HOUSE HUNTING FANTASIES

Hi! I am back. I noticed that my last post was done in the Fall. Oh, My! We are in the middle of winter already. But never forgot my blog... Nooooooo! I didn't. I thought about it almost everyday. And I feel really bad abandoning it like that. I am just been out of track, trying to catch up with all in my life. Between client's projects, new classes and country house hunting in the weekends with my husband. OH! That's a lot of work... house hunting. If you have house hunted before you would know what I am talking about it. Specially if you are doing in a tight budget and want it all! Anyway, I would love to share one of my "furnishings fantasies". Below is a breakfast/dining furniture collection as a result of one of those fantasies. This last weekend I really liked an antique house that we visited. Since then I have been day dreaming about the house. The kitchen was really spacious... and it had a nice area for a table setting. There was a brick fireplace there, vaulted high ceilings with light/honey color rustic beams; and the whole kitchen was wrapped by a paneling warm wood, in a the same color as the beams. I thought I would like to create a cool palette for the floor area, for the furnishings. Here is the result of my kitchen/breakfast area wishes.

FOR THE SOURCES

 

FALL IN LOVE AGAIN (with your home)

I think I already said in this blog that fall is my favorite season… But here I have to say it again. Every fall I “fall in love again”. I fall in love with the warm colors of the trees, I fall in love with the chill in the air and the cozy sweaters… the hearty food, all kinds of pumpkins decorating peoples' house. For me, the mood of fall has a feeling that mother earth is coming to visit my home. So I have to do something special to wait for her… clean and prepare the house, maybe refresh it. How do we refresh the house? Get inspired. Get a lot of inspiration. Do you know Pinterest? It’s a great website to get inspired. Here you can check "my inspiration boards", so maybe you can start there. But there are millions of inspirations out there. Once you are done with getting all the inspirations my first advice is: put away all the accessories from the room that you want change; and then start accessorizing the room again (maybe with some fall elements). Second: re-arrange the furniture if it is possible. Third, perhaps, buy a new piece of furniture. Last, donate everything that you got tired or that you never like it.

Is that Mother-Earth?!?

OK... Let’s start the work! Shake the dust!

BUT.... First, let's make some yummy soup… while the soup is cooking on the stove go back to Pinterest and search for inspirations. Then, get your stomach happy and your body full of energy.

Pumpkin Chowder - Via Country Living Magazine

Ingredients:
3 tablespoon(s) extra-virgin olive oil 2 leeks, trimmed of tough green tops and chopped 3 large garlic cloves, finely chopped 2 medium bell peppers, chopped 2 1/4pound(s) pumpkin, peeled, seeded, and cut into 1/2- by 1-inch-think pieces 1 1/2teaspoon(s) chopped fresh majoram 1/4 teaspoon(s) crushed red pepper 2 bay leaves 1/4 teaspoon(s) salt 1/4 teaspoon(s) freshly ground black pepper 1 1/4cup(s) frozen corn 6 cup(s) vegetable broth.

Directions:
Heat olive oil in a large pot or Dutch oven over medium heat. Add leeks and cook until very soft, about 5 minutes. Add garlic and cook for about 2 minutes. Stir in green peppers, reduce heat to medium-low, and cook until peppers soften, about 8 more minutes. Add the remaining ingredients and cook until pumpkin is tender, about 30 minutes.

Inspired by the colors of the season...

Some of my choices... I think a new chair would add that final touch to the room...

If you want get more information on these pieces visit my board at Pinterest "Seating I Love".

Ohhhh! I found the "ONE"!

...And please look at the color of this hair! Hum.... this might give me some

ideas for my "color day hair" (which is today)!

If you decide to do your "Fall in Love Again" project, please send me pictures of "Before and After". 

I would love to see them!



TIPS WHEN HOUSE HUNTING

We had another weekend looking for houses in Connecticut. From all the 8 houses we visited there was one that called my attention. It was not a perfect house, but it has so many nice features that I think I could make that works… The first amazing feature about the house is the fact that it is an antique (circa 1780s) house still in very good shape, and of course, full of charm. It needs a little of love and good decorating skills to make it a perfect retreat weekend home. Mike (my hubby) was not totally convinced about that one was the one... which is pretty normal for him. He might have hard time visualizing what the empty place and in careless condition could turn to be. He might not be able to look at the potential of the raw gems. (Well, I am going to give him a chance because he was able to find ME!)  Anyway, I find out that lot of people have difficulties to see the potential of neglected houses that are for sale. One of the ways that I use to not loose the hope is to be positive, look at the good side of things, and try to find a lot of inspirations.  First, I take lot of pictures of the exiting conditions, and then carefully I study it later. Find inspiration images of decorating spaces and architectural features that you like (that matchs to the style of the house). It is simple to do… but it can be a challenging work because you would find a lot of beautiful ideas and then you would not to know what really works for you and your budget. If you have the patience and time to develop the ideas it’s great and you can have a lot of fun; otherwise it's better to hire a designer who would really help you to "see" and possibily would help you making a decision when shopping for a house.

Here I would like the share with you some pictures that I took of my adorable antique cottage that I saw so much potential. And at the same time I want share some inspiration images that would be very helpful when and if the time comes to polish the gem.

POOR THING! It needs somebody with a hat, garden boots and tools!!!



