And just like that, the Fall season is upon us, and we are ushering in the milder days with FIFTEEN new designs! This is our largest introduction to date with new colorful designs from Güell Lamadrid, earth toned textures and fine sheers from Les Créations de la Maison, and three new fabrics from Castel that will make you wonder how you ever lived without them.

Güell Lamadrid's fall collection is inspired by colorful heritage textiles and kilims from the Caucasia region of what is now Turkey, Georgia, and Azerbaijan.

Ararat and Kovkas are woven chenilles inspired by historic handwoven rugs from the Caucasus region.

New Bolero is an update on a client favorite in new colors and now offered as a performance fabric treated with Fibreguard. Available in 9 colors.

Les Créations de la Maison introduces their Earth Collection which is inspired by the natural landscape near the Lamadrid family home in Comillas, Spain. The collection is focused on sustainability, natural fibers, and an earthen color palette.

Les Creations de la Maison also introduces three new double width sheers constructed of wool, linen and cotton. All made by the finest sheer mills in Italy.

Castel introduces a new addition to our Luxury Performance collection, Collobrières. Collobrières is treated with Fibreguard and named for a Provençal village known for colorful markets and forest groves. This plush velvet is offered in 12 colors.

Etienne, a personal favorite of our Creative Director, Laura, is a soft and sophisticated chenille woven by one of the finest Italian jacquard mills.

Joucas is a sustainable linen and recycled cotton blend inspired by the quite village in the Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur. Offered in 11 washed colors.

Voilá! We look forward to welcoming you to our New York Showroom, or national partner showrooms to see the new collections! Samples and stock are ready to go!

Bonjour! Just in time for Paris Deco Off and Maison&Objet, we have updated our Castel Guide to Paris to include some new favorites as well as revisit some tried and true recommendations. Allez!

WHERE TO STAY

Hotel Recamier, a favorite in the 6th for its textile design dream rooms and proximity to the Luxembourg Gardens and Saint Sulpice.

Le Relais Saint Germain, chic hotel in walking distance to all the best Saint-Germain-des-Prés has to offer. Bonus: you get priority seating at our favorite canteen, Le Comptoir, the bistro on the ground floor.

Relais Christine, on a charming side street in the 6th with a little more swag and trim than is usually our jam. The honor bar makes up for the splurge, right?

Hotel des Académies et des Arts, a young feeling hotel inspired by an artist's atelier. A great option if you left your expense account at home.

WHERE TO EAT

This is a never ending list, so here are a few faves... feel free to reach out to us for more recommendations.

Allard, there are a few classics on our list that are quintessentially Parisian, and Allard does not disappoint. This is a special occasion restaurant, so go all out and order the foie gras and the frog's legs. And dessert, of course.

Hûiterie Régis, if you love oysters, then this sliver of a restaurant in the 6th is not to be missed.

Frenchie Bar á Vins is where you bring your hipster friends for delicious shared plates over small producer wines in an animated room in the 2nd.

We can't wait to make our way up to the 11th to try Maison, the new venture by Tokyo born chef, Sota Atsumi. His previous restaurant, Clown Bar, was one of our favorites for creative and inventive plates in a super cool space.

If you find yourself hungry between appointments in Saint Germain, then pop into Breizh Cafe for an authentic Bretagne buckwheat crêpe and a cup of cider. You will be good as new for more fabric shopping!

La Fontaine de Mars is a favorite because Mr. Canovas used to bring us here for long lunches around the corner from his office in the 7th. This is a very classic red and white checked bistro with lovely waiters who have been known to pour a little extra rhum on our baba.

L'Ami Jean in the 7th is a raucous bistro with excellent twists on classic French food. This is the kind of place where you will likely end up making friends with the table next to you.

Au Sauvignon is the perfect spot when you need a tartine (on pain Poilâne no less) and a glass of wine to tide you over after shopping at Le Bon Marche.

Our 8 year old son will tell you that no trip to Paris is complete without an ice cream pit stop at the famed Berthillon Glacier on Île Saint-Louis.

