Pretty picks for the home in silvery blues and greys.

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1. Curtis Jere Urchin Wall Sculpture {Contact Dealer for price} | 2. Palace glasses $22 | 3. Agate plates and coasters $59-$65 | 4. Dotted Trellis Charcoal Pillow $62 | 5. Distressed European Wall clock $59 | 6. Beetle Oval Platter $225 | 7. Oversized Zinc Letters $98 | 8. Faux Fur Throws $99 {This is amazingly soft and cozy. I was lucky enough to receive this last xmas} Sold out online from Pottery Barn sorry! check PB later, they carry them every year | 9. Black Orchid Pitcher $195 | 10. Cire Trudon candles $75 Click here for retailers {and for a tour of the stunning new NYC Store click here} | 11. High Neck Vase $36 | 12. Ittalia Toikka Ruby Glass bird $170 | 13. Sly fox doorknocker $24 | 14. Pyrite heart $52 | 15. Snow globe $25

{Clockwise Left to Right:} Natural Wonder Entertaining Guide by Belle Magazine {1-2}, Domino, Martha Stewart Living

Amber tabletop {above} from Vogue Living, photo by Maree Homer. Pretty items {below} to use as tabletop accents: I’m loving woodland style mixed with metallics.

{Clockwise Left to Right:} Tree glasses, Enchanted Buck measuring cups, Bacchius serving stand, Festive Quail friends, Velvet pumpkins, Dorata Gold leaf dishes, Sun tipped serveware, Nishat Gardens Placemat, Encased Astor Coupe Glass, Totem pole candles, Metallic Garland, Fox Letterpress coasters from Sesame Letterpress {these would make great placecard holders or favors to take home for guests. I used these at my wedding as coasters/favors.}

{Clockwise Left to Right:} Dorata Serving Bowl with Gold Leaves, Harvest Entertaining Platters, November tabletop by Design Within Reach, Metallic Leaf Dessert Plates

Last weekend we needed a break from the city, so we set our sites on the Hudson valley. After some unsuccessful attempts at finding an available hotel, we rented a house in Gallatin, New York just outside of Red Hook.

Brooklyn owners Eric & Danny have created the perfect woodsy escape with comfort & style. We loved hearing the wind through the trees, seeing the stars at night from the deck’s hot tub, heated floors throughout, browsing the slick coffee table books, staring out the picture windows, and the bonus washer/dryer.

The 2 bedroom house is filled with distinct personal touches and unusual finds, and we particularly loved the little collections of things scattered here and there.

We checked out the town of Red Hook on our first stop of the day and browsed in a sweet little shop called Tivoli Mercantile. Next up, we followed Route 9 South to Rhinebeck. Pretty storefronts and restaurants line the streets of this charming town like Arielle and Le Petit Bistro.

There were a few must see stores including Wing and Clover that is both a storefront and workshop space offering a variety of classes.

Paper Trail has an array of pretty paper goods and gifts

We grabbed a bite for lunch at Terrapin bistro

Vanderbilt Mansion and National park is just south of Rhinebeck so we decided to take a drive and tour the house and grounds. It was a really interesting look into the lifestyle during the Gilded Age of America and the Vanderbilt family history.

The views alone of the Hudson river are worth seeing.

In the late afternoon we drove north to Hudson, and cruised along Warren Street to check out all the antique and home decor shops with too many favorites to count.

I loved Hudson Supermarket for its varieties of dealers, and in particular the section curated by Stephanie Lloyd. Vintage French & German seed sacks sewn into pillows and upholstered on French furniture were the highlights. I have a soft spot for chaises, and I loved this linen striped version.  On one of the tables, I spotted a book from the 50′s called Mon Amie Jennie about a French cat and was tempted to buy it since I am called Jennie by my family.

As nightfall arrived and the shops closed, we walked to Baba Louie’s and grabbed one of their famous pizzas for dinner and headed back to our house in the woods.

We lucked out with perfect weather all weekend: sunny and crisp during the daytime and cool nights prime for sleeping. On our last day we visited a barn in Red Hook filled with antiques {or mostly junk I would say} and headed to Poet’s Walk in Red Hook.

