Month: October 2011

 

I had another kitchen in mind for today, also by Bates Corkern Studio, but while searching for it this petite kitchen, very much in sync with Fall, came across.   And boy do I need to say why… due that it’s Friday this kitchen’s muted and autumn palette reminds me of a perfect weekend getaway in the woods and almost tells me to set the fireplace and open a glass of wine.  I’m working this Saturday, so that’s when blogging comes in handy, it helps you dream the perfect life.  Have a fabulous sunny and crisp weekend!

all images via  Desire to Inspire.
I have told my husband that once communism is over in Cuba we should buy a vacation home there and bring any kind of business that has been nonexistent and let’s call it a life.  Easier said than done, but until life throws the dice I’ll be content with having The Splendor of Cuba 450 Years of Architecture and Interiors (Rizzoli) by Michael Connors and photography by Brent Winebrenner .  This tome includes 295 color photos of Cuba’s well preserved and extraordinary architecture from 1500’s to 1950’s featuring spectacular well preserved colonial Spanish Creole, sugar plantations, baroque palacios, to unique 20th century modernism movement. This is a book designed to enrich the knowledge and vocabulary of those Architecture aficionados but it’s also a coffee table book that will be the start of many an interesting and opinionated conversations. 

The first time I visited Versailles back in 2000 I was in complete awe by its magnificent and perfect harmonious Gardens as much as The Chateau itself.  The recently released “Versailles: A Private Invitation” (Flammarion), with photographs by Francis Hammond and text by Guillaume Picon gives us a very intimate look into this Paris landmark.  Hammond was given access to every room in order to create a comprehensive new record of the estate.  Items and details such as personal gifts given to Marie Antoinette, the bed where Louis XVI would lie down after taking baths are pictured in this must-have book. 
 
 Below are a few images:
 Amazing how this graphic marble court looks so current.
 The Staircase of Provence, in the south wing.
 The spectacular Hall of Mirrors.
 The bed where Louis XVI would rest after bathing. 
 Marie Antoinette’s Bedchamber.
 The Great Stables.  How magnificent is this?
The Orangerie Parterre.
 a transitional entry way designed by Steven Volpe Interior Design via Belle vivir blog

When I received my Architectural Digest this month and saw that one of Steven Volpe‘s creations was featured I got extremely at just the thought of what my eyes were going to see.  If there is an Interior designer who has perfected the art of mixing with elements of surprise that result in pure Avant-garde and sophisticated spaces that’s Steven Volpe.  Volpe composes rooms that seamlessly combine exquisite designer furniture of different styles with top-notch art in a way that nothing clashes, instead the result is perfect harmony.  His transitional style seems to never get outdated and its always exiting to look at and get inspired from it.  Ever since I posted about the home he designed for Bita Daryabari I was hooked, do I need to say why?  About this home in AD that he designed for a tech-sector titan Steven says  “I was trying to create something that makes an impact, something that people haven’t seen before”.  I was particularly impressed in the big size of the house but yet, how livable and personal it looks.  The dinning room is nothing like you have seen before so I guess Steven Volpe knows how to deliver exactly what he intends!  Enjoy!

living room with curved sofa and two cubisc chairs by Steven Volpe Interior Design via Belle vivir blog
Steven Volpe Interior Design via Belle vivir blog
Steven Volpe Interior Design via Belle vivir blog
Steven Volpe Interior Design via Belle vivir blog

Steven Volpe Interior Design via Belle vivir blog

Steven Volpe Interior Design via Belle vivir blog
Steven Volpe Interior Design via Belle vivir blog
Steven Volpe Interior Design via Belle vivir blog

Steven Volpe Interior Design via Belle vivir blog
photos from Steven Volpe’s website.

Lately I’ve been loving the Industrial Decor, mostly thanks to Steven Volpe’s home featured recently in Elle Decor (picture above).  There is something downtown-chic in Industrial Decor that makes me feel young and adventurous every time I see a room with industrial touches.  Unlike more feminine decor it’s a style that can appeal to women as much as men.   It’s also budget friendly due to the vast availability of vintage industrial furniture at flee markets.  Some of the staples of Industrial decor are muted colors like browns, black, white, grays; too much pattern and color is not its thing, while finishes such as metal, unfinished or whitewashed wood, leather and hides are more used.  As much as I love build-ins, I think there is a lot of flexibility in bookcase on casters.  Below, a shopping suggestion of really cool bookcases! Enjoy!

1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8

As a blogger I get invited to many events, unfortunately I either like too much to be at home and get to be with my family or sometimes those events are inconveniently during week days after work and I just can’t make it.  But, there is one kind of event I will not miss and that’s the one showcasing designers designs where I get to experience firsthand top quality design.  So on Wednesday I went to the opening night of Designers Visions Cinema Style and all I can say is that if you live in the City or anywhere close go and experience these apartments yourself.  You’ll feel enveloped with luxury details and textiles, exquisite American craftsmanship and the excellent job the architects did remodeling these Pre-War apartments.  The bathrooms are stunning and there is one in particular designed by S. Russell Groves where I had a special a La Grange moment.  I loved it so much I didn’t even want to leave until people started passing by and sending signs that we were taking too much time.  The three designers asked to participate this year were Heather Moore of Jed Johnson Associates for House Beautiful (you can see the entire spread in the current issue of the magazine), Jesse Carrier and Mara Miller of Carrier and Company for Town and Country; and Thomas O’Brien of Aero Studio for Veranda.  The apartments will be open for public tour on October 9th, October 15th and 16th from 11AM to 4Pm.  Tickets will benefit The Art of Elysium.

Today is Lucas’ third birthday! I can’t believe it’s been three years.  Actually, I’ll take that back, I have felt that time!  My mom got the cake for him and when she asked me how would I want the cake? My first thought was since he likes cars let’s get a very nice cake with an Austin Martin or a Maserati on top but then I had a second thought and realized that the birthday is his and he should have what he loves and enjoy.  So, I decided to go with a very cheesy cake with Lightning McQueen on top and Luigi tagging along.  He is at that perfect age where there’s no keeping up with the Joneses, where no knowledge of bragging, addiction to praise and envy exists, none of those low sentiments that can make you sick.  He is genuine to his feelings and reactions, he is himself, free of the need to please and impress.  How beautiful is that! I will try to preserve that as long as I can.  In that part of my life, I decided that it’s not going to be about my aesthetic points of view but about him and what makes him happy.  Happy Birthday cutie pie!

Talking about being genuine and true to yourself I was at Designer Visions: Cinema Style last night, more on that tomorrow, when towards the end of the night I turned around and saw a famous female editor taking off her Christian Louboutin and holding them in her hands.  Just like that, as if she was holding a glass of Champagne.   My friend and I looked at each other and jointly said “that’s great” She was being herself without caring what others think of her because after all, the rest of the people were not the ones wearing a pair 5″ heels all night. 
I had a great time last night but it got blurred with the news of Steve Jobs passing away.  That really broke my heart.  It’s amazing how technology has progressed so much further than other fields of study.  The world is still succumbing to fatal diseases while on the technology side we can have a face to face conversation with people hundreds of miles away via a computer.  I don’t doubt that one day we’ll be able to feel that other person across our computers.  Many of the advances we are enjoying today is because of Steve Jobs’ visions and innovation.  What a great man!  I was talking to Vyna last night about how sad it’s to have everything in life and not have that one thing we all should be entitle to, good health.  And she looked at me and said “oh, money means nothing, you can have these three apartments combined (designer visions) and if you don’t have your health you have nothing”  At that point I was so emotionally touched with the news and her words that I couldn’t help but hugging her.