Sun Dining Table and Roberti Igloo

I met with one of my favorite sales reps last week who handles a lot of great lines. Two items that really stood out for me are the Sun's Monarca Dining Table (about $26,000). It's got fantastic lines and is available in custom sizes and finishes. Call us for a quote if you have a specific size in mind.

I also LOVED Roberti's Igloo outdoor lounge seats. They've combined a great lounge seat with an umbrella in a fun shape (about $600 each). I can totally see these at home in Palm Springs, poolside. Both are great additions to a home interior that is contemporary with some hat-tips to mid-century modern design.

1st Dibs Picks

Sometimes when I don't have time to actually window shop, it's fun to browse on Paris Hotel Boutique's website as well as 1st Dibs...This morning, I had a few minutes and saw two things that I'd have to have if I were furnishing my home today:

A really great pair of gilt-framed, raffia-covered chairs circa 1940, Mexico City. These were designed by Arturo Pani for his own residence. They are available at Downtown, La Cienega, Los Angeles- 310-652-7461

The second thing is this carved chestnut breakfront, circa 1970. The color alone is amazing, but the shapes and details are fantastic! This piece is available from Todd Merrill Antiques, New York City- 212-673-0531

Have fun window shopping!

Michael Berman Fabrics and Furnishings

Michael Berman has had a collection with Kravet for a couple of years now, but I still love using his fabrics in projects that call for dramatic draperies. His designs have fantastic historic references in them without being too over-the-top. If you ever get a chance to hear him present in person, he's also a delightful speaker. I loved how he tied in so much art history along with the functional arts as well as automotive design.

I also love his furniture line, especially his case goods and upholstered benches. Have some fun looking at his household eye candy on his website.

Contemporary Teak Buffet

One of my favorite pieces of furniture is a sideboard or buffet. To me, a dining room is where the treasures of a household are kept- the silver cutlery, the china, and all the trappings of a beautiful table setting. I think this is why the buffet is my favorite- it is like the safe deposit-box where all the family treasures are hidden away until they are called upon for a special occasion.

This Asian-inspired buffet recalls a hip mid-century modern Japanese mizuya dansuthat I bought at the Tokyodome flea market some years back...but this is on a much larger scale, and more suited towards a home with an eclectic collection of furniture or as a organic balance to a sleek contemporary home ($3500).