{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}

{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}

{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}

{two lovely things: beautiful details}

. . . if you have been reading for a while, you will know about a certain fondness for marble and mirrors, and both in the same place is quite exceptional indeed, for what could be lovelier than a mirrored bath enveloped in carrera?

{p.s.} recent two lovely things:
* red hair & lipstick
* moments of repose

{images: follow studio; veere grenney associates via splendid sass}

{décor inspiration: modern & classic}

. . . bright and airy and positively flooded in light, clean lines with an ultra-modern fireplace and avant-garde sky-high bookshelves intermingling perfectly with chandeliers and antique chairs and best of all, on the côte d'azur / french riviera . . .

{interior designer jacqueline morabito's home, near nice, french riviera, photography by jean-michel voge via french by design, photo editiing by this is glamorous}

{bits of gold & chic chignons}

. . . a graceful archway and inlaid floors, a grand piano and classic chignons -- a few beautiful thoughts floating about on this perfectly clear and ever-so-slightly crisp sunny autumn afternoon . . .

{images: 1 & 3 - david hicks via desire to inspire; 2 - chloé via style.com; 4 - lilac and grey}

{interior designer: rees roberts}

. . . crème caramel-coloured velvet perfectly paired with lucite, exotic wood and modern classics, sweeps of carerra and ultra-glamorous mirrors, and most of all, beautiful spaces that defer to the elements of views, art, and light . . .

{images: rees roberts + partners llc via the diversion project}

{interior designer: tom scheerer}

. . . early autumn days always bring back thoughts of overwhelmingly cozy and welcoming rooms like the ones by manhattan-based interior designer tom scheerer -- overflowing in natural elements of wood and wicker, and luxurious textures of fur and velvet, a warm & woodsy palette steeped in a wonderfully relaxed modernism, and best of all, always beautiful and classic pieces such as the insanely stylish white and gold four poster bed made for dreaming of september sunsets . . .

{p.s.} reminds me a little of this collection

{images: tom scheerer via domicile interior design}

{decor inspiration: endless summer}

. . . can never resist the elegance of french doors, especially when they are flung open to the intoxicating sounds of the ocean and the last fading days of summer -- and every year around this time, striped rugs and ceiling beams and the charm of a quaint beachside cottage is overwhelmingly alluring . . .

{carolyn espley-miller's beach house in carpinteria, california, photography by david tsay for house beautiful, aged and gilded via the simply luxurious life}