23Apr

A Beach Home Decorated With Blue and Rattan: Bahama Style

Tom Scheerer has designed many a beach home in the Bahamas. In fact, Tom says he prefers them because homeowners tend to be more open to trying new things in a vacation home. It makes perfect sense although a house like this one, I wouldn’t mind to call it a permanent residence. Waking up to sunny days and walking on talc-pink-powder-like beaches would be anyone’s ultimate dream. I was happy to find one of his latest Bahama style projects in the current issue of House Beautiful.

The architecture of this Bahama home is a traditional Colonial home which Scherrer designed for modern life. The color palette is composed of different shades of blues, sprinkles of purple and rattan furniture. The kitchen especially is quintessentially Scheerer’s style with graphic cement tiles as the backsplash and no upper cabinets as to avert any form of formality. A beach house should be free-spirited and airy with durable fabrics and materials.

I especially love whitewashed wood in a beach home, in this case, Tom used a wood called pickled pecky cypress in various spaces in the house to bring cohesiveness to the open rooms. All the fabrics in the house are indoor/outdoor… practicality is everything.
beach home, bahama style, rattan, blue, living room

The living room has white shiplap on walls and the tray ceiling is clad in beautiful pickled pecky cypress. Notice how the striped rug picks up the different shades of blue, brown and beige in the room…

16Apr

14 Summer Wreaths to Welcome Spring On Sale…

Miles Redd

After having a couple of days with temperatures over 70’s, I got so excited that on Saturday I might have overreacted and cleaned out my closet and put most of my cold weather clothes away. Today, however, the temperature is back in to the 40’s but I’m determined to embrace Spring… although I may go back and retrieve a few sweaters, you know…? I’ll say next time I’ll start welcoming Spring through the exterior of the house. These fabulous summer wreaths are one way of doing that. Wreaths are not only for Christmas and they can get you closer to Spring and Summer than you think. Especially if they are made of fresh material like lemon or lavender.

Imagine coming home every day opening your door to a scent of fresh lemon or lavender… wouldn’t that be something? A wreath can also be hung on a backyard wall and smaller ones can be used as tabletop decoration. I love an outdoor table decorated with a lemon arrangement. As a matter of fact, the color combo of lemon and purple, albeit their subtle hues, can be a great bold combination. Most of these Summer wreaths are on sale and made of faux material but I have also included others made of fresh lavender and lemon even though they are not on sale, they are so well priced that I’m going to count them as if.

By the way, Belle Vivir is randomly having some changes that reflect more on our current mood and style. We have made changes to the menu bar, added an archive link on the bottom right side and soon will be adding a customized subscription form for those of you who would like to subscribe to our posts newsletter. Stay tuned

Lemon Wreath that never goes out of style, creates a very summery feel.

10Apr

Andrew Brown Collected Allure

When I posted about the allure of painted floors a few months ago, I didn’t know that among the images one belonged to Interior Designer Andrew Brown. As it turns out allure is one of the adjectives many design connoisseurs have used to describe his collected and eclectic interiors. His talent for combining different periods and style and his ability to juxtapose the simple with the attractive has a lot to do with his childhood. Granted he spent his childhood in France and West Africa, how interesting is that.

We can see many of his exciting childhood influences in his home which was featured in Veranda a couple of years ago. “A combination of texture, patinas, layers, varying heights, order and disorder, old and new, aristocratic and tribal- that, all together, is what creates a successful space. It’s about creating the right amount of tension between everything.” AB
Andrew Brown Interiors gallery wall

It seems that Andrew Brown has traveled quite a good amount and it can be experienced throughout his interior design work. His distinctive, eclectic style has been described as a “mix of masculine glamour and brooding sensuality” Since his home appeared in Veranda, Browns’s interiors have become more restrained with a less is more approach. As Andrew says on his website “… this involved understanding our client’s wishes and personalities, so that their needs are met and their home is a reflection of them”. And that is what in essence every designer should do. Below, a few images from his beautiful portfolio.

Andrew Brown, room with brown walls

How soothing and neutral with chocolate walls.

