BURNING BRIGHT: A LUXE SCENTED CANDLE FOR EVERYONE ON YOUR LIST

Scented candles have become the gift that keeps on giving.  Yes, the market is saturated, but, they are a pretty way to say thank you, and guarantee hours of scented bliss. No wonder they are such a popular item to give, they aren't complicated and everyone has a scent they adore. When selecting the best scent to give, try and do some fragrance homework by asking what perfume your friend wears. This tip-off should provide enough intel to select up the appropriate aroma and corresponding candle, and I've selected some fragrant candles based on their beautiful packaging and high quality aromatic oils.

Photo courtesy of Byredo

Winter is a time to hibernate with a good book. Friends who would rather spend a Sunday under a cashmere throw in a wing chair reading Anna Karenina can burn this romantic, evocative Bibliothèque candle by scent superstar Byredo, to escape the everyday. The scent, including fruity essences of Peach and Plum, is accented with leather and Vanilla. Totally rich and decadent.

Photo courtesy of Aerin
There's nothing like the allure of gold around the holidays. It just makes everything more festive. It's a good thing Aerin launched her Fireside and Fir scent just in time for the winter. A gold-leafed glass container holds a woodyy Aspen-inspired scent ,comprised of Mediterranean Cypress, Fir Balsam, and a bit of black amber along with white Birch.

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Photo courtesy of Niven Morgan

Niven Morgan names his scents after the locales that inspire them. His Mustique 1958 soy candle has

notes of florals, fruits and herbs such as Bergamot, fresh citrus and Neroli mixed with musks, amber, moss and blonde wood.

 Photo courtesy of L'Objet

The nice thing about L'Objet's scented candles is that they come in porcelain and gold bowls that can easily be repurposed to hold earrings or coins. Winter is a good time to go for richer fragrances at home, so the spicy Cinnabar scent in this candle fits its ornate red exterior well.

Photo courtesy of Belle Fleur

Belle Fleur is known for their pure fragrances and clean packaging. They have just introduced a new assortment of scents with a more exotic allure.  For those that love fig, and there are many of you out there that do, myself included, Casa Malaparte, named after the famed modernist villa on Capri will enchant with Grapefruit, Heliotrope, Jasmine, Rose, Fig Leaf and Cedarwood.

Photo courtesy of Jo Malone

Tis the season for limited edition candles. Woodsy and warm with a hint of Cinnamon, the Blue Spruce deluxe candle from Jo Malone will have you singing carols in no time.

Photo courtesy of Matouk

Even when they are not lit, Matouk's White Garden candle with scents of Lilly, Orchid and Freesia give a subtle scent to the air. Like their well-designed crisp bedding, the candle is packaged in subtle white glass packaging.

Photo courtesy of Diptyque

If you are like me, and white flowers like Tuberose make you swoon, then the classic Diptyque candle is a fail-safe choice. It now comes in this red tinged glass, very holiday festive.

Photo courtesy of Cire Trudon
Know a hard to gift for captain of industry that has everything? Get this hard-to-gift-for titan a luxe leather-scented candle from Cire Trudon to burn while they read their FT in their cozy wood-paneled library. Yes, this is yet another special limited edition candle.

 Photo courtesy of Agraria

To add a bit of sparkle to the powder room, the Mediterranean Jasmine Crystal Cane Candle from Agraria comes in a petite size and will fit on the edge of a sink. Made of vegetable based soft wax, the bright blue hue keeps things interesting.

Scented in Ebony Teak, you can select which color ceramic vessel you would like with this cashmere brand heavyweight's candle - there is an assortment of pale hues offered. Made in Italy, Brunello Cuccinelli's wood wicked scented candle is quite extravagantly priced. So whomever gets it as a git  is definitely worth it.

 Photo courtesy of Astier de Vilatte

Know any aspiring actors that feel the pull of the great White Way? This Broadway scent with a high energy mix of citrus and caramel from Parisian tabletop line Astier de Vilatte will remind them to work hard and they might just make it.

