Robin Baron Design

This is one of my favorite times of the year, when so many holidays converge. It means almost everyone is in good spirits, wishes each other well, and is ready to spread joy! Since Hanukkah starts next week (December 1-8), what better time to share some fabulously designed Hanukkah menorahs with you!

This limited edition menorah, designed by renowned architect Richard Meier, is available only at the Jewish Museum of NY. It is one the most unique and significant menorah’s I have ever found. Each of the 1st five candles (from left to right of course) represents places that expelled the Jewish population from Egypt, Roman Palestine, France, England and Spain. The 6th and 7th holders symbolise their emancipation and the violence they experienced. The “shamash” or 8th candle holder is a reminder of the concentration camps.

This unique and contemporary menorah by Lisa Slovis is elegant and sculptured… not to mention great to rearrange for use all year round! This modern take on an oil lamp by Gingko is great for almost any decor!

Jonathan Adler makes a huge array of beautiful Hanukkah decor pieces but I must say my favorites are the Skyline Menorah (which I’ve actually used as a sculptural piece!) and the Peacock Menorah!

No Hanukkah would be complete without a dreidel! This beautiful one by Nambe is part of their wonderful Judaica collection. So have a Happy Hanukkah and deck your halls in blue and silver elegance during this special time and Mazel Tov! on avoiding the wholesale dreidel decor we may all be accustomed to!

I know I don’t usually talk about DIY projects but while at the Martha Stewart Living for Home Depot party last month I saw these great decorative paint kits being demonstrated and I just had to share it with you! I know that decorative painting techniques can seem daunting to say the least but these all in one kits provide just what you need to easily create 8 different techniques from raw silk to basket weave.

There was a fun live demonstration of a painter using the kit, showing just how easy it is. Here the painter is using their Faux Bois (French for “Fake Wood”) technique…  doesn’t everything sound so much chicer in French?

If you are inclined to try a DIY project this Martha Stewart Decorative Paint Tool Kit is a great place to start. But if you’re less like Monet and more like No Way! and doing it yourself is not your thing… feel free to call me, I have wonderful creative, decorative painters that I can recommend!!!

Autumn is finally here! Next to Spring, it is my favorite season.  I love to wear cool jackets with my favorite boots and layer it up with my favorite accessories. So I say, why not channel that inspiration into your home as well? I still hold on to my fashionista roots, having started my career as a fashion designer. I thought it would be fun to take a look at this season’s fashion trends from Bryant Park and see how they translate into the home…you don’t get much more fun than that!

Draping

Runway: These Grecian touches are appearing everywhere and the designers are discovering very creative ways to use this draping detail. Whether it is classically tailored in a suit (like this fabulous Victoria Beckham that I can’t wait to own) or elegantly flowy in an evening dress, draped fabric relays the message of chic and relaxed, could you ask for any better feeling in your home?

Home: For a “Posh” living room or bedroom, try an abundance (caution: not too abundant) of luxurious fabric for ceiling to floor window treatments, again juxtaposed with the tailored structure of these Hunter Douglas wood blinds. Streamlined and elegant is the perfect combination.

Texture

Runway: Fur, feather, and leather. Do you get more luxe than that? Whether you follow the Mercedes Benz Fashion Weeks religiously or not, it shouldn’t be hard to notice from a quick stroll through your favorite boutique that faux is fabulous right now. Alice + Olivia have perfectly exemplified this trend in this rockin little number here. From faux fur vests, leather dresses and skirts, to feathered accessories, they all just make you hunger for the warm luxury that the brisk Autumn breeze is about to demand.

Home: It may not be obvious to everyone how to translate this trend into your home but you can. Have a ball with an array of fun throw pillows on your couch or a cozy faux fur blanket across your bedroom chaise. You will begin to feel like royalty as you notice the difference a few accessories can make. Don’t be afraid to try daring things like a full feather embellished pillow or a fringed statement like the one I show here from West Elm! Those fierce little touches will make a bold statement.

Asymmetry

Runway: Give a little, take a little. Things don’t always have to be even and equal. Quite often the most interesting design you find is built on this idea. The Fall catwalk was flooded with one shoulder dresses or ruching “up to there.” It kept things spicy and interesting like this Alexander McQueen ensemble (which actually also gives a nod to the draping trend)!

Home: This is an easy trend to incorporate into your home because it may just be a matter of rearranging the fabulous pieces you already own! You can try something as simple as a large floor lamp resting on only one side of your couch. But, if you do feel like venturing to a store…how about an eclectic bunch of empty frames? They can all be different and be hung in a cluster on the wall or overlap each other resting on a shelf. Either way add some personality to the items you place inside, you will create your own custom artwork like these fun frames from Pottery Barn! Plus, this can give your office a welcomed break from the serious by adding a bit of whimsy. I believe that great design is about balance, so even with asymmetry your adding a lot here and counter balancing appropriately there.

Trends are fun but you don’t have to break the bank to keep up with them. With minor tweaking periodically, you can maintain a fashionable yet classic paradise.

Driven by my love of the “hunt” and the sheer excitement of finding just the right antique I found myself at The Park Avenue Armory Antiques Show! In this economy, it is so great to go some place and be reminded that there are beautiful things in this world. It is a bright light in these hard times. Here are some of my favs from the show!

