Fun in Hotlanta!

If the summer wasn't hot enough, we decided a trip to Hotlanta in July for the Gift Show was necessary.  Thank God the buildings are air conditioned because the three block walk from the hotel was enough heat to last us the rest of the summer.  The other upside?  The overabundance of eye candy.  From luxe home furnishings to arrayed jewelry offerings to the gourmet foods section with samplings of homemade salsas and peppermint hot chocolate, we didn't know where to look first.

Our first stop took us to the Christian Mosso and Associates showroom to see our clients Arte Italica, maker of fine dinnerware and home decor, and Christy, the venerable home linens brand from England.  Arte Italica had so many of their new collections on display and while it's hard to pick a favorite, we took special notice of the Murano chandeliers that lit so many of their tablescapes.  We also loved Christy's selections of fresh bedding designs, lush towels, cozy robes and bold beach towel offerings.

From Christy, we were intrigued by the design stylings of Artmax, a home furnishings store with showrooms in Chicago and High Point.

We loved this contemporary metallic wall hanging which worked well with the comparable sconces to the left.

Next, we popped into Zentique.  They exhibited an interesting cross section of classic styles with a slight contemporary twist.  We really loved the unique chandeliers and lighting fixtures.

These "burlap" fixtures had a truly natural feel, but didn't feel completely casual.  It reminded us of a well-appointed beach house; we could almost hear the waves crashing on the shore and smell the salty sea air.

All together, it was a great trip.  From Foxy's Gourmet to Heart Gems to 3 Sisters, we left exposed to many new brands, and a great deal of inspiration.  Next stop the New York International Gift Show!

Get inspired by fall’s color trends!  Pantone, the global authority on color, produced a palette seen splashed across New York fashion week.

Take a cue from the runways for your personal and home style.  Endive, golden glow, living coral, lipstick red, purple orchid, chocolate truffle, lagoon, woodbine, oyster gray, and rose dust give a great contrast and freshen up a room.

Summer Must-have

The Christy Soho beach towel made the pages of Star magazine's style section! The July 5 edition of Star features fashionable finds for the beach including straw hats, cover-ups and, of course, printed beach towels. Check out the rest of the Christy beach towel collection available online.

Check out next month's issue of Veranda

Congrats to Samuel & Sons for being featured in the July/August 2010 issue of Veranda magazine! Veranda's beautiful spread of decor in Southampton displays Samuel & Sons' unique trim.

Ooo-la-la, ombre

From fashion to hair to home decor, ombre is one of the summer's hot trends. Often referred to as "dip-dye", ombre is a French term meaning "shaded" and usually graduates from a lighter shade of color to a darker one. The trend had its debut on the runway in 2007 at the shows of top designers like Prada and Alberta Ferretti. In 2010, ombre is still going strong. Clothing brands like Lucky have fun and flirty styles in their summer lines, celebrities like Lauren Conrad and Rachel Bilson are rocking subtle dark-on-top, light-on-bottom reverse ombre hair styles, and Samuel and Sons - industry leaders in trimming and more - brings the trend home with their Aquarelle line of tassels.

At your service

Create an elegant aesthetic for the summer!  A decorative piece great for parties, this Coccodrillo serving tray by Arte Italica, as featured in the July/August issue of Veranda magazine, is the season's must-have!

Tribute To Alicia Keys

Still getting settled in our new office. Check out the awesome wall art in the conference room, we love it!

Brutally Honest Gifts

We are excited to welcome our newest client Naughty Betty! Naughty Betty’s mission is to combine cool design and insightful, funny truths to bring women what creators Christine Montaquila and Courtney Weinberg call “the brutal truth all prettied up.” Montaquila and Weinberg both worked in advertising before launching Naughty Betty greeting cards in 2006. The two have worked on many women’s brands including Dove’s Campaign for Real Beauty.

Naughty Betty products, which range from wine glasses and cocktail napkins to memo pads and cuffs, all don sayings like “Thank God there’s a pill for everything” and “If forty is the new twenty cellulite must be the new tattoo.” To see more, check out the Inviting Company.

The summer's hottest color!

Check out our client, Arte Italica’s Merletto Aqualine in the Shade of Summer section in this month’s issue of Traditional Home. Inspired by handmade Italian lace, add a touch of the summer’s hottest color to your dinnerware.

Stylish Enough for Sex and the City

Congratulations to our client Charles P. Rogers, who’s sleek and stylish Campaign Canopy bed was chosen for the Sex and the City movie again! The hand crafted wrought iron Campaign Canopy bed made it’s first appearance in the first Sex and the City movie in Charlotte’s bedroom (recall the slumber party scene the night before Carrie and Big’s wedding). The same bed was chosen again for Charlotte Sex and the City 2. Be sure to look for it in the movie, in theaters now.

Welcome Aboard!

This week, we are pleased to welcome our new Account Executive, Michelle Caganap. Hailing from the world of Entertainment PR at IPR+MKTG, Michelle supported publicity efforts for Nick Cannon, Kelis, Estelle, PUMA, Sliminizer and VIBE Magazine. Working hand in hand with Nick Cannon's multi-media company at Viacom, she also has solid relationships in and strong knowledge of the TV and Movie Production industry. Having worked with some of the most recognizable names in the entertainment, lifestyle and consumer brand industries, Michelle brings a fresh and bold perspective to our team.

As an Account Executive, Michelle will utilize her relationships and experience in the entertainment industry to secure solid placements, create news and develop ongoing mutually beneficial relationships between our clients, and possible partners and celebrities.

Growing up in sunny Long Beach, Ca, moved to New York to earn a BS in Business Marketing and Mathematics from Marymount College of Fordham University. Williams' Billionaire Boys Club & Ice Cream Flagship store as Assistant Manager and Press Officer, sparking her interest in PR and the Entertainment Industry. She currently resides in Brooklyn, which she proudly claims is the best Borough in all of New York.

Need A Quick Summer Makeover?

Samuel & Sons Massai Fringe is featured in Mary McDonald's Instant Room section of the June Issue of House Beautiful - and Mary's right! It's a simple addition that will bring a sophisticated summer twist to any room.

Arte Italica at DIFFA Dining by Design

We went to check out the safari-themed Carini Lang table at DIFFA today and we were enamored with the presentation! Of course, we were most impressed with the use of Arte Italica's Coccodrillo chagers which fit in seamlessly with their overall design. Thank you, Carini Lang for including us!

Michele Keith's Book - Map of the Stars

We're excited about the upcoming book tour for Michele Keith's new book featuring the homes of America's great designers.

Charles P. Rogers

We are so excited to be working with Charles P. Rogers! So excited in fact, that we thought we would make a video to show the world just how awesome they are. Charles P. Rogers has been making beds right here in New York City since 1855 and now ships world-wide so it's easy to see why those who know, buy.

Check out their website at www.charlesprogers.com