KIDS' ROOMS - BED OPTIONS!

A traditional wood sleigh bed with pink bedding in a cute little girl's room. A good classic bed selection because can easily transition this bed into this little girl's teens with just a change of bedding. (above)

Kids need cute bedrooms too!  Love a well dressed room for a boy or girl and the centerpiece of that room is the bed!  So what to do when picking out a bed for a child's room?  Here are some bed ideas!

A lime green upholstered headboard is the perfect accent in this sporty boy's room. (above)

Bunk beds in white...love the drawers. (above)

An all in one option twin bed with drawers and a bookshelf attached! (above)

These girs have it lucky...full size pink and green upholstered beds in a shared bedroom. (above)

Which of these rooms do you like most for a child (a question for moms and future moms).  I like the idea of shared rooms...so the bunks or the pink and green bedroom work for me (until I was about 9, I shared a room with my sis DS and it was so much fun).  Do you like or do you think a kids room should be more basic (considering they may grow out of it)?  Do tell.

Happy Monday!

xo
Coco

P.S.  Was in Puerto Vallarta this weekend for the wedding of TG and AG.  AG is my good good friend and I wouldn't have missed her wedding for anything.  It was absolutely lovely.  It was so sweet to see my good friend walk down the aisle and marry the man she loves!  Very romantic.  She got married on a bluff right on the water right at sunset.  It was so amazingly wonderful.  Congrats to AG and her new hubby TG!

A floral pom pom attached to a fabric wrapped arch at AG'S (formerly AZ) amazing Puerto Vallarta wedding. (above)

P.P.S.  At the wedding weekend,  I also got to catch up with all my girl friends from around the country including HW, CJ, KD, AL, WH, AS and more.  The weather was gorgeous.  Spent a lot of time at the pool.  No computer with me by the way...it was a nice vacation!

P.P.P.S.  Oh forgot to mention...on the rehearsal dinner night, the bride and groom decided that everyone should do karaoke.  So I had the bright idea that we should perform...so I convinced good friend CJ and the groom's sister who I've known for years to do a rendition of Queen's Boheman Rhapsody...first of all wrong song choice completely...we sounded like three cats in a bag. Out of tune...singing the wrong lyrics...stopping during the middle of the performance and just standing there looking out over the crowd of about 100. During the musical interlude...we broke out into our own impromptu song about the bride and groom...then we would go back to our massacre of the song.    That song is extremely long by the way...so close to 6 minutes after first popping onto the stage...the 3 of us took a bow and ran off.  Our performance was described as "unique" and "interesting" and one woman's husband said nicely, "there was a lot of room for improvement"...another woman said, "Well at least you girls looked cute." Yup. Oh did I mention the groom taped the whole debacle on his iPhone!  Ay yi yi!  Must track down the groom when he gets back and delete that immediately!


Photos: The Glow; David Scott; Sherrill Canet; Agus Interiors; Erinn V Designs

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AN beach, bedroom, beds, boy rooms, bunk beds; sleigh bed; upholstered bed, children, flowers, girl rooms, kids rooms, weddings

SIMPLY A ROYAL WEDDING!

My interior design non sequitur of the day...

I said I wasn't going to watch it live. I have a big day ahead today so I had no intentions of being up during the wee hours of the night to watch the Royal Wedding. Why watch it live when there are DVRs? Nope not watching. That was my resolve. Even spoke with good friend Alyssa who lives in London a few days back and swore that I would NOT be watching the Royal Wedding live.

I watched the Royal Wedding live. Short story really...went to sleep very early (11p is very early for me)...woke up in the middle of the night to get a bit of water...turns out, I woke up at 2:30am here in Los Angeles...so I turned on the t.v.! Then I was in.

A lovely wedding indeed. I thought Kate Middleton or I guess I don't know what to call her now that she is an HRH...looked fantastic. Her dress was perfect. Simple, elegant, perfectly clean lines...sounds like I am describing a room or furniture...but the architecture of the future queen's wedding day attire was just right.  William looked quite lovely too.  Nice wedding.

Then there were Fergie's girls adding some Hollywood style humor to the quite regal British affair. Princesses Eugenia and Bea looked a little kooky/eccentric in their hats. They looked like characters out of Disney movie or something. I guess though, more power to them...they dared to be oh so different.

