FETE || inspired by provence

Hello! Right now I’m in Provence (well at least that’s where I’m supposed to be accordingly to the carefully crafted schedule).  I’m most excited about taking in the lovely French countryside and enjoying a slower way of life. Entertaining in Provence would be so easy, the countryside as your backdrop, fresh lavender stuffed into vases, and the purest ingredients straight from the local market.

This is what al fresco dining in Provence looks like to me…  

How to pull it off:

Create the Perfect Cheeseboard         Linen Table Runner              Lavender Cupcake Recipe 

FETE || inspired by paris

Bonjour, I’m in Paris now, likely stuffing myself full of cheese and baguette and falling in love all over again.  When I think of Paris I think of Versaille, when I think of Versaille I picture myself as Marie Antoinette living the luxe life of decadence. 

This is what my Parisian dinner party would look like….

How to pull it off:

 

        Macaron Recipe                        How to Build a Champagne Tower         DIY Gold Frame Decor

FETE || inspired by london

It’s official, right now I’m on vacation!  It’s a biggie, London, Paris, Provence and the south coast of France. I know, amazing right? This is my first time to Europe so I imagine I’m fainting over all of its beauty, and wondering why I ever waited this long to go.

I didn’t want to leave you with nothing while I was away (I don’t want you to forget about me- I’ll be gone for 19 days) so I thought I’d put together a few inspirational posts for you to peruse.

My obsession with parties and entertaining got me thinking. If I lived in London, Paris or Provence, what would my dinner party look like?

In London this is how I see it….

How to pull it off:

Sticky Toffee Pudding Recipe                 Gold Flatware                     DIY newspaper cones

Jewel tones, decadence, proper place settings and classic recipes is how I imagine the Brits get down.

Hotel Chic | City vs. Country

And...I'm almost off for an 18 day European vacation extravaganza, only 1 more sleep! London, Paris, Provence and the south coast of France, it doesn't get any better IMO. I spent last night reviewing all of our hotels and making sure we got the dates right; I fell in love all over again with some of the stunning places we'll be staying.  A little bit o' city and a little bit o' country, a sweet mix that will keep me interested, yet relaxed.

Here's a peek at some of the lovely city spots we'll be staying in London and Paris.  I tried to pick places that were quintessentially true to their cultural roots.  The design details are plentiful, patterns, gold and brass, and opulence in abundance.  

And things just keep getting better as we move south to Provence and Cannes.  The design takes a bit of turn to a more relaxed and simple vibe, less colour, less fuss, equally as gorgeous but less about the details, more about the atmosphere.  

I can already predict that I'll come back inspired, and totally obsessed with all of the fabulous interior design and historical beauty I'll be feasting my eyes on; one can only hope.  

While I'm away I've left a  few fun posts for you to enjoy (didn't want to neglect you of course). Miss me, Au revoir!

WEEKEND GETAWAY - new york - the food

Hi all! Now that I've dazzled you with the New York design scene, we move on to something almost equally inspiring, the grub.  I consumed some of the best meals I've ever had in my life in NYC this past weekend, their culinary culture didn't disappoint.  With a little help from some friends, we were pointed to several super hot spots for foodies and foodie wannabes (like me).

Just a short subway ride out of the core, we landed ourselves in the heart of Harlem. We followed our nose to the popular Red Rooster, the gastronomic brainchild of celebrity Chef Marcus Samuelsson. Comfort food heaven, the Fried Yard Chicken and Mac n' Greens had us all licking our plates. The highlight; the man himself showed up and made his rounds to greet each table, pretty cool. 

That's Chef Marcus Samuelsson heading back inside

We checked out Chelsea Market of course, it was neat, but nothing compared to the fresh and simple New Amsterdam Market down at the Pier.  Unique mom and pop type food stands were scattered under the bridge which created the most lovely ambiance for wandering and exploring. Have you seen anything cuter than these mini apple pies on a stick? 

The top dinner spot fave amongst the group was ABC Kitchen, yup the same ABC I raved about last post, they have a restaurant too! As expected this place had the most gorgeous decor, natural yet styled, fresh and chic.  And the food...well let's just say the best pizza I've ever had lives in this kitchen. A savoury mushroom pizza with an egg on top! Yes indeed, a golden egg cracked and cooked on this crispy, perfectly seasoned crust. Fantastic service, A+ food and an atmosphere that makes you feel like like there's nowhere else you'd rather be, ABC Kitchen is a must visit. 

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And then along came the food trucks. I've been hyping these things in my mind for ages now, never really had an authentic food truck experience; that all changed this past weekend. We couldn't have picked a better spot, there they all were, heaven on wheels.

this was taken right before the mega lineups formed

We opted for a gooey grilled cheese, chicken dumplings, saucy pork, chicken and beef tacos, a true treat for the taste buds. 

We sipped on tasty cocktails in Williamsburg, the uber hip 'hood in Brooklyn

A glutton for the weekend and not a second thought about it, New York's fabulous fare was SO worth the extra pound or two.

WEEKEND GETAWAY || new york - the design

I'm back from the big apple and you better believe my socks were knocked off by all of the beauty, culture and design porn that makes New York one of the best cities on earth.  I'm going to let the pictures in this post speak for themselves, a feast for the eyes.

First stop, Tory Burch boutique on Madison Ave, the highlight of our trip. First of all, the store is a giant jewel box, brass, bold colours and shiny fixtures, stunning! Then, unexpectedly the store clerk offers us beer and champagne; we sit, we sip and simply take in this New York moment, something money couldn't buy, just us and the bevies in a glorified walk-in closet. Heaven.

Moving on to the Brooklyn Flea, so many fab finds, If I could of fit this sensational ceramic stool in my suitcase, I'd be staring at it right now.

Next, well...let's just say the "mecca", my personal holy land, Bergdorf Goodman's, Kelly Wearstler boutique.  It literally took my breath away, I was SO excited to be there, nerdy I know. What would you do for one of those funky head sculptures?! *faint*

And the Kdub party didn't stop there. I creepily peeked my head into the BG cafe on the 7th floor, that Kelly herself designed, just to get a glimpse of at least one hollywood glam detail. Hubs saw the awe in my eyes (and maybe a little tear too), and suggested we stay for a drink, yes please, 1 pink champagne coming up! 

I totally want to add this moulding detail to our guest bedroom, maybe too big of a task, but I LOVE!

On our last day just before we boarded the plane my friend suggested hitting up ABC Carpet & Home , boy was that the best idea EVER! This place was so huge and so inspiring, you need a week and a drool rag to get through it all.

Around every corner this enchanting city has something visually pleasing, from architecture to art and everything in between; I came back a better women, and no doubt a more envious one too.