The City Sage

On the Hunt: Warm Modern Office Decor

My little home office isn't half bad--you can see it for yourself here. But it also happens to be my living room. And my dining room. And my gym and my yoga studio and my guest room. So every once in a while, when the impression from my bum on the couch gets especially deep, I daydream about having a dedicated workspace that is bright, airy, functional and fabulous.

The good news? Crystal is moving to San Francisco to join Caitlin and me, and just as soon as we're able, we're going to open a Rue office! And even though they don't know it yet, Bri and Cassie are coming too. I'm already excited for spontaneous dance parties and all night work sessions punctuated by pizza runs and boy talk. It's gonna be bananas!

With so many clever design gals in one space, the decor is going to be out of this world. I mean really--how could it not be? If I could do it up right this minute, I'd go for a warm, modern organic sensibility. Clean-lined furnishings, materials like brass, teak and leather, with eclectic traditional accents like a hotel desk bell and old-school wooden paper clips. Now bring on the dance party!  

Image Credits: 1, 4. Living Etc. 2. Melanie Acevedo 3. Gentl & Heyers 5. Laura Resen 6. Janne Peters 7. Hannah Simmons 8. Petrina Tinslay Shopping Guide: Jennifer Ament Linoleum Prints, Sunburst Mirror, Tulip Table, Leather Chair, Floor Lamp, Brass Pencil Holder, Wooden Paper Clips, Hotel Desk Bell, Notes Tray, Rattan Shelves.

New York City Recap: Fun at the NYDC!

I won't devote too much time here to my recent trip to New York. Suffice to say that others have covered it with much more depth and panache than I could ever aspire to; check with Will for a boy's-eye-view and Crystal for pics of me in my tie-dye jammies. But I'd like to pay special mention to the New York Design Center for making Rue feel so welcome.

First was our launch party at the Century Furniture showroom. Official pics are coming so stay tuned! Then, we were honored to participate in the annual 'What's New, What's Next' program. It was a dream come true to share the stage with House Beautiful and Veranda. And the charming setting of the InHouse kitchen showroom couldn't have been more perfect!

Since there's nothing we love better than a good collaboration, we called in a team of experts to do our dirty work for us. Tabletops and decor came courtesy of Jackie, the phenomenal event stylist behind Merci New York. The unforgettable florals are the work of Kat Flower--aren't they jawdropping? And of course Rue's food columnist Marissa Lippert did some incredible cooking demos.

Later that evening the event finished with a bang--or rather with a clink--when everyone gathered at the Saladino Furniture showroom for a champagne toast. It was the last evening of our trip, we were surrounded by friends old and new, and our outfits just happened to match. How could Crystal and I not pose for a photo op?!

Photo Credits go to Rima Campbell, who so generously came out to capture the fun! She has more great images here. A huge thanks to Merci New York, Kat Flower, and Nourish NYC for making our 'What's New, What's Next' presentation possible. As well, we're grateful to ABC Carpet and Home for loaning the stunning tabletop items you see here. Thanks to Century Furniture, InHouse, and Saladino Furniture for hosting the events. And of course, big hugs and kisses go to the team at the New York Design Center for their support!

Etsy is My Kryptonite: Must-Visit Shops!

Every day I take a break from my work and pop over to Etsy--it's the perfect mid-afternoon pick-me-up! Lately I'm enamoured of these vintage upcycled suitcases from Jen at the haystack needle. Perfect for storage, they've been covered in wallpaper and lined with sweet ticking stripe. In fact you might recognize them from page 158 of Rue; Jen styled the Hayden-Harnett home tour!

Yesterday I happened across the photography at Fiction and have been floating in this dreamy world ever since. The quiet, contemplative moments captured here make me feel like I've stumbled into a room that a loved one just passed through, so palpable is the sensation of nostalgia and humble beauty. Also, don't miss Fiction's incredible stippled illustrations--this peacock feather is MINE.

Lia of Mod Pieces--be sure to check out her fab blog and say hi to my fellow Canadian!--rescues tired pieces with great bones from the junkyard and gives them an exciting new life. She has a particular touch with lighting (um, Amy Butler lampshades, anyone?!) and her wood furniture is charming as well. Eco-friendly and one of a kind? Doesn't get better than that!

You tell me: What are your favorite Etsy shops lately?

