Free Shipping: Kyoozi

This beautiful pillow from my last post is from Etsy shop Kyoozi. They are offering free shipping to Roost readers from now through November 14, 2010! Just mention Roost in the message box when you check out, and your shipping fee will be refunded.

So many pretty options...

Bed Pillows

My friend Amy has settled her duvet dilemma. She decided on the West Elm Pin-tuck Duvet in the Seaspray colorway... which was actually the first duvet I thought of when she asked for my advice. Excellent choice! And now she needs some pillows. Here are some great combinations:

Top Left:

Celerie Kemble Betwixt Pillow in Spark | Woody Liana

Alphabet Word Pillow | Comfy Heaven

Top Right:

Schumacher Summer Fret Palace Pillow in Smoke | Woody Liana

Schumacher Zenyatta Mondatta Lumbar | Woody Liana

Bottom Left:

P Kaufmann Brissac Jewel Pillow |  Kyoozi

Monogrammed Recycled Felt Applique Pillow |  Alexandra Ferguson

Bottom Right:

Greek Key Pillow in Kelly Green | Willa Skye Home

Love Recycled Felt Applique Pillow |  Alexandra Ferguson

Oh hey, that's me!

I'm featured on 6th Street today, hooray!

Check me out.

Albemarle House

This weekend was great—75 degrees with beautiful leaves everywhere! We took advantage of the weather and went for a long drive in the country to find one of the most expensive homes in the world, Albemarle House.

Albemarle House could not be located in a more beautiful place. It is easy to find—it is situated on a hill just off the James Monroe Parkway, a few minutes past Thomas Jefferson’s Monticello and Monroe’s Ash Lawn-Highland.

Even from a distance, the neo-Georgian manor is impressive. The estate sits on 300 acres and has 45 rooms (only 8 bedrooms), a guest house, vineyard, 18-hole golf course, barn, chapel, and probably a lot more. It was first listed at $100 million, but is currently for sale for $48 million. It is really like an American castle.

 

All photos: Sotheby's International Realty

Duvets

My friend, Amy, asked for some help finding a nice duvet for her master bedroom—she is open to anything, but wants something not too loud but with a little something. She’s having her first baby soon, so I wanted to find something kid-friendly and easy to care for—all of these duvet sets are machine washable. And under $175.

Banded Hemstitch 400-TC Duvet | Pottery Barn King Duvet $169, Standard Sham $29, Euro Sham $39 Sienna Paisley Duvet | Pottery Barn King Duvet $149, Standard Sham $39, Euro Sham $49   Pop Poppy Duvet | Echo Design $129.99 King Duvet, $29.99 Standard Sham, $39.99 Euro Sham Phuket Duvet Set | Michael Kors $123.99 King Duvet + Shams Organic Cotton Pin-tuck Duvet | West Elm King Duvet $119, Standard Sham $19, Euro Sham $24 Organic Imperial Duvet | West Elm King Duvet $99, Standard Sham $19, Euro Sham $24

Gilt Giveaway

I got an email from Rachel at Gilt last night to make sure I spread the word about a fantastic contest they have going on right now. You don't have to have thousands in excess cash lying around to get the look of the Kips Bay Designer Show House for yourself! Gilt is giving away a two-hour consultation with one of the designers and a $1,000 credit to their shop. Vincente Wolf, 2Michaels, or Jennifer Post helping with your home? Sounds amazing!

Enter here before midnight November 4.

Dinnerware

I have really tragic dinnerware. We've been using my husband's basic black stoneware set from his bachelor days, intending to buy something better but never getting around to it. I've never been fond of it, so it's no wonder I'm attracted to its exact opposites-- white or colorful! No dark or earthy tones for me.

 

Kensington Pearl Dinnerware | Crate and Barrel

I love the grosgrain detail around the edges. It's so beautiful in person, as is the pale blue set.

Portsmouth Dinnerware | Crate and Barrel

Emma Dinnerware in White | Pottery Barn

Nantucket Dinnerware | Cost Plus World Market

Lenox Simply Fine Dinnerware, Chirp Collection | Macy's

 Haviland Laque De Chine Collection in Light Blue | Williams-Sonoma Home

 

Raynaud Cristobal Collection | Williams-Sonoma Home

 Natural World Dessert Plates | Anthropologie

I think these are gorgeous... but eating off of bugs? These might be better for a wall than a table.

2010 Kips Bay Show House

The Kips Bay Decorator Show House is an annual fundraiser for New York's Kips Bay Boys & Girls Club, and a big event for NYC designers and enthusiasts. Big-name designers each decorate a room and... wow! My favorite detail is that just about every room has a beautiful ceiling. Here are my favorite rooms:

All photos by Trevor Tondro for New York Times

Kate Ridder

 I love this wallpaper. I also love that she painted the baseboards a different color than the crown molding.

 Ed Ku & Etienne Coffinier

This bathroom is my favorite room in the house. I love the use of plush textiles with the cold stone floors and glossy subway tiles on the walls. The hanging bubbles are so beautiful. And the mirror, the tub, the vanity... you almost miss the exquisite ceiling!

 

Elizabeth Pyne

I love the gold button detail in the settee tufts. The aqua and gold complement the art perfectly, it was meant to be.

 Robert Verdi & Dierdre D'Elia

The variety of textures used in this little nook is amazing. I love the contrast of the white matte rug with the high-gloss black ceiling.

---

Gilt will be selling some pieces from the home during the month of November, if you're interested and have several thousand dollars laying around.

Welly Weather

Fall is supposed to bring rainy weather to Virginia this week. I adore the rain, but I do NOT adore wet feet. And my feet (and pant legs) always seem to get soaked because I insist on wearing ballet flats year round. Time for wellies, I think.

How about these adorable boots from British company Joules? I want all of these:

Posh Welly in Maroon

Marine Stripe Welly

 Grey Floral Welly

Or these, from Chooka:

Posh Dot Rain Boot in Yellow

Peacock City Rain Boot

Gypsy Owl Rain Boot

Or the originals, from Hunter:

Original Tall High Gloss Rain Boot in Violet

Boa Tall Rain Boot in Pewter

Original Tall Rain Boot in Pumpkin

Target also has some pretty cute (and cheap) boots. I’m kind of obsessed with the chevron!

Zetta Tall Rain Boots

Schooled Fish Rain Boots in Navy

Shiny Zig Zag Sporty Rain Boots

 

Halloween

I have to admit... up until this year, I've kind of spaced it on decorating for every holiday except Christmas. But I'm working on that. There are so many fun things to do for Halloween!

Glam

 This party spread is genius. The color scheme could not be better.

Colorful & Crafty

... or my personal favorite

Vintage Haunted