A Festive Dinner Party

December 20, 2012

I recently collaborated with an incredible team on a festive holiday photo shoot showcasing how much the right linens can enhance a dinner party table. I love the classic elegance we were able to evoke, with just a touch of va-voom with that gorgeous sparkly blush-colored tablecloth. And I have to point out that the choice of emerald green as an accent color was chosen long before Pantone announced the 2013 color of the year! Trend-setters much?

holiday time!

December 13, 2012

It is literally my favorite time of year. I have been impossibly busy decorating other people's magnificent homes, but today I took the time to write my holiday cards, and shortly I will begin lighting my Christmas tree. Twinkle lights, candles, the scents of cinnamon and pine cones... it just doesn't get any more magical than this. The only thing I'm missing is Christmas music, for some reason I just can't stop listening to Bruno Mars' new album Unorthadox Jukebox on repeat! If only he'd do a holiday album... Wishful thinking much???

Images | Styling by Lauryl Lane.

weekend wishes

December 8, 2012

Image by Lauryl Lane.

weekend wishes

December 1, 2012

Image by Lauryl Lane.

press lounge | manhattan

November 29, 2012

During a recent visit to New York with my friend Stefani, our hosts Wynoami and Joe took us to The Press Lounge in Manhattan for drinks and a spectacular view of the city. As we sipped our beverages and watched the sun set over Manhattan on one side and the Hudson river on the other, I was swept up in the magic that is NYC. The energy in that city is palpable, and it remains one of my favorite destinations.

The Press Lounge 653 11th Avenue New York, NY 10036 (212) 757-2224

Images by Lauryl Lane.

weekend wishes

November 24, 2012

Image by Lauryl Lane.

weekend wishes

November 17, 2012

Image | Floral Design | Styling by Lauryl Lane.

tea time | paris tea

November 16, 2012

My mum and I were recently talking tea, and she said that Harney & Sons Paris remains one of her favorites. I hadn't tried Paris in quite a while, so I decided it was time for a Paris tea time! Paris is a complex black tea with bergamot- it has hints of vanilla and caramel, but it also tastes slightly fruity and slightly citrusy. There's a lot going on, which makes it a delightful tea to repeat again and again. I enjoyed my tea with a tiny bit of turbinado sugar but sans milk, and ate a pumpkin scone with pumpkin cream cheese as an accompaniment. The day was overcast and a little drizzly, and after a run where I got pretty wet in a late-morning rain shower, my tea and scone were deliciously warm and comforting!

Images | Styling by Lauryl Lane.

tropicals for the home

November 14, 2012

Lately I've been loving tropical flowers for use in homes. They are a little pricy and they definitely lend themselves to a more modern aesthetic, but they are long-lasting and have a very timeless quality. I see so many old photos of classic Hollywood homes filled with orchids, and while I've always loved orchids of every shape and size, I'm really starting to use them in more of my designs. They are also great for adding flowers to your home at the last minute since they can be artfully "propped" in a vase with little effort!

Floral Design | Styling | Images by Lauryl Lane.

weekend wishes

November 10, 2012

Image by Lauryl Lane.

tea time | lavender dream tea

November 9, 2012

I picked up this Lavender Dream Tea Bud at Breckenridge Spice Merchants the last time I was in Breckenridge, Colorado. The label reads, "Relaxing and fragrant lavender complements tangy hibiscus, enveloped by white tea." At $3.49, it was a tad pricy, although not bad if you really can infuse it up to 3 times, as suggested. Unfortunately I found a second brew too weak to drink, and therefore definitely did not attempt a third. But the first brew, well, it was a beautiful thing. It's always wonderful to watch a bud unfurl in your tea cup. I truly love that. Of course, I forgot that I would then need to strain the tea out, but that minor issue aside, once I had a nice strained cup of tea in front of me, I was in heaven. It really is a "dream" of a tea to drink. Velvety smooth with no need of sweetener or creamer, a light white tea with a lovely lavender flavor that was neither subtle nor overpowering. There really is something about lavender that takes the edge off. Paired with some mini pumpkin macarons, I would place this tea experience on my list of top 10 favorite tea times at home.

Images | Styling by Lauryl Lane.

foreign cinema

November 8, 2012

The last time I was in the Bay Area to see my family, I also spent an afternoon with my dear friend Bonnie at a restaurant in San Francisco's Mission district called Foreign Cinema. We feasted on mussels, croque monsieur, carpaccio, a granita for dessert and some delicious artisan cocktails. I wish I'd taken more photos of the space and the inspired decor (especially the stunning lighting installations), but I guess I was too focused on the incredible food. I'd read great reviews of this restaurant online, and it did not disappoint. In fact, it exceeded my expectations. Everything I tasted was full of exceptional flavor.

Foreign Cinema 2534 Mission Street San Francisco, CA 94110 415-648-7600

Images by Lauryl Lane.