J. Crew: Who's That Girl?

I am ready for a wonderfully relaxing weekend. How about you? Before I go, I had to share with you a new series over at JCrew.com called Who's That Girl.  Featuring incredibly inspiring women from the world of fashion, art, and interior design, Who's That Girl provides interviews with nine fabulous women, including New York art curator, Naomi Beckwith.




If you are looking for a little bit of inspiration this weekend, check out this wonderful series. I have loved reading about these incredible women and their journeys. And of course, I love seeing them sport some J. Crew style.

Have a beautiful weekend!

The Selby Is Coming To Your Place!

Like many of you, I am absolutely enamored with the work of photographer Todd Selby.  I am an avid follower of his famous blog, The Selby, and intrigued with the photos he takes of artists, designers, and celebrities in their eclectic homes.



Todd has an amazing eye and is truly gifted at showing the personal side of people in their private abodes.  From London, to Tokyo, to New York, Todd brings us into the homes of diverse subjects, including Jonathan Adler, Karl Lagerfeld, Helena Christensen, and so many others.  And now The Selby is coming to your place with the new book, The Selby Is In Your Place.



With thirty profiles, most of which have never been seen before, the book is brimming with personal style and inspiring interiors that you are going to love.



I know you're wondering, where and when you can get your hand on The Selby Is In Your Place.  The book will be in stores April 1st, and you can click here to pre-order your copy.  I already have!



I cannot wait to bring The Selby home.  And, if you haven't already, you can see Todd in this month's issue of Vogue Magazine.  He's been named one of the world's top fashion/style bloggers.  Congrats to The Selby!  Now, can you come to my place?

{Images: The Selby}

Original Art: Muneza Art

The work of Canadian artist Karen Muneza Bambonye is truly breathtaking.  Modern and vibrant reflections of daily life, Karen turns the objects that we look upon simply every day - a cup, a piece of fruit, a basket - into works of art.



Her inspiration for each piece stems from her cultural heritage.  The pieces in her Etsy shop, Muneza Art, pay homage to her African, Italian and Canadian background.



One of my favorite pieces is her African Baskets painting.  It makes me think of beautiful handwoven Rwandan baskets.



And this piece, Grandma's Cup, is so colorful and detailed, with a personal story of a grandmother's teacup collection providing meaning to the work.

You can see more of Karen's work at Muneza Art.  With prints and even cards available, there is something here for every budget.

Nesting Newbies Magazine

There's a new shelter mag on the scene.  Have you seen it yet?  Nesting Newbies is a digital magazine perfect for those who like to scout home decor online.  Dedicated to decorating, entertaining and cooking, Nesting Newbies is chocked full of beautiful interiors, designer features, DIY guides, and even the hottest spots around the country for home decor.



I love the magazine's layout with bright beautiful photos that draw you in to read the content.



And while I know that online mags can be difficult to navigate, Nesting Newbies has some wonderful features.  You can view content on a full screen version (I love it!) and add your own notes and bookmarks.  And of course, if you would like a paper version, you can download the mag and print it out.



If you're in search of a new shelter mag, I think you'll like what you see at Nesting Newbies.  I certainly do!

Bespoke Wallpaper from Hermitage

I would like to introduce you to Hermitage.  This Portland-based company offers the best in bespoke wallpaper from around the world.  Owner Jennifer June treats her wallpaper collection like a specially curated art exhibit.  Pieces in the Hermitage collection are hand picked and are often limited editions and exclusive to the shop.  The prints and patterns offered are absolutely gorgeous.



I recently fell in love with the Wall Decoration collection by Lene Toni Kjeld.  Kjeld's pieces make me think back to the faded walls of my great-grandmother's home.  Each piece is crafted to look like faded lace.



Soft and subtle, this wallpaper adds a delicate pattern to each space.



And created to mix and match, I could see a home filled with each pattern in the Wall Decoration collection.  Visit Hermitage to see more of Kjeld's beautiful work, and a diverse collection of papers that will bring your walls to life.

Blog Out Loud!

Happy Friday!  I hope you're getting ready for a wonderful and relaxing weekend.  You may have seen that we have a new News + Events page on the blog.  It's the place where you can find out about upcoming panels and blog related events that AphroChic will be hosting and attending.

