KBIS and the Big (not so?) Easy…..
Well, after 30 years in the Kitchen and Bath business, I attended my first KBIS or Kitchen and Bath Industry Show. I have to say that New Orleans was friendly and the show was a great experience for me. But being in the midst of organizing ongoing projects, straightening out a new website, assisting in the planning of a close friends 50th birthday surprise dinner and various other family responsibilities, meant that running off to New Orleans was not so easy. But, it was well worth it!
I hit the ground running to make a dinner at Emeril’s, a foodie hot spot from renowned chef Emeril Legasse, with a client. The following day, spent with my peers and leaders in the industry was exhilarating and a great reminder of what I love about this business. The opening speech from John Morgan provided a historical perspective on the NKBA, bringing to the forefront what we, as designers, mean to the home and family life in our society. Seeing the innovations like Kohler’s Moxie blue tooth shower head, the beautiful new Brizo faucets and the array of richly textured tiles from Susan Jablon inspired me to seek the best of the best to present to you, when creating those spaces that are so all important in your home and makes you feel good. Here I am, at the QuEx CONNEX LIFE photo booth, laughing with joy that I actually made it to our industry’s show of shows.
ToniSabatinoStyle.com toni@tonisabatinostyle.com 516-972-5455
Celebration Style
Last night I had the pleasure of attending a wedding celebration. The attention to detail was amazing, as can be seen by the hand sown ribbon tablecloth pictured. This reminded me of a few years back when my lovely daughter was planning her wedding celebration. The dress shopping, the table settings and most of all the cake! I remember pulling out my tape measure and explaining to the baker that a five foot cake was as big as she was! Style has be personal and comfortable. People with great style wear their lives like they wear their clothes. There is a casual grace because it all just fits. Here is some ELISE SABATINO style. http://thebridescafe.com/index.cfm?q=elise+and+giovanni Enjoy!! Photos by Sara France Photography.
TONI SABATINO toni@tonisabatinostyle.com 516-972-5455
Inspiration….. when to go custom……..
I love texture and I love shine…….I am looking forward to posting about this kitchen renovation project when it is done but just had to offer a peek of what is in store……
This custom waterjet glass tile created by Ray Bernard of Finishing Touches in Huntington, NY, is just what we needed to put this kitchen over the top. Sure there are all sorts of inlays and herringbones to do in a backsplash but this art deco inspired glass pattern is clean, shiny and truly out of the ordinary….
JUST LOVE!
TONI SABATINO toni@tonisabatinostyle.com 516-972-5455
Glitterati…………
Glitz, Glam, love it all!
These pieces
will be starring in an apartment renovation on the East Side……..Supported by lush fabrics and carpets……..sure to be a hit.
TONI SABATINO toni@tonisab.com
516-972-5455
A Touch of Whimsy…….
Playful lighting can really add character to a space. “Woodland Pixie” is what comes to mind….just skipping along….spreading magic dust…….
TONI SABATINO toni@tonisabatinostyle.com 516-972-5455
Are You A Guest In Your Own Life?
Okay, so you walk in your door and are surrounded by your physical home environment. As you look around, do you find that home on your kindle says more about who you really are than what you see? Even a beautiful, professionally decorated house can feel like a hotel lobby if it isn’t personal. Having your home show your style is key to leading an authentic, fulfilling life and really provides a true sense of comfort. So how do you get there? Creating your own personal visual rhyme that makes you want to sing when you walk through the door….. That’s what I am all about…….
TONI SABATINO 516-972-5455 toni@tonisabatinostyle.com
New Traditional….. Toni Sabatino Style
New Traditional is my way of giving traditional an up-to-date vibe without trying to hide it’s conventional nature. In this Connecticut kitchen remodel, I gave a nod to time honored crystal lighting by using a pendant that displays the crystals in a new way. We also took that tradtional classic of crackled subway tile and made that new by adding a contemporary linear strip of stone and glass. The result?
New Traditional that honors the past but brings the present into view….
TONI SABATINO toni@tonisabatinostyle.com 516-972-5455
Ah so….Grasshopper…a shade of yellow is the Ben Moore color of the year…
I just heard that LEMON SORBET is the 2013 Benjamin Moore color of the year….It made me think of this nook I designed in a Hamptons playroom to highlight a fun art piece the owner had purchased years ago. Although she loved it, it didn’t have any real relevance in the home. I felt it needed a yellow backround. Setting the grasshopper in a color scheme and space where it could be appreciated reminded me of this quote from the movie KUNG FU.
