Amy Adams in American Hustle: Get the Look

Have you guys seen American Hustle yet?  If not, it's a must-see, if only for the soundtrack and fabulous 70s clothes.  The main female role is played by actress Amy Adams, and her outfits (and acting, for that matter) dazzle throughout the movie.  I don't know what it is about the 70s, but I've always wished I could've experienced the discos and glamour of the decade.  Flipping through my mom's old photos of living in NYC as a young 20-something makes me wish I could've experienced Studio 54 for myself.  Thankfully, this movie lets me indulge my fantasy for a few hours...

Get the Look:  Butter Nail Polish in Pillar Box Red $15/Gold Spike Necklace $310/Mini Disk Stretched Bracelet $40/Jersey Wrap Dress $69.50/Issa Gown from Rent the Runway $135/Issa Wrap Dress $165/Giza Champagne Strappy Heels $29.97/Nine West Gold Platforms $35.97

At the beginning of the movie, there's this fabulous scene where Christian Bale's character meets Amy Adam's character for the first time at a pool party.  Of course, she's stunning in this crochet bathing suit and platforms.  Costume director Michael Wilkinson says, “We found these amazing macramé one-piece bathing suits from the period at a rental house. But because they were now 35 years old, they were discolored and stretched out. Any give they had had given up years and years ago.”  A droopy, discolored maillot was not going to cut it for this movie.  “We were lucky enough to find an Australian swimsuit manufacturer who was doing these reproductions of vintage styles. One of them was almost exactly a match for this reference suit we had, so we were just visited by the costume gods for that one,” Wilkinson says. ”We got it in, she put it on and we knew that we had found the swimsuit.”

Get the Look: Anna Kosturova Crochet Swimsuit $220/Penelope Fur Coat $160/One Piece Plunge Halter Swimsuit $189/

This third look comes from my favorite scene of the movie.  Bradley Cooper's character and Adams' character go dancing at a disco club together, and there's this fabulous electricity between them.  It also helps that Donna Summer's "I Feel Love" plays in the background...

Get the Look: T Bags Mini Knot Metallic Dress $193/Liska Fur Coat $4,682/Haute Hippie Faux Wrap Dress $595/Metallic Chiffon Wrap Dress $300/Christian Louboutin Glitter Sandals $745/Nine West Silver Heels $89/

As you can imagine, there were many outfits to love, including several from Jennifer Lawrence.   Conveniently, any of them would be perfect for a New Year's Eve party (sans the crochet swimsuit!)  

Have you seen the film yet?  If so, what did you think?  Any big New Year's Eve plans?

Shop HDB Giveaway Winner!

Happy Friday!  Did you have a lovely Christmas?!  I sure hope so.  We traveled to see my family in OKC, and are now back in Houston.  The Peak of Tres Chic will resume normal business beginning Monday, but I wanted to pop in and announce the Shop HDB giveaway winner!  Let's all raise a glass and congratulate...

Tiffani!!  Her entry was selected by Random.org as the winner of the $100 gift card to Shop HDB.  I can't wait to see what you pick out!  

And a big "thank you" to everyone who took the time to enter as well as the ladies who made this giveaway possible.  Get excited for 2014, because I have some exciting collaborations lined up in the new year.  

All my love,

Sam

Friday's Worthy Links

It's Friday and we've made it!  And somehow I've managed to post 5 times this week... which feels nice.  I love to blog and share my creativity, but with life's commitments I can't always do it as much as I like.  Nevertheless, I always love catching up on other's blogs and finding new inspiration.  So today I thought I'd do a "Worthy Links" post to share a few of my favorite things going on around the interweb.

-Emily Henderson shares the story of her son's birth and it {almost} makes me want to have a baby.  The story is so raw yet so beautiful.  I love when big-name bloggers give us a glimpse in to their private lives.

-My favorite wedding planner, Jacin Fitzgerald of Lovely Little Details co-hosted a floral and fine foods workshop in San Francisco called Flour+Flowers.  She shared pictures and tidbits from the first class on her blog, and the images, including the above, were stunning.

