Choosing furniture that can work well in more than one room of the home is what good bones, great pieces is all about. And the console table is one of the most ambidextrous pieces. Where would you be without a long narrow console table to drop off your keys, blackberry and purse as you enter and exit your home? This same piece of furniture works equally well when placed behind the sofa in the living room, where it’s the perfect length to hold a pair of decorative lamps, one at either end. A console table also makes an excellent side board in a dining room. Ours often ends up storing the ingredients for upcoming craft or decorating projects, or as a dessert display area during the holidays.
Images clockwise from top left: House Beautiful magazine, Country Living magazine, Apartment Therapy. Here are five of our favorite console tables right now:

1. CB2  Peekaboo Clear Console: Made of .7 inch thick molded acrylic, this transparent console floats in the room.  It would even make a terrific bar, $349.
2. Williams Sonoma Home Colonial Console: Inspired by plantation antiques, this table has traditional turnings and a warm, aged finish (48:w x 18″d x 32″h). It’s got a hardwood frame with cherry veneer, $1,450.
3. Room and Board Kitaro: We’re loving the 3-Drawer Console Asian walnut espresso console to tuck away all kinds of stuff (60w x 14d x 30h), $799.
4.Design Within Reach Rubik Console Table: The Rubik Collection (2008) is made with a spare stainless steel base and wood veneer or solid marble tabletop (32″h x 42″ w x 14″d), $750 with the marble top.
5. Jonathan Adler Preston Console Table: Probably the chicest piece made of stamped leather, also available in white (66″w x 15″d x 30″h), $1,950.

Our entire way of thinking began many years ago. As a young interior designer in New York, I was relentless in my pursuit of stylish and original pieces to include in the homes I was hired to decorate. Often, my best finds were made on the weekends because, when you’re running a business, you simply can’t spend all of your time shopping! This is how it came to be that little Lauren would tag along with me at weekend flea markets, estate sales, and, tag sales. Strangely, she rarely complained on those excursions. Mind you, she had a working mom, and was happy to spend time with me, but, who knew that a burgeoning style maven would emerge? (Below, grabbing lunch after one of the early morning shows).
Sometimes, we would play a game together to see who could come up with the ” best piece” of the day. The criteria were vast, and not always met, but nevertheless it was always fun to compare what she and I would come up with at the end of the day. We still play this game when we divide and conquer at antique shows. Lauren will say,”Mom, did you see that amazing clock in the center aisle?,” and I’ll smile and nod my head, knowing that she spotted it–the best piece of the day. Here are five great pieces from our latest excursions (the clock below, found at the Pier Show this past weekend, is from Braswell Galleries in Norwalk, CT).
This wonderful table with it’s unique carved stone pedestal comes from Provence, France. We spotted it at Circa Antiques, in Westport, Connecticut.
Lauren found this American Pie Cabinet at the Rhinebeck antique show this past fall. We were both taken with the detail around the windows, and the curvature in the skirt. Notice the original gray paint and the mysterious “mouse hole” above the top drawer. You can’t deny this piece would make a great conversation starter!
This is my favorite lamp at the moment. I found a pair of them at Bungalow in Westport, Connecticut, one of my treasured stomping grounds. I purchased a pair of them for a client in an apartment in New York City and they look fab.
I found this chair at the Holly Hunt showroom in New York City. Isn’t it great? – S

In our house, the inventory of wine glasses is at a low by December. You know how it goes, the long stems crack when they’re forced too aggressively into the dishwasher by large hands (not that I don’t appreciate help with the washing up, Patrick , then there are the casualties from the summer barbecue season, and of course, some fall into what we in our household call “drama”. Anyhow, we need to replenish our cupboard to prep for our holiday entertaining. And we’re guessing you might be in the same boat. If the wine is good, show it some respect with decent glassware. Make an investment in wine glasses that will wear well, feel right, and look pretty on the table. Here are our personal favorites at the moment. In the spirit of the season, keep in mind that a pair of wine glasses can also make a lovely gift.

1. Crate and Barrel Marcel Wine Glasses, $11.95 each.
2. Williams Sonoma Riedel “O” Trio, Bordeaux, $29.95 for set of three.
3. Target Riedel Vivant Red Wine Glasses, $30 for a set of four
4. Williams and Sonoma Edward Wine Glasses, $80. for a sets of four.
The red wine glasses at the top of the post are from Martha Stewart’s Holiday Collection at Macys. They are a wonderful, vibrant red and will make any holiday table-setting explode with color. – S

My “little” sister Elizabeth is hosting Thanksgiving for the first time this year. Betsy (as my older sister Joanne and I still call her) is a wonderful homemaker, and a very good cook. In fact, she throws a great party. But she’s never had all four of my siblings, their spouses, my parents and all nine of her nieces and nephews in her home for a holiday meal before. When Joanne and I have alternated years in the past, we’ve shared the family silver (what’s left of it), glasses, dessert plates and gravy boats–the kinds of things you don’t realize you need until the very last minute. That was easy to do since she and I live 30 minutes from each other. But since Betsy lives four hours away in Massachusetts, it’s not really an option. So, since I can’t help with cooking or table setting until the day of, I thought I would try and find something I could send her in advance, as she preps for the big day, to somehow ease her burden. Here are five great thanksgiving gifts that any host or hostess would love to receive. They can be sent ahead, or, if you’re hosting this year, order them yourself and use them year after year.

