March 18, 2010 · 3:02 am

Fine Print: Nancy Corzine Glamour At Home

With all the rain over the weekend I finally had time to peruse the stack of review copies on my bookshelf.  Nancy Corzine Glamour at Home was published back in October, but I thought I would share some images with you anyway, in case you missed it, or loved it so much you felt like looking again. Her style is much more elegant, and well, grown-up, than I tend towards, but there’s no doubting her talent. When I think mirrored furniture, I think Nancy Corzine.

Photo: Carter Berg

The hand-painted tea-leaf silver screen provides a glamorous backdrop to the blue linen-covered sofa and creamy lacquered side tables.

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Photo: Ken Hayden

A trio of stools at the foot of the bed in this guestroom provide extra storage.

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Photo: Peter Vitale

This Hamptons dining room’s walls are papered in a traditional hand-painted silk chinoiserie design. The English Regency-period sunburst mirror adds sparkle, along with the chandelier, which is carved wood with a silver-leaf finish.

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Photo: Ken Hayden

A vintage black-and-white photograph of Marilyn Monroe hangs above the bar in the media room of a house in Los Angeles.

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Photo: Miguel Flores-Vianna

The large oil painting in this living room is by Antonio Murado.

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Photo: Ken Hayden

The toile de Jouy wallcovering in this Hamptons guest bathroom matches the bedskirt and draperies of the bedroom.

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Photo: Ken Hayden

A galley kitchen in a Manhattan high-rise has clean lines for maximum efficiency. The black-and-white photos are by Jeff Reese.

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Photo: Trio Giovan

A Palm Beach living room with whitewashed paneling and pale blue fabrics has a traditional Gustavian-era look.

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March 17, 2010 · 10:03 pm

Shop Alert: Brooklyn Industries Opening on Newbury

Gorgeous in Boston today.  So nice that i went outside – TWICE. Really needed some air and movement after spending this rainy spring break on the sofa, fingers glued to my Mac.  Not only did I enjoy the sunshine, I got a blog post out of it.  Brooklyn Industries is moving in on the last block of Newbury, amidst Puma and Madewell.

Looks similar to Madewell and Spitawell for that matter, but hey, there can never be too many options for on trend affordable clothing, in my humble but ever fashionable opinion. I checked out the site and here’s what I came up with:

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March 16, 2010 · 11:48 pm

Design Alert: Patch NYC x West Elm

Don Carney and John Ross, the talented, now Boston-based, duo behind Patch NYC, designers of jangly charmed jewelry and contemporary graphic pillows and other stuff that you don’t realize they’re the design brains behind (like chevron plates at Anthropologie), have teamed up with West Elm.

A Williams-Sonoma Home publicist contacted me with the news today, having stumbled across my blog due to my having included their plaid blankets in a “Hunting Lodge Chic” post last week. She clicked through and discovered the “Shopping Trip: Patch NYC” post from when I visited their design studio. But I digress.

Here are the goods – framed repros of their metallic letterpress prints, foil print pillows, black and white ceramic plates. The collections launches in stores and online next Tuesday.

Patch NYC for West Elm

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March 16, 2010 · 3:01 am

Design Diary: Cabin Fever

I had been long corresponding with Gary Briggs, co-owner of Aunt Sadie’s boutique and  candle company, but it wasn’t until fall that I learned he is quite the collector of Adirondack, camp and cabin style furniture, art and accessories. I toured his South End place for “Cabin Fever“,  which ran in the Boston Globe Magazine, and followed up with “Log Cabin Chic in the City” for The Inside Source, for which Briggs shopped eBay for Adirondack-inspired pieces. It’s about time I showcased his collection here as well, especially since I promised more hunting lodge chic stories last week. (Sorry, work got in the way.) Check out the articles for details (the stories behind the collecting is interesting), since this is a photo only post.

Photo: Josh Kuchinsky

An overview of the main living space.

The details below are my snapshots.

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March 15, 2010 · 9:51 pm

Beauty Break: Vitamin Ultrasound Facials

I heart Natalie Maibenko.

Natalie Maibenko, whose business is called Unique Verve (530 Tremont St., South End), is THE best facialist and massage therapistin Boston. I can say that with authority, having written three years worth of “Best Of Beauty” awards for Improper Bostonian. (Natalie won three times, twice for massage and once for facials. She also was the massage runner up last year for Boston Magazine’s “Best Of”, which I did not write.)

Anyway, Natalie just got herself a brand new machine, and is wanting to spread the love. She is now offering Vitamin Ultrasound Facials using Environ products. I love the line – I’ve had a number of Environ facials with Natalie and also with Crystal Morgan (another Improper “Best Of” winner) at Sports Club/LA.

I’m not going to delve into what a vitamin ultrasound facial is (click the link for the full explanation)… all too scientific… but I think it uses a machine that emits sound waves to help vitamins penetrate the skin. Bottom line, your skin will look fresher and dewier immediately, and probably visibly better in the long term after multiple treatments. I’m plan to try it out soon; just need to find a spare hour or two.

The lovely Natalie is offering a special deal to fans of Unique Verve on Facebook through April 21st.

Active Vitamin Treatment with Mask 50 minutes – $85 (reg. $135)
Active Vitamin Facial 80-90 minutes – $110 (reg. $160)
Add-on to any other facial – $35 (reg. $100)

If you are even thinking about a facial and/or crave a massage, you should take her up on it. She is my absolute favorite, favorite beautymaker, and believe me, I’ve been to MANY.

PS – Her organic aromatherapy oils, which she incorporates into all her treatments, are sublime. My favorite is the “aching muscles” blend (writing is hard work) made with lavender, rosemary, and ginger.

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