German design or Bust!

We’re always encouraging you to “Shop Your Closet” and make vintage pieces brand new. Interior designer, Julia Aulenbacher, did just that when she started her own product line last year. Her inspiration? Her mother’s Marimekko dresses and different patterns she collected from the 60’s. You can see one of the many vintage inspired patterns on Julia’s new Yellow Leaf Marimekko Dress.


Clos-ette loves a contemporary modern mix with an eclectic edge. With hot summer trends like boyfriend jeans and blazers, Julia’s Bavarian shirts are an awesome way to follow the menswear-inspired craze, while staying cool in the summer. The Bavarian shirt, traditionally worn only by men during Oktober Fest in Julia’s native Germany, can be paired with jeans and flip flops for a cute, loose summer look!


Not only does her line include fabulous clothes, but the furniture is awesome, too! Julia is all about mixing pieces from different periods, cultures and styles. She uses natural materials to create contemporary products and interiors with an eclectic edge. The Bavarian Children’s Chair is an awesome example of Julia’s updated traditional style with modern clean lines. If you need a kid-proof, transportable, yet stylish chair, this is it!


Right now you can order her products through email or over the phone, but they will be available through her website (www.juliaaulenbacher.com) ASAP!!

XOXO
Mara

Sweet Furniture Showroom in NY- Suite New York

With clients like HBO, MOMA, Thompson Hotel Group, Starwood Hotel Group and the list goes on and on..and to many celebs and high profilers to even list, not that we do that anyway ;)

Suite NY is arguably the best and only truly fabulous selection of Contemporary Furniture in New York and with major Residential and Commercial clients across the country their claim to fame is their highly edited showroom, superior customer service and ability to execute and complete big orders quickly!! All this made Suite New York a favorite amongst high-end residential and commercial designers nationwide and even worldwide.

I dig them so much! Their expert team of sales associates specialize in working with architects and designers like myself and they are also so knowledgeable of LEED and greenguard regulations to keep pace with the growing number of green requests and all green projects out there. LA, San Fran, Palo Alto and Seattle readers listen up as we know you eat this up!!!

If you long on to their website you can even Quickship what you want but if you go into the showroom ask for Kris or Alexandra! They are both super fab and I mean you have never worked with nicer or more knowledgeable people.
XOXO
Melanie

The Dry Cleaner

My new favorite Garment care website, talks to you about the reality of getting whites white and tough stains out...
love it!

The Dry cleaner...found him on Twitter!


This is my kind of website. Jerry Pozniak, the author of the blog owns the below high end dry cleaners and tells it like it is!





XOXO
Melanie

I love Betheny Frankel's book....

but I love Betheny bakes gluten free cookies even more!!
Since I have celiacs and even though this is supposed to be a design blog, I decided to run a bit off the beaten path for a subject dear to my heart.

Check out Betheny Frankel's book Naturally Thin...buy it on her website, Bethenny.com.

I think it is a great way to think about your daily diet as a bank account, and she has some fantastic recipes in there.

Also, please check out everything you need to know about a gluten-free diet. Your pass to a cancer free diet---

Did you know more than 40% of all human beings have an allergy to gluten? I was diagnosed right before I started fertility treatments and got pregnant but I had done it long enough before to see the absolute life changing effects. I can wait to get in shape post pregnancy and eat healthier and cleaner.

Sometimes a little wisdom outside the closet necessary...

XOXO

Melanie

The psychology of storing a fancy heeled shoe...

You have finally found the perfect dress shoe for all your upcoming events. You get home after a long day of shopping, take them out of the box, admire them for a moment – applauding yourself once more for your fabulous taste, and then veryyyy carefully put them back into the box or dustbag that they came in and store them in the bottom of your closet until it’s time to wear them.
Now doesn’t that sound silly?! Consider all the time and money you invested into these shoes! Not to mention that you’ll only be showing off your spectacular purchase for a few hours each month during your special occasions! No shoe lasts forever - Why not flaunt these shoes all year round? Conserve the floor space for your boots!
There are plenty of ways to display your shoes while making sure they stay looking brand new. Clos-ette can help you showcase your shoes on you and off!

XOXO
Mara

My Favorite Summer Shoe

They're back in a big way-- Tom's shoes and i just love them. The Madras shoe is beautiful in light blue or reds..great for men and women. They pack well and they're oh so comfortable.
Not to mention, every pair you purchase Tom's will give a pair to a child in need.....don't you just love a shoe with a cause!
Get your Tom's shoes today to be way ahead of the chic curve and on the road to good karma this summer.
XOXO
Melanie

Choosing the right safe...

How to choose the right safe or safety locks for drawers, closets or cabinets?

Our jewelry, precious papers and items need to be secure and although the closet is the right place for them often times people go outside the closet for more security- like their

Safes are something we install into our clients homes all the time. We do several Custom safes, besides the typical Empire safe or the pricey Traum safes which are the daily bread of the high-end residential closet world.




What does a good safe provide?


Bolted steel casing locked against theft, fires and floods.

Decorative and custom interiors can also provide beauty and organization.

Hides well behind beautiful cabinetry or wall space so it is hidden from plain sight.



What does a safe cost?


A behind cabinet safe should cost anywhere from 6k- 40k

Custom and Traum safes start at 25k and can go sky high into even the hundreds of thousands of dollars.


What is a good and less expensive alternative? I have a few.


Fabulous digital wall safes and simple safes sold at hardware stores which aren’t necessarily bolted down, can cost anywhere from between $500- 2000k and these safes can accommodate small amounts of jewelry and papers for safe keeping. Often these safes only lock and they do not protect against fire or flooding.

Bio Locks

Another option which I prefer to use the bio lock as an alternative to the less expensive less secure safe or the super high-end custom safe. I install them on my client’s cabinets or drawers. These locks can be hooked up to a light switch or even your in home security panel and are not visible from the outside of the drawer or cabinet. They are of course less conspicuous than a simple locked drawer but also stronger.



If broken into and hooked up to your alarm system, (most good bio locks hook up to most home security systems) it will set off the alarm. Bio Locks are great alternative to either of the above options and they can fit very easily into most storage and closet designs built out of cabinetry or existing cabinetry.

XOXO
Melanie