Po: GRASSHOPPER, BE YOUR SELF. AND NEVER FEAR THUS TO BE NAKED TO THE EYES OF OTHERS. YET, KNOW THAT MAN SO OFTEN MASKS HIMSELF. THAT WHAT IS SIMPLE IS RARELY UNDERSTOOD. THE DUST OF TRUTH SWIRLS, AND SEEKS ITS OWN CRACKS OF ENTRY. AND A TREE FALLING IN THE FOREST, WITHOUT EARS TO HEAR, MAKES NO SOUND. YET IT FALLS.–KF
Although I am not a Kung Fu movie fan, some of the wisdom is inspiring to me……what is art without appreciation?
TONI SABATINO toni@tonisabatinostyle.com 516-972-5455
Hamptons Casual…….
There is something dreamy about the ride out to the Hamptons…. Conjuring up memories of driving my ’87 560SL up to the Mercedes tent at the Polo fields with a ballsy girlfriend and no tickets…..sipping champagne under the same tent as Ralph Lauren……
The Hamptons has that coveted high end, laid back style that you just can’t buy…..you have to feel it.
I really enjoyed creating this dining space for a family that loves living and lives loving in this sprawling summer home. Simple casual living at it’s finest…….
TONI SABATINO toni@tonisabatinostyle.com 516-972-5455
Family Jewels……….
We live in this crazy world of media. Instant digital photos from your phone capturing all those special moments…….Finding a place in your head and your heart for all that accumulated stuff is hard enough, but how about your home?
This Hamptons hallway needed a feature. Sure a piece of art would work but what about some of that media?
This collection of random photos declutters some lateral surfaces, inspires memories and warms the heart………….
516-972-5455
Window Seats
Window seats have always held a certain charm to me. They remind me of a childhood I would like to have had! There is some unexplained expectation the outside world offers from the comfy safety of that vantage point. Awkward walls, due to doorways and traffic flow that cannot hold a couch or pair of chairs can become a focal point by adding some shelves and creating that cozy extra seating that is perfect for sitting and dreaming on a rainy day…………
516-972-5455
New Year…..same old stuff?
I love display. (definition: to present or hold up to view)…and I love to arrange the display…. The actual arrangement makes each one of a group or collection special. Looking through your stuff and invigorating a room by creating a display area is a great way to celebrate your life and the New Year. Select the items and then create an array that draws the eye by varying the height and color and make something visually interesting. Artful arrangements of books, photos, momentos of travels, musical instruments, trophies, sculptures, teapots or even antique iron doorstops can be an effective way to give a space an air of intimacy and truly make it personal and inviting. Here is a collection of objects I have had the pleasure to display in a bookshelf I felt would add warmth and declutter a family room mantle. I hope you are inspired to go up to the attic or down to the basement and pull out that stuff you secretly love but have no idea what to do with………
TONI SABATINO toni@tonisabatinostyle.com 516-972-5455
Because We Need a Little Christmas, Right This Very Minute…….
Decorating this grand and stylish home for the Holidays each year has become part of my Christmas tradition. The Christmas tree, in particular, is always so special. When we started, 10 years ago, the tree had a grand, department store look, with huge, gold dipped pine cones, bows of ribbon and sparkly, red garland. As the years have passed, the addition of paper angels and stars, class pictures attached to paper trees, and the like, have adorned the tree and given it an intimate family feel. The pride and joy seen in the eyes of the child artisans as I climb the ladder and hang their wares in places of importance, really warms my heart. So go ahead! Hang up those paper wreaths made with love and “Have yourself a merry little Christmas NOW!”
Holidays………..Sabatino Style…..
Well, another Holiday Season is upon us and again I find myself feeling grateful for all the joy the season brings. I remind myself to slow down, smell the gingerbread, and try not to do it all in one day. Having two adult children on different sides of the country, and making time for all those in what I refer to as our “OPEN family”, (as someone that experienced divorce as an adult and a child I do not like the term “broken family”), is a balancing act that can actually add to the fun . Traveling out west to bake cookies with my daughter and grandson and creating a holiday meal in her home is a special joy even if it is a week and a half before Christmas Day. Seeing my grandson proudly smile as we displayed all the homemade decorations and watching him lick the chocolate from his fingers as we decorated gingerbread men will be memories I will always cherish. Christmas day will be spent with my son, mother and our crew back in New York… and each day in between will be spent wishing friends, associates and strangers, too, all the joy the season brings… MERRY CHRISTMAS!……….
Red Accents
I love red! The warm, vibrant, spicy feel of red can make such a dramatic difference in a room. Faced with a tall viually imposing wall, I chose to add molding details and touches of red to add visual interest. The pattern on the wall creates relevance and balance by framing the art work and sconces. This staircase had started with an ordinary brown oak and black iron railing. Removing the wood tops of the ballisters and adding decorative glass balls added some whimsical detail to the railing and the red paint with some metallic accenting really give it a custom feel. Repeating this vibrant accent color creates a relationship with the other red accents in the space giving the open floorplan a visual flow.
TONI SABATINO tonisab@optonline.net 516-972-5455
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