{favourite five: designer nina freudenberger}

There is no doubt that city living is eternally cosmopolitan and exquisitely chic, with energizing inspiration at every turn, and whether through the real-life catwalk on the sidewalks, the refined architecture, the flowing colors in paintings on the walls of art galleries or the sights and sounds of majestic opera houses, dreams of bringing the beauty and class of this world into one’s living space are only natural. Bustling cities mean small cozy quarters, and modern fashionistas often struggle with making the most of limited space in their urban settings.



New York-based architect and interior designer Nina Freudenberger knows that when it comes to urban dwellings, space is sparse, but that doesn’t mean that style should be compromised. Nina attended the Rhode Island School of Design, graduating in 2003 with a Bachelor of Fine Arts and a Bachelor of Architecture.



Shortly after, she moved to Manhattan to accept a position at the prestigious interior design firm, Kondylis Design, where she worked for four years as a senior designer, before leaving to begin her own company, Haus Interior. A stylish boutique shop and interior design service located in the trendy Nolita neighborhood, the company is a favourite home design destination of many, including fashion designer Zac Posen.





Nina’s talent for putting a modern spin on traditional spaces has won her the praise of industry experts, features in the glossy pages of every major design magazine from Elle Decor to House Beautiful, and the IFDA’s Rising Star award; she is also listed as one of Trad Home's 20 "New Traditional" designers.



Born in Munich, Nina loves sourcing pieces for her boutique from abroad, and finding young international designers to support. This week, she shares with us her:

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{top five favourite pieces of decor from around the world}

1. Giarimi Design, Sweden – love their beautiful etched glassware.

2. Nouvel Studio – speaking of glassware, we love carrying this collection from Mexico.

3. Brushes – the Institute for the Blind in Berlin employs 15 blind artisans to create these absolutely stunning, all natural brushes.

4. Airedelsur – from Argentina, their beautiful pieces are truly works of art.

5. Scent & Feel – physically located in Miami but made in Tunisia, these fouta "Turkish hammam" style towels are absolutely stunning, they feel great and look wonderful in the bathroom or on the beach.

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{p.s.} previous favourite fives:
* actress & writer: shiva rose
* jeweler: camille eddera
* artist: kimia kline
* actress & fashion muse: chloë sevigny
* floral stylist: denise porcaro
* fashion photographer & illustrator: garance doré
* entrepreneurs: rent the runway
* designer: rachel ashwell
* interior designer: tricia foley
* photographer: romina shama
* food editor & author: donna hay

~ laily


{images: trad home; headshot of nina freudenberger from the designer}

{hello & a few website updates}

. . . and throughout the week, here & there, a few lovely site updates:

• a brand new news page
• to help keep things a little more organized, a new advertising email address: advertising {at} thisisglamorous {dot} com
• updates to the inspiration board
  
• tumblr & pinterest
  
• in case you missed, for easy navigation, use the weekly features in the right sidebar, for instance, design & décor, inspiration boards, two lovely things, favourite five, colour inspiration {& for romantics, all royal wedding posts can be found by clicking the crest just above the weekly features}
  

{image: nuevo estilo via eclecchic}

{hello & early morning musings}

. . . while it may be infinitely easier to slow things down {just a little} on weekends, during a busy work week, there is the wonderful opportunity to find a perfect balance, and while there is always time for cups of coffee and spring bouquets, after reading this earlier in the week, have come to the realization that, now more than ever, there might be more time set aside for breakfast and the morning paper, for afternoon tea away from the office and more late lunches on terraces, and time spent in the sun, especially with summer soon on its way . . .


{images: getty images; *peanut (lauren) on flickr}

{spring things: closet organization}

. . . must confess, have been avoiding re-organising the closets for spring & summertime, for it is rather a monumental, somewhat overwhelming task, and shoes seem to be overtaking the place, making mornings quite a flurry, and so, a little inspiration before it begins . . .













