Does the holiday season have to be snow, snow, snow?

Not for us — we live in LA.  But no matter where you live, Coastal Living‘s holiday issue should bring a dose of beach, sun, and lime:

And their holiday table is also a seaside escape:

Featuring Herend’s CV12 Mint service plate, Vietri’s Incanto salad plate, Michael Wainwright’s Truro Gold wine glass, and Vietri’s red stripe napkin, this is a gorgeous, laid-back version of the traditional red and green.

Click here to see how you can create a seaside holiday table, or see our inspiration gallery for other table settings ideas.

A warm thank you to Coastal Living, and happy entertaining!

In the remote, dreary Jutland coasts of 19th-century Denmark, a pair of spinster sisters took in a Parisian woman named Babette as their housekeeper, even though they could not afford to pay her.  For the next fourteen years, Babette cooked the bland meals demanded by the sisters’ late father, whose strict religious beliefs they still followed.

Then, one day, Babette won the lottery.  But instead of going back to Paris, she spent it all making the most lavish feast the sisters and their fellow believers had ever seen.  Course after course of the most exotic delicacies were served on the most beautiful china.  As the feast progressed, its sensual pleasures overwhelmed even the most hardened souls, as the diners reconnected with each other, forgave old sins, and re-kindled long lost loves.

Finally Babette reveals that she was once the head chef of the famed Cafe Anglais in Paris.  The sisters were horrified!  Babette had spent her last cent on them and could not go back to her glamorous life again.  They sob that she would be poor for the rest of her life.  But Babette tells them, “an artist is never poor.”

This novel by Karen Blixen, of Out of Africa fame, was made into a movie in 1987 and became an instant classic.  It won an Oscar for Best Foreign Language film, a Cannes Film Festival award, and a Belgian Grand Prix.  Even Pope Francis mentioned it as his favorite film in a New York Times interview.

Recently, one of our clients from Brazil recreated this very film after some serious research and shared her photos with us.  Her table is spectacular:

The first course, blinis demidoff:

Followed by a salad:

A potage a la tortue:

The main course, cailles en sarcophage:

And of course, dessert!  The savarin au rhum:

And to make it a really special occasion, beautifully dressed guests at the party!

Did you recognize Haviland’s Imperatrice Eugenie dinnerware on the table?  This is the same pattern Babette ordered from France for her feast and is especially appropriate to the story, since the Cafe Anglais was one of the greatest restaurants during the Second Empire, when Empress Eugenie and Emperor Napoleon III were at the height of their power.

For more photos and tips on how to create your own Babette’s Feast, please see our inspiration gallery.

We hope this will help you celebrate your Thanksgiving.  Remember to be grateful for the kindness of others and enjoy the pleasures of good food, good friends, and loved ones.  Don’t forget to share your special celebration with us — just write us or instagram us with #graciousstyle.

And thank you, Renata, for having shared these stunning images with us.

How would you display one of the most coveted contemporary art collections of our time?

Eli and Edythe Broad, by now L.A.’s most famous art collectors, were so particular about how their art was to be displayed, they actually turned down just about every museum in town and commissioned their own $140-million museum by Diller Scofidio + Renfro:

When we visited The Broad last weekend, we realized that part of the reason might be how to display the art in the proper light.

Art is usually kept away from direct sun light to prevent damage.  Eli Broad knows this well: he once kept a van Gogh in a desk drawer so it wouldn’t get sun damaged.  But art shown under artificial light just looks different.  So The Broad employs a special architectural detail to show its art under perpetual indirect natural light.

Each of the openings in the ceiling and on the side of the museum, dubbed the “veil” by the architects, functions as a light cell, bringing in a small amount of natural light and casting it on a concrete surface:

The light from many such small concrete surfaces then add up to a bright but indirect light for the interior, dubbed the “vault”:

On the side of the museum, the light cells bring in the outdoor light with just glimpses of the outside world, instead of creating distractions to compete with the art:

Seen from the outside, the museum may look like a bold gesture for the revitalization of downtown Los Angeles, especially next to the Walt Disney Concert Hall:

But in fact, it is actually a perfected machine for showcasing art in the best light, thus fulfilling the Modernist creed of “Form Follows Function” to a T.

Have any of you been to The Broad?  If so, we’d love to hear what you thought!  If not, get free tickets to The Broad by clicking here.

We’re celebrating the end of summer with our biggest sale of the year!  Lots of pieces have been marked down to up to 80% off.

And for a limited time, enjoy free shipping on all orders over $75.

To view our full sale section, click here!

For one week only, we have selected Mauviel French cookware pieces at 40% off.   Plus, you get free shipping on all orders over $75.

Originally created for professional chefs, Mauviel has long been a standard bearer in the world of high-end cookware. Sought by professionals since 1830 for its exceptional heat control and elegant designs, Mauviel cookware is both easy to use and sure to look beautiful in your kitchen. All Mauviel products are made in France and include a manufacturer’s lifetime warranty.

Here are a few of our favorite collections:

To view our entire sale section, click here!

Want stylish glassware that’s perfect for outdoor and the pool this summer?

Mario Luca Giusti’s acrylic glassware looks just like crystal and the colors are resistant to sunlight (acrylic will not yellow), so they’re a must-have for all your parties outdoors.  And because they are not glass, they’re great near small children or on yachts year-round.

Their yummy Lente red tumbler was recently featured in House Beautiful

And look at this gorgeous spread in Architectural Digest:

For those who want just a bit of color in their glasses, their brand new collections this year include the Rolling Stones – a collection of wine, water, and flutes in green, turquoise, blue, and red:

Which is your favorite color?  Click here to view all our Mario Luca Giusti collections.  And for a limited time, get free shipping on any order over $75.

