Worthy Links: 30.11.12

What. a. week. Sometimes everything just seems to come to you at once doesn't it? Don't get me wrong, it was a great week, I'm just in dire need to sleep it off.

To recap, this week I: had events to attend every night, including two noteworthy openings: the Ethan Allen store and the Saltillo showroom. I also had three presentations and six term papers due (four small and two big). I was featured in To & From magazine. I discovered Nora Gray restaurant (highly recommend). I think I had a total of 10 hours of sleep in the last five days. Top that with work and blogging, and you've got one tired Gab.

So I'm heading to the country for a Christmas prep weekend with my lovely mom. I'm really looking forward to digging out the ornaments, cooking a nice meal or two, watching movies by the fireplace, and waking up in the world's most comfortable bed with a view of the (probably) frozen lake.


But before I go, here are a few noteworthy links:

I love Victoria's series "The Man Behind the Blog", but this week was my favorite instalment.

Annemarie shared a really fun and original DIY idea for entertaining.

Amber and Jamie styled a wonderful California Christmas table.

Cassandra shared a soup recipe I'm actually dying to try!

I may need to order this wrapping paper stat!

Happy relaxing weekend!

Delightful Daily: Dark and Cozy Bedroom

Nuevo Estilo

Top 5: Be My Guest

Here's another room you may want to whip up into shape before Christmas: the guest room. I know that time is short in December but thankfully, there are a few quick fixes you can easily make for your guests to feel at home and this is what I'm talking about on Damask & Dentelle today.

Tip #3: Supplies: this is an uber easy trick. Grab a tray you have laying around, and display quality bath linens and travel sized soaps, shampoos, creams, bottled water, and what nots. It will barely cost you anything and by displaying it in a stylish way, you'll make your guests feel like they're staying in a five star hotel.

Read the other four tips on Damask & Dentelle.

Delightful Daily: Creamy Goodness

Architectural Digest

Gab Loves: 28.11.12

1. Capel Rugs Anchor Emerald Woven Wool Rug | 2. Currey & Co Newport Chandelier | 3. J.Crew's "Looks We Love" Sale | 4. Miu Miu Embroidered Velvet Slippers with Jeweled Heel | 5. J.Crew Saturday Pant (on sale!) | 6. Jonathan Adler Nixon Throw | 7. Pearson Co Occasional Chest 9840 | 8. Shine by S.H.O Lola Sofa | 9. Rattan Spokes Mirror | 10. Scalamandré Zebra Stocking

Delightful Daily: A Royal Flair

Trad Home

Gift Guide Special: To & From!

Trust me, you do not want to miss To & From, the ultimate Christmas gift guide! I think you all know by now how much I love Christmas. So it should come to no surprise that when Meg and Katie, creators of this almighty gift guide, invited me to participate, I jumped on the occasion. Boy am I glad I did: all my favorite bloggers united to bring you virtually every gift idea you could never think of. You'll never run out of gift ideas again!

Psssst: Check you more of my "traditional with a twist" gift picks on page 63!

Delightful Daily: Masculine Bedroom

Traditional Home

The Joy of Giving: with Erika of Radiant Repulic!

New England girls must really love Christmas because this is the third in a row for The Joy of Giving! Erika is the delightful lady behind Radiant Republic. I just love her classic but cheerful new england aesthetic with a southern twist, which is even brighter in person! Her blog is filled with interiors and style inspiration, not to mention delicious recipes. You should also follow her on Twitter, she's a Twitter ninja.

1. The Ropes Chubby Bracelet | 2. Windsor Tankard Glasses | 3. Kate Spade Striped Carolyn Dress | 4. Diptyque Baies Candle | 5. Bando Fun Pack Headbands | 6. Essie Leading Lady Nail Polish | 7. Society Social Cheers! Coasters | 8.  Jill Rosenwald Mono Mug

Visit Erika's beautiful blog Radiant Republic.

Delightful Daily: Blue and Green

Melanie Turner

Delightful Weekend

Alexandra and Michael Misczynski

Happy Thanksgiving!

