Belly's

OFFICE REDO PART DEAUX

Why hello there, people! It's been ages, hasn't it? I've been busy working on the "during" of the office I'm designing for my parents (see the "befores" here), plus meeting some writing deadlines. How have you been?

 

Source: emmas.blogg.se via Chedva on Pinterest

 

So, as promised, I'm back with the inspiration files. As you can see, we're talking light paint colors (still not decided on the specific shade of barely there grey), green seating, mod furniture and very simple storage with accents of blue, orange and gilt.

 

Source: lesueurinteriorsblog.com via Chedva on Pinterest

 

I do actually have some progress to report (and let me tell ya, being ahead of a deadline for once feels super-duper exciting). Today I had the hideous mauve carpeting removed, the cement platform stripped and the exposed walls covered in plaster so we can paint. I also had a meeting with the electrician and decided where to move/add/remove outlets, and he will do his thing on Monday. After he's finished and the new air conditioning is installed, the office will get painted... (hold on, that's the end of the boring construction talk, decorating talk comes after the next picture)

Jonathan Adler

Well, now to the fun stuff! I spent the afternoon in the Jaffa flea market with my dear friend who happens to be an uber-talented decorator and we picked up the most handsome, masculine mid-century desk that came with an adorable little storage unit. We proceeded to find a pair of the cutest modish chairs on earth (each has two tufts on their backs, which make them look like cartoon characters) for the most ridiculously cheap price. We made up for that by choosing a ridiculously expensive Canovas fabric (but still within the budget limits): light moss green for the chairs and a not-so-subtle floral for the seat cushions. We even brought them to the upholsterer already!

domino (see how only the sofa's seat cushions are upholstered in a floral?)

Don't ask me why I didn't take any pictures - I have no idea! I guess I was just too held up in the excitement of our great finds. This cute yellow chair reminds me a little of mine; not the details, but the vibe.

 

Source: homeshoppingspy.wordpress.com via Chedva on Pinterest

 

What do you think so far? Does it sound good? I hope to be back here next week with progress photos, and meanwhile I'd love to hear your opinions!

BEING GRAPHIC

I'm running late to a collection preview in one of my favorite home wares stores, so I'll keep it short:

What is graphic design ... what a graphic designer does from Design Council on Vimeo.

I don't know a lot about graphic design (though I'm at awe of those who master it), so I found this video enlightening. (via redesign)

I'm considering hanging three of these above our dining table. What do you think? Is it enough light? (except for this we have one outlet for a wall sconce in the dining room, and I'm considering buying a floor lamp). Yea or Nay?

READY FOR YOUR CLOSE-UP?

 
Who would have thought a close up on a cabbage would make such a fine piece of art? Sometimes, extreme close-ups almost have the feeling of an abstract painting. I once took a picture of my grey sweater really up close, and the result took my breath away even though I'm a mediocre photographer at best. But enough about the art, ho about this beautiful dresser? It's vintage and once belonged in a pharmacy. However, what really works in this room, designed by Orian Dubitzky and featured in Go Style magazine is the fool-proof color combo green-natural-pink. In my opinion, it enhances both the wood and natural elements and the colorful ones.

What do you think?

 

{photographer: Ben Masio for view, Go Style Magazine}

MONDAY COLOR INJECTION

A dreary weekend, along with some inspiration from LiveLikeYou (check out Jill's guest post) made me crave a colorful and bright beginning for this week. Leafing through an old Domino issue (I'm a walking cliche, I know) I found a picture of Olatz Schnabel's bed, which was all the things I craved. Isn't it amazing? Olatz is married to renowned artist Julian Schnabel, and owns an eponymous luxury bedding company ("eponymous" is such a magazine-y word, isn't it?). As you can see, her bedroom, which was recently published in House Beautiful, is the over-the-top dreamland of any gilt-loving design nerd as yours truly. I hereby present you with your monday color injection:

Have a great week, friends!

{images: house beautiful}

IT'S A PARTY

My brother's wedding was last week, and it was fabulous. His gorgeous bride (now wife) made it even happier and prettier, with her amazing smile and personality... And I... I'll confess I did shed a tear (or a few hundreds). After all, my younger brother, whom I used to tell I'll turn one day into a frog, has reached his "prince" day.

Tacky sweetness overload aside, we're hosting a dinner party in honor of the newlyweds tomorrow, and as always- I get everything done at the very last minute.

Here are the dishes I just washed (by hand, all 90 of them)

And here's a glimpse into the theme

Can you tell I was inspired by chinoiserie, Eddie Ross and My Marrakesh's Maryam? Come back tomorrow to see more!

---

UPDATE:

The party was last night and it was a huge success! Really, it was beyond fabulous. Unfortunately, I forgot to take pictures (yeah, I'm beating myself up) but I'm told one of the guests did- so all hopes for bragging are not lost:)

FINALLY, A REAL KID'S ROOM

Ugh, aren't you fed up with magazines featuring kids' rooms with no evidence that a live kid lives in them, except for a token Uglydoll or Teddy Bear propped on the bed? Oh, you are? So you can see why finding this room, designed by Hillary Thomas for Marlien Rentmeester of Lucky, made me smile.

Thomas kept the surface smooth and comfy, and reserved the glamor touches for higher up- a very practical yet pretty way to go when decorating for kids. I keep seeing grasscloth in kids' rooms everywhere (Celerie Kemble has them too, as shown in the Lonny issue before last). I have no experience with grasscloth- though I think it's gorgeous and adds just the right amount of texture to a room - so I'm wondering if that's a stylistic decision or is it really that practical? If you happen to know the answer to that, please share.

