Happy Weekend!

This simple and festive table, set under the bright setting sun, has me really yearning to eat a meal outside. With the current warm weather in New York, that could actually be in the cards this weekend! Yesterday, I had the pleasure of visiting Saipua and meeting with Sarah, the co-owner, as we decided on floral arrangements for an upcoming event I'm helping coordinate. I can't wait to see her beautiful creations - she'll be using red charm peonies, red azaleas, coral sweet peas, and red ranunculus...All favorites of mine! After leaving Saipua's charming space, I popped over to browse antique jewelry at Erie Basin, a store I had long-wanted to visit (after many trips to their blog), and I'm now obsessing over a vintage ring that I would love to own (a danger of window shopping)! I'm off to start my weekend, and I hope you all have a fantastic couple days filled with lots of rest & relaxation. Here a few of of my favorite links from the week to enjoy...

It would be fun to be able to buy produce at this green grocer.

Have you ever had pressed sushi? I haven't, but I'd like to try it here.

These chairs from the new collaboration from Canvas and Jason Wu would be a fantastic addition to any dining room table...

I'm looking forward to seeing this Ernesto Neto exhibit.

Obama prefers Jay-Z to Kanye.

A delicious champagne, mint and lemon cocktail to enjoy on these warmer days.

Slipping away for a weekend at this Palm Desert home would be the ideal escape...

Image from this Maui wedding via Style Me Pretty, Photographer: Gina Meola.

Shades of (Hot) Pink

I'm really lusting after this phenomenal necklace, which I would love to sport in all of its oversized, iridescent glory...

And, in particular, I'd really want to wear it to a spring fête as bright and beautiful as this one!

Can you imagine showing up to a party like this gorgeous affair, while accented with that necklace? There are few things that I would enjoy more this season!

Image one via Weekend Attire; Image two styled by Claire Zinnecker via Camille Styles.

A Fête for Friends

Kinfolk magazine recently held a family-style dinner party at The Green Building in Brooklyn (where my friends recently got married!) that is the epitome of a cool group feast. They used one long table, which was lined with benches and adorned simply with candles in varying heights and bright white dishes.

The casual, yet celebratory feel of this event is so appealing! This is a dinner I would have loved to attend...Or better yet, host! Wouldn't this be a lovely night to have with all of your friends?

Images via Kinfolk, Photographer: Leo Patrone.

Framing the Outdoors

If I'm ever lucky enough to design the beach house of my dreams, I would be sure to include huge glass doors or windows in my dining room...

These large glass expanses allow the verdant surroundings to spill into the room, creating a serene space for eating and entertaining. I love the contrast of the lush greenery with the bright white walls, and both rooms are enhanced by pops of geometric design on the floors. With high ceilings, beautiful light fixtures, and great modern furniture, these rooms are totally delightful!

Image one by Nate Berkus; Image two via Refresh Designs.

New Blossoms

New York has had the prettiest spring weather the past week, and we took a long walk in Central Park yesterday to enjoy the warmth. The flowers there were blooming in bright and bold colors, and this beautiful table setting immediately came to mind...

These arrangements emanate cheer and romance - they feel very fun and fresh! Personally, I always gravitate towards slightly unkempt, natural bouquets like these. I'd love seeing something so fresh atop the tables at a wedding or dinner party...

Image from Elizabeth Anne Designs.

Library Dining

This would be the most perfect room for a Christmas feast!

The dark wood, red curtains, and bits of greenery add hint at the holidays without being too overt. It would be great to gather friends and family for a dinner in this lovely space!

Images by Brookelyn Photography via Ruffled.

More Thanksgiving Inspiration...

Here are some great examples of chic and rustic tables for the holiday!

Exposed wooden tables, candlelight, and natural flower arrangements create ambiances that are more evocative of the first Thanksgiving than of today's tables. I love thinking about these casual (yet glamourous) approaches as inspiration for a dinner that is often very formal.

All images via rue magazine.

Thanksgiving Planning

This year, Mr. V is headed home for his long Thanksgiving break, and, as I have to work, my wonderful parents are coming to New York to spend the holiday with me. While Mom will be doing most of the cooking, I'm hosting, so the ambiance is all on me this year! And that's got me thinking about how to present my first Thanksgiving table.

I have previously confessed my love for Eddie Ross (here and here) and his Thanksgiving table tops are among my absolute favorites.

So much terrific inspiration! I'm smitten with the cobalt glasses, geometric tablecloth, and brass pheasants in the final table, from a spread in Lonny last year, but the purple tartan table is so fresh and fun!

All images styled by Eddie Ross. Images one through six via EddieRoss.com; Images seven through nine via Lonny.

Bewitching Feast

I loved this table scene spotted on Coco + Kelley yesterday...Between the candelabras dripping in crystals, the disco ball, and the haunting outdoor setting, it would make the most appropriate Halloween glamour dinner!

Guests all in their best attire...Black tuxedos for the men, long black dresses for the women...Appropriately adorned with masks and dripping with blood, of course!

Original Image Source: Unknown, via Coco + Kelley.

Halloween Delights

My favorite lifestyle guru, Eddie Ross, knows a thing or two about Halloween. Not only does he decorate clients' houses, but he decks out his own annually as well. I adore these first few images...The outdoor table full of pumpkins and collection of cornstalks in the picture below is just awesome. And pumpkin as serving bowl with vintage ladle and ghostly bust? Amazing!

Urns and vessels filled with dried black, brown, and orange arrangements...

Table settings for ghoulish dinner parties at Eddie's house...

And, of course, pumpkins!

I hope that I have enough time to implement some of these cute ideas before Halloween (it's really been sneaking up on me!).

All images ©Eddie Ross via his blog, EddieRoss.com.

Dining Al Fresco

It would be so much fun to have a dinner party on this sensational terrace overlooking Central Park...Can you imagine stepping out of your apartment into this verdant oasis, much less one with this view? Amazing!

Images of Claude Wasserstein's rooftop via Vogue.com, Photographer: François Halard

Starry-Eyed Celebrations

In honor of a lovely, dear friend of mine who shared some very joyful engagement news tonight (!), I believe that this beautiful celebration under the stars is perfectly appropriate. With the blooming white blossoms, French bistro chairs, and glowing candlelit orbs, this would be a worthy setting for the champagne popping and merry revelry that is soon to come. Félicitations pour tes fiançailles!!!

Image Source: Unknown

Beach Eats

Dreaming of a delicious feast by the ocean...

I think that everything truly tastes better with the salty sea air!

Image one from Bon Appetit; Photographer: Jeremy Liebman; Image two from Bon Appetit, Photographer: Con Poulos; Image three via Coastal Living, Photographer: Jeann Allsopp; Image four is Linguine con Le Vongole by Mario Batali via Gwenyth Paltrow/GOOP.com; Image five is Gwenyth Paltrow's recipe for Marinated Gigante Bean Salad with Grilled Shrimp and Watercress via Lonny; Image six via gather.com; Image seven from Bon Appetit, Photographer: Jeremy Liebman; Image eight styled by Kim Ficaro, Photography © Respective Photographers; Image nine via Coastal Living, Photographer: Lisa Romerein.