Early Morning Commute @ Grand Central

Posted on | February 26, 2010 | 17 Comments

Hands down my favorite building in New York is Grand Central Station. The last few years I worked in New York I lived in Connecticut and had to commute through Grand Central everyday. I know that seems crazy that I lived in another state and commuted back and forth but it’s actually a quick 45 minute express train ride. I honestly miss my train rides. I loved reading, knitting, and just having some quiet time to chill out after work.

Last week, when I was in New York I commuted in with my sister. The morning light was gorgeous trickling down on the station floor. The green ceiling above was probably my first inspiration for my den. It’s gorgeous in so many different types of light. If I close my eyes I can hear the quiet rumble of voices and high heels bouncing off the stone walls.

Grand Central Station
15 Vanderbilt Avenue
New York, NY
grandcentralterminal.com

Category: New York, on the streets

Subway Tiles @ Soho Grand Hotel

Posted on | February 22, 2010 | 13 Comments

I notice the funniest things since I started renovating a house. In our bathroom at the Soho Grand Hotel I was fascinated by the subway tile design. If you look closely the second tile from the top is not a standard rectangle. It’s square, interesting. I couldn’t find a reason why they did this other then to break up the line.

The hotel bathroom was simple but classic. A pretty pedestal sink with a gooseneck faucet and a stone hex floor. The floor tiles were cream, taupey brown/gray, and gray grout. Kinda funky and different. Look closely at the floor photo below. It may look out of focus on the edges but actually the floor really looked like this. It would change color as you looked at it in the distance. The sketch wallpaper keeps the space from feeling too traditional and adds a modern twist.

Below the view from our hotel room. How great is New York?

Soho Grand Hotel
310 West Broadway
New York, New York
sohogrand.com

update: The wallpaper featured in the bathroom is by New Yorker cartoonist Saul Steinberg. The paper can be purchased through Schumacher.

Picture 8 Subway Tiles @ Soho Grand Hotel

4378816857 d594d85025 Subway Tiles @ Soho Grand Hotel

view from soho grand Subway Tiles @ Soho Grand Hotel

Category: New York, bathrooms, tile, wallpaper

Green on Greene

Posted on | February 19, 2010 | 8 Comments

In Soho this morning I spotted more green paint inspiration. Is the world telling me something? I love this green. Now I’m leaning back toward painting the molding in my den green. Ah! What to do? Above and below a building on Greene Street in Soho.

Category: New York, paint colors

Ace Hotel, The Breslin and Stumptown

Posted on | February 18, 2010 | 7 Comments

Sorry for the lack of posting this week, I’m in New York. I’ve been a busy bee working and visiting with friends and family. This morning my sister brought me over to the new Ace Hotel on 29th street in Manhattan. Design group Roman and Williams transformed the space into a hipster Brit infused oasis. Check out the plaid wing chair in the above photo. The back of the chair was upholstered in navy wool decorated with brass tacking. So freakin’ cute.

Attached to the Ace is The Breslin a British style pub run by Peter Cho and the Spotted Pig (my fav place to grab a burger) crew. I walked through pretty quickly but I was struck by the green molding. In the sunlight the wood appears limey in the shadows it becomes a dark olive gloss. Tufted benches, thonet style chairs, and brass accents give the space a cozy feel. Need a little pick me up? Hit Stumptown coffee just off from the hotel’s lobby. I had a latte and croissant—super yum with a nutty quality. Above and below photos from Roman and William’s website.

Ace Hotel
20 W 29th Street
New York, NY
212.679.2222
acehotel.com

The Breslin
16 W 29th Street
New York, NY
212.679.1939
thebreslin.com

7 500x333 Ace Hotel, The Breslin and Stumptown

breslin meat room 500x328 Ace Hotel, The Breslin and Stumptown

ag stumptown3.jpeg Ace Hotel, The Breslin and Stumptown

Category: New York, eating out, interiors, travel

Huguenot Street: New Paltz, NY

Posted on | October 7, 2009 | 8 Comments

Historic Huguenot Street features seven unique stone houses dating to the early 1700s built by French Huguenot settlers. Huguenots from Northern France and modern day Belgium purchased 40,000 acres of land in the Mid-Hudson Valley from the Esopus Indians in the late 17th century. Small communities developed and thrived in the valley including New Paltz.

I went to college in New Paltz and would walk by these houses just about everyday. I was fascinated by the history and architecture of the buildings. The windows and shutters feel Dutch and different from anything I had ever seen in New England. Check out the green painted window frames in the room above. I wonder the real history of painting wood green? I’ll have to investigate…

Historic Huguenot Street
18 Broadhead Avenue
New Paltz, NY
huguenotstreet.org

Category: New York, architecture, on the streets

Inspiration From The Village Tearoom

Posted on | October 6, 2009 | 5 Comments

On our quick trip to New Paltz we stopped for lunch at my favorite restaurant in town, The Village Tearoom. The styling of the restaurant is perfectly homey without feeling dated or granny—a look I’m trying to achieve in our home. We sat in the upstairs dining room where I became pretty enamored with the wall color and curtains. The orange/peachy walls glowed in the room. I want the scrolling floral fabric for curtains in my dining room…maybe it’s Lee Jofa? Greg was eyeing a newly hung ceiling decorated with worn beams. So cute. Below our lovely rainy day fall lunch. I had Potato Toussaint Cheese Tart & Salad (foreground); Greg had the Turkey Pot Pie. The sage leaf on top of Greg’s biscuit was a sweet touch I’m totally stealing.

The Village Tearoom
10 Plattekill Ave
New Paltz, NY
thevillagetearoom.com

Category: New York, eating out, interiors

Dressel Farms: New Paltz, NY

Posted on | October 5, 2009 | 4 Comments

Over the weekend we were down in the NY area for a wedding and a family visit. On Saturday it rained all day. Greg got a little stir crazy being stuck in the house (I have two nieces under six) on such a gloomy day. We decided to go out for drive and somehow ended up an hour and 1/2 north in New Paltz—my college town and where I met Greg. A totally random and short visit turned into a nostalgic fall afternoon.

I have more photos and stories to share from New Paltz but first a few snapshots from Dressel Farms. On our way back to Westchester we made a quick stop for a bag of apples and cider. I jumped out of the car and snapped a few photos while Greg waited in the long line to pay. How cute is their apple cider sign above? The apples were crisp and delicious. I love Fall on the east coast.

Dressel Farms
State Route 208
New Paltz, NY
dresselfarms.com