This past weekend, we went up to Nantucket to visit our family and do some antiquing. As you probably know, New England got hit with a huge storm that resulted in torrential rain on the island. What a bummer! Knowing a hurricane was coming, but not wanting to believe it, mom and I packed all of our favorite summer dresses and skirts, only to be met with monsoon-like weather. I guess we had a serious case of wishful thinking. Without a single rain jacket or umbrella, we were not at all prepared for a weekend of non-stop rain. Unfortunately, we weren’t able to do much antiquing, however we did pop into a few stores in town, and found this fantastic Italian sandal shop called Il Sandalo. Their 30% off sale yielded the following result: Aren’t they great? Il Sandalo has been around for about 30 years, and originated in Naples, Italy. All of their sandals are hand-crafted in Italy using the best leather soles and heels. You can visit an Il Sandalo store in Palm Beach, Nantucket, Southampton, and Sardinia, or online at ilsandalo.com. I found a couple of their more simple styles (which are just as fabulous as the bejeweled ones!) discounted on Yoox.com for $69. 
 Check out more of our favorite styles after the jump! – L

When I was growing up, my parents always had a pair of traditional wing chairs on either side of the fireplace. I remember they were frequently recovered when we moved to a new house, or when mom and dad were looking for a change (guess the apple doesn’t fall far from the tree). At the time, I thought wing chairs were old fashioned and uncool, but my opinion has changed significantly—in part because today’s furniture designers have taken this traditional form to a new level of chic. The first wing chairs were designed in the late 17th century to protect their occupants from cold drafts as they sat in front of the fireplace. Today a fireplace is not required to stage a handsome wing chair, just a desire to be open minded about taking an old form into the 21st century and beyond. Clearly, by the number of new wing-chairs being introduced to the market, there is still a strong demand for this graceful chair.

1. Mitchell Gold + Bob Williams Suzanne wing chair, 2. Baker Furniture wing chair #6200, 3. Williams Sonoma Home Chelsea wing chair, 4. Victoria Hagan Home Wainscott chair, 5. Hickory Chair Farm wing chair, 6. Restoration Hardware French upholstered wing chair.

On a recent trip to Boyle in Hudson, New York, Lauren and I fell in love with this traditional form made magical by it’s dramatic print. You can often find upholstered arm chairs at tag sales and estate sales.  Assuming the frame is well-built, this can be a great investment. We can help you find a good upholsterer if you’re in the New York/Connecticut area. – S

Too many pieces of furniture in any room is overkill. It’s kind of like ruining a great outfit with too many accessories. As Lauren likes to say when I make this fatal error, “Mom, you’ve got way too much going on.” And she’s always right. So, in fashion and design, we’ve learned to choose wisely and to stick with what we know works. In the rooms we design, there are never any pieces that are purely for decoration. Everything has a purpose. A console table is one of those key purchases that every home/apartment owner makes. It’s often a focal point, as it can live in an entryway and is often the first piece you see when you enter a space. Usually, it’s the longest piece in the room, standing proudly against a wall hosting one or a pair of lamps. Our favorite console tables are the ones that are most versatile. We love clean lines here–leave the more decorative and ornate stuff for elsewhere. A console table should be able to live in the entryway or in the living room at varying times–it’s all about flexibility. And this way of thinking is also very economical. So, if you’re in the market for a console table, check out the following. All are from the Fall collections. – S
1. Ballard Designs large Brady console, $599, 2. Mitchell Gold & Bob Williams Ming console 3. Wisteria bleached butcher’s table console, $1,499, 4.  Room & Board Align console, $699, 5. Restoration Hardware Dutch industrial console $995.

