Pics from My Mom's Visit to NY and Little Bro's Visit to Princeton(one of the many reasons from my absence)

Jeannie and I joke this could be a MARNI advertisement. We are both wearing those fabulous shoes to Buddakan (the restaurant in Sex and the City The Movie where Big and Carrie had their rehearsal dinner.)

As mentioned in the previous post, I have had a lot going on the past few weeks. Two wonderful things that happened was my mom coming into town for a week, and visiting my brother at Princeton for a water polo game. I haven't seen my mother or brother in over 8 months. It was so wonderful! All we did was eat and shop, a lot of cocktailing, and every night ending in a slumber party. Here are a few of the highlights!

Me, Mom, and Jeannie- our "Buddakan Best"

A trip to NY isn't whole without a trip to Saks Fifth Avenue!!!

Afternoon brunch at BOBO- love this terrace. I will post about BOBO decor tomorrow.

Tasting fabulous cornbread at Bar Americain- Bobby Flay's acclaimed midtown restaurant

Posing at Rockefeller Center

Taryn, my mom, Wynter, Amy D, Isil, and Jeannie

Dinner at Malatesta Trattoria in the West Village- Love this little place, amazing food, all young italian men own and run the place, but don't love how the owner who is disrupting our picture- how rude.... He was probably drunk :)

Last night together, posing in the foyer of the Waldorf Astoria. It was an intersting time to be staying at the Waldorf. The G20 summit had just taken place and the entire hotel was swarming with secret service all week.

Oh geez, typical Amy- being a poser in a very dignified setting. Oh well, that's me. Take it or leave it! :)

Visiting my little brother aka "Brother" (that's an Arrested Development reference) at Princeton University. He is a second year at the US Naval Academy. He plays water polo and it was fun to see him play. Go Navy!

NAVY won!!! Beat Coast Guard - their big rival. I love seeing family!!!

All in all it has been a wonderful summer, and though the month of September was insanely busy, it was all worth it.

See you tomorrow with some fun design related posts.

Cheers!

The Designista

Amy Hard at Work

I had to take these pictures for a client in Orange County, CA who needs some customization done to our Atlantis fixture. I thought it would be fun to share the kind of things I do for my clients.



Client is worried the draping pieces might be too long. We are showing her what the piece would look like if they were shorter or completely removed.



Cheers!

The Designista

Long Island R&R

With the start of my new job, it is an understatement to say I have been stressed out. I have been working super long hours each day, which has been one of the reasons I have had less postings. And with that stress, comes a lack of creativity. So.... as you may have noticed, I have been going away each weekend, to basically decompress, as well as ground myself. Now with a little security in my career- had two big sales this week (hip hip hooray!)- I am able to relax, at least mentally.... for a bit. Definitely better design oriented postings coming. Actually got a lot of tips from friends this weekend on what they would like to see me add to the posting mix-up.

This weekend I had the pleasure of visiting my sister in Long Island, where we spent the day going to the marina at Port Washington, ate raw oysters and martini's (one of my favorite things,) drove around all the large estates, toured the Merchant Marine Academy (where Jeannie's Fiance coaches football,) and listened to all our favorite music we grew up on- Violent Femmes, Bon Jovi, Hootie and the Blowfish, Save Farris, and so much more....

A couple of highlights:

Jeannie and I walking the marina after stuffing our faces with Blue Point oysters, a Grey Goose vodka martini, and some fabulous sweet pea ravioli's....MMMMMMM

Tasting the most amazing wine I have ever had. Jeannie bought this bottle on a wine website where she finds expensive wines at discounted prices. She has been saving this, and let me tell you, UNBELIEVABLE! Australian Syrah- the best! I suggest buying this wine for a special occasion. Clarendon Hills

Enjoy your day everyone!

Cheers!

The Designista

Art Walls- Easy with a Big Impact

My friend just moved into her apartment in the West Village, and finally has some wall space. She asked me to come over and help her with some design ideas for her new home. She has one wall that is quite large, for NY standards, and I kept trying (came over twice) to get her to do a wall filled with art - paintings, photos, posters, etc - which would fill up the space, give some color to the wall, and make a graphic statement. She was apprehensive to do so, until I started picking up the paintings and actually showing her how great it would look!

Trying to convey my idea of creating an "Art Wall" to Isil, my friend who just moved into her apartment in the West Village. What was supposed to be a quite night at home with a glass of wine and a few decorating tips, quickly became a 2am night with a lot of wine and many decorating tips, including moving things, hanging pictures and surfing the web for new and cost-effective lights and accessories!

Sitting in her apartment, thinking about how to hang all of her art, was a creative endeavor, and got me thinking about how most people have no idea what to do with their wall space. As mentioned, one of my favorite type of art displays is creating a wall that is covered in art and frames. It sounds like it would create chaos, but in fact, if done properly it can give order makes a cohesive environment. Now it seems like home.

