THE TABLE IS SET: OSCAR DE LA RENTA DEBUTS HIS TABLETOP COLLECTION

Oscar de la Renta has teamed up with New York-based interior designer Miles Redd for his latest foray into home.  The inimitable couture designer debuts his home accessories range this week online. Redd, who channels the age of elegance from a bygone era so well, has worked with de la Renta as a creative director for home, overseeing his furniture with Century, fabrics for Lee Jofa, and now tabletop and home accessories.  

I have eagerly awaited the tabletop and decorative accents, and it has exceeded my high expectations, in the design influences, materials and creative execution. The collection, filled with casual everyday plates and great gifts, is inspired by de la Renta's Punta Cana home in the  Dominican Republic. Water-inspired blue hues are presented though dip dyed accessories and blue brushstroke details on dinnerware, while the colorful printed tray patterns are taken from archival designs. The classic meets traditional, with a bit of the unexpected thrown in.  These are elegant pieces you have not seen before, but they have a nice familiarity to them without being precious, that make them instantly comforting. 

You may recall ODLR did a flatware and decorative home collection with Lunt several years back. If you had favorite pieces in that collection that you miss, there are some reincarnated designs with similar casual island style appeal. The collection has just gone live on the Oscar de la Renta website, and can also be found on Bloomingdale's website and NeimanMarcus.com.

Photos courtesy of Architectural Digest, David Prince

The January 2013 Architectural Digest revealed the prominently blue and white collection with beautifully set table that mixed the pieces, as seen above.

On the ODLR website, the dash and dot stoneware patterned plates in blue and white are paired with teak wood with silver accents and etched glassware. Showing a serving bowl can double as a centerpiece, they filled the bowl with a monochromatic arrangement of white carnations. Nice touch.

Photo David Prince

AD showed the Dot and Dash indigo pattern octagonal plates stacked against a red and white floral woven damask ODLR fabric for Lee Jofa.

 

Dot and Dash Dinner Plate

Dot and Dash Cocktail Plate Set

 

Brushstroke Dinner Plate

Brushstroke Cocktail Plate Set

Pavilion Stoneware on the indigo Cadiz Marbleized Resin and Laquer trays.

Pavilon Serving Bowl in a vibrant canary yellow.

Photo by David Prince

Pavilion Stoneware in White.

 

Teak Serving Bowl with silver base in a familiar Revere-bowl silhouette.

Teak Cheese Board with turned handles that match the flatware.

Teak Salt Cellars with Horn Spoons can also serve as nut bowls.

Teak turned handle Kent Cheese Service.

Kent Silverplate Flatware in Teak.

Photo by David Prince

Tortuga Flatware of Stainless Steel and Natural Horn that resembles ivory.

As salad servers.

Photo by David Prince

A mix of indigo hemstitch napkins in Ikat Dot and Woodblock patterns on linen.

Photo by David Prince

One of the most impressive aspects of the new collection is this faceted hand-blown glassware with blue rims. They look like crystal.

With an etched heart and branches on bubbled glass, hand-blown Heart Etched Glasses have a charm to them.

Transforming the Julep Cup, a strong geometric Basketweave Silverplate Julep Cup has great style.

Adorable tiny hearts cover the surface of the Heart Julep Cup.

The fish water pitcher has been around for ages, here it has been reinterpreted in a divided blue and white version with a dip dyed striation.

A jumping fish in the same fresh dip dyed coloration on a serving piece.

The cream glazed lidded Shell Crab Server can double as a display piece.

A gorgeous high luster Silver plate Nautilus Shell, Fish Salt Cellars, Scarab object and Tortoise Bottle Opener comprise his assortment of animal-centric silvered accessories.

 An ombre fabric in blues and green is lacquered into a serving tray.

It is refreshing to see a sweet floral since ODLR has always done them so well. The Isabela Tray of lacquered fabric.

 The colorful floral Isabela as a frame.

A jaunty navy blue and white polka dot Ikat Frame comes in the reverse as well.

Fire engine red enamel encases the Sargasso Frame, available in a rectangle design as well.