WHERE TO SHOP

There are many "obvious" places to shop in Paris, so we are partial to the small, neighborhood gems that sell one of a kind wares.

La Tuile á Loup, a special ceramics shop featuring creations by many local artists. Ina shops there, need we say more?

Deyrolle is one of the most eccentric and intriguing shops that is full of taxidermy and curiosities that rival the Natural History Museum. We brought home a beautifully framed butterfly. (No animals are harmed for the art here.)

Alexandra Sojfer is one of those specific gems that feel like entering a once in a lifetime space. This artist only makes umbrellas, parasols, and walking sticks from the finest materials.

Polder is a chic women's shop near Odéon founded by a pair of Dutch sisters. We love their flats, simple totes, and petite jewelry.

Librairie Elbé in Saint Germain has specialized in vintage travel posters since 1976.  A fun gift idea.

La Maison du Pastel is the oldest pastel manufacturer in the world. They open their colorful shop in the 3rd on Thursday afternoons between 2-6pm.

Forever on this list is Monoprix. We never miss a stop by what initially may seem a pedestrian department store for their beautiful children's and baby clothing. Many locations throughout France.

WHERE TO CULTURE

There are so many museums and points of interest tucked into all corners of Paris. Our advice: anywhere but the Louvre.

Muséum National d'Histoire Naturelle is Paris's answer to NYC's Natural History Museum, but much more bizarre in the best ways. Our son is still asking questions about all of the weird and wondrous creatures spied in jars and intricate displays. The room pictured above is worth the visit alone.

Palais de Tokyo in the 16th is the largest center for contemporary art in Europe and celebrates living artists.

If you have kids in tow as we often do, be sure to swing by Ludo Jardin in the Luxembourg Gardens. This is not your average playground. Be sure to take a spin on the zip line!

Voila. We can't wait to see you in La Ville Lumiére!

A bientôt,
Laura & Stéphane

OMG, after the world's longest winter, and almost non-existent spring, we are so ready for summer. There are few things more iconic in summer than ice cream on a warm day. And all of this dreaming about flavors makes us think of all of the delicious colors. Let us make your summer sweet!

It has often been said that Castel is known for our color palette, especially bright, unusual colors. That may be because we are summer babies, and we live for a colorful beach day. Here are a few favorites...

Nothing says summer interior like linen. Marigot, named for a bougainvillea draped beach on St. Barth, is an all time favorite offered in almost 31 flavors.

Palma, named for the capital of Mallorca, is a breezy cotton blend perfect for beach house style. We created many pastel and creamy hues that echo the colors of the Balearic islands.

Dumonet, named for our favorite Parisian bistro, is a rich cotton velvet that is offered in so many colors... trying to pick one is like trying to pick the perfect glacé on a hot day.

These gorgeous fabrics are all stocked now, so hurry before they melt away like summer!

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!

As many of you are packing your bags today to head to frighteningly crowded travel spaces, here are a few links from around the web to keep you distracted.

Cornelia Street, my first NYC home

Thanksgiving always reminds me of my first few years in New York when I was too broke to go home for both this holiday and Christmas... so I always opted to stay in NYC, which I grew to love immediately. I would often host a few wayward friends for a delicious yet tiny home cooked meal in my tiny apartment. But honestly, those were the best! This article perfectly captures the spirit: How I hosted Thanksgiving dinner in my 195-square-foot apartment.”

Four and Twenty Blackbirds

If you are asked to bring dessert, here are two awesome recipes that have nothing to do with pumpkin (delicious, yet so predictable). Chocolate Guinness Cake courtesy of Nigella Lawson and Hands Down the BEST pie ever created by the amazing Brooklyn bakery Four and Twenty Blackbirds. Or you know, just pick one up and discard the box as evidence. I may have done this once.

If you are looking for a post pig-out movie, Lady Bird looks amazing, and SO millennial.

We have the perfect antidote to Black Friday madness. Stay home. You can shop for insanely beautiful fabrics at over 50% off net pricing right from your sofa! Help us clean off our shelves before the spring collection arrives! Win win.

