Get the Look: Minimal Chic

Today I am honored to have my good friend and New York PR powerhouse Victoria Natenzon with us sharing a few effortless fall ensembles with versatile pieces from the Nordstrom Anniversary Sale.   Vicky and I met soon after I relocated to NYC and she's the type of person you naturally gravitate towards.  She lights up any room or party she enters and is full of kindness and warmth.  Her PR firm represents a few big NY brands and bloggers and knows all the latest and greatest when it comes to fashion, food, and beauty.  She keeps me in the New York know and always is impeccably dressed. That's why I was thrilled she obliged when I asked her to put together a look or two for the upcoming season:

Left Look:  Leonard II Round Sunglasses $173.90/T-Shirt $19/Hudson Nico Skinny Jeans $134.90/Vince Camuto Lace Up Pumps $79.90/

Middle Accessories: Thea Adjustable Lariat Necklace $49.90/Tory Burch Black Robinson Handbag $295/Pave Bracelet $59.90/Pink Lips Set $50

Right Look: Faux Leather Jacket $98/Jogger Pants $29.90/Sam Edelman Tonia Spike Heels $110/

I love the downtown “model” chic look. It’s so versatile!  All you have to do is switch out a couple elements and you can wear the outfit to work, dinner, or out on the town. With the leather jacket as the key piece, you can pair it with the black ripped jeans and a classic pair of pointy toe pumps. Wear it with the white t-shirt for a more casual look or with a black t-shirt so it appears to be a little dressier. I love dainty jewelry so you can pair the look with a simple, pretty necklace and a delicate bracelet. 

For a really cool, but slightly more “daring” look, try switching out the black jeans with the grey lounge pants.  It’s something a little funkier for a downtown, casual dinner with girlfriends.

If you’re anything like me, you can’t leave the house without your sunnies. I’m a little too obsessed with these Illesteva cuties. I purchased a pair three years ago and haven’t let them go since. My style constantly changes and I get sick of things rather quickly, but I recently had to re-purchase this pair because I just love them so much!

Last but not least – makeup. I’m a beauty girl at heart. I’ve worked in beauty my whole life and you’ll rarely find me completely barefaced. In recent months I’ve definitely toned down my beauty routine, but I still have a few non-negotiables. Eyeliner, mascara and lipstick. I can’t live without my felt-tip liners to create the perfect cat eye and red lipstick that’s basically the perfect accessory for any outfit. Although, I’m not gonna lie – the nude lip trend as well as a soft pink look has totally been growing on me and I’m absolutely crushing on this amazing Bobbi Brown set from the sale! 

Post text written by Victoria Natenzon of Victoria Marie PR. 

Best Nordstrom Anniversary Picks for Fall

It pains me a little to write this post because I'm not one to acknowledge the impending fall/winter before I absolutely have to.  I spent the entire weekend by the pool basking in the sunshine, and if it were up to me summer would be the ONLY season. Moving to New York has made me appreciate moments in the sun even more than I used to as most of the time the concrete jungle keeps you from catching any rays during the work week. Nevertheless, one simply cannot ignore the incredible prices of Nordstrom Anniversary Sale items, and I feel it is my duty to keep you in the know and ahead of the curve so you can stock up before everything is sold out.  Here's what I plan to purchase for fall weather:

Shop this Post:

Illesteva Leonard White Camo Sunnies $173.90/North Face ThermoBall Hooded Parka $169.90/Hald Round Mesh Strap Watch $99.90/Faux Leather Moto Jacket $64.90/Lush V-Neck Crepe Blouse $27.90/Distressed Skinny Jeans $58.90/Fringe Infinity Scarf $11.90/Wool Fedora $19.90/Steve Madden "Gleemer" Over the Knee Boot $99/Halogen "Owen" Pointy Toe Flat $59.90/

My good friend Vicky is a style maven and my go-to girl for all the latest and best in fashion. She swears by Illesteva sunnies, and I love the white camo version for $100 off the original price. 

My first winter in New York taught me that a below-the-waist jacket is worth it's weight in gold, and North Face is my favorite (proof here). 

These Steve Madden boots are just as cute as Stuart Weitzman, and it doesn't hurt that they're under $100. 

Happy shopping my friends, and have a great Monday!

Friday's Worthy Links

-Advice for getting out of a funk from my girl, Mackenzie.

-David Bowie's extensive personal art collection is going to auction this fall!  Will someone please buy me this?

-Million Dollar Decorators share their best design tips.  