Photo courtesy of Frederic Malle

Frederic Malle's scents are so pure, they are like burning his precious purfume. This season, for the traditionalists, he has created a special limited edition candle with top notes of pine, cinnamon and a bit of cotton candy (?!) . Clad in his usual red glass vessel, the Joyeux Noël scent, designed by "nose" Dominique Ropion, is packaged in a box illustrated by artist Konstantin Kakanias.  Is there a way I can frame the box afterwards? The artwork is just too good!

 Photo courtesy of Ralph Lauren Home

I tend to rotate my candle assortment for seasonally-appropriate fragrances. Last December, when my Red Currant, Evergreen and Juniper-scented candle was down to the wick, I was disappointed it was all finished. I am glad this classic scent pairing from Ralph Lauren  is back in rotation every holiday season, or I would be forlorn.

Photo courtesy of Tom Dixon

Evoke reverie by escaping to exotic lands with Tom Dixon's rich Orientalist-scent candle. It come in a streamlined brass vessel with a marble lid and looks super chic in any setting.

 Photo courtesy of Lafco

If you are feeling stumped on what scent to get, there is always the safe bet of Chamomile and Lavender. Lafco's room appropriate scented candles are a no-brainer, and since so many people have trouble sleeping, this bedroom blend could be just the thing.

MODERN MOMENTS: LOOKING FOR CONTEMPORARY PIECES AT 220 ELM IN HIGH POINT

Consider the array of furniture launched every year.  Right now, pared-down lines and comfort seem to be the order of the day when it comes to contemporary style,  and clean yet softer silhouettes in furniture design are seeing an uptick. Modern furniture is the hallmark of 220 Elm, my other High Point Market sponsor this fall. 

The building, filled with among other things,  Italian, Swedish and German collections, is the go-to spot for streamlined design at market. Europe is a stylistic bellwether, and is often where  design trends and movements launch. Whether it is color or material, the trend usually makes its way to the US a year or so later. This being the case, I always keep an eye on what is coming from across the pond, for some version of what is being seen there will eventually be making its way to us.
As I made my way around the showrooms, I was struck by the bright, clear colors as well as the mix of warm woods with softer lines. Modernism has been moving away from super sharp lines with sleekness towards a more organic style that uses sinewy  lines with warmer materials. Read on to see my discoveries.

Many companies are playing with the form of the classic wing chair, paring down the curves. Palliser's Thoreau chair, covered in a graphic black and white diamond pattern, is a spot to lounge.

Stripes have an ability to create excitement in a space. The graphic nature they possess give them a chameleon quality, they provide the unexpected. When used on a slipper chair, here at Skyline, the impact of a strong stripe is undeniable.

Capturing a sense of space-age fun, the mod Globus Chair, originally designed in the 1960's by Overman International swivels for extra retro appeal.

The Woodbrook Designs showroom featured primarily wood furniture, but made in interesting ways, like mixed with resin.  This organic tree, base and all, seemed to be growing out of the cement floor. Since hotels and offices also use this resource, I could see the tree being used in  a creative way, perhaps as a great addition to a majestic lobby in an African game reserve.

A highly reflective chrome side table  appropriately called Reflection in a biomorphic puddle shape had an Anish Kapoor quality to it.

Scandinavian design is known for super clean lines, and have become beloved for their "just the basics" appeal. This tiny little egg-shaped nesting table at Woodbrook is fun yet useful.

The Leif Petersen showroom is a destination for high end Italian design. Standout Italian industrial and furniture designers are carried here, and Peterson hand picks companies to rep after visiting Salone del Mobile in Milan each year.  Giopato and Coombes designed this chair for the Italian company Miniforms.  The Valerie, an organically-formed carved wooden chair has a back that resembles the branches of a tree in a refined way.

While walking the halls I discovered a company I did not know called Younger.  They have well-priced designs that tap into the current retro modern trends. I found some nice pieces like this one. A nickel cantilever base supports the modern Leo armchair, giving it a modern twist.