I like how the frames are equidistant apart.

Framed and unframed thrift store finds- eclectic and romantic

Repetition of one type of art - great if you have a collection. These pieces are hanging on a piece of fabric.

Wall completely filled from top to bottom- I like how it is mostly black and white photos in frames.

You could find frames, and paint them different colors, and you've got your own art installation.

Drew Barrymore's office at Flower Films- Just printed photographs.

If you are artistic, you could make your own collection of art and hang it up. I know someone who framed her children's art. It was so playful!

The multiple frames on this wall look contemporary and orderly, even against the striped walls.

Gwen Stefani's LAMB office- her photographic inspiration wall.

When you hang art, make sure that there are different heights and hang vertical and horizontal frames. It adds dimension.

Notice the frame on the mantle- something unique. An unframed canvas, sitting behind a single frame.

Another photo wall. I like this idea, but make sure all four corners are tacked down, otherwise, with heat and sun, the corners will start to curl up.

Here they have hung art on the wall, as well as a woven piece around the top picture, added a figurine at the top corner, and set a canvas on the floor. A lot of different applications, but it flows well.

I love this advertisement for ROMO. For you DIYers, try this idea. Find some beautiful graphic and textured paper and frame them. You don't have to scour high and low, create your own. This is soooooo me!

Art is an expression of yourself. It is personal and subjective. You can't go wrong!

Cheers!

The Designista

Labor Day NJ Farm Fun = Corn Relish

Hope everyone had a fabulous Labor Day weekend! I went to NJ for one last weekend of fun in the sun before the weather changes. Unfortunately, the weather did not cooperate. So what was originally planned had to be forfeited for more random and spontaneous fun. Stopping at a state monument and hopping over the border into New Hope, PA were among that fun! However, this little event was one of my favorites- stopping at a roadside farm to buy vegetables for a dish I was bringing to a BBQ in the city later on that night.

I love to cook and love fresh and organic produce. I made Nadia stop here for me, as my dish called for fresh corn.

Laughing at a woman who was flabbergasted that I asked if what I was doing was "shucking, right?" She asked, "where you girls from that you don't know this is shucking? Hey Jim, this girl doesn't know what shucking is?" It was pretty funny!

Getting my lesson

Demonstrating how it's done by the real Jersey Girl- Nadia Stylianou

All my fresh produce

(listed and what should have been added)

NJ Sweet corn

Hot Green peppers

Red onion

Grape tomatoes

Limes

Red bell peppers

JALAPENOS

CILANTRO

Salt

Pepper

GARLIC

I had this at Nadia's house and was instantly hooked. I am not one who uses recipes and prefers to make things up as I go. This CORN RELISH is amazing alone, or added as a garnish on a garden salad, on eggs, with warm vegetables, pasta salad..... (I had all of these in the last two days!)

Simply halve the corn, boil for 10 minutes or less, cut the corn off the cob (after running under cold water) and add to a bowl of all the finely chopped ingredients you see above. Add lime, salt, and pepper to taste, and VIOLA! You have got one little fresh dish! The capitalized items are things that should have been added for more flavor!

I love it when I come with a full bowl and leave with a serving or two leftover- My job is done here!!!!!

It's the homemaker and entertainer in me that loves to know that people are happy with the food, the environment, the decorations, the drinks, the music etc. So, I found myself walking around asking my friends what they thought of my dish and how I could make it better. At one point, there were about 6-8 people around the bowl trying to figure out what possibly could have been added to make it even better... and the VERDICT- Cilantro and Jalapenos...... No hurt feelings here, just a little advise for better culinary art!

Cheers!

The Designista

Big Drop Event- I got my pics on the net! Looks like I'm coming up!

Photo by www.geniushatescompany.com

Last week, I was helping out at a shopping event that Big Drop hosted for Dress for Success. A percentage of the proceeds went to the charity. There were some photographers there and I got my picture on a couple of websites. Since I am so new to this scene, I thought it was really fun!!!

I met this great girl at the event who blogs about all things related to fashion. Her blog is http://www.misswhoeveryouare.com/. Check it out!

This was the caption to the picture: "Amy, Big Drop NYC Sales Assistant who is coming out with her own interior design blog by next week. We totally had a convo about blogging. My words of wisdom "Dude, it's SOO addictive!" Word."

Thanks Eileen for the shout out! And you're right, it is addictive!

Cheers,

The Designista

First, a little about me- Miss Amy Davis

Good Morning everyone. Actually at this point, everyone might just be my mom. Hi Mom! There might be a few others that I have told with a reluctant grin, letting them know I finally started my blog.....And hello to the rest of you four!

For those of you who don't know me..... HI!!!!!

