So I’ve been keeping a little secret that I am BEYOND EXCITED to share!! Back in November I taped an episode for a new show on HGTV called My Favorite Place where I give viewers an up close tour of my apartment and I just found out that it airs on Saturday!! I’m so excited for everyone to watch! It airs THIS SATURDAY July 2nd at 6pm Eastern / 5pm Central / 3pm Pacific and the episode will feature my house tour along with the homes of Jonathan Adler and Jill Zarin from the Real Housewives of New York! I’m humbled to have my little Harlem apartment featured alongside the homes of such amazing names! Since premiering in May, the show has featured celebrities, decorators and TV personalities such as India Hicks, Kathy Griffin, Cynthia Rowley, Jamie Durie, Nancy O’Dell, Cheryl Burke and more. I couldn’t be more excited!! Below is the synopsis of my episode from HGTV.com. Please tune-in on Saturday to watch! It would mean the world to me!!

Also – here’s the official description of the show. To find out about other upcoming episodes click here!

“We all know designers and trendsetters who inspire us. But have you ever wondered where their inspiration comes from? You flip through magazines gazing at the stunning houses and spaces they decorate, but wouldn’t you like to know how they came up with the design behind them? My Favorite Place is an all-access behind-the-scenes look at the spaces today’s top designers and trendsetters find most inspiring.”

For the dining tablescape I set for my entertaining essentials TV segment, I contrasted textures and materials to create an beautiful table that was accented by dim candlelight and gorgeous floral arrangements. There’s no rule that says your dinnerware has to match and here I mixed together a croc printed silver charger with a classic white with silver rim dinner plate and a glass salad plate that featured an interesting textural pattern. When entertaining for a very special occasion I always say linen napkins are a must and soft candlelight really helps set the mood mood…it’s also the most flattering light! I added candlesticks in varying heights for added visual interest and also clustered groups of votives along the table which is a simple way to make a big impact. The flatware I used for the segment had  black, wooden handles which I thought provided a nice contrast and I used classic white stemware for wine and water. I topped it off with gorgeous arrangement made with white hydrangea and orchids, courtesy of In Bloom New York. Below, is some inspiration for how you can achieve a similar look for your next dinner party!

1. Dinnerware L-R:  Stainless Steel Chargers, $49.95/set of 4 at Crate & Barrel. Calvin Klein Basso Dinner Plate, $37. Iittala “Dew Drop” salad plate, $16 at Bloomingdale’s. | 2. LaGuiole Flatware, $89.95 at Williams-Sonoma. | 3. Miller Rogaska Weston Candlesticks, $94.99-119.99/pair at Bed Bath & Beyond. | 4. Glass Votives, $26.99/pack of 72 at Amazon.com. | 5. Monnogrammed Hotel Dinner Napkins, $46/set of 6 at Williams-Sonoma. | 6. Swirl Stemware, $12.99 at Bed Bath & Beyond. | 7. In Bloom Collection “Saragosa Garden” floral arrangement, $150 at Plant Shed NY.

A few months back I taped a segment for The Black Enterprise Business Report on TV One that was all about essentials for entertaining with style. I was called to do the segment the night before it taped so I had less than 24 hours to scramble together a chic tablescape along with several useful entertaining tips! Because I had such short notice, I ended up renting most of the pieces I used also brought in a few of my own pieces from home. One of the points I stressed in the segment is the fact that it’s ok to mix and match your dinnerware to create a unique look. You can view the entire segment by clicking the image above and below are a few behind-the-scenes photos of the shoot! I also want to give a special thanks to In Bloom New York for providing the beautiful floral arrangements. Also – stay tuned for a get the look post inspired by this table design!

