Bonjour! We are very excited to introduce our first Indoor/ Outdoor Collection!

The Île de Ré Collection is inspired by the island on France’s Atlantic Coast which is almost caught in time. The island is dotted with authentically charming villages which are all best discovered by biking through the salty breeze. There is a slow rhythm on Île de Ré, and our new outdoor fabrics capture the essence of days exploring wide beaches in the late afternoon summer light.

On a practical note, our indoor outdoor fabrics are not solution dyed acrylic, but rather polyester and polypropylene blends that pass Oeko-tex 100 Standard and the European high standard Greenguard. These fabrics are recyclable, antibacterial, anti-mold, and anallergic. The fabrics are easy to wash, quick drying, resistant to sea water and chlorine, lightfast, and water repellent.

Each fabric is named for a favorite village dotting the seascape on Île de Ré.

Les Portes is a painterly indoor/ outdoor design inspired by the quiet beach haven at the tip of the island.

St. Martin is an indoor/outdoor geometric design inspired by the winding alleés of this fortified port village on Île de Ré which was recently named to UNESCO’s list of World Heritage sites.

Loix is an indoor/outdoor natural stripe named for the village on Île de Ré known for its authentic charm and salt marshes.

La Couarde is an indoor/ outdoor texture named for one of our favorite villages on Île de Ré with pine lines bike paths and a beautiful cathedral at its center.

Le Bois is an indoor/ outdoor tactile texture offered in five colors reminiscent of the wide beaches and white washed cottages on Île de Ré.

Spring arrived a little early this season! À plage!

This season, the CASTEL collections, including standout selections from Güell Lamadrid and Les Créations de la Maison, brings together tightly-edited textiles that reflect the CASTEL ethos: rich color palettes, neutral sheers in soft finishes, sustainability - and a nod to CASTEL’s European heritage.
Les Création’s collection is inspired by the natural landscape of Comporta in Portugal. Güell LaMadrid’s collection focuses on Japanese art and culture. Castel rounds out the season’s offerings with three new Luxury Performance fabrics named for our favorite Procençal villages.

Galé is an elegant, large scale print on 100% linen inspired by the natural and wild landscape of Comporta.

Comporta is a heavy twill stripe inspired by the casually chic Portuguese coast.

Aberta is a geometric chenille jacquard inspired by hand knit Hungarian blankets. Available in a single, distinctive color way. 

Sagres is a double width, 100% linen herringbone stripe. Sagres is a vertical stripe, but can be railroaded. Perfect for bedding and window treatments. 

Mara and Siana, inspired by the Serengeti, are double width, 100% linen patterned and striéd sheers.

Linden is a sustainable recycled cotton jacquard woven in a flowing design reminiscent of delicate linden tree leaves. 

Baobab is a sturdy cotton and wool blend woven in a striking large pattern inspired by the landscape of Northern Africa.

Nere is a hardy irregular stripe woven in three colors coordinating to Baobab.

Komorebi is an elegant velvet geometric woven in a lattice pattern. Offered in 5 colors coordinating with the Kanji print.

Ukiyo is a fine 100% cotton geometric woven offered in six colors. 

Azem is a chenille jacquard woven in a basket weave design. Azem is available in six rich and versatile colors. 

Omeyas is a chevron pattern flat woven stripe. Omeyas is offered in six colors that pair beautifully with the Azem chenille.

Avignon, from our Luxury Performance Collection treated with FibreGuard, is a plush and soft velvet  offered in 15 colors inspired by the Provencal countryside.

Aix, also from our Luxury Performance Collection treated with FibreGuard, is a smart herringbone design named for the Provencal City of a Thousand Fountains.

Arles, named for the Provençal village with colorful winding alleys, is a chenille from our Luxury Performance Collection treated with FibreGuard.

All of the new collections are available now at our New York Flagship showroom and our national showroom partners. All fabrics and samples are in stock and ready to ship.You may view the collections here. Voilà!

Our new Aegea Collection is inspired by the crystalline sea, the bursting fuchsia of bougainvillea, the tonality of stucco and stones, and the bohemian energy of the islands dotting the Greek Aegean coast.

Aegea is a large scale linen and jute geometric embroidery inspired by the shapes and colors of the Greek islands and sea.

Paros is a jacquard woven stripe offered in five colors inspired by the swimming coves and villages of the eponymous Cycladic island.

Milos is a performance fabric treated with Fibreguard. Milos is both durable and beautiful offered in eleven colors inspired by the Aegean island’s natural seascape.

Zorba is a super soft bouclé made of recycled fibers. This sustainable fabric is perfect for upholstery and decadent pillows and accessories.