I had to let you all know about the next event I will be speaking at, Blog Out Loud!  I am so honored to be among an incredible panel of bloggers to inspire those who would like to start and grow and develop their own blogs.  The next event will be in my city - San Francisco.  So if you are here or close by, please come out to support AphroChic and all of the panelists.  And if you come you also have a chance to win an AphroChic tee!

So, here are the details.  Panelists include you-know-who and:

• Rick Klau from Blogger
• Dave White from Technorati
• Jenny LaVelle from Real Girls Media
• Micaela Hoo from The Drifter and The Gypsy

The location and time:
Barrelhouse
80 Tehama Street
SF CA 94105
barrelhousesf.com
March 4, 2010 6:30pm - 8pm

If you would like to attend just RSVP to lovinglivingsmall@yahoo.com and you can follow tweets for the event @blogoutloud.  Can't wait to see you there!

Visions of Summer

This London home has me dreaming of hot summer days.  Light and airy, with simple details and bold pops of color, I can just imagine myself in this space on a gorgeous summer day. 



Splashes of color even make there way into the garden.  A pink wall is the perfect accent piece among lush green trees and sleek patio decor.



And further inside the home, just a little bit of color adds detail and breaks up the neutral gray and white color scheme.  Those plush pink cushions atop that upholstered bench are so inviting.



A closer look reveals a collection of African wood sculptures.  I love how the collection is simply displayed on modern white shelving. 



Soft, serene, inviting, with just enough color and come cultural style, this would be my perfect summer vacation home.  Hmmm...maybe a trip to London is in order.

{Images: Shootfactory}

Original Art: Silja Goetz

It's always exciting to view an artist's portfolio. Every week I enjoy discovering new work from artists around the country, and around the world. Today, I want to introduce the work of illustrator Silja Goetz. Silja is an illustrator whose roots are in Germany, and who currently resides in Madrid, Spain (how I envy her).



Her work has been featured in some of my favorite magazines, including New York Magazine, Vogue and Nylon.



I just love how Silja's illustrations incorporate paper.  Cut-outs are layered on top of each other to create each piece.  The cut pieces of paper help to make each scenario feel just a little bit playful. 



You can view Silja's complete portfolio to see her other paper creations that are fun and intriguing.

Elle Decor Reinvented?

First, let me say welcome to the brand new AphroChic blog!  I hope you enjoy the new site.  You'll find that things are more streamlined and organized on the new site.  You can easily find our features, learn about upcoming events, and even click on our submissions link to find out how you can be featured on the blog.  In addition, the blog finally matches the beautiful brand of the AphroChic Shop.  I truly hope you love it, and if there are other ways that we can improve the new site drop me a line at aphrochicblog(at)yahoo.com.  I would love to hear your thoughts!

I guess with all of the changes going on here at AphroChic, and in the world of design blogs and magazines around the country, I couldn't help but notice a change in one my favorite decor magazines, Elle Decor.  Have you noticed it?



I recently received the March issue and could not put it down.  The all-star makeover of the home of Oprah Winfrey Show Executive Producer, Elle Rakieten, was by far my favorite article.  Elle's home, transformed by interior designer Nate Berkus and decorator Anne Coyle, graced the cover of the recent issue.  With stripes, ikat, gold and glitz all in one, it is truly the most eclectic home I have seen on the cover of Elle Decor. 



The influx of more daring design and the number of beautiful spaces covered in this issue, signal to me a change at one our most iconic design mags.  Rather than growing more conservative in times when magazines are going under every month, Elle is turning it up a notch.



The spaces in this issue seemed more accessible (like, I could live there!), more modern and playful, and featured designs that were out of the box.  I am excited to see where Elle Decor goes next. 

Definitely get your hands on the March issue.  I promise you will love it.

{Images: Elle Decor}

Happy Valentine's Day!

One of my favorite artists, Samantha Hahn, has created the most beautiful Valentine's Day cards that you can send to someone special this weekend. Samantha is allowing you to download cards for free right here. You are going to love them! My favorite is the valentine above that's done in some gorgeous watercolors.

I will be heading out early to get started on a nice romantic, and long weekend (yeah President's Day!) with my husband. But, before I leave, I thought I would share some upcoming news and events:

- You may have seen it on the side bar, but I wanted to let you know that I will be on the next Blog Out Loud panel in San Francisco! Hosted by Megan Arquette from Beach Bungalow 8, and Rebecca Orlov from Love. Lives. Small., it is sure to be a wonderful event. If you would like to attend click here for more info.