Tangerine and Sky: Early Fall Party Inspiration

Mywedding.com recently launched their new blog 'Delightfully Engaged', and I'm honored to be a regular contributor! I'll be getting my wedding inspiration board fix a couple times each month. Pop over to see my first offering--an inspiration board and a 'Get the Look' shopping guide. This sweet and stylish outdoor bridal shower would work beautifully for a birthday party too!

Image Credits: 1. Helena Kouzeleas 2. Flea Market Style 3. Canelle et Vanille 4. Joy Thigpen 5. Sarah Maingot 6. Bash Please via Once Wed 7. Unknown 8. Ethanollie 9. Caroline Tran via Green Wedding Shoes

Lately Loving: Louise Body at The Wallpaper Collective

You know how I talk about color, color, color? Well. I'm seriously considering stripping ALL the color from my house and making it a giant shrine to black, white and shades of grey. Think of all the textural applications I could play around with! I'd start with this incredible lace wallpaper from Louise Body, available at The Wallpaper Collective. In the immortal words of Rachel Zoe, I DIE!

But then again, how could I possibly abandon color when there are so many lovely hues to behold? I surprised even myself with this palette of peach, dusty blue, and warm ecru--it's so unexpectedly sophisticated and lends itself perfectly to an eclectic mix of granny and contemporary pieces. I'm starting to think that when it comes to my own decor decisions, maybe I should just flip a coin?

P.S. Check out my absolute favorite Louise Body wallpaper. Careful, it's NSFW!

Interiors images: Living Etc. Shopping Guide, Board One: Lace Wallpaper, Bench, Fern Prints, Wonky Floor Lamp, Folding Screen, Pram Pillow, Runner. Board Two: Flower Press Wallpaper, Daybed, Butterfly Plate, Teapot, Picasso Poster, Hide Pillows, Baroque Mirror, Reading Lamp, Clock, Marble Coffee Table.

Star for a Day: Blake Lively

When Gossip Girl first aired a few years ago, I didn't last too long with it. I have very little patience for melodrama, both in real life and on television. But what has stood the test of time for me is the appeal of Blake Lively. She's like the cool girl I always wanted to be friends with in high school: gorgeous but approachable, stylish but real. Plus I'd love to crib her hair tips, wouldn't you?

The fashion sensibility of Blake herself is somewhat difficult to tease out from that of her Gossip Girl character--surely over the years some crossover has occured. All I know is that I adore her relaxed sex appeal, her ability to wear designer without looking like she just stepped from a showroom, her eclectic mix of proportion and textiles. Plus the girl clearly loves her shoes as much as I do.

Blake's staples include killer cold weather wear--a fleece vest or boyfriend blazer will do just fine. Her street uniform of skinny jeans and tall boots is one we can all get behind, especially when you toss a casual tee with a little glimmer into the picture. For evenings out a flirty skirt shows off endless legs, while accessories like an oversized bag or a floppy fedora add pizzazz. XOXO!

Image Credits: People.com

Palette Lust: Lipstick Red and Slate Blue

Home again, home again, and happy to be back after a whirlwind trip to NYC. Feel like I was hit by a bus: a big, sparkly party bus, but a bus nonetheless. So it was with meditative pleasure that I put the finishing touches on these palette boards that have been lingering on my desktop for the past week. The combination of warm red and cool slate is a soothing balm to my racing heart and mind.

This color scheme is so sophisticated, so unexpected. Red can sometimes feel showy, but here the grounding presence of a wintry, Nordic blue prevents it from going over the top. The result is a sexy, enigmatic sensibility that speaks of confidence, maturity, and just a touch of whimsy. Throw in some patterns--be it a polka dot, a chinoiserie, or a quatrefoil--and you have a very chic look indeed.

These inspiration sets make me want to give this palette a go...right now. I'd love to find a scarf in these hues, or wear sultry cherry lipstick with a slate-lined eye. Deep tomato suede shoes would be smashing with charcoal cropped trousers, and a blood red lamp with an almost-black shade sounds divine. What a perfect way to usher in fall without loosing the heat of summer, no?

P.S. Don't forget to enter this week's giveaway: a chance to win a $100 Shopbop gift certificate! Have a glorious weekend my friends!

Image Credits: 1, 5, 9. J. Crew 2. Rebecca Thuss 3. Inside Out 4. Roche Bobois 6. Wesley-Barrell 7. Maison Francais 8. Emerson Made via DesignLoveFest 10. Homes and Gardens 11. Nuevo Estilo 12. Martha Stewart Weddings Fall 2010

Giveaway! $100 Shopbop Gift Certificate!

