“As Cartier is to watches, Assouline is to books.”

This quote from Time Out New York says it all. Assouline takes the best of art, culture, fashion and travel and presents it in the highest quality form. Just as a Cartier watch is not merely a watch, so too an Assouline book is not just an average publication; it is a cherished part of your life.

Since 1994, Prosper and Martine Assouline have produced books that not only tell a story, but actually transport you.  Assouline’s books are filled with the finest and most fascinating places, people, and creations. These pages give us a glimpse into other worlds as well as a chance to reflect on the richness of our own lives and dreams.  Savoir vivre, or the art of knowing how to live, is an idea that carries through in everything Assouline publishes.

Here are some of our favorite hardbound editions:

“Windows at Bergdorf Goodman proves that looking can be more fun than shopping.” – Harper’s Bazaar

Ziad Raphael Nassar shows us the real-life fairytale weddings he has designed over the past decade in Once Weddings.

“Inside its tire-black rubber case is a richly photographed compendium of 100 exceptional 20th-century automobiles.” – Vanity Fair

We never like to say never, but Assouline gives us a look at an art collection that would be pretty tricky, to say the least, to obtain in just one lifetime.

“The 100 black-and-white photos and gatefolds of burly, frostbitten men eating Heinz baked beans from cans; dreamscape chasms; and beautiful, huffing huskies are candid and transporting.” – The Wall Street Journal

To visit our Assouline library, click here.

We hope you’ll enjoy perusing the breathtaking photographs in this very special book as much as we do. It’s the perfect way to gear up for Fashion Week. Written by Ingrid Sischy and photographed by Patrick Demarchelier, who’s known for his work in Vogue, Elle, & Harper’s Bazaar, Dior Couture comprises a portfolio of portraits of over one hundred incredible gowns from the entire era of Christian Dior haute couture, including dresses designed by Dior himself.

What do you do with leftover pieces of teak wood? This is the question that the founders of Selamat Designs asked themselves. Working in the furniture industry in Indonesia, they noticed that there were often bits of wood left over after building large furniture pieces. They decided to use these “off-cuts” to make stylish home decor accessories, and Selamat was born in 1988.

The company became so popular that they expanded into full-sized furniture. Selamat remains true to its original values, using select and sustainable mahogany and teak for their designs which blend easily into contemporary interiors.

In addition to furniture and accessories, they also create modern lighting fixtures.

Selamat pieces are stylish and classic – made to bring you years of use and enjoyment in the home. Their signature style of casual elegance easily fits into homes and commercial spaces.

Click here to see our entire collection of Selamat furniture, accessories, and lighting.

We love the luxury soaps from Claus Porto, our unique toothpaste from Marvis, and the scented body washes and lotions from NEST.  But the men at the Gracious Style team pointed out that something was still missing from our bath collection. We didn’t have any quality shaving products – or any shaving products at all.

Never ones to leave such an oversight uncorrected, we went on an extensive search and discovered a great manufacturer of top-quality shaving creams, foams, and aftershaves.

We’d like to introduce you to Proraso.

Created in Italy by the Martelli family, these one-of-a-kind shaving creams, soaps, and foams are still being made in the time-honored traditional way. The distinctive quality and performance of Proraso products has made them a staple in barbershops throughout Italy.

The traditional recipe contains no parabens, SLS, artificial colors, silicones or mineral oils, only natural moisturizers and essential oils that are good for your skin. There’s a shaving cream in a tube, a shave soap in a jar for lovers of tradition, and a shaving foam in a can for those that like convenience. Pre- and after-shave creams and balms round out the collection.

Proraso has three formulas. Refresh contains refreshing Eucalyptus oil and Menthol. Nourish features Shea Butter to keep the skin soft and supple and Sandalwood Oil for a calming and soothing effect. Sensitive is formulated for the most sensitive skin with Green Tea Extract and oatmeal extract.

We love this old-fashioned shaving brush, the result of a collaboration between Proraso and the famous Omega company.   And you know what else?  The well-designed packaging on all Proraso products looks great on the counter next to our Marvis toothpaste!

See the entire Proraso collection here.

When I was young, I remember going to the county fair and watching the glassblower create tiny, beautiful animal sculptures. He would deftly take a shapeless lump of molten glass and turn it into a prancing horse or a graceful swan. The process seemed quite magical.
 

This video from the Simon Pearce Company brought back that memory for me. At Simon Pearce, they create beautiful blown glass stemware, bowls, and other products for the home. All of their products are created from blown glass and finished by hand. Unlike other glass makers, who use factories full of machinery, Simon Pearce continues to use the traditional methods. All of their products are made in America.
 

Simon Pearce opened his first glassblowing shop in 1971 in Kilkenny, Ireland. 10 years later, the factory was moved to Quechee, Vermont, where it remains today. The Ottauquechee River provides clean, hydroelectric power for the facility. Simon Pearce has expanded with two other factories in Vermont and Maryland.
 

Although they make it look easy, glassblowing is a difficult art to master. The material is unforgiving – mistakes usually mean the artist must start over on a new piece. An apprentice glassblower studies under a master for a period of 2-5 years. During this time, the apprentice learns the traditional methods and skills, as well as developing their own unique signature. This gives each piece of glass its own distinct character.
 

In addition to glass, they also make pottery. Like his father, Simon Pearce was a potter before he began working with glass. The company carries on this tradition as well, creating beautiful, durable pottery dinnerware that is lead-free and safe for use in the dishwasher and microwave.
 

Simon Pearce glassware and pottery is an affordable, everyday luxury. It’s made to be beautiful as well as functional. The pieces are meant to be used and enjoyed every day, and will last long enough to be passed down to future generations.

See the whole Simon Pearce collection.