Tailak by Güell LaMadrid is a bold and bohemian linen and cotton ikat.

Also from Güell LaMadrid is Eve, a double width sheer made of vibrant sustainable recycled fibers offered in 15 colors inspired by Mediterranean coast. Eve is offered in 15 colors.

Vento by Les Créations de la Maison is a breezy double width 100% linen sheer loomed by the finest Italian mill offered in six colors.

Spring and summer are ready for these island inspired designs, textures, sheers, and warm colors.

Bon Été!

This season, the CASTEL collection, including standout selections from Güell Lamadrid and Les Créations de la Maison, brings together tightly-edited textiles that reflect the core of the CASTEL ethos: rich color palettes, neutral sheers in soft finishes, classic stripes, sustainability - and a nod or two to CASTEL’s European heritage. All of the featured textiles are both luxurious and livable, with intricacies in the construction and details of each that make this collection unmistakably CASTEL.

Cetara is an intricate cotton and linen print named for the cliffside town set against the dramatic landscape of the Amalfi Coast. Cetara has a half drop, full width repeat.
Available in three colors. 

Corduroy is a hearty yet soft fabric in rich jewel tones and gentle neutrals. Corduroy has a quarter inch wale, and is perfect for performance applications.
Available in 10 colors.

Fitzgerald is an undeniably sophisticated - if not entirely formal - satin stripe. This fabric is a modern twist on a classic stripe that is playful yet chic.
Available in five colors.

Last Stripe features dimensional, embroidered stripes on a relaxed linen background. The unique construction and double width makes this perfect for drapery.
Available in five colors.

Grand Rayure is a sturdy, coastal vertical stripe inspired by the French Riviera.
Made of sustainable and recycled natural fibers.
Available in four colors. 

A fall scene in Connecticut featuring warm Corduroy, crisp Grand Rayure stripe, and Level sheer drapery.

Brescia is a double width linen sheer made from delicate bouclé yarns that are gently woven together to create an elegant transparency.
Available in five colors.

Lautrec is a super soft and lustrous chenille that brings a note of glamorous texture in glimmering colors. Lautrec is also highly-durable and perfect for upholstery.
Available in 10 colors.

Marguerite is the perfect performance velvet: beautiful and tough. Highly resilient and durable, Marguerite is ready for all upholstery applications and can stand up to daily use.
Available in 12 colors.

Astrid is the perfect linen velvet in saturated colors that evoke a quiet luxury. The versatile texture can range from upholstery and pillows to drapery.
Available in seven colors.

Clara is an understated, chic printed cotton designed to anchor upholstery and drapery applications, contrasting beautifully with more whimsical prints and textures.
Available in eight colors.

Voilá! The new collection is available at our Castel New York City flagship showroom as well as at all of our representative showrooms and on our website.

The Bakuba Collection pays homage to the incredible Kuba cloths and colorful dyes created by the hands of artists of the 17th Century African Kuba Kingdom.

Bakuba is an embroidered linen inspired by the incredible Kuba cloths and textures created by the hands of artists in the Kuba Kingdom of central Africa. Our homage to these historic textiles comes in three earthen colors.

Teke is a faux raffia basket weave. Take is backed and ready for headboards, banquettes, wrapped panels, and natural inspired accessories.

Savanna is a luxe velvet with a color palette inspired by the colors of the grasslands of the African savanna. This durable velvet has a low pile which makes it ideal for sectionals and upholstery projects.

Tukula is named for the beautiful textured boxes that the Kuba people used for gifts and holding their textile dyes. Tukula is a handsome and durable texture ideal for upholstery and accessories.

Kasai, named for a river in the Kuba Kingdom in Africa, is a wool sateen in colors of water and rich soil. Kasai is suited for flowing drapery as well as upholstery.

Sankuru, named for a region in the Kuba Kingdom in central Africa, is a bouclé texture offered in six earthen colors ideal for upholstery and accessories.

The Bakuba Collection is available in all Castel and representative showrooms as well as on our website.

We have noticed over the last few months, that our interior designers have been asking for more color than usual. We think everyone is craving signs of living color!
So, we are excited to announce our very colorful new collection: San Miguel.

The San Miguel de Allende collection is inspired by the lively and artistic colonial city in Mexico. This colorful collection is woven together like a tapestry featuring a hand loomed embroidery, a bouclé reminiscent of cobbled streets, and a rich and color saturated texture.

The señor of the collection is its namesake, San Miguel. This geometric textile is hand loomed in India by one of the most creative mills. We are offering one color way in this fabric as we feel it captures the flavor of the city perfectly.