Perhaps you are thinking of eating an extra slice of that aforementioned pie, in which case, you may need a pair of these insanely comfortable, stretchy, yet chic corduroy leggings. I haven't taken mine off in a week, don't judge.

For locals and visitors alike, some sound NYC brunch advice.

For anyone who wants to get the heck out of town and avoid any chance of talking politics with the fam, may we suggest going here... immediately. (husband, please take note.)

Voila. Wishing everyone a delicious and warm Thanksgiving!

Brooklyn, particularly Cobble Hill, has a long tradition of making a big deal out of Halloween. We resided in Brooklyn Heights for many years and would always make the trek across Atlantic Avenue to come partake in the annual Cobble Hill Halloween Parade. There is jazz band comprised of local high school students who lead a motley crew of young and old bedecked in their best Halloween efforts.

This is our first year as Cobble Hill residents, and we do not want to disappoint. We live along the parade route, and our neighbors go full out with their decorations. This year Stephane (who is always dressed as Elvis) is planning to rig up a flying skeleton on a zip line who drops candy on to the kids below. I hope we have enough candy!

Also along the parade route is the Castel shop at 385 Henry Street. Our shop window is definitely in the Halloween spirit a la Alfred Hitchcock. We are calling it "A Death of Crows."

Swing by if you are in the neighborhood! Candy for the kids, and wine for the grown ups!

This summer I had a BIG birthday leering, and Stephane was being particularly cagey. Since he is not the type to forget BIG events, I was wondering what he had up his sleeve, but was totally clueless. So, on the night of the big day he claimed we were going out to dinner in the neighborhood. Well, thank goodness I put on some mascara and cute shoes because after a long walk through the meandering streets of South Brooklyn, we happened upon the Royal Palms Shuffleboard Club, and voila! A room full of my favorite friends brandishing shuffleboard sticks (which are actually called tangs as I was quickly informed.) So it was settled, I was old and therefore needed to learn to play shuffleboard like a proper geriatric.

Royal Palms has the immediate atmosphere that announces you are about to have a really good time. It's like Palm Springs landed right next to the Gowanus Canal complete with striped awnings, vintage Sinatra approved cocktails, and a few palm trees scattered around the massive room. Luckily for all of us newbies, a guy in a jumpsuit appeared to give us the rules of play and to explain the "tangs and biscuits." See: Rules of Shuffleboard. Apparently, nobody likes a biscuit banger.

Great vintage cocktails to spike a little friendly competition.

Even the bathrooms at Royal Palms are worth a gander.

Clearly we had no fun at all:

The birthday biscuits!

Our latest shop window expresses our enthusiasm for the oncoming of summer and all of the neighborhood greenery. You could say, A Tree Grows in Brooklyn! We got a little creative, and everything you see here except for the chair frame and step ladder is fabric! Castel fabrics!

Swing by to see all of our fabrics (in ALL colors!), have a quick espresso, or enjoy the sun on our street front terrace. 385 Henry Street, Brooklyn. 212.758.9900

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!

This is a question we very often get from friends and family coming to visit. I love this question. One of the joys of living in a great city is sharing your enthusiasm. But also, I get a little bit of butterflies with this question, hoping that I can deliver that magical idea for the perfect afternoon stroll or romance inducing corner cocktail bar.

Every spring we have lovely friends come visit from Barcelona. They are smart, chic, devastatingly stylish, and up for most anything... basically your dream visitor. They obviously come from a pretty incredible place themselves, so I raise the bar when thinking of suggestions for them. Early spring I start compiling my list of ideas for their late May visit.

First, I am going to come clean. I now live in Brooklyn, and before that Nolita, and before that the West Village. I am a downtown girl all the way, so my lists are very slanted. Not to say I do not adore the ultimate oasis that is Central Park or the historic spots dotting is periphery that make you giddy just to be there: Bemelman's Bar, 21 Club, The Met. But really, my heart resides south of 14th Street, and frankly now on the other side of the Brooklyn Bridge.