I did go back to sleep after they left the church...now I'm hurting a bit this a.m.! Oh dear. Where is my friend caffeine? Where are you? Must stop off and get my morning tea with soy (I drink that every morning...not just on Royal Wedding days...fyi) and meet up with caffeine then!

I guess the moral to this story is never say never? You'd think by now I would have learned to never say never? I guess I'll never learn...LOL!

More on interiors...coming up...

xo
Coco

Photo: Max Kim-Bee

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AN dress, fashion, Nbaynadamas, royal wedding, weddings

DECORATING A PERFECTLY POSH WEDDING - HOW CHIC EVENT PLANNER YIFAT OREN MIGHT HELP!

The gorgeous tablescape at a Santa Barbara area wedding designed by event planner Yifat Oren (above)

Uhm...I want to get married. I do. Really I do. I do. Yooohoooo. Is it weird though that as of right now because there is not even an inkling of who might be Mr. Nbaynadamas, I would like to get married to have a gorgeous party like this! I know it is weird. I want to get married to have a wonderful reception? Well I figure until I meet a cool guy and I feel so compelled to get married for the right reason - love - I'm looking at marriage as a wonderful excuse to have a great party and all of your family and friends around you and to wear a pretty dress (I forgot one other variable...the hypothetical cool guy would have to ask me to marry him in order for there to be a marriage...I am traditional in this area). Maybe, once I meet the guy, marriage to me will be about a loving relationship...and a great party of course.

These images come from renowned wedding planner and good friend the ever so chic Yifat Oren.

Yifat is widely considered one of the top wedding and event producers in the nation having planned the nuptials of stars such as Mariska Hargitay, Kevin Costner and Jason Bateman.

These lovelies are pictures of posh wedding she planned up in Montecito, CA a few springs ago. Wow. I would like this party. Hmmmm....how can I wrangle Yifat to plan a wedding for me on an unknown date and to an unknown guy...? Need to figure out this puzzle and I'll get back to you.

From a design perspective though, I love the way Yifat "decorates" a wedding. J'adore her lush tablescape filled with flowers and vessels of different heights and sizes - all creating wonderful visual interest while not overtaking the dining table. Her centerpieces are exquisite collages that ooze elegance and charm.



My babble aside about my very hypothetical marriage...now to serious stuff...

Calling all brides...real brides...(not fictional "brides" like me).... (oh and grooms too)...

Yifat has partnered with Crate & Barrel on a $100,000 wedding giveaway! One lucky winner will get the chance to have Yifat plan a gorgeous dream wedding for them.

The contest is called Crate & Barrel's Ultimate Wedding Contest...and it is going on now.

So fab...an Yifat planned wedding...it is my dream...good luck to any of those of you who do enter...or tell your friends who are getting married to enter so that you can possibly attend a fantastic event.

Oooohhh just thought of someone I think should enter...yooohoooo AZ and TG...enter...enter...enter...

Yifat designed a sophisticated lounge area at the Montecito spring wedding reception...allowing guests to mingle in an outdoor living room setting complete with upholstered Louis armchairs and settees! (above)


The cake! (above)


Celebrity wedding planner, Yifat Oren (and my friend...of course must insert me into everything...LOL) (above)
Thank you to Yifat (and to her wonderful husband Jonny Cutler) for these amazing pictures. While I don't have an immediate need for a wedding, I can dream can't I? I can dream.

How did you "decorate" your wedding...or how will you "decorate" your wedding? Any cool ideas on table settings or flowers you might want to share. Please do.

Happy Thursday!

xo
Coco

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AN events, Nbaynadamas, parties, weddings

WEEKEND PHOTO: MIDSUMMER WEDDING BLISS!

Photos courtesy of Yifat Oren Associates

A garland with purple hydrangea is draped on the backs of the chairs at a beautiful outdoor Los Angeles area wedding(above)

This weekend, another WEEKEND PHOTO from renowned wedding and event planner Yifat Oren! As you may recall, I used one of Yifat's events as last week's weekend photo. Yifat is one of the most sought after wedding and event specialists in the country. Last week, I was invited to a lovely dinner at the home she shares with her husband Jonny and two adorable children in the Hollywood Hills (she has a real home/a gorgeous home in the hills...unlike my minuscule cottage that I sometimes call a "home"...LOL!). Yifat's taste is impeccable and now I'm obsessed with events she plans...the events are so chic, personal, often perfeclty lavish and each is so unique. Yifat says she is going to find me a husband...:-)...I wonder if the husband will come with an Yifat planned wedding?

