TUESDAY’S TIP: Bachelor Pied a Terre

 
Lots of fires to put out yesterday, so this Tuesday's tips are falling on a Wednesday (but "Wednesday's Tip" just doesn't have the same ring....so we'll leave the name the same).  Let's talk about designing for bachelors.
When it comes to decorating, bachelors tend to fall into two categories:

The ones who are totally terrified of the entire process or…

The ones who are frighteningly overly interested in it, micromanaging every detail and leaving little or no room for a future girlfriend/fiance or wife’s input.

Here are some tips to all my single men out there who are looking to create an effortlessly chic yet inviting bachelor pad. [Are you reading this "R"?]
1. Select comfortable yet chic upholstery. Use fabrics that are soft and comfortable.
2. Buy beautiful art in appropriate sizes for your space and make it the stand out item in your décor.
3. Err on the side of conservative when it comes to the amount of furniture you have. I recommend collecting very special and timeless pieces instead of crowding a space with a bunch of random, thoughtless junk.
4. De clutter. Keep it clean and simple and if you do collect, make sure your collections are thought out and placed with some sort of care, not thrown on top of something or in a corner.
5. Always have simple, clean linens and fluffy towels for your bedroom and bathroom. I recommend sticking to simple white, it always feels luxurious yet clean.

September 8, 2010 | Tags: , |

Glamorous squared

Marlene Dietrich and Anna May Wong in Shanghai Express, 1932 - seriously too (and two) much gorgeous for one picture.


June 23, 2010 | Tags: , |

Reeded ege

The reeded edge of a coin is the series of grooved lines that encircle the perimeter of some U.S. coins, such as the dime and quarter. This detail was originally added to coins to prevent clipping and counterfeiting.
In furniture design, I use reeded edges to add a subtle elegance to a piece. The 3-dimensional and hand-crafted detail offers architectural interest (without being too ornate) that works well with our Plush Home transitional line. Here's an example of a reeded edge mirror frame below, but I particularly like this detail on table tops (like the Carlisle Entertainment Unit).

PLUSH HOME Carlisle Mirror with reeded edge detail

June 19, 2010 | Tags: |

Real Divas wear Red

The color of our nail polish is a look into how we are feeling....elegant, playful, casual. Are you in the mood to make a statement or do you want to fly under the radar? Chances are your polish will reveal that answer.  

Certain polish colors only work with certain skin types, but whether you are iconically blonde or über-sensually brunette, the true diva follows only one color code...RED.

Now obviously you don't want to wear the same color everyday, and if you want to keep them guessing it's not a bad idea to mix up your shades. After all, there are 285 shades of visibly different red to the naked eye - that's a lot of options for any Diva.

from Italian Vogue...

June 9, 2010 | Tags: , |

TUESDAY’S TIP: Etiquette for holding a wine glass

Bing Crosby, Grace Kelly, Frank Sinatra

It's a common mistake to hold a wineglass by the bowl. When you do this, your body heat warms the drink inside and of course white wine, champagne, and Martinelli's apple cider all taste best when they're chilled. Holding your glass of red by the bowl won't affect its taste, but will obstruct your vision at looking at the color and clarity of the wine....not to mention that you're certain to lose glamor points when you cup your glass. So follow the lead of Bing, Grace, and Frankie and pinch the stem between your index finger and your thumb. Note: If holding the glass by the stem feels awkward to you, then check your pour....a wineglass should be only a quarter to a third full.

June 7, 2010 | Tags: |

Choosing the best sunglasses for your face

SUMMER'S HERE AND THIS IS IMPORTANT. How many times have you seen the perfect pair of sunglasses in an ad or Vogue editorial, ripped out the page, found them, tried them on...and were disappointed at how they looked on you? Don't take it personally, it's just geometry. Sunglasses have to be in proportion to our faces; meaning smaller sunglasses are better suited for smaller faces and larger sunglasses for larger faces. With that in mind, the frame shape should also contrast with the shape of your face; meaning geometric glasses on round faces, etc...
Of course there are exceptions to every rule and your hair length, style, and proportion of your facial features definitely can come into play, but here is a nice general guide to help you pick out your next pair of sunglasses...


