May 2012
5 posts
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Good morning on a rainy day! →
Good morning to all those coffee addicts out there. Rainy day today here at Miami, but coffee makes it all better.
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Announcing the winner of World Market's gift card
I want to thank everybody that visited my blog and left a comment on the post “New furniture outdoor trends”. I hope you’ve enjoyed it as much as I did. Also, I would like to thank the people at Cost Plus World Market for the $25 gift card and for the the opportunity of participating on their webminar.
And, now for the winner, here is the randomly selected number and the comment...
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Colored glass jars
Do you like to collect old sauce jars? And, are you running to buy that last minute mother’s day gift? Well, I have a great idea that combines both situations. This will save you time and money. All you will need is some acrylic craft paint and a couple of clear glass pasta sauce jars. But don’t worry if you don’t have these jars, you can also use mason jars that can be...
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Indoor home lighting
Confused about how to illuminate a specific room in your house? There are so many lamps out there that one can start mixing bathroom ones with the bedroom light. Here I’ve detailed some basics for each room in your home. But before you start lighting everything like a Christmas tree, read the three types of lighting that should always be present in all areas.
On every room in your house,...
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New outdoor furniture trends
Recently I attended a Cost Plus World Market webminar in which they announced their new trends for outdoor decoration. For me, a seminar through the internet was a new experience, and needless to say, an exciting one. From this I could notice that their selection of products was well thought-out and picked. The color palette World Market have selected ranges from the blues to the reds and...
April 2012
9 posts
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Tips for an inviting kitchen
We are always looking for ways to update different parts of our home. But when it comes to kitchens, sometimes we just don’t know where to start. Here are some great and simple tips from interior designer Marc Thee on what to do when you want to make your kitchen more inviting.
Replace all fluorescent lighting with incandescent or halogen fixtures. Ideally, all kitchens should have three...
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Sabrina Soto's new book "Home Design"
Starting tomorrow, and for sale at Target, the Sabrina Soto’s book “Sabrina Soto Home Design” where she shares with us a step-by-step on how simple it can be the process of designing a space.
The TV personality from HGTV’s The High/Low Project (with new season premier on May 8, 2012) explains the “how” to develop a design vision in this great manual. Each...
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Window installations in London
Anthropologie window installation from Gort Scott at Regent Street London W1
I’ve always admired those window displays that makes you want to transform into a mannequin and live there for a while. Like for example the ones at Fifth Avenue in New York, or any of the windows of Anthropologie stores (my favorite store in the whole wide world). I’ve fancy myself thinking how creative...
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Safari decor
Photos by Thomas Whiteside for Elle Magazine
Last week while reviewing Elle magazine, I noticed a new fashion trend. And I’m not talking about flowers or neon colors, this trend as they called it Urban Jungle, is coming to a Summer near you. I was instantly captivated by the simplicity and textures of all these pieces and decided to convert and transform this tendency into a decor...
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Beautiful happenings
Part of the process of Eskayel, her paintings. Source
Last week was a great one for me! It was full of new and exciting surprises, a visit from dear friend and huge huge news! Weeks like this don’t come by that often, so I’ve been perplexed but enjoying every minute of it. Also its been long since this cyber walls been full with new people so I welcome each and everyone of you with a huge...
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Scandinavian art inspiration
The other day on one of those night shifts as a Pinterest addict; I found an interesting piece of art that left me breathless for about .753 seconds! The beautiful metal work piece is part of a studio flat in Göteborg, Sweden.
You have to love the Scandinavian taste for decoration. Their clean lines and the use of natural light is always a must. They use white, beige and black with vibrant...
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Flowers are in the air
Inspired by Spring and all its hues and textures; today I’m going to show you how to convert an everyday item like a wine tumbler into a beautiful and colorful flower vase.
In this tutorial, although I’m using some inexpensive plastic wine tumblers, any plastic or crystal vase would do just fine. Besides this all you’ll need is leftover paint (I just love how many things...
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What's on my desk? OPAL
Last month I went to Savannah, GA in our first family road trip ever. Among many of the things I fell in love with, there were these Bodega Vino Opal Glasses from The Paris Market store. This shop is so beautiful and its merchandise (all reminiscent of old Paris and it’s flea markets) so well selected that I had to go two times to rejoice my soul. Also the staff was so nice and attentive...
