Julie & Ev Launches Signature Linen Collection

Beautifully designed by Julie Paulino, our hand block printed linen collection is made to celebrate being together again.

Our Floret linen collection as seen here in Villa Mahal in the Turkish Riviera.

It’s been a long time coming and our Julie & Ev signature linen collection is finally available. Our hand block tablecloths, placemats, and napkins are printed on 100% cotton by artisans in Jaipur, India. With three different design styles that range from blue and white to pink and neutrals, Julie & Ev hand block print linen collection is sure to delight everyone around the table.

At the table is when we pass our values to our children, share with them our most valuable advice, and celebrate our joyous moments. This linen collection was made to celebrate amongst our loved ones and friends. Whether it is a promptus Sunday brunch, a formal dinner, or a solo dine-in at home, the designs of this Julie & Ev new linen collection is an appreciation of good life.

06Mar

Easy Elegance By Ashley Whittaker

This month’s Veranda magazine is brimming with beautiful and inspiring homes. I particularly love this five-story brownstone designed by Ashley Whittaker for a family with four children. Ashley is known for her flawless use of colorful prints which exude happiness elegantly. As pretty as this home is, nothing is too precious making it ideal for young children’s activities and cocktail parties.

Ashley Whittaker-Veranda-belle vivir

Can you tell that there are more than a dozen printed fabrics from large to small scale in this living room… all seamlessly balanced to strike the right note. The walls have a glossy Venetian-plaster technique that makes everything look even more lively. Eclecticism done right by Ashley Whittaker. A well updated traditional Interior design.

05Mar

March Events: All Design And Art Related Events

March is when Women’s History Month is celebrated and hundreds of museums and National Museum of Women in the Arts are joining the third annual #5WomenArtist campaign. “Can you Name five women artists?” The campaign is designed to spark conversation about gender parity in the arts. Yes this issue is everywhere you guys. This year’s campaign focuses on women artist of color. Which gives me an excellent excuse to post the portrait of Michelle Obama painted by Amy Sherald. If you are asking yourself why Michelle Obama’s portrait is in sort of a gray scale, there is a very interesting and historical explanation. Interesting how art is so meaningful and deep and it can be so expressive once studied and explained. Sherald’s technique is analyzed in detail here.

design events Michelle Obama's portrait by Amy Sherald via belle vivir

“(Girls and girls of color) will see an image of someone who looks like them hanging on the walls of this great American institution. … And I know the kind of impact that will have on their lives because I was one of those girls,” the former first lady said at the official unveiling.

02Mar

The Ultimate Belt Roundup: An Accessory On point For Any Occasion

I’m attending a fund raising event over the weekend and even when I love my very artistic dress which I scored on sale a few months ago, I realized that the dress comes without any belt. It mainly has an elastic on the waist, which I appreciate but it’s not enough to prevent me from looking like a skinny granny. That got me to this belt roundup. Belts can provide multiple benefits, they have the ability to transform any outfit from drag to elegant, like when is worn over a coat or blazer or they can enhance a woman’s waist and make her look feminine. It’s obvious that the belts made by Gucci have conquered the taste of many and have become the “it accessory” of the year. The brand’s signature logo belt can be spotted everywhere you go and it seems to not slow down. It is more of a cult in itself. It’s easy to use either with jeans or with a more dressy attire. I usually don’t wear logos, except for my funny top “Celine Dion” but the belt of the season is somewhat classic and chic at the same time.

belt roundup via belle vivir blog 3

“Always be careful when you choose a belt to have it shaped to give you a longer and plunging line at the back. Whether you choose a wide or narrow belt depends upon the style of frock or coat you are going to wear it with, but if you are short-waisted you should avoid wide belts” Christian Dior.

28Feb

Mid-Week Motivation And Stories To Read This Week

Don't stop when you're tired.

It’s the end of February and I can’t wait for Spring. This has been a horror winter and I think everyone who has experienced it is ready for it to end yesterday. I know I’m eager to start enjoying my glass of rose while experiencing the sunsets late afternoons. Do you know that the sunsets in Ohio are exceptionally beautiful? You may not know that because there are not many people willing to say much about this middle side of the Americas, but it is. The sunsets here, because there are not many high rise buildings, is beyond beautiful. They tend to have the strongest and most striking colors, pinks, yellows, reds, oranges, they truly are a showstopper and they go as far in the horizon as you can see.

Talking about what you can see, have you ever looked at yourself as a leader…? I’m pretty good at directing people. Actually I was just joking with Evren, my husband a couple of days ago because every time I open my mouth it seems to be mostly to order something… Lucas why don’t you put on a cardigan… Lucas don’t you think it’s better to ….. so on. Being a leader is far more than just giving people order, it has also to do with being compassionate and being transparent as well as many other qualities that this article may help you identify in you, if you have them. Or perhaps, even encourage you to develop them. 5 Rare Signs That Prove You Were Meant to Lead People.

One of our favorite French dishes is Boullabaisse because it has all the things I always crave- seafood. We always try to make at least one in the winter or enjoy one in Provence during our summer vacations there. If you, like the rest of the world enjoy French food then you should give a try and learn one of these 13 Classic French Dishes You Need to Master at Home.

Hopefully no one developed a food allerg since we are all adults. Oh no, wait. Yes, it can happen because adults can also develop food allergies. During this time of instant gratification everyone wants to simply live and enjoy everything they can. People are skeptical and rather ignore whatever it is that could potentially force them to change their lifestyle. Well sometimes we all should, if it benefit our own health. If you are new to this blog, I once posted about my life living without gluten and how it has changed it for the best. Food sensitivities have far-reach consequences that people some times rather ignore. If you want to know more about how to detect if you have developed a food intolerance, I encourage you to read this article. 9 Sings You’ve Developed A Food Allergy As An Adult.

On the Interior Design side, have you seen Elvis Presley’s home Casa Perfect is now a showroom full of beautiful modern and unique furniture. Casa Perfect is a perfect mixed of of classic California modernism and Hollywood Regency.

27Feb

Special Deals Of The Week: Mid-Century Modern

The sleek modern lines found in Mid-Century furniture are based on its most unequivocal purpose, form and function. The early mid-twentieth century period was based specifically on the idea of less is more and form should follow function. As a result, the modern furniture deriving from the mid 50’s and 60’s presents an aesthetic that is clean, simple yet still sculptural enough. This latter characteristic is, in my opinion, what makes them so timeless and coveted. In an attempt to depart from the ornamentation and excess of the previous periods, European Designers from the Bauhaus movement proposed this new and simple way of living which became so appealing to its time as an antidote to the hardship of The Second World War.

mid-century modern furniture Ilse Crawford via belle vivir blog

Materials were organic and original, such as Wood, Metal, Glass, Lucite and Plastic, with the latter the most associated with the period today. Starting with natural colors such as wood, black and white and metal, the furniture of that period slowly developed into what is known today as Mod furniture which style came towards the late time of the period and mostly in America. This unusual name represents the bright colorful furniture from late 60’s-70’s, see the pair of Panton orange chairs below. In this special deals of the week, we went all modern… Here are 6 Mid-Century classic chairs on sale that never go out of style.

23Feb

Trench Coat Roundup, From Classic To Unconventional

For some inexplicable reason I keep buying coats from very warm ones for Winter to trench coat Spring-appropriate. And the plethora of different versions of both out there does not help change the situation any easier. Last year Spring 2018 runways offered many different versions of the classical trench coat, from the transparent plastic versions presented by Chanel and Valentino to the floral one shown by Miu Miu and even one very particular with fringes presented by Loewe. A Spring coat is a staple in every classic woman’s closet and the unconventional more modern interpretations of it, see below, are giving the modern women valid reasons to get on the wagon on their own terms. After the jump, a round up of the most classic of Spring coats from short versions perfect to pack on a safari to the gabardine option with a 70’s vibe.

trench coat round up 1 via belle vivir interior design blog