Since almost everyone goes barefoot on yachts, experienced crews work hard to minimize the presence of breakables onboard.  But how do you stay safe while making sure that your uberprivileged guests feel pampered?

The secret, for countless A-listers like Steven Spielberg, Valentino, Roberto Cavalli, and Prince Albert II and Charlene of Monaco, is a new kind of acrylic glassware that looks and feels like crystal, but doesn’t break.

Developed by Italian designer Mario Luca Giusti,  it’s so stunning that even seasoned yacht-setters are often surprised when they hear it’s not crystal.  And paired with the latest in unbreakable dinnerware, they make an irresistibly smart combination.

Valentino and Giancarlo Giammetti admiring the pieces at Mario Luca Giusti in St Tropez:

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Summer’s around the corner, which means longer days and more time outdoors.  Here are five ideas (only five minutes each!) to get you dining alfresco.

Keep things simple by choosing pieces that won’t break, can easily be mixed and matched (since there are always extra guests), and can quickly be thrown in the dishwasher after the party’s over.  Who said dining outdoors couldn’t be ultra-chic?

WEEKENDS

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Which materials are used in RabLabs designs?

RabLabs designs are created using semi-precious gemstones, combined with pure silver, 24k gold, and rose gold. They also utilize materials like stainless steel, plated metals, and glass.  These materials are chosen to last forever, and to retain their quality for generations to come.  Each piece is unique, because of the materials, and the variation in the designs. Read more

One of my favorite things about meeting new people is hearing their stories.  I especially love hearing about people like designer Martyn Lawrence Bullard, who started doing one thing, moved on to something else, and then finally took all those pieces together and ended up creating something that’s unique to him.

So when I found out that RabLabs founder Anna Rabinowicz went from designing prosthetics to working with gemstones, my ears were piqued.  How did that happen?

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Founded in 1735 by a Florentine aristocrat, Richard Ginori is one of the oldest porcelain manufacturers in Europe. It is easily the most distinguished manifattura of fine porcelain tableware in Italy, meaning that all production takes place under one roof, so quality is very consistent.

For nearly 300 years, it’s been very closely associated with Italy and its history. Its pieces have graced museums, luxury liners, restaurants, luxury hotels, and fine tables around the world. It has made collections for the Vatican and has featured designs by top Italian architects like Gio Ponti and Paola Novane. Read more

Late last year, we traveled to Marrakech, and it was a revelation.  Behind dusty doors, we got to peek inside lavishly planted courtyards full of bright pink bougainvillea, olive groves, and lemon trees.  Imagine waking up to this after hours and hours of flying:

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TRADITION

There’s an old Scandinavian tradition that when a woman got married, her parents would give the couple a new down duvet and pillows made by her mother, with a coin sewn into the duvet for good luck.  At St. Gèneve, this charming tradition continues.  All St. Gèneve down duvets have a coin sewn in, with the same spirit of good wishes.

HOW TO CHOOSE YOUR DUVET

Higher quality duvets are more versatile: they will be warmer in the winter and cooler in the summer than lower quality duvets. This is because higher quality down is better at insulation, lightness, and breathability than lower quality down. The table below illustrates how this works.

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If you live with pets, we bet you’ve had to part with a rug or two after the why-didn’t-I-see-this-coming happens.  But you’re not alone, and we promise you there’s a way to keep both your adorable pets happy and your home looking stylish.

Here’s our primer on how to pick the perfect pet-friendly rug.

Materials

1. Indoor/outdoor rugs are the best choice.  They’re virtually chew- and scratch-proof, can handle lots of foot traffic, and easily wash up with a little detergent and water.  And don’t worry, the new ones are so soft, you could easily walk on them with bare feet.

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My den had a problem.

Even though it had gorgeous views and comfortable furniture, everybody just walked right past it.  This seemed like a great place to spend an afternoon, but nobody — not even I — was tempted to do that:

Fortunately, there’s an easy, step-by-step process to turning a den or family room into an inviting, stay-for-a-while space.  Here’s the recipe:

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Walk into any room.  Does it feel comfortable or unfinished?  Does everything tie together, or does it feel jarring?

Chances are, the difference is in the rug.  As one of the biggest items in any room — larger than all the furniture and the art — the rug defines the room.  The right rug can define your space, bring your design together, and warm it up for people to relax and linger.  The wrong rug can look oddly out of place or contrast harshly with the rest of your room.

But choosing a rug could be a bear, with all the materials, sizes, colors, and patterns.  And choosing rugs for a whole new house?  Ugh!  After doing that numerous times, I decided to jot down what I’ve learned, spoke with several rug makers, and looked at how we live today.  Finally, I also read up on what the world’s top designers suggested (which I summarized here).

In the end, I came up with these simple, room-by-room guidelines on how to choose an area rug for your new house.

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