!

Y’all, June just seemed to jump right over me and somehow I’ve ended up in LATE July! I guess summer vacations have a way of doing that…but it’s never too late to be
STYLE-slapped! Oh YES! Which is exactly what went down when leafing through the new August 2011 Pottery Barn catalog! Read the rest of this entry »

It was a mere four days ago that our kitchen cabinets were serving some heapin’ helpins of ‘oak’ horrendousness, only to be transformed with a super-easy paint job! Our kitchen is lighter, brighter and feels brand new! And shut the &$ck y’all, this makeover only cost me $60 in supplies! Now, this is what I call yummy, y’all!