Sophisticated Black and Whites!

We are loving this current trend of mixing and matching black and white patterns. Classic black and white is always in style and lends a touch of sophistication to any space.

Below you'll find our award-winning Stockholm collection (NY NOW - 2014 Best New Product), which features fun geometric patterns inspired by 1960s Scandinavia. These versatile pieces are a perfect addition to any contemporary kitchen, and can also double as a chic organization solution for the office or bathroom!

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Dining Al Fresco!

Now that summer is here, it’s time to take advantage of the balmy weather and spend as much time as we can outside—including mealtime.

If you have a beautiful garden or deck space, these are the first spaces you should go for dining al fresco.

If you don’t, seek out a nearby green space. Neighborhood parks and arboretums are great options. Here in Seattle, some of my favorite spaces are Gasworks Park

  and The Japanese Gardens.

Another place you might consider for a picnic is your local college campus. Universities often maintain gorgeous green spaces. Summertime, when most students have left and campus is quiet and empty, is the ideal moment to enjoy these beautiful public spaces.

This is Seattle’s gorgeous University of Washington campus:

When mid summer hits, it’s broiling hot, and the last thing you want to do is turn on the oven or stove, consider making meals that require just a little bit of assembly.

At home, make a big salad with seasonal vegetables like tomatoes, peas, cucumbers, carrots, and green onions. At your favorite deli or market, buy a roast chicken or some good quality cold cuts.

To complete the menu, pre-make iced tea. Set aside some of the brew and freeze it into iced tea ice cubes, which you can add to the pitcher when you’re ready to enjoy the drink with your meal.

 Or, make Sangria with seasonal fruit for a refreshing option that’s a little more festive.

Now, you have a complete, low-stress, easy meal to take outside.

Enjoy. And don’t forget the sunscreen! 

Best,

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Girls' Night In!

Sometimes, the perfect way to have fun and feel connected with your girlfriends is to have a girls’ night in.

Instead of putting on your favorite outfit, settle in together to watch your favorite chick flick (or TV show…my girlfriends and I adore Downtown Abbey).

Instead of gourmet cocktails, set out an array gourmet food women love—great quality red, white, or sparkling wine accompanied by delicious crackers and rich cheeses and a big, fresh salad followed by very special chocolate and fruit at the peak of the season.

Rather than wine, you could also pick one fun cocktail to prepare for the group. In the summer, I love bellinis—fresh peach puree mixed with champagne—and in the winter I savor expertly made hot toddies—with good cognac, cloves, cinnamon, and a lemon rind.

I love the way an intimate home setting and small number of friends gives rise to higher quality conversation and deeper connections. Next time you’re planning a get together with your nearest and dearest, instead of going out, consider staying in.

Rosanna products featured in this post: Savour Collection

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Table Wear: Voyage

We have so much fun developing our Voyage collection that we expand on it every season. Rosanna personally collects old labels and vintage ephemera from Paris and other parts of Europe, as well as bits of vintage Americana that we assemble into porcelain trays of various shapes and sizes. 

If Voyage were a room, we imagine it would contain found items from a long life of travels, along with vintage furnishings for an eclectic and perfectly aged look. Every piece would have a story to tell that can be passed down to future generations, just like the trays themselves.

art | chair | lamp | rug | trunks | pillow | bar cart

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Mix 'n Match Tablesettings

Mixing and matching plates and patterns is a fun way to change up the dinner table and surprise your guests with an imaginative tabletop. Here we've combined our Rue du Bac dinner plates, Arabesque salad plates, Luxe Moderne appetizer plates, and Portico tidbit dishes along with our pearlized champagne Napoleon flatware. 

You can stick with a color story like we did above with blue-greens, greys and gold, or go with a theme like tropical or floral. Mixing in solid colored pieces and a few neutrals really helps to balance things out as well.

If you like this idea, be sure to take a photo and send it our way! Find more tabletop inspiration on our Pinterest page.

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Making Guests Feel Welcome

When guests come, either for an evening or a longer visit, one of the most gracious things you can do is make them feel welcome and special when they arrive.

There are a few simple yet thoughtful preparations that create a warm atmosphere especially for your guests.

First, have music playing when guests arrive. If you don’t have time to curate a custom playlist, use one of my two favorite music concierge sites—Pandora or Songza.

If it’s dark outside, have the candles lit.

Tip: If you have beautiful drinking glasses you love, show them off as votive holders. Instead of lighting loose candles inside, use tea lights that come in their own holders. There’s no mess, and a gorgeous effect.

If you’re having overnight guests, prepare the guest bathroom with hand towels and larger bath towels, as well as fresh flowers, new soap, and a few simple bathroom amenities your guests may not have brought with them, like Q-tips and cotton balls. 

If guests are coming for a meal, have the table set when they arrive. Also, lay out appetizers or treats appropriate for the time of day.

The truth about entertaining is that it’s a lot like setting a stage for a performance. The more welcome and honored guests feel, the easier and happier the mood of their visit will be.

Rosanna Products Featured in this Post: Luxe Moderne Double Old-Fashioneds, Luxe Moderne Small Trophy Bowl, Alhambra Medium and Small Vessels, Flashcards Mini Tray- La Lune, Savour Fromage Tray, Savour Olives Bowl, Savour Salsa Bowl

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