Mandarin & Midnight

Posted on 05/08/2013 by Slim Paley

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Tangerine & Noir

Mandarin & Midnight

Kumquat & Charcoal

Persimmon & Jet

Ebony &…

OK, let’s just cut to the chase…

Orange & Black

It’s a great combination isn’t it?

So let’s not just save it for Halloween.

The black part of the equation is easy. Orange may be introduced as simply as above,

with art, flowers, fruits, veggies in the kitchen, throws, books, glass or pottery in orange hues, candles, candy in a bowl,

leaving a luscious Leica laying around…

A minor touch of orange carries major impact!

and if you don’t have the element of fire in a room, orange is your man.

To further prove my point;

tumblr_mebiurvIM31rbsp5ao1_1280 Love the art propped against the fireplace in this contemporary space.

03fb1532793411e2af7822000a1fb04e_7 These are Von’s roses, not from my garden. No scent, but they lasted about 9 days! Viagra roses.

268949408967282370_THIuSsGo_f Take note how many of these images have some form of natural wood working beautifully with the orange & black combo.

134127529_CtdQBZ7D_c Such a cool kitch!

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Amanda Peet’s entry hall via Vogue

Do I see Viagra roses?

Here, natural wood, orange & black are adding a contemporary pop to an otherwise traditional room.

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I want to hang a hammock inside somewhere, don’t you?!

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How about a sexy Public Bike propped casually against your wall

Michael Smith

This is a favorite photo so I’m sorry I don’t have the credit.

The coziness of a sleeping nook, dark wood and the arched leaded window are all so charming.

890A6279 Here fiery orange & deep charcoal in my “Boy Barn”

It will be finished…eventually. You know how I hate to be rushed.

700_roman-williams-stiller-library Ben Stiller’s library by Roman-Williams

Black bookcases are terribly chic.

Splashes of orange tones highlight them to dramatic effect in these three photos

one_kings_lane_scents_rustic and Hermes blankets always make Mommy happy.

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Pumpkin blankets and crisp black lines help to make this bedroom a triumph.

890A3820 Oh, you naughty young Parisian man in Hotel Costes! How did you get on this post?!

c0fb762f6ef0f4e96eac0a238136cede I like the warmth of this living space looking out on to the snow and pines, but can you tell what’s going on on the ceiling?

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Zing! 101432150.jpg.rendition.largest

and a touch of plum in these two pics 60728294945475067_c7cdaavm_f

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LOVE this bold, fun room, especially the burnt orange velvet cushions on the African bead chairs.

SO…

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Go bold

700_guest-pinner-ben-pentreath-11

Go baby steps

but do think about giving orange & black a go-go (been watching Madmen much?!)

Omg-It’s April Already!

Posted on 04/06/2013 by Slim Paley

Did you think I’d run off with the Moroccan Circus?!

I do still have one or two Moroccan tidbits I’d love to share, but today’s post hails from NY where I had a lovely visit this week with Older Son,

enjoyed a little theatre (or perhaps I should say big theatre)

and well, you know the rest…

there was some food involved…

but first, the play

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Directed by two-time Tony winner George C. Wolfe and starring the boundlessly talented Tom Hanks, “Lucky Guy” is the hottest ticket on Broadway.

We were lucky enough to attend the opening night on Monday and it was truly electrifying.

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The last work of the brilliant Nora Ephron;

“LUCKY GUY marks a return to Ephron’s journalistic roots in a new play about the scandal- and graffiti-ridden New York of the 1980s, as told through the story of the charismatic and controversial tabloid columnist Mike McAlary, who won the Pulitzer Prize shortly before his untimely death on Christmas Day, 1998.” (via Luckyguy.com)

Screen Shot 2013-04-06 at 12.52.01 PM It’s great fun to experience Tom Hank’s first time on the Broadway stage, in fact the entire cast is stellar

so if your plans include a trip to NY between now and June, I highly recommend it.

And what’s a trip to NYC without a little window shopping?!

My Instagram pic (following yet?) of the Celine shoes that are starting to grow on me

(no pun intended)

Screen Shot 2013-04-06 at 10.59.51 AM Especially the “Birkenstock” version which FYI is already sold out in the black on black style.

