HIGH POINT MARKET FINDS: Gilt Logs, Furry Friends and The Five O'Clock Slipper Chair

One of the best things about being a decorator is getting a sneak peek at what's coming next in furniture and accessories.  After months of seeing the same old-same old, a visit to trade shows like the High Point Market in North Carolina--with more than 2000 exhibitors from over 100 countries and 10 million square feet of showroom space--shakes up my senses in the most delightful way.  Here's some of my fun and refreshing finds from the recent October Market.

My first discovery came moments after I landed at Greensboro Airport, where a display of metallic-coated Log Tables made of resin fiberglass cast from actual wood stumps caught my eye. Just love how Phillips Collection added a glamorous twist to something so rustic and real.

Next I came across The Five O'Clock Slipper Chair, a swanky velvet chair with a hidden slide-out surface on which to perch your cocktail.  Genius!  Since when designing a room we're always looking to mix the pretty with the practical--and always worried about where you'll put down your drink--it did not suprise me one bit that two former decorators designed this piece, along with a tightly edited collection of similarly surprising furniture.  Each piece by Carolina George has some kind of clever twist that elevates it from ordinary to unique.

At most of the showrooms, the presentation wows as much as the product, and I always come away with new display ideas.  The colorful book spines are one of Decorative Leather Books by-the-yard collections intended for retail displays and model or show homes.  But it's a clever DIY idea you could steal for your own library.

And finally, on my last day of the show, I ran into a furry new friend from Dreamweavers.  That little white lambskin pouf really needs a happy home.  And I think I might have just the very one ....

Top photo courtesy Phillips Collection. Second photo courtesy Carolina George.  Bottom photos by Doreen Creede.

BURGER FRITES

Yes, the classic French bistro dish is Steak Frites.  But who can afford to eat that out these days?  At Union Trust Steakhouse in Philadelphia, steak options average 40 or 50 bucks--without the sides.  During weeknight Happy Hour in the dramatic and glowing upstairs bar, however, you can get a prime burger and perfect fries for $7.  Plus drink specials, $1 oysters, a dazzling view of the restored former bank with its soaring 65-foot purple medallion ceiling and impeccable service.

Similar Happy Hour specials can be found at high-end restaurants all over the country.  A good way to discover them is to check your local weekly newspapers (in print and online). And then sometimes you just have to ask:  Union Trust's happy hour specials were not advertised nor were they available at the main bar downstairs. (The "burger frites" special, though, can be ordered at lunchtime throughout the restaurant, located at 717 Chestnut Street).

For a truly comprehensive look at burgers options in Boston, Chicago, New York City, Philadelphia and San Francisco, check out The Burger Register  from New York Magazine's Grub Street blog.  Bon appetit.

Photo by Doreen Creede

CHEAP WINE & CHEVRION

During a family trip to Paris my husband and brother-in-law stopped in a store to pick up a few nibbles.  They emerged laden with armfuls of wine--none of which cost more than five bucks.  We sampled them, along with creamy goat cheese and hot baguettes, in a stone-vaulted alcove of our Left Bank hotel before heading off to dinner each evening.  Since then we've been on an ongoing quest to find good wines at a great price.  Our current House Red, Concha y Toro's Frontera Cabernet Sauvignon/Merlot certainly fits the bill at $6.89 a magnum.  J.Lohr Riverstone Chardonnay, our House White, costs a bit more (about $9.50 a bottle) but the luscious buttery taste beats out wines at triple the price.  As an accompaniment nothing's better than sublime  Chevrion goat cheese and Sarcone's bread from our wonderful South Philly Market.  Mmmmm.

What's your house wine?  Share your secret for a great wine at a good price in the Comments section below or on the Facebook Page.  And check back all week for more tips on tasty and affordable wines, food finds, and stories that transport us back to Paris.
The Checkered Tablecloth by Pierre Bonnard.  Image via metmuseum.org.

LES ARTISTES

Paris, of course, is famous for cultivating artists.  But these days you can find wonderful, affordable art in so many places.  If you're willing to go in person and sift through the uncatalogued section at auction houses that specialize in furniture--not art--you can often snag pieces for $50 or less.  Art schools, like SCAD (Savannah College of Art & Design) and PAFA (Pennsylvania Academy of Fine Arts, holding its 109th annual student exhibit this May), allow you to discover emerging artists before they become famous.  The semi-annual Affordable Art Fair in New York City offers works beginning at $100.  And often design blogs feature incredible finds--like the abstract, above, from Greensboro, North Carolina native Kate Long Stevenson, discovered on The Neo-Traditionalist.

Have another source for great art?  Share it in the Comments section below, or post a link on the Style Maniac Facebook Page. (Become a fan here.)

iPHONES IN THE GRASS

Couldn't resist--I just had to buy this cute charging station. So much nicer than the typical tangled mess of technology.  Plus it just makes me smile!

