Out of Africa Art Shop!

How's everyone doing? I hope you all have been well. Today I am so excited to share with you some gorgeous things out of Africa. I'm excited for the obvious reason that we all love some pretty things, but too, it is my very own mother's shop. This is something she's wanted to do for a while, and I am so proud of her, for putting together such a wonderful collection of arts, highlighting the great talents of African artists. The shop aptly named Out of Africa Art Shop is decor heaven. The shop is located in West Palm, FL, so for you Floridians - lucky, lucky.

These beautiful handcrafted jewelry from South Africa are a few of the gorgeous pieces in store or online. I love the intricate metal work combined with the soft beautiful gemstones.  

This tablecloth with napkin set is one of my very favorite things in the store. It is so fresh and perfect for summer entertainments.

 Doesn't this little gathering of the cutest animals put a smile on your face?!

I picked some favorites, narrowed it down, then narrowed down from that to share with you all :-). They are truly gorgeous pieces, and just knowing how hard she worked and the time she spent making sure that she got the best of the best to showcase makes me even more thrilled for her. Please check out the site for plenty more gorgeous pieces here. 

I'd love to hear your thoughts. I hope you are all having a lovely weekend.

Images: via Out of Africa Art Shop

Home Tour: Tailored Industrial

There are some pleasures in life that can sometimes look frivoulous and unless you can relate it doesnt make any sense. However, knowing that I'm among friends, I know you will completely get the joy getting a stack of design magazines can illicit. Yesterday was one of those days...it was like opening presents, each magazine prettier than the other filled with inspiration. Elle Decor really got me reeling though, with Ellen Degeneres and Portia de Rossi's home. I was giddy with excitement flipping through the pages, they were dripping with amazing shots.

I love the mix of rustic, industrial all balanced with a tailored approach. You can see that everything was carefully selected. I had no clue that Ellen is a huge design buff, and moves a lot because of this just so she can have an opportunity to decorate a new space.

The landscape which they fell in love with, understandably so...is intoxicating.

I am completely smitten by their home, though absolutely gorgeous, it also has heart and soul.
What do you think? You can see the full article here, or pick up the latest issue of Elle Decor if you already haven't. I hope you are all having a lovely Sunday.

(Images: Elle Decor)

Design Details

Tonight, while making dinner, I stood over the kitchen sink after a deep breath, and realized that it was only Tuesday! It feels like it should be Thursday already. Yesterday, I got some bad news about something I was expecting to go one way, and it went the other - talk about a bad way to start a Monday. I've been bummed out since, even though I keep reminding myself something better must be in store then.I came across this beautiful home that got me all perked up. We could all use a burst of color in these cold months of winter, no? This gorgeous Georgian home is bursting with personality, and all the right details.

The art work in this guest room is captivating, talk about a conversation piece. I need to know where one can find it, even if the cost is an arm and a leg.

I love the use of the white and yellow tiles to add interest to the bathroom. It is so simple, yet makes an unforgettable statement.

What stands out to you? How is your week going? I hope you have a great Wednesday!

(Images: Living Etc.)

House Tour: Carolina Herrera's Madrid Home

Happy Monday! Ready for  this week? Last week was a really tough one for me, I hope that this week would be a bit easier. Loosing a loved one is never easy, but I am trying to remember my dear friend for the happy times than the sad end. So in honor of my Patti, and with hopes of starting a brighter week, I thought we'd start this week with Carolina Herrera's gorgeous Madrid home. It is a very feminine, sophisticated space, and this first image has the best pink ever.

What I found the most gorgeous and inspiring about this house, besides the gorgeous prints and brass accents, is this nail head trimmed door. I have never seen this before and it is on the list of best ways of ornamenting your home as far as I'm concerned

Notice the nail trim again, and the pairing with the bold stripes, gingham chair and that beautiful upholstered bench. I am in all kinds of love with that bench!

Don't you love all the beautiful patterns and colors! This living room with the day bed (can't think of the fancy name) is so wonderfully decadent.

Have a wonderfully joyful week!

(Images: Elle Decor)

Colorful Modern Living

I can appreciate modern design, I tend to pick different elements that I think I can incorporate into my personal style. But there is no way I can happily live in a completely modern space. That said, I am really excited about this modern home I'm about to share with you.You see, this home has some beautiful, in your face (in the best way) colors. Pinks, yellows ahhh, just divine! Though it has the clean lines that are true to modern and some minimal aspects, it feels very inviting and warm. You can tell a family lives here.

This is a family home in LA that