Shara Mendelson - A Glamorous New Yorker

Shara - the founder of Plum Benefits (a game-changing company that provides corporations and organizations with a free and unique entertainment service for employees - www.plumbenefits.com) - is an entrepreneur, thought-leader, and an all around savvy New Yorker.  I have known Shara for ten years and she was kind enough to open her home for a private tour that I now get to share with all of you!

Shara is living in the new and much buzzed MiMa building on West 42nd Street - one of the fastest developing neighborhoods in Manhattan - largely due to the Related Companies' massive development projects.  The MiMa is the quintessential New York luxury high-rise living experience with top of line amenities, sleek finishes and jaw-dropping views of the skyline - http://www.related.com/rentals/MiMA/.

Luckily, Shara snapped some before pics so we can all see the transformation from blank canvas to fabulous.

As you walk-in the front door, you look to your immediate right and you are greeted with a big window and a great dining / entertaining space.

Next - you walk straight in and past a sleek galley style kitchen - the view from the kitchen bar is breath-taking as you see floor-ceiling windows with Manhattan skyline views.

Shara's design plans were a labor of love - family love that is!  Her brother is famed interior designer Gideon Mendelson (founder and owner of Mendelson Group - (http://www.mendelsongroupinc.com/portfolio) with an amazing aesthetic.  Some people have all the luck! - Shara gets to pull the "sister" card!

He has truly amazing vision - here is the "after" dining room space:

I just can't handle it!  I love the round table - such a great choice for creating more seating yet leaving plenty of room for additional storage pieces and room to walk around the table - although there are 5 chairs shown, I have enjoyed dinner parties with up to 7 comfortably seated at this table.

Let's take a closer look at the amazing table top and chair fabric:

So beautiful!  Gideon - if you're reading this - I feel like I've become a close friend - hook me up!

And now - for the living room "after":

So warm and inviting - a great place to have fun with friends or spend a quiet afternoon relaxing.

My personal favorite is the rich metallic blue sofa - the color and sheen make this a "to die for" piece.  Don't let me house-sit - I would have a truck backed up to the MiMa in five second flat - I feel like this sofa would be so happy with me in Jersey City.  I also love the window treatments - they soften the space yet they don't hinder the magnificent views - a great choice.

Another favorite piece - this chair is so soft and comfortable with great textured fabric.  It's always a great decision to pick a neutral tone for furniture fabrics and add color in your accessories like this pillow and throw ensemble - it makes it easy to change with the seasons.

Shara has great taste in art - when you have a big open space with light neutrals or white walls, adorn your home with paintings / photos / and other "statement" pieces to add color and personality.  I always recommend you buy art that truly means something to you - it doesn't have to be expensive to be great art - you just need to love it and have fun with it.

So beautiful and really plays nicely with the blues and purples found in Shara's accessories and fabrics throughout her apartment.

I love everything about this bedroom scene, but what really makes it is the wonderful and serene painting above the head board.  The washed out blues give the room such a sense of calm and just the right pop of soft color.

Shara - thank you for letting us into your home!  Gideon is truly an amazing designer and you are lucky to have such a talented family.

The BIG Antique Show..BIG

Brimfield is like Christmas for decorators - it's the biggest antique show imaginable AND it's mostly affordable, outdoors, and features fried dough!  I mean seriously - there's nothing better than shopping outside with fried dough - maybe prosecco - I've been known to pack some in my cooler in my rental car.  Brimfield is three times a year for one week each stretch - May, July and September.  I recommend you go in May or September to avoid the unbelievable heat.  May and September also tend to attract the most vendors due to better weather and more shoppers.  If you're interested in a great weekend getaway for one-of-a-kind finds, visit Brimfield, MA: http://www.brimfieldshow.com/

I've done the work for you and combed through hundreds of vendors for some of the best finds.  Another piece of advice - if you go, you'll need to note that there are different sections of vendors - you will want to visit the J&J section.  This is easiest to find as it's fronted by a beautiful red barn and parking lot - you can't miss it.

I always get tons of inspiration - it's the latest and greatest in collectables and trends in the ever-changing antique market.  Here's the amazing part - what you see at Brimfield one year will no doubt be in the department stores the following year.  Everything from old seltzer bottles to mason jars and fishing floats are found aplenty - yes, fishing floats are the new / hot garden decor trend!  Who knew?  Oh yeah, I did!

In the J&J field, I spotted this amazing collection of rare wooden spoons and servers:

Some of these started at $1000!  Okay, okay - now on to more affordable items as promised.

Here's a super cool collection of old mixers:

One of these on a kitchen island, breakfast bar or baker's rack will truly make a statement and conversation piece.  Many mixers go for a mere $50 - a great collection to start too as they come in all shapes and sizes.  Feel free to bargain with all the vendors at Brimfield - be polite and start by knocking off 15% from the listed price - most good dealers will give you at least 10%..especially if you bring cash.

One of my favorite things to do at Brimfield is search for fun re-purposed items or salvaged pieces:

This mirror used to be a window in a German factory.  The window panes were replaced with mirrors and the drop top gives so much character.  Ummm - I totally bought it!

This trough used to be a wooden gutter - the dealer simply attached some galvanized metal to each side and poof!  You have the coolest planter ever.

This dealer took an old sink and built the coolest potter's table.  Picture this on your patio with plants OR make it into an outdoor bar - super fun!

I was in the market for a new bar in my living room / kitchen.  I had searched and searched all the well-known furniture stores and I just couldn't find something that was the right size with the right amount of fun and uniqueness.  Thank God for Brimfield.  I found this amazing dry sink that has a ton of storage and makes the best bar:

I bargained a bit and got this for a mint!

Doesn't it just belong in my home!  I adorned it with old bottles, flasks and seltzer bottles.

Here's another little display on my breakfast bar - old kitchen utensils along with a mason jar and some bottles..this whole display cost under $50!

Until September!!