PLAYFUL GEOMETRICS  

Introduce playful geometric pieces into your home this spring. In addition to throw pillows, incorporate bold wall art, table décor, area rugs with variations of squares, circles, and other geometric shapes to make a splash.

Alessandra Wood, interior designer expert and director of style at Modsy, describes that a combination of patterns styled together is key this season.

“The hard, geometric lines that we’ve seen for the past few years are giving way to softer shapes in both prints and furniture shape.”

Enjoy our collection of playful geometrics and eclectic patterns that will add depth and character to your home.

MORTGAGE RATES DROP

Thanks to falling mortgage rates, homebuyers recently got a big boost to their purchasing power. The average rate on the 30-year fixed-rate mortgage fell to 4.06 percent with an average 0.5 point for the week ending March 28, 2019, according to Freddie Mac.

"The Federal Reserve's concern about the prospects for slowing economic growth caused investor jitters to drive down mortgage rates by the largest amount in over 10 years," said Sam Khater, Freddie Mac's chief economist. "We expect a continued rise in purchase demand," added Khater.

Mortgage applications moved higher last week, as rates fell. And with the monthly employment report set for release the first week of April, we will certainly see further impact on mortgage rates – whether it is up or down is still to be seen.

Having held its first books sale auction in London on March 11, 1774, Sotheby’s celebrates its historic 275th anniversary this past month with a monumental birthday present: Sotheby’s chairman of the board, Domenico De Sole, rung the opening bell of the New York Stock Exchange! 

“There were 100 people on the floor learning about Sotheby’s from its specialists, and seeing the whole Stock Exchange phenomenon and them cheering us on, it was really a great way to say, ‘Happy Birthday, Sotheby’s,’” says Tad Smith, CEO of the brand. 

Sotheby’s has expanded exponentially since 1775, both geographically and in the varyingly different types of works it sells. As it celebrates its past, the company looks to its future growth. One of Sotheby’s most paramount goals in the coming years is to reach and inspire millennial consumers. In order to do so, Sotheby’s plans to expand and place an emphasis on its online selling and consignment platforms in order to better reach this young demographic, and and help to keep the Sotheby's brand thriving for the next 275 years and beyond. 

After years of development, Hudson Yards finally became New York's newest neighborhood, opening its doors this past month. As the largest private real estate development in the country, Hudson Yards offers more than 100 diverse shops and culinary experiences, significant public art, modern residences, 14 acres of public plazas, and gardens. 
 
Here are our top picks of “not to be missed spots” at Hudson Yards:

• The Vessel – With 154 interconnected stairways that ascend 150 feet, this cooper-clad structure looks like a cross between an Escher print and a beehive. Book tickets to climb this remarkable landmark every morning at 8 AM on their website. 
• The Shed – The retractable shell is the signature flourish of the 200,000-square-foot flexible structure, designed by Diller Scofidio + Renfro.  
• Estiatorio Milos – This two-level Greek restaurant boasts marble floors and a stunning outdoor dining area that offers chef Costas Spiliadias’s trademark Mediterranean fare, a wine bar, and a fish market. 
• TAK Room – Chef Thomas Keller’s first new New York City spot, in more than a decade, will serve “classic Continental fare” and offer diners taste of timeless glitz.
• Mercado Little Spain – 35,000 square feet of tapas stations, paellas, grilled meats, and other Spanish-style cooking, the restaurants are reminiscent of the food markets in Madrid and Barcelona.
• Snark Park – An exhibition space, which will host three shows a year and the inaugural exhibition, Lost and Found, is an immersive installation of white columns, mean to evoke a labyrinth.
• Forty Five Ten – This 16,00-square-foot outpost of Dallas boutique is beautifully curated as a one-stop shop for fashion, beauty, jewelry, and accessories.
• Equinox Hotel - The world’s first flagship gym and spa with 200 rooms, designed to promote a more restful night’s dream with renewed focus to take on every day.
   
  When the development is fully complete in 2025, the 28-acre site will include 16 towers, a hotel, a school, and the highest outdoor observation deck in the Western Hemisphere. 
   
  Our team recently visited Hudson Yards, explored the shopping center  and climbed the Vessel. We'd like to share with you our personal photos, above and in the link below.