I just asked.

L1150148 Then there’s this casual little Walter Steiger heel for all you ~~Crowns of Thorns~~, ~~Thrones of Corns~~, Game of Thrones fans

(which I’ve yet to watch because I still haven’t started “Homeland” yet. You see the sacrifices I make for this blog?!)

I snapped the pic in Barney’s, slightly more civilized than the Bergdorf’s shoe department was on Friday

Where it’s every woman for herself (more crown-thorny shoes there too-not in my size )

And now’s the time for Vegetarians to shield their eyes

We enjoyed a hearty brunch at Il Buco Alementaria & Vineria

beginning with a most civilized selection of their house-cured meats.

menu board at il Buco

Then Son of Slim threw down with a short rib sandwich that quite frankly did his Momma proud.

Despite its girth, it absolutely melted in your mouth. Like buttah.

er, I mean his mouth.

I’m far too much of a Laaydy to be seen eating such a beast (at least in public-would that they have private booths)

This is definitely not a First Date Sandwich.

Il Buco is very buzzy and for the most part, dining is shared at communal tables.

8-14_085 via Il Buco website

I will mention that the acoustics aren’t the greatest (upstairs seems slightly louder than down) We moved downstairs because I swear a woman at our table was talking to someone in another restaurant-and not on her phone. I felt like we were in a Woody Allen film, but let’s not be ‘Slim Cranky’. The food’s delicious and service is great.

This was my second visit to Il Buco and I’d definitely go again.

The salted caramel gelato at Il Buco.

Yes, I did say brunch

And in the blink of an eye another NY week is over and it’s April already.

Wishing everyone a great weekend and a sweet & happy new(ish) month!

Spring is upon us and I hope to be posting with a little more frequency from now on. Really.

’tis the season of growth and renewal after all, right?

XX SP

**The lemon meringue cake is at “E.A.T.” on upper Madison Ave.!

Both “Lucky Guy” play photos via Bloombergbusiness.com

Heads Up

Posted on 02/17/2013 by Slim Paley

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Cameos are cool again.

Just thought I’d mention it, in case you hadn’t noticed.

262756959478882278_n29eMAmB_c Then…

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Amedeo

…and Now

150659550005429546_eW6SAjFL_c Cameos & tats, who’da thunk it?!

890A4843 Italian Vogue

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Victoria Hardstone via Fourtane

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muse-china-12-e1335986433479 Arizona Muse via Vogue China

Old photo cameo

Amedeo on Lexington Ave. in NYC is the place to buy cool cameos.

Screen Shot 2013-02-17 at 9.46.04 PM They even customize. A loved one, or perhaps a favourite pet, or just beautiful initials.

Screen Shot 2013-02-17 at 9.46.45 PM Both images via Amedeo

Screen Shot 2013-02-17 at 9.42.34 PM These are not your Grannie’s cameos

618_uktv_downton_abbey_s02e05_7 BTW, shouldn’t the Dowager have a cameo on her collar?!

890A1716 A most beautiful head in the Palace of Versailles

marlon-brando-julius-caesar and the most beautiful head in movies. No contest.

Marlon-marlon-brando-30617224-1259-1107 right??

Heads are in-house too.

383208-Stile_BK

383210-Stile_BK Rugs by Stiles BK

the-libertine-magazine-campaign-january-2013-yatzer-patrick-gilles-and-dorothc3a9e-boissier-at-home-in-thier-flat-in-paris-3 via The Libertine magazine

The trick is to keep a cool head.

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and don’t let it get all stuffy.

Axel Vervoordt

Lanvin

Go big or go home.

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Ozymandias

I met a traveller from an antique land
Who said: `Two vast and trunkless legs of stone
Stand in the desert. Near them, on the sand,
Half sunk, a shattered visage lies, whose frown,
And wrinkled lip, and sneer of cold command,
Tell that its sculptor well those passions read
Which yet survive, stamped on these lifeless things,
The hand that mocked them and the heart that fed….

Percy Bysshe Shelley

Lanvin

credit unknown

Just don’t lose your head (Sorry)

L1080258 and make sure to have fun with it.

Hey-How about that last episode tonight?