- I discovered a few new online shop gem:  Old New House is a website with specialties in rugs, wall art, maps, furniture and repurposed decor.  What began as an Etsy shop run by couple Melissa and Dave has now become a full-fledged website of it's own.  The vintage, down-home feel of it is just lovely, and I'm dying for this early Peking rug fragment.  Wouldn't it make the perfect entry door rug?

-Meg Biram talks painting and the importance of hobbies in her latest post. She also references a quote from a book by Winston Churchill called Painting as a Pastime that really stuck with me:   "To be really happy and really safe, one ought to have at least two or three hobbies, and they must all be real."  

{image above by Jessica Burke via Lovely Little Details}

5 Chic Sectionals

A chic sectional? It isn't an oxymoron.  They do exist, although they aren't particularly easy to find.  Growing up in my family, there wasn't much need for a large sofa.  We are all 5' 8" and under, and most normal sofa widths were too large for us to sit in without our feet dangling.  We're little people... I know.  But with a taller man in my life these days, we've discovered we need a bigger sofa.   I've also worked with clients who like the comfort and space of a sectional for their families but value good design.  So over the last few months, I've been scouring furniture stores and websites for good sectional options at reasonable prices.  Here are my top 5 favorite finds:

1.) The Kimmy Sofa by My Chic Nest, $2,795:

2.) The Todd Sofa by My Chic Nest, $1,985:

My Chic Nest is a fabulous website that carries sleek, tailored furnishings.  The 2 sectionals above are just a hint of their gorgeous offerings.  These sofas are available in several velvet and cotton-poly upholstery color options.  I love the modern, almost Art-Deco feel to them.

3.) Damien Sectional by High Fashion Home, $1,999:

The Damien sectional from High Fashion Home combines luxe velvet upholstery with a chrome base and frame.  Dreamy.

4.) Dunham Sofa by West Elm, $2,698 and up:

This West Elm sectional features a deep seat, premium down-filled cushions and several upholstery options.  It was also featured in Bailey's sectional round-up on Peppermint Bliss.

5.) Warner Linen Sectional, Horchow, $3,639:

For all you traditionalists out there, I had to include a linen option.  This tufted chesterfield from Horchow has a nailhead trim detail and seems to manage the comfort yet tailored balance decidedly well.

Do you find sectionals as much of a conundrum as me?  Do you have a favorite style, or think I missed a noteworthy option?  Do tell! 

And don't forget to enter the Shop HDB $100 Giveaway!  There are only a few days left to enter.  

Elizabeth Satel Young's Houston Home

While flipping through the December issue of Houston's PaperCity Magazine, I was deeply struck by the gorgeous River Oaks home of designer Elizabeth Satel Young.  Young and her husband Barry are avid art collectors and opt to invest in a new piece of art each Christmas, rather than exchange typical gifts.   I particularly love the piece above their sofa in the living room, entitled Al Green, by artist Richard Serra.  In the entry, a site-specific wall installation by Paul Fleming adds a one-of-a-kind touch.  The tufting weaved throughout the home in headboards and custom sofas is equally lust-worthy.  Elizabeth says, "A home should always reflect your own personal life and discoveries... Choose pieces for your home with love and passion."  The collected, vibrant feel of her home shows her life has been anything but ordinary. 

What do you think?

{All images via PaperCity Magazine.  Click here to see the full interview and home tour.}

Albertina Loves: Animal Print

You know it's Tuesday if I'm here over at The Peak of Tres Chic again!  This is Albertina from Mimosa Lane back for our fourteenth installment of the "We Love" series, where Sam and I swap posts for the day.  Today Sam and I are focusing on adding a touch of cozy and stylish animal prints.  And really, what comes to mind first is leopard!  So here we present some ideas as to how to add a bit of spunk and glamour to your home and your wardrobe with just a bit of animal print:

[home image | fashion image ]

Shop This Board:

[For the Home | photograph | green pillow | leopard pillow | globe | chair | sunburst mirror ]

[For You | leopard clutch | bracelet one | bracelet two | bracelet three | blazer | best Tee shirt ever ]

I really love a good leopard pillow and Arianna Belle has a beautiful one.  A leopard pillow can really add personality and add some excitement into the blandest of palettes.  And I had to put this Clare Vivier clutch on here because I have it and really have worn it to death because it goes with everything.  And I can't even handle how good it looks with a cute arm party and a basic black blazer over the coziest gray tee you ever did buy.

