Neha Leela

Our visit to England is a few days behind me and feels more like a distant memory, following a whirlwind work week wrought with catch-up, but the city left a distinct impression.  Beyond the fantastic time with friends, I was fascinated by the city’s  chemistry of antiquated charm countered with swank and modern.   Cobblestone streets are catwalks for cary grant-esque  elegance to edgy and boho bomber jackets and booties.   But nothing looks out of place at  a London crosswalk.

I’ve been since scouring the net for images to inspire and channel London-chic, but am across the board with rustic noblesse to barren lofts drenched in striking color.   For the time-being,  I’ve stumbled across Kensington based design couture maven, Jimmie Martin,  and feel the line reflects the urban energy:  the modern motifs on classic pieces are a stamp of London’s signature spirit.

Image Credits:  The Sartorialist , The Metropolitan Home

I’m across the pond, in London, to cheer on the Patriots,  fill up on pub food & pimms cups, haggle (or try to) in Alfie’s market for charming curios and try to not do too much damage on Bond street.

Cheers ’til Wednesday!

I’ve developed an appreciation for contradictions in a room.  This living area, photographed by John Granen, is inspiration for symbiotic contrast: the demure, antique chair recovered in a leather azure facing a mid-century draper-esque sofa covered in a prim peach. Or the nature inspired, rustic center table with the mod, steel side stool.  Yet it still achieves an air of comfort and classic.  

Rugs, from oriental to zebra or sisal to geometric, can tie a room together, add warmth, and make a statement all at once.   Searching for a runner for my foyer, I turned to Ballard Designs, and got easily distracted by the damask and dhurries.  But none made as much of a literal statement, as Le Poeme, a design inspired and imprinted with French fables from La Fontaine.  I wish it came in runner dimensions, but perhaps I could use the wise words elsewhere.  

Grand-daughter to the decor mogul behind ABC Carpet & Home, Madeline Weinrib is design royalty, whose textiles reflect time, travel and trend.  So I suppose I shouldn’t have been surprised when I found her quilts, and deemed them fit for a queen. 

Thanks to the unseasonable snow yesterday, I was eyeing and exploring extra bedding to cozy up against the chill when I found these quilts, that succeed in a rare balance of traditional comfort with a crisp, modern pattern.

*photograph of Madeline Weinrib from Town & Country,  Image from Madeline Weinrib

A friend of mine, immersed in a fantastic re-decorating project, is on the hunt for botanical prints.  When she asked me for suggestions last week, I was intially going to point her to a unique French four-some at Wisteria, but I think she’s going to have much more fun with this gift from the Ebay gods.  

This extensive collection, from Trillium Rare Prints, is home to colorful, original prints that succeed in a brilliant balance for botanicals: punch and color with a simultaneous  weathered wear for aged elegance.   I hope she loves them as much as I do, otherwise I may have to snag them!

I’m a believer in filling an environment with the hues and deliberate details that make you feel good – whether that means, beautiful and inspired or creative and independent.  So how about these to counter the morning closet confusion with some confidence?

(via Apartment Therapy)

After a year of store closings and barren storefronts on Newbury,  we were long over due for brightness and cheer to be restored to some of the gaping holes.   Anything would’ve been better than the crooked “retail space for sale” signs that hung over forgotten windows, but I coudn’t have asked for more with Jonathan Adler’s entry to our humble abode.  I’ve waited with the eagerness of a child, the week before Christmas, as I watched employees, prior to opening, stealthily lug in contemporary and chic home goods after hours.

From furniture to accessories, Adler’s geometric inspired gems are exactly what is needed to infuse a home with a happy and upbeat spirit.  You know where to find me this weekend.

If only this was always the case.  The weekend behind me,  after madly swiffering and lugging boxes of leftover Oktoberfest off the roof, I was consumed by mild dread for tackling the fridge of leftovers.  But alas cleanout turned to cupcakes, when I couldn’t bear to part with the pot of cider, that had been adoringly attended to with cloves, nutmeg, all-spice and cinnamon for my weekend fall festivities.

Knowing fully well I’m utterly incapable of making the cider doughnuts that I crave every autumn (i’ll leave that to the experts), I went for the next best thing that cider, sugar, eggs, flour and spices could be.  Add this to the lengthy list of reasons fall is oh so sweet.

Spiced Cider Cupcakes

(adapted from Coconut & Lime)

Ingredients:

2 eggs
1 2/3 cup flour
2 cups traditional apple cider (mine was spiced prior to taste)
2/3 cup sugar
1/2 cup melted butter

1/2 tspn salt, nutmeg, all-spice, vanilla

Directions:

Preheat oven to 350. In large bowl, mix butter and sugar. Add eggs, beat well. Add the baking powder, salt, nutmeg, all-spice and vanilla. Stir. Add the flour and then mix apple cider. Fill each lined cup 3/4 way full. Bake 25 minutes.

Under the guise of being “healthy”, in lieu of frosting, I used a liberal dollop of strawberry rhubarb jam to add a sweet topping.

Two of my closest friends from college are visiting. Translation: My weekend is going to be filled with playing dress up, cupcakes and wine induced banter, so I will see you all Monday. Enjoy!

photography credit: stephanie rausser