 

 

 

 

ORCHID MANIA: THE 11th ANNUAL NYBG ORCHID DINNER

Photos courtesy of Patrick McMullen

Designer  Katie Ridder with sponsor Veranda Magazine's Editor in Chief, Dara Caponigro, event Chair.

As one of the standout table setting events of the year, The New York Botanical Garden's Orchid Dinner the week before last amazed and enchanted. The annual event, sponsored by, among others, Veranda and Hearst Corporation, raises funds for the New York institution and marks the start of their Orchid Show, now in it's 11th year. Seeing tables in the Mandarin Oriental ballroom completely transformed and adorned by orchids, over 25 designers and floral artists showcased their talents, channeling the theme, Exotic Inspirations.  Outstanding creations using the delicate flower literally took your breath away. It is one of those moments in time that is so hard to capture on camera, to do it justice. If you looked one way and you saw masses of orchids. If you looked another, you saw the twinkling city lights and cabs racing by 36 floors below.

 If you love orchids,  then a visit to the NYBG Orchid Show is a must.  Rare orchids of every size and color are masterfully displayed in the Enid Haupt Conservatory at The Garden until April 22nd. I plan on making a weekend jaunt up there soon, so expect to see some snaps soon on my @stylebeat twitter and instagram feeds.

Here are some of the design standouts of the evening:

Mark Cunningham's Alex Gaston created a centerpiece with masses of white orchids in a low rounded arrangement. Organic designs from Canvas are at each place setting. Chairs and tablecloth are covered in all white Sunbrella fabrics.

Another look at the orchids, lit from beneath by small votives.

Green and white  looked fresh and classic on the table from Tiffany by Richard Moore White orchids in a round arrangement in a tall white urn are teamed up with a green and white lattice printed fabric.

Digitally printed place mats carry the floral theme forward.

One of my favorite florists, Connie over at Plaza Flowers created an elevated dome of white orchids high enough to stand full-height candelabras below. Pretty amazing.

A flowering tree emerges from the center of Steven Elrod's gorgeous table for Brunschig and Fils.  As if the tree was not enough of a piece de resistance, he added hanging lanterns.

Chairs covered in vibrant red and white pagoda fabric.

Robert Couturier created the most spectacular tree out of orchid stems.

Incroyable.

What fun Sherill Canet had. A tall pagoda studded with orchid blooms held sway amongst a low orchid  surround. Yellow studded mats add a bit of glamour and texture to the table.

Orchids around the base of the pagoda.

Tiny yellow orchids are a welcome sight amidst all the white. A crown of yellow orchids hang above a centerpiece made from hanging blown-glass orbs with floating votives inside.

A detail of the hanging votives. What a great idea. It was stunning.

Lee Cavanaugh for Cullman and Kravis brought the brights of India to the top of the Time Warner building. Paring turquoise, hot pink and orange fabrics, swags of orchids and vases of oranges and lemons the vision enchanted.

Touches of gold complemented the riot of color.

Bamboo branches and hot pink orchids with paper lanterns gave James Rixner for Saint - Louis and Puiforcat a dreamy escapist feeling.

 Puiforcat flatware and red crystal stemware from Saint - Louis are paired with a rich red and gold palette.

Shawn Henderson worked with Baccarat, pairing large crystal vessels and a stark modern white structure that housed potted white orchids.

Hilary Pereira for Christofle created a white peacock centerpiece out of orchids. Wow.

The Flower School of New York in Tudor City created a tight centerpiece of low, brightly colored orchids. Guests of this table got to take home miniature potted orchids. Mine may need to be put on life support soon.

Jeff Lincoln covered his table in Fortuny fabric. Tall rock crystal candlesticks surrounded a white orchid arrangement.

A close up of the juxtaposition of rock crystal and white blooms.

Nicolette Owens had a low, flowing arrangement of pale pinks and yellows. I liked how she added a shimmery bronze sequin tablecloth for a different texture.

Richard Mishaan, recently re-opened his NYC store Homer. He stands by his tropical vision of colored orchids and ikat.

