Laura U at ONE KINGS LANE ECO|CHIC Tips from Branch Basics
January-March 2013 Issue 13
WHERE IN THE WORLD HOUSTON: OUR FAVORITE “GET FIT” FACILITIES THE LAURA U TEAM:
NEW YEAR’S RESOLUTIONS
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IN EVERY ISSUE 03
Connect with Us
06
Letter From Laura
08
Meet The Team
10
Coming Soon
22
Design Envy| Nautical Design
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Laura U| Look How to get the look
SHOPPING 12
Graphic Stripes
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Emerald
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Leather Forever
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Laura on OKL
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Designer Faves
42
Pinning and Winning
Our boutique on One King’s Lane!
FEATURES 18
Design Source| EPS Design Featuring the designs of Elizabeth Page Smith.
For the Night 26 New We explore a unique and chic business, offering rental designer dresses.
30 Art Talk: Gremillion & Co.’s Steven Alexander
In the World: Our favor32 Where ite places to get fit!
40 Branch Basics| Healthy Living
Letter from Laura Umansky January - March 2013
A
blank slate, a fresh start, resolutions galore! I love the New Year! It is so invigorating to make plans, brainstorm for new ideas, and put our grand intentions into action. 2013 promises to be a big year for Laura U, kicking off with the Villa de Luxe Showhouse (check out the Laura U| Blog for details) on February 1st. Personally, I am tracking the renovation of my own home via our social media. It has been a great process and I can't wait to unveil the finished interior! The interior design team and I are working on fabulous projects, the Collection just saw a new shipment of vintage items arrive plus continuing success on our One Kings Lane storefront, and we have been hard at work to bring you the latest Laura U| Mag! In this issue we are featuring some of our favorite Houston businesses to inspire and transform you. "Where in the World: Houston" showcases some of our designer and clients' favorite places to work out in the Space City. We have also spotlighted two local up and coming companies: New for the Night and Branch Basics. New for the Night puts an accessible spin on the Rent the Runway model where you can actually try on the dresses before committing (such a great idea!). Branch Basics is an adorable local company founded by two women committed to curing what was ailing them by ridding their homes of harsh chemicals. We are also pleased to introduce you to the art of Stephen Alexander an artist that will be featured in local gallery Gremillion & Co. in February. Of course, our reoccurring features are rich with design tips and trends that will look great in your home and wardrobe today. Please stay tuned to find out what we brought back from market (here as I type) and images of our latest interiors and of my new home. Cheers to a happy, healthy, and beautiful 2013!
Laura
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2013 January—March
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IT TAKES A VILLAGE: THE LAURA U
L AURA U MANSKY
J ENNIFER B EBEE
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C AROLYN M IGHELL
M ELISSA M EYER
A FTON
L INHDA T RAN
U TEAM
B AILY
F ABIAN S EGURA
K IRSTIN T ATE
L ETECIA
C ATHERINE S OLOMON
ELLIS
B LAIR F OSTER
2013 January—March
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COMING SOON
More STUNNING Laura U Interiors. Stay up to date at LauraU.com!
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013
:
A
New
Year
holds the promise of a new & improved YOU!
We’ve searched the worlds of
fashion & design for some of the biggest trends for the transitional season of winter/spring of 2013: Graphic Stripes, Emerald Green, & Leather Forever. Incorporate these into your home or closet today for a classically current look!
FASHION
furnishings 2013 January—March
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GRAPHIC STRIPES Mod stripes are all the rage for interior design and fashion right now. We think Marc Jacobs did it best on the 2013 S/S runways, but here are a few of our runner ups to round out your collection.
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Runway Ready
Calvin Klein; Bazaar.com
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Fendi Tote
Lea Penguin Bag, Fendi $1490; Barney’s New York
January—March 2013
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Polite Cards
Thank you Gold Striped Cards $5.00; Laura U Collection
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Monogram Pillow
Monogram Pillow $60; Laura U Collection
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Stella McCartney
Stella McCartney Blouse $683; MyT sa.com
There-
GRAPHIC STRIPES
y
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Horizon Gloves
Striped Leather Gloves; $250 Kelly WearstleLouboutin1
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Jimmy Choo Clutch
Cosma Striped Clutch; $1595; Jimmy Choo
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Saatchi Art
The Pink Balloon Steven Mitchell; $1500; Saatchi
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Cover me in Stripes
Striped Blanket; $170; Amber Interiors
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EMERALD What’s Pantone’s 2013 color of the year? The color of the Emerald City, of course. Make a splash with this rich color in your home or wardrobe.
