1. I was thrilled to pick up the February Better Homes & Gardens and to see a shoot I styled that was shot by photographer Michael Partenio. It’s a master bedroom makeover by interior designer Rachel Reider. You know how some new houses and additions have those vast master bedroom spaces that lack all the coziness of a smaller room? Rachel designed an amazing multifunctional space for a young couple that feels cozy and warm.

2. I have never been to a New England Home networking event when I did not walk away with a pile of cards in my hand, a lead on a new project, or the thrill of having introduced two design professionals who immediately had a collaboration idea. Last night at Lillian August was no exception. Such a beautiful, talent-filled party where we were surrounded by inspiring objects. A special thank you to all who were there.

I could really see this chandelier in my breakfast room.

3. My Friday Fave on the New England Home Blog today is a Michelle Hatch NYC pillow. Check out her amazing line at www.michellehatchnyc.com.

4. It’s amazing what an important part of my life blogs have become. I thought I would share one every once in awhile as a favorite just in case you didn’t know about them. A particular post on An Urban Cottage caught my eye last Friday. It was on the exterior renovation of a Greek Revival cottage, one of my favorite styles of architecture. The author, Steven, whose house I had the pleasure of styling last year for Cottage Style magazine, has renovated his own Greek Revival home, chronicling the changes (among other beautiful things) on the blog. It’s a real gem and a delight to anyone interested in home renovation or decor.

5. As you all know I’ve been gearing up for the New York International Gift Fair these past few days. Starting tomorrow I’ll be showing Dunes and Duchess, the lighting and homes accessories line I co-founded with photographer/boyfriend Michael Partenio. Next week I’ll have some shots of favorite things that I saw, but here is a special StacyStyle sneak peek of what we’ll be showing. Let me know what you think!

There’s something about getting on a boat and crossing a large body of water to an island that makes you feel one step removed from normal life. Why did I miss that call or not return that email? I was on an island. People seem to be willing to accept that excuse.

The Steamship Authority runs a few ferries a day to the island of Nantucket that take both cars and passengers. There are passenger-only high-speed ferries one can take, but I typically have to take a truck filled with flowers and props for photo shoots when I go to the island. The crossing takes 2 1/2 hours and you never know what type of weather you might encounter on that long slog. I’ve had balmy nights when I’ve sat on the highest deck drinking a bottle of wine with friends, frigid days when the deck was icy, and sunny mornings I’ve slept in the sun stretched out on a bench. My favorite crossings however are the foggy, windless, still and slightly ominous ones when the land blends into the water and the horizon line melts away leaving you just a big disoriented.

Here are a few photos I’ve taken over the past two years during my crossings.

This is a photo of the water coming off the boat taken with a long exposure.

Happy crossings to you.

“…he always comes back to his basic vocabulary: surface, scale, color, image. And he always gets it as simple as he can.”
—art dealer Matthew Marks speaking of Ellsworth Kelly in yesterday’s New York Times

Simplicity is a lot of work. It’s also worth it. I hope this week you’ll be able to exist at your very essence.

Red/Blue from the portfolio Ten by Ellsworth Kelly from the Madison Museum of Contemporary Art

Holidays, snow, scouting, driving-driving-driving—when did January become such a crazy time of the year? Instead of easing into 2012 I feel as if I’m straddling a rocket shooting through the month. Here’s a peek from this week.

1. Maine-based artist Erin Flett has a new fleet of screen printed pillows that are just screaming in be used in a photo shoot. I hope I get to use them soon as I love the colors and textures!

2. I’m a huge fan of the blog Bogle Street by interior designer Katie Rosenfeld. In fact, I’m a huge fan of Katie and her work. So much so in fact that I’m sending off my nomination of her to be considered a New Trad, the group of up-and-coming designers that Traditional Home magazine will select next month and publish in their May issue. Check out her work at www.katierosenfelddesign.com.

3. I had a chance to stop by the wonderful studio and store 12 Chairs in South Boston last night to see what new furniture and art installations owners Roisin Giese and Miggy Mason had and was completely blown away by the duo’s creativity. I highly recommend that you stop by to browse and will leave you with this one image to whet your appetite.

4. I was asked this week to moderate a panel at the Design Bloggers Conference next month in Los Angeles. I can’t tell you how excited I am to be part of this conference again. I learned so much last year and met so many of my favorite people in person. I’m moderating a panel talking about using blogs as marketing tools. Have a question for the panel? Comment here and I’ll put it on the list!

5. Obsession alert! While poking around interior designer Rachel Reider’s presentation table I spied this David Hicks painted grasscloth. I haven’t been able to stop thinking about it since. I would cover every wall of my house in this! Possibly ceilings too!

As a Kansas girl, I always dream about the ability to click my little red shoes and be transported to my favorite places. Right after my girlhood home, Martha’s Vineyard would be second on that list with a little twitch of the ankle taking me right to the Hob Nob in Edgartown.

For me, it’s the sheets, the breakfasts, the little crackling fire in the sitting room fireplace, the white linen covered tables in the breakfast room, the giant fluffy beds and the relaxed atmosphere of the place. It feels like home—that is if you live in a beautifully decorated boutique hotel on Martha’s Vineyard a block-long walk from the best restaurants and a short bike ride to a number of great beaches.
(As with all of my Travel Tuesday posts these are all photos I have taken unless stated otherwise.)