What the… :(

Still, we must soldier on. We’re British after all (caught up in the show much??)

Try to have a good week all the same.

(Buttons top photo, my own. Green desk photo via Pinterest)

Escape to New York

Posted on 01/19/2013 by Slim Paley

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Room service breakfast, The Mark Hotel, NYC.

Oh, OKAAY, here’s the entire picture…

So, I sneaked away for a quick trip to NY this week.

Didn’t even bring a camera, just my iPhone and walking shoes.

It was, after all, Serious Sale Season.

I kept my packing to bare minimum carry-on by fed-exing my coats and boots to the hotel beforehand. So much easier then schlepping heavy bags and worrying about them getting lost or stolen, which has happened to us on more than one occasion. I brought a pre-printed return slip for homeward shipping. Done & done.

We took in a play the first night, which I didn’t entirely love so I’m not going to mention the name. I think people in the theatre work way too hard to have amateur critics critique them, don’t you?

We had a couple of splendid dining experiences, including one night at “Eleven Madison Park”, mentioned in a previous post and listed in my slow-to-update “Travel” tab

Palate cleansers of heavily marinated diced apples, Apple Jack bourbon, and some molecular hijinks being prepared in the kitchen at “Eleven Madison Park”

and then there was the wild mushroom and poached egg pizza at “ABC Kitchen“

This was my second visit to this really fun & buzzy Jeans George affiliated restaurant and I would highly recommend it.

1f3e2004604411e2913d22000a9e2892_7 I also enjoyed cocktails one night with “Habitually Chic“‘s Heather Clawson at “Bar Pleiades” in the Surrey Hotel. The rich, delicious concoction sporting a dense head of foamy condensed coconut milk above was called a”Thai-somethingorother”. The perfect libation to evoke the warmth of the tropics on a frigid NY night. We were sitting beside Goop Senior, Blythe Danner, who looked quite fabulous, although I’m sure Gwyneth will be letting herself go all to hell any day now. I can just feel it.

890A5219 If you haven’t already checked out Heather’s new book “Creativity at Work” you really should. A thoughtful compilation of creative souls in their work environments, with beautiful photos and very down-to-earth introductions by Heather, as well as inspiring interviews with each subject. A perfect gift or addition to your own library; here my copy (bought the day before Hurricane Sandy hit on my last trip to NY) sits on the living room table this Christmas.

ea28de90618d11e2a2e222000a9e48a3_7 As always, walking and window gazing through the streets of Manhattan never disappoints.

I scoped these massive antique crystal urns lit from within on Madison Ave. I’d love to know their origin. Even better, I’d love to see them used now in an entirely modern space. Martyn Bullard would probably know just how to do them justice.

I dreamt and drooled through the recently opened Christian Liaigre flagship store on the upper east side.

Just give me one of everything, thank you.

and snapped this cute window at Jo Malone, really as a reference for a friend who is opening a tea salon in India! Swoon.

With my good friend Patty, whose hand I’m employing here for scale, I found a wine glass in Bergdorf Goodman that had my name written all over it. (back off Andrew!)

We had lunch in Bergdorf’s Kelly Wearstler designed restaurant which is usually delicious and ripe for people watching.

Somehow I always end up standing in front of the lady’s room mirror, ever so slightly lifting the sides of my face up.

I stayed at The Mark Hotel where, as long time readers are aware, my love of black & white stripes has been applied with reckless abandon.

The best part of The Mark experience? The Jeans Georges restaurant room service!

Rushing into the lobby one day, I humiliatingly tossed a warm hello to a lady I was so sure I knew (who then asked my name and we both drew a blank ) only to realise 1/2 way up the elevator she was a NYC realtor from a reality show my husband watches. Upon returning from dinner the same night, Sonja fill-in-the-name, from “Housewives of NY” was standing at the entrance and let’s just say Sonja had been enjoying more than a few cocktails. Ouch. But then I guess you don’t end up on reality TV by being a wallflower.

faf06bac60e911e28ce622000a9f13a7_7 The Mark hotel (photos from my Instagram)

64c9aed65f5e11e28e3c22000a1f9d44_7 So, a little food & drink, a spot of shopping & people watching, a drop of culture and the company of loved ones- a perfect week in NY.