{images: suzanne rogers by jake rosenberg for the coveteur via studded hearts}

{two lovely things: chalkboards & garden sheds}

. . . a grand and gilded chalkboard intermingling with dusky olive velvet and always elegant chevron floors . . . and a charming gardening shed with wonderfully ornate bracketed shelves and a porcelain sink overflowing with delicate late-spring blossoms . . .

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{p.s.} recent two lovely things
* a paris apartment & hermès
* green & white
* open shelves & elegant black
* bar carts & blossoms
* books & bouquets


{images: 1 - original scan from côté paris via belle vivir, discovered via head over heels; 2 - country living via brabourne farm & also seen at the french tangerine}

{hope you had a beautiful weekend + links}

. . . last week's links fell away to the excitement and utter romance of the royal wedding, and this week's nearly fell away to late dinner dates and charming company; saturday afternoon at the market and evenings of sparkling lemon spritzers and unbearably exciting plans; long sunday afternoon walks in impossible sunshine and the stunningly heady scent of hyacinths . . .

hope you had a lovely weekend & that it was beautiful where you are, roséline xo

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a f e w l o v e l y l i n k s
* travel: paris in photos & sketches {via destined to design}
* diy: pencils in pastel glass jars {via you are my fave}
* pretty pleats & summer sun {via lace & tea}
* at home: delicate hues & stripes
* inspired by: the graduate
* soon it will be: summertime
* diy: cole & son's woods wallpaper
* lace at lover: here & here {first via lace & tea}
* and more: lovely lace
* travel: marrakech
* the duchess of cambridge wore: white gardenia petals
* at home: ghost chairs
* shopping: this crepe blazer & these shoes
* lookbook: verrier
* inspiration: a countryside villa
* at the side: spring things
* perfectly pretty: poppies

{as always, a few things you may have missed}
* monday, monday & late starts
* recollections of the royal wedding: with this kiss
* table for two: call me cupcake
* beautiful bouquets & late spring musings
* late spring & a new month: happy may
* style inspiration: a love affair
* perfectly pretty: tufted pink & carrera
* décor inspiration: tufted velvet & seaside dreams
* diy: wallpapered china cabinet
* favourite five: photographer romina shama

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{images: simple style: creating relaxed interiors in the contemporary home by julia bird, photographery hotze eisma, text by bridget bodoano via the through the french eye of design; think pink}

{diy: wallpapered cabinets}

. . . have been a little obsessed with wallpapered cabinets for as long as can remember {recently here & here}, and even came across an extensive china cabinet that was papered and cleverly reconfigured as a display case for shoes, and ever since, have fallen more in love, and so, utterly delighted to come across interior designer amy, from the blog maison decor's, beautiful makeover of a french provincial china cabinet . . .



{p.s.} didn't it turn out beautifully? and also: a secretary repainted in paris grey


{images: all photography by amy at maison decor}

{décor inspiration: tufted velvet}

. . . keep coming back again & again to this stunning chaise -- the watery hue and luxurious sheen . . . what is it about tufted velvet that captivates so?


{image: vt interiors, the cherry blossom girl via seaside dreams}

{décor inspiration: tufted pink & carrera}

". . . chests draped in cloth served as dressing tables until early in the eighteenth century, when tables de toilette, known also as poudreuses, made their debut" . . . dressing tables seem to be a recurring theme lately, especially mirrored ones {also here}, but elegantly draped and ruffled is also lovely {and really quite wonderfully romantic}, especially when surrounded by floor-to-ceiling carrera, alongside grand archways, and beneath a nineteenth-century silvered french chandelier . . . also quite adore the pink rhinestone-tufted vanity stool in luxurious dusky pink fabric from lelièvre, paris, and spectacularly trimmed in rhinestones . . .

{p.s.} the rhinestone trim is from m&j trimmings, nyc & the art déco lamps are from a paris flea market


{photography by dan piassick, scan by this is glamorous from french impressions by betty lou phillips; quote also from french impressions}

{thursday musings & slants of sunlight}

. . . perhaps one of the best things ever is a late lunch on the terrace, and especially an enchantingly sundrenched terrace that holds the secrets of long-forgotten conversations, of laughter and champagne and stolen afternoon kisses . . .