Mid-Century modern lines and bright yellow velvet upholstery with contrasting trim on Younger's Spencer sofa. This minimal piece would work well in a playroom or space that would benefit from a Mid Century dose.

One of the reasons I love High Point is that there are good things to find, you just have to look. At Design 9, I found this chic pared-down leather-covered love seat, perfect for a breakfast nook in a city apartment.

It's truly amazing what is being done right now with hair on hide rugs. The category, defined by Jin Ho and Kyle Bunting, has really come into its own. I love this multi-colored Puzzle patchwork rug made of a variety of colors from Mat The Basics. The price is right and the design has a playful element.

At Innovation, this fun poof covered in an orange blue and white geometric pattern is great for seating or a spot to place a book. Why not add a conversation piece to a seating area?

IT'S SHOWTIME: LINENS LEATHERS AND MORE AT THE INTERNATIONAL TEXTILES MARKET ASSOCIATION SHOW

 Photo courtesy of Pantone

Pantone has just declared Radiant Orchid their color of the year for 2014.  When they make this statement, you will see companies follow suit, clamoring to launch their own designs including this hot color. Industry watchers jump on this intelligence, and love to rally around it.

When it comes to picking up on trends and creating a focus, trade shows are sometimes the best was to get a sense of what is coming next. At the International Textiles Market Association Showtime Show, there will not be a shortage of textiles, and I am hoping to get more insights to other dominant color stories for 2014. As the largest US-based home textiles show, the bi annual High Point-based event attracts fabric buyers of all kinds, from retailers to interior designers, furniture companies, designers of hotels, planes, yachts and more. I have been invited to cover the show, and I thank the ITMA for including me.  I will see prints, wovens, leathers and all sorts of intriguing new designs from the likes of Robert Allen, Duralee, P Kaufman, Moore and Giles, Glen Raven/Sunbrella, Libeco and more.  As you know, I love attending markets to discover new and exciting design. I am eager to explore  a new market that occurs at the same location as the furniture market. Plus, I get to visit with fellow bloggers the Madcap Cottage duo Jason Oliver Nixon and John Loecke, Nest by Tamara's Tamara Matthews-Stephenson, Rhonda Carman of All the Best, and Traci Zeller.

Here is what I am hoping to find at the show:

- The next big pattern style for prints. Ikats and chevrons? Yes, we know, they are everywhere. What's coming next? 

- Big bold florals  are still on the rise in popularity for their undeniable happy factor. What adaptations will there be to this beloved motif?

- What textural treatment will be hot? Viscose has been a great addition to cotton for added softness, what blend will be really interesting in the future?

- What color combinations will have a newness to them?

- The artist's hand is ever-present at the luxury end of textiles, with brushstroke prints, watercolor washes and Shibori influences. Will it be prevalent across a variety of companies designs?

- Art Deco is coming back. Is now the time?

- I have been seeing beautiful metallics done in attractive ways, will they be adapted into wovens too?

- Embroidery is being created in an array of interesting styles in China and India,  from finely woven details to thicker threads. Is innovation still occurring in this medium?

Here are some interesting examples of textiles from companies I will be visiting with on the trip:

Photo courtesy of Duralee

Aquadisiac, from the Enchanted Collection

Photo courtesy of Duralee

Shay in Saffron by John Robshaw for Duralee

Laura Kirar's Iowa in Onyx

Winstead in Green

Photo courtesy of Robert Allen

Busy Stripes a woven by Robert Allen

Sophia Range, a woven from Robert Allen

Carmane embroidered fabric from Robert Allen mixes graphic pattern and large scale embroidery

 Photo courtesy of Moore and Giles

Teal is now a mainstream color, and in leather it is striking, Moore and Giles has this beautiful, clear shade in leather.

WARM THIS WINTER: CLASSIC PAJAMAS TO LOUNGE IN STYLE THIS SEASON

There are few things as cozy as putting on a pair of freshly pressed classic men's pajamas before slipping into bed on a cold winter night. My search for new classics with a women's silhouette led me to the 7 great pairs below.  From floral to gingham, there is a version that will make every gal on your gift list happy. Sleep tight.

