Tempaper

If you're anything like me, decorating and redecorating is an ongoing obsession ... especially now that I have lived in different rented apartments in NYC & Toronto. The challenge is always how to make it your own - individualizing a wall, living room, bathroom, hallway, etc. without renovating. Tempaper is an ideal solution: self-adhesive, peel-and-stick, temporary wall decor with seasonally updated color ways and patterns. The designers update patterns based on design industry trends. As set decorators in NYC, the founders became increasingly frustrated with not having a source for temporary repositionable wallpaper. The company is family owned and operated by an aunt and her twin nieces who have all been involved in the film, television and entertainment industries. With every purchase of Tempaper Tots, they donate to Environmental and Wildlife Conservation. Tempaper is FDA approved, FDA 21 CFR and Certified child toy safety, lead and phthalate free. Take a chic peek at Tempaper. {photography credit: Tara Striano}

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D.S. & Durga

This Brooklyn based handcrafted fragrance house was born from a husband wife team, who design all of their scents in house with rare and premium ingredients. They are made by hand by a small family company in the Bronx. D.S. (David) and Durga (Kavi) started their company as a hobby, making fragrances for friends and it organically grew into a career. To quote the duo, "We believe in the transportative quality of fragrance. Meaning it can take the mind to other places and times like symphonic music. We create stories and try to conjure them up in the bottle. We like to capture the essence of a particular place and time - the American west in the 1800s, Mississippi in the 1200s, prehistoric Scotland, etc." Take a chic peek at D.S. & Durga

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TenOverTen

A few weeks ago, a friend and I had a manicure date at her favorite local nail bar. I had read about TenOverTen and was delighted to find the salon lived up to the hype. The setting makes you feel as though you're at home enjoying a private pop up spa in your own living room; the comfortable Belgian linen upholstered pedicure seats, huge windows and high ceilings are typical of TriBeCa spaces. One of my favorite aspects of the nail bar is their selection of polishes: NARS, Chanel, OPI, RGB, Essie ... and ... their own exclusive signature TenOverTen colors which the founders, Nadine Ferber and Adair Illyinsky, named after their favorite downtown streets (examples being Ludlow, Rivington, Mulberry and Delancy.) Take a chic peek at TenOverTen. Photos via Ten Over Ten and Well+Good

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Flower Girl

In case you haven't already noticed, I am a huge fan of all things whimsical, bohemian and chic. I love balance and color, but dislike things that match and are perfectly symmetrical (overly stylized). Sometimes this is a tricky balance to strike, in all things design oriented ... whether it be interior design, fashion styling or the like. I have finally found the perfect floral shop that speaks my language: Flower Girl. Beautiful, lush, organic looking arrangements that look freshly plucked from the field, and have been artfully and thoughtfully curated. Founder and owner Denise Porcaro comes from a background in Production Design in film, but discovered a creative outlet in flowers, crafting striking arrangements and bouquets for a select group of clients and friends. New York - if you are out there and looking for gorgeous flowers - don't look anywhere but here. Take a chic peek at Flower Girl.

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Locanda Verde

Locanda Verde is one of my favorite restaurants in my neighborhood. It's delicious, simple, fantastic food, and happens to be in The Greenwich Hotel and owned by Robert De Niro. Chef Andrew Carmellini creates wonderful twists on Italian plates. The atmosphere is gorgeous, and, like all great New York restaurants, it is always packed. Take a chic peek of Locanda Verde, and if you go, the ricotta dish is a must! 

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Oribe

If you have read any of my earlier posts, you already know that I'm a bit of a beauty product junkie. I attribute the beginning of this obsession to my Mom, a former Canadian top model. It goes without saying that she knows all the tricks of the trade.
Oribe himself is an iconic hair maestro, both in the salon and on set. I was introduced to Oribe upon moving to New York at a salon in the West Village. The packaging is as beautiful as perfume bottles - why shouldn't they be? The fragrance of these products is subtle and luxurious (exclusively created by the French scent masters, Givaudan.) If you haven't done so yet, take a chic peek at Oribe.