Check In:

I have a short list of hotels I really like. Namely because I live here, so I haven't stayed in all that many! But I do love a good hotel bar, and my husband and I have been known to try a local shack up

The Bowery Hotel: the ultimate shack up; we stayed here on our wedding night. It is divine in a very understated-from-another-time sort of way. For all of you interior design geeks (takes one to know one) the fixtures, the finishes, the sheets are all superb and effortless. You basically feel cool by proxy.

The NoMad: The Madison Square Park area was never much to write home about until just a few years ago when the original Shake Shack, the ginormous Italian food emporium Eataly, and the hipster hangout Ace Hotel all opened within blocks of each other. Now, the Jacques Garcia designed NoMad Hotel and eponymous restaurant are really the crown jewel of young elegance in the hood.

The Marlton: If you are looking for a Parisian hôtel particulier smack in the middle of Greenwich Village, then you have found your home away from home. The rooms are small, but what they lack in size they make up for in tidy style. Their lovely restaurant, Margaux, and espresso bar is the perfect place to start your day before you hit the pavement.

The Wythe: Easily the coolest hotel in Brooklyn, so of course it is in Williamsburg. The hotel is housed in an old industrial warehouse right on the waterfront. The rooftop bar views of the city are spectacular, the rooms are hipster heaven, and the restaurant is the neighborhood clubhouse.

Where to Eat...

There are just too many places to list, so here is a list of some solid suggestions that are relatively new to the scene...

Wildair: You can't really categorize the type of food at Wildair which is a small plates, natural wine driven spot on the Lower East Side. Some dishes feel American Southern while other feel Southern Spanish or French, but no matter because they are all terrific. They don't take rezzies, so go early and catch a rock show on the LES later, or vice versa. If you are the have-to-have-a reservation type, then try their sister restaurant, Contra, which also gets high marks.

Babu Ji: The East Village is known for divey Indian food restaurants with Christmas lights and sitar players which is fun, but Babu Ji mixes it up in the best way. Grab a tall Kingfisher out of their beer cooler in the back and pray for a table so you can feast on classics like butter chicken and tandoori prawns. This is a new and popular spot, so note it can get as noisy as an Indian train station.

Estela: Located in an unassuming space on an unremarkable stretch of East Houston Street, is this little gem. Estela was our favorite dining surprise last year, and we were not the only ones, Bon Appétit rated it as their favorite new restaurant in America. So, get a reservation and prepare to have your socks knocked off. If they have this sweet potato frothy rum dessert on the menu (yes, I know this sounds weird) get it and thank us later.

If tiny Estela is booked, try the chef/owner's new hot Italian spot Café Altro Paradiso in west Soho.

Santina: If you constantly imagine yourself on the Amalfi Coast in the summer, but it is winter in New York, then make a reservation at Santina. Our advice: take a stroll on the Highline and then get on in here for refined and exciting Meditterrean fish and a top notch Negroni courtesy of the Torrisi boys (the same ones behind the beloved Carbone and Parm).

June: We live and work in Cobble Hill, Brooklyn, and June has become our canteen. June fancies itself as a natural wine bar, but that sounds so stiff and one dimensional... and healthy. The last time we were there we had a myriad of small plates that involved uni, marrow, pea shoots, coq au vin, and other wild ingredients that added up to deliciousness to wash down with our organic sparkling "orange" wine from Bordeaux. Delightful every time.

La Vara: This is the new south Brooklyn prize of a small neighborhood restaurant that has rocked every review this side of the Manhattan Bridge. Michelin stars? Check. An inventive Spanish-Moorish inspired menu drives the allure, but the friendly neighboorhood vibe and tasty sangria keep us coming back.

Also, I will mention a handful of favorites for categories that we always get asked about. Like, the best pizza? Best sushi? Best bagels? Best, best, best. So here is my local, average New Yorker opinion on such topics...