-Who's excited about the Nordstrom Anniversary Sale?  ME!  It starts today people, this isn't a drill.  It's their biggest sale of the year and the perfect time to stock up for fall (or grab a few things for the rest of summer!) I plan to get these (only $30) , Mac's "Look in a Box" beauty bag ($72 value for only $31), and this drape front leather jacket.  Also lusting after this Burberry quilted jacket for next winter.  $300 off doesn't hurt.  Got your eye on anything?  Share in the comments or tweet me (@peakoftreschic) so I don't miss something good.

-Michelle Obama broke the internet earlier this week when she went on Carpool Karaoke.

-I really want to read this book (it looks hilarious!), and I've been reading this- I highly recommend it!

Have a great weekend, everyone!

Designer Crush: Ashe + Leandro

Design firm Ashe + Leandro is one to watch.  Co-founders Ariel Ashe and Reinaldo Leandro are a dynamic duo who have created cheery interiors for the likes of Seth Meyers and Coldplay's Jonny Buckland.   While they have a very similar design aesthetic, their backgrounds couldn't be more different.  Ashe studied at NYU's Tisch School of Arts and started her career interning for Saturday Night Live as a set designer, while Leandro hails from Venezuela and studied architecture at Columbia.  Eventually Ashe ventured in to interior design, and the two met while working together at Pierce Allen.  They soon began brainstorming the idea of opening a firm of their own, and in 2007 they did.  Ashe + Leandro have already built a very strong portfolio, and most recently were featured in Architectural Digest for designing Naomi Watt's stunning Tribeca apartment:

That master bath is to die for.  You can see the rest of the photos and view the complete story here.

A few more lustworthy interiors from the Ashe + Leandro portfolio...

Sometimes I feel that working with a co-designer/co-owner strengthens your eye and helps to create a more well-planned and well-executed space.  I've definitely seen that first hand working with Jesse and Mara. 

Happy Tuesday!

{photos via Ashe + Leandro}

Needing, Wanting, Loving: Hexagon Tiles

Happy Monday!  How was everyone's weekend?  Mine was good, I enjoyed a day out at Grand Banks and a few walks through Central Park to soak up this gorgeous Manhattan weather.   I've also been binge watching Silicon Valley and the Olympic trials, and I cannot wait to see the 5 female gymnasts perform in Rio- is anyone else so excited for that? I wanted to start the week off by discussing one of my favorite tile treatments for floors- hexagon tiles:

{Paige Jones}

While typically tile is reserved for the bathroom and kitchen as well as other "wet" areas like the laundry room, we are seeing it in living room and bedrooms too lately- especially in hotels!  I love the soft blues in this bathroom floor tile, designed by Amy Berry:

{Amy Berry}

{Cle Tile}

Designer Lauren Soloff worked with homeowner Leanne Citrone to turn this LA abode in to a light-filled retreat.  The curtain panels added are a nice touch and not something you see too often in a bath for practical reasons, but I assume the fabric they chose is an indoor/outdoor to avoid being damaged by water. Even though the floor tiles are a standard marble material, the hexagon design adds visual interest and feels more special than regular square tiles:

{domino}

Naomi Watts hired design firm Ashe + Leandro to design her family's NYC apartment, and matte black cement tiles were chosen for the guest bathroom flooring. The finish feels soft and inviting and offsets the white tile of the walls and the ceiling color:

{Architectural Digest}

Studio Muir always finds the most unique tiles for the bathrooms, hallways and kitchens they design. A mix of brass, black accents and marble is perfection in this bath, and the polished tile creates an added element of beauty.

{Studio Muir}

This galley kitchen/butler's pantry has long been a personal favorite of mine.  The gray-toned tiles mixed together feel like a special rug and help to tie in the various hues in the space.

Another example of various-toned tiles mixed together is spotted in this bathroom design by Susie Novak using Cle Tile's honeycomb hex medley.  I love the pretty warm tones!

{Susie Novak}

So what do you think? Hexagon tiles- love 'em or leave 'em?

My favorite tile sources:

New Ravenna

Cle Tile

Waterworks

Ann Sacks

Home Depot (this is my personal fave)

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Clean Slate

I can't believe it's almost the weekend.  I'm in my 2nd week of working with Carrier & Company and we've been in the middle of a few large installations, which has made the week fly by!  This weekend I'm looking forward to possibly doing a day trip to the beach and grabbing a cocktail at Grand Banks.   I find I have so much more energy in the summer, and I've been in the process of paring down and organizing my life- from my closet, to my personal files, to my decor.  While I love pattern and color, I'm drawn to clean whites and soft beiges lately for their simplicity:

Shop This Post:

Lace Off-the-Shoulder Dress $64/Kate Spade Pearl Earrings $38/Faux Leather Crossbody Bag $36/Poplin Bardot Top $48/Ellie Fringe Earrings $38/White Dipped Basket $42/Jack Rogers Stitched Sandals $88.46/Sweet Pea Candle $25/Oomph Tini Table $395

Hood Love

I love the creativity we continue to see in today's kitchen design. For awhile we saw all-white kitchens dominate, but for the past few years we've seen color creep back in.  I think many people forget just how much time we spend in our kitchen and how it often becomes the one place everyone congregates in during dinner and cocktail parties.  So to me, just as much time should be spent planning and creating a beautiful and functional kitchen as on the living room or master bedroom.  Today I want to discuss one kitchen element that has often become the focal point- the stove hood. 