The cute table and chairs set (my kid has a similar one from Ikea) supplies a good place for painting and drawing without messing up the white floor (which seems to be easily wipeable, but maybe I'm mistaken), and the banister is a great place for propping toys without creating a too cluttered feeling (and tripping on them at night- ouch!).

I think what really makes this room is that the designer sticked to two main tones (blue and white) and kept the playfulness for the beautiful art, and the playful Canovas fabric, which reflects the colorfulness of the toys.

What did you think of this room? Would you put such high-end fabric in a kid's room? And were you happy to see a less sterilised version of a kid's room in a magazine?

MEANWHILE IN NEW YORK

I decided to break down my NYC mega-post into a few, shorter posts. That way it won't be too long and heavy to read in one sitting, and the bonus is it will remind me of my lovely vacation for long. So, as usual, let's begin from the end.

On Wednesday (Dec 15th) I headed to SoHo to checkout The New Traditionalists showroom. I was very curious to see what all the buzz what about, and let me tell you- it was even better than I expected. After admiring the Mad Men worthy sign and entrance and the overwhelming loveliness of the team, David showed me around the place, while I happily took crappy photos;)

The finishing on each piece is amazing. I admired them from afar, but stepping closer and realizing how much thought and craftsmanship went into each and every piece made me admire them even more. Felt, Leather, special painting techniques- these furniture look... nurtured, grown by a loving hand. The fact that the furniture is built locally, just proves that.

As a parent who sometimes (who am I kidding? All the time) gets frustrated about the blandness in children's furniture, the sophisticated lines of TNT's kids' line, ducduc, made me squeal inside.

furniture drawings- amazing

Finally, it was time to leave so I could get to my next meeting on time, allowing some time for me to get lost (my sense of direction is virtually non-existent, but somehow losing your way on vacation is so much less frustrating).

I met this talented designer for a yummy falafel. Here we are, as captured by my latest obsession:

sorry for the hat- my ears were freezing!

Karen was even nicer in person, if that's even possible, and after being twitter friends for months we clicked immediately, chatting about design, fashion and life in general... I guess you'll understand a bit more about Karen if I tell you that I miss her already, and we've just met once! (Why can't I have a weekly coffee with my US friends, just for an hour, without getting flights involved??).

Karen just added these dopp kits from her spring 11 collection

Karen walked me to the subway, making sure I won't head in a completely different direction once again, and it was time for my next stop.

To be continued...

 

ps. Have you seen there's a new Lonny out? I haven't gotten to it yet, but I know what I'm going to read in bed tonight!

 

the jet set: if the lampshade fits

Anyone who reads my blog If The Lamp Shade Fits knows I am Lady Gaga for Moroccan design.  The handcrafted furnishings,  the complex geometrical motifs, and the richly-colored textiles make for a most delicious decorous lifestyle.  I'm saving up my shekels for a Marrakech holiday and Riyad Al Moussika looks to be a dreamy destination.  Accommodations include airport transportation, three daily meals prepared by a Cordon Bleu-trained chef, and maid service.  Who's in for a girls-only getaway?

the jet set: holley and gill

My name is Michelle Carangi and I’m the owner, editor and interiors lover over at Holley & Gill. I knew immediately that New York would be the topic of this guest post as soon as the lovely Chedva asked me to put one together while she was away there. Thank you Chedva for having me here and I do hope you’re having a blast!


I’ve been lucky enough this year to have had the opportunity to visit New York a few times and on every occasion it has knocked me for six. The first time was in the spring and my drive for creating was dulled by a string of trying events but once I had set eyes on its cityscape through the windows of the plane, my heart knew this was what I needed.


New York has the ability to capture every sense in the body and revive it. Your entire being is consumed by the city and all you can do is let it all happen. Exploring the streets with its cobbled roads, small cafes, designer clothing and furniture stores are all so entrancing that it makes you feel as though you could forever be inspired by every one of its boroughs.


I couldn’t feel any more refreshed, renewed and revitalized after visiting this city and when it's all over and I’m back in Montreal, the longing for another whirlwind back to the Big Apple remains a constant hum. If the opportunity presents itself to travel, you can bet New York is always at the top of my list.

the jet set: arianna interiors

Hi everyone it's Arianna here from Arianna Interiors. OK so todays topic is choosing a travel destination that inpires me....If I have to choose a favourite destination it would have to be Italy. I'm always jetting off to Italy in the summer and Christmas, its where my parents come from and it truly feels like home. What is there not to feel inspired by? Everywhere you turn it's one immense inspiration after another. From the landscapes, the Art, the monuments, fashion, interiors and the food, I really could go on and on....

Here's a taster of what to feel inspired by:

1.A photograph that I took while in Sardinia, it truly is paradise! 2.A beautiful interior space by Leonardo Ancona in the heart of Puglia. 3.A photo I took during a romantic break in Rome. This city is totally mesmerising; 4.Another one of my photos of these beautiful valleys in Pisa during Christmas; 5.El Duomo, Florence; 6.A typical Italian food market, aren't the colours to die for? 7.A photo that I took of the Piazza in Siena; 8.A fashion show from Roberto Cavalli, I love these outfits and always find inspiration from fashion; 9.The Vatican Museums; 10.Another interior space with mediterranean décor from Leonardo Ancona; 11.Michaelangelo's Sistine Chapel; 12.A photograph I took while one of my walks on the beautiful Tuscan hills during Spring!

A big thank you to Chedva for having me and I hope you all enjoyed my post and found it inspiring in some way or another :)