High Fashion!

Splendid at High Fashion Home

Splendid rugby striped top in white/navy stripe $73

Splendid blazer $97

Splendid modal/lycra foldover top leggings $62

Karma Living recycled materials bag $50

studded leather bangle $9

Polish Modernism!

This neat little home featured in the New York Times is Swiss inspired architecture located in the midst of a very traditional Polish town. The interior features simple concrete floors and particleboard walls.

The exterior features prominent vertical planks of spruce, instead of the plaster exterior used in most of Poland's "castle" homes. While the planks are more expensive upfront than plaster, the planks will age better than plaster over time and save money in the long run.

Check out the photos below. I know it's not for everyone, but it is cool nonetheless.

New Delhi Masterpiece!

Courtesy of freshome, Morphogenesis, a design and architecture firm, had the task to design a project in New Delhi that could house a multi-generational family.

This house looks like a lit jewel box at night. Most houses neglect the importance of landscape and accent lighting.

The horizontal slats add a warmth to what is a pretty modern structure.

The outdoor patio and green space helps create that sense of place that can bond a family.

The loft style, airiness of the living room/dining room is a great communal, meeting ground for a big household.

Bringing the outdoors indoors with a lot of greenery, natural light, and a zen garden feel.

Now that is a pool! I love the floor to ceiling glass. It creates the indoor/outdoor connectivity.

Always On Time

So many important dates to add to my 2010 calendar... A friend's wedding in September, my big sister's due date in June, hubby's birthday in May. I better make sure to have a calendar I want to look at everyday. Somehow, I don't think that will be my problem this year...

Linda & Harriet, $30

Supermarket HQ, $20

SuzyJack, $18.50

Stunning Buildings With Whole Trees

This would have been the ultimate house as a kid.

From the NY Times, an unmilled tree can hold 50% more weight than the largest piece of lumber milled from the same tree. The more whole wood is used in place of steel, the less carbon is pumped into the air. By peeling smaller weed trees out of a crowded forest stand, the remaining trees get bigger and healthier. The small diameter trees are useful for rafters and framing. The large trees that were downed by wind or disease make for excellent columns and beams. This low cost, energy efficient structure is from the vision of World Tree Architecture and Construction. Whole Trees can keep construction costs as low as $100 per square foot. There is much to admire about this fantastically, brilliant idea.

I would have actually been excited to go to school every day if that was the bed I woke up from.

This energy efficient building gets the inherent energy benefits of the unmilled wood along with solar panel technology.

Lots of natural light gives this house an sense of nature indoors.

The London Bridge Meets The Shard!

Came across a cool blog from 2modern about the London Bridge Quarter development. The Shard, a 72-story mixed-use skyscraper, will be the centerpiece for the project. The Shard will include residential, hospitality, office, and retail components. Once completed, it'll be the tallest building in Western Europe. Check out some renderings of The Shard and the London skyline.

The Shard might give the London Bridge and the London Eye a run for their money as London's most recognizable symbols.

The Shard will be 1004 feet tall upon completion. In city where most everything is in the 4-10 story scale, The Shard will be quite a site to behold.


Very few cities look as beautiful as London at night.

The Shard is being designed by Renzo Piano Building Workshop. Quite the name for an architecture firm, who just happened to design the Menil Collection Museum in Houston.

These panoramic views of London never get old! Simply breathtaking.

With as much precipitation as London gets, these massive, clear glass canopies offer rain protection, yet preserve maximum sunlight for pedestrians.

5,070 Trees and Counting...

Photo by: angela7dreams

Thanks to all our customers for joining High Fashion Home and the Arbor Day Foundation for helping plant 5,070 trees. I'm trying to envision 5,070 trees, and I'm picturing a nice, medium size forest. But really, any little thing we can do for the environment is a definite plus.

Here are some of the benefits one tree can make for years to come:

• One tree can absorb more than a ton of carbon dioxide
• Over the cours of 50 years, a single tree can control $31,500 of soil erosion.
• Trees help maintain clean water supplies.
• One tree produces nearly 260 pounds of oxygen a year.
• Trees help maintain clean water supplies.

My math says our trees will help produce 1,318,000 pounds of oxygen in the next year. Not bad at all.