I'm clocking off early this week to wish my American counterparts a very happy Thanksgiving! Today I'm thankful for this little quiet time in blog land which comes at a perfect time: the end of semester crunch. 

With this said, enjoy the turkey and the very welcomed break and see you back here next week!

Delightful Daily: Blue Geranium

Splendid Avenue

Top 5: Living the High Life in your Living Room

The topic at hand today on Damask & Dentelle is the living room. Why? Because if you're hosting Christmas this year, you have about 33 days to whip that living room of yours into shape, ready for entertaining your guests. You have even less time if you’re hosting early Christmas parties, and if you’re not hosting at all, well at least you can have a pretty living room.

Tip 1: Each seat should have a dedicated side table. No one wants to hold on to their drinks all night, or leave them on the floor for others to trip over and spill. A sofa should have side tables on each side and a coffee table in front. With chair pairings, you can get away with a single side table in the middle.

Basically, sit in each spot in your living room with a glass of wine, and try to reach a surface to prop your drink without getting up or stretching awkwardly.

Read the other four tips on Damask & Dentelle.

Delightful Daily: Hello Hicks

Rachel Reider

Gab Loves: 21.11.12

1. C.Wonder Pug Ceramic Square Decorative Plate | 2. Hollyhock French Pagoda Lantern | 3. J.Crew Toggle Coat in Wool-Cashmere with Thinsulate | 4. MG+BW Adam 3-Panel Screen | 5. Folklore Red Embroidered Rectangle Pillow | 6. Tory Burch Calista Riding Boots | 7. Hollyhock Faux Tortoise Stacking Tables | 8. Cole & Son Wisteria Black Wallpaper | 9. Hofdi Wool Scarf | 10. AFK Gramercy Chest

Delightful Daily: The Definition of Cozy

I cannot get enough of this house... Kate Spade's House

Designer Crush: Suellen Gregory

Today, I want to give a shout out to one of my favorite recent discoveries in the interior design world, Suellen Gregory. When I posted this delightful daily a few days ago, I literally thought to myself: I don't think it would be humanly possible to design a more beautiful entryway.

I appreciate a designer that can master the basics: bamboo shades, bold pattern upholstery, fiddle leaf fig, well appointed seating, large rug...

Her style vaguely reminds me of Ashley Whittaker's, who I adore. Call it colorful traditional... I love the use of bright colors and bold patterns that makes up this lovely living room below.

And her skills at decorating outdoor spaces for entertaining are just phenomenal. You can barely tell that these rooms are actually outdoors. I mean, look at that well appointed bar! I couldn't have picked a more perfect mirror and did you spot the Coleen & Company pendant? An all time favorite.

Besides, any distinguished woman who lists this as one of her favorite pastimes is A-Ok in my books.

See her entire portfolio.

Delightful Daily: Canopy or Nothing

Phoebe Howard

The Joy of Giving: With Lindsay of The Pursuit of Style!

Lindsay has a fantastic eye for the beautiful, the classic and the whimsy. That goes for interiors, her specialty, but also for fashion and beauty. The Cape Cod native curates the fantastic blog The Pursuit of Style, and I'm stoked to have her share her holiday traditions and gift picks today!

1. Tuckernuck Double Wrap Ostrich Watch | 2. Waylande Gregory Salt and Pepper Shakers | 3. Madewell City Storyteller Scarf | 4. The Laundress Candle Set | 5. J.Crew Crystal Color Statement Necklace | 6. Grace: A Memoir by Grace Coddington | 7. Peter Dunham Fig Leaf Fabric | 8. Furbish Studio Brown/Metallic Zebra Hide

Visit Lindsay's stylish blog The Pursuit of Style.

Delightful Daily: Bathroom of my Dreams

Jenny Kayne

Delightful Weekend

Worthy Links: 15.11.12

I may have been living under a rock, but I just discovered The Love List by Jess Graves, my latest blog crush. Let's track back to how I first discovered the blog: she had Miles Redd create her a chic playlist which included Muse, Calvin Harris and The Strokes among others. Need I say more? I was hooked. Then there was hilarious thoughts on dating, dead celebrity gift guides and thoughts on being a tomboy. Totally. Relate. Kudos lady!

