March 2012
1 post
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Superhero power tool: Day 1
The before horrible bathroom reality. It will get better, I promise
Have you ever felt like having the power to do new things that you believe are the only one in the world who knows how to do them? Is that feeling that almost makes you rush into things like Wonderwomen or pretend you are Catwoman with the power of Dexterity.
Well, I felt like that a couple of days ago and it was just...
February 2012
28 posts
4 tags
Hanging inspirations
By this time and with all the inspiration board writing I’ve made; some might be wondering where my inspiration board is. It may come as a surprise but, up until today, I did not have any. Don’t let your jaw drop to the floor just yet because today I’ll show you “the-making-of-my-very-simple-board”. The best part is that this board has a view!
This is going to be...
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Bathroom style sheet
1. Candice Olson for Benjamin Moore wall paints 2. Lamp from Lighting Showplace 3. Garden Stool similar here 4. Patterns (1. Honeycomb 2. Fretwork 3. Pembroke 4. Orangerie) 5. Apothecary jars similar here
Here is my bathroom style sheet or inspiration board proposal. As you can see, I try to keep every detail very cut clean. The colors are all serene hues, and most of the items are either...
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Neon flashback!
Apparently the 80’s are back an not just in fashion, but also in the interiors. Neon splashes of color have been showing here and there. You can now find a beautiful kitchen but instead of its regular contemporary metal or wood chairs, the pink neon ones. Before, if you wanted to get notice in your neighborhood you painted the front door red; now, paint it neon green.
Neon colors are not...
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The Homies 2012
Recently it was brought to my attention a new meeting spot for all of us home and DIY bloggers. Apartment Therapy is the sponsor of The Homies 2012 were a lot of talented and well designed blogs are inline. Since this was an opportunity to get to know other bloggers and their work, I decided to nominate mine. Let me tell you that if you have not visited them yet, now is the time. At The Homies...
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What I want now: Juju hats
Lately I’ve been spotting feathery wall decorations. From the simplest white, to the catch-your-eye color; they are called the Juju hats. Here is what Lustable has to say about my new found feather love: “Traditionally worn by Village Chiefs in the Cameroon region of central Africa, Juju hats have since gained popularity with interior designers, and are often used as an eye-catching...
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I wish it was mine...
What’s not to love about this bathroom? It almost feels like an invitation to come in an relax. I really adore how everything is centered and how the Venetian mirror is well combined with the chandelier and the lustrous bathtub. The rug has also some sparkling threads on it.
What I’m about to revel to you are some of the best (in my humble opinion and for my taste) designed...
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Easy 1,2,3 tutorial
1-2 Photo frames from IKEA
3 Marimekko newspaper from Crate and Barrel
Here are is a guide to give you other ideas on how to hang frames.
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Dreaming of an Ombre
Sounds weird but the truth is that this new tendency of degradation has got me thinking about it lately. And I have to figured a way to do it.
For those of you who don’t know what is ombre, simply put, it is a degradation of a hue. Almost all the time it goes from a darker color to a lighter one. Here are some ideas on where this popular decoration trend is being used.
Both are...
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Kidding around
There are times in life when you have to decide between durability or something beautiful. When it comes to kids furniture, you don’t always have the luck of combining both qualities. But not anymore. The Baltus Collection is now available in the U.S.A. (with showrooms in Miami, LA, Chicago, Dallas and soon NYC) and they have a beautiful Kids line with bright and vibrant fun colors.
...
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Side table readings
If you want to relax this weekend and spend some time mentally traveling, here are some great books that will inspire you. I simply love these books because, when ever I’m in need of some muse, I can find it in here. They are all from Taschen but can also find them at Amazon.
In my wish list is the new Architecture Now! Vol. 8 by Philip Jodidio. Take a peek!
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With a green thought
1. Image courtesy of House Beautiful 2. Créme de Menthe 16-5919 Pantone 3. “The bright color helps bounce the light around” James Aman; color Tasty Apple 416 Benjamin Moore, image from House Beautiful 4. “This green is striking, and has enough presence to glue together all three floors of this 1800s Greenwich Village town house” Steven Gambrel, image from House...
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My inspiration board... and some great web friends
A little while ago I asked my readers and friends to post some inspiration photos of spaces, decorative accessories or anything that inspired them. Here is my board using my good friend’s photos. They certainly have the best taste in the world! Please visit them at their websites and as always, send my love. Enjoy!
1. Bodie and Fou: Their website is mesmerizing. Their modern and unique...
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A Greek lesson, or two..