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The Perfect Table
William Haines Mottled Lacquer table; 1stDibbs.com
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Gucci Heel
Delphine Ankle Wrap Heel; $382; Neiman Marcus
January—March 2013
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Poppin’ bottles
Bottle Opener; $425; Kelly Wearstler
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Marni Necklace
Beaded Bib Tie Necklace $500; French Bedroom Co.
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Serve With Style
Asymmetrical Squares Tray ; $795; Kelly Wearstler
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EMERALD
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Century Furniture
Garze Nightstand; ; Century Furniture
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Metallic Jeggings
7 for all Mankind Emerald Metallic; $198; Neiman Marcus
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Shady Lady
Oliver Peoples Aero 57; $450; Saks Fifth Avenue
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Nail Colour Envy
OPI Emerald Nail Polish; $9.50; Sephora
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Wool Coat
Cocoona Wool Blend Coat; $325; JCREW
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LEATHER FOREVER Perhaps it was the Fonze that inspired our love of the quintessential leather motor cycle jacket? Regardless, nothing says timeless cool like anything made of leather.
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Wrap Me up
Dolce & Gabbanna jeweled button jacket ; $3995; Barney’s New York
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Hermes Handbag
Picotin Day Purse; $2375; Hermes
January—March 2013
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Glam Throne
Jacobean Chair $2210; Laura U Collection
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Stunning Gold Chair
Elliot Chair; Kelly Wearstler
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Heeled Boots
Rag & Bone Tall Boots; $695; Bar New York
LEATHER
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rneys
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IPhone Case
Metallic Iphone 4 & 4s Case $38; Anthropologie
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Tassle Up
Alexander McQueen tassle $295; FEYT
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J Crew Skirt
Collection Leather Skirt; $795; J Crew
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Leather Beaded Necklace
Michael Kors Beaded Leather Necklace; Nordstrom
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Designer Selec
ELIZABETH P .
cted Source:
PAGE SMITH
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Vintage
Curtis Jere Chandelier
Mid Century Brass
Vintage Crane
Vintage Accent Chair James Mont Style
New items added daily! 20 LAURAU
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Jayson Home Knot B
DESIGN ENVY: Nautical Style
1st Dibs: The Lively
Spoonflower Fabrics
Spinnaker Lam Serena
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Bottle opener
1st Dibs: “Les Voiliers” painting
Set
1st Dibs: hardwood and brass Ship Wheel
mp & Rope Rug And Lily
Decanter Set: Furbish 2013 January—
Watercolor walls by Black Crow Studios
Large Italian Brass Floral Sconces, 1st Dibs
DESIGNER Gucci, Delphine Ankle-Wrap Sandal
Ralph Lauren Home , One Fifth Slipper Chair
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Handmade Ombre Rug
Jacinto Pillow, Anthropologie
Coach Legacy Leather Large Clutch
Warby Parker Specs
R faves Napkins by Dransfield & Ross Jonathan Browning Calais Sconce
Wallpaper by Schumacher
Baotou martini table with Agate top
Albrecht Dürer ‘Wing of a European Roller’ 2013 January—March
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New for the Night features a one of a kind service where you can rent high quality, designer dresses (3 days at a time) for about $60.
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Your Favorite… Clothing Labels: Jay Godfrey, Parker, and Alice & Olivia Fashion Designers: Tory Burch and Diane von Furstenberg Place to Vacation: Playa Del Carmen, Mexico Places to Shop: Nordstrom’s, Neiman Marcus, and Forever 21 What’s one of your dreams? Buy a house! Trend You Want to See Come to an End: Faux Fur Snow Boots Restaurant?: Houston’s Trends?: A denim button down, leggings, and boots 2013 January—March
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Accessorize for the night or purchase some of their jewelry.