Baby, It's Hot Outside

There is nothing worse than coming in from the 100 degree heat just to get into a hot bed. You wouldn't wear a coat in July, so why should your bed? I adhere to the idea of using the hot months as a chance to change up my bedroom a little bit and just use sheets. Okay, and maybe a light blanket, because that air conditioning can get drafty. When I use my patterned comforter, I stick to basic white sheets, but when the duvet is a away, the sheets can play (or something like that). Here are the ones I have my eye on:

Rubie Green's East Village Sheet Set, $179-229

Crate & Barrel's Tallulah Sheet Set, $45-$80

West Elm's Printed Percale Sheet Set, $79-119

Dwell Studio's Draper Stripe Sheet Set, $286-$341

Plover Organic's Drowsy Vine Sheet Set, $228-$269 at Anthropologie

Earth Day 2009: More Trees!

Thanks to everyone for helping partner with High Fashion Home and the Arbor Day Foundation. As of March 31st, 2009, we have now planted 3,554 trees. For every piece of furniture purchased, one tree is planted. 3,554 trees may seem a lot or it may seem a little. Either way, we appreciate everyone with helping us make a difference. Addressing our global climate change is bigger than any one person or organization. It's going to take all of us to pitch in and contribute.


The benefits of one tree can make a positive impact for years to come:

• One tree can absorb more than a ton of carbon dioxide
• Over the course of 50 years, a single tree can control $31,500 of soil erosion.
• Trees help maintain clean water supplies.
• One tree produces nearly 260 pounds of oxygen a year.

Learn more about how you can help.

Earth Day 2009: Leonardo DiCaprio Visits The Green House.

Check out this video from Oprah. Leonard DiCaprio visits a model home for sustainability. DiCaprio is one of Hollywood's most prominent figures in the fight against global warming. Every detail in the home is built with an eye for a safer environment and with the world's future in mind. Learn how you might be able incorporate some eco-friendly elements into your own home.

Earth Day: How To Go Green

Have you started wondering what lifestyle choices you can make to help out the environment? Check out Planet Green's How to Go Green index. So if you were curious about green laundry detergent alternatives or some green decorating tips for your home, their guide will cover A-Z how to make meaningful green changes to every part of your life.

Earth Day 2009: Anthropologie Green Displays!

Courtesy of Apartment Therapy, check out these 4 green display ideas from Anthropologie.

These bulbs might not be energy efficient. Instead of throwing them a way after they burn out, you can reuse them to make for a super cool chandelier.

Why throw away your plastic forks and knives after that picnic? You make a ridiculously, textured wall paper.

Cut out old book covers and fabric to make wall art that would make the uncreative class jealous.

Recover bookshelves out of old fabric remnants.

Threadless: Buy a Tee, Plant a Tree!

Threadless is planting a tree for every t-shirt you buy this week. The donation goes to PlantABillion.org, who's mission is to plant a billion trees in the Atlantic Forest of Brazil.

Threadless is a great site that sells t-shirts that are designed by people like you and me. The ongoing design contest has visitors voting on their favorite designs. The most popular designs actually get made into shirts, with the winner receiving $2,000. So buy a cool t-shirt from a cutting edge company and feel good that you are helping out our planet.

ABC Carpet & Home. Where Amazing Happens!

ABC Home's mission statement revolves around an eco-friendly initiative. (photo courtesy of racked.com)

ABC Carpet & Home is a mega chic, home furnishings emporium located on Broadway in New York City. It's the largest rug and carpet store in the world, attracting 1 million visitors a year.

The company's array of products include not only carpets and rugs but also antiques, furniture, textiles, gifts and accessories, and bed and bath items. Because of its inventive displays and eclectic offerings, ABC has been called "Disneyland for rich adults." Visiting ABC is like sifting through a sea of charming, impeccable, eclectic furnishings. It's one part flea market, one part grandmother's attic, and one part Rodeo Drive.

You'll probably end up shopping and getting lost for hours. If you need a little halftime break, there is a cafe that sits at the back of the main floor. The menu consists of great organic food. I definitely recommend the hummus.

I usually end up visiting New York at least twice a year, and I always make it a point to visit. Here are some pictures I've collected of this amazing store. Feast your eyes on some home decor bliss.

How cool is that? Flowers covering the elevator on the first floor.

Looks like professional photography from Metropolitan Home. Not! It's just our Canon camera.

Store merchandising is always easier when you have a cool, old building with 25 foot high ceilings.

Love the chaise.

This is their Barbara Barry gallery on the 4th floor.

Yes, that is our Hugo sofa. I'm partial to our piece in white.

Towels! More Towels!

Cool, spontaneous vignette on a green platform.

Here is one of many eco-friendly furniture lines they carry. The sectional is from Cisco Brothers.

I can't afford most of the chandeliers, but I have to admit that they are pretty jaw dropping.

Some of their Asian-influenced pillows and accessories on the 1st floor.