We recently took a trip to the curious world of Natural Curiosities. Set in Echo Park’s converted Jensen Recreation Center, the studio itself is an ode to the ever-evolving and fantastical nature of art. Once an Ancient Egyptian-themed bowling alley, it’s now an inspiring space for creating oversized prints, silkscreening, metallic leafing, and other artistic techniques.

With Natural Curiosities pieces being spotted everywhere these days, with notable appearances in Elle Decor, Vogue.com, House Beautiful, and Stylebeat, among many others, it was refreshing to see that owner Christopher Wilcox and his team remain close to their hands-on roots. Beyond the inventive design of the space itself – high ceilings, exposed brick, and other thoughtful remnants of the original Jensen Rec Center – the art house is filled with beautiful finished pieces hung floor to ceiling as well as large tables for aging prints, drying racks filled with delightful new pieces, printing screens and inks, and sustainably sourced natural specimens awaiting their close-ups.

Despite their popularity, Natural Curiosities has managed to retain the feeling of an intimate artists’ co-op. This comes through in each of their whimsical collections, which they take care to keep from overproduction, retaining the integrity of the art.

Natural Curiosities silkscreen and metallic-leaf pieces, like the Rumana Seahorses, are stunning. See how these incredible techniques are used: Metallic Leaf and Silkscreen

We also love the uniqueness of hand-colored prints like Noah’s Ark. Take a look at the process: Hand Watercoloring

Photographs from Natural Curiosities carry a nostalgic and magical feel, while remaining chic and modern design statements.

Their sculptures breathe new life and beauty into objects we’ve seen many times before.

Prints come in a variety of styles with something for any room. The Lord Bodner Triptych speaks to Natural Curiosities’ octopus fascination.

Finally, we think their specimen art, like Fallen Feathers, is right on trend in the art world with clever ideas we’ve never seen before.

For more art from Natural Curiosities, visit GraciousStyle.com. And don’t forget to take a look at our entire Art section.

Mottahedeh just introduced two lovely new patterns for summer. Both collections include dessert plates and cups & saucers in sets of four. Perfect for afternoon tea and cake!

Everybody has been going “nuts” over the first pattern – Nut Leaf. Beautiful, rich green foliage is dotted with different nuts and decorated with 22 karat gold. The set of four dessert plates illustrate the hazel nut, pecan, chestnut and acorn nuts and leaves. The set of four teacups and saucers have the nuts cleverly hidden on the saucer, seen only when the cup is lifted.

The Nut Leaf pattern is getting rave reviews. It was even featured in the spring issue of Martha Stewart Weddings.

The other new pattern is a floral called Lowestoft Garden. The dessert plates, cups and saucers are adapted from a European plate c. 1775 painted in ‘famille rose’ enamels. Highlighted with gold, they look especially lovely when mixed with Mottahedeh’s Apple Lace dinnerware.

There’s never been a better excuse to have some dessert! You can purchase or register for these and more Mottahedeh dinnerware patterns here.

Buccellati has long been known for their exquisitely detailed gold and silver work.  A family business with traditions rooted in the 18th century, the company started in earnest when Mario Buccellati, then an apprentice at the prestigious Beltrami & Beltrami jewelry shop, took over the firm in 1919 and renamed it Buccellati.

Mario first exhibited his wares in the 1920 Exposition in Madrid, where his booth was completely sold out.  Soon after, he was invited back for a solo show, and Spanish aristocrats, including the royal family, became ardent supporters and lifelong clients.  After nearly a century in business, Buccellati’s creations have been exhibited at the Smithsonian and joined the Pope’s private collections in the Vatican.

Although Buccellati is well known on the red carpet for its jewels, it’s actually the light-as-air engraving on the metal pieces that sets the company apart.  Buccellati pieces are often covered with multiple engravings and piercings, so in the hands of its artisans, metal often resembles fine fabrics like linen, tulle, or lace.  This distinctive Buccellati technique, practiced in the company’s workshops around Milan, Florence, and Venice, has allowed Buccellati to remain one of the world’s foremost gold and silversmiths.

For the home, Buccellati has created an exquisite line of sterling silver flatware, frames, and dishes.

The Buccellati flatware collection of 14 patterns represents the beauty and excellence of fine craftsmanship. Timeless and elegant, the designs span many centuries from the classic to the contemporary, giving the collection versatility suited to today’s eclectic lifestyles. The weight and balance of each piece of flatware make it a pleasure to use, while the many serving pieces in each pattern add sophistication to the table. All Buccellati flatware is crafted from sterling silver.

Buccellati also makes intricately detailed, sterling silver picture frames. Available in a range of styles, they make wonderful wedding or anniversary gifts.

Buccellati’s exquisite dishes showcase the beauty and elegance of nature. Handcrafted from sterling silver in the shape of flowers, leaves and shells, they make lovely gifts that will become heirlooms.

Surprisingly, Buccellati is still a family affair, making it one of the last great family-owned Italian luxury businesses. It is run by Mario’s son Gianmaria Buccellati, his wife, and several of his children.  Together, they’ve kept Mario Buccellati’s voluptuous Renaissance and Art Deco look intact, while bringing it forward into the present.  Click here to see our entire collection of Buccellati flatware and gifts.

For over 25 years, Legacy Home has produced unique and beautiful bedding collections that bring a modern elegance to the most important rooms in your home.

All of Legacy Home’s linens are custom made to order in Virginia and available in just 6-8 weeks.  The best part?  They’ve made it easy to choose by conceiving entire collections for you.

Click here to see the entire collection from Legacy Home.

We are obsessive about materials because this is where it all starts.   So when we started looking for leather frames earlier this year, we wanted to find a company that only worked with premium leathers and, like the old-fashioned leather manufacturers, still made everything by hand.
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