Zócalo is named for the colorful town plaza in San Miguel. Zócalo is a durable woven with a soft hand and rich color saturation perfect for upholstery, drapery, and accessories.

Correo is a nubby bouclé named for a beautifully hidden cobbled street in San Miguel. This fabric is heavy and rich with understated colors, perfect for upholstery or luxe pillows.

Come take the colorful trip to sunny Mexico with us...Olé!

Our new Izu Collection is inspired by the Japanese coast. The Izu peninsula is known for its crystalline beaches, views of Mount Fuji, hidden ryokan inns, and natural onsen hot springs.

Izu is the namesake of this collection. The very first print in the Castel line, this design depicts the Japanese coast, maple leaves, and Mount Fuji.

Atami is an exquisite bouclé made of the finest French wool and alpaca, named for the Japanese coastal village known for beautiful natural hot springs.  

Inspired by the glorious Shimoda Park, this woven fabric’s colors are reminiscent of the over 1000 colors of hydrangeas that grow in this coastal Japanese park.

Tomori is a woven chenille geometric offered in five natural colors reminiscent of intricate Japanese roof tiles.

Looking for a little zen? All samples and fabrics are in stock and shipping. Arigato!

A little over a month ago, Castel opened its very first flagship showroom in the D+D Building in New York. We threw a Spanish fiesta in honor of our new partners, Guell La Madrid and Les Creations de la Maison, hailing from Barcelona complete with amazing tapas, Spanish guitar, and flowing vino tinto!

Alvaro LaMadrid of Grupo LaMadrid, Toni Espuch of Azul Tierra, Borja La Madrid of Grupo LaMadrid, Stephane Silverman of Castel, Dennis Scully of Castel, and Laura Silverman of Castel

Thank you to all who attended, especially the over two dozen magazine editors and scads of clients who turned out in high style. There is nothing a like a gorgeous showroom packed with New York's design elite to get the fall season off with a bang!

Robert Rufino, Christina Juarez, Dennis Scully, and Raymond Paul Schneider

We wanted to share some photos with you.

Lorraine Lang of Stark enjoying the Spanish tapas created by Zahra Tangorra Catering.

Janice Langrall and Michael Boodro

Kim Trepanier, Billy Fisher, Lauren Parrelli, Dennis Scully, Katy Olson, and Melissa Studach of Business of Home

Kaitlyn Peterson of Business of Home wearing a gorgeous dress made of Castel's Souk embroidery!

Randi MacColl, Jean Brownhill, Liz Nightingale, Jonathan Arnold, Alyssa Abrams, and Isabelle Harrington

Spanish guitar by Carlos kept the evening on theme

Toni Espuch with Clara Matignon, our new sales pro, and Borja LaMadrid

Bella Mancini, Dennis Scully, and Sarah Boyd

Spanish Sherry party favors to keep the party going at home!

Voila and Vamos!

All photos by Kevin Lau for Business of Home

The biggest news around here is that we just opened our very first New York flagship showroom in the D+D Building at 979 Third Avenue! We are beyond excited. This has been a labor of love, and our expectations of this beautiful space have been far surpassed.

We have teamed up with long time friends and partners from Barcelona, Grupo LaMadrid, to realize this dream. Castel is now the exclusive distributors of these two fine textile brands: Guell LaMadrid and Les Creations de la Maison.

We worked with the Barcelona based design team Azul Tierra to create a space that reflects our European roots while firmly planted in New York. All of the furnishings and fixtures were imported from Spain. The feeling is vintage and refined, like a modern atelier.

This showroom reflects our French flair matched with our Spanish partner's heritage. You will find Castel's beautifully curated and colorful collection of textures, patterns, embroideries and plains. You will be introduced to Les Creations de la Maison's line of bespoke neutrals, sheers, and linens that have a distinctively sophisticated appeal. And you will be blown away by the colors, patterns, and large scale prints of Guell la Madrid. Oui! and Olé

If we do say so ourselves, the showroom is truly unique. We can't wait for you to come and see!

The anticipation of warmth and spring made the launch of our new spring collection even more sweet. Our spring collection is a cohesive mix of Moroccan inspired designs, Belgian linens, Italian jacquards, and a Parisian velvet. Basically everything we love in one boho luxurious package.

The star of this collection is Souk, a 100% linen jute embroidery inspired by the colorful markets of Marrakech. This design is one that will stop you in your tracks. The colors are spicy and warm just like the raucous and exciting markets of Morocco.