- The AphroChic Shop and blog have been nominated for The Lovelies Award. Please show some love this weekend and vote for the blog here and the shop here. We would love to have your support!

- AphroChic is still very much involved with relief efforts in Haiti. I am working with a fantastic designer to help start a new blog dedicated to efforts to help those in Haiti. And there are some incredible artists who are continuing to do their part in helping those in need. This weekend, see the amazing piece that Renee from 52 Pieces created for an auction to support those in need.  The auction ends on Valentine's Day at 11:59pm EST.  Your bid can help.  100% of the winning bid will go to a charity that is working in Haiti.

- Finally, the AphroChic blog is getting a facelift this weekend. I am working on a new site that will fit more closely with the AphroChic brand. I'll be working throughout the long weekend, so the site will not be back up until Tuesday. I apologize for the inconvenience, but I know you are going to love what's next.

Have a wonderful Valentine's Day everyone! Stay sweet.

AphroChic Lucky Party

Last week we had a party to celebrate the AphroChic feature in Lucky Magazine.  It was a "Lucky Party!" and a wonderful time to celebrate with friends who have supported my husband and I since the very beginning of our endeavor to start our own shop.  I thought I would share a few photos from the party, as well as some of my favorite tips on hosting the perfect bash.



Tip #1:  Create a show space.  We wanted to have an intimate gathering with close friends, so it was perfect to host it at home.  And while my home definitely has a lot of AphroChic style, it is not a show space.  To make the space reflect our brand we swapped many of my pink accent pieces for yellow, white and gray accessories to match the AphroChic color palette.  We also filled the space with lots of photos from the collection, and of course decorated with lots and lots of AphroChic pillows.



Tip #2: Enlist your friends.  While I love to host parties, I am not the kind of gal who will cook all day for the big bash, and I am definitely not gifted with flowers.  So, when I needed to find a great caterer and florist, I looked no further than my friends.  All of our food was catered by a friend who happens to be an incredible chef.  And the beautiful floral arrangements that we had throughout the space were whipped by a friend who is a med student by day, and a gifted florist on the weekends.  Aren't they gorgeous?







Tip #3: Don't be afraid of change.  I constantly have to remind myself that change is good.  At home I love my little nest just the way it is, but sometimes to accommodate guests you do have to make a few changes.  The shelving above, which usually houses family photos and my favorite knick knacks, was transformed into a bar to welcome our guests.  The top shelf had candles aglow, and the second shelf was filled with glasses perfect for the homemade sangria and wine that we served at the party.



Tip #4:  Send guests home with something special.  It was a Lucky party, and so of course each guest went home with a copy of the February issue of Lucky Magazine.  An AphroChic business card was attached with a paper clip that marked page 52, the page our pillow is on!  I even had a few friends ask  me to sign the page.  They made me feel like a star!



Finally, the most important part of any party is to have lots of fun, and we definitely did.  My husband set up a wonderful music playlist and slideshow using our PS3 (I know, can you believe it!).  And with good food and good company, the party was a definite success.

Romantic Living Etc. Bedrooms

This week is all about love on AphroChic.  I just can't help myself.  I thought I would bring you a little bit of romantic inspiration for your Valentine's weekend.  These rooms from Living Etc. are all about romance.  Warm and cozy, they are the perfect bedrooms to spend a nice long weekend in snuggled up with the one you love.



Soft bedding from Dwell Studio is the perfect way to get your bedroom ready for some Valentine's fun.



Or you can find ways to bring some sumptuous style home by layering the bed in cushions and throws.



And what could be more romantic than a glamorous boudoir that's full of luxurious touches.

Get ready for a romantic evening with your valentine by dressing up the bedroom.  And don't forget to add some candlelight for that extra special touch.

{Images: Living Etc.}

Liya And Andre In The Swing Of Things

Sorry for today's late post.  I have been diligently working on some new ideas for the AphroChic Shop, but I had to drop in with some images that I think are just perfect for this week leading up to Valentine's Day. 



These images from last year's Vogue shoot are a favorite of mine.  Musician Andre 3000 and model Liya Kebede are absolutely sweet in this colorful photo shoot.



Not only am I in love with the throw-back style that Andre and Liya are sporting, but the bold prints and colors present in each photo are absolutely beautiful.



This Valentine's Day put a little swing in your step with some old-school romance.  Doesn't it look fun?

{Images: Vogue Magazine}