Have a wonderful weekend!

xoxo
Coco

P.S. Please remember to suggest the Nbaynadamas FACEBOOK PAGE to your friends. Just click on the "Suggest to Friends" link on the my Facebook page and suggest away! The special giveaway there will begin after we reach 2000 fans. Also, I will add some great reader submitted photos to Facebook this later weekend too!

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AN entertaining/tableware, Nbaynadamas, weddings

WEEKEND PHOTO: DINING ON A DOCK AT AN EVER SO ELEGANT PARTY!

Photo courtesy of Yifat Oren & Associates


Love this photo of this gorgeous birthday party in the Hamptons. At first, when I saw this event, I was convinced it was so elaborate and elegant that it had to be a romantic wedding dinner....a beautiful wedding reception right on a dock. The dinner table sits on the water...literally. I thought...what a fabulous way to dine after getting married...on a dock, overlooking the water, with dozens of your family and friends right there to enjoy the scene with you!

Turns out it is not the wedding but a big huge birthday party dinner on a private island in the Hamptons! Wow...that kind of makes it even more amazing. Someone had this as their birthday party? My birthdays are usually spent with two maybe three friends or my mom and sister and usually there is a cupcake involved (I should explain that my birthday falls in early January when everyone is completely exhausted after the holiday season and I've become accustom to the uber low key celebrations that really lack any creativity (and any people); but I will say these birthday non-celebration celebrations are very warm and heartfelt(I think)...and I do appreciate the one-two cupcakes that are usually involved. lol!).

Anyhoooooo....had to share this photo...the scene, the table settings and the overall mood and ambiance of the decor are all so chic, romantic and festive - a great combination to have for a birthday or even wedding reception dinner!

The following paragraph is not a non sequitur or my usual A.D.D....it does tie into the photo.

So...having dinner this weekend with my dear friend and former neighbor Yifat Oren and her sweet husband Jonathan Cutler. I'll get to meet their cute kidlets for the first time too. I'm so thrilled to catch up with Yifat and Jonny after so many years! I can't wait!

So, back to the photo...Yifat is one of the premier event and wedding planners in the country and SHE designed/planned this extravagant elegant birthday evening dinner party! Yifat and her team took a normal dock and made it into a stunning outdoor dining room for their client's birthday! Yifat is an aficionado of design, decor, weddings, events and all things beautiful...she arranges, dreams up and plans the most posh parties. Hmmm...note to self...have a birthday party and/or wedding and have Yifat do her magic!

Might I reiterate...this dinner party scene is just GORGEOUS!

Off to see Yifat and Jonny!!!

Hope you all have fun plans and have a great weekend!

xo
Coco

P.S. Reminder...a Nbaynadamas FACEBOOK PAGE linen pillow giveaway starts when we reach 2000 followers there. Giveaway will be only for those following me on Facebook! Please remember to "like" the page...or if you already follow go to the page and "Suggest to Friends" by clicking on link under my page picture. The faster we get to 2000...the faster another giveaway starts!!

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Nbaynadamas ARCHIVES: A PERFECTLY BREEZY WEDDING (AGAIN...HI MARTHA)!

Photos courtesy of Breezy Decor

A wedding at a private home and former celebrity hunting lodge in Benedict Canyon in Beverly Hills, California.(above)

***
Update 6/11/10 - Was so excited to learn that a story I did last year on a summer wedding caught the attention of Martha Stewart's "people"...although I'm not so sure it was in a good way....hmmm...

Martha Stewart's magazine or website just published this wedding this month. And this post I am doing today is actually a re-post of the story I did on this same rustic canyon wedding last year in September 2009. I think Martha's team wanted me to take down my story or something....they emailed someone or something...I guess the website or magazine wanted Martha to have the exclusive or something like that (all very vague)...and I guess they asked/demanded that my story come down a few months ago...I was traveling so I really didn't understand what was going on...all I knew was that Martha's team was not happy I think...or something...even though all my pictures are different from theirs and gotten before they got theirs...hmmm....

