All posts filed under: decor

chocolate hues in your home

Published by

Chocolate hues in decor can either be a hit or a miss ,if one is not careful while selecting the color to decorate a room. The wrong hue or a combination of chocolate (brown)  shades without accent colors can sometimes drive a person away from the room rather than embrace the environment. I, for one, love the color and while contemplating incorporating it into a friend’s apartment theme, I put together the following photos for her to reflect upon in order to “get it right”. Let me know what you think of using chocolate-brown in decor? Also, if  you have dabbled with the color in your interior decor, please do share your photos or links.

decorating with daughters or others in their 20s

Published by

I am always fascinated with the young generation (20s plus) and their sense of style and find their taste most refreshing and admirable. I wish we were so lucky  in the 80s. Anyway, while I observe the 20 something shoppers of fashion or furnishings, with their mothers or friends, I can’t help but smile at the wonder of bonding through design and decor. In light of this topic, I have included some beautiful design alternatives for the 20 something (plus 30s and even some 40s), who perhaps lack inspiration or vision. I am not condemning anyone, but should the 20 something feel the need to consult their parent for design direction, consider  ideas from the following source: DOMINO’s (not the pizza), you might just be a hero.

accent chairs for the bedroom

Published by

Accents chairs, in my opinion, can either make or break a master bedroom decor (or any part of the house for that matter). But since I am talking about a bedroom, I feel, if you must add a chair, it has to be one with a  character of it’s own so that it can be an enhancement to the bedroom rather than a place to collect clothes. So, for those interested in accent chairs, I have included photos of some of my favorites to share.

christmas ornaments for 2010

Published by

Early you say? well perhaps but as far as Christmas ornaments are concerned I love to get a head start each year by  eyeballing the ones I want to add to my collection. I am one of those people who refuses to have a theme when decorating our Christmas tree. So, what I do is, each year I shop and select anywhere from 1 to 5  unique decorations and incorporate them with the ones I have from the previous years. As long as there is some uniformity to the colors, it works out pretty nicely. So in essence I create my own theme. This year is no exception of course as  I have already started  shopping for those special pieces to add to my collection.  I have included the ones I am considering for now. (This list may change so stay tuned).

fall 2010 suggested books to read

Published by

    I love books and so I practically buy one a month to read.  I am always searching for new publications when I walk through bookstores and enjoy picking, in my opinion, what I think is a good read. Don’t get me wrong, I love all books except  suspense/mystery,  but since I tend to hon in on my creative side more so than the other sides, I choose books which will help me escape  the realities of life, even if for a few hours a day. I have, for that reason, included a list of new publications popping up at bookstores which I think may be fun to read this winter. Let me know what you think and/or if you have other suggestions, please feel free to drop me a line.

photography inspired must have books

Published by

Coffee table books and one’s used throughout the home as inspiration for cooking, daydreaming and falling asleep to is a must in any home. Collecting the right one’s sometimes may be difficult for some and finding the best one’s is most rewarding for the addicts. I happen to be the addict and love to have stacks of  oversized hardcover books all throughout my home.  I normally settle for museum themed ones, or black and  white photography of mostly European cities and some vintage items as well.  So, I was happy to have come across PARIS TANGO by photographer Carla Coulson and wanted to share it with my readers just incase they are in the market for collectible coffee table books or just a gift idea for Christmas. The theme of PARIS TANGO is described as follows: Published by Penguin, “Paris Tango” is a portrait of the City of Lights as you have never seen it before. From the African street markets of Chateau Rouge to the penthouse suite of the Paris Ritz, Coulson and her camera …

for the love of cooking

Published by

While in transition, I had to sacrifice having a kitchen in order not to complicate the process.  In the meantime, I have had to scramble around and find creative ways to eat and believe me, not only is it challenging but downright depressing. Why you may ask? Well it is because I love cooking and enjoy nothing more than a home cooked meal on my own terms. So in order to get my fix for  kitchen gone missing, I often walk through specialty stores for  kitchen  gadgets and cooking supplies. One place I enjoy is a a store (perfectly named in my opinion) called  Sur La Table.  The store is not much different from any other kitchen related specialty store but it is a fun one to experience no less. Okay, I admit the French theme has something to do with it. Anyway, since I am considering creating a more French inspired theme throughout my next place of residence, I walked out with a list of items to include when it comes to organizing or furnishing …

in honor of the color pink

Published by

One of my favorite color is pink. It wasn’t always like that but after Victoria’s Secret introduced us to the color pink with their beautiful shopping bags, pink was quickly added to my favorite color chart. The problem with pink is that if it isn’t the right shade or incorporated with the right accent colors, it almost looks unappealing. I know most women in the U.S. shy away from it because as a child they were forced to wear pink and when they had daughters of their own, all the gifts included the dull, traditional pink color. What has happened over the years however, is that the color pink has taken on a whole new look. We have so many variations (or hues) of pink that it is almost a sin not to consider the color in home decors, clothing lines and now even appliances, motorcycles and sometimes hair color. My favorite shade or hue is the cherry blossom flower colors pictured here and I must admit I use the color throughout my life proudly. …

parisian decor in a san francisco apartment

Published by

One benefit of living in San Francisco is that you can actually duplicate French inspired decor into your lifestyle providing you are lucky enough to land the right Victorian or Edwardian style apartment. The interior requirements should be exposed parkay floors, an old white fireplace, french doors separating the living and dining room.  Rustic chandeliers (hopefully) hanging throughout the house and large  oblong windows. Anyway, in trying to figure out a theme for decorating my “impending” apartment, I have dabbled with the idea of creating a Parisian style apartment ambiance (of course to no one’s surprise) just to escape to when I get home from a hard days work.  Don’t worry I still appreciate modern design but every time I decide on the furniture or style, I somehow revert back to Parisian decor. Can’t blame a girl whose heart will always be in Paris 🙂

paris in black and white

Published by

What is it about photographs of Paris in black and white? Actually the only other place I can think of that looks amazing in black and white photography is New York. I understand you may disagree but from where I am sitting, those are my favorites. During the winter months I tend to become very nostalgic and will search for anything that feeds into my nostalgia.  Such as classic films, holiday shopping, Dickens’ Fair, listening to Edith Piaf  and looking through black and white photographs of Paris. So for the sake of nostalgia, I am including a postcard that I made of my favorite b&w photos of Paris. Enjoy!