{p.s.} this week's favourite five soon! xo


{french by design via patterson maker}

{décor inspiration: mirrored vanities}

. . . mirrored beside tables & shoe displays, desks, consoles, and even coffee carafes and shoes . . . as with chandeliers and bits of gold, there is something about mirrors that add such elegance, and while vanities have always been ultra-glamorous, when mirrored, things are elevated to another level entirely. . .

{p.s.} more mirrored vanities here & here


{images: country living via the paris apartment; interior design by mary mcdonald, via decorati & the decorista}

{two lovely things: a paris apartment & hermès}

. . . how we arrived at thursday {or mid-april, for that matter}, is an utter mystery, but the spring sun has been shining and have you ever had amazingly enormous plans that hinged on the completion of a million smaller ones? . . . and in a few months' time, the beginning of one of the grandest adventures, and despite excitement uncontained for the things to come, for now, there are to-do lists and always emails, handwritten thank you notes and long lost friends to be reacquainted with -- and so -- a few moments away to get caught up, leaving you with these two very lovely things . . .

hope you're having a stunningly beautiful week so far,
xo

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{also} recent two lovely things:
* green & white
* open shelves & elegant black
* bar carts & blossoms

{parisian apartment, coté paris via haute design, click here to view the rest of this amazing home; hermès via fashion in my eyes}

{favourite five: interior designer tricia foley}

When it comes to home décor, luxury can be found in simplicity. In the field of interior design, Tricia Foley is the authority when it comes to clean lines and natural elements, adding a classic touch to every project she encounters. Whether she is restoring a quiet country home with timeless rustic details or decorating a grand Upper East side city dwelling, Tricia uses neutral color schemes and soft color palettes to create soothing backdrops to help her clients lead meaningful, composed lives that are, at the same time, filled with sophisticated elegance.


above, a sample of tricia's work for ralph lauren home

With a clientele that includes Ralph Lauren Home and Bloomingdales, her highly-regarded work has graced the pages of Elle Décor, House Beautiful, Country Home, Southern Accents, Architectural Digest, Martha Stewart Living and The New York Times.



In a sometimes bewildering world of too many interior design inspirations and decisions, we are utterly delighted to have Tricia, the author of ten design & lifestyle books, share with us the:

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{top five things everyone should know about interior design}

1. Respond to your surroundings.
If you respond to your environment and the given architecture, the design will fall into place naturally. Treat your design plans as the backdrop for your life – it should be a natural fit , not a stage set.

2. Keep it simple.
Don’t try to look for the newest trends, but look to what is tried and true for you. I always focus on function and light and making the most of the space, creating adequate storage, and streamlining things so that homekeeping is a joy not a burden, and my home is a haven not a stressful place.

3. Make it personal.
Tearsheets are an invaluable source of ideas and its important to keep a scrapbook/workbook with the all details and colors and fabrics you love to create your own look . Whether you are working with a professional designer, contractor, or kitchen designer or whether you are doing this yourself, it helps to visualize your end goal.

4. Aim for comfort.
Make sure that the lighting is right for the way you use rooms, that you have good reading light, task lighting for computer and cooking, dining chairs that fit under tables, comfortable seating for lounging and relaxing, low maintenance coffee tables if you like to put your feet up on them … try out beds, and sofas and make sure that they feel just right for you.

5. Invest in the classics.
Whether its from a flea market, Ikea or Sotheby’s, the furnishings that I find I use over and over again, are the big white painted cupboards that organize everything but keep all the little things out of sight; the farm tables that are pressed into service as kitchen tables, desks or sofa consoles; big glass cylinders that are in still-lifes on the mantel, have candles in them for dinner parties, or are filled with big flowering branches … Wall colors change, pillows change, art work and collections evolve, but these have become the signature pieces in my home.

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{p.s.} previous favourite fives:
* jeweler: camille eddera
* actress & fashion muse: chloë sevigny
* floral stylist: denise porcaro
* entrepreneurs: rent the runway
* designer: rachel ashwell

~ laily


{all images from tricia foley's website; image 5 from country home via housemartin via apartment therapy}