Ruby Press

On Monday I asked you what your top picks were for 2009 and I loved your answers!  {Seriously, I think we have the chicest readers ever!}

Some of my favorite answers were:

What’s your favorite design trend? Catherine at Rikshaw Design says: loving plaid shirts with high heels and a faux fur jacket! Oh, and tons of necklaces!

Shopping city? Destined to Design says: Florence, Italy  Nicole says: Charleston, South Carolina

Affordable luxury? Kadie says: B.T. McElrath chocolate bars in their Salty Dog variety (dark chocolate with toffee and sea salt).  Dani says:  Live lobster from the Chinese seafood market, Chanel Rouge Allure lipstick (the packaging!), and French sugar-cubes from the supermarket.

Style icon? Catherine at Rikshaw Design says: This is hard..Peggy Lipton, and can’t really get enough of Kate Hudson.  Dani says:  Daphne Guinness, Hitchcock’s blondes.

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Wall color? Jennifer says: Hazelnut Creme, at Kelly Moore. Best tan ever; not too yellow and not too pink.  Terra says:  Sherwin Williams Intellectual Gray.

Way to relax? Jennifer says: a day at Indian Springs. If that’s not in the cards, then a crossword puzzle.  Angela says: I have a favorite trail at the foot of a Redwoods park close to my house. The views are breath taking and the only thing you can hear is the sound of birds chirping and the leaves and twigs under your feet.  Minh-Khue says: playing the piano when no one’s home (so I know I’m not bothering anybody!).

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Restaurant? Heather says: Babbo in New York, hands down!  Vicente Agor says: Serpentine, SF, for their savory bread pudding.

Flowers? Reilly says: Anenomes.  Heather says: Roses and Peonies for inside. Hydrangea bushes, Knockout Roses, Provence Lavendar and Camellia bushes for outside in the yard.

Hotel? Vicente Agor says: The newly reopened La Mamounia. Terra says: Ventana Inn in Big Sur is luxurious & has beautiful views without being too overdone. Too bad it’s not in the “affordable luxury” category”.

Drink/cocktail? Vicente Agor says: Diet coke with frozen black cherries on a hot summer day.  Caroline says:  Mint Julep or Strawberry Fields from the Typsy Pig in San Francisco.

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MY favorites are as follows:

What’s your favorite design trend? The mix!  In fashion, oversized rhinestone earrings worn with a vintage jacket and beat up jeans and a great pair of heels.  For interiors, combining modern touches with vintage, flea market finds.  Think antique horse prints in same room as a glossy white lacquer coffee table.

Shopping city? SO hard to pick between New York, London and Los Angeles, but I think New York always wins for me.

Affordable luxury? Fresh squeezed orange juice in the morning.

Style icon? Ines de la Fressange.

Wall color? Coral-y pink.

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Way to relax? Baking on Sunday afternoons, frequent trips to the spa, playing with our dogs and watching brainless TV with my husband Sam.

Restaurant? Balthazar in New York for their atmosphere and pavlovas, Tom’s Pizza in Indiana, PA for the best pizza ever {although this comes in at a close second}, and Cancun Taqueria in Berkeley for their crispy fish tacos.

Flowers? Fragrant garden roses.

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Hotel? Tie between the Chateau Marmont and Manka’s Inverness Lodge, before the fire.  I love every room, cottage and bungalow I’ve ever stayed in at the Chateau.  {Plus, we produced our first Ruby Press event at the legendary Hollywood hotel!}  Mankas, a rustic chic hotel was once an old hunting and fishing lodge from 1919.  Cozy room with fireplace, big antique leather club chairs, beautiful vintage bathroom, top notch restaurant, no phones, no TV, an outdoor shower with crazy views {yep, great even in the winter}…  Both make me feel like I’m living in a different era.

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Drink/cocktail? I’m a champagne girl all the way, but I also love the Penthouse.