Charging Station from kikkerlandshop.com. Discovered in Caroline Tiger's "LifeStyle" column for The Philadelphia Inquirer.

MINI MOO MAKEOVER

Give a boring business card a makeover with these adorable Moo Minicards--about the size of a stick of gum.  Choose up to 100 images on 100 cards for only 20 bucks. Either feature your own photos and designs or pick from a great selection of stock graphics.  For my new Style Maniac cards I chose images from favorite posts. Still trying to decide which one is my favorite!

Moo Minicards, along with a lot of other goodies, available online from Moo.com.

FINALLY! Part II

Finally ... Spring!

Just can't get enough of the fabulous brooch bouquets created by Amanda Heer of Fantasy Floral Design. For "Finally! Part I" click here.

Photo courtesy Fantasy Floral Design.

EVERYDAY STYLE TIP: Change Your China Wardrobe

Get a fresh look for not a lot of money by switching a few of your dishes seasonally. If you keep your main set of china neutral and simple, you can mix up and mix in fun finds like these colorful chandelier tea cups and lunch plates from Rosanna, which just shout "Spring!" when you open your cupboard.

Chandelier set from Style Maniac's collection.  For current styles visit Rosannainc.com
Photo by Doreen Creede.

SUGAR SUGAR

Sometimes  the loveliest little surprises (and laughs) really do come in small packages.  When we have overnight guests I leave these witty sugar packets next to the coffee pot and they never fail to delight.

Sweetness boxed set of about 50 sugar packets, $9.  Available through The Redecorators (215-429-2000) or by special request at www.cursivenewyork.com.  
photo by Doreen Creede

THE COAT THAT SAVED WINTER

My Blue Duck shearling single-handedly changed my entire view of winter.  It’s the warmest thing I’ve ever owned.  Best of all, you can get deep discounts on these pricey coats at the Manhattan showroom, which is open to the public at limited times. (Thanks, Gina, for letting me in on this secret years ago.)  The best bargains can be found right now, before the showroom closes for the season in February.

And where is a photo of this maniac find? Well, girls, fashion photography is an animal I have yet to tame.  Sometimes I win and get the shot I want and sometimes, arghhh.  So just close your eyes and imagine: soft tan suede subtly, sporadically tattooed with faded florals and paisley, enveloping fluffy fur so comfy you could wear it to bed and so toasty that just one layer beneath--say, a cotton turtleneck--suffices even in bitter cold.

DRESS: Women's and men's shearling coats and more available at Blue Duck's Manhattan showroom (463 7th Avenue, Suite 806 | phone: 212-268-3122), just moments from Penn Station.

OOH LA L'OCCITANE

This time of year you need some little luxuries. One of mine is L'Occitane Creme Ultra Riche. Soft marshmellow texture, lovely smell, luscious moisturizing:  yummy! Expensive, but worth it. (I often pick it up while shopping for gifts and a year’s worth of beauty supplies at Blue Mercury’s pre-holiday sale.)

If you're splurging on this goodie, save elsewhere with a trick a manicurist taught me: instead of buying pricey hand scrubs, raid your kitchen cabinet. Combine a spoonful of sugar with some (cheap) olive oil and exfloiate away.

ALL THINGS BRIGHT & BEAUTIFUL

Just a glimpse of these brooch bouquets brightened my dreary January day.  They touch on so many things I love: beauty, originality, my treasured collection of vintage costume jewelry inherited from my grandmothers and great-grandmothers; and wrap it all up in a timeless design filled with history, sentiment and joy.
 
Each piece is one of a kind, created by floral designer (I'd call her an artist) Amanda Heer from jewelry provided by a bride's family.  In addition to brooches, Amanda often includes an antique watch set at the hour of the ceremony.  Though intended as a wedding bouquet, these would be just as amazing as an anniversary gift or an accessory in your home.

Brooch bouquets first discovered on this is glamorous.  Photos courtesy Amanda Heer, Fantasy Floral Designs.  Photo credits:  Alice Hu Photography (top); Hanssie Trainor Photography (middle); and Barnet Photography (bottom).

CITY SIDEWALKS

city sidewalks by Style Maniac featuring Vivienne Westwood

One of the toughest fashion finds are warm, stylish winter shoes. After a lifetime of looking I've finally found a few, such as the ARA pair featured above. Comfortable enough to walk all over the city; stylish enough for a business meeting; made of breathable, waterproof Goretex so your feet stay warm and dry. Heaven!

MANIAC FIND: The Bare Minimum

summer essentials by Style Maniac featuring Calypso bags

Life at the beach calls for the bare minimum, beauty-wise. My top five picks: a sheer foundation I've used forever and still love; lip glaze that stays on but doesn't dry out your lips; mascara that doesn't smear or irritate (it comes off in mini-tubes with warm water); a really good sunscreen; and a face/body bronzer because you used that really good sunscreen.

For more details on products and links of where to buy, click on the image above.