02Dec

Snippets of my home

There was a little bit of misunderstanding with yesterday’s post. Apparently some lovely people thought that the first image was part of my home, it’s not. I found the image at New York Social Diary. The post was intended to inspire a different way to approach Christmas Decoration. I apologize for the confusion. For that reason I decided to post a few images of our home, which I don’t do much because we all know that magazines would not be interested in featuring somehing that’s been already published. This past Saturday the photographer Marco Ricca was here and took many lovely pictures of two of our bathrooms, the guestroom and Lucas’ room. For the guestroom above I wanted to create a magical space that was cozy, inviting and dreamy. So my first thought was the movie Amelie. Since I love French movies for their lightness and happiness underlined I designed our guestroom inspired on Amelie, hence the whimsical and unique wallpaper and the color scheme. The wallpaper is Champignons by Brunschwig and Fils, the side tables are designed by a Karl Springer apprentice. I don’t remember his name. The handle is one sculptural gorgeous thing but you can’t appreciate it much unless you click on the picture an zoom in.

Bringing Christmas Home in Small Doses

The most wonderful time of the year is knocking on our door to come in and literally shake us in our chairs. My heart is beating with excitement at just listening the songs and smelling the so pleasant smell of pine cone everywhere I go. I haven’t yet started decorating the house, but this year we’ll do small vignettes, just like last year. I posted some images of my home from Christmas time last year. Two or three tabletop Christmas trees and we’ll be ready to really suck in the whole spirit of this time of the year. Enjoy!

A dry orange Christmas wreath will make any home smell crispy clean.

So cozy

Large ornaments laying around the house is a very unique and modern way of setting your home for Christmas.

Hanging a pretty set or ornaments of a mirror corner or a painting is simple but valid.

top image via NYSD rest from Living Etc.

30Nov

Kitchen of the week: Kitchens with Floor to Ceiling Tiles

white kitchen with floor to ceiling tiles on the walls and fireplace via belle vivir

A kitchen with walls covered from floor to ceiling tiles gives the impression of being well finished. Regardless of what type of back splash is covering the walls, the simple subway tiles, marble slabs or hand painted tiles, the whole effect gives the kitchen a feeling of grandeur and cleanness. For an even more seamless appearance some people go with grout of the same color as the tiles while others who prefer a more contrasting effect decide on gray or black grout. I prefer a darker grout especially if the kitchen is all white to give it depth. There are many different shades of gray from darkest to lightest. Enjoy!

kitchen with dar floor, white cabiners, destressed table and floor to ceiling tiles

A Classic French pied-à-terre

That was a longer and unexpected weekend than anticipated, but it felt soo good! After spending a great time with family in thanksgiving I shielded myself home from frenzied Black Friday. So afraid even to stick my head out of the window. Then on Sunday the perfect and wonderful weather pulled me out and went with my hubby and our little one for a delicious sandwich at Murray’s Cheese, that we enjoyed at the corner park with church bells ringing in the background- it was pretty simple but magical.

Then last night while sitting in my living room and imploring God for some inspirations to blog about, I came across this pied-à-terre in Tolouse, France that belongs to the Architects Daniel Suduca and Thierry Merillou, the owners of Galerie Saint Jacques. The apartment which they reconfigured to make more open and fluid, is filled with 20th Century furniture by different and amazing designers. This home is a harmonious marriage between the classic and the personal.
As I like to emphasize, I love a home full with Architectural furniture that makes it unique and out of the ordinary.

Jean Prouve chair and table juxtaposed a Louis XVI arm chair covered in chintz. The carpet is by Lalanne.

The Ashanti bench in the living room seems to be waiting for someone to sit on it.

A Gio Ponti Chest of Drawers in the bedroom where the walls are lined in dark brown fabric.

A Lalanne sheep sculpture next to a absolutely beautiful chair.

I’d like to marry this bathroom.

photograph by Manolo Yllera

24Nov

Happy Thanksgiving

Wherever you are, I wish you a warm and Happy Thanksgiving. We all have countless reasons to be thankful, even when we don’t realize them or verbalize them. I hope the night gets a bit chilly to light our fireplace, play a lot of Christmas music and just be merry. Happy Thanksgiving!

Top image from Tumblr.

22Nov

Interiors in Black and White

To many people the thought of decorating a home entirely in black and white may sound a little bit too formal or too sober. Colors are too comforting and too welcoming, even if the interior is done in pastel colors. But there are rooms that seem to pull it off surprisingly well, and the common factor seems to be one or two whimsical touches. This dining room above designed by Alberto Pinto, for instance, has a very playful chandelier and chairs upholstered in polka dots. The table setting is also very whimsical.

interiors in black and white modern living room in black and white furniture, lucite chairs and fireplace via belle vivir blog

This living area above is also very light in ambiance with lucite based curvy modern chairs and a shag rug.

vanity in black and white via belle vivir blog

Whims everywhere in this bathroom, from the shade to the skirted chair/stool. The sconces have their own touch too.

Interiors in black and white via belle vivir blog

Mix and match chairs in this room include casual Panton chairs and Louis XV style chairs.

Sort of polka dot again covering a chair.

modern entryway in black and white with zebra rug and round mirror via belle vivir blog

The space above has like a very nice light reflection that gives it a hint of pink. The zebra rug, the round mirror and the sconces pull everything off.