And in other news...

Erin demonstrated that a 4am shopping spree is not necessarily a bad thing in a post titled The craziest thing I have ever bought has arrived.

Molly and Sally shared their SF adventures. PS: Molly is a seriously talented photographer.

Jenny had a few thoughts on bathroom renovations and the death of builder grade.

Jamie styled a fabulously furbish Thanksgiving table.

Jonathan Adler rocks! Here's why.

Happy relaxing weekend!

Delightful Daily: Dare To Add Color

Nick Olsen

Top 5: Hostess with the Mostess

With American Thanksgiving coming up, and Christmas just around the corner, there's no better time to discuss table setting, which is the topic today on Damask & Dentelle.

Tip #1: Rule number one, you guests want to be able to see each other from across the table, so turn your centrepiece down a notch if you have a tendency to go overboard. I used spanish moss in ours last year and it really was a stunning effect, but it was a bit messy which is why I love the idea of containing the whole thing in a silver tray like in the picture above.

Read the other four tips on Damask & Dentelle.

Delightful Daily: How to Style a Bathroom

Mikel Larrinaga

Gab Loves: 13.11.12

1. Schumacher Chennai Linen Embroidery | 2. Coleen & Company Tole Tent Lantern | 3. J.Crew Fair Isle Ski Sweater | 4. Kemble Interiors Fushia Silk Tiger Velvet Pillow | 5. Erickson Beamon Matador Necklace | 6. Equipment Avery Brushed-Silk Pajama Set | 7. Pair of Happiness Jars | 8. Coach Legacy Leather Duffle in Berry | 9.  John Robshaw Jacobean Bench | 10. Cosmopolitan Animal-Elephant

Delightful Daily: From Generation to Generation

Eliza Crater's Apartment

Giveaway: And the Winner Is...

Drumroll...

Irene from the lovely blog Designstiles!

Congrats Irene, you win a gorgeous cowhide pillow of your choice form Ivy & Vine! I will be emailing you with the details :)

Don't forget to hit the Ivy & Vine sale on One Kings Lane before everything is sold out! There are some seriously crazy deals to be made.

PS: The winner was chosen via random.org.

PPS: Wouldn't it be great if every time we won something Miles Redd would fall out of the sky in a giant teal planter?

Delightful Daily: They're Baaaaack!

Kathryn M. Ireland

Million Dollar Decorators starts tomorrow. Word.

The Joy of Giving: with Grace of Stripes and Sequins!

Grace is my go-to girl for everything fashion, baubles and beauty. I had the immense pleasure of meeting her in New York City last May - she gracefully invited Victoria and I to the Philharmonic Orchestra with her boyfriend, her sister Becca and Becca's husband. The concert was phenomenal and we had a blast - Grace really is a super charming and down to earth gal. She's extremely creative and gifted to boot. Which is why I'm over the moon to have her kickoff this holiday cheers series!

1. Heavy Metal Notecards by Inslee Haynes | 2. Equipment Sophie Washed Silk Shirt | 3. Glittery Salad Set | 4. Banderole Pencil Set | 5. Baby Alpaca Throw in Ivory | 6. Diptyque Mimosa Candle | 7. The Perfectly Imperfect Home by Deborah Needleman

Visit Grace's beautiful blog Stripes and Sequins.

Delightful Daily: Honey I'm Home

Suellen Gregory

Delightful Weekend

Lonny

Worthy Links: 09.11.12

Christmas is my favorite time of year. By a mile. I'm one of those people who force themselves not to listen to Christmas music year-round, who spend days sourcing out the best gift wrapping, and hours meticulously wrapping gifts while Michael Bublé or She & Him is blasting in the background.