While daydreaming about my family’s next vacation, I ended up in Greece. I’ve never been there physically, but mentally I can say I have lots of “frequent flyer” perks. Never the less, I know one day I’ll travel there to see one of the most ancient, intriguing and fascinating spots on the planet. Who wouldn’t want to stay in one of those...
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What I want now: garden stools
Lately everywhere I go, stores are fill with new merchandise for Spring. Color is all over the places and it seems that gardening is the main topic. Since I live in an apartment and the only plants I take care of are two succulents and one orchid; I can not fill my living space with garden stuff. Or can I?
In comes the garden stool! This seating thing for gardens is now very popular among...
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A great revelation
Never have I understood so much about interior design and handmade anything until I started blogging. I already new that the Internet was filled with tons of information but, to find the one that lifts you off your feet and makes you want to daydream; is a total revelation. Today I’m sharing with you some of my favorite websites. There are a lot more, these are just an small example in my...
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Fragmenting the reflection
I have a big obsession with mirrors. Maybe it came from my Marie Antoinette narcissism years or the fact that I love the instant clarity they can provide to a room. Whatever the reason for my infatuation, the truth is that if it was for me, I would have mirrors everywhere just like in my dear Versailles Palace.
My latest reflection craze are the fragmented ones. As always I figured a way to...
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Chevron: lines with a rank
It is everywhere lately. You can find it on purses, pants, shoes, toss pillows…and now it is on my wall. I’m talking about Chevron lines or patterns. If you haven’t stumble upon it, now is your opportunity to admire this new design trend. Read on to see some nice examples and my how to.
Not only that this pattern has been found on antique Greece pottery and palaces but also...
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Mommy friendly remider
My oldest daughter has this thing that she inherits from her father. For me it is a day to day constant struggle because it is not easy to deal with forgetfulness. Don’t get me wrong I love her from here to the moon and back. So much is my love for her and her sister that I came out with this easy D.I.Y. of a mirror chalkboard post-it!!! A W-H-A-T???
Emma has a large mirror on her room which...
Color, the posibilities are endless
The other night, while on my part-time job as a blog spy, I discover the epiphany of color and design. My sighting was made on the April and May Studios Blog, more especifically on her post “Hello Sunshine”. In it she presented several beautiful photos that highlighted the color yellow. But the one with the wicker yellow chair, won my heart.
Suddenly I thought of ways this can be apply to the...
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My geometric lamp
I’m always looking for ways to entertain myself, whether doing a new project or figuring out how to change once again my “quasi” entryway. Recently while flipping the pages of the latest Elle Magazine a picture attract my attention. More than the picture, what made me stop and stare was a beautiful lamp.
This lamp was so modern and geometric, I knew I had to do something. Nicole...
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Inspiration and muses
Photo via Pinterest
I believe that inspiration and muses go hand in hand. Today I’m proposing we join our bestest examples of interior design pictures or inspirational artifacts to make a big inspiration board. I’ll select a few ones to design this board and share with others your link or page with the photo you post. Lets roll those muses! Underneath this post is a “add your...
January 2012
27 posts
10 tags
Ikat, you-kat, we all-kat for Ikat
Backsplash from New Ravenna Mosaics; Swatches from Jo-Ann; toss pillow from the Etsy store Pop O’Color
No, it is not chocolate! This marvelous and popular fabric is gaining a lot of fame in the interior decoration world. Now a days it is very common to find this textile in toss pillows, upholstery chairs, and even in the runways. But what exactly is Ikat and were can you buy it?
i·kat...
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From a pouf, to a baby room
I’ve always been a huge fan of Moroccan poufs. When my second baby was on its way, I didn’t have a clue about how to decorate her room (shame on me being an interior decorator!). The only thing I was sure of was that I wanted one of those beautiful and brightly colored pouf. And as you are guessing, I ran I bought one. Now, how do I decorate a room base only on one circular...
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Natural streaks
By now I will assumed that everybody knows about Pinterest. I have a dear friend whose newest hobby/addiction is this website. For her, it is a love and hate situation because she really loves the site, but hates the long hours she spends there day dreaming an pinning.
For those of you who haven’t had the opportunity of visiting, Pinterest is like a giant inspiration board in which people...
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Update: My Rothko painting
Just a quick post to show you where I placed the Rothko painting. I really love how up close you can see the brush strokes. It really adds dimension to the painting. Isn’t it incredible what some watercolor old brushes and a left over wall paint can do? As always, this is my ever changing nook so here you’ll often see something new. Let me know what you think.