People always ask me who my favorite interior designers are and one person that’s always on my list is British born, LA based designer Peter Dunham. I just love the global influences he brings into his work, the way he mixes patterns and texture, and the fact that his spaces exude refinement yet feel totally un-stuffy. I’m also a big fan of his textile line which is heavily influenced by Islamic and Indian culture. Peter has an amazing shop called Hollywood at Home, located in the heart of LA’s design district, where he sells his own fabrics and furniture lines along with antiques, art, accessories and textiles from several other amazing brands that share his worldly point of view. Hollywood at Home is a must-visit LA design destination so I always make time to stop by and see what’s new when I’m in town. Earlier this spring I popped into the shop unannounced, just before it was closing for the day and found Peter barefoot, wearing a white tee and jeans, huddled around a giant table working with his team on details for a client project. His presence was a true personification of the way he approaches his designs – casually elegant, relaxed and completely approachable. Peter was kind enough give me a tour of what’s new and let me snap a few photos of his impeccably decorated shop. Have a look at the photos along with a few tips for how you can incorporate some of his styling ideas into your own home!

Hollywood at Home actually occupies two storefronts at 724 and 750 N. La Cienega Blvd. This is his 750 space which is newer and mainly houses his furniture offerings.

I love this sitting area. One way to add a punch to a neutral space is to bring in accessories, like these brightly colored throw pillows for a pop of color.

In the foreground of this photo you can see a peek of Peter’s new Lexington Ottoman and on the right is the NYAC armchair, a reproduction of a rush chair once found at the Downtown New York Athletic Club.

Here are a pair of Dunham’s Cole chair upholstered in his Samarkand fabric.

This is the space located at 724 N. La Cienega which houses mostly textiles and accessories. I absolutely loved this bedroom vignette. A common decorating myth is that you can’t mix up too many patterns and here this myth is completely dispelled as  an array of mismatched John Robshaw fabrics patched together somehow all works together quite nicely. It evokes the feeling of a handmade patchwork quilt. The key is to mixing and matching such detailed pattern is using fabrics in the same color palettes like Peter has done here.

I also love the look of a well-dressed bed full of cozy throw pillows. It makes a bed look so much more inviting.

I often say that good design is in the details. Here a vase of daises brightens up a rustic bedside table.

Accessorizing with books is another great styling tip. Here vintage hardcover books add a pop of color and pattern, and added detail to this tablescape…

R.P. Miller is one of the newest fabric lines offered at Hollywood at Home. The line incorporates Japanese inspired patterns hand printed on Belgian linen.

I was also drawn to these vibrant ikats from Danielle & Sachrijara…

Browsing the wall of Peter’s gorgeous fabric designs is like taking a walk through textile heaven!

For more info on Hollywood at Home visit the website here.

All photos are by Nicole Gibbons

_{A terrace from the book Rooftop Gardens, features red maple trees, ivy, cypress, blue hydrangea, boxwood hedges and more, making this a beautiful and  a colorful oasis in the sky, high above Park Avenue.}

In New York City outdoor living space is an extreme luxury that most people covet. There are a few who are lucky enough to enjoy a tiny sliver of outdoor space in the form of a balcony or maybe even a small terrace. And then there are the ultra-privileged ones who can claim ownership to the most sprawling and enviable terraces and outdoor gardens that the City has to offer. These spaces, like the one above, are like little slices of heaven in New York and a new book published by Rizzoli and written by Denise Le Frak Calicchio and Roberta Model Amon, is devoted to exploring these lavish outdoor gardens. From Park Avenue to Soho, Rooftop Gardens, gives us a rare glimpse inside the posh private terraces and balconies and conservatories of the city’s toniest residences and the glamorous lives of the people that live in them.

I received an advance copy of the book and one of the spaces I was completely smitten with is this wraparound multi-level penthouse terrace in Tribeca that is complete with two dining areas and stunning views of New York City. It’s planted with lush, gold-tipped arborvitae, juniper, fernspray and white hydrangeas which are one of my favorite flowers.

The garden can be seen directly from the penthouse’s windowed living room, which creates the perfect visual flow between the well-appointed indoor and outdoor spaces. (In case you were wondering, the sumptuous interiors were designed by Thomas Jayne who I’ll be profiling here on So Haute very soon!)

You can order a copy of Rooftop Gardens here through Rizzoli or here from Amazon.com

Photos by Norman McGrath, courtesy of Rizzoli