Mishaan told me his table was tropical-meets-Dr Seuss. Agreed! He covered a vase in colored cord trim creating stripes.

Roric Tobin's high arrangement was potted in a stunning tall antique urn.

Vincente Wolf put orchids on display in a bright red birdcage

AND THE MATOUK LOWELL BEDDING WINNER IS...

Thank you for all of your entries for the chance to win Matouk's Lowell bedding. The winner of the Lowell set if Cornelia Dodge. Congratulations, Cornelia!

Be sure to check out their new e-commerce site and get a look at their colorful assortment of lovely high thread count bedding including the cheery Lulu DK collections, bordered linens, vibrant embroidered towels and lively tabletop linens. Their special Massachusetts-made linens are now just a click away.

If you didn't win this set, you still have a chance to win their duvet giveaway on Facebook.

Just Like Matouk on FB and post a photo of your bed onto their wall (or one that you wish was yours) before March 15 and it could be yours!

SWEET INTENTIONS

Photo courtesy of Mark and Graham

With Mark and Graham's glass domed cake stand the medium is the message. Heading into wedding season, the hunt for the perfect gift stops here. Baked goods can now take a starring role on the counter top when placed under the monogrammed cloche and curved pedestal stand. Engrave the lid with a special date, house or last name in a host of monogram choices for a meaningful and thoughtful gift.

THE PERFECT BEDDING GIVEAWAY: MATOUK E-COMMERCE LAUNCH

The winter blues may have you pining for spring, so why not dream of warm days to come in some divine bedding? Matouk, maker of beautiful bedding and bath linens, is launching an e-commerce portion of their website. So now you can shop around the clock for pretty patterned, boldly bordered linens, towels and gifts. In honor of this exciting debut, they are generously offering Stylebeat readers the chance to win a set of their classic banded Lowell Bedding! The value is around $563 depending on the size of your bed, so Happy Birthday to you if you win!  In order to enter, dear stylish ones,  please do the following by March 10th:

1. Like Matouk on Facebook at facebook.com/Matouk.Linens

2.Follow Matouk on Twitter, @Matouk

3. Leave a comment on STYLEBEAT below with your preferred size and color

 Complete the above by Sunday, March 10th at midnight and the winner will be announced on Monday, March 11th. Good luck!

To get even more of a good thing,  Matouk is ALSO doing a custom monogram duvet giveaway on Facebook:
Share a photo on Matouk's Facebook page of a beautifully made up bed for the chance to win a monogrammed Lowell Duvet Cover.  Imagine if you won both, boy, would you be lucky!

 In order to win, complete the following by March 15th, 2013:
Here's what you need to do:

1. Like Matouk on Facebook @ facebook.com/Matouk.Linens
Share a photo of a beautifully made bed on their wall with your bed size, initials, and preferred color.

2. Follow Matouk on Twitter @Matouk
Again, share a photo of a beautifully made bed on their feed with your bed size, initials, and preferred color.

Be sure to follow Matouk and get the scoop! 

TRAY CHIC: WATERCOLOR ARTIST CAILTIN MCGAULEY'S PORCELAIN TRAYS

Illustrator and artist Caitlin McGauley creates watercolors that exude charm. The specific details, colors and mood she captures make her distinctive work instantly recognizable.  Her darling creations have donned the pages of Lonny and the Tory Burch blog, exuding a whimsy and flair for the details. This winter she launched a capsule product collection of porcelain catch-all trays depicting her designs, and there is something for everyone. From a modern graphic chevron pattern in pale hues to a fuchsia backed- Indian ceremonial elephant, her feminine designs make great gifts. Used as a bedside jewelry holder or a place to keep your keys by the front door, her small trays, like a miniature painting, have a variety of uses, and their knock out colors make them hard to resist.

Photos courtesy of Caitlin McGauley

Te Elephant tray

A sharp citrus orange background makes the orchid blooms on The Orchid Tray come alive.

A zig and a zag in her loose, artist's hand-painted style reinterprets the chevron pattern.

Need a spot to hold earrings and assorted baubles? The mint colored tromp L'oeil tray with chunky stone earrings is  a girls best friend.