LYRA MAG.

Walking the BDNY aisles-had us looking up as much as level.  OVERHEAD LIGHT INSTALLATIONS =ART STATEMENTS- as well as a functional finishing design touch RH's-overhead Cabrillo Pendant industrial linear woven wire- lighting really adds a crafty drama element to their set-up Their Indonesian Fishing Basket Pendants line the desk credenza in the back STUDIO M Lightning Viso Lighting LIVEX LIGHTING VENDOR (AND CONSUMER FAV) WAYFAIR'S EXHIBIT-THE GLAM CEILING FIXTURE IN GOLD POPS IN boldly B/W PATTERNED  SETTING a stop in the aisle moment-when we saw this Bowie Ziggy Stardust chair by Collections Design Originale- CenturieAmadeus.com Apparently trademark images can be used w/o license if 7 attributes are different-we asked.They do custom fabrics, lighting, wallpaper etc  FUNCTIONAL ART-Custom Design light where you don't expect it...custom made table/bar top. WOW Fun... we loved the RS Barcelona ...

Part 2 Lifelike faux  plants and preserved floral/greens are a major commercial design trend- and both are maintenance free. Decorative elements (accents) or splashy wallscapes-in silk or plastic -are available in custom sizes. Including ginormous. LDF Silks -LOVE= green arbor trellises -in  overhead planters-frame the EXCHANGE (by Marriott International & Design Poole) networking lounge/Crystal Palace -Javits. Other LDF Silk projects...pictured below... FYI-this amazing space also amped up courtesy of custom artworks via STUDIO E/L Hospitality featuring a bold Edie Sedgwick mural,+custom b/w photographs  on the brick wall. SO COOL it's practically tragic the spectacular BDNY spaces all get disassembled and not donated or auctioned/sold off for proceeds to a worthy charity.  Digital images of trees-hung on oversized banners from the ceiling-mixed in with a beautifully landscaped faux green wallscape= a terrific public space so inviting-as a low...

Part One Whether at home or in homey (comfortable) surroundings- basic design fundamentals crossover-more than ever- in  residential and boutique hotel spaces. Layers of textures, fabrics (velvet is big)+colors + patterns can work-in hotel guest room or in a home home.  LOVE-moody medium blues like PPG's Chinese Porcelain, Sherwin Williams Naval= 2020 color of the year. Popular Piero Fornasetti  plates grab the eyes first. This 'room' mixes well- Hollywood Art Deco -70's glam vibe -  break from last decade's Mad Men- mid-century modern styles.  In fact- interior design inspirations for both-seems to  go both ways - at the recent BDNY tradeshow-and  D+D Building Fall 2019 market.  Shared: The beginning=a 'story'-conceptual sense of place framing the layered-accessorized setting-whether as...  an older building with modern interiors or mixing of vintage+new,  urban destinations as entertainment or as a sanctuary,...

Craft(y) cocktails that don't require special equipment (or engineering skills)-may not be Instagram bait -but refreshed classics, made easily enough with a holiday twist-are ideal drinks to serve with or without party nibbles. Think RUM One of five-Pensacola Florida's ' signature' cocktails =local Sandshaker's "The Bushwacker" aka a grown-up milkshake ... a tasty SWEET swirl of rum, crème de cacao, cream of coconut and vanilla ice cream. This worthy Eggnog sub- egg free- screams party on . THREESOMES: The foundation of any excellent cocktail...stirred or shaken...should be worthy of sipping solo too. Gift-able - Mad River Distillers 'trio -passes that test-with a splash, over a cube-or mixed with the extras. Retro Look-Modern Tastes Ever since we saw BITTERMILK 's retro packaged cocktail mixers-at a Fancy Food show a few years-back-we knew this privately owned company would DO REALLY WELL Try a hand crafted-real ingredient...

In case you're better prepared for Black Friday-Cyber-Monday -than the regular holiday get togethers...beverage -wise...written below are some tips for liquid cheers-that enhance the usual cold weather fare. TRY WHITE WINES: Go for the fuller-bolder-more mineral -acidic -kind of white wine...made easier by selecting from certain regions. Our go to is typically from the Rhone area, or-for wood-buttery leanings- California Chardonnays-but  Italian whites-from-the Lugano DOC Lake Garda-Lombardy region -noted for its clay soil are drink now worthy and slowly being discovered here. Added Plus: MANY  good values exis t-all made from the Turbiana white grape- aged in steel-some with oaky hints (with added wood cask time)= fresh, approachable wines, At a recent tasting-BROLETTINO Cà dei Frati-Reserve 2017 (we found online $26.99) was the FAV of  several restaurant owners  (and us-bottle pictured up top)."Deliciously complex" -with of oak  courtes...