Father’s Day is less than three weeks away on Sunday, June 21st, so we thought we’d help you remember him with these thoughtful gifts for dad.  And for a limited time, enjoy free shipping on all orders over $75.

To view more Father’s Day Gifts, click here!

Great news!  From now until the end of June, all Garnier-Thiebaut table linens and kitchen towels are on sale for 20% off.  Plus, you get free shipping on all orders over $75.

The linens from this well-known French company have been used by the Four Seasons George V in Paris, the Mandarin Oriental Hotel in Geneva, Le Meridien Bora Bora, and The French Laundry restaurant in Yountville.  Their designs range from classic neutral tablecloths to vividly bright jacquard table runners and wonderful kitchen towels.

Plus, their easy care collection is stain-repellant, so you can wipe away all spills for easy summer entertaining.  To read more about the company’s Green Sweet easy care collection, click here.

Here are a few of our favorite collections:

To view our full Garnier Thiebaut section, click here!

Isn’t it extraordinary when you walk into a hotel that’s so well designed it feels like it was created just for you?  Or when you know instinctively where you need to check-in, or where you could meet friends for a drink after work?  And then, as you walk around, you realize that other people are having the same experience, but they’re speaking Russian?

It’s really hard work to get all those details right, and for them to make sense for very different people from all over the world.  But that’s good design.

Years ago,  I read a book by Isadore Sharp, founder of the Four Seasons Hotels.  And in it he talked about some of the changes he’d pioneered over the years that little by little had created the behemoth it is today.

For example, did you know that he introduced the practice of giving each guest toiletries like shampoo and conditioner (and not just soap)?  Twenty-four hour room service (practically a necessity after those late flights)?  Or twice-daily housekeeping service?  Seems like a small thing, but isn’t it nice to come back to your room after dinner and see that the mess you left behind has all been picked up?

Little by little, each of these innovations have changed how we interact with hotels.  They’re now more than just places to sleep; the best ones deliver full-on experiences ranging from a local weekend away from home to full-on trips with the family to finding a way to connect with a new city while you’re in town for your college buddy’s wedding.

So I was really interested when I saw an article in the New York Times (“Hotels for the Next Generation“) that talked about the newest brand extensions from some of the largest hotel brands in the world: Marriott, Hilton, and Hyatt.

Were the innovations in these brands significant?  And if so, how could we adapt these ideas at home?

Here’s what I learned.  The new brands are aimed at the Millenial generation (aged between 18-34 in 2015) and at cosmopolitan travelers looking for affordable, modern spaces with a bit of personality.

Moxy (from parent Marriott) is creating spaces for younger travelers who are very connected in social media and enjoy sharing spaces for work and fun.  For these people, free wi-fi is a must, along with open areas (like those featured in our “Billion Dollar Startup” blog) that allow them to connect with other people.  There’s also a 24-hour self-service coffee bar.

Get the look: Here in Los Angeles, all the new high-end houses have this: large kitchens connected to large family rooms, with disappearing glass doors that fully open onto a huge deck.  So this way, parents can keep an eye on their kids, while guests can feel free to pitch in to help.   Need a cup of coffee?  Make yourself at home; our state-of-the art coffee machine is right there in the corner, and milk and cream are the fridge underneath.  Or help yourself to a beer; it’s all there for you.  Make it easy and fun for everyone to feel at home.

AC (also from Marriott) is designed for some of the same people, but these folks are much more design-centric.  The look is very cool: modern, with warm touches of wood, extraordinary lighting, and interesting pieces of art throughout.  This is for the guy who no longer walks around in his college duds; he’s the young agent who’s got his eyes on a pair of Pradas and knows what a Tom Ford suit looks like.  For these, it’s all about clean lines: sofas in neutral colors, curated objects that are arranged just so;  high-tech the whole way.   These places are usually very clean and relaxing.

Get the look: Clean lines and neutral colors are sophisticated and calming.  Try organizing your closet so that all your clothes and shoes are color coordinated.  Swap out your bath accessories for ones in cool shades of white and gray.  Introduce a sense of calm by turning off your cell phone, dimming the lights in your dining room, setting the table, and sitting down to dinner with your family.

From Hilton, there’s a new brand called Canopy.  As the name implies, this is all about a place that wants to take care of you.  In their introduction to the brand, they have a group of cool people drawing out their ideas for a hotel on a blackboard.  So the result is a place that works just for you.  If you’re in Denver, you might find snacks from the Rocky Mountain Chocolate Factory as a welcome treat.  In the evening, there are complimentary beer tastings, and in the morning, you can have free breakfast at the hotel or on the go.

Get the look: How would this work at home?  Start by asking your family members what they need to be happy at home.  Then think about how you can connect more with where you live.  Can you give a chance to your neighborhood trattoria, so that when your sister comes to visit from out of town, you can take her to a place she won’t find anywhere else?  What kind of stories are there for you to pick up?  The finance guy who’s now making wood bowls out of his garage?  And he’s really good at it, so you’ve brought a few home?

Do you have any ideas to share about how hotels have influenced what you do at home?  If so, please share it in your comments.

I’m obsessed with copper.  Sometimes, when you’re putting a room together, nickel is too bright while brass seems too shiny.   In those cases, copper strikes just the perfect balance between something that looks aged but can still bring the room alive.

Here are some amazing ways to use copper in your home:

Inspired?  You’re welcome.

Check out more ways to use copper by following our Pinterest Copper Accents page.