Once upon a time, many moons ago, young Anne left home for the wilds of college. There she discovered strange and wonderful things, such as an internet connection that didn't make funny noises every time she logged on. She traveled the vast desert of the web to discover a hidden oasis called Shopbop. And she has drunk from its deep well of thirst-quenching fashions ever since.

In those fateful days, Anne roamed the denim section of Shopbop and bought her first designer pair: 7 For All Mankind bootcuts that cost (gasp!) $120. Today she goes for distressed jeans to wear with lace-up boots; high-waisted jeans for a night out; denim leggings that pair perfectly with a cropped jacket and oxfords. Plus jackets to wear with her original 7's, which are now her fave cut-offs.

Now one lucky reader can join Anne at this grand bazaar of fashion goodness. Because she is offering a $100 gift certificate to a winner selected at random--good for anything from amongst all the designers at Shopbop. Just tell Anne (aka yours truly): What is your must-have denim style for fall? And what will you be wearing it with?

Shopping Guide, Board One: Jeans, Jacket, Bag, Scarf, Boots. Board Two: Jeans, Jacket, Clutch, Cuff, Ring, Pumps. Board Three: Jeggings, Jacket, Bag, Bracelet, Earrings, Oxfords.

Lately Loving: Skona Hem

Yesterday we shot an amazing apartment in Gramercy Park, and I was speaking with our wonderful photographer's assistant about Sweden. She told me of her love for the light in that part of the world. Perhaps it's that 'sublime and surreal' light she describes, or perhaps it's my Scandinavian blood talking--but whatever it is, Swedish design mag Skona Hem holds the key to my heart.

I spy with my little eye an incredibly gorgeous grouping of pillows. The soft sherbet hues of these silk cushions bring just the right touch of color to a glowing white and slate space. Though the reality of living in a room with a pitched roof is somewhat painful (I've conked my head one too many times in the attic) the intimacy and romance of it certainly has its appeal.

Wowzers! Get a load of this living room! You'd think the lemon yellow sofa would steal the show, but the teal damask walls and multi-hued rug give it a run for its money. This is bold decorating at its most courageous, and though it's not my style I can certainly appreciate the panache that goes into creating a home like this!

Would someone please pass me a ShamWow? I need to wipe the massive puddle of drool off my chin. Not feeling the table setting so much. But that Josef Frank wallpaper? And the Louis Poulsen PH 5 lamp? It's a crazy cool smorgasboard of all that is holy in the design world, and I'm bowing down to this shrine of awesome!

This image for me represents quintessential Swedish country design. Radiant black and white shines in a mix of patterns, from checkerboard and stripes to knitwear-inspired intarsia. Bench seating beneath a window provides a cozy spot for reading, and a long dining table begs to be set with platters of smoked salmon, steamed veggies and tiny meatballs in gravy. Mmmm....gravy.

Finally, a soft and serene bedroom vignette with an eclectic photo gallery feels inviting and cozy. The clever mix of frames has an organic, unplanned sensibilty that adds to the relaxed sensibility of this space. Photos like this make me grateful for our swinging and stylish NYC whirlwind trip, but also excited to return home tomorrow morning. And perhaps plan a trip to Sweden ASAP?

P.S. If you're in NYC, come by the New York Design Center today for What's New What's Next! The Rue girls will be there, along with Marissa Lippert, Merci New York, and Kat Flower, giving a fab fall food and entertaining presentation at 3:15!

P.P.S. Dying for pics from the Rue Magazine launch party? Bri has some fab ones up at DesignLoveFest!

Images courtesy of Skona Hem.

IRL: Hayden-Harnett Style 'In Real Life'

I preach the Hayden-Harnett gospel big time. Not only do I adore the brand for it's brainy-cool product and personality, I'm crushing on company founders Toni Hacker and Ben Harnett (it was an honor to photograph their home and write their story on page 152 of Rue's premiere issue.) So when Toni asked me to style some outfits for the Hayden-Harnett 'IRL: In Real Life' series, I was overjoyed!

Every week, IRL features gorgeous and talented women of all shapes, sizes and ages rocking Hayden-Harnett gear--it was such a pleasure to join their ranks. I grabbed my girl Vivian Chen and her talented lens, headed to Golden Gate Park and went in front of the camera for once. See more photos and read about my outfit choices here!

Photo credits: Vivian Chen Photography