I’ve been helping one of best friends style her new bookcases in her living room and my first question was do you have any coffee table books?! One of my favorite tips to style just about any piece of furniture (consoles, end tables, night stands, coffee tables, open shelving, you name it) is to decorate with coffee table books. I started my collection over 7 years ago and I’m so happy I did. If you’re having trouble getting started, I recommend searching for coffee table books that align with your interests whether it be gardening, entertaining, fashion, traveling, etc.
In recent weeks, there have been several new book releases that I’m personally so excited about. Insert Mark D. Sikes’ “More Beautiful” — the interiors are absolutely stunning! Give me all of the blue and white, please. Designing History by Michael S. Smith is another one of my recent purchases that I couldn’t recommend more. Michael was tasked with decorating the Obama White House and it’s so interesting to learn the details that go in to decorating for a new White House administration. If you are you into podcasts, you can catch Michael on Paloma Contreras’ new podcast, The Style Files.
The other weekend I visited the Serena and Lily Westport, Connecticut location for the very first time and let’s just say, I’d be more than happy to move right in!
Housed in a stunning historic home in the heart of Westport, the three story flagship is complete with living room spaces, a dinning room/kitchen space as well as a fully designed attic showcasing an additional dinning room vignette, plush beds, and sitting rooms — no detail was left behind! We got so excited about the attic, my cousin Holly pitched the idea about renovating her attic to her husband as soon as we got home. Still hoping he comes around to this idea!
What I loved most about visiting the shop was seeing so many of the items I have on my official Serena and Lily wish list in real life to get a sense of what we should purchase next! Right now I’d love to pick up this Cyprus Bone Inlay mirror for our bedroom or this little lamp with the rattan lamp shade. Last but not least, we’re always in the market for new Serena and Lily sheets as they are our favorite to sleep in to-date. P.s. incase you missed it, take a peek at my fall bedding refresh I did with Serena and Lily last year!
Below are a few snaps I took during our visit as well as a complete round up of my must-haves! You can shop each piece by clicking on the plus sign next to each product! Do you have a never-ending Serena and Lily wish list, too? 🙂 Xo. Lauren
Annie!! To say I’m excited for the Mark D. Sikes x Annie Selke Collection is an understatement. Please give us all of the blue and white stripes forever and ever!Â
You know I am huge fan of yours so I am thrilled to have you take part in my new Tastemakers Series!! I know many of my readers already know and love you, but for those who are just tuning in, let’s bring them up to speed!Â
Tastemaker
Annie Selke
Hometown
Stockbridge, MA and now live next door in Lenox, MA
What inspired your collaboration with Mark and what can we expect to see from this collection?
We love Mark’s work and feel his attention to detail and emphasis on quality are compatible with our brand. The entire line is sophisticated but accessible. I think designers, retailers, and consumers will find it incredibly easy to love and live with.
What piece of advice would you give someone who is decorating their home and on the hunt for the perfect rug?Â
It’s important to take into account what will be going on in a space when deciding on what type of rug will be best suited for the job. Think about your color scheme and what your intent is for the space and find something you love that meets those needs. And definitely don’t be afraid of a little color!
Given how successful you’ve been throughout your career, are there specific people, places or things that have inspired you along the way? Have these been consistent over time or how have they evolved?Â
I was extremely fortunate to have found great mentors who understood my talents better than I did! They taught and pushed me to learn, experiment and take ownership: Bea Maloney at Ferragamo and Pat at Conran’s. Two lovely, smart women who had forged careers when it wasn’t as easy to do so. Big love for them recognizing something in me.
How has instagram influenced the design industry or your company specifically?Â
Social media has enhanced business for The Annie Selke Companies. Through social media, we are able to more easily connect with likeminded individuals who share our passion for design. On Instagram, we are able to form symbiotic, organic relationships with influencers and designers who share our vision and whose presence on social media enhances our business. We started gathering UGC 2 years ago and have found that it is an extremely effective marketing tool. It’s continued to grow over time- we receive submissions daily of truly beautiful spaces.