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Brilliant accents
You might think that my obsession with lamps is growing stronger, or that I’m suffering from a Target-Fever. Well, I guess you are right. My latest discovery comes from the floor to the side tables and is brightening every corner of our houses.
I’m talking about the new designer lamps that are shining bright at Target this Spring. From eclectic colored to the fashionably correct, my...
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Instead of MoMA, try Wynwood for a change
Art is on the air, and in the Wynwood Arts District, it’s on the walls. Just a glimpse and you’ll know that it is one of the best Graffiti places in the state. The colors and designs off all of these talented artists make any size canvas feel obsolete. Here is a very small sample of what you can encounter there any day of the week.
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Just another inspiring Monday!
I hope you had a great weekend! Today I’m posting some inspiring publications to get you started for the week ahead. They are all from Issuu so feel free to mingle around. You’ll stop wishing it was Sunday!
Open publication - Free publishing - More identity
Open publication - Free publishing - More craft
Open publication - Free publishing - More decor
Open publication - Free...
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From my garden, with love
On one of my trips to Marshalls heaven, I found a pair of garden lamps. At that time I was pregnant with my second baby and thought that this could be transform in lamps for her room. But how to do that? Well, here is how I did it.
First of all you’ll need these materials. As always here is the list:
electrical cord
plug
brass loop with wire way
fixture cross bar
pipe nipple
...
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1 owl, 2 owls, 3 owls...collections
How much is too much? Lately I’ve found myself collecting owls. I don’t know why but almost anything owl-like, grabs my attention. I try to display them in different areas to mentally deny my craze. But surely enough, it only takes a trip to Anthropologie, Urban Outfitters or Pier One to remember myself ”I need just another one”.
Here is a nice collection of picture...
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Vintage-fying a mirror
Recently I decided I needed some new vintage-thing on my surroundings. Looking for ways and ideas, I stumble with different tutorials to make a mirror look old. But most of them were either to difficult or expensive.
The one that caught my attention was an easy tutorial on how to do a Faux Mercury Glass from Take the Side Street. She explains it so well and easy! The best part is that...
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My version of a Rothko
Looking on ways to update my special “ever changing” nook, I decided that it was time to wake up the “sleeping beauty” artist inside of me. I remembered that on an art class I always admired the paintings of Mark Rothko. His colored blocks, of different sizes and hues, brought me a feeling of calmness. I loved that those master pieces always seem so balance even when...
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Inspiration board: Fragmented mirrors
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Art fair in a yacht
This weekend is the Miami International Art Fair. This event is going to take place from January 13-16, 2012 aboard the SeaFair, a luxurious yacht at the International Hotel Dock.
This fair will display the work of both established contemporary and emerging artists from across the globe. For more information www.mia-artfair.com.
Here is a sneak peek!
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Spoted color in: West Elm
A few days ago I needed some inspiration so took a ride to one of my favorite stores, West Elm. It’s been a long time since I visited this marvelous space, so you could imagine my excitement. One of the best things West Elm has is the distribution of its space. You can find little nooks packed with lots of creative ways to resolve your everyday design dilemmas.
While being in design...
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Trend alert: animal abstraction
Today, dress in my best 007 attire and with baby in cart, I arrived to Target (Tarjay to others) to see if I could find one of those Ikat toss pillow. To my disappointment, I couldn’t find any. Already there and with dreams crushed, I decided to take a last stroll down the isle of Home Decorating.
Once there I notice a rare but magnificent new trend… animal figurines. But these were...
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From nature to decoration
I once had a professor that taught me how to perceive a picture or a surface and then transform it into an area. For the first couple of weeks in his class, I remember pulling my hair out thinking on ways to do this and trying to make sense to the meaning of his words. But finally, it hit me.
When you look at a picture almost every time what we notice is its color, the ambiance, and maybe...
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Exhibit A: Entryway
A good friend of mine came with this photo asking for some suggestions. Here is her description of the picture as emailed:
“The basket you see on the ground is from West Elm, and I got it to place my internet equipment. Also, the long black cable needs to be replaced with a white one and be stretched and pinned to the wall. Lastly, the table is actually a desk from Ikea that I put...
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Color picking
Recently I went to Kentucky to spend Christmas with my family. While being there I notice that trees, flowers and skies were of a different tone and color. But surprisingly enough with their grayish hue, I loved the colors around me. So I dedicates some time to take pictures of these contrast of color in the nature.
With pictures in hand I thought to myself “wouldn’t this photos...