Remember leopard is a new neutral.  Embrace it!  Is it for you, or just your home? Or both?!   Come check out Sam's animal prints looks over at Mimosa Lane.

********************************************************************************

I am loving that leopard clutch!  And the bracelets are to die for.  Thanks for the post, Albertina!  Don't forget to check out my latest giveaway with Shop HDB and enter here.

$100 Giveaway to Shop HDB!

Hello, hello! Did everyone have a good weekend?!   Today I am thrilled to kick off your week by sharing a new favorite interiors shop with you.  ShopHDB is a Miami-based online boutique filled with beautiful jewelry, home decor, furnishings, and accessories that won't break the bank.  Even better, their selection of fine goods are carefully curated with an emphasis on socially conscious companies and fair trade prices.  Although it's hard to choose my favorites, here are a few things I'm digging from their shop...

Shop This Board:

Be Brave and True Balsam Pillow $24/"Thanks for Saving My Ass" Card $6/Natural Agate Bookends $68/"Best Intentions" Flask $27/Flamingo Tray $50/Dapper Dopp Kit $45/Sengalese Storage Basket $110

The shop's aesthetic is a fab mix of boho and quirk, filled with gift-worthy goods for your loved ones (or yourself!)  I'm thinking I'll scoop up a few of the "dapper" dopp kits for the men in my family.  And what better way to store laundry or nursery toys than in a sengalese basket?!  The kind ladies behind the brand have offered to give 1 lucky reader a $100 gift card to spend however they like.  Now for the deets...

* G I V E A W A Y  D E T A I L S *

To enter the ShopHDB giveaway, follow the instructions in the Rafflecopter below. You may choose to do as many entries as you like, but you must "Like" ShopHDB on Facebook and follow @shophdb on Twitter, as described below.  Good luck & happy shopping!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Rose Creek Reveal: Office & Powder Bath "First Look"

Happy Thursday!  I hope your week has gone well.  As of today, I am finished with finals, so that's a huge relief!  One more year of design school and I'll officially be done.  Going back to school to pursue something I  love is one of the best decisions I've ever made.  Today I am excited to finally begin sharing pictures of my completed Rose Creek project.  This project has been about 1.5 years in the making, and was my first new build project to oversee.  I worked with the contractor and the couple to make each and every decision, so seeing this come to fruition is an amazing feeling. 

Here is the original woodwork of the built-ins put in the office.  We did a bead-board on the back open shelves to add texture.

This eventually turned in to a beautiful office for the husband of the family...

The couple already had an antique federal mirror, and I thought it was perfect for their office.  We brought in more touches of gold through the brass chandelier, the upholstered x-bench, and a few accessories.  To keep the overall feel more masculine, I selected an industrial zinc desk and paired it with a neutral tufted office chair.  We painted the back of the open shelving a light brown shade to give it a little definition from the rest of the shelving unit.

Now on to the powder bath.  This was one of my favorite spaces to work on because the couple allowed me to move forward with a metallic hand-painted leopard print wallpaper by Anya Larkin (her papers are available through the David Sutherland Showroom).  We picked up on the silver hues by pairing the paper with an antique Louis Phillipe mirror from Joyce Horn Antiques and antique chandelier:

We went with polished nickel fixtures (it's hard for me to spec anything else) for the bathroom, to keep the glamorous aesthetic going.

I hope you like these "first look" images!  Since this was such a labor of love for me, and because the house was so large, I plan to break the "reveal" up in to several days.  This way, I can really discuss the details and planning that went in behind the finished product!

 All images were taken by the talented Todd Scott Ballje, who was a pleasure to work with and executed the look perfectly through his pictures.