It is said to have inspired Washington Irving’s famous story Rip Van Winkle with two miles of trails through woods and open fields with vistas overlooking the Hudson

Off to the right of the entrance trail is a wagon with fresh flowers that you can drop $5 into and choose a bouquet.

After our walk we headed to look around the small town of Tivoli and stopped by the Madalin hotel. We caught it in the middle of a sleepy afternoon with not much going on so after a brief stroll, we left and saw the new Woody Allen movie at Upstate Films just in time for the late afternoon show.

We ended the trip with the perfect dinner at Mercato in Red Hook. Generally, reservations are necessary, but I think since it was Halloween, we got lucky and were seated right away. We shared shrimp scampi over lemon risotto and fresh rigatoni with tomato and basil and finished up with “Francesco’s fabulous tiramisu” and a glass of Moscato dessert wine.

All photos and written content by Luster©2010

{La Petite carved sofa, velvet ottoman}

Velvet is always popular in the winter time with its luxe sheen and plush feel. How nice it would be to come home to one of these velvet beauties after a long day…

{1. Holloway sofa, 2. Mayfair ottoman, 3. Hutton Sofa,  4. Meadow Blues chair, 5. Nate Berkus studio sofa}

1. Orleans velvet sofa, 2. Vintage French Chair, 3. Lucy Bench,  4. Clinton sofa, 5. Swag velvet chaise, 6. Grey chaise, 7. Napoleon armchair}

“Max’s Kansas City was the exact place where pop art and pop life came together in New York in the 60’s.” – Andy Warhol

Andrea Feldman in front of Max’s  |  photo by Anton Perich

I finally got a chance to check out the Max’s Kansas City show at Steven Kasher Gallery that coincides with the book release by Abrams: “Max’s Kansas City: Art, Glamour, Rock and Roll.” The show is a well rounded collection of photographs and original art curated by Steven Kasher.

Paul Morrissey, Andy Warhol, Janis Joplin, and Tim Buckley  |  photo by Elliott Landy

Opened by Mickey Ruskin in 1965 at 213 Park Avenue South, Max’s Kansas City was a restaurant/nightclub in its heydey of the 6o’s and 70′s. The front room was the bar/restaurant, upstairs you could catch live shows by Iggy Pop, Blondie and the Velvet Underground. The famous back room became a VIP hangout with Andy Warhol as king of the court and with no rules other than you had to be fabulous.

{Clockwise Left to Right}: Mick Jagger, Bruce Springsteen, model Bebe Buell (Liv Tyler’s mother) with an unidentified woman, and David Bowie

Debbie Harry  |  photo by Nicky L

{Top}: James Williamson, Iggy Pop, Lou Reed  |  photo by Danny Fields  {Bottom}: Eric Emerson & Nico  |  photo by Anton Perich

One of the best features in the show is a jukebox at the front of the gallery with a selection of tunes that were playing in the original jukebox at Max’s.

Here is a playlist I put together from some of the songs playing when I visited.

“Max’s Kansas City” is on display until October 16th at Steven Kasher Gallery, 521 West 23rd Street, NYC. To read more about Max’s, check out this website which re-creates the experience of Max’s.

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of the many things that get me through the week, ginger is high up on the list. my 2 favorite ginger treats are bruce cost’s ginger ale, and brooklyn made ginger syrup by morris kitchen. the ginger syrup can be used to make your own ginger ale or any recipes you fancy.

celestial galaxy trendspotting in fashion and home. clockwise from left to right: pyrite paperweight, dress by Mara Hoffman, egg nightlight by J Schatz via a cup of jo, rings by dara ettinger, vena cava shorts, celestial coasters

hello! welcome to luster.

my long term goal of authoring a blog has arrived, and i am finally forcing myself to find time during my busy days to share the all the inspiring things that i find in my life and travels. the name luster is an homage to my love of all things metallic shiny and pretty, and everything else that captures my fascination and has its own luster.

my passions are design, lifestyle, fashion, travel, home decor, city guides and sharing beautiful finds that i will be posting daily. i would love to hear from you if you have any questions or comments.

thank you for reading! xo

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