How the Millennial Economy changed luxury

Since it’s the New Year, I thought I’d start the year off with a post about the Millennial Economy. The rise of quiet luxury doesn’t have much to do with budgeting, but it does have a lot to do with economics. Millennials have reimagined the design world, from fashion to interiors, in their efforts to…

Make it for the gram: stunning candy cane cocoa

Candy cane hot chocolate is my favorite festive drink. It’s easy to make with the right ingredients and looks stunning in a photo. Unlike other holiday drinks, you can’t make ingredient substitutions. If you collect Christmas coffee mugs, this is the drink you’ll want to make! I like using oversized coffee mugs for Christmas drinks…

Make it for the gram: ultimate amaretto coffee

Amaretto coffee is the ultimate after-dinner treat on a snowy, winter evening. Sweet and aromatic, with a lively zing, but not too strong. It can be served on its own, or with a cookie or bonbon. The only secret to a good amaretto coffee is to be mindful with measuring the proportions. The flavour of…

Sewing 101: how to make luxury pillow covers

In interior decorating, if you want overstuffed luxury throw pillows, your best choice is to make them yourself. In the picture, I replaced a set of Armani silk and golden silk wool pillow covers with a custom Mood Fabrics screenprint and silver glow in viscose-linen blends. The cost of fabric for designer pillow covers is…

Sewing 101: how to bind a blanket

Sooner or later, you will likely have a blanket that needs to be rebound. My puppy loves Pendleton blankets, but the binding the blanket in the picture came with was not a puppy-friendly material. I rebound the blanket with a more durable binding and mitered corners. You don’t need amazing sewing skills to bind a…

Furniture mods: how to Hollywood your sofa

Reupholstering a sofa with a custom-made cover is the first step in transforming a living room from coastal vibes to a Hollywood allure. Picking the right upholstery silhouette and fabric takes a few weeks to do. The sofa in the picture started with a contemporary off-white cover in an Upper East Side apartment. Living on…

Puppy decor: a pantry your puppy will love

Organizing a pantry for my puppy was a lot of fun, but finding high quality jars and dishes for her food was not easy. Doggie stores today have a wide variety of seasonal foods and treats. Storing all that food nicely makes eating fun for your puppy pal. The first time I bought groceries for…

Make it for the gram: quick pumpkin spice latte

Pumpkin spice lattes don’t have to be complicated to make. With the right ingredients you can make your morning coffee into a delicious PSL without any extra time or effort. When I make a pumpkin spice latte, I like to give my puppy a pup cup with a pumpkin treat at the same time so…

Furniture mods: how to upholster a seat

If you entertain a lot, dining and bar chairs need to be upholstered occasionally. I restored the bar chair in the picture with handsewn black velvet after a merry night with sparklers. Replacing the fabric on a seat is straightforward, requiring nothing more than a little time, some tracing paper, and a needle and thread….

Custom decor: the power of an exclusive book

A well placed coffee table book that is exclusive and meaningful both brings authenticity to a space and inspires conversation. My sorority recently published a special edition book as part of the Gamma Phi Beta 150th Anniversary Oral History Project 2024. The Gamma Phi Beta book, In My Words, includes stories and photographs from thousands…