That's the living room. Little funny layout... for sure.

Below just some living rooms that I love... and I think I could some how create a style similiar to these amazing living rooms to the "funny layout" living room above.  I am not sure how my designs would come up.  I would have to take measurments, draw a the floor plan of the area, and try to understand the space better... and then find the right sizes and right pieces for the area.  The photos below are just inspiration images for what kind of style that I want approach.

Design by Lisa Sherry Interiours

Via House of Fifty Blog



Via House to Home

The image below is part of the kitchen... another kind of award layout...

I would have to really think about it!

I would might considered opening the space a little bit more... breaking one wall that separates the kitchen and dining area right now.

Design by Kelly Hoppen (one of my favorite interior designers)

The dining area is really nice.  I like that is filled with light and I can use the space to put a long dining table.  I love skinny and long dining tables!

I am using this beautiful photo taken by Michael J. Lee to inspire me to design the guest bedroom:

"Sweet and simple"

This is the space downstairs that I would have the guest bedroom.

Let's go upstairs!

Let me introduce you to the exiting master bathroom:

It's quite big for a cottage house!

Do you see the pontential?!?

Inspiration....

Source Unknown. 

Inspiration...

And here is the general view of the master bedroom.

That's how I visualized it "to be"! I mean, the bed "to be"!

Via Paper Mulberry Blog

And don't forget the sweet details...

For me... "G" for Gross.

The interior has some many weird rooms, when you see for the first time you ask?

"What is the room for?" But then I think... and think... we could explore these areas and create unxepected inviting vingettes like these beautiful ones below.

For the outdoors I would like to add some bright color.

Some really purple blue! And for materials: some metal, some wood, some cotton.

And that blues would complement the blowing of the summer lavender flowers that I would plant all around the short stone wall.

THE END.

GET THE LOOK SERIES: If I had a house in the country…

I always that this love for stone houses… I dream that one day I will live in a stone house. To keep my dream alive I look for stone houses all the time and fantasized living there. I imagine how I would decorate them… how I would create the interior complementing the exterior. Here I would like to share one of my favorite stone houses (but believe me_I have a lot of favorites). If you link to my Pinterest page you would see that I have been building a board with all of the “stone beauties” that help me keeping my dream alive. By the way, for those who don’t know what is Pinterest… it’s my new “obsession”; and as I know an obsession of many other ones. So, BE CAREFUL!
Anyway, if you are curious: check it out!

Going back to my dream house… and how I would decorate it… The photo below is one of my favorite as I said before. A house designed by Stan Dixon Architects.
As lovely as it is I am creating a warm and welcome entrance interior, follow by the first living room.

FOYER

SOURCES:

TABLE LAMP

LIGHTING PENDENT
RUNNER

WOOD BENCH
DARK PILLOW

LIGHT PILLOW

MIRROR

CONSOLE

WHITE STOOL

ART WORK

 LIVING ROOM

SOURCES:

 DRAPERY

RUG
COFFEE TABLE

CONSOLE LAMP
CERAMIC PIECE

SOFA

WING CHAIR
SIDE TABLE

FRENCH CHAIR

FOLDING STOOL

CONSOLE

LIGHTING PENDANT

REMEMBER: RG Art & Design can help you to create collections of furniture according to your taste and space dimensions.  If you want to learn more about it check our website at E-decorating.

KIPS BAY DECORATOR SHOW HOUSE 2011

Entrance

Every year I like to check out what some of the renowned designers of New York City are up to the moment! Kips Bay Boys & Girls Decorator Show House 2011 is one of the places to go to; and check that out. For those who don’t know... some designers are selected by the club, then each designer has the challenge to transform their especifided space into a beautiful room with exquisite pieces. Below you can see the list of the designers of this year. One of my favorite is Brad Ford ID. He is a young designer and I believe he is fast moving to become a star. I love his designs because of the casual look with a the neutral palette.  I think his spaces are designed for a sophisticated and intelligent type of client who knows how to enjoy life in a easy going way... Again, in my opinion his style is one of the “now” and future style: the mix of old and new, clean lines, practical elements and a retro charm are just perfect for our modern lifestyle in the city.

• Bilotta Kitchens of New York
• Cayley Barrett Associates
• Stephen Fanuka
• Brad Ford ID
• Aurelien Gallet
• Greener by Design
• Gunn Landscapes
• Harry Heissmann
• Jamie Herzlinger
• Celerie Kemble, Kemble Interiors
• Monica Rich Kosann Photography
• Jeff Lincoln
• Mary McDonald
• Ronaldo Maia
• Richard Mishaan Design
• Wayne Nathan Studio
• Amanda Nisbet Design
• Barbara Ostrom Associates
• Campion Platt
• Rauber & Rauber Interiors
• Matthew Patrick Smyth
• Robert Stilin
• TK Theatres / Audio Command Systems

I am able to share a few pictures that I took from the show… Not the best quality because I was not suppose to take photos of the space… I had to sneak, and do it hiding my camera. _“I am sorry Kips Bay Club, but I couldn't hold myself...  I have to share these amazing rooms with my friends!”



If you want look at all the pictures I took from the show visit my RG Art & Design Facebook Page.  Ah, and don't forget to check the button LIKE!

Ah, you still have time to visit the show... It will be running until May 26!