We at MDG are of the party that faux fur is winter’s answer to the seersuckers of summer. The weather turns, it’s darker longer, and we want to channel our inner Anna Karenina with furs in all shapes and sizes. Fur pairs with deep red lipstick or with ripped denim. It can accessorize a purse or add an extra layer of glam to a velvet couch. It dresses up a night out or plays with our sense of humor in a bright neon hue.

Faux fur doesn’t have to be treated like a precious textile. As a result, it becomes a versatile accent for an outfit or home. An ottoman covered in a neutral fur is the perfect place to rest bare feet. A quirky striped throw blanket is an essential for a seat out on a sunset porch. Even a hammered copper chair is warmed by a fur cushion.

We pull a fur-covered lapel high up on our necks for a classic romantic look. It lines the hood of a sporty parka for the commute to work. A soft knit hat or sweater is trimmed in a complementary color and you’re ready for an après ski cocktail. A burgundy clutch doubles as a hand warmer and looks fierce with leather pants.

If you’re ready to get creative with faux fur, Marlena is here to help. Click here to find out her favorite ways to use fur.

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We’ve always been impressed by marble. We know ancient philosophers spouted their truths among Ionic and Doric columns. Michelangelo waxed poetic about how every block of stone has a statue inside it and it was his job to discover it, yada yada. It’s an expensive material, a texture made more beautiful by its impurities. Marble brings a luxurious feel to any room with its sweeping swathes of dark across stark white.

While we appreciate the Parthenon and Bernini’s The Ecstasy of St. Teresa, we like to do marble in a fresh and cool way. We want clean and comfortable, not stuffy or old fashioned. How can we incorporate marble into our homes without making it look like the chateau at Versailles?

In big doses, pair marble with smooth lines and no fuss with warm wood accents for a bright and elegant kitchen. Tile a wall in a striking color in unexpected diagonals to leave a funky zigzag border. Add other touches of luxe with small dishes, bookends striped with wood or a clock with glinting metal hands. The trend has made its way over to textiles too, so put a marble-patterned duvet on your bed or wallpaper in an entryway.

Ask Marlena for her favorite ways to use marble here.

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Ask Marlena for her favorite ways to use marble here.

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