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ELA

ELA clutches are made of the most beautiful leather, suede and hardware. The MILCK clutch is aptly entitled such, as it alludes to what one should find inside: money, ID, lipstick, cell, and keys (the simple things we need!) These chic and timeless clutches are available in most of the bright shades found in a rainbow. Brought to us by the gorgeous co-founding couple Ela Kowalewska (formerly a fashion PR rep) and Martin Aldorsson (former Havaianas brand manager). Take a chic peek Ela by Ela

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The NoMad

Love New York, but yearn for a taste of Paris? The NoMad Hotel, located in a gorgeous turn-of-the-century Beaux-Arts building at 28th Street and Broadway, has been fully restored to its original grandeur with interiors by French designer Jacques Garcia. The library, cocktail bar, dining room, and soon-to-open rooftop serve food and cocktails artfully curated by Daniel Humm (of Eleven Madison Park). I have enjoyed beautiful cocktails in their library, and soon plan to share the roast chicken for two ($78) with my husband (it is apparently out of this world.) The hotel's retail space is by Paris boutique Maison Kitsune, which is its first ever shop in the US. Take a chic peek! www.thenomadhotel.com

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Joe Fresh Fifth Avenue Flagship

When Mayor Bloomberg shows up at an opening party in New York, you know someone has done something right ... and in the case of Joe Fresh's Fifth Avenue Flagship (at 43rd Street) opening ... they seem to have done it all impeccably. From the glass walled building, to the stunning exposed vault, to the stand out pieces that made me crave a good Spring shopping trip - it is an absolute gem.  If you have yet to check out Joe Fresh, hurry up, surely sizes will get snatched up quickly. I managed to find my new favorite white jeans for just $19. Like I said, hurry up! (Can you tell I'm proudly Canadian?) Take a chic peek www.joefresh.com

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Warby Parker

Warby Parker was founded with a rebellious spirit and a lofty objective: to create high-quality, beautifully crafted eyewear at a revolutionary price point. One of the hottest startups around offering vintage style eye wear, Warby Parker is a fashionable brand that gives back. Millions of people around the world do not have access to proper vision care; Warby Parker donates one pair of glasses for every pair sold, teaming up with charities like Vision Spring to do so. Their gorgeous NYC offices are headquartered in The Puck Building in SoHo. Next time you need a fresh pair of specs, be sure to take a chic peek! Their frames including RX are only $95. Why shop elsewhere? www.warbyparker.com

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Red Rooster Harlem

Chef Marcus Samuelsson's Red Rooster Harlem celebrates the spirit of the neighborhood. Framed pictures of his family heritage and notes from a local public school hang on the walls in the washrooms. The food is a great mixture of down home American southern soul food with updated twists. But what I liked about it best was the scene: black, white, Asian, Latino, straight, gay, young, old ... all the faces of the colorful city we live in enjoying a meal. Cheers to Chef Samuelsson for making this happen. www.redroosterharlem.com

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Haven

My husband and I recently stumbled upon a new neighborhood gem in Chelsea, called Haven's Kitchen. It is an adorably rustic chic recreational cooking school, specialty food shop, and event space. Located in a charming carriage house a few blocks from Union Square, Haven’s Kitchen is dedicated to the preparation and enjoyment of delicious, sustainable, seasonal food. Be sure to take a chic peek www.havenskitchen.com

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Gorgeous Grey

Today was so dark and grey, the rain simply did not stop ... so I thought I would dedicate a post to gorgeous grey interiors and such. (Images via The Find blog, Mackenziepages, Restoration Hardware, Flickr.)

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Powerful Purple

It's no wonder purple is a royal color. It looks gorgeous when mixed with kelly green and hermes orange. (Image sources: Second image Decor Amour, last image Southern Accents, remaining images Elle Decor.)

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