Fireplace Lust

With the temperatures dropping and Christmas quickly approaching, I've been thinking about my favorite holiday traditions. When my brother and I were younger, we would decorate the tree as a family after Thanksgiving dinner while listening to Neil Diamond's Christmas soundtrack (yes... Neil Diamond).  My mom would make homemade hot chocolate and we'd light the fire in our den.  It was such a fun time spent together as a family, and it was always so cozy.  Although I love my home in Houston, the one thing it doesn't have is a fireplace.  And on a day like today when the temperatures are frigid, nothing is more appealing than the idea of spending the day lying by the fire with a good book.  Since that sadly won't be happening, I figured I'd do the next best thing- lust after beautiful fireplaces with you!

 

This is my idea of the perfectly-decorated Christmas mantle.  A draped garland + a deep red and white floral arrangement gives off the perfect amount of holiday cheer without going overboard.  I also love the antique Louis Phillipe mirror, which adds height to the space.

  

How cozy does this fire look?!  I love the potted florals on the mantle, as well.

{Jenna Lyons Apartment via Lonny Mag}

{Lonny Mag}

{JK Place Capri}

I'm dying over this tiny fireplace.  In fact, the entire vignette makes me weak in the knees.  The classic design combined with the modern screen is an interesting juxtaposition.  I also love the Chippendale-esque chairs and the sconces above. 

{Haven's Kitchen via Lonny Mag}

Again, I love the idea of decorating your mantle with a simple garland and wreath, like in this living room. It's a festive, chic touch that doesn't feel too "overdone".  And how fun are the yellow suede mid-century club chairs?! 

  

Christine of Bijou & Boheme added splashes of light pink and gold to her mantle.  Her old living room, shown here, was fabulously feminine.  She and her family have since moved to a new home and created an equally chic space, but I'm still lusting after the effortless prettiness shown here.

Have you gotten to enjoy some time by the fire lately?  What holiday traditions are you most looking forward to?

Holiday Wish List: Tartan & Sequins

 Hi lovelies!  Have we made it through this week successfully?!  I have finals next week, so I have had about 10 hours of sleep this week total. Luckily, next Thursday I'll have turned in all my projects and will get a full month off (yay!).  Today we have another fab holiday wishlist from fellow blogger Julia, of Tartan & Sequins. Have you checked out her blog?  She recently got married and her pictures were unreal.  

I suppose it's easy to have a beautiful wedding when you have such a naturally beautiful bride, no?!  Here are Julia's holiday picks:

Shop This Board:

From Top Left:  Kendra Scott Selma Earrings/ J.Crew Blah Blah Blah T-Shirt/ ASOS Leopard Slip-Ons/ BCBG Glitter Clutch/ Madewell Buffalo Check Plaid iPhone Case/Viktor & Rolf Spicebomb Perfume/Tocca Holiday Candles/ Juicy Couture Coated Skinny Jeans/iPod Nano/ Hermes H Belt/Ralph Lauren Home Duke Charger/ Tuckernuck Blue Buffalo Check Scarf/ Givenchy Medium Antigona Bag/ Ray-Ban Mirrored Sunglasses/ Tom Ford Lipstick

 I can get on board for anything Hermes.  And I am loving that Ralph Lauren charger!
Want more gift ideas?  Check out the first two wish lists from my holiday series:

Mimosa Lane/Designs by Katy 

And.... have a fabulous/restful weekend!  I'll do my best to do so myself!
 

Needing, Wanting, Loving: Scalamandre Zebras

It's an oldie but a goodie- Scalamandre's infamous zebra motif has been splashing across fabulously decorated rooms since it's release in the late 1930s.  Originally designed for Gino's Restaurant in NYC (which sadly closed in 2010) by Flora Scalamandre, the print has since become a decorator's staple:

{Diane Bergeron}

{Sam Allen Interiors}

{The Glow}

The wallpaper even made an appearance in the Royal Tenenbaum's:

Although my favorite application of the motif is through wallpaper, the Scalamandre zebra is also available as a fabric, umbrella, scarf, dog bed, tote, tray, sheet set, dish set, + much more.  So yeah, I'd say it's a well-loved design. And while all these gorgeous accessories are fun, the new Scalamandre coffee table book showcases the best applications of the zebra in chic interior spaces, providing endless inspiration:

So what's your take- are you a tried and true fan, or just tired of seeing this motif?
View the wallpaper here.