Castel is named for the small village in the South of France called Castellaras where we have a family house. It sits up on a hill overlooking the Mediterranean where there is a glorious view of Mougins. Bougainvillea draped Mougins is a neighboring village perched in a spiral surrounded by parasol pines looking like a Cézanne painting. The village is known for being home to many artists and galleries. This colorful enclave is the inspiration for our latest ikat stripe chenille jacquard.

Plume is an Italian jacquard with the perfect medium sized scale. We love understated designs like this one. The hand is brushed, and luxurious. No flash, just the utmost of quality and simplicity.

Bruges is a performance linen inspired by the eponymous city in Belgium. This linen is tough as nails, but residential in color and style. This is one that should be in every designer's toolbox.

Dumonet is a uber luxe cotton velvet reminiscent of the banquettes of our favorite Parisian bistro, Chez Dumonet. 12 luscious colors that are almost as rich as the Grand Marnier soufflé at Chez Dumonet!

The collection is available now in all of its colorful glory. We have samples, stock, and are ready to show you! Let us know if you would like a visit. We often travel with rosé this time of year.

Top ten lists are always fun, yet a little daunting to write. Interior design books can run the gamut of very informational textbooks to fluffy coffee table books and everywhere in between. But let's face it, most of us just want really inspiring photos that give us creative ideas, or at the very least a big case of green envy.

Here are ten of our favorite interiors books that we visit over and over for colorful inspiration:

1. Time and Place by Steven Gambrel

This is the first book by one of our all time, all star clients. Don't tell the others, but if I could have my dream home designed by anyone, I would go with Steven. I love his mix of modern and traditional and use of intense, yet restrained colors.

2. Interior Design Master Class Edited by Carl Dellatore

This tome is packed with essays and photos of interiors by some of the very best from Jeffery Bilhuber, Bunny Williams, Robert Stilin, Rose Tarlow, Matthew Patrick Smyth, Joe Nahem, and dozens more. Think of it as a very fun and colorful encyclopedia.

3. Domino: The Book of Decorating by Deborah Needleman, Sara Ruffin Costello, and Dara Caponigro

I know I am not alone when I say I pine for the old Domino mag, and have tons of back issues- still! There was such a great sense of young fun in so many of the featured interiors. Also, they had splendid ideas that did not break the bank.

4. Hidden Paris by Catherine Clifton-Mogg and Côté Paris

Who doesn't wonder what is beyond the grand doors of Parisian courtyards? Continue the fantasy of Parisian living with this little gem.

5. New York Behind Closed Doors by Polly Devlin

This newcomer is one we will keep forever just for the sheer entertainment value of being able to peek inside of the grand, and sometimes crazy funky apartments of New York.

6. A Place to Call Home by Gil Schafer III

So if, in my fantasy, I would have Steven Gambrel do my interiors, I would have Gil Schafer as the architect. Schafer has an incredible eye for detail, a great sense of history, and delivers classically beautiful homes.

7. Mark Hampton on Decorating by Mark Hampton

If there is a textbook that all designers should have in their libraries, this is it. The late Mark Hampton was a master at designing and decorating with elegance and timeless style.

8. Stay With Me: The Most Creative Hotel Brands in the World by Catherine Harvey

There are few things more fun than staying in a well designed, fun, sexy hotel. This book offers a good handful of successful examples. Bon voyage!

9. Tom Scheerer Decorates by Mimi Read

I bought this book as a gift and ended up keeping it for myself!

"There is something undeniably sunny about [Tom Scheerer's] work. . . . But Scheerer's exuberance is always cut with a hearty dose of Yankee restraint and practicality. It adds up to inspiring rooms that are comfortable, modern, and unpretentious." --Elle Décor

Couldn't have said it better.

10. Haute Bohemians by Miguel Flores-Vianna, Edited by Amy Astley

This book is the bobo version of The World of Interiors. Not too precious, but incredibly stylish with international flair that exudes page after page.

Continue reading →

It's that time of year when the world falls in love. But possibly not with retail. Just. So. Much. Stuff.
Let us help you find the perfect gift for every personality on your list...

For your glam, urban BFF, a pair of Heritage Diadora sneaks for bopping around town.

For the little person in your life, a constellation tent. I don't know what it is with little kids, but they ALL love a tiny, cozy place to hideout. This tent is more chic than the pillow forts they will inevitably build out of your couture pillow collection.

For your foodie brother in law who is always the life of the party, the new Night + Market cookbook from the super cool LA Thai spot. Dying. To. Go.

For your design savvy friend, treat them to a mini stack of Castel pillows from our Brooklyn shop!

For the tweeny teens, rock their world with this retro foil turntable. It plays mp3's, natch. So rad.

