Chais - sure !

Who knew I had the perfect spot in my bedroom to plop down and take a break? Last week I  had a friend for lunch and I wanted her opinion on weather or not I should splurge on a new pair of sandals.  She plopped down on the chaise lounge in my bedroom, and I retreated to the closet to unearth the yet undecided sandal purchase.  When I emerged, she asked me " Do you just love sitting on your chaise and reading? It's so relaxing up here!"  I paused for a moment and realized that lately I have taken little time for myself.  This got me thinking, "Is the Chaise the perfect time-out chair for an adult?"  How I wish someone would put me in a time out.  Not as space consuming as a sofa yet more relaxing than a chair, the chaise indeed is the ideal "time-out" piece.

Where to go for instant gratification? One Kings Lane of course.  Here are a few of my favorite pieces.

Tusten Chaise 

Reed Linen Daybed

Francis Chaise

Since it is still March and I can't quite go outside and play in my new Valentino rockstud sandals,  I'll settle for curling up on my cozy chaise with a good decorating book!

photo courtesy of holly brown

Lunch: The Forgotten Meal that Just Got a Serious Upgrade

I guess at some point we needed a lunch post, however, Ladies Who Lunch sounds a little passé. Maybe I should do a Bitches Who Brunch? Either way, lunch tends to be the redheaded stepchild in most people's recipe file. However, I'm a huge fan. My biggest rule: make it simple, quick, and delicious. One of my most recent cookbook obsessions is The Sprouted Kitchen. Go buy it. It's full of food porn that's fresh, with no frills, and everything always tastes great. When it comes to lunch, I like to make recipes that don't weigh you down afterward but are still satisfying. The worst is having a food coma hit halfway through your day. This go-to menu is the perfect balance, in my opinion, of all things lunch-worthy: Crab Salad, House Salad, and Chocolate Chip Cookies (once you try this recipe from Alex Hitz, I swear, you will never try another chocolate chip one again)

The House Salad, from The Sprouted Kitchen

This salad is as charmingly simple and straightforward as it appears. You could likely just copy it without a recipe. The point I do want to stress, however, is the necessity of making your own salad dressings. There is all sorts of junk in store-bought dressings and they don't taste nearly as fresh—not to mention that it's ridiculously easy to whisk a few things together or put them in a mini blender. This particular dressing hovers around the vinaigrette family, with just enough crème fraîche to coat the leaves with the thinnest amount of creaminess. Be sure your leaves are cleaned and fully dry so the dressing can cling on. The recipe yields enough for the given salads, but I typically double it so I have extra on hand. Here's the full recipe. 

Crab Salad

 The next day I like to take the leftovers and make a crab salad-inspired lobster roll. Add a little extra celery, mayo, and lemon juice and serve on a warm, toasted roll and it's insane! Here's the full recipe. 

Chocolate Chip Cookies, My Beverly Hills Kitchen

You can go an entire lifetime searching for the perfect chocolate chip cookie recipe, and believe me, I've been on the road to buttery, cocoa bliss for a while and I'm happy to say my journey is over after finding this jewel. These cookies are paper thin, which normally is a turnoff, because thin usually equals crispy. And the edges on these get perfectly crisp but the center stays so soft and chewy. You will never disappoint with this recipe. Another fav is his Billionaire's Meatloaf. So. Freaking. Good. 

Christmas Dinner... The 3 C's

Our Christmas dinner is the perfect balance that ultimately summarizes what the holidays are all about: heavy on comfort with a bit of indulgence and a whole lot of fun! We call it the 3 Cs... and not the Cartier c's. No cut, clarity, or color involved here. Cheeseburgers, caviar, and champagne. Seriously, does it get better than that? It's the ultimate trifecta of high-low culinary perfection: the humble, yet freakishly delicious, cheeseburger paired with a flute of bubbly and a side of caviar. Done and done. Here are my favorites:

Toasted brioche. Grass-fed beef. Applewood bacon. Grafton Village cheddar. Lettuce. Tomato.

Schramsberg Blanc de Blancs

Choose a bottle that's significant to you. I like picking one that's associated with a special memory. We served this champagne at our wedding.

Petrossian Royal Transmontanus Caviar

Certain things in life seem suspicious when they're discounted. Medical procedures would be at the top of the list and caviar would be right behind it. The Royal Transmontanus Caviar is farm raised in California, yet similar in texture to the more luxurious Royal Ossetra. If you are feeling up for a deep indulgence, than treat your taste buds to the Royal Ossetra. When I am serving Caviar for a crowd I opt for the Royal Transmontanus.  Don't forget to pick up a few blini's and crème Fraîche. 

Wishing you a Merry Merry! 

GDS Gift Guide

Nothing is worse than elbowing your way through crowds on Black Friday to rummage through a bin of mass-produced goods shipped over from China. But the truth is, it's a lot less intimidating to grab that  crowd-pleaser door-buster deal from a big box store, knowing that their generous return policy will at least buy you a get-out-of-jail-free card if your grateful recipient isn't pleased with your grand gesture. But you're better than that. And even if gift-giving isn't your thing, we're here to help. We pulled together a grouping of our favorite, most thoughtful gifts from small shops and online stores.

