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How to Create the Amazing $30,000 Met Gala Table Setting
What’s THE party of the year?
Probably the Met Gala, held the first Monday in May at the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York to raise money for their Costume Institute. It’s like the Oscars, but with more panache, since it’s all about fashion.
Each year the event has a theme. Guests are encouraged to dress accordingly, so stars and their stylists go into overdrive planning their looks. For many celebs, being photographed at the Met Gala is almost as important as appearing in Vogue. That’s why stars like Gisele and Tom, Beyonce, and Rihanna really, really dress up:
All About Anna Weatherley and her Handpainted Porcelain Dinnerware
Who is Anna Weatherley?
Although she’s probably best known for her line of handpainted dinnerware, Anna Weatherley has had many careers: from arms dealer (yes, really!) to famous couturiere to setting up handpainting studios in Hungary. Eventually, she was even commissioned by First Lady Laura Bush to design a collection of china for the White House.
Pallina Acrylic Pitchers Featured in Better Homes and Gardens
We love this outdoor entertaining scene from Better Homes & Gardens‘s June 2017 issue!
The Ultimate Guide to Choosing an Area Rug
We’ve just moved into our new house, and although we love our hardwood floors, they are kind of overwhelming. We feel like we’re living in a showhouse, plus we’re always walking carefully since our footsteps can be heard so loudly throughout. So we need to start thinking about rugs. We’re looking to define specific areas, add color to some rooms, and muffle sound/bring in warmth underfoot.
Luckily, we’ve done this many times before, so we know what a change we’ll see once we add rugs. But for those who haven’t, here’s where you start.
A rug is good for:
- Defining a specific seating area. The area rug brings a group of furniture together. It could help smaller rooms look more spacious and turn larger rooms into separate, usable areas.
Why Do I Need a Rug Pad?
Area rugs can be pricey, so many of us have wondered if we can just skip the rug pad in order to save a few dollars. Here’s the quick answer: nope. And here’s why.
Rug pads do the following:
- Prevent your rug from sliding, buckling, and wrinkling
- Protect your rug from uneven wear patterns, and keep dirt and moisture trapped between the floor and the rug from damaging the rug’s underside
- Prevent your floors, especially wood floors, from getting bits of latex backing or thread stuck into them
- Finally, vacuuming is easier with a rug pad. And who doesn’t want to keep their floors in their best shape for years to come?
How Do I Choose the Right Material for My Rug?
When picking the right fiber, you have to consider things like cleanability, durability, softness, shedding, color retention, and more. In fact, sometimes synthetic fibers like polypropylene or polyester are better choices than natural fibers because they’re stain-resistant, fade-resistant, and soft. Read more
How Do I Choose the Right Size Rug?
The best rugs don’t just look great — they enhance and complement the entire look of your interior space. With that said, it’s interesting how the size of a rug, not just its appearance, can influence the dynamic of a room. Read more
Introducing NEST Fragrances
Some of the most beautiful memories we have are all the more magical because of smell. It is the only one of the five senses that is fully developed at birth, so even newborns are sensitive to smell.
As a child, I remember visiting the Giacomin bakery in my neighborhood every day after swim class, enticed by all the aromas of their pastries and breads. In the summer, the smell of hot, buttered popcorn at the movies always meant we were in for a treat. During the holidays, the Christmas trees in our living room (and later, the smells of sausages and chestnuts roasting around Central Park) always marked the beginning of the season. Even while travelling, the clean scents of the Hotel Costes in Paris and the warm smells of the Chateau Marmont in Los Angeles are unforgettable parts of our trips.
Flora Danica: The Amazing Story of the World’s Most Expensive Dinnerware
War. Diplomacy. Royal backstabbing. A Russian Empress who loved art and beauty. All that went into the making of the world’s most expensive dinnerware, Flora Danica by Royal Copenhagen.
Our story begins with Catherine the Great of Russia. In 1788, she was at the height of her power and prestige, having come to power 26 years earlier by deposing her husband in a coup. The formerly impoverished German princess was now the absolute ruler of the largest empire in the world, and she followed up one stunning achievement with another: Expanded Russia into the Black Sea and Crimea. Made Russia a major European power. Annexed Alaska. Reformed the government. Ushered in the Enlightenment. Check, check, check.
Arranging Flowers with Jeff Leatham from the Four Seasons George V in Paris
The flowers at the Four Seasons George V in Paris are so stunning, they’ve made the hotel a must-stop for anyone visiting the 8th arrondissement. Go any time of the year and I promise you’ll be thrilled.
