Decoder :: Mani-Pedi Polish Duos That Are Meant To Be

I don’t know about you, but by this point in the summer, my hands and feet are looking… less than pretty. After a summer spent tromping around New York City in sandals, getting assaulted by mosquitos every evening, and sadly living without professional mani-pedis, my hands and feet have certainly seen better days. So, when I finally do get around to treating my fingers and toes to some DIY TLC, I make sure to pick a standout nail polish combo that will distract from any less-than-smooth-skin and gnarly cuticles — but, I try to think beyond the classic pale pink/true red combo that I often turned to as a teenager. These days, try to think more in terms of complimentary or contrasting shades; color pairings that make both shades stand out, and manage capture whatever mood I’m feeling at the moment. Click on through to check out a few of my favorite end-of-summer polish combos, plus a few that will carry you straight through the beginning of fall.

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Home Tour :: Alyson Fox

“The listing we found just said ‘VIEW,’” says Alyson Fox of the rustic green hilltop she and her husband (creative director Derek Dollahite) would eventually build their future home on. “There were no pictures or anything. And when we finally drove out here, we knew right away it was special.” The two decided to take a chance and leave central Austin for the small town of Spicewood, about 25 miles outside of town. Together, they designed an incredible Neutra-esque hill country escape that fuses concrete, copper, wood, and glass. The project was truly a family affiar — Fox’s brother-in-law served as general contractor and together, the three creatives built the house from the ground up. With massive glass windows and an open floor plan, the home they built serves as a place of creative inspiration that quietly celebrates that most important aspect — the view.

photographed by jessica pages

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Office Style :: Jan Showers Design

It seems as if every corner of famed interior designer Jan Showers’ Dallas headquarters is dripping in glamour. The stylish, memorable spaces that Showers and her team create have been featured everywhere from Architectural Digest to ELLE Decor, so we couldn’t wait to tour their beyond chic Design District headquarters. We gathered tips on styling bar carts, credenzas and coffee tables (oh my!), swooned over their travel tales of antique hunting through Paris and Venice and joined in the fun with three Jan Showers girls who have found great friendships at work.

photography by kelly christine

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Entertaining With :: Rebecca Finell

If you (or any of your friends) have children, you’ve most likely been in a room with one of Rebecca Finell’s designs. The iconic green grass drying rack she created is on the windowsill of practically every new mom we know. Rebecca’s already built and sold her first product company, Boon, and after taking a year off to spend time with family, the smart designer is back with a bang: allow us to introduce you to Finell, Rebecca’s insanely gorgeous lifestyle brand. Featuring tabletop, serving pieces, decor, and even handbags, the entire line is pretty much our neo luxe dream come true. Rebecca and her talented team at Finell invited us over for dinner, to show us how these products function just as beautifully as they were designed.

photographed by kate lesueur

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Decoder :: The Best End of Summer Scents

August can leave us ladies in quite a pickle: on one hand, fragrance can be a lovely reprieve from inevitable ripeness of our sweatier, stickier state. On the other, the last thing we need is to overwhelm our senses even more with a too-strong fragrance. As someone who has a love-hate relationship with summer (I love beach days and cool breezes at night; I hate the daily battle with city humidity and rabid mosquitoes), I’ve made it my mission to seek out fresh fragrances that last and won’t add to my state of warm-weather distress. Click through my list of hot weather picks — whether you’re a perfume lover or hater, I bet you’ll find a scent you love right this way.

featured image and backgrounds found via pinterest

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How to :: Organize Your Closet

Three months ago my closet was a mess — and when I say a mess, I mean I had to call in the professionals. With a little help from Jill Siegel and Peter Stafford of California Closets, I was able to transform the scariest room in my house into a place of inspiration. Getting ready in the morning — what was once a truly dreadful task — is now a relaxing and creative experience. It was an incredibly fun process, and along the way I learned a few great tips from Jill and Peter that anyone can apply to their current closet situation, no matter the budget. Read on for some solid tips on organization, and to see my dramatic closet transformation in action:

photos by Chad Wadsworth and Jennifer Rose Smith

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How to :: Setup the Perfect Bagel Bar

The build-your-own bagel bar at our bachelorette brunch from this morning was such a major hit, I wondered why I hadn’t done this setup at countless gatherings before. It couldn’t have been simpler to put together, required zero cooking time (a major plus when the weather’s as hot as it is in Austin right now), and apparently, everyone loves bagels. There are even loads of gluten-free versions on the market for your guests that opt for a GF diet. Keep reading for a few tips on making your bagel bar feel special enough for a party while keeping it effortless on the host.

1. Bagels should be as fresh as possible. Pick them up on the morning of the party from a spot that you know makes them fresh daily. Get a variety: I opted for plain, everything, and cinnamon raisin to please all palates. You can certainly go for the full-sized bagels, but I loved how our mini versions let people try a variety of different topping combinations.


2. Toast them just before serving. I split bagels and placed them cut side up on a sheet pan under the broiler for about a minute just before serving. You want them lightly toasted — make sure to keep an eye on them under the broiler so you don’t end up with blackened bagels.


3. Go crazy with toppings. Here are the accompaniments that I set out on our bar:

• a variety of cream cheese: plain, herbed and strawberry are popular choices


• sliced heirloom tomatoes


• capers


• cucumbers and radishes, sliced thinly (I used a mandoline)


• red onion, sliced thinly


• smoked salmon


• fresh herbs, like dill, chives, and basil


• lemon wedges


• coarse sea salt, like maldon (I sprinkled this over all the vegetables on the serving platter, too)

Most importantly, have fun with it! This is a party menu that requires zero kitchen skills, so just buy great ingredients and go to town with styling a pretty buffet setup using a big cutting board and mismatched bowls and platters. Set out the mimosas and maybe a fruit salad, and you’ve got all the makings for the ultimate brunch.

*photos by Wynn Myers

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Pretty Simple :: The Subtle Shimmer

Don’t you just love it when a new eyeshadow or lipstick completely shakes up your makeup routine? Martha Lynn here, and I must confess that as a makeup artist even I can get in a product rut. We all need our go-to “five minute face”, but it’s good to try and stay open-minded to new products, too. You never know — you might find a game changer. These eye shadows from Estée Lauder were just that for me! I love that they have a subtle shimmer without feeling over the top and the shades play well with the florals that we are seeing everywhere this season. They’re perfect for creating a pretty nighttime look that isn’t too heavy for summer. You can dampen your makeup brush if you want the colors to be more vibrant but I’m loving the soft pastel look we created today on Lander:

1. Using a wider eye liner brush like the one in this kit, smudge a dark charcoal gray color like “Cyber Metallic” along the upper lash line.


2. Cover the remainder of the lid with a pale shimmery pink like “Cyber Pink” and then focus a shimmery purple like “Cyber Lilac” towards the corners of the eye and in the crease. (Tip: Blending is your friend here and since the colors all compliment each so well. Feel free to blend away!)


3. Focus a peachy pink color on the apples of your cheek to compliment the purples in the eye shadow.


4. Give yourself two coats of mascara allowing the first coat a chance to dry a little before adding the second coat — I like Dior Show for tons of drama.


5. Finish with your favorite pink lipgloss!

• Eye Shadows // Estée Lauder Pure Color Gelee Powder Eye Shadow in Cyber Pink, Cyber Metallic and Cyber Lilac


• Lipgloss // MAC Tinted Lipglass in “Prrr”


• Blush // MAC Powder Blush in Peachy Keen


• Brush Kit // Aerin


• Not pictured // Dior Show Mascara

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Bottoms Up :: Watermelon Sangria

Every year, I always seem to end up with one signature drink of summer that I master and then make for just about every party of the season. It usually has a few defining qualities: a propensity to be made in large batches, requires only a handful of easy-to-find ingredients, and at least a little fruitiness. This summer, watermelon sangria is my jam. I’ve long known that sangria (of any kind) is the go-to drink for savvy hostesses everywhere: mix up a huge batch the night before, then chill it and forget it while the fruit infuses everything with sweetness and flavor that gets even more delicious the longer it soaks. In this version, I found a way to use up all the watermelon that I can’t resist buying when it’s ripe at the farmer’s market. Keep reading for the recipe…

Watermelon Sangria

*serves 8

• 2 bottles rosé


• 1/2 seedless watermelon cut into 2″ chunks with skin still attached


• 1 bunch fresh mint


• 1 bottle moscato d’asti


• agave syrup, to taste


• for serving: watermelon balls and fresh mint sprigs

1. Combine rosé, chunks of watermelon, and fresh mint in a large pitcher or punch bowl. Refrigerate for at least 4 hours (even better overnight!)


2. Chill glasses in the freezer. Spread watermelon balls into an even layer on a plate freeze. (These will be your “ice cubes.”)


3. Just before serving, add 1 bottle moscato d’asti and a big squeeze of agave. Stir everything together.


4. Remove chilled glasses from the freezer, add a couple balls of frozen watermelon and mint sprigs to each glass, and pour sangria over.

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Dream Job :: Art Curator at Wythe Hotel

When we think of “hotel artwork,” most of us can’t help but imagine mass-produced abstract prints in poor color choices, or large-scale, arbitrary stock photography (insert sad face). But at Brooklyn’s Wythe Hotel, that’s not nearly the case; instead, each and every piece of artwork you’ll see has been carefully and intentionally selected to bolster the room or hallway in which is resides… and since the building is a renovated factory from 1901, there’s no shortage of history and industrial inspiration. Of course, curated art collections aren’t born overnight, so when Kimia Ferdowsi Kline — the mastermind behind the it all — landed on my radar, I knew she’d be the perfect subject for this month’s Dream Job installment. We sat down with the art curator and visual artist to talk making it in the art world, taking inspiration from your environment and balancing personal passions with work…

Photos by Belathée’s photography

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