Glamour Obsession: American Glamour by Ralph Lauren

In case you didn't know, I have joined the La Dolce Vita team as a regular contributor for the next few months!!!  My series titled"Glamour Obsession" will explore all things glamorous: interiors, fashion, people, and places.  The first post went live today so be sure to check it out, leave a little love note, and say hello!  See you there!!!

In My 'Hood

I've been meaning to write about Chris Barrett's Brentwood home that was on the cover of House Beautiful this summer, and here we are in Fall now and I figured, better late than never.  So here's the deal:  I about died when I saw this cover!  I walk by this house every time I take little Barron on our neighborhood walks (there's an adorable little 1200 sq. ft colonial style with a white picket fence on the same street listed for just under a million$ that I've had my eye on all summer).  So when I saw that front door with those crawling flowers I knew exactly which house was hers!

It got me thinking that I would love to live in a cozy little house, that was perfectly mapped out with little nooks to curl up in and read.  Everything has it's place and there's definitely no place for clutter and crap when you live in 1000 sq. ft, which I like.  I love a dining room that has built ins and lots of books.  It just creates conversation and thoughts and who doesn't love a banquette like the one above???

I love the dark rich woods and lots of white!  The perfect balance of texture and clean lines.  I would love to just lay here, light the fire and drink wine.

The kitchen is my favorite part by far!  The floor to ceiling subway tiles, white marble and dark cabinets are so homey.  Don't you just want to pick some oranges from the trees outside and juice them??  This is the California I love and this kitchen is the epitome of casual, healthy living that we love in California.

I love the open shelves with everything easily at hand.  I adore a white kitchen but this one makes me remember why I love dark rich woods as well.  There's something so earthy about this kitchen that feels really comfortable, yet refined and sophisticated at the same time.  It's romantic and I like that.

 White tufted bed and white sheets is perfection.

Dining al fresco year round with the cool breezes floating off the Pacific is what makes this whole picture perfect.  I can't describe to you how beautiful this neighborhood smells in the summer and winter.    There are fruit trees in everyone's yards, gardenias and night jasmines blooming, and the sun shines year round.  

The temperature rarely gets above 82 degrees and under 60, which (to me) perfectly justifies the million dollar plus price tag it costs to live in this adorable neighborhood.    

Inspiring Designer: Greg Natale

Images via Greg Natale and Pinterest

GP's Tribeca Apartment

Gwyneth Paltrow, I love your style!

Images via I Love Wild Fox

Laura & Diego Garcia's Apartment

I've seen these pictures circulating around the blogosphere and I couldn't resist posting them! I'm totally enamored with Laura and Diego Garcia's New York apartment. The talented photographer, Claiborne Swanson Frank, captured the couple's home beautifully. I always love seeing how other people live and again this one is going into my "when I design my chic city apartment/condo" folder. More and more I'm thinking a small space may be the answer to our "family" home. A smaller space means less junk to store, I mean really, who needs more stuff???   

So here's what I spy that's been on my eye:  purple amethyst geode in the top pic, Tom Ford book, black painted dining room walls, casual guitar again out in the open, chrome and glass table, white walls, and lots of family pics.

Have I told you I have white furniture on the brain, especially a plush white leather couch?? Well, I do and I think this would make one of the best pieces to have with kids...no stains!!! Plus, white is so easy to change up with lots of different throw pillows. Seriously coveting that piece of art - I want it!

I'll sit at this computer any day! This glass or lucite desk is perfect to float in the room. Often times with apartments rooms have to function in a couple of ways. I love the living/family room/office combo. Who needs a million rooms in the house??? Keeps everyone together and able to hang out in one space which is more fun!

I was stopped dead in my tracks when I saw baby Georgiana's room! The giant neon pink picture of Liz Taylor is genius! And set against gray walls with lots of white accents is it for me! I'm swooning!

 Hmmm...if I don't one day have a baby girl's nursery to decorate, then I'm just going to put this neon pink pic in an entryway...I really love it that much and when you love art that much, you must surround yourself in it!  

Images via Vogue

Crushing on Jennifer Ferreira

I came across these photos a while ago and they've been sitting in my "when I design my dream condo/apartment in the city this is how I will do it" folder.  I love everything about this place.  Jennifer Ferreira is the talented designer behind these images and she is currently on my radar for inspiring designers.  Zebra rug, check, Louis style furniture, check, acrylic, check, Mies Van Der Rohe style chaise, check, gold accents, drum shade, espresso wood floors, and Tom Ford coffee table book, check!  

I mean seriously, don't you want to just hang out in this room, listen to music, play the piano, pop some bubbly, and chill, while entertaining your fabulous friends??  I sure as hell do!  And it's kid friendly enough for my little baby Barron to run around or ride his bike when he gets old enough!

I love when guitars are just hanging out in a room screaming "play me!"  My sister (Miss Valentine) and I were just talking about this the other day, that it looks very cool when musical instruments are left out for anyone to play.  I always said that when I have kids, I want them to learn how to play musical instruments.  I took piano lessons for years, but I always admired people who could strum a guitar.

I love the cleanliness of this minimal room.  I've been thinking more and more about living with less.  I've done a ton of cleaning out and organizing trying to create a living space that isn't dominated with "stuff."  I really believe that when you live with less, you are happier.  At times I feel so inundated with society preaching that more is better, that we need more and more to be happy.  I couldn't disagree more!  So with that said, here is my example of the perfect space that exemplifies less is more. 

"Honey, I'm Home!"  I want to just throw my keys and purse down on this little vignette when I get home.  I love white furniture, the color combo white + pink + black and this wallpaper is super cool (I think I've seen it in pink before in Kelly Wearstler's stairway, no??!!)   

Another thing to check off the list - BLACK DOORS!  I have promised myself that one day I will paint every door in my "dream city condo/apartment" black.  How utterly chic, especially with the gold knobs!!!???

Images via Jennifer Ferreira