Think denim shirts are just for cowboys? Think again! The original uniform of the wild west is back. And this isn’t its first second-coming—my mom wore them in the late 70′s as a college student in NYC. On the Fall 2009 runways there was a resurgence of studded jean jackets, and button-down jean shirts. Even more recently, the resort 2010 collections showed little jean anoraks (Rag & Bone) and a cap-sleeve chambray top at Alexander Wang. And taking a cue from ready-to-wear designers, brands like J Crew and Madewell have put out some really great, and affordable, options. With Gap’s boyfriend chambray shirt at $49.50, this is one trend we can all get in on.
Clockwise from top left: J Crew Selvedge chambray shirt, $98, Madewell denim workshirt, $88, Current/Elliott the night shirt, $215, Gap boyfriend chambray shirt, $49.50.
When I first started noticing the rising number of denim shirts in the market, I was a little worried about how to style them. But I think they are actually easier to wear than you think. They should be treated no differently than your basic white button-down. You can even pair them with jeans! I know, know, denim on denim sounds awful, but it can actually look really chic (especially if the jeans are a little distressed). I decided to put mine with a long Dries Van Noten skirt from a couple of seasons ago and a simple gold sandal. A little eighties-style knot in the front and I was ready to go! A denim shirt is a great way to dress down just about anything. The one I’ve got on below is from J Crew.
And lastly, I have to show you guys my new haircut! Last week I did a photo shoot with hairstylist Oribe (he’s coming out with a product line), and he chopped off my hair! He gave me the “classic Vidal Sasoon bob.” What a change from my long, shapeless hair! Once I get some of the photos from the shoot I’ll be sure to post them (my three-day, no wash hair does not do the cut justice). What do you guys think of it?! – L

We’ve been seeing lots of grain sack furniture and accessories lately out in the market. And last week the trend continued at the New York International Gift Fair Summer 2009. Vagabond showcased some charming pillows, table runners, linens, and tote bags all made out of grain sacks. Grain sacks were originally made from home-spun linen, and they were used in the early 1800′s by farmers to transport staples like flour, sugar, and grain. The stripes or markings on the sacks were a way of differentiating one farmer’s goods from another. Later on, during the Depression, grain sacks (also called feedsacks) were made out of cotton solid and patterned fabrics. This more pliable material allowed farmers’ wives to make clothes, pillowcases, diapers, dish towels, and quilts out of the remnants. These days, not much has changed. People are still finding innovative ways to use the sturdy fabric–vintage or reproductions. (Below, some inspirations from Dan Marty Design).

On a recent trip to Lilian August in Norwalk, CT, the store was packed with antique chairs upholstered using the vintage textile. We couldn’t believe the selection! We even found a small antique dog sofa in the fabric. Below are two beautiful pairs of chairs from Bonnie Nieman antiques. We could see pieces like these looking right at home in a small-scale beach home on Nantucket or the coast of Maine. There is a great juxtaposition in the hardiness of the fabric, and the elegance of the chair forms. They are sculptural and functional, all in one. And since these custom furnishings are not cheap, here are a few wallet-friendly pieces we’re loving right now–an easy way to add a touch of grain sack to your life. You can also buy vintage grain sack fabric by the yard, we’re already thinking about using some as a covering for a little bench we recently found at the Salvation Army. Stay tuned on that one! – S & L Clockwise from top left: Vagabond handwoven oversized runner and napkin (go to website for vendors), Ballard Designs floor cushion ($119-$169) and pillow ($52), Ballard Designs Montparnasse tote ($65) and daybed cushion ($399 to $499).

We didn’t buy much at the Madison-Boucksville show (see monday’s post for a full recap), but we did pick up a couple of really pretty milkglass hobnail vessels. We knew they’d look great filled with flowers, or even little candies during the holidays. Below, me and my son, Jack, holding up our purchases. What a trooper Jack was for tagging along on this very “boring” day!
Below, just a section of a huge table full of different hobnail milkglass pieces–one of the most extensive collections at the show. We’ve never seen so much interest in hobnail as we have in recent months.
We picked up some pretty pink flowers and some greens at our local market. Can any of our horticultural experts out there help us out with the name of these? Lauren and I both agreed these arrangements would be beautiful for a wedding. The stark white of the milkglass against the pale pink petals is just so lovely. – S