Gary Rubinstein Antiques

Miami, Florida

This pair of Italian Perspex Illuminated Mirrors are from the 1960s and would be perfect over a sofa (and almost anywhere else) for little retro mod chic. The vases are part of a larger collection of 1960s Italian Pottery and would be fabulous flanking a fireplace or a console.

French Country Living Antiques & Decoration

Mougins, France

What a great piece of art this would be mounted over a sofa! This French Eighteenth Century painted screen depicts the story of Theseus and Ariadne. This Sicilian painting below dates back to 1780 and depicts the Ruins of Taormina from the Palazzo di Magnano di San Lio, I love the classic yet contemporary feel of an antique panel like this.

Milord Antiques

Montreal, Canada

This pair of large Tommi Parzinger brass sconces, circa 1950, has beautiful lines and yields great impact in a room. I can see them on the walls of a hip office right above these cool chairs. These chairs are American circa 1970 by Paul Evans. I can just imagine sitting in waiting area of Vogue Magazine in the 1970s…aaah.

Antique American Wicker

Nashua, NH

I love the vignette Antique American Wicker has created, it not only showcases their product but it perfectly exemplifies their style. They sell the finest examples of historic American wicker and the pride they have in their product line shines through… antiques at its finest!

Michael S. Haber, LTD.

Wynnewood, PA

Now we come to my very favorite piece of the show! I can’t help it, antique Victorian & Georgian jewelry is my passion…and my weakness!!! This 18k gold Arthur Phillips necklace, circa 1870, was my crown jewel find of the show. I’ve been collecting antique jewelry for over twenty years and lucky for me when I started collecting, these pieces were a lot more affordable! That said, temptation still calls. I can see myself wearing this with a vintage jacket and my over the knee boots. I just love mixing things up!

Getting your home ready for the holidays is both fun and stressful!  It’s critically important, though, as it sets the stage (and mood) for any gathering.  Here are five tips that work for me.

1. Stock up on extra dinner and salad plates. With more people at your home for the holidays, you probably don’t have enough plates for everyone.  Simple, white plates mix in beautifully with ones you already own.  A set of 12 plain white plates sell for less than $60 at Crate + Barrel.  Or if you love “the hunt” as much as I do, head down to the flea market or your favorite local antique shop to add vintage or antique plates to your table settings.

2. Seating is everything…there’s nothing worse than not having enough for everyone you’ve invited!  For Thanksgiving, I called A.J. Fritz (718-361-0499) who has been in Long Island City for decades.  I ordered 14 chairs for my dinner and now I’m always prepared!  At $41 per chair, you can’t beat the price or the lead time!  You can select from ultra-suede, velvet, or vinyl seating in many colors…you can even choose the frame colors.  They are the best buy in town!

3. Head to Michaels for everything you need to create wreaths, garlands, holiday cards, and decorative tables.  With beautiful paper, ribbon and a calligraphy pen, create place cards for your guests.  Go wild!  Michaels is the perfect place to get anything you need to put your stamp on the holidays.

4. Stop by your local fresh tree stand for free (sometimes they charge a small fee) pine trimmings…the scent really captures the season!  Feel free to be inspired!  Make homemade potpourri with cinnamon and cloves.  Trim and wire the pieces together to create an elegant centerpiece around giant pillar candles or use it to adorn your gift wrapping.  The possibilities are endless.

5. Buy a good mix of seasonal fruits and vegetables to spice up your holiday décor.  Artichokes, pomegranates, tangerines, and squash look rustic and add a seasonal burst of scent and color to any arrangement or tablescape.

Be inspired and have a joyful holiday!

Finally, a Michaels in New York City!  I could barley contain my excitement when this great craft supply store opened in Manhattan.  So this past Saturday, all by myself, I went and got lost in the creative world of crafts at the new 97th and Columbus Avenue store.

The fun for me is never knowing what I’ll be inspired by.  This time, I left with a great mix of papers, tapes, ribbons, and flowers that I’ll use to decorate my Thanksgiving tables and make some fabulous place cards for my 29 guests.  I know…29!

I have a lot of work to do, but it’s going to be fun!!!  Spending the holidays with family and friends is what it’s all about.  Do you do anything special or homemade for the holidays?

A: That’s always an option, but it would definitely be more challenging for you to keep changing them given how they have to be mounted and strung to function.  I think the easiest solution, and one that would have the most impact, would be to invest in panels.  I would leave your roman shades as they are all year-round.  I always like to layer my window treatments anyway.

To start, I would mount a pole (there are great choices in all price ranges out there) and either purchase a pair of stationary panels, have them made or, if you are handy, make them yourself.  You can make the spring/summer panels in linen and for fall/winter, you can use a heavier weight fabric depending on your taste and décor.

Some suggested websites or retailers that have a great selection of window treatments and hardware are ABC Home, Smith and Noble, Pottery Barn, Anthropologie, and Restoration Hardware.

Renters, rejoice!  Wallpaper is not just for homeowners.  Now you can make your rental feel like a home…

Here’s a fantastic alternative to paint…Tempaper, an adhesive-backed, temporary wallpaper!  For renters, or commitment phobes, these rolls of wallpaper are as easy to apply as they are to take off.  No glues, no residue…no major commitment.  Affordably priced, they even come in fabulous patterns and colors!

And like all wallpapers, it’s not just for walls…you can line a shelf or kitchen cabinets, dress up the inside of a closet, frame as artwork, or cover your ceiling (I dare you!).