ASHLEY STARK'S MANHATTAN PAD

How fabulous is Ashley Stark's Upper East Side apartment? I'm in love with her paint choices for the walls and all that fun, colorful art. It's the perfect balance of paying reverence to its prewar heritage (hello beautiful architecture!) and modernizing it with contemporary pieces. I'm pretty sure it'll make it into my favorite home tours folder asap!

P.S. Rue's Holiday issue goes live tomorrow morning, but until then, a sneak peek here and here!

CRISP + BRIGHT

As a gal who grew up in Seattle, I'm always excited to stumble across a (new to me) designer from my childhood city. When I saw Ted Tuttle's Washington home in a recent issue of Elle Decor, it was love at first sight.

His decision to paint the walls in Benjamin Moore's Super White (it was wallpapered when he purchased the home) and to bleach the oak floors (after also considering ebonizing them) was such a smart move. Because the weather in Washington can be a little dreary, this creates a sunny feel even on those gray, rainy days.

I love the look of those substantial dining room chairs (faux-wicker chairs from Crate & Barrel) paired with the dainty silhouette of that table. Since the rest of the space is sparse -- no area rug, no window treatments, minimal wall decor -- this heavy look totally works.

Ted, like me, is partial to using a minimal color palette, which is why I love the aesthetic of this space so much. Can't you imagine coming home to this house, slipping into something comfy for the night, and feeling energized and relaxed all at once?

KERI RUSSELL'S CALMING ABODE

When my design mind gets clouded with too much stuff and color, I always love coming back to this home. It's the ochre chandelier in the living room and the skinny curtain rods that do it for me. Isn't it just lovely?

*for more of Keri's home, click here.

Elle Decor's A-List

By now you've probably come across Elle Decor's round-up of A-List Designers in this month's issue of the magazine. First of all, I can't imagine how hard of a task it must have been to trim the list down to only thirty, but the Elle Decor team did a fantastic job. Here are some of my favorites.

Victoria Hagan: Known for restraint and tailored rooms, her designs are crisp and uncluttered. You may recognize this room from the cover of Style & Substance - also rumored to be the inspiration behind the wildly popular 'Something's Gotta Give' home.

Suzanne Kasler: European chic infused with Southern charm, her spaces merge echoes of history with contemporary times.

Joe Nahem: Elegant glamour with modern elements create an understated sense of drama in his spaces.

Darryl Carter: Known for his use of gorgeous furniture against backdrops of white, Darryl's designs reference the old but are undoubtedly modern.

Vicente Wolf: A self-taught master of soothing spaces, infused with global touches and unexpected pieces, Vicente's spaces are both elegant and livable.