{spring things: april showers}

"Anyone who says sunshine brings happiness has never danced in the rain."

~author unknown

. . . happily, there have been more sunny days than rain so far this spring, but there are no illusions that the rain will not fall, {for it is april, after all}, only the eternal optimism of may flowers . . . and when the rain does come, we shall greet it with red lipstick and our best umbrellas, and dance if we must . . .


{image: editorial, perdue dans manhattan; elise crombez by mikael jansson for vogue paris september 2003; fashion editor, anastasia barbieri via pretty stuff}

{on the market: manhattan townhouse}

. . . shall always adore katie lee's ultra-chic four-story west village townhouse, famously decorated by nate berkus a million years ago, in 2006; first seen in domino magazine and still an all-time favourite, the 4000 sq ft home, which includes 3/4 bedrooms, 4 baths, 4 fireplaces, an elevator, a landscaped garden, matchbooked marble detailing, and antiqued gold-leafing, is now on the market, and it is always interesting to compare how the real estate listing shots, often taken wide angles, differ from the rich, more detailed shots published in magazines; and so, a glimpse . . .



the living room, as it appeared in the real estate listing


the living room, as it appeared in domino magazine




the kitchen, as it appeared in the listing


the kitchen, as shot for by paul costello for domino magazine




the dining room, as it appeared in the listing


the dining room, with katie lee, as shot for domino magazine




the stunning gold-leafed dressing room, as it appeared in the listing


the dressing room, as it appeared in town & country magazine




the upstairs den, (cropped) as it appeared in the listing


the den, as shot by paul costello for domino magazine




the master bedroom, (cropped), as it appeared in the listing


the master bedroom, as shot for nate berkus (from a previous post)






top & above: the living room, as it appeared in the listing


the living room, as shot by paul costello for nate berkus


an all-time favourite shot: the living room, as it appeared in domino

***

{p.s.} previous on the market features:
* a grand victorian, australia
* a swedish apartment

{images: prudential douglas elliman real estate, photography by paul costello for domino magazine, nate berkus, simply smitten, a previous post; discovered via haute design}

{home inspiration: manhattan loft}

. . . have been in love with ochre's stunning arctic pear chandelier for as long as can remember, but had never imagined just how lovely it could look intermingled with washed floorboards, an antique mirror and a periwinkle tufted chesterfield . . .

{images: manhattan loft owned by andrew corrie and harriet maxwell mcdonald; scans by greige from elle decor}

{travel: new york city}

"One belongs to New York instantly, one belongs to it as much in five minutes as in five years."

~thomas wolfe

. . . a few summer weekends ago, spent a few hot and hazy days in new york city, days filled with early morning swims, bellinis and brunches and sundrenched terraces, afternoon markets and dusky shops with herringbone floors, glasses of perfectly chilled champagne and red velvet cupcakes, sunset in the park and long, lingering moments soaking in the intoxicating energy all around, leaving with memories of dinner on the very last night among topiaries and carrera -- oysters to start, followed by seared sea scallops, rocchetta, medjool dates, lardoons with champagne vinaigrette . . . and it was farewell until next time . . .

{images: all photography by p & this is glamorous © august 2010; p.s. if you follow on twitter, you may have already heard about some of our adventures xo}

{lost in a good book}

The coffee table is currently buried under pile upon pile of fashion and design hardcover books and magazines, and rather than stow them away on shelves or in armoires, I rather like the idea of neat and colourful stacks tucked in a well-lit corner alongside art and elegant hatboxes, as in Hervé Pierre's Manhatten apartment, which is described as a combination of "fun, frenchness and fashion history" . . .

{Sounds just about perfect.}

For those who prefer a more neutral palette, classic built-ins in warm tones and books shelved with their ends facing outward create a softer, more unified space.

{more great storage and display ideas:}
> a pretty endtable magazine rack
> stacks of magazines for a desk
> stacks of magazines for a bench

{images: 1 - House & Garden, November 2002, photography by James Waddell; 2 - apartment living by Caroline Clifton-Mogg, photography by Winfried Heinze}