Stripes: Get In Line and On Trend

February 9, 2014 by ark_admin

The other day, whilst internet shopping, I noticed that at least half of the items in my online cart were striped…interesting coincidence or definite trend? I decided to research this topic a little further.

I decided it’s a major trend…in fashion and in the home. Here are a few of my favorite new nautical-esque pieces from top designers.

MICHAEL Michael Kors

ACNE

Dolce & Gabbana

MICHAEL Michael Kors

Oscar de la Renta

Christian Louboutin

Marc Jacobs

Arteriors

Dash & Albert

Jonathan Adler

Serena & Lily

Terrain

Sunbrella Contract for Robert Allen

Happy Shopping!

Deco Delight

February 9, 2014 by ark_admin

I am behind…I’m way behind. At least, that’s how the people who have already spent over $133 million worldwide to see The Great Gatsby have made me feel.

I’m not sure if my love for this era began when my high school literary instructor assigned F. Scott Fitzgerald’s famous novel to read and dissect – probably not. However, I find it entirely fascinating now. The people, the art, the music, the fashion and the interiors were evolving tremendously during that period and that evolution had a major impact on the world of today.

I was beside myself when I heard that Warner Bros. was taking Fitzgerald’s novel, an excellent 1920’s character study, to the big screen. I don’t care what the reviewer’s say – “too glitzy” “more sparkle than substance” – I am going purely for the eye candy. No, not for Mr. DiCaprio, but for the recreation of the design, art and fashion.

I couldn’t blog about the design of this era without including a pic of the Empire State Building lobby!

What do you think about these “inspired” rooms:

And the “inspired” fashions of today… *drool!*

Cheers!

Photos courtesy of Houzz and Net-A-Porter

Tulip Louise: One Girl, Five Spring Looks

February 9, 2014 by ark_admin

Itâ€™s officially spring, ladies! Time to peel back the bulky sweaters, exfoliate that winter skin and soak up the extra hours of daylight. Yes, spring comes with a ton of great perks but the clothing transition can be totally daunting. Anna Chatelain of Tulip Louise is here to help take the pressure off and get your wardrobe prepped + ready.

The Spring 2011 Trends You Need to Know:

Look A:

Want to channel your inner Chloe or Isabel Marant? Then itâ€™s time to hop on the sheer trend bandwagon. Hint: Always pair your sheer item up with an opaque article of clothing underneath for adequate coverage. Look A also plays with colorblocking, which has become a huge sensation via the likes of Jil Sander! Hint: Make sure all pieces are solids; either in the same color family or in complementary hues.

Top, Masons // Skirt, Grey Dog // Footwear, Masons // Jewels, Maeâ€™s Emporium // Sunnies, Lola Boutique

Look B:

You donâ€™t have to be a world traveler to embrace the tribal trendâ€”whether you choose to experiment with a blouse or a necklace, try mixing fun patterns and colors together. Itâ€™s also no secret that high-waisted pants are back in a big way. Donâ€™t fight it. Begin by pulling out interesting tops and start tucking in already! Hint: Go for bright and/or patterned blouses, paired with solid pants.

Top, Masons // Pants, Grey Dog // Jewels, Maeâ€™s Emporium // Sunnies, Lola Boutique

Look C:

Celebrate fringe this spring! When used properly, the unexpected texture can add a really nice addition to an otherwise simple outfit. Hint: This works best in moderation, so limit yourself to one fringed piece per look {i.e., skirt OR handbag}. Please also note that Look C is featuring yet another sheer top!

Top, Masons // Footwear, Masons // Handbag, Masons // Sunnies, Lola Boutique

Look D:

Summon the flower child within, because this seasonâ€™s star of the show is definitely the 70s trend. Super flared jeans, floppy hats, platform wedges and loads of bangles are all welcome!

Top, Masons // Pants, Grey Dog // Jewels, Maeâ€™s Emporium // Sunnies, Lola Boutique

Look E:

What is spring without flowers? Boring. Inject a touch of floral into your wardrobe with either a flirty dress, a pair of high waisted shorts or subtle accessories!

Dress, Masons // Footwear, Masons // Jewels, Maeâ€™s Emporium // Handbag, Masons

Which look are you most excited to try for spring?

Yours truly-

Photography: The Hudsons Modern Photography

Styling: Anna E. Chatelain of Tulip Louise

Wardrobe provided by the following Northwest Arkansas boutiques: Masons, Grey Dog, Lola Boutique and Maeâ€™s Emporium

Trends at the Kitchen and Bath Industry Show

February 9, 2014 by ark_admin

The Kitchen and Bath Industry Show, or KBIS, is one of the largest trade shows in the nation. Held yearly in conjunction with the National Kitchen and Bath Association conference, it is an inspiring, interactive platform that showcases the latest industry products, trends and technologies.
As a member of this industry, I look forward to this show every year! I adore looking through all of the inspiring designs, old and new. Here are my top ten favorite new products and designs that were introduced a few months ago at this year’s show held in New Orleans.

I love the sleek lines of Blanco‘s Modex kitchen sink workstation. As part of the Silgranit II Collection, it is highly durable and available in three finishes: Cinder, Anthracite and White. It is also available with an integrated ash cutting board.

