Month: January 2011

decor: splashes of white kitchen design

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No matter how hard I try to avoid the color white in the kitchen, the more I seem to lean towards it. I guess it is my way of making sure all things are clean and bright since I spend a good amount of time in the kitchen cooking and baking. For some reason dark cabinetry doesn’t inspire me enough to spend any time in the kitchen. I feel a kitchen is a canvas and all food products are the colors which give it the character to be a warm and inviting kitchen. So, here I go again, looking at white cabinetry as an option, but this time I would use white marble countertops. As for  the floor color, texture and style, that is yet to be determined because it is contingent upon the actual location of the kitchen in the apartment (a.k.a flats and lofts)  I am currently searching to purchase and redecorate. Here are my top pics for ideas, let me know what you think?

boutique hotel pick – parco dei principi – roma

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As promised I am including some of my favorite luxury and also boutique hotels for Italy. This particular five-star property, the Parco Dei Principi,  is located in the heart  of  Rome, near the Villa Borghese park and in my opinion a wonderful place to stay in order to detox from the realities of every day life. To me, as I have stated before, hotels must be romantic or charming in order for me to feel like I am truly on vacation or holiday (as some would say) and although some of these properties are a bit pricy, the experience of staying in this particular one will be  most memorable – take my word for it. Have a great weekend!

decor: the do’s of art walls

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Lately I have been looking at suggestions for art walls. Since I plan to live in an apartment type dwelling I think this decorating suggestion may work, not sure in which room but I am considering the option. Now, art wall is a tricky thing to incorporate in a home and if not done correctly it can be an eye sore for sure. Hanging photos of your family along a hallway, in my opinion, does not constitute an art wall. A true art wall is a group of odd size and shape black and white and/or some tasteful color photos stratigically grouped together to create, well, a work of art 🙂 So, for this piece I have included photos of some of my favorite art walls in hopes I will find a way to dupplicate or even create my own style from it. Tell me what you think?

spring 2011 youthful fashion ok for the woman over 40

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Finally! this year I have to say I am pleased with the Spring fashion trends, especially ones that a woman over 40 can actually consider wearing without wondering if she is within the  “age appropriate” guidelines. Now, it may look like I keep tooting Badgley Mischka’s horn, but that is really not the case.  I simply like showing off fashion trends, one designer at a time because it keeps me organized and I think it helps my readers  stay focused as well. Now the catalog I have attached here details all of the BM trends, but the photos I have below are my favorites and also suggestions for the woman over 40 to consider. Keep your eyes open, these items will soon appear in your favorite department stores or BM boutique stores.  

healthy eating – beef stew with red wine and dried plums

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For some  reason I love beef stew, I suppose because it is the American version of Boeuf Bourguignon, which happens to be one of  my favorite French dishes (yes I said French again).  The wonderful thing about beef stew is that you can actually make it a day in advance and in a large quantity for a fun meal, for the entire family or while entertaining friends during the winter months. Now, although I enjoy traditional beef stew with potatoes and carrots, on occasion I am always looking for “out of the norm” recipes to make the meal exciting and yet weight watcher friendly and thankfully I was able to do just that with the beef stew recipe that I found here. It has no potatoes or carrots, instead it’s made with dried plums and celery celeriac. I actually made this version minus the vanilla bean and it was pretty good and I didn’t feel guilty about watching what I ate.  I paired it with a  *robust Cabernet and sliced, *rustic French (yes I said …

decor – all things powder blue

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I wish there was a way we could redecorate our homes with every season because I just can’t seem to get enough of the variations in decorating styles for a home makeover. One choice of color I have always loved and consider the most peaceful is the color powder blue, however incorporating the color throughout an entire house is a bit much in my opinion. For me it would probably be a bedroom or a bathroom and maybe the kitchen in the photograph below. Wow. Anyway, check out the pictures below and let me know what you think or if you have considered the color powder blue in your decor, how did it turn out?

boutique hotel pick – chateau de mirambeau – bordeaux

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There are two quotes from Ernest Hemingway which I truly appreciate and probably live by, as I am an avid wine drinker and an “amateur” connesieur (if there is such a thing). Anyway the quotes are as follows: “Wine improves with age, the older I get the better I like it” “Wine is the most civilized thing in the world” With that said, I figured I better  include one of my favorite properties located in one of the greatest wine regions of the world, Bordeaux, France. Now although my hotel pick – Chateau De Mirambeau isn’t really a boutique hotel and more like a luxury hotel, I am still catagorizing as such because of the ambiance and the romantic feel of  the property. Chateau de Mirambeau, is located in the Mirambeau village between Bordeaux and Cognac and with it’s  14 rooms and 9 suites, you can only imagine how challenging it is to book a room, if not planned well in advance. Anyway, I will let their website do the talking, in the meantime enjoy …

wedding shoes for the woman over 40

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In yesterdays blog entry I suggested some beautiful gowns here for that special day for the woman over 40. Along with choosing the right gowns, it is also very important to select the right type of shoes and although I am not loyal to any particular  shoe designers and their products, I have included an online catalog here from Badgley Mischka Spring 2011 footwear collection for you to consider, when shopping for your special wedding day, or “renewing wedding vows” or simply to match with a dress you plan to wear to a wedding in 2011. Tell me what you think?

wedding gowns for the woman over 40

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Selecting the right gown for a second marriage or “renewal of vows” is probably the most challenging for women over 40. But, if tastefully chosen, it can be the most rewarding experience ever. With that said, now is the perfect time to consider the options for a spring, summer and even fall weddings or “renewal of vows” ceremony. In my research I have come across some amazing gowns to consider and yes they are all from Oscar de la Renta. Enjoy!  

elle decor you inspire me

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I can honestly  tell you that I cannot pass up the magazine section at any bookstore, especially when I come across Elle Decor. In my opinion, it is the most resourceful, user-friendly, esthetically pleasing  and well-organized interior decorating magazine and I love the fact, it is published globally with  U.K., Australia and French versions to booth. Anyway, I tend to keep most of my Elle Decor magazines because I feel, like fashion, interior decorating is recyclable and what is considered old news will most likely be new trend in the coming years. Besides my eclectic taste in decor is another reason to keep the magazines. Here are some of  my favorite Elle Decor photos from years past which I think can most certainly be included in today’s design styles. Tell me what you think?