1 // 2 // 3 // 4 // 5 // 6 // 7 // 8 // 9 

1. Placemats from Holly Stuart Designs are made with Farrow & Ball's paint colors

2. Pendant from Erica Wilson

3. Plush quilted slippers from Loro Piana

4. Custom Griffin Design Source telephone table available in many colors and finishes. We love topping it with grass cloth! 

5. The ultimate carryall. Perfect for a market tote, gym bag, or roomy work bag

6. Fine jewelry from The Woods.  Interchangeable baubles add whimsy.

7. Equestrian-inspired cuff from Kendall Conrad

8. A cozy throw from Maine-based blanket maker Swans Island

9. A versatile clutch from Kendall Conrad gets an extra dose of style with a tassel

Faux Fir

Frontgate Fraser Fir

I love Christmas. I am a huge fan. The day after Thanksgiving I can’t wait to tune into the “easy listening station” which plays Christmas tunes 24 hours a day from the day after Thanksgiving through Christmas. 

The songs, cooking for friends, wrapping presents and yes, the holy grail….decorating the Christmas Tree. I moved to Denver, Colorado in 1997. When I moved here, I had no idea how dry it would be and what that meant for, my Christmas tree.  


Before I was married I always had a tree. I loved going to buy the tree, the challenge of how I would get it home, up 4 flights of stairs, and into the stand.  And then all the watering and dust-busting the dropped needles. Sometimes the trees would even be dead before Christmas, posing a horrendous fire hazard. But nevertheless, I enjoyed the process. 

In 2006, my husband ruptured his patella tendon the week before Christmas and I was 7  and a half months pregnant.  He was bed-ridden, leaving me to deal with procuring the tree that year.  In Colorado it dumped so much snow that I couldn’t even get my car out of the garage to take my large self to a lot to pick out the perfect Fraser Fir and then beg the man to deliver it to me.  So I did what any resourceful girl would do.  Yep, Frontgate. I broke down, and ordered a pre-lit tree and it was delivered to my house 3 days later.  I was sure that I had committed purist suicide, but I had limited choices that year. 

Here she is. Don't knock it before you rock it. 

I hired two college kids to come over and set it up. Twenty minutes later I plugged her in and voila! My faux Fir was a stunner. She was perfect and did not need any water nor would she drop a single needle on the floor!  My then 1-year-old son and I decorated the tree and it was ultimate perfection. I didn’t utter a word to my friends. I just smiled as they commented on how perfect and beautiful my tree was.  The secret to my faux-fir….The Thymes Fraser Fir candle, potpourri and scented spray. A shot or 2 every few days keeps the “pine scent” flowing. 

The secret ingredient for Faux Fir bliss. 

I’m not sure I’ve ever going back to a real tree. I don’t miss the blanket of pine needles covering my floor or dealing with a deceased conifer weeks before Christmas Day. Although I am purist I have fully embraced my love for my Frontgate tree. Seven years later we are still going strong. I hope underneath my faux-fir will someday be a real fur!  For now, I’ll settle for my fakie. Here is a link to the Frontgate “look book” for 2013.  You won’t be disappointed!

Deck the Halls: Accessorizing Your Fir

I collected Christmas ornaments and held on to them for years. Every year I buy a few ornaments throughout the year, especially when they all go on sale post-Christmas.  I pick them up in my travels and hope to be able to hand both my children ornaments when they have their own trees someday.  Here are some of my favorites: 

Classics

Macaroons! 

Pom Pom Garland from The Paper Source, $19.95

Plaid Tree Skirt from Garnet Hill, $128

Boxwood Wreaths from Garnet Hill, from $48 

Here's to you and your Fir of choice!

Our beloved Faux Fir in all of her glory.

Blanket Statement: Our Top 10 Throws

When the temps drop, nothing beats curling up in your favorite spot with a super-soft throw with a cup of hot chocolate and an easy afternoon read. Plus, they're great to have on-hand for a last-minute gift that anyone would love. From the classic camp blanket, to pom-pom fringed, and cable knit, we've
rounded up our 10 must-have throws.

1 // 2 // 3 // 4 // 5 // 6 // 7 // 8 // 9 // 10 

The Tulip Table, Blooming Since 1958

Designed in 1958, by Eero Saarinen,  the tulip table is a timeless classic. This table has adorned homes for decades and has become an iconic classic. Vintage versions are sold on some of our favorite websites for great retro-finds such as Circa Who and Objects in the Loft.  Do some serious treasure hunting at their retail outposts if you're in Palm Beach. Knoll furniture continues to sell the table in various finishes and 2 base colors. 

Though it's more commonly seen in a modern setting accompanied by tulip chairs, this table does equal justice to simple slipcovered ones. Whether having dinner with your family or entertaining friends, your Saarinen tulip table is easily dressed up or down. Here are some of our favorite place settings to adorn your table:

I paired texture-rich linen slipcovers with this tulip table in my kitchen dining area for a rustic/modern contrast. I love the intimacy that you get from a round dining table-- there's never a bad seat in the house!

Lisa Perry Dot Placemats, $25 each

Scully & Scully Placemats, $105 for 4

Holly Stuart Designs Placemats, email GDS to order

Roberta Roller Rabbit Placemat, $25 each

Garnet Hill Boxwood Placemat, $38 each