Neha Leela

A collaboration between Cole and Son Wallpapers and the bold, glam and eternally edgy, Vivienne Westwood, has me back to hoping that other  fashion retailers will translate their apparel to interiors.  

Though I couldn’t quite embrace the rumpled tartan plaid wall designs, I thought the cutout lace and dogtooth, derived from her signature pieces, could make just as strong of a statement in a foyer to a home as they do, while worn to make a first impression.

Dear J. Crew and Diane Von Furstenberg, My wardrobe loves you. My walls are waiting.

image credit: interiorzine

Living two blocks from newbury street, and having visited many of the spas in this neighborhood, I have never seen any spot that oozes as much vivid warmth and energy as this Portuguese barbershop.  I’m infatuated with the turquoise chairs, the contrasting red door frame and the bold teal walls captured in this photo.  I hope but am doubtful that if touring this town, many of us would stop to admire this colorful cave. 

image credit: The Sartorialist 

Lethargy resulted not only in a lull on the blog for the past two weeks, but a brief halt on all things on the home front.  Laundry piled up,  suitcases remained unpacked, thank you notes were much delayed, and decorating projects lagged.  After falling asleep early last night, even for me, I woke up this morning, surveyed the seemingly unfamiliar surroundings and state of my home and began rebooting. I sorted stacks of mail and swiffered up a storm.  

But even after generally resuming order, the corner of my bedroom is still stacked with forgotten rolls of fabric and samples, meant for projects that were shelved in my mini-recess from the decorating frenzy that consumed the fall.  Determined to resume after this recent bout of winter listlissness, I’m starting with the paint project that has been most daunting. With help from Lisa, my design idol and co-owner of Nest,   I’m down to a few options for the living room that are derived from the damask wallpaper in my entryway.

Just having returned from Puerto Rico, I’m favoring the warmer gold and tan colors to set off the aqua in my curtains but these greenish blues are a bit more daring, while still offering calm and consistency with the color palette in the room so far.  

I’ll be bringing home more paint samples tomorrow and playing around a bit, please chime in with any and all input or inspiration!

With winds and temperatures that are severe and sharp, even for this season, there’s nothing I want more than to seek refuge in the comfort of my bed.  Typically an early riser,  extricating myself from layers of bedding has proved to be challenging.

The inevitable mid-January cough and cold has me re-considering the bedroom.  When I first moved in,  I began creating a cozy escape, with maize walls, clean white linens, charcoal ikat and toile anchors and pops of red.   

But I’m eyeing the easy elegance that channels Canyon Ranch in these bedrooms below.  Though its too soon to replace my wallpaper with grasscloth, it does make an immediate difference in the first room.   In both, the tufted headboards, glass lamp and soft palettes add serenity.  For those of us who can’t re-skin our rooms, we can transform with tranquil textures:  the faux-bois pillow, suede bench, silk cushion or cashmere throw, are all attainable accents to create a space that is a spa-like sanctuary.

(images via Canadian House & Home)

These bone chilling temperatures summon visions of a mountain side chalet, blazing flares within a stone fireplace,  antler adorned mantles and windows looking straight into the mountains.

Though my decor is not easily transformable into ski-chic, I’m determined to find ways to channel that seasonal, intimate scene without replacing teacups with horns.  As a start, I’m topping my summer white bedding with this taupe faux-fur throw : my shortcut to layering on winter luxury to create a bedroom retreat.

image credit: elle decor, pottery barn

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The word feminine has long since conjured up images of women leaning into vanity mirrors, spritzing, applying and powdering.  Most of us don’t have enough occasions to gaze endlessly into mirrors, perfecting our pouts, but for a few brief moments every morning we can indulge that fantasy.  I adore these rich, romantic rooms that inspire glamour and elegance, even on the days they feel out of reach.  

image credit: Elle Decor

In going through old pictures, I have a few that are set aside that are probably not the most flattering but are quite memorably, me at my happiest; two, not surprisingly am where I am playing dress up. One, was with my best friend at four years old, wrapped in boas, aprons and tiaras. The next one is a set of polaroids from years later, during my first internship.

The other girl, who is pouting and winking at the camera next to me, decked in aviators, baubles and fedoras, was Marianna, my fellow intern, instant friend and huge inspiration at Harper’s Bazaar. We spent a summer, finding genius ways to stuff a Viktor & Rolf gown into a trunk, hunting down lost choos and braving notorious stylists while gabbing about travel, family, love and fashion.

As you all know, I moved back to boston and away from the fashion world, but Mari, an amazing photographer, stylist and artist, both then and now, stayed exactly where she belonged: right in the creative capital of New York.

Today, I was SO excited when she let me know of her most recent adventure, I Am Dorkas – a line of linens for the home that is a product of her own creative energy and collaboration with the people she loves. My favorites are below; napkins in fabric etched with fables, and a striking and sweet apron, that just screams motherly comfort and coziness.

For those of you, down to the wire on gifting, take a peek. I can promise you’ll find handmade goodies made with love.

Mari, congratulations lady!

Beyond the enthusiasm and helpfulness of their product development and education team who are our hostesses on this trip, I am floored by the space. The campus cultivates a sense of spirit, endless energy and buoyancy.

The training rooms which we were in for most of the day are equipped for conversation and open-mindedness; when white boards are rolled out, you get the inevitable “this must be where the magic happens” feeling.

Most impressively, the cafes, buzzing with t-shirt clad employees in colorful chairs, were best described by a colleague as a “grown up pre-school cafeteria”, except with an assortment that would make Whole Foods proud — I enjoyed persimmon with pomegranate, wild rice tossed in balsamic with grapes and walnuts, which I topped with butternut squash, a creamy potato leek soup and an orange infused panacotta (Yum!).

Its no wonder Google avenue oozes animation and intellect.

image credits: Marie Claire

Coming out of a long weekend, full of overeating, banter and bickering, I imagined that I’d be in the throes of the holiday spirit by this point. But beyond listening to “all I want for christmas” on repeat, I’ve been more swept up in work frenzy than festivity.

To salvage some spirit, I thought I’d order my wreath to jumpstart holiday decorating, despite being away from home.

I always gravitate to the less traditional, but still tasteful garlands of berries and ribbon. This year, I immediately checked Etsy for handmade elegance and found this wreath, adorned with burgandy blooms.

I’m in Mountain View, California to visit the Google headquarters this week. Despite the unseasonable temperatures, they’ve embraced the season: ribbon swathed buildings, wreaths greeting us on front doors and lighted trees galore. So, I suppose what I have to look forward to when I get home is the extremely seasonable temperatures and the season, itself.

Problem being that when I see this…

I start craving this…

and I don’t have this.

image credit: Garance Dore , Kimberly Ayers (via Coco and Kelley) and Elin