 

Photo courtesy of Roberta Roller Rabbit

Want to wear the same fresh patterned Roberta Roller Rabbit prints you love from your summer caftans in a PJ version? The now classic Amanda floral comes in cozy button down classic PJs.

Photo courtesy of J. Crew
I can always count on J. Crew to come out with something made out of a floral Liberty printed fabric. I invariably want it. A PJ set in a small pink flower petal print with long pants and cuffs trimmed in navy has a femme look.

Photo courtesy of Pomegranate
The anchor motif on Pomegranate's Ahoy PJ's for those that wish the were on the shore all year long.

Photo courtesy of Marigot

The preppy appeal of your lived-in checked gingham button down has been translated into crisp pajamas with white piping by a favorite of mine for soft cotton PJ's, Marigot.

 

 Photos courtesy of Sleepy Jones

Andy Spade is up to his usual cheeky tricks. This time, he is designing classic standby's like cotton PJ's, boxers, robes and socks with a pared-down  traditional feel under the name Sleepy Jones. All about cozy Sunday mornings, their luxe silk version, the Paley, has a modern stripe down the side that leads to side pockets.

 Photo courtesy of Three J

Pale aqua trims the feminine silhouette of Three J's Jamie PJ's, based on traditional men's pj's in crisp white cotton.

Photo courtesy of Ann Mashburn

Known for her classic button down shirts and fresh tailored perspective on women's fashion,  Atlanta-based fashion designer and shop owner Ann Mashburn, does PJ's, with the same attention to detail and quality. Made of the same super soft cotton used to make luxurious bedding, I love her slightly oversized version of the classic set.

CELERIE KEMBLE AND BRONSON VAN WYCK CREATE A HOME FOR THE HOLIDAYS WITH THEIR UPTOWN HOLIDAY WORKSHOP POP UP

Taking over the ground floor of an Upper East Side townhouse, interior designer Celerie Kemble and event planner extraordinaire, Bronson Van Wyck  have joined creative forces to create a winter wonderland, complete with lavishly decorated Christmas trees, swag of greenery, twinkling lights and gifts galore. After taking over a smaller downtown location at Overbey and Dunn last year (which I covered here), the longtime friends have moved uptown to a larger space, showcasing all things festive and bright in a residential setting. Against a backdrop of tartan-covered and bright red walls, the duo have a wide ranging assortment of gifts on display in a living room and dining room setting, graciously welcoming you with everything from bar essentials to decorative accessories. The pop-up also provided a fitting atmosphere to showcase Celerie's new Henredon furniture and Maitland Smith accessories collection, which  is mixed in with vintage pieces, and tons of seasonally appropriate taxidermy.  Head to 19 East 75th Street, right off Madison for some elegant decorating ideas and yuletide shopping, open until December 24th. The Elves await your arrival. If you are not in New York, you can find their assortment online at The Holiday Workshop.

A red entry, festooned with swags of greenery.

Black and white tartan covers the walls in the living room, alongside framed art and mounted animal heads. Let's not forget the over the top tree complete with Turtle Doves, which Van Wyck's Elves can install fully decorated for you if you reside in the New York area. Proceeds from the tree sales go to The East Harlem School.

A settee is surrounded a geometric black and gold etageres from Celerie's collection, teeming with shiny gifts and goodies.

A sideboard holds barware, plaid napkins and vintage silver serving pieces.

A closer look at the well-stocked shelves, where a fox holds court. There is no shortage of decanters and bar glassware here.

A silver Spaniel sits next to a rock crystal votive keeping things sparkly.

More great barware to tempt.

An assortment of mixers specially created by Bronson for his provisions brand, Arrowood Farms.

A vintage-inspired cool 60's pendant light glows over the dining table set with more of her furniture designs.

Even the tiny powder room is gussied up in red and black tartan and a small decorative mirror of her design.