The best trip you’ve ever taken:Â
That’s a tough one… there’s “best” and “most memorable”. I am fortunate to have traveled a great deal. The trips in the memorable category that stand out are: a rustic, on the cheap safari in Kenya in 1989 when I visited Isak Dinesen’s house on the outskirts of Nairobi and slept in a tiny tent surrounded by noisy zebras and staying in a beach hut in Thailand.
Travelling to Paris as a high school exchange student and seeing this amazing city for the first time at an impressionable age created a need to revisit on a regular basis. Then there was Lake Como, Italy and a Tiger Safari in Rajasthan, India… Okay – almost all travel is life enhancing!
Favorite hotel in the world:
The Imperial – Delhi, India
The Relais Christine, Paris
The Knightsbridge, London
The Whitby, NYC
Le Sereno, St. Barth’s
Speaking of hotels, I had the pleasure of staying at 33 Main and absolutely loved the experience. From the warm chocolate chip cookies to the fluffy robe waiting for me after my shower, the inn felt like a home away from home!
What inspired you to create 33 Main and what would you like guests to take away?Â
I specifically refer to 33 Main as a luxury lodging experience and not a B&B because of the reputation that many B&Bs have. I wanted to add design and graciousness to the traditional B&B mix, incorporating what I have enjoyed in country house hotels in England and in luxury boutique hotels from France to Park City to Laguna Beach and Martha’s Vineyard.  I wanted to create an environment where people feel relaxed, comfortable, pampered, well fed and well taken care of. Â
From a brand marketing stand point, I think the inn/33 Main underscores our core mission which is to bring happy home by filling our customers’ lives with beautiful, life-enhancing quality products.  The inn is a way to introduce our products to our guests with a sublimely soft sell approach, bringing happy home when you are away from home, so to speak.
Go-to flea markets or antique stores:
Brimfield, Massachusetts
Round Top – Texas
The Marche aux Puces – Paris
Top 3 tried and true entertaining tips and tricks:
Cook fabulous, simple, crowd pleasing dishes – don’t get too fancy. Create a welcoming environment that makes people feel instantly at home. Make time for parties and friends! Put together small and large groups of people. Cross pollination of fiends makes for a fun and interesting party!Â
Favorite design or style hack.
I can’t think of a go-to hack except that I love shopping in vintage and antique shops to find pieces that add some age, depth and context to an interior. I recommend adding something unexpected and, in my case, something that brings a smile to your face every time you see it.Â
What’s on the horizon for Annie Selke?
We’re adding a pet line for Holiday 2019. I’m looking to expand our hospitality business into other locales. We hope to continue to grow our Annie Selke licensing collaborations and look forward to finding fun, new brand enhancing collaborations to bring to our customers. Never a dull moment.
Last week I created a Follow Friday series on my Instagram stories where I highlighted five accounts that I currently find inspiring! Isn’t it fun to discover new accounts to spice up your feed? Don’t worry, if you missed it you can catch up & view on my story highlights! Within the roundup, I included a new-to-me account called Maine House Interiors founded by Australian interior designer Amy Spargo.
It’s no surprise that I’m a huge fan of how Amy incorporates blue and white throughout many of the spaces she designs. I particularly loved this preppy and colorful entry way vignette photographed above! Doesn’t it look like a space that belongs in a Palm Beach house or hotel?!
My favorite element in the design has to be the pair of custom ottomans featuring a Tigger Hall fabric. If you love adding custom elements to your home, I highly recommend taking a peek at Etsy shop Liven Up Design! They can easily re-create these ottomans for you either using fabric they have in-house or with a fabric you ship directly to them!
I re-created the look below with a more muted palette but still using blue and white as the main color combination. I found a similar wallpaper as the one photographed above on Wayfair called “Floral Teahouse” wallpaper but I personally loved this blue and white botanical wallpaper a little more (also from Wayfair!). This classic white mirror would pair nicely with just about any entryway table or console. And I love how this table lamp easily compliments the wallpaper. Plus, it’s only $113 dollars!