Amy Davis (1979 - )

I thought about going right into my first design post, but then realized, there might actually be people who wonder who I am, why I live in New York, and what I am doing here. Let me be the first to say, "My name is Amy Davis. I grew up in sunny southern California all my life, and moved to New York City on February 11th, 2009- 6 days before my 30th birthday." People ask me what I did for my birthday. "Anything special?" "Ummmm, yeah. I moved to New York."

My sister and I at my 30th birthday party she hosted for me at Lolita Bar in the Lower East Side. I had about 30 people show up. Some friends new and old and a really fabulous night!

And now onto my brief history:

I went to school for marketing at San Diego State University. I lived across from the beach on Mission Boulevard- a little peace of heaven on earth. After graduation, I moved up to Pasadena, California to work for my family's lumber company, while I went to the interior design program at the Fashion Institute of Design and Merchandising. You've never met a girl who knows more about lumber and wears 5" heals! Going to FIDM made me realize how important it is to study something you really enjoy. I truly loved going to class everyday. While at school, I met the talented celebrity event designer, Diann Valentine, and started working as her assistant on events, weddings, and interior projects. I eventually did a television pilot with her for a wedding reality show. What an experience that was! She is actually on the new TNT show, Wedding Day... Check it out!

Though I always had a strong passion for events, I knew I needed to get into the interior design world. After all, I did go to school for it! One thing led to another and I met a woman, who I proudly call my good friend, and started to work for her. She, too, went to FIDM. Here's a little lesson- NETWORK everyone! You never know who you are going to meet. I was her "project manager" for huge international projects. I even got to travel to London, Paris, and Bali. I received so much training and the travel wasn't bad either! I was truly blessed!

Now let me give you the dirt on why I came here to New York. Ever since I can remember, I knew I was bound for the city life- New York, San Francisco, Chicago, Boston.... I just wanted to be where there was endless excitement, fashion, design, and people, people, people. But, as life happens, things always came up and before I knew it, years had passed. Excuses like, "I have a good job, I have a boyfriend, I don't want to leave the weather, I may be too old for that life, I'll miss my family, this is good enough for right now, maybe later, do I really want to live in a shoebox?" But it was always in the back of my mind..... and weighing me down with regret, more often than not.

So....... after a difficult break up with someone I had spent years of my life with, as well as some dating disasters that followed, I decided to quit my job and move to New York! Yippee!!!!!!! I gave notice on my apartment and when it came down to finally moving, I CHICKENED OUT. Can you believe it? And again, I came up with all the aforementioned excuses (sans the boyfriend and job, of course) and was now in limbo. Thanks to my grandfather and his vacant house, I moved to San Clemente, California, where I spent 10 months living one block from the beach. I took a hiatus from design and started working at Nordstrom. I did a few freelance design jobs here and there, but primarily worked at Nordstrom. I am sure I'll go back one day and perhaps settle in Orange County permanently. Living at the beach is really a wonderful life. But I am not ready for that yet!

Though I LOVED living so close to the beach, I still thought about New York daily, but I never really talked about it with anyone. I was tired of being the girl that cried wolf. Then, on New Years Eve, I was sick with a cold and laying in bed. I remember I was watching "Love Actually" and even though I was sick, I was still drinking champagne. I refused to be at home on New Year's Eve and sober!!! But I had a moment of realization and it became clear to me that I had to move to Manhattan or I would regret it for the rest of my life. I didn't want to regret not doing things anymore. So.... I made the decision. Three weeks later, a friend of a friend was going to travel for two months and needed someone to take over the lease for that time. It worked out perfectly. From the moment I made my decision to my arrival in Manhattan, it was 6 weeks. My sister and best friend from college both live in New York, and they met me at my apartment that night. I finally took a leap and the net appeared. I was safe!

My sister Jeannie and I taking a picture while talking to my mom letting her know I had arrived safely.

My friend Wynter, friends for over 10 years, who met me at the airport to bring me home for my first night. Something she said she wished someone would have done for her! Thanks Wynt!

Living here has been an absolute blast and the experience of a lifetime. Meeting new people, traveling on the subway, food and entertainment, city life, staying up all night, a Britney Spears concert and so much more. Check out the pics below of two wonderful memories of mine in this city.

This picture was taken by me on a rooftop at sunrise less than two weeks after my arrival and two days before my first snow storm. Needless to say, it was FA-REEEEZING! But definitely worth it!

My sister wanted to see Britney Spears for her birthday so we got great seats and after the concert we decided to put all our Britney gear on and head back into the city and show up at another birthday party. I am sure we looked like freaks in our B-Spears shirts and masquerade masks, but it was soooooo fun!