For your socially-conscious boho sister, a one-of-a-kind quilt from Anchal Project which provides full-time employment for craftsman, including healthcare benefits and education workshops to female artisans.

For your New York loving, Broadway obsessed, forever singing show tunes pal, a pair of tickets to see Bette Midler in Hello Dolly! Here's hoping you get to be the plus one!

For your outdoorsy husband, who loves to be on the water, a soft sided kayak.  It is important to keep husband happy. Plus wife is happy because this sucker deflates and does not take up your whole apartment/ house/ garage. Winning.

And as always, if all else fails, booze. For everyone. (well, maybe not the kids).

Voila. Happy and Merry!

Wilfred in color Petrole

As the air gets crisp, the colors change and the days turn moody, we find ourselves inspired to make a few changes in our own world. If you're diving into a project this fall, now's the time for the most exciting part of all: choosing a fresh fabric (at least we think so). Here are a few of our favorites that shine especially brightly in the cooler months.

Claudio in color Mousse

Velvets bring to mind all the hallmarks of fall: warmth, nesting and rich color palettes. One of our favorite velvets is Claudio, a chic and durable fabric available in some gorgeous colors, like this moss or Mousse, if your French!

Wilfred in color Souris

If you're looking for a classic, tailored neutral this fall, our new collection features a luxe mohair velvet with a masculine appeal. Named after the Castel patriarch, Wilfred is available in eight versatile neutrals.

Mara 

Bold and striking, Mara is our tribal chenille named for the Serengeti Region of Tanzania. Mara is offered in eight fantastic colors inspired by the dramatic African landscape, from rich Brique to sandy Champagne.

Lauranne II in color Ebene

Lauranne II is a luxurious and sophisticated velvet perfect for a timeless, elegant feel. It's offered in a host of pretty colors, from a punchy Framboise to an earthy Ebene, so you can make whatever statement you choose.

Anton, Avoriaz and Courchevel

There's a chill in the air, which means one very important thing at Castel: It’s finally time for faux furs. Our new collection offers three luxurious furs, named Anton, Avoriaz and Courchevel named for three beautiful Alpine ski villages. They’re ideal for a plush throw blanket.

Tavish in color Antilope 

While we're loving the new faux furs, we have a soft spot for the classics. Tavish is one of our favorites, an ultra-luxe faux fur with a very soft hand. With a faux suede on the back, it makes for a perfect instant throw.

James 

There are few fabrics more natural for fall than a classic wool flannel. This one is named James (after our son!) and is offered in ten sophisticated colors inspired by Savile Row.

Voila! And with that, we leave you to lace up your boots and go forth into sweater season. Samples are ready to ship, so get ready for a new burst of color.

Palma, Kuba, Leone, and Marigot - left to right

A question we often get, is what are the new color trends? We are influenced by fashion, shelter magazines, street style, but mostly we just go with our gut. I had a big indigo moment a couple of years ago, and that really showed through in our collections. Now, we are really drawn to pastels, especially a dusty pink.

This year's Pantone color of the year is a very bright, lime green. Not currently our jam, but last year's colors were baby blue and pink which did end up making an impact on our collection.

Palma featured as crazy chic drapery in Paris

Our current Brooklyn shop window, inspired by an interior designer's feminine office,  is fun and tidy, with its fresh Spring style featuring some of our current favorite colors.

The most amazing detail in this window is the handmade "rug" made by my talented friend Vera. She used leftover fabric scraps I had hanging around my office to make this gorgeous quilt. I want to use it as a wall hanging, but you can beat me to it and buy it on our webshop!

On the flip side, our new Spring collection is just about to launch, and there are some bold and graphic designs that add punctuation to these neutral and soft palletes.

Our new Manuel geometric embroidery, named for our dear friend, Manuel Canovas.

It's that time again! Let's face it, it's been a rough year (David Bowie! Donald Trump?)... so we have compiled a list of cozy, chic, and fabulous gifts to help lift your spirits this most wonderful time of year!

For your Mother in Law, or any Southern folk on your list, a classically beautiful Magnolia Wreath.

For your most enthusiastic design friend, a Castel exclusive Italian merino wool throw. Tutto bene!

For your child-at-heart husband, a vintage inspired Pendleton toboggan. Weeeeeee!

For the little people on your list, a handmade canvas Wally the Whale. Bonus: a feel good purchase because the proceeds go towards the artists in Haiti. Testimonial from our son, "I love my Wally."

For your too-cool-for-school younger brother, Nike Lunar Force Duck Boots.

For your very stylish sister in law, the personal favorite Comme des Garçons zip around wallet.

For your most cerebral friends, resort to the New York Times Best of the Year Book List.

