House Tour: Isola de Li Galli

Private island villa overlooking the Amalfi Coast ... a five minute boat ride from Positano, once home to ballet legend Rudolph Nureyev. The villa was fully refurbished by its current owners maintaining the original architecture and charming features. Enjoy ...

PINEAPPLE INFUSED!

A great summertime treat is infusions! It's a fun way to spruce up your at-home cocktails by using fresh fruit and herbs to add a bit of complexity to your vodka, tequila, rum or any favorite spirit of your choice. This month we feature some easy infusion ideas to try for your next weekend! This week: PINEAPPLE!

Pineapple Infusion!

      Using a Mason Jar (check out the Fresh+Twist Mason Jar Post) or any container with a air tight seal, cut up fresh Pineapple and place in jar. Add your favorite spirit: Vodka, Tequila, Rum are my favorites...Cover tightly with a lid & shake a few times to mix ingredients. Store your infusion in a cool, dark place and shake it 3-5 times a day for the duration of the infusion. On average the ingredients should stay in the liquor for 3-5 days. Once the infusion time is finished & the flavor is just perfect, fine strain the spirit into another clean jar or bottle. Store the finished infusion in the fridge or room temperature is ok too. Mix the infusion with soda or simply drink as is over ice for a perfect home infusion!

Trending Thursday: Mix and Match

Creating an eclectic look requires marrying various patterns, textures, colors and motifs without creating chaos. Teaming bold geometric patterns with neutral florals is one dynamic way of creating a whimsical space ... take a look at other ways of mixing patterns for a statement look!!!

Design + Eats : Restaurants

Restaurant design has taken on new meaning. In addition to chefs gaining celebrity like status these days, the restaurants themselves, also are gaining ground in design, ambiance & functionality. One of these restaurants is Marc Forgione, in New York City. Designed by Jun Aizaki of Crème Design, the restaurant space exudes a vintage, yet modern rustic energy, using reclaimed cedar wood from Blumlo’s circa-1900 Massachusetts sawmill to become the walls. The space also incorporates custom-made glass lanterns with glowing candles suspended by what appears to be elevator cables. It’s a cool spot located in Tribeca in lower Manhattan. Oh, and the food is amazing: classic new twists on American cuisine.

Travel Tuesday: Vamizi Island, Mozambique

Vamizi Island lies off the coast of northern Mozambique in the Quirimbas Archipelago. A pristine marine wilderness with eight kilometres of white beach lying between indigenous tropical forest and turquoise waters. Luxurious with an unpretentious atmosphere, Vamizi is a genuine tropical island paradise.

"Un Petit Boudoir" on the Upper East Side

A pied-à-terre in New York for jewelry designer Marie-Hélène de Taillac ... very blue with French influences and sixties design. Images via

APEROL SPRITZ!

We’re making this a holiday vacation weekend! And bringing back a cocktail that’s easy to drink the whole day through…the Aperol Spritz!  Aperol is an Italian aperitif, similar to Campari, but lighter in alcohol and taste, made with “infusions of selected ingredients including bitter and sweet oranges and many other herbs and roots in perfect proportions.” (from aperol*) It’s light, perfect & delicious.        Have a great weekend!

   photo: food and wine magazine

APEROL SPRITZ

3 parts Prosecco
2 parts Aperol
1 splash of soda or seltz
Ice, half a slice of orange.