1. Madeline Weinrib, the queen of all things Ikat offers these orange keri blockprint napkins on her website. Any hostess would be happy to receive and use them. A set of 4 is $48.
2. Crate&Barrel sells these fantastically simple classic napkin rings. At $3.95 each, these napkin rings look luxe. They’re silver-plated with a shiny finish, so there is absolutely no polishing involved. Sweet!
3. Sur la table Revol porcelaine sauce boat is made to go into the oven to keep the gravy warm, but won’t crack or break. Made in France by Revol, founded in 1789. On sale right now for $23.96.
4. Williams-Sonoma’s classic glass hurricanes are hand blown in Poland, and at $68 each, they’re a very good investment.
5. Williams-Sonoma‘s oval stoneware bread basket in cherry red. My mother-in-law gave this to me one year as a gift, and I love it. Made by a potter in California, this stoneware basket goes into the oven for 15 minutes, then you take it out, line it with a cloth napkin and fill it with warm breads or muffins to keep them warm. It’s heavenly and $49. – S

Check back with us later in the week for more Thanksgiving prep ideas. And, tune in to the Martha Stewart Living radio channel on Sirius XM, this Wednesday, November 18th when Lauren and I will be guests on “Morning Living” answering all of your questions about Thanksgiving table decorating. We are scheduled for a half hour at 9:30 ET. Go to Martha Stewart Living Radio: SIRIUS Ch. 112, XM Ch. 157 (Part of the Best of SIRIUS) Don’t have Sirius XM? Stream it live from sirius.com. If you’re not a subscriber, click on: Listen Online and sign up for 30 days free streaming. (You can call in to the radio show at: 1-866-675-6675 ). Martha Stewart Living Radio: SIRIUS Ch. 112, XM Ch. 157 (Part of the Best of SIRIUS)

People often ask us the meaning of our name, good bones, great pieces. If you’ve heard us explain it before, my apologies, but for those of you who are curious, read on.  After years of designing interiors for clients as well as for family members, I’ve learned how to identify and choose furniture, lighting, and accessories for the home that are simply indispensable. And by that I mean that they’re so classic and flexible that you can move them from room to room, and home to home for a lifetime. Lauren adheres to the same way of thinking when it comes to fashion. So wherever we go, and by that I mean flea markets, consignment stores, antique galleries and even retail stores, we look for great pieces to recommend to our clients, friends, and readers. We find that by editing out the trendy or just plain ridiculous, uniquely stylish homes and wardrobes are born. To illustrate our way of thinking, here are five great pieces we found on a recent excursion to a favorite antique fair: the occasional chair, love seat, statement side table, gourd lamp, and demi-lune table. We think you’ll agree that they would all make good investments that you could bring with you wherever life takes you.
This faux bamboo occasional chair has so much potential (and it won’t break the bank). Its seat cushion is covered in a natural burlap colored linen, and it’s wide enough to accommodate almost any body type. We love the intricate cross rail underneath. This is the kind of piece that will always stand out when leaned up against a wall, and it’ll also make a wonderful piece to occasionally pull into the center of the room when extra seating is required.With so many friends living in apartments and small spaces, we’re always on the look out for small sofas. This one has wonderful tailored lines–the arms are so sleek. Since its actually two separate pieces, the two sections can live as separate chairs too. It doesn’t get more flexible than this.We love to find glamorous pieces, especially when they fit into the budget. This Hollywood regency white table probably has many stories to tell, and it’s forever chic.  It  could find a home in almost any room.We never get tired of gourd-shaped lamp bases, but it’s rare to find one that is so completely original. Made from vintage Murano glass, this is one of a pair that could easily flank a living room sofa or a wonderful tailored bed in a master bedroom. Whenever you purchase vintage lamps, be sure to inquire as to whether they’ve been recently electrified.We’re huge fans of demi-lune tables of all shapes and sizes.  This one is faux pained with gesso paint. A piece like this one will make any foyer or large hallway come to life. It’s a keeper. If any of these pieces appeal to you, you’ll find them at the Stamford Antique and Artisan Center, in Stamford, Connecticut. – S

Summer is practically gone and the fall promises to be full of new opportunities. We’re always challenging ourselves to learn new things, and to do so we like to keep an organized office. And of course, we like it to look stylish, don’t you? Here are our favorite organizing ideas for back to school, work, or plain old life after vacation.

1. Quo Vadis weekly planner in raspberry, $25: This sturdy, leatherette planner has traveled with me for a decade. My dear friend, Lucinda, turned me on to this anti-Filofax several years ago when we shared an office at Martha Stewart Living television. We had so much to keep organized, between work, family, and fun, but we kept it together with our favorite planner. Refills are available annually, from www.quovadisusa.com, love that! 2. Ballard Designs cumberland sea grass organizer set, ON SALE for $24.99: We love the look of sea grass in any environment, but in an office, it just adds an element of comfort. 3. Russell+Hazel collator, $30: We’ve long been fans of Minnesota based Russel+Hazel. Their composition books are the chicest, always bound in fantastic colors that make us smile. This collator is so practical and cool looking! 4. Kate Spade Jane Street Becca pencil case, $75: Everybody needs a special holder for their pens and pencils–otherwise you get ink and lead all over the inside (and sometimes outside) of your purse–does double-duty as a makeup bag too. 5. Pottery Barn magnetic whiteboard calendar, $44: Not sure how your household works, but when there are many moving parts and individuals, it really pays to have one easy access board that lets everyone know what’s happening!

Isn’t it about time you graced your workspace with a touch of elegance? We love the desk accessories by Dransfield & Ross–especially the colored mouse pads! We can never seem to find anything but ugly mouse pads, but these are made out of the same faux-shagreen as the clock above, and look great on just about any surface. – S & L