But with all the fun, there has also been some difficult times- emotionally I should say. It has, at times, been really hard. The biggest point of contention is my living situation. I moved here in February and lived in East Williamsburg for six weeks, then moved to Columbus Circle across the street from Central Park for 2-1/2 months, and now just moved to the East Village. It has been hard settling down. And now, though I LOVE the location, I live with roommates.... Something I haven't done in 8 years. Also, my dog, Penny, is still at home with my mother. I decided to leave her at home until I was able to provide a comfortable place for her to live here in the city. I miss her so much, but thank goodness my cat Chloe is here with me! The job market is not so great here in New York, but I am actively looking for an opportunity that will allow me to live on my own, even in a borough, and bring Penny out here! Currently, I work at a high-end fashion boutique in SOHO, Big Drop, where I have the occasional celebrity customer. I have met some really great friends there, and for that, I am very thankful!

This is my cat Chloe..... Been a little beacon of support here in the city. I know she misses the great outdoors in California. She looks a bit viscous here, but she is actually only meowing to me. Caught in the action!

This is the little apple of my eye, Penny. I miss her so much. How could you not? Look at that precious face. She'll be joining me as soon as possible! This picture was taken underneath the covers... so cute.

Putting the above complaints aside, I have never regretted my move. Don't get me wrong, there were times where I was severely homesick, especially during my first snow blizzard, and thought about coming home, but thank goodness for my friends and family who slapped me back into place! They know how much this move meant to me and they weren't about to let me come home just because it got a little hard! Thanks guys!

This was taken when I woke up and opened the draperies to my apartment. I was obviously going to be bound inside since I did not own snow boots and I just lost the other hand to my only pair of gloves! Pretty though, right?

I just wanted to share with you my little history, and for those of you that know me, this could have gone on for days. I am notorious for telling stories that never end! There are just so many details I think are important...but no reason to bore you with them. Perhaps this little story will give the umph to someone who's made a lot of excuses for not pursuing their dreams. If so, don't let the moment pass anymore.

This has been the experience of a lifetime and I am so looking forward to what each day brings!

Now..... Let the creative postings begin!!!!! Wooohooo!

Cheers,

The Designista

Welcome! Amy Davis has finally started her blog!!!

Well, everyone, after much talk (more than a year,) I have finally taken the step and started my blog- The Designista. I have thought about this blog for a long time and toyed with different notions of what this blog could be. Should I write about the interior design world and current and upcoming trends? Nah, too many out there on this topic. I'd get lost in the shuffle. Or perhaps I should try to capture a bit of my exhibitionist spirit regarding my new life in New York City? You know, as much as I like to update my Facebook status with near novel-like entries, an entire blog on my life may be seem a little self-indulgent. Maybe it would be fun to document my own design adventures and do-it-yourself tips for those on a budget? Well, I do love this idea, but there is no way I can post a do-it-yourself task everyday. My heart desires it, but the hours in my day won't permit that. Let's see, I love to plan events, maybe I should stick with giving advice on how to be a fabulous host and entertainer? Again, I don't live in a space that could accomodate proper entertaning, therefore, how could I give advice everyday on the subject. Hmmmm, what to do, what to do. After much consideration, reading, and researching, I decided to start a blog that incorporates all of these things. They say you should start writing about what you are passionate about and...drum roll please....all of these things I love!

The name Designista came about because much like the term "fashionista," which obviously revolves around fashion, my blog will include all things related to design. One thing it will specifically focus on, which is one of my biggest passions, is taking old finds at flea markets, antique shops, family garages and closets (my own type of treasure chest,) and something big in NYC, street finds, and revamping them into new and fabulous pieces! I have always loved the idea of taking something one already owns and changing it into something quite unexpected for a new punch of color or added glamour to an existing space.

Entertaining has also been something dear to my heart. If there is an event to plan, I am there. Flowers to design, count me in! I have so many ideas to share regarding dining, events, and entertaining, I can't wait to share them with you.

Now, being a recent transplant from California to NYC, I can only begin to tell you the things I have experienced here so far; fabulous dining, new friendships, great museums, amazing shopping, roof top events, and so much more. Though, on the other hand, being so new, I am starting from scratch when trying to find design resources- wholesale flower marts, garment district, flea markets and second hand shops..... the list goes on and on.

The Designista will be a place for me to express the creativity that takes place in my life daily and will hopefully help others to harness their own creativity from within themselves. This blog will encompass all things from finding inspiration in Henri Bendels department store for a new jewelry display in my room (stay tuned for this entry!) to finding the perfect vintage dresser on craigslist, planning the "Perfect Picnic in the Park" (another entry I am looking forward to writing) or backyard bar-b-que in midtown manhattan.

Thanks so much for stopping by to check out my blog. My goal is to start with a posting a day and eventually, as I learn more about this thing called "the blogosphere," I can post multiple times a day. So check in often!

Cheers everyone! If I had a glass of champagne in my hand right now, I'd toast you!