Several weeks ago event planner Sofia Crokos invited me to be a part of a little cocktail party she was spear-heading. Sofia is the harbinger of all things trendy, and this soiree was a cumulation of industry professionals bringing their individual talents and products under one roof for an evening of inspiration. The idea was to create an environment that would provide ideas in a relaxed, lounge-type setting without coming across as a “wedding showcase”.

The location was the Glass Houses in New York’s Chelsea art district. A modern venue overlooking the Hudson River, the Glass Houses is  a fabulous space for intimate gatherings. Let me rephrase that – it is a fabulous space for medium size events, while giving the feeling of an intimate gathering. The views are killer, the place is perennially spotless and the layout is a designer’s dream. (Do you remember that reality interior show several years ago where the decorators were given a three-sided white box with which they had to create a room? Same idea here, except you have the benefit of floor-to-ceiling windows with a panoramic view of Manhattan’s west side.)

Immediately I rang my friend Jill at Greenroom and she graciously let me have the pick of her beautiful furniture. These days it seems that weddings are more about the lounge than the altar and Greenroom has a great selection of furniture and accessories for rent. Working in a crisp pallet of whites and turquoise, I chose from a nice selection of clean, simple pieces as well as the more artful and whimsical. I had about 4 days to pull this look together (on a dime) – so I raided the LMD prop room for unusual objects, lanterns, artifacts and elements to style the space along with fresh floral accents. We built a gorgeous, oversized folding screen which was upholstered in broad horizontal stripes of turquoise linen and silk, suspended parchment Chinese lanterns, hauled in chunky minerals and rock crystals, Belgian glass “antler” hurricane lamps, and my new favorite prop – a pair of navy blue glazed Chinese terra cotta horses which anchored the bar (and aptly named Gigondas and Meursault).

With tasty nibbles by Diane Gordon catering, sounds by Julie Feldman at Orchestrations, Inc. and libations compliments of Moet Hennessy, it was a fun event for a chilly Tuesday evening in January. And a very, very special “Thank You!” to Abby Ross for these gorgeous photographs. (P.S. I encourage you to click the photographs twice so that you can view them large and really appreciate how beautiful they are.)

The Glass House / www.theglasshouses.com

Sofia Crokos Events / www.sofiacrokos.com

Greenroom  / www.yourgreenroom.com

Abby Ross Photography  /  www.abbyross.com

Diane Gordon Catering /  www.dianegordoncatering.com

Orchestrations Inc. / www.orchestrationsinc.com