Mr. Antique And Ms. Modern

Mr. Antique And Ms. Modern

Once upon a time there was a dining room that lived in an old house. He loved being the largest and sunniest room so he could show off his stained glass windows. Then he saw her- a beautiful modern dining room set. She was light and graceful with lots of storage for his collections of table cloths and glassware, but he hesitated. Could this relationship really work?

They hit it off wonderfully. He loved her legs and she laughed at his stuffy jokes! When he proposed she accepted on one condition- a design prenup.

The prenuptual agreement between Antique and Modern

1. His architectural envelope had to be right.  The key words here- repair and restore.

2. His antique things had to balance with her modern ones.  His- light fixture, vintage mirror, oil painting, tea service, traditional fabric and wallpaper & Hers- set of furniture, textured rug, plates and window treatment.

3. They both had to be brave and trust their instincts.

Mr. Antique and Ms. Modern are now married and they couldn’t be happier.

This was written last year as a guest post for Alice.

(All photos- Martha B.)

Allons à la plage!

Fashion Details-

1. Red beach towel by Espirit- French brand

2. Round emma sunglasses- Fred Flare

3. Antique hooded wicker beach chair- 1stdibs

4. & 5. Two piece striped swimsuit- Anthropologie

6. Panarea sandals- Maryam Nassir Zadeh (212-673-6405)

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Fashion Takes Flight

A new movie on the life of aviator Amelia Earhart is scheduled for release this fall. Likewise, designers have climbed into the cockpit offering clothing reminiscent of the golden era of flying- coats, jumpsuits, jackets, boots, hats and goggles.

Take to the air in this classic Banana Republic trench coat, Gap shirt and Moschino pants. Hat, tie and boots are from Hermes.

Jumpsuits have been a part of aviation since the first planes. Suit and boots designed by Hannah MacGibbon for Chloe.

Nothing evokes those early pilots more than the leather flight jacket- this one at Cole Haan. A plaid shirt, from Tommy Hilfiger, is paired with Ferretti jodhpurs and Hermes’ hat/goggles.

(Photos by Peter Lindbergh for Harper’s Bazaar)

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How Many Looks…

…Can You Get From One Pair Of Shorts?

You can check out the fun details of each these outfits here.

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Fall Fashion In June

As we enter the summer months here in the US, the southern hemisphere is facing winter. So this post is for them. Enjoy these photos filled with fashionable mixes of checks, plaids, stripes and warm knits. And for those who don’t want to think about falling temperatures, well..just close your eyes and skip to the next post!

(Photos- Korean Life and Style Magazine)

StyleFile#57: Keep It Simple, Steve.

I’ve been a longstanding admirer of designer Steve Gambrel. This unassuming 1930′s house is by far my favorite project of his. The clients were not interested in impressing their neighbors by a grand makeover, but wanted to keep their seaside home as it was…only better. Did Gambrel succeed? When does he not?!

Foyer- High gloss enamel paint was used on the paneled walls of the house’s foyer. The floors were ebonized and finished with varnish. As always Gambrel mixes furniture with ease. My favorites are these mid-century rope chairs on either side of the old table.

Living room- This space retained its original pine paneling and Gambral played off its linear design with a custom striped rug from Woodard Weave Collection.  (Here’s another view of the living room.)

Living room detail- The house already had ample bookshelves so Gambrel had them painted and then arranged a series of photos of ships along with the family’s sailing snapshots.

Dining room- Unpainted paneling is the background for a large vintage table and chairs. Instead of expensive fabric on the chairs, they have been covered in upholsterer’s white muslin.

Kitchen- Pre-existing cabinets were simply painted white and pale green. Accessories from Target fill the open shelves.

Second floor hall- Prized 1930′s paintings collected for years now hang in the upstairs hall way.

Master Bedroom (above and below)- The master bedroom is actually two rooms with identical back-to-back corner fireplaces. Another great furniture choice was this Gio Ponti black lacquered/rush chair and ottoman.

(Photos by A. Bootz for American Homestyle & Gardening)

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Plunging Back Dress

This little black dress has a dramatic draped back and fitted collar designed by Mociun. Shoes are eco-friendly hemp from Simple Shoes.

(Photo- Eliza Magazine)

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Happy Father’s Day

Dad,

Thanks for being the big strong tree in my life.

I love you.

Happy Father’s Day.

Your daughter,

Martha

(Photo- Martha B.)

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Budget Bride #6

A series of posts showcasing bridal dresses under $700.

Budget Bride #6. Never underestimate ebay as a bridal gown resource. I picked up this vintage 1970′s Laura Ashley dress for a mere $30. It’s white cotton with bands of lace on the sleeves, bodice and hem. Perfect for a relaxed Boho type wedding.

Thanks to friend and aspiring model, Hope, for her willingness to pose for my camera.

(Photo- Martha B.)

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Less Is More

This photo shoot, from British Vogue- 1981, is a beautiful example of ‘less is more.‘  Stylist Grace Coddington, working with photographer Barry Lategan, chose uncomplicated props and a model with very little make-up. Such simplicity was not the norm then and magazine readers responded negatively to the layout. It’s hard to understand now why because the photos capture the perfect balance between fashion and setting- neither are upstaged by the other.