I realize this is a highly sensitive and debated topic, but the best pizza in New York is Lucali's in Brooklyn. And will you look at that, it's in our neighborhood! This is a no-nonsense, brick oven, no menu kind of place. There will be a line unless you get there at 5pm. No, you cannot have a salad. Yes, you can have wine if you bring it. Jay Z has been known to cut line, but all of these annoyances are worth the best handmade pie in the world. There, I said it.

There is amazing sushi all over New York. Our personal favorite for years has been the original  Blue Ribbon Sushi on Sullivan Street in Soho. The wood paneled room has a Japanese terrarium feeling, and it is very zen. The staff, especially the sushi chef, Toshi, is extremely cordial and calm. Go omakase; you will not regret it! Also, if they have Harushika sake on the menu, pony up for this also. No reservations, so go early on a weeknight, or prepare to wait at a local bar until your number is up.

Lastly, we would be remiss not to mention breakfast. There are two places in town that are always sublime. Like beyond.

If you want the full Jewish breakfast with the best lox and bagels and latkes that would make any Gentile swoon, then get down to the Lower East Side to Russ and Daughters Cafe. The original Russ and Daughters counter on East Houston Street has been there for a century and is so old school charming with their white tile and apron clad counter guys. They pleased the masses a couple of years ago by opening this sit down operation.

Finally, the crème de la crème, Balthazar. I often joke that Keith McNally and his design crew here at Balthazar do Paris better than the Parisians. The room is an incredibly warm and grand brasserie, and the food can keep up. Many go late for the steak frites, but my jam is breakfast. I swear by their almond croissant. Like, last meal caliber.

If you are in our neighborhood, come stop by our storefront in Cobble Hill, Brooklyn!

Voila. Welcome to New York!!

Sometimes when I hear people describe their jobs, especially in the creative realm, I think, "Wow, their job sounds so interesting and fun! Not like work at all!" And then I remember how fortunate I am to feel that way about my job much of the time. Let's face it, for most designers, the actual creative work is a much smaller percentage than the paperwork/ follow up/ "officey" time, but in the end, the results are worth it.

Every season, I have anxiety while piecing together fabrics, colors, placing orders with mills, the details with the sample maker, the shipping, customs, yada yada yada. And every season I am so thrilled when I see the finished product come together! It's similar to the pride you feel for a chil

One of the most fun parts of putting out a new collection is photographing the fabrics in a creative way that really show the essence of the product as well as give the clients an idea of scale and use. I have been very lucky to team up with some awesome photographers as well as prop houses to help us convey the "Castel look."

Two of my favorite sources for props in addition to random flea market finds are Patina Studio and Holler and Squall, both in Brooklyn.

Patina Studio is this big lofty warehouse space that is typical to Bushwick, where are the cool kids hang these days. They have everything from vintage library books, to stacks of carpets and chairs, and then there was the pink typewriter. I just had to have it! Our photographer, was like, "what the heck are we going to do with THAT?" I just shrugged and beamed over how adorable it was.

Holler and Squall is a retail antique shop in Brooklyn Heights that specializes in the "Brooklyn/ Upstate New York" look as I like to call it. Vintage lighting, upholstery, quirky accessories with a nice mark up. But very cool and worth it.

You can file this under random information, but if you are the vintage/ flea type, get thee to Brooklyn where there are finds galore for your styling needs! Voila.

We hope you have a splendid holiday! Just in case you need a little diversion from the eggnog slugging and jiving to Bing Crosby, here a some fun clicks from around the web.

In case you feel in need of a nap, check out this Instagram account. zzzzzz....

In case you need to relax, just imagine wandering through one of these gorgeous gardens.

In case you need an excuse to get out of town and escape to Paris this winter. Maison et Objet anyone?

In case you need a little zip for your holiday look.

In case your gran didn't make your favorite dessert this year, try this!

In case you want to say humbug and run away from it all!

Have a jolly one!

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!

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 are off to our favorite west coast cities, LA + SF, this week to launch our new Castel collection, and can't wait!

While we are soaking up the California sun, here are some fun links from around the web... Continue reading →

Maybe we are a little slow on the uptake, but we just started watching Chef's Table on Netflix. Love it

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