For your kindest, most socially conscious friend, give a subscription to Causebox. Bonus: Feel good purchase!

Lastly, don't forget to treat yourself! For this, we suggest a fab pair of Loeffler Randall Nicolette pouf sandals. The visual definition of splurge.

If all else fails. Booze. For everyone.

Salut! Voila.

We are a little excited about Interior Design Magazine's Best of Year Awards... because we are up for one! Check out the competition in the Best of Residential Textile design category, and then please VOTE CASTEL! Merci!

Voila. Shameless self promotion finished.

The Castel Fall 2016 collection has just launched! This collection of fabrics was inspired by a recent trip to Italy, especially Venice. The colors, the light, the jovial energy, the history, and especially the winding streets inspired the colors, textures, and bold designs.

The bold and handsome Bruno, was named after a spectacular dinner in Venice at our favorite restaurant, Alle Testiere. Bruno, the chef, is dynamic both in and out of the kitchen, and we had a grappa fueled delicious evening thanks to his hospitality.

Tera, photographed here in its natural Mediterranean habitat, is a durable bouclé named for a quiet Venetian alley. Tera is acrylic backed and ready for upholstery!

Named for the winding maze of streets in Venice, San Polo is an art deco masterpiece in chenille. Destined for dramatic drapery and upholstery.

Named for the capital of the gorgeous and breezy Spanish island of Majorca, Palma is a cotton blend ideal for airy drapery applications and rugged enough for upholstery.

Portillo is a chic and cozy flannel named for the challenging Chilean ski area. This flannel is perfect for drapery or upholstery in your chalet! Shockingly, Portillo is 100% polyester, yet is truly fools even the most trained eye into thinking it is cashmere or wool flannel.

Rialto is named for the colorful and boisterous market in Venice. This painterly chenille bridges both upholstery and drapery applications.

Doge, also pictured at the top of the post, is named for the magnificent Venetian landmark, the Doge's Palace. Our Doge will be perfect for your most elegant sofa.

Voila and Bellissima!

Being in the design business, inspiration is everywhere, but perhaps the most interesting is being a voyeur and seeing what other designers are up to. We take so many magazines and peruse many a book, and our latest favorite is Brooklyn Interiors by Kathleen Hackett.

Our stylish and dear friends, Juliana Merz and Harry Cushing, are actually featured in the book, so we immediately headed out to our local bookshop and picked up a copy!

We love this book for its simplicity and sincerity. Look, I like the next issue of Elle Decor as much as the next design fiend, but sometimes don't you feel a little detached reading those glossy books? Like, if I see another hedge funder's Tribeca 10,000 square foot "pied a terre" with Rothkos and Basquiats lining the walls, I might freak. That's why this book is such a breath of fresh air. Real people, real apartments, and a sense that these designers and their families pulled these places together with creativity, not just casheesh.

Brooklyn does get a bit of a (deserved) rap of being the promised land to hipsters, artists, and people who make their own artisanal beard wax while taking themselves very seriously. All interiors dubbed "Brooklyn" have vintage elements or the effortless look of not trying to be cool while of course being painstakingly cool. Brooklyn Interiors does not make an effort to debunk this idea, but rather to share some examples of actual locals who embrace their space, geography, and flair for the curated home.

Here are a few snaps from inside the book... Enjoy and let us know if you have other new design books you are into at the moment!

Jamming out to "New Music Friday" on Spotify and getting packed up for a sunny road trip this weekend! Here are a few fun links from around the web to keep you busy while you sit in traffic...

For New Yorkers, here is a great little list of brand new restaurants to try. I am all over those bao buns. If you are staying in town, this is a great chance to try without the usual crowds!

As we are kicking off the summer season, this is great advice about entertaining. Bottom line: Don't stress, put all your junk in the bathtub, and have lots of cocktails on hand. Life is too short not to celebrate it with friends. Voila.

I am going to order these beach towels stat. Love and peace, y'all.

If you crave a little gossip while sitting by the pool... news flash ( I know, like 2 days ago, gah!) Johnny Depp is back on the market. It appears he is unloading some assets, so if you have $27 million you may be interested in his St. Tropez estate. Lord have mercy, Johnny needs an interior designer!

Ok, maybe you want a real beach read. I met the author of this book at the grocery the other day, and she could not be nicer. I told her I can't wait to read the book, so I have to go buy it now before I run into her again!

This is the most adorable hostess gift idea. I do declare, who are we to argue with Garden and Gun?

For when you get asked to bring a salad to the barbecue this weekend.

In case you are stuck in line at any given airport... a little levity.

Have a grand time, so matter where you land this weekend!