Anyhoooo....I didn't take down my story. As a matter of fact I am re-posting it! :-) Great excuse to go back into the archives - this is a first for me...going into the archives and all for a full story...Martha Stewart warranted a first!

As it turns out, all is well and we all have the story of this lovely wedding...I think all is well at least...hmmmm....I hope....(I like Martha but maybe I'm a little scared that she'll come to my house or something...)

La dee dah...It is June...it is wedding time...and I love this wedding...hope you "re-enjoy" this re-post too. Read on ! Happy Friday!

xo
Coco

***
September 2009

Was on Facebook for a brief moment the other day for no apparent reason except to continue the endless cycle of connecting with old acquaintances who I haven't seen in dozens of years but who I am now calling "friends"...when all of a sudden something interesting finally popped out at me on this social networking site.

I saw that friend Breezy (a.k.a. Bryan Ream) of Breezy Decor had posted some AMAZINGLY SUBLIME photos of a gorgeous wedding he had just planned. Breezy does interior decor, fashion design, event planning and anything to do with design. I knew about the interiors and fashion part but before seeing the Facebook photos, I had no idea that this style maven included events in his repertoire.

When I saw these exquisite photos...all I could think was that this wedding decor is impeccable in taste, perfection in style and oozed flawless casual grace. The overall sensibility, the color scheme (greens, whites and deep purples - my favorite) and the easy but dignified decor are the perfect blend of the rustic and the elegant.

Anyhooooo, when I wrote to Breezy and asked if I could post some photos of this event, he said yes. So here we are...in the beginning of BATH WEEK, doing a wedding post!

With the help of top flower aficionado Ariana Lambert Smeraldo who owns the chic Los Angeles flower boutique Lily Lodge and with the assistance of table design specialist Jason Murakawa of Small Masterpiece, Breezy pulled off an elegantly rustic nuptial affair for 150 guests.



Close up of custom designed outdoor light fixtures that glow with vintage inspired light bulbs (above)
Here's a brief Q&A with decor and design expert Breezy:

COCO: What was the inspiration for this wedding design?
BREEZY: Organic, we tried to avoid the 'Event' look.

COCO: Where did you find the great light fixtures?
BREEZY: They were custom made on site from Edison bulbs, porcelain sockets, and an assortment of vintage globes.

COCO: The hay as seating is great [see picture below], why did you decide this instead of traditional seating?
BREEZY: The terrain is very vertical, and chairs would have tilted...the straw bales moulded to the terrain, and can be used for erosion control and landscaping after.

COCO: From a design standpoint, what is your favorite decor element from this event and why?
BREEZY: Definitely lighting, the Edison bulbs give off a magical warm glow and made everyone look and feel sexy!



The custom chandelier blends in perfectly with the rustic canyon landscape and hangs over two beautifully decorated long tables that provide guests with a picturesque view of the hillside. (above)



An elegant flower arrangement flows endlessly and seamlessly down the center of the two long tables. Floral design expert Ariana says that the goal was to create "an enchanted garden of wildflowers with a nod to traditional wedding." (above)



The table is beautifully set with a mix of vintage plates, silverware and glasses. Tabletop decor expert Jason gives advice to those who would like to do the same at home, "Use different periods for the china, glassware and flatware and make it deliberate and confident. You can put a $1 glass with a $60 dinner plate and have it look fantastic if you do things with a creative mind."(above)

The bar! (above)

Seating wedding guests on hillside terrain can be challenging...to solve the problem Breezy cleverly used bales of hay and colorful Mexican blankets for seating for the guests.(above)

Hope you enjoyed these beautiful wedding photos as much as I have. I think when I get married (not planning that anytime soon mind you), mine would look something like this!

Thank you Breezy for sharing this wedding story with Nbaynadamas!

***
DETAILS
Flowers:
Austin garden roses, Helleborus, chocolate geranium leaf, chocolate cosmos, shrimp flower and sweet pea.

Centerpieces:
Along with the flowers, the “fruit bowls” had persimmon, fig branches, raspberry branches, passion vine and black plum leaves.

Garland:
California bay with all of the components of the “fruit bowls” at the point.