Available later this year, Delta Faucet introduced a contemporary collection of fixtures for the bath with the Ara Product Suite. Satisfying the growing trend of the modern, linear shape, Delta continues to round out it’s product availability.

Let me just say that it is about time! I am so glad that Brizo has stepped up and integrated several new floor mount bath fillers into their line-up. From left to right: Virage, Odin, Siderna, and the Traditional Two-Handle styles will all be available later this year.

It is no secret that I adore New Ravenna Mosaics and their latest introduction, the Miraflores Collection by Paul Schatz, did not disappoint. The line was inspired by Schatz’s travels throughout the Latin countries of Spain, Portugal and Mexico and is created from natural stone that can be used on walls and floors, both inside and out.

One of the most flexible faucets for the kitchen was introduced by Dornbract. Part of the Tara Ultra Series, the Pivot faucet has an arm that will turn 360 degrees and has a reach of over 21″. A simple twist knob at the spout makes it even easier to be used from one side of an island to another.

I am so excited about this simple design! I don’t know how many times my clients have been interested in the dual-flush technology, but the ultra-modern designs of the dual-flush toilets turned them off. Kohler finally created the solution and added this option to a couple of their best selling toilet designs, the Wellworth and the Highline. The trip lever is designed just like traditional toilets, on the side, and has two options – the longer green lever for a light flush and the full lever for a complete flush.

Read about another favorite Kohler introduction, the Moxie showerhead with wireless speaker in one of my earlier blog posts.

I absolutely love this faucet by Brizo. The Solna kitchen faucet not only has the option of the SmartTouch technology, it also has a completely hidden pull-down spray and a sleek design…Yes, please! Oh! It is also available in White – one of the hottest modern color trends in faucets today.

Tired of losing what could be valuable storage space in your bathroom by building in a small television and mounting a two-way mirror over it? Robern has given you the answer. A discreet LCD television can be integrated into the popular M Series recessed medicine cabinet. With the TViD technology, you can keep up-to-date on events while getting ready in the morning and still have hidden storage space behind the mirror.

Rohl, a company known for beautiful farmhouse style sinks, has added a new design to the Shaws Fireclay Collection. The simple, bowed front of this apron sink can lend itself to any kitchen design, from traditional to modern.

The creators of Wine Logic Wine Rack introduced a now-why-didn’t-I-think-of-that insert for a standard base cabinet. This preassembled accessory is available in sizes that will hold 18, 24 or 30 bottles of wine and can be designed to fit into your new kitchen or will fit into existing cabinetry.

Hope you enjoyed seeing these new products as much as I enjoyed finding them!

tulip louise: spring cleaning {wardrobe style}

February 9, 2014 by ark_admin

Remember how effortlessly Anna Chatelain of Tulip Louise styled and modeled these top looks for spring? Well, we certainly do, and we were so impressed that we snatched her up to be a monthly columnist on the At Home blog!

Stints in the fashion district of New York City and the corporate division of Neiman Marcus make her a top choice for wardrobe styling in our state (visit Tulip Louise to marvel at her eye for fashion). We believe in living a well-styled life, and you can bet we’ll be anxiously awaiting Anna’s posts each month, featuring everything you need to know to get your wardrobe in tip-top shape.

Have you spent countless hours daydreaming of the perfect closet to hold your perfectly curated lovelies? Wow, we have so much in common! In days past, the simple thought of organizing my wardrobe exhausted me. Limited square footage {and cash flow} can leave a fashionista feeling downright discouraged. â€œInspiringâ€ images of sprawling wardrobes only made the task seem that much more daunting:

1: Mariah Carey / 2 & 3: Jenna Lyons / 4: Domino Magazine

Worry not! Below is a clientâ€™s closet that I recently helped tackle for spring:

Are you inspired yet? Wonderful. Here are four simple steps explaining how we did it:

1.Â Â Â Â Switch out mismatched hangers for the same style throughout. TIP: Wooden hangers out of your budget? Opt for something like this!

2.Â Â Â Â Separate your pieces by style {i.e. slacks, skirts, shorts}, then via colorway.

3.Â Â Â Â {Space allowing} Store all shoes and clutches in individual rubbermaid containers. TIP:Â Take inventory photos of each item, then tape photo to exterior of coordinating container for quick reference.

4.Â Â Â Â Place occasional pieces {i.e. swimsuits, belts} in storage bins to cut the clutter.

Now that youâ€™re armed with the necessary steps, go forth and organize!

Yours truly-

The Skull Trend

February 9, 2014 by ark_admin

Ten years ago, in the 2003 Spring/Summer Collection, Alexander McQueen introduced one of his most iconic pieces – the Skull Scarf. Worn by A-listers and not-so-A-listers, anybody who is anybody has one…or three.

Just a sampling of the celebs who choose McQueen to keep warm.

I was reminded of this scarf during my recent trip to France. Everywhere I turned in Paris, I spotted the skull motif made so popular by McQueen.

I was able to take note of several pieces that were especially striking. Here are a few ways I’ve added the motif into my wardrobe plus others that I’ve added to my wish list…

For Her: