24Mar

Decorating the Kitchen with Bookshelves

Books make spaces feel warm and cozy, lots of them. Bookshelves in the Kitchen add charm and functionality to the design providing more space for cook books and also for easy to reach cooking items and utensils. But of course, kitchen shelving is not only for books they are useful for holding and displaying many other things especially collections and in the case of limited space even spices and more. Enjoy and get some decorating ideas from these images of kitchen bookshelves.

kitchens with bookshelves

Beautiful black and white kitchen with a wall of bookcases via Skonahem
Read More…

20Mar

Lorenzo Castillo And His Opulent Showroom

I would love to visit the showroom of Lorenzo Castillo in Madrid at least every week for inspirations and decorating ideas. As I used to do when living in New York City, I used to stroll the Antiques Stores in the Upper East Side admiring all the beautiful furniture. Lorenzo’s showroom displays his cultivated eclectic signature in each of the pieces he showcase within an outstanding decor. Lorenzo Castillo is an Interior Designer and a Antiquarian who has transformed a 19th century mansion in Madrid into his home and work space. The mansion used to belong to Count of Torrijos and Lorenzo fell in love with the impressive details of this old mansion and I don’t blame him. I can imagine the beauty of its architecture, something that cannot be well appreciated these days. Castillo knows how to use all different kinds of antiques such as art deco, regency, a little bit of Chinoiserie and vintage pieces together in great harmony.

The images below are mixed with photos from his showroom and his interiors.

Lorenzo Castillo via belle vivir design blog

I get enchanted every time I see designers who are capable of mixing many centuries and styles together. This fantastic antique architecture house serves as a canvas to display this Intelligent Eclecticism. Small space but full of character.

19Mar

A Feminine Office by Beatriz Silveira

Interior Designer Beatriz Silveira designed this beautiful feminine office for a magazine editor. Something it would be almost easy to guess based on the very stylistic and sophisticated design of the work space. Beatriz used simple yet refined navy blue sofas combined with white walls and golden touches throughout the feminine space. The very ornate crown moldings on the painted ceiling is the star of the entire office and I love the fact that brings in the exact amount of rustic touch which helps break away the office from being too girly.

Love the touch of the gilt palm tree

Images via Casa Decor

18Mar

A Stunning Bathroom by Luis Puerta

Luis Puerta, Design bathroom belle vivir

I posted about Interior Designer Luis Puerta almost three years ago where I expressed my admiration for his minimal yet very elegant Interior Design. This bathroom he designed shows one more time his use of strong elements such as ornate wood, herringbone floor and ornate crown moldings to bring personality into more modern interiors with nude walls. I love the whitewashed herringbone floors, the floor-to-ceiling French doors with inside shutters. The use of antique furniture and indoor plants in the bathroom makes the space warmer besides the walls being bare. The bathroom seems to project a Greek influence with the Greek statues displaying in the room. I could really use a bathroom like this one.

17Mar

Decorating with Metal Trees

A Palm-Tree Floor Lamp in a Beatriz Silveira design.

With an aura that reckons the glamorous decor of The Hollywood Regency era these brass trees make their way into today’s interiors bringing prestige to any type of home decor style. Sometimes these gilt trees are floor lamps as in the case of Daphne Guinness’s home where a 1950’s Jansen palm-tree floor lamp graces the entry. In other cases however they are simply decorating pieces as in the Hell’s Kitchen apartment of Cathy Lerebours, which I helped decorate. She found the gilt palm-tree at an auction. Take a look below at some homes with metal trees as decorating objects.

decorating with metal/gilt palm trees by julie paulino design

Cathy Lerebours Home

13Mar

Kelly Wearstler Beautiful Library with Greek Key Molding

kelly wearstler's home office with greek key moldings

Kelly Wearstler’s library is one to keep notes of. Only the Greek key moldings on the bookcases is enough to inspire. The finishing of the wood is not only amazingly beautiful but, it’s also very flexible to work with when it comes to choosing a color palette. The touches of brass throughout can not be missed. Enjoy!