the travel stylist: September 2011

In this guide, I would love to share with you my go-to spots in the Hamptons. I think there's still so much more to be discovered when it comes to New York weekend escapes, and Long Island can really offer some super charming, down-to-earth, off-the-beaten path options that rival the posh impressions the Hamptons can conjure up sometimes.

So, let's begin with Southampton, since it's the first town you'll hit if you're coming in from the city on Sunrise Highway or NY 27 East.

Now, the biggest draw for me in Southampton is a great home interiors shop called H Groome. The atmosphere is fresh and comfortably modern. It's clean. And by clean, I mean, it feels polished. I think the owner, Barbara Warner, really takes a lot of pride and time curating and collecting her pieces together. As soon as you step in to the shop, you really get a sense of her style right away, the kind of tone she's going for - the mood of the home - and the smart combo of her products' practicality and design.

If you've been thinking about jazzing up your sofa, an armchair or a bed with a new cushion, look no further. H Groome stocks a plethora of happy-colored Madeline Weinrib pillows ($450). Holy yowza! Eye catching patterns with an equally eye catching price tag to match. If committing to a print isn't your thing, their Libeco linen bolsters are simple, chic and easier on your wallet ($95). I bought two of their flax-colored cushions in hope they would match our newly upholstered couch and they fit the bill, spot on.

Every once in awhile, it's nice to treat your kitchen to new handsome tea towel or oversized napkin. They somehow always come in handy if you're drying the dishes or trying to resist grabbing the paper towel roll, like me. There's a lovely selection of them folded neatly near the register.

Other stand out picks include some vibrant neon-hued acrylic trays by Alexandra Von Furstenberg. These are so fun. Super nice for brightening up those fall cocktails. I can't really tell if I can overlook the affixed acrylic label signed Alexander Von Fustenberg on the side of the tray. It's kind of a bummer because this tray, especially in person, is really striking.

Then there's my ongoing collection of these mouth blown hurricanes from Belgium (starting at $150). You can see the subtle differences from one to the next. I don't have an outside space so I use them indoors, but I can imagine how stunning they would look outdoors on a table or scattered throughout a garden.

These correspondence cards by Demsey & Carroll are super cute. I thought the design might be Hugo Guinness, but to no surprise, it's a collaboration with Madeline Weinrib. Kind of darling, no? And whatever happened to the lost art of handwritten letters?