Just a few days before we finished with the demolition last month, my friend Stacy told me she’d be scouting a new site in North West Connecticut for a day. As it turns out, she had a little time before her first appointment. Stacy became my very first impromptu coffeetime guest at the new ABCD Homestead! We nibbled on pain au chocolat and sipped espresso under the arbor in the backyard. It was my first glimpse into entertaining at our new home!Stacy Kunstel is a photo stylist and editor. Her beau, Michael Partenio, is a talented interiors photographer. Such a dynamic duo - wouldn’t you agree? Together, they are Dunes and Duchess. The day of our meeting, Stacy happened to have a prototype of their new product in the back of her adorable little car. She popped open the back of her BMW mini to reveal what Duchy (Stacy) and Dunes (Michael) had designed… wow-ze-wow-wow-wow!Besides the candlesticks, there are lamps and amazing 34″ high hurricane candlesticks in the line too. Ahhhhhmazing. I love the added glass and leather element on the hurricanes! I seriously hope I find the perfect spot for one (or a pair) in the new house! Stacy and Michael based the design off of a vintage candlestick they used in a photo shoot once. They sourced a Mennonite woodsmith to create the turned wood pieces. Dunes and Duchy have updated the look with high-gloss paint. These pretties are 100% pure high-quality artisan-made gorgeousness!

7 Comments » Posted by ABCDDesigns / Design and Shopping and Uncategorized

How totally darling are these tea towels? They’re to die for …um, errrr, I mean… they’re To Dry For!

8 Comments » Posted by ABCDDesigns / Good Find and Nesting and Shopping and Uncategorized

[Wordless Wednesday: savoring the last bits of Summer with the Paper Lantern Dress as designed by Leifsdottir]

7 Comments » Posted by ABCDDesigns / Shopping and Uncategorized and What to wear?

I first saw Dash and Albert rugs when we stayed at bed and breakfast that was built in 1741. The B & B owner had a Dash and Albert rug on the floor inside the front door. A smaller, 2×3 version made an appearance on the floor in the bathroom of our room. I was instantly struck by the modernity of this accessory in such an old New England structure.They’ve done an impeccable job on the interior design of the B & B itself. I was particularly impressed by how they incorporated the trend of geometric rugs we’ve seen in home decor. By picking a neutral straw color that doesn’t compete with the rest of the vintage and transitional decor, the rug just belongs in that old 1741 space. See below? We have ever-classic spooled and spindled turned table legs sitting upon vintage hex tile – it looks so fresh and current with these geometric rugs! Dash and Albert describe the easy maintenance and care of these Diamond indoor/outdoor rugs best:

Diamonds (and polypropylene) are forever.

A rug for all seasons. Made of superheroic polypropylene, our indoor/outdoor area rugs are terrific for high-traffic areas and muddy messes. Scrubbable, bleachable and UV-treated for outdoor use, this collection of woven rugs can stand up to all that you dish out.Every choice I have made on our renovation project has been about utilitarianism. What choices can I make for our home so that I am not a virtual slave to my stuff? From the indestructible poured concrete floors and Shaker Peg Rail to the integrated kitchen appliances -You won’t find me chasing down fingerprints on the Stainless Steel, no Ma’am! I want each inch of our home to be a usable, low-maintenance, utilitarian space. “We only use that fill-in-the-blank on special occasions.” is not in the vocabulary. Self-indulgent? Maybe. But life is short. Why not eat off “the good china” everyday? Dash and Albert rugs are available online, as well as in fine boutiques. You bet that light blue and ivory one could be making an appearance in The Country House!

15 Comments » Posted by ABCDDesigns / Dream Decorating and Shopping and The Country House and Uncategorized

You know me – every once in a while I like to go dream decorating at Wisteria. I’m really drawn to their style. They are not fixed in one specific look. You could easily purchase a handful of items from Wisteria and no one would be the wiser. Not to mention, they keep prices reasonable and the quality of the merchandise high. That is a combination that leaves me satisfied and willing to come back over and over again.It should be no surprise that I absolutely L-O-V-E these glass nesting tables. I know, they look an awful lot like the cocktail table we have in the City apartment. Have a little faith in me you guys! It’s not like I plan to have them in the same house - let alone - get all matchy-matchy on you and put them in the same room. No never! I can’t help but think they’d look pretty fabulous in The Country House next to our cream color leather Eames recliner.One thing I have been shopping for is a new sofa. Since we’ve got the chesterfield at the apartment in the City, and I am repurposing the white sectional in the romper room – we’re shy on couches for the country house. Oh how I wish I could test-drive this streamlined sofa, or this scalloped arm, linen slip-covered one. It has me wondering: is there a Wisteria store anywhere around NYC? At this point, I have more cocktail tables than I need, but how handsome is this Military Inspired Coffee Table? Speaking of handsome… these well-priced tables with tailored skirts and beveled glass tops are calling my name. One of my least favorite things is to walk in a room and think “Oh look, it’s Pottery Barn ala 2007.” -or- “Clearly, this was one-stop-shopping from sofa to accessories. Y-A-W-N!” If you’re going to be a lazy decorator and fill up your place all at once, Wisteria is a good place to go. They’ve curated a look of eclecticism for you – and that is a very good thing.I have said this before, but it’s worth keeping in mind: take a moment (it could be six months or it could be four years!) to collect the decorator items for your home that you truly love -that suit you and your style to a T- your space will become an ideal reflection of your personality and a much happier place to be. It’s important to live with what you love. Right now, I can see myself loving many of these Wisteria pieces for a long time to come!

P.S. As luck would have it, my Twitter friend Jonathan Legate wrote an amazing post about Living With What You Love today. (He and I are often on the same page when chatting with one another!) Please pop by and check it out. It appears as though it will be a series going forward, so be certain to keep checking in as he updates his page.

In other news… I still feel like total garbage after the fall I took on my bike last weekend! However, I did manage to make it down into the City last night for a super fabulous interior design event. While I was there, I couldn’t help but notice that the City apartment needs *so* much work! It’s so drab. Once we come out of storage on August 18 – I hope I’ll have the opportunity to hang a few pieces of art and lay down a carpet or two.

7 Comments » Posted by ABCDDesigns / Dream Decorating and Shopping and Uncategorized