March 2012
17 posts
Give me an E
Being a Pinterest-enthusiast as I am, there is not a day when I have to remember myself that I need to take some time to make just one craft a month. But then again, when you are trying to run a blog, have a baby, an elementary school daughter and a husband; who has time to craft?!?!?! Well I do, or at least I try to. [[MORE]]
So today I’m going to be combining two elements that has...
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Two in one transformation
The Spring season seems to be inspiring a lot of us into making happy colorful things. This Friday I’ll have for you one of those Spring-y projects that will make even the ”Grouchiest” one smile. Today I’ve decided that, although not colorful inspired; I’ll give a new look to my rattan planter. This accessory has been with me for years and it literally had ran from...
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Inspiration Board: Paris Flea Markets
Photo via Velvet and Linen
I just love everything vintage and if it comes from a flea market in Paris, better. What’s not to love about a mysterious finding in one of the Tour Eiffel’s city. Everything there seems to have a story to tell. From small buttons to giant wall mirrors. All is romantically enchanted![[MORE]]
Today I’m posting some incredible spaces and accessories...
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That was then...this is now
Sometimes the best way to make a change in an area and to personalize it, is by incorporating an item from past decades. This technique of Mix and Match is very useful because it brings an element of surprise to any room and can sometimes be a very inexpensive way to make great changes. When trying to Mix and Match at your home keep in mind that the piece you’ve selected has an element of...
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I'm feeling woodsy
Great and modern furniture and accessories all from The Foundary. I’ll have the light wood console. All of them are simply amazing.
Wood is my second skin. Don’t get me wrong, it’s just that I live, eat and a breathe interior design, and wood for me should always be present in an area. Whether you decide to put it as batten wainscoting, a side table or a lamp; its natural...
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"Repurpose-able”
Nowadays everything around us is advertised as organic or eco-friendly. At times for me this tends to cause confusion “is it made with organic materials? or is it recycled? how much of it is green?”. But it has come to my attention a new word: “Repurpose-able”.
Paul Schulman, a Chicago-based designer and mill-worker is promoting the use of items you already have giving...
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What I want now: Agate
1. Chandelier from Emporium Home 2. 1970’s Italian lamp by Willy Daro 3. Side table by Brenda Houston 4. Toss pillow by West Elm
Agate, a beautiful stone and a variety of the chalcedony quartz (a group of stones made of a microcrystalline or cryptocrystalline), can be found in different colors except the green and blue ones which are very rare to come across. Today this hard rock is my...
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Bathroom day 2
I know it might seem like it has been taking forever, but I’m sure these results will please a lot of you. Continuing with my non-interference bathroom renovation, today I’m sharing with you the tub area (the rest will come in a later post; I want to keep you guessing) which I’ve taken the time to think and rethink the possibilities. You see, when you only have paint...
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Doors that might talk
Following my House Encounter post, today I’m sharing with you a few of the doors I’ve found during my family’s road trip. Their charm and mystery will make you wonder what these doors have to say. Lets hear see them.
Enchanted door in the Owens Thomas museum in Savannah, GA.
A door in front of a cemetery? Yes indeed and, although that might sound spooky, I love how the...
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House encounter
Last week my family and I had our first road trip ever. We went from Miami, to Savannah then to South Carolina, Atlanta and back to Miami. This trip was so spectacular that I’m starting to plan our second road trip but this time, we are going to stay longer in Savannah. This old town is so enchanting, that in only two days one can only see 1/32 of its beauty.
Today I’m posting some...
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Surround yourself with green
Plants have always fascinated me. Every time I get the chance to visit my nearest hardware store, it is a requirement to pay a visit to the garden area and enjoy all those green and full of life plants. While being there, time seems to stop and it feels like heaven. Since I live in an apartment, the only plants I get to enjoy are my neighbor’s backyard and can’t help to daydream...
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Lets twist again
A quick illustration I made using Google Sketchup to show you how my family room is looking so far.
How many times have you found yourself thinking how to give a new twist to you family room. I’m one of those persons who can spend the entire morning moving around all the furniture only to end up with the same old configuration. I have come to the conclusion that this might be because:
...
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Just another inspiring Monday
Here are my picks of great publications from Issuu to get you started on this Monday morning. There are lots of excellent spaces decorated with great taste and beautiful and unusual items for your home. So dream away!
Open publication - Free publishing
Open publication - Free publishing - More architecture
Open publication - Free publishing - More home
Open publication - Free...
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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
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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...