“What inspired Brittany to start NFTN was growing up with two sisters, whom relentlessly borrowed clothes from each other daily. Taking this issue seriously, they orchestrated a system where they paid each other to borrow clothing. She drew up the business idea for an entrepreneurship class and realized how successful such a business would be and shortly after brought her dreams to life.�
“Most clients come in with a set style they are comfortable with. We like to pull dresses personalized to each customer, almost always something they wouldn’t have picked out. 9 times out of 10 a client will leave with a dress that I’ve chosen for them.” 2013 January—March
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ART TALK | Stephen Alexander Exhibit at Gremillion & Co. February 21 - March 17, 2013
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teven Alexander makes abstract paintings characterized by simple geometric configurations, luminous color and sensuous surfaces. His work is represented by David Findlay Jr. Gallery in New York and Gremillion & Co. Fine Art in Houston. He holds an MFA in painting from Columbia University, where he studied with Richard Pousette-Dart and Dore Ashton among others, and a BA from Austin College, where he studied with Vernon Fisher. His work has been exhibited and collected extensively throughout the US and abroad. His awards include a studio residency at P.S.1 in Long Island City, and a Belin Foundation grant for painting, as well as numerous commissions including the lobby of the Hines Building in New York City. Author of numerous published texts about modern and contemporary art, he also publishes a widely read online journal. Currently an Associate Professor of Visual Arts at Marywood University, he has been Artist in Residence at Studio Art Centers International in Florence and Visiting Artist at Parsons School of Design in New York. He maintains a home and studio in the hills of eastern Pennsylvania. 30 LAURAU
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1. TERRAPLANE #6 (54X48) 2. MOTHERS TONGUE #4 (36X20) 3. PASSENGER (72X54) 4. TERRAPLANE #4 (IS & WAS) (72X36) 5. INFILTRATOR (60X48) 6. VIBROLUX II (32X24) 5.
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WHERE IN THE WORLD: HOUSTON LAURA U’S FAVORITE PLACES TO BREAK A SWEAT
#1
FIT
1532 West Gray Fit is the quintessential ‘fun gym’ according to many reviews from the Laura U Team. We love the atmosphere and people at Fit and encourage you to check out their advanced facilities. We look forward to upholding our ‘Get Fit’ New Years resolution here this year!
#4 QUALITY LIFE FITNESS 4150 Westheimer Road One of the high points of Quality Life Fitness is the staff. Not only are the trainers and employee’s helpful, but friendly and attentive. Another aspect we love about this gym is it never seems to be too crowded to work out. There always seems to be enough machines to go around.
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#3
DEFINE
1945 West Gray Street
We particularly love the gym Define. Define body & mind’s mission is to educate people on how to become their absolute best! It’s also the most efficient total body work out in town.
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#2
BELLA BODY FITNESS 2621 South Shepherd Drive, #230 Pretty in Pink, Bellla Body fitness is an extremely ‘feminine’ fitness center. We love the idea of being surrounded with motivated women at our fitness destination! They are the place to check out when it’s time to get fit for your big day!
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#5 GREEN PARK PILATES 415 Westheimer Dr. , Suite 207 We consider Pilates a fantastic alternative to running, biking, & lifting weights. But don’t be fooled, Pilates is a very intense & exhausting activity. All you need is a proper instructor, Find them at Green Park Pilates.
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hat inspired you to start your successful business and blog? Well, to start, Branch Basics is much more than a blog. I, Allison, was stricken with terrible back & neck pain, numbness, neurological symptoms & loss of motor skills while in college. I went to dozens of doctors & found no agreed-upon diagnosis. I began working with my aunt who has been a dietary & environmental consultant for over 20 years. She explained how toxins in our food & air can challenge our immune systems & have a profound effect “Kelly’s seemingly on our bodies, so I began purging my life of prounrelated symptoms ... cessed foods, synthetic fragrances, toxic cleaning products, etc. In a matter of months, my pain was alall vanished when she most gone! Kelly was witness to this & her interest was switched to using piqued. Interestingly enough, Kelly’s seemingly unrelated symptoms of dry skin, menstrual cramps, itchy Branch Basics.” eyes, & so on, all vanished when she switched to using Branch Basics instead of the conventional detergents & cleaners she had used her whole life. So, we worked with a biochemist to come up with the formula for Branch Basics, a nontoxic soap concentrate. We believe this product is the perfect place to start in your healthy living endeavors because it replaces virtually all chemical cleaners.