Oval face
Almost any style works for oval face. Experiment with the latest looks, such as wraparounds or shields. Square shaped frames with gently rounded edges and higher temples also look good on an oval face.
Frame suggestions : Any frame shape
Round face
Frames should make the face appear longer and thinner. In general, look for frames equal to or slightly wider than the broadest part of the face. Minimize the curves and add definition with soft, angular, rectangular styles or double brow styles. Higher temples will create a longer profile. Sunglasses with brow bars also pull the eye upward, making the face appear longer.
Frame suggestions : Wider frames with angular / rectangular styles
Diamond shape
This face shape has wide or high cheekbones with a narrow forehead and chin. Oval sunglasses will soften the contour of the face, although softly curved square frames will work as well. Make sure the styles are no wider than the top of the cheekbones.
Frame suggestions : Oval, Square, Rimless
Square face
This face shape consists of a strong jawline, a broad forehead and wide cheekbones. Reduce the angles with soft, curvy styles that will give the face some definition such as cat-eye styles. The classic ovals also works well for this face shape.
Frame suggestions : Oval, Round, Cat Eyes
Oblong face
Widen and shorten the face with sunglass styles that do not extend beyond the widest part of the face. Round or square shapes will look great on this face. Frames with short horizontal and long vertical lines also work. Decorative or contrasting temples add width to the face.
Frame suggestions : Round, Square
Triangle shape
This face has a narrow jaw and a wide forehead. Soften the lower portion of the face by accenting the eye area. Styles such as cat- eyes should angle outward at the top corner and be wide enough to balance the jawline. You can also try metal frames with rimless bottoms.
Frame suggestions : Frames with a Straight Top Line, Cat Eyes


June 2, 2010 | Tags: , |

My Haute Tray

This is probably the most used accessory in our house - my husband and I each have one and roam from room to room with our wireless Google machines atop them.  After all, who says that a laptop tray has to be made of faux wood with one of those strange, fluffy cushions glued on the  bottom? I like these guys because they also double as serving and display trays....so when they're not being used to check email, they're ideal for magazines, books, drinks, etc...

Plush Home Lacquer  Laptop Tray:  High gloss lacquered tray with black borders, black bottom, and white interior.
Dimensions: 1.5"H x 14"W x 20"L

March 19, 2010 | Tags: , |

Delicious Vinyl

There is something strangely soothing about the light crackling sound of a record player's needle touching a vinyl record.  It immediately gives me a sense of old school familiarity that just can't be duplicated by a computer or ipod.  During the holidays, I find that dusting off vintage Prince and Donna Summer LP's is a sure fire way to generate an impromptu dance pary. Add a little scratch, open the back doors and the neighbors are sure to join in the fun.
Maybe it's the specialness of doing something different or maybe it triggers our childhood nostalgia of sitting around a record player in front of a fireplace.  Either way,  the vinyl revival is here and it's a way better alternative to watching my husband and brother play video games after dinner.
December 14, 2009 | Tags: , , |

“Technology is my friend, technology is my friend…”

I actually do feel bad for Ashley (one of our Plush Home interns) for having the thankless job of teaching me how to use my new Blackberry Tour.  We just ordered a handful for our office staff, but they’re all the same color — I don’t need to look up Nostradamus’s chart to read the future on this one…

October 22, 2009 | Tags: |

The War at Home…against my ipod and blackberry chargers




 I know that I’m not alone in my annoyance of seeing tangled electronic wires or finding ipods charging on random countertops.  So...I’m dedicating the first few months of the year to de-cluttering electronic gadgets. Plasmas, ipod chargers, dvd’s, laptops, cell phones, whatever needs charging once a day....let’s deal with it now.
I’m working on a new design for a hand-crafted PDA charging station that will solve the tangly, wirey eyesore on your nightstand or kitchen counter - we will hopefully have a prototype completed by Summer 09.
In the meanwhile, here are my favorite PLUSH HOME tech-friendly items that were also designed specifically to keep the geek in all of us elegantly organized.

LACQUERED CHARGING STATION: (photo 1) Available in rosewood, walnut burl, mappa burl, and white with orginal Bodhi or Ginko leaf inlay.  The perfect little space to suggest to your household of where they may leave and charge their PDAs.
LACQUERED LAPTOP TRAY. (photo 2) Durable and stylish lacquer finish makes it ideal to stop that hot laptop of yours from burning your thighs. Doubles perfectly as a serving or showcase tray.
CUSTOM MEDIA CABINET.  (photo 3)Mount your plasma above or atop.  There are a handful of standard designs to select from.  Shown is the Carlisle Entertainment Unit (with Macassar Ebony exotic veneer door fronts) where the center cabinets are designed to store your entertainment components (dvd player, cable box, tivo, etc...) and the side doors allow storage for your favorite dvds and games. If you'd like to take it even further, we can customize pop-up plasma capabilities.

REMOTE CONTROL BOX. (photos 4,5) You know how you never know what to do with your remote controls....?  An oldie but a goodie. This continues to be one of our best selling accessories and gift items.  Available in a handful of exotic veneer finishes (walnut burl, mappa burl, rosewood silver leaf, white with bodhi leaf, black with bodhi leaf, white with ginko, black with ginko).
Plush Home 8323 Melrose Avenue | West Hollywood, CA 90069 |
T 323-852-1912 | www.plushhome.com
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