'DIY: Old dresser'

Do you have a couple hours to spare? Would you like to introduce a new piece of furniture to your home, but don’t have the budget right now to do so? Or have you bought some recession furniture at a garage sale and would like to incorporate into your home?

If the answers are “yes” to all these questions, then I have another do-it-yourself project for you . DIY meets: that old dresser.

Here’s what you will need:

- Wallpaper

- Dressers with flat drawers, otherwise wallpaper will not stick appropriately

- Mod Podge

- X-acto knife

- Rubber hand-roller used for flattening

- Foam brush

- Newspaper

- Cardboard

- Pencil and ruler

Here’s what you do:

1. First, remove all the drawers and remove any knobs or other hardware on the drawer. This is where the screwdriver will come in handy.

2. Roll the wallpaper face down on a flat surface and position cardboard underneath (for protection).

3. Position the drawer facedown on the paper and line the drawer with the edge of paper to guarantee cutting a straight line in the pattern.

4. Use the X-acto knife to cut the wallpaper around the drawer. The drawer, in this case, serves as a sort of tracer. (If you would rather trace the outline of the drawer on the paper with a pencil before cutting, you can do so. Use a ruler after tracing to make sure the dimensions are even and then cut.)

5. Now, place the drawer face up on a sheet of newspaper.

6. Take the strip of wallpaper and put only a small coat of Mod Podge on the edge of one side of the paper with the foam brush. Adhere this side of the paper to the drawer. Working your way down the drawer, coat the paper with the foam brush and smooth out the paper onto the drawer. Repeat for the other drawers.

7. After you’ve applied the wallpaper to the drawers, take the rubber hand-roller and smooth out any bubbles or creases formed. Let the drawers dry overnight.

8. The next day, replace the knobs or any other hardware on the drawers. Put the drawers back in the dresser.

*Tips: Test out the look by applying wallpaper to only one drawer and leaving the other as is. Or play with combinations and apply wallpaper to every other drawer. You decide!

-S. Gonzalez

*Photos courtesy of redbookmag.com

'Dolicious Summer'

Models sport Dolita Paris at launch party

Checking the clock on my cell phone as I wiped another bead of sweat run down my cheek, I wondered, "How anyone could possibly look fabulous in this balmy weather?"

I could feel my Marc Jacobs flats (soon to be replaced by my Stella McCartney heels) sticking to my soles and my white chiffon Sachin & Babi top cling to my skin as I hurried down Lexington Avenue, pressed for time.

With temperatures in New York City rising well over 100 degrees, how did the pigeons manage not to pass out from heat exhaustion? They were holding up surprisingly well, I thought.

But at the Roger Smith Hotel RS Pop Shop, 501Lexington Ave., the Dolita Paris launch party kept its cool.

Ignoring the heat wave, attendees crowded the entrance of the storefront and ate hors-d’oeuvres as others milled in the store and took a look at designer Dolita’s collection. The current collection of Pucci-inspired print maxi dresses, lacy frocks and ‘Princess’ dresses with luxe detailing will be on sale at the shop until the end of the month.

The collection owes much of its color, sensuality and stretch (a majority of the pieces are made of Lycra) from its Parisian-raised designer. Dolita started at age 16, working for designer Jacques Esterel and eventually designer her own collection of lingerie and swimwear. Her handcrafted dresses – both boudoir and resort-influenced – are sold rarely outside of select trunk shows held throughout the year.

Models Shanel and Stephanie Miles were at the party too, donning Dolita Paris creations throughout the Thursday evening. The event also included performances from a young singer named Stephanie Marie Hanvey, who belted several of her own songs in a Dolita ensemble while dancers Dionna and Taylor performed in the background.

The event was organized by Melissa Gonzalez, a newly-made acquaintance thanks to a jewelry designer friend of mine. As co-founder of RS Pop Shop, Gonzalez maintains the storefront as a place for emerging designers to sell their wares to the public.

Not that generating sales was the focus amid the uncorking of wine and mingling, but after attending such a Dolicious summer party I have every confidence that it will.

*For more pics from the night, visit Dolita Gallery.