{Williams-Sonoma}

I love the look of this zinc hood by O'Brien Harris.  The banding creates nice symmetrical divisions and the look feels clean with the marble backsplash and white cabinetry:

{O'Brien Harris}

Polished nickel banding shines on the stainless steel hood in this Hollywood Hills home, designed by Madeline Stuart. I love that the kitchen opens up to the outdoor patio and has lots of natural lighting:

{Madeline Stuart & Associates}

The stainless steel barrel hood in this cooking nook is certainly the focal point of Barbara Chamber's San Francisco kitchen.   I love this hood because it was uniquely designed to fit perfectly in to the cooking niche and the polished nickel banding is a beautiful detail:

{San Francisco Cottages & Gardens}

Now that we have discussed nickel elements, let's switch to brass, which has become more and more popular the past few years.  How lovely are the details of this brass hood when paired with a brass La Cornue range?

{Laura Burleson}

One of my favorite counter materials for the kitchen is quartzite.  It can closely resemble the Carrara marble everyone loves, but is much more durable and easy to care for.  Matthew Quinn and his team at Design Galleria created this stunning kitchen for the 2014 Symphony Showhouse utilizing quartzite in a leathered satin finish.   The hood, constructed of polished brass and black metal, creates a stunning focal point in the space:

{Traditional Home}

How beautifully unique are the scalloped panels of this kitchen hood?  I also love the lucite + brass barstools.

{Kemble Interiors}

Designer Beni Borza create a layered hood in which a wood-and-black-glass frame encases a second, slatted layer of zinc-plated metal in a distressed finish.  Rather than standing out, this hood fits in beautifully with the Shaker-style cabinetry and mirrors the steel-framed window divisions:

{Beni Borza}

What style of kitchen hood is your favorite?  

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A 259-Sq Ft Brooklyn Apartment by Nick Olsen

I am regularly inspired by the ingenuity and imagination of New York City apartment dwellers.  It is no small feat to move in to an apartment that's under 300 sq ft and turn it in to something you can be proud of while also making it livable and functional.  I definitely experienced the initial shock of realizing all the clothing I brought to New York needed to fit inside a 36"W x 24"D closet, and the rest of my belongings needed to find a space in my 100 sq. ft room.  Yikes!  Thankfully, I've learned to pare down this year and everything is fitting in to place nicely, but there's still work to do.  I love studying studio apartments that have been expertly designed in order to glean an idea or two.  This 259 square-ft Brooklyn studio apartment was designed by Nick Olsen and features a mix of high and low pieces for an eclectic, layered look:

I love that Nick chose a Mexican sarape to reupholster the Louis XVI fauteuil- it's so unexpected and brings in fun splashes of color that served as the color scheme for the rest of the apartment.

The slipcovered sofa was found on eBay, while the cheap coffee table was updated with a fresh slab of carrara marble. The large scaled artwork above the sofa is by photographer Rebecca Phillips. Swing arm sconces with matte black shades frame the sofa. Below, a Victor Vasarely print is propped up on nesting tables, which can be pulled out and utilized for cocktail parties and dinners.

The green piping detail on the slipcovered sofa is mimicked in the kitchen cabinetry and doors, which feature an inset trim painted green meant to resemble raised panels.

Since table top space is lacking and there's no room to properly frame and display photos, displaying them in rows on the refrigerator helps to bring in a personal touch. 

The hues of bright green and purple continue in to the bedroom, where 2 chinoiserie red chests flank an Ikea bed.  The headboard was created by Olsen himself, and is covered in Schumacher's Hong Kong. I love the soft, frilly edges of the curtains. 

Olsen also spruced up a chest he found at a flea market by creating a bright chevron pattern with Rustoleum paint:

For a purple side chair, Olsen made a pillow out of Clarence House's Jaguar Velour Soie:

I love that Olsen utilized both expensive, luxurious fabrics and accessories with thrift store finds, eBay, and Ikea.  The result feels cozy, chic, and personal with just the right amount of luxury suitable for a tiny apartment. 

Read the full story here.

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