I bake (only at Christmas), I decorate the tree. Every year, I patiently wait for my best friend's fresh homemade egg nog and my mom's famous Christmas scotch cakes. I actually enjoy shopping in the mayhem, walking around in my wet boots and too-warm jacket and swaying around the sea of people in department stores as long as I get to see the store's decorations and hear the Christmas jingles, feel the finest cashmeres...

I enjoy knowing that after the 25th, I get to walk around in my silk pajamas for 5 days straight, eating leftovers, watching the snow fall, reading books, watching The Holiday for the thousandth's time and snowboarding to my heart's desire. And if I feel like it, I brave the boxing day sales.

To me, Christmas is the time of the year where real life is put on pause and magic happens. You could say I'm a Christmas addict, I probably am. Why all this early Christmas talk you ask? Because I'm starting a little blogger series on Monday and I'm super excited. Stay tuned!

---

Before you check out this week's fantastic links, you should enter my giveaway to win a gorgeous cowhide pillow from Ivy & Vine! The giveaway ends on Sunday 11.11 at 12am EST.

And here are the week's links:

I got introduced to Throw & Co. thanks to Kelly. Major crush.

I discovered two new sources for pretty little underthings thanks to Grace!

I decided I really need a emerald green sequin dress for Christmas after seing Sara's post.

Bryn shared her gorgeous holiday mantel! I wish my house was already decorated too.

Sarah helped us too sooners with a few transitional trimmings!

Happy weekend!

Delightful Daily: Go to Bed Sleepyhead

Brian McCarthy

Top 5: Lighten Up!

Today I'm talking about lighting on Damask & Dentelle. As we recently turned the clocks back for the upcoming winter months, this is the perfect time to do a little refresher on lighting at home.

First tip: a room needs multiple sources of lighting to be both functional and flattering. And by multiple sources, I don’t mean 20 downlights. Make sure you have both overhead lighting and lamps slightly below eye level, and try to follow the magic “three point lighting” trick often used in cinema (three lamps positioned in a triangle around the room). You will look like a movie star in your own home.

Read the other four tips on Damask & Dentelle.

PS: I'm also answering Vanity Fair's Proust Questionnaire on Nylon Lifestyle today! Find out all sorts of quirky things about me such as what are my most overused phrases and my idea of perfect happiness...

Delightful Daily: It's Leafy

Peter Dunham Textiles

Gab Loves: 07.11.12

1. Dia de Dumbo Wallpaper | 2. Currey & Company Goddess Chandelier in Green | 3. Harley of Scotland Fair Isle Sweater | 4. Marlborough Single Sconce | 5. J.Crew Cashmere-Lined Leather Gloves | 6. Stray Dog Funky Faux Bois Mirror | 7. Ming Faux Finish Table in Malachite | 8. Chain Cascade Earrings | 9. Tribal Green Basket | 10. Miramar Chair in Orchid Kuba

PS: Don't forget to enter the Ivy & Vine giveaway!

Delightful Daily: Timelessness

Lonny

Giveaway: Ivy and Vine!

As I mentioned yesterday, I have a little surprise for you today! Having my blogiversary yesterday made me realize how incredibly thankful I am for each and every one of you: every comment, every email, every tweet... You are the reason I have been able to achieve so many things in the past two years.

To thank you, I'm hosting a giveaway with one of my favorite shops, Ivy & Vine! This giveaway is coming at a perfect time because they have a sale coming up on One Kings Lane starting this Sunday 11.11 at 9pm EST, which will be filled with goodies! I've got my eye on that leopard stool...



To promote the event, I'm partnering up with Ivy & Vine to offer you one of the gorgeous cowhide pillows below. These gorgeous pillows will be available on their online store shortly and will be 100% customizable with different hide choices for the front, and brightly colored fabrics for the backs!

To enter, like Ivy & Vine and Savvy Home on Facebook and leave a comment below telling me which hide you would choose and what color backing you would match it with! 



The giveaway ends on Sunday 11.11 at 12am EST. I will announce the winner next Monday.  The giveaway is open to US and Canadian readers. Good Luck!

Delightful Daily: Winter Escape

Thom Filicia