In its new release, True Prep’s author Lisa Birnbach and designer Chip Kidd bring Birnbach’s philosophies of prepdom into our modern times — and thankfully maintain the humor and wit for which the 30 year old classic became famous. Over at Vanity Fair, we caught a preview of Birnbach’s refreshed outlook on today’s prep — Good news: vintage remains chic and lawn games are still a hit. When it comes to frugality, “Do keep repairing old appliances to try to extend their lives. Don’t store them on your front porch or driveway.”

Check out these positively conservatively smart and tailored items for your home and make sure to pre-order your copy of True Prep today.

Twin beds are a go-to option for many shared sibling and guestrooms, and these are a few of my favorite ideas for squeezing out many years of use without a decorating overhaul.

• 1 Classically Domino, this bedroom’s bold color combination and graphic rug make the rest of the room’s traditional elements seem a little edgy.
• 2 This one hails from the Atlanta Symphony Associate’s 2010 Decorator Showhouse. It was designed by Yvonnne McFadden and Helen Marie Rutter. It was Darryl Carter’s (tragically way out of my price range) sconces for Urban Electric that originally made me stop in my tracks when I saw this room. However, there are many other elements worth discussing, such as the wall color: Benjamin Moore’s Rockport Gray, that add a lot of sophistication to this boys’ room.
• 3 Another Domino favorite, this room’s classic decor and girlier elements are tempered by a generous use of gray.
• 4 Although its individual pieces are more formal than my normal preferences, this Eddie Ross bedroom always makes me swoon when I see it. All its elements are formal and refined, but the neutral palette punctuated by splashes of contemplative blues make keep this room from feeling stuffy. Instead there is something elegantly moody and relaxing about it.
• 5 I love this bold, slightly over the top bedroom featured in Lonny. The bold black and white stripes and vibrant orange headboards create a lively balance.

As far as flowers go, orchids aren’t inexpensive, but they’re cheap compared to other home accessories. They’re colorful, decorative, and go equally well in modern and traditional interiors. Although they have a reputation for being high-maintenance flowers, a quick read through this post should put your mind at ease.

To learn more about orchids and their different varieties, the American Orchid Societyis a good resource.

“Developed from from a view of two opposite personalities who – because of their differences – supplement each other and enables many different uses,” Ditte Maigaard’s Split Personality Sofa is designed to allow both to coexist in one couch.

Meant to be used in the middle of the room, it is almost like furniture’s classier equivalent to those infamous (and unfortunate) business in the front, party in the back hair cuts. Okay, maybe it’s more along the lines of Christian Louboutin’s classic black pump with a surprising red lacquered sole. Regardless, it’s an interesting way to incorporate unexpected details into something as predictable as a sofa.

For more images and details, visit Contemporist: The Split Personality Sofa.

The simple concept for Thinbike is the result of a collaboration between TreeHugger founder Graham Hill and German bicycle company Schindelhauer (where Thinbike can be special ordered).

How does it work? With a simple twist the handlebar swivels to reduce the bike’s width from 22″ to only 8″. To get even slimmer, you can flip the pedals down to prevent bruising your shins.

But fashion is fashion, and what goes around comes around. So are kitten heels destined to make a comfortable yet potentially unwelcome return? The answer is an unwavering yes; like it or not, you’ll be seeing plenty more of the kitten heel as a 2010 and 2011 fashion trend. And with the kitten heel being the perfect accompaniment to ladylike ’60s dressing, you might even decide to jump on the bandwagon yourself. Read on as we help you make up your mind.

Kitten heels occupy the space between flat shoes and sex-bomb high heels. They’re a small slender heel of 5cms (2 inches) or less. The heel usually curves inwards from the back of the heel, giving them a bit more stability than a stiletto.

While you could whack a kitten heel onto virtually any type of shoe and say it’s a la mode, that would be something of a stretch. As a 2010 and 2011 shoe trend the kitten heel is linked quite firmly to the return of the silhouettes of the 50s and 60s: from the full-skirted prom styles to the figure-hugging sheaths, the kitten heel is a natural partner for any Mad Men-esque outfit.

As such:

• Look to shoes that are dainty, yet sophisticated. That means kitten heels with pointed toesare preferable.
• Feminine details like bows can add to the effect but keep it relatively simple and don’t overdo the girlyness.
• If you want a pair that will work for both modern and retro-inspired ensembles, go for pairs that are simple and minimalist. Try leather pairs in neutral tones, earthy tones or shades like grey or black.

Moving into Spring 2011 will beg the question: how will the dainty kitten heel translate to the warm weather?

The beauty of both the minimalist and ladylike kitten heel is that they are light enough to transcend the seasons, particular when it comes to office and night time occasions. But for casual Summer daywear, the kitten heel sandal is a more suitable option. Flat sandals are still an unwaveringly chic staple for the warmer weather; but if you do want to try kitten heel sandals look for sophisticated, strappy styles or more interestingly detailed styles that hint at hippy ’70s inspirations – like those at Missoni (below).

As the ugly-duckling of the heel family we’re keen to hear your thoughts of kitten heels. Let us know whether you like them, hate them, or will be wearing them, by leaving a comment below.

• Mint is a bit of a no-brainer. It’s perfect for cocktails, garnishes, or even in floral bouquets, and it grows like crazy, even if you basically ignore it. In fact, it has a tendency to spread and conquer even the most carefully tended of garden beds, so best to grow it in a pot (even better for those of us with limited outdoor space). Certain mints (like peppermint) are hardy even in colder climates, and the plants will need lots of harvesting to keep them in check (more juleps for you!). Grow mint in sun or part shade.

• Chicories like radicchio are an acquired taste—I find them delicious, but their bitterness turns some people off—still, there’s no denying that they make fantastic garnishes. Radicchio’s dramatic red and white coloring looks amazing as the border on a platter of simple canapes or even as the bowl for a few olives or nuts. Radicchio is a cool-weather crop; if you plant in the late summer, you’ll be able to harvest it for holiday parties. Certain varieties are intended for harvest in the warmer seasons, too… just ask for tips at the nursery where you buy your seeds.

• Lemon and lime trees bring lovely fragrance to the garden, and they’ll stock your bar all season long (with lots more to dole out as gifts or to use in centerpieces). If you live in a mild climate, you can grow them outdoors, and even if you don’t, there are dwarf varieties perfect for containers, which can be brought inside during the winter. Just make sure the tree gets a good amount of light and fertilize once a month to keep the plant healthy.

• Dahlias are excellent plants for cutting; they have long stems that can easily be used in arrangements, and they’re prolific bloomers that continue into the fall. The colorful, showy blossoms make a dramatic statement for a centerpiece or to decorate a buffet. They’re tubers, so in milder climates they’ll come back year after year, but in colder spots you’ll likely need to plant them again each spring (easy and fun!).

• I really love certain euphorbias (the type with the unfortunate common name ofMediterranean Spurge) for cutting as well. Their bright green flower heads are sculptural and modern; they make a beautiful statement in a vase just on their own. You’ve got to be careful when handling them… use gloves, because they exude a toxic sap. An opaque vase (rather than glass) is also preferable for this reason.

• Succulent cuttings make fantastic party favors.Echeveria (‘hens and chicks’) come in endless colors and gorgeous forms, and they produce little babies you can just pluck from the garden and plant in tiny pots to send home with your guests. Alternately (to save a little cash) you can use wire and floral tape to turn the succulents into “cut flowers” (check out our tutorial here) and just use a bit of ribbon to turn them into pretty gift bouquets