Out with the old…. In with the New.
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What keeps you inspired? Our main focus is helping people - we want to get the word out - we don't want anyone to suffer needlessly as I did, & as many people do. We want to show that simple choices we make everyday can make a wonderful difference in how we look and feel.
Branch Basics is versatile enough to replace all your previous cleaners…
Can you give us a peek into what your dream home would look like? What style and tone would you want to come across? Although the three of us have different styles, it’s safe to say we’re all about natural light, clean lines, lots of color, open spaces and – of course – fresh, clean air! We want people to walk into our homes and feel indescribable warmth mixed with a feeling of being outdoors. As we’re always cooking, the kitchen is the integral room for all three of us and we love lots of counter space, high ceilings and an openness that makes this room feel like it’s a part of the action.
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What are your must have products for 2013? Not surprisingly, most of the products on our “must-have” lists are health-related! We think everyone should save up for a VitaMix...from smoothies to soups, this machine makes everything easy and delicious! And, the newest version is BPA-free. We are also huge fans of the AustinAir air purifiers and Nilfisk HEPA vacuums, both of which promote a clean, healthy home. Oh, and have we mentioned Branch Basics?
Nilifisk HEPA Vacuum
Vita Mix
Austin Air While in college, Allison Evans (left) went from a vibrant, active 20-year-old to a pain-stricken girl whose health was quickly deteriorating. Allison has experienced the drastic benefits of a healthy diet and environment, and her commitment can be detected quickly as Allison loves nothing more than to educate others on healthy lifestyle choices. Kelly Blackstone (right) She has a deep fascination for the body’s innate ability to heal when given the right tools, so the opportunity to share every-day lifestyle choices that help put those wheels into motion brings her great joy.
SPECIAL ORDER THROUGH LAURA U, INC.
Mouth bl Scenic M
Bowery Settee
Can yo Conve Sta Delft Scarab by Magnus Gjoen
Two Horses Table Lamps, One Kings Lane
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Horse Paper sculptures by Anna-Wili Highfield for Hermès
Lit de Jau Daybed, 1st Dibs
lown Antler Chandelier, Mesa
Pinning & Pining
What Our Client’s Love
Now Follow Laura U on Pinterest! pinterest.com/laurauinc
ou say... ersation arter? Pair of Gustavian Neo-Classical Tub Chairs, 1st Dibs
Lucite End Tables, One Kings Lane
Sculptural Bench with Brass Base by Pace 2012 October-December
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2013 January—March
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LAURA U| GET THE LOOK
Laura U’s latest project in the Houston Heights is an excellent example of a perfect mix of modern lines with a traditional touch. The clean lines of the sofa contrast with the warm tones of the wood floors and soft lines of the custom bar stools. See more images of this project here.
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Villa de Luxe Preservation Houston is proud to announce a very special February event. Villa de Luxe, a historic Houston estate, will be transformed into a stunning design showhouse from February 1 until February 17, 2013. The house, designed by William Ward Watkin, was built for hardware magnate F.A. Heitmann in 1924. It stands on two acres in historic Shadyside, a private neighborhood adjacent to Rice University. Luxe Interiors + Design is the premier media sponsor of this event, which will benefit Preservation Houston.
Tickets
$30 at the door $25 in advance
Follow the Showhouse on Facebook! Showhouse Dates Feb. 1 through February 17, 2013
Showhouse Hours Saturdays, Feb.2, 9 and 16: 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Sundays, Feb. 3, 10 and 17: noon to 4 p.m. Laura U’s “Writer’s Cottage” Rendering
See you in April 2013!
“Although no one can go back and make a brand new start, anyone can start from now and make a brand new ending.” ― Carl Bard