Table Setting:
Antique Haviland Limoges China, Early American Pressed Glass Goblets produced from the 1820-'25, Vintage Damask Dinner napkins, Sterling and Silver Plated flatware with Bone and Horn Knives.

CREDITS
Lighting and Decor - Bryan Ream aka Breezy, Breezy Decor
Flowers and Garland - Ariana Lambert Smeraldo, Lily Lodge
Vintage China, Flatware and Linens - Jason Murakawa, Small Masterpiece

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AN bryan breezy reams, dining room, dishware, entertaining/tableware, glassware, lighting, Nbaynadamas, parties, stemware, tabletop, weddings

FLAWLESS FLORAL DESIGN!

Photos courtesy of Lily Lodge, Steven Petrarca Events

Plaid enamel plates and cups, a simple white runner and an original centerpiece made of gorgeous orange roses in brown paper bags complete this outdoor lawn picnic table setting for four. (above)

Was in desperate need of the perfect flowers yesterday. Needed to send flowers to someone who was of great help to me this past weekend. A thank you. Challenge was this person lives in Washington D.C. and I live in L.A. The other "challenge" was that I never trust out of area florists...no reason...I just don't...(really logical right?)

For this flower order, I couldn't risk it. Way too important. I needed these flowers to be just right. Nothing too extravagant, something elegant, simple and tasteful. How could I know that a D.C. florist would do the job right...how could I trust (I know...D.C. is a major city filled with competent florists...but I was over thinking the whole thing as I usually do over think things...indulge me please...)?

With perfection in mind, I turned to Ariana Lambert Smeraldo the owner of Los Angeles' swank flower shop called Lily Lodge. I would fly flowers across the country in the dead of winter just so I could be assured of the caliber, quality and design. I knew Ariana's taste in flowers was impeccable and I also knew she offered a service called Flowers in a Box that has flowers delivered in a wonderful box straight to the recipient's door (reminds me of watching old 1950's movies where women received flowers in boxes from their love interests...and also reminds me of my dad - he used to bring home flowers in boxes for my mother, sister and me on Valentine's Day...love this concept)!

Well, of course, Ariana of Lily Lodge had the solution...a lovely box of purple Vanda orchids was shipped off overnight...I got an email from the recipient the next day saying "Wow"! Mission accomplished! (Poor Ariana though had to endure a million emails from me changing my mind, hemming and hawing, wishing and washing on every detail down to the salutation on the card...in the end, I went with what I had first ordered and she had first suggested...Ariana then wisely commented that one should always go with their first instinct.)

Another byproduct of working with Ariana on this flower order was that she gave me permission to use photos from her website...stunning floral arrangements! Yippeee...!

This post features some ideas from Lily Lodge for floral decorations for tabletop entertaining...flowers can make a table standout...whether for a luxe wedding luncheon, a glitzy dinner party or dashing table setting for an afternoon shower...wonderful flower arrangements are the answer!


Garlands of California bay leaves, persimmons, raspberry branches and figs are draped over long tables at an outdoor hillside wedding reception. (above)


White peonies and gardenias in a gold bowl compliment the gold rimmed white china used for this May wedding table.(above)


Green succulents and white dinner plate Dahlias in a vintage silver revere bowl ooze elegance.(above)



Purple New Zealand hydrangea flower arrangements are artfully designed to make a lovely picture for the table at a wedding set in an art gallery. (above and below)





Flowers in a Box from Lily Lodge. (above)


Outside the Lily Lodge store on Robertson Blvd. in Los Angeles, 310.360.9400. (above)

Which centerpiece or table setting is your favorite?

xo
Coco

P.S. These tables look fantastic because of the flowers and because of the "tablescaping". Place settings (plates, forks, knives, glassware etc.) for the first two photos are by Small Masterpiece - a company that focus on tabletop design! How cool is that? Make sure to pay attention to all details when trying to set the perfect table.

Photos courtesy of Lily Lodge, Steven Petrarca Events

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AN entertaining/tableware, events, floral, flower, Nbaynadamas, tabletop, weddings

A PERFECTLY "BREEZY" CANYON SUMMER WEDDING!