I just watched this video on Vogue.com several times in a row while laughing hysterically.

https://youtu.be/vWmPObduQPQ

That is all. Voila.

We are very excited to announce that we have our first Brooklyn storefront! It is kind of amazing how things work out sometimes. Stephane and I were casually musing quite recently about how great it would be to have more office space, and bam! This great little storefront that is about 20 paces from our front door on Cobble Hill Park became available. We snapped it up and just moved in!

This all happened so fast that we went into this very spontaneously without much of a plan. Very unlike us which was fun! Is it going to be a shop? An office? A place for designers and locals to come hang out and see beautiful fabrics? An event space? A coffee bar? Check, check, and check! We are going to try it all and have some fun. The espresso machine is fired up and our front terrace is ready for sunning, so stop by!

The new Castel is located at 385 Henry Street in Cobble Hill, Brooklyn. We are usually around between the hours of 9-5, Monday through Friday, or by appointment #212.758.9900. Bienvenue!

Our new spring collection has a bohemian sophistication that is inspired by the colors and joie de vivre of the French Mediterranean coast. Each fabric is named for a coastal village that inspires spring and summer casual elegance. That is the tagline, but let us show you!

Last summer, while visiting the in laws in the South of France, we took a road trip to the beaches near St. Tropez. This sounds so fabulous in a Bianca Jagger sort of way, but the coastal villages in this region have such a relaxed charm that in my opinion is the very definition of chic.

Open air marketplaces. Long rosé soaked lunches under whitewashed thatched pergolas. Women in linen caftans and huge straw hats. Rolling hills dotted with small vineyards overlooking the rich blue sea. So naturally we were inspired to color and name a collection for this exuberant utopia.

A rosé vineyard near Gassin, France

Marigot, the most boheme-chic linen blend in our collection...

Olimpio is an Oceanic inspired woven that has as much depth as the sea!

Gassin

Camarat, the most fabulous bohemian, yarn rich woven in the collection.

Breezy summer days on the plage

We think even Mick and Bianca would think this collection is beyond cool.

 Cheers!

Everyone likes music. Everyone thinks they have awesome taste in music. My dear husband loves his iPod packed with Styx and the Stones, and heaven forbid, Wreckx in Effect.

The closer I edge to a new decade (not telling which one), I want to stay in the know about cool music. I am lucky to have friends who really keep their ears to the ground for new bands and artists and share their playlists with me. Then, every now and then, a great playlist just falls in your lap, like today!

The NY Times just published 25 Songs That Tell Us Where Music is Going. Click on it and enjoy scrolling through the visual and audio story of new sounds, artists, and directions. I feel cooler already.

Happy Friday! Off to download some new tunes...

All photos by JR for the New York Times

Ho! Ho! Ho! Love it? Hate it? Face it. The holidays are upon us, and we are here to help with your gift giving ideas...

For your most sentimental friend, commission a photo with The Heirloomist. Shana, aka the Heirloomist, Novak is a kickass photographer who snaps editorial shots you may have already seen (plus many of the awesome photos on the Castel site). She will take your most precious possessions and photograph them in the most lovely and artistic way.

For your girliest girlfriend, hook her up with this irresistible lip2cheek by the organic and super cool RMS Beauty.

For your mountain climbing (or wannabe) boyfriend, make him psyched with the latest Patagonia Ascentionist pack.

For your foodie cousin who is homesick for NYC, a shipment of of lox and latkes from the hometown favorite Russ & Daughters, just in time for Chanukah!

For your smarty pants brother in law, peruse this NY Times Best of 2105 books list.

For your globe trotting BFF, this monogrammed Darjeeling weekender. Or, if your BFF is more preppy Hamptons rather than Wes Anderson, go with this country club worthy canvas and leather number.

For your more earthy friends, a piece of handcrafted Redraven porcelain is a sure fire bet.

For your sister, whom you adore, a sisters' weekend away! No kids, just spa time and bonding at this most perfect sanctuary in the hills above Santa Fe.

As long as we are on the travel kick, For your sweet and uber adventurous husband who is always busy doing for everyone else, a Peruvian trek away from it all.

And don't forget your favorite design besties, who may love a few of yards of Castel's latest and greatest!

If all else fails, booze is always a safe bet. If you are in NYC, check out the most adorable wine shop near the South Street Seaport, Pasanella and Son. They also ship charming gift boxes!

Happy and Merry!

Thanksgiving is my favorite holiday. There is no stress about shopping, no religious faux pas worries, no questions about whether you should wear white shoes (don't)... Just a day to enjoy great food and great friends and family. And in our family, a friendly competitive bet on who will have the best time in the Ridgefield, Connecticut 5K Turkey Trot.