Andrew Brown bathroom

Love the beautiful combination of material and texture in this bathroom.

Below, Andrew Brown’s home, a cottage in Birmingham which Veranda Magazine called a cabinet of curiosities.

03Apr

Unconventional Kitchens: 6 Unique Kitchens That Are Also Beautiful

When some people think of unique kitchens their first response is one of skepticism. Unconventional kitchens are usually expected to be anything but beautiful. In the worst cases, the excess of inventive details and mixtures of ideas become to feel so unfamiliar that it yields a feeling far from pleasant. These unorthodox kitchens are not only unique but also beautiful. There is a way to have it both ways when it comes to being unique in designing any room in your home. My philosophy is that whatever it is you are designing should depart from the classics.

As in our kitchen, for example, I combined a modern classic element like stainless steel cabinets with more classic cabinets to juxtapose the sleek and the matte, the always-look-as-new feel of the stainless steel with the traditional painted cabinets in the rest of the kitchen. Francois Catroux still has the very innovative stainless steel fireplace mantel since the late 60’s in his Paris apartment. This latter innovation is perhaps what set him apart from the rest. It pays to be unique and innovative but it is more important to do it in a way that makes you happy. Use in your home what you love and make you happy and go from there. How can the world be innovative and exited if everyone designs in the same fashion or even wear the same clothes? Below, some of the most recent unique and unconventional kitchens I’ve seen.

unique kitchens, unconventional kitchens, monique-gibson-kitchen-bellevivir

Love everything in this unique kitchen by Monique Gibson, currently featured in Architectural Digest. This is Monique’s kitchen in New York City where she also works. The table made by an Israeli furniture maker functions as a desk/meeting table/ kitchen table. Now that’s clever.

unique kitchens, unconventional kitchens, ryan white kitchen belle vivir

A small kitchen that would take anyone by surprise. It looks more like an entry to a small apartment than an actual kitchen. In a small space or an open concept floor plan is a good idea to treat the kitchen as part of the rest of the home decor.

02Apr

Items for Sale: For all tastes and styles

The items for sale on this special deals of the week are completely unrelated to each other in the sense that they don’t represent a theme or style. They are intended to appeal to anyone and everyone who is looking to complement their own style. Isn’t it great when you find out that what you’ve been wanting to buy is on sale. I love that feeling. In this roundup, there is something to use indoor, outdoor, your office along with a fashion item that is to die for. Those crystal-embellished shoes with 70% off are so dazzling, aren’t they? They would spruce up any outfit. The lavender set comes as a result of my garden plans or I should say future garden since right now it is a mere backyard. I know for a fact that I want to plant lavender or something that looks like lavender. Before I started learning about gardening I had very little understanding about planting hardiness zones and the limitations that entails when it comes to choosing plants. Since the facade of our home is of stone, it reminds me of Provence and lavender would be a perfect complement. Now I just need to find out if lavender thrives in this zone… Gardening or landscaping is a whole different world…

items for sale belle vivir blog

I love paperweights in my office. If you choose them carefully, they can lighten up your day. Pillows provide one of the easiest ways to change any decor. Replace them every season with something weather-appropriate and you set your home with a different mood. Besides, I think everyone needs some vitamin sea by now. If you prefer a neutral decor as all the gorgeous pieces in this gift guide, a table lamp like the one below would complement such hues… And lastly, the mirror is for traditional-decor aficionados.

26Mar

Deals of the Week: Spring or Easter Tableware

Spring or Easter tableware

Next Sunday will be Easter and every piece in this week’s special deals of the week covers all you need, regarding table decor, for either brunch or dinner. Green and yellow is always a great combination for Spring or Easter tableware and all the table setting pieces here included can be seamlessly transitioned into the outdoors, if you are lucky enough to live in warmer temperatures. No need to hop around like an Easter bunny, after purchasing these table setting options all you’ll need is the food and flowers. The egg hunting and the chocolate bunnies are on you… The mood of your table will be a balanced combination between Country Frenchy Chic with a touch of American effortless elegance.