I first started staying here a few years ago during photo shoots for New England Home magazine. It had been suggested to me by Boston-based photographer Greg Premru. Sure it’s easy (located in town and you can walk everywhere) and luxurious (awesome sauna for guests with no appointment or fuss needed or you can schedule a massage), but the inn also has a commitment to the environment and to local farms. When owner Maggie White redid the hotel two years ago she used all low-VOC paints and eco-friendly fabrics and carpeting. The kitchen has a composting and program, the entire inn recycles, and they keep things sparkling with non-toxic cleaning products.

This is the lobby with a wire sculpture by island artist Steve Lohman.

Here’s one of the rooms where I’ve stayed. Oh, the cozy fluffdom.

But back to breakfast. There are two small dining rooms (I don’t typically want to sit too close to anyone but a New York Times before I’ve had my first cup of tea), a huge buffet of fresh fruits and juices, yogurts and the best homemade scones you’ll ever taste. Help yourself to those and then graze the menu to choose from poached eggs or omelets (local of course), pancakes, local sausage or the I-don’t-care-if-I-can’t-get-into-a-swimsuit-later French toast that’s been soaked in dark rum and sprinkled with cinnamon and nutmeg. Worth every bite. After that, it’s probably a good idea to rent one of the inn’s bikes to take to the miles of paved trails around the island.

I also love that at the end of the day, after you’ve shopped, beached, ate, and drank yourself silly that there’s a little port and a few glasses in the hallway outside your room. The perfect nightcap!

I’m always looking for a reason to go back to this gem of a hotel. I realized I hadn’t been out on the Hob Nob’s 27-foot Boston Whaler for a little harbor tour and fishing. I’m booking my reservation now for summer!

“I love being in love–it’s the greatest drug of all time.”
—Ali McGraw, Town & Country February 2012

Being in love is the most uplifting feeling. It’s a high that carries you along, your feet barely touching the ground. Loving who you are with, what you are doing and what you have is the most blissful state in the world. To finding your bliss this week!

The cover of February's Town & Country

1. A quick peek in my favorite flea market this week yielded some beautiful prizes—gorgeous crystal wine glasses (perfect for a summer rosé), a couple of antique melon ballers, a silver cup, a wet suit, cutting board, an English ironstone pitcher, an antique painted Italian frame and high ball glasses all for less than $30. Score!

2. The new Privet House web site. Divine. And not just because the photography was done by the special man in my life, Michael Partenio. Privet House is this one of New England’s premiere shopping/collecting/coveting destinations with locations in Greenwich and Warren, Connecticut. Check their Tumbler page for a big announcement later today.

3. For the first time ever, New England Home Connecticut will have an elegant bath on the cover. It’s one that I styled and photographer Robert Benson shot. The interior design is by Anthony Como of Luxe Interiors. It is exceptionally dreamy. Look for the issue on newsstands starting next week.

4. Thanks to a Facebook post by stylist friend and blogger Annette Joseph I caught that two of my favorite people in the world were back on television. Patsy and Edina are just as entertaining as they were 20 years ago. I hope Sex and the City will be as good when they have to bring it back.

Photo courtesy of Entertainment Weekly

5. I received an invite yesterday to the new opening at Jules Place, a gallery in Boston. I am absolutely enthralled with one of the artists being featured there right now named Debby Krim. Debby’s series, “The Color of White,” is one of the most beautiful ensembles of photography I’ve seen in some time. Play the slideshow on her web site and prepare to be awed.

Photo by Debby Krim

In the midst of my ear infection/sore throat/cough and cold I wrote a cheeky post for New England Home naming some of the great products of the design world that I thought could come to my aid. Head over to the New England Home blog to have a look.

On trips to Europe there is inevitably the moment when I reach my cathedral quota. You know, that moment when you couldn’t possibly look at another gilded baptistry or stained glass window. Then there are the moments when unexpected greatness brings you to the verge of tears. Even if you think you’ve seen as many gargoyles as your European trip can handle, here’s an Italian one you shouldn’t miss.
On a trip to Italy two years ago my boyfriend and I drove from the airport in Rome north to Siena specifically to see the Duomo di Siena that we had heard so much about.

Now we’re not great historians, but we were amazed to find out that construction of this church began in the 1200s during the Dark Ages, the crusades, and before Marco Polo made his voyages to China. Even using today’s construction techniques this is a phenomenal structure that would take decades to build. The church evolved over hundreds of years. However, look at the design and color. It instantly looks modern and daring even today with its black and white striped marble columns.







The stripes are so reminiscent of many recent designs. This is a bag by Karen Young, founder of Hammocks and High Tea that incorporates black and white stripes.


This dining room from House & Garden UK uses the same design idea.



It appears again in this top in an image from Atlantic Pacific.



Then there are the amazing floor designs, making this church one of the most ornate in all of Europe. They were created in the church from the 14th to the 16th centuries.





The stars on the ceiling within the dome (with a lantern designed by Bernini) reminds me of the wallpaper designs of Audrey Sterk.





It looks like designers whether they realize it or not have been influenced by this amazing church for centuries.

“Four things I’ve learned in my 59 years about people. I ignore the jealous, I ignore the malicious. I ignore the ignorant. I ignore the paranoid.”
—Louisville men’s basketball coach Rick Pitino as quoted by CBSSports

‘Nuf said. Have a great week!

Coach Rick Pitino; photo USA Today