Photos courtesy of Breezy Decor

A wedding at a private home and former celebrity hunting lodge in Benedict Canyon in Beverly Hills, Calfornia.(above)
Was on Facebook for a brief moment the other day for no apparent reason except to continue the endless cycle of connecting with old acquaintances who I haven't seen in dozens of years but who I am now calling "friends"...when all of a sudden something interesting finally popped out at me on this social networking site.

I saw that friend Breezy (a.k.a. Bryan Ream) of Breezy Decor had posted some AMAZINGLY SUBLIME photos of a gorgeous wedding he had just planned. Breezy does interior decor, fashion design, event planning and anything to do with design. I knew about the interiors and fashion part but before seeing the Facebook photos, I had no idea that this style maven included events in his repretoire.

When I saw these exquisite photos...all I could think was that this wedding decor is impeccable in taste, perfection in style and oozed flawless casual grace. The overall sensibility, the color scheme (greens, whites and deep purples - my favorite) and the easy but dignified decor are the perfect blend of the rustic and the elegant.

Anyhooooo, when I wrote to Breezy and asked if I could post some photos of this event, he said yes. So here we are...in the beginning of BATH WEEK, doing a wedding post!

With the help of top flower aficionado Ariana Lambert Smeraldo who owns the chic Los Angeles flower boutique Lily Lodge and with the assistance of table design specialist Jason Murakawa of Small Masterpiece, Breezy pulled off an elegantly rustic nuptial affair for 150 guests.


Close up of custom designed outdoor light fixtures that glow with vintage inspired light bulbs (above)
Here's a brief Q&A with decor and design expert Breezy:

COCO: What was the inspiration for this wedding design?
BREEZY: Organic, we tried to avoid the 'Event' look.

COCO: Where did you find the great light fixtures?
BREEZY: They were custom made on site from Edison bulbs, porcelain sockets, and an assortment of vintage globes.

COCO: The hay as seating is great [see picture below], why did you decide this instead of traditional seating?
BREEZY: The terrain is very vertical, and chairs would have tilted...the straw bales moulded to the terrain, and can be used for erosion control and landscaping after.

COCO: From a design standpoint, what is your favorite decor element from this event and why?
BREEZY: Definitely lighting, the Edison bulbs give off a magical warm glow and made everyone look and feel sexy!


The custom chandelier blends in perfectly with the rustic canyon landscape and hangs over two beautifully decorated long tables that provide guests with a picturesque view of the hillside. (above)

An elegant flower arrangement flows endlessly and seamlessly down the center of the two long tables. Floral design expert Ariana says that the goal was to create "an enchanted garden of wildflowers with a nod to traditional wedding." (above)



The table is beautifully set with a mix of vintage plates, silverware and glasses. Tabletop decor expert Jason gives advice to those who would like to do the same at home, "Use different periods for the china, glassware and flatware and make it deliberate and confident. You can put a $1 glass with a $60 dinner plate and have it look fantastic if you do things with a creative mind."(above)

The bar! (above)

Seating wedding guests on hillside terrain can be challenging...to solve the problem Breezy cleverly used bales of hay and colorful Mexican blankets for seating for the guests.(above)

Hope you enjoyed these beautiful wedding photos as much as I have. I think when I get married (not planning that anytime soon mind you), mine would look something like this!

Thank you Breezy, Ariana and Jason for sharing this wedding story with Nbaynadamas!

***
DETAILS
Flowers:
Austin garden roses, Helleborus, chocolate geranium leaf, chocolate cosmos, shrimp flower and sweet pea.

Centerpieces:
Along with the flowers, the “fruit bowls” had persimmon, fig branches, raspberry branches, passion vine and black plum leaves.

Garland:
California bay with all of the components of the “fruit bowls” at the point.

Table Setting:
Antique Haviland Limoges China, Early American Pressed Glass Goblets produced from the 1820-'25, Vintage Damask Dinner napkins, Sterling and Silver Plated flatware with Bone and Horn Knives.

CREDITS
Lighting and Decor - Bryan Ream aka Breezy, Breezy Decor
Flowers and Garland - Ariana Lambert Smeraldo, Lily Lodge
Vintage China, Flatware and Linens - Jason Murakawa, Small Masterpiece

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AN entertaining/tableware, Nbaynadamas, outdoor living, tabletop, weddings