-S. Gonzalez

*Photos courtesy of shawnpunch.com for the examiner.com

'Hot Summer Savings'

With sweltering temperatures at their highest now that summer is in mid-gear, looks like the savings are just as hot.

Most retailers have slashed their prices down further, and Décor Innovation is no exception with up to 50% off select merchandise for the home. If you’ve been waiting to buy a set of curtains, don’t wait much longer.

These styles are not going to stick around for very long – not in this heat!

What’s HOT:

Sheer voile curtain

A white voile curtain set (that means two!) for only $10.50 is sheer heaven, pun intended!

Perfect for summer weather, the voile curtains allow maximum light to filter into the room without having to part the curtains entirely. Ensuring privacy and still having the ability to open the window for that refreshing summer breeze is crucial.

And no other curtain can beat its visual appeal – falling to the floor in soft, graceful pleats and radiating just a hint of shimmer as its fibers catch the sunlight.

Polka-dot curtains

Polka your way this summer with a set of polka dot curtains for $14.99 in color options like blue, green, pink and yellow. These curtains are not nearly as translucent as the voile curtains, but are still rather light. Ideal for a young girl looking to brighten her bedroom this summer, or a playful addition to a dayroom, these polka-dot curtains are fresh and fun.

Practical too, these polka-dot curtains come with two hanging options depending on your curtain rod needs: a back tab for easy pulling or a rod pocket that creates the ruched effect on the top hem.

Gingham curtains

Or for a country-inspired look to your home, choose this sheer gingham curtain for $14.99. The check print is a major trend on the home and fashion front, as gingham tends to bring to mind summer barbecues with the family or romantic afternoon picnics for two.

For a feminine touch, opt for a gingham curtain set in a pink print. Looking for a more versatile color option? The light brown gingham will complement almost any color scheme in your home.

It doesn’t get much hotter than that!

-S. Gonzalez

'Decor of the Rich and Famous'

“Lifestyles of the Rich and Famous.”

We have all listened to the iconic voice of Robin Leach and his signature phrase “champagne wishes and caviar dreams” after profiling the lives of the profoundly rich.

It was perhaps the first time America had a glimpse into the lives of the filthy rich: a fleet of sports cars in the driveways, summer homes in faraway lands, chandeliers in the dining room and gold room fixtures.

Although the show has long ended, spin-offs continue to indulge our curiosity into the lives of some of our favorite celebrities. And why not?

It’s where I turn to for most of my décor inspiration. From the award-winning designers and decorators that have made the homes as rich and fabulous as the clients they work for: Ben Stiller, Jessica Stam and Candace Bushnell, pick up a few star-studded tips and ideas for your own home.

The terrace of the home of Ben Stiller and Christine Taylor

Ben Stiller and Christine Taylor

Feel as if you’ve taken a trip to Morocco on the Hollywood Hills terrace of celebrity couple Ben Stiller and his wife Christine Taylor. Designed by Robin Standefer and Stephen Alesch of Roman and Williams, the space invites guests to sit upon its white upholstered couches and chairs, and among the potted palms. A straw mat in the center of the room brings a piece of the indoors outside, keeping the ground cool and complementing the dark overtones of the furnishings and Moorish fixtures.

The living room of Jessica Stam

Jessica Stam

It would come as no surprise that as beautiful as Jessica Stam may be, her home would be as stunning as she - the in-Vogue runway model that lives in it. Her living room plays with silver and jewel tone colors, for a cool yet feminine getaway from the fashion paparazzi. A closer look at her vintage furniture reveals a 1950’s floor and armchairs upholstered in Donghia cotton. And the vintage sofa in front of the vase of cherry blossoms? Ebay.

The apartment of Candace Bushnell

Candace Bushnell

Aside from books, what would Sex and the City writer Candace Bushnell have in her stylish abode? In her Greenwich Village apartment decorated by Susan Forristal, you will find classical golden accents and a hot pink Venetian chaise from the 1800s. A gold leaf sconce original to the apartment can be found wedged between the mantel and a bookcase. Aside from the gold fixings, peach and rose-colored rugs and cushions break up the whiteness of the walls.

-S. Gonzalez

*Photos and reporting courtesy of elledecor.com