Coffee Table Chic

In my apartment, the coffee table is the focal point of my living room. It was love at first sight when I moved to L.A. and came across the perfect square piece at Grace Home Furnishings right off of Sunset Boulevard. Below are the basics to get this look.

Books. These are what hold everything together to become the centerpiece of the room. Collect them throughout the years, interchanging them as often as your color schemes fluctuate. I like stacking them in piles so the bottom edges line up, with the bindings facing different directions. This way, no matter which way you look at the table, you can see what books are on view. No pile should have the same amount of books, but kept at a relative height. The bargain section at high-end photography book shops usually has some vintage gems.

Objects of Desire. Find a fantastic antique shop nearby. Wertz Brothers here in Santa Monica is a gold mine. A great way to bring in your favorite color that may be too much for anything larger in the room (hot pink anyone?) is by placing candies, buttons, marbles or anything small enough to fit in little dishes to top off the stacks. Plantation in Venice, CA is also good for inspiration and accessories.

Candles. For me, there is no scent more addicting than Diptyque's Tubereuse.

Trays. Placing items on trays lends them importance. Here is where you can place a candle, a vintage hotel ashtray, or any other antique finds. Depending on the type of table you have, a bright lacquer color is always fun. Try Jonathan Adler's or John Derian's classic decoupage trays.

*images via lonny, the wsj, the neo-traditionalist

Diptyque Paris

Who: Diptyque

What: The French fragrance company’s new(ish) roll-on gel cologne

Why bother: Roll-on gel is lighter than spray. The French fragrance house has designed a 20-milliliter roll-on that delivers four of its classic scents in a tiny glass bottle. Diptyque says the metal ball "intensifies the fresh nature of its colognes, leaving a delicately dosed scented veil on the skin."

Scent: "L’Eau," has hints of Italian green mandarin, grapefruit and orange blossom; "Hesperides," spiked with bitter orange, lemon and African rosemary; "Neroli," which has Italian bergamot, Indonesian patchouli and tarragon; and "Tarocco," smells like ginger, saffron and Bulgarian roses

How much and where: $48 at diptyqueparis.com

Roll on.

Little Luxuries

Diptyque candles are one of those little things I love to have in my apartment. Diptyque originally began their business producing printed fabrics. In 1963, they introduced a line of scented candles that eventually became the main focus of their business. The flagship store in Paris was designed by Olivier Lempereur (who is also one of the store designers at Printemps) and the simplistic black and white space is inspired by the brand’s signature colours.

The candles are so strong that even when they're not burning the room is still filled with the aroma. Although Pois de senteur was discontinued, I can’t get enough of Tubereuse!