I am that cheesy person who makes everyone go around the Thanksgiving table and say what you are thankful for. This does not have to be an earth shattering declaration, but I think it is nice to take a moment to reflect on how lucky we are, and to remember those who are not as fortunate.

This year, we sponsored a child in Zambia, named Christabel, through a Christian organization called Family Legacy. I have a dear friend, Kate, who travels to Zambia every summer to visit the beautiful children at the local orphanage and school there. Did you know that Zambia has the highest per capita rate of orphans in the world? I didn't either.

There are 13.8 million people in Zambia and half of them are under the age of 16. This huge number is due to the high death rate from extreme poverty and HIV/AIDS. Zambia has the 7th highest AIDS infection rate in the world.

Kate reached out to me and all of our friends to ask for support and assistance for many of the children at Camp Life who need sponsorship. Once I saw Christabel's bright and warm smile, read her heartbreaking story of being left behind, and read about her dreams to study hard and become a doctor, I felt she was meant to be an extension of our family.

If you would like to help sponsor a Zambian child also, please see the links below...

Also, we would love to hear about your favorite organizations to which you donate your time or resources. Leave us a comment!

Happy Thanksgiving to all!

If you would like to become a Family Legacy sponsor, contact my dear friend, Kate Swail: kateswail@me.com. Or you may contact Family Legacy directly: tel.#972-620-2020 or http://familylegacy.com/get-involved/sponsor-a-child/

We are off on a family vacation this week, so I will leave you with some fun tidbits from around the web...

Stephane and I have a bit of a problem looking at real estate "porn." We have come to the conclusion  that imagining living in these spaces is probably better than the real thing. BUT, this is a special one. Like Smithsonian special...Julia Child's house, "La Pitchoune" in the South of France is for sale! Could you imagine cooking in that kitchen? OohLaLa (insert Julia voice here.)

As a Mississippi Delta native, I cannot wait to get my hands on this new book by Richard Grant. Read his wonderful op-ed from last week's Times here. It had me feeling nostalgic for the first time in a long time.

The pumpkin craze this season seems to be a little out of control, but Thanksgiving is coming... so here are the 12 BEST Pumpkin recipes out there.

For those of you who have not had the best week. Chin up!

And in case we do not come back from Saint Barth, you can find me here. My all time favorite beach house courtesy of Christian Liagre.

Bon weekend and bon week!

We have a bit of an obsession with Rome. Whenever I hear someone say that they love visiting Italy, but just not Rome so much, I am baffled. Truly. Continue reading →

Fashion week in Paris just wrapped, and of course we came away with tons of gorgeous Spring 2016 inspiration. Our pick for ALL AROUND BEST: Valentino (with Balmain as a close runner up.)

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Our new Fall 2015 collection has launched! This collection conjures very international inspirations and aspirations. Luxury to us is not just about being fancy or expensive, it is much more about a tailored simplicity. Luxury in the fabric world means impeccable quality in the yarns used and clarity of color in the dyeing process.

Indigo collection, from top: Masaru, Akaei, Satchi, and Ishi

Stephane and I have always been drawn to Japanese design, and really just the way the Japanese appreciate beauty in its purest forms. This season, we did an Indigo collection of just four fabrics, each dyed indigo, with lovely "clean" designs.

Akaei, named for a stingray found in Pacific waters, is a shagreen jacquard design. Masaru, named for a favorite Japanese furniture designer, is a tidy and strong plain woven perfect for upholstery applications. Satchi, a type of Japanese basket weaving, is just that (!), a thick basket weave ideal for sofas, chairs, and pillows. Ishi, meaning stone in Japanese, has an organic appeal. Ishi is a matelassé that is perfect for bed covers, upholstery, and striking pillows.

Until you can take your next trip to Kyoto, pour yourself a refreshing saké and enjoy our new Indigo collection!

The Castel Fall 2015 Collection is ready to ship! Here is a sneak peek to keep you on the edge of your seats until the collection hits your local showrooms!

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We are very excited to begin blogging and sharing the Castel spirit and joie de vivre! Everyday we are inspired. Some days inspired by far away travel, and other days just inspired by the way the light hits the side of our brownstone.

We love good food, drinks, travel, cool shop finds, color, textiles, cultures, and most of all finding a special little detail to share. To us, discovering a small cafe on an unheard of street in Paris, sailing under the Brooklyn Bridge, riding a bike on Shelter Island, hunting for an antique fabric, or finding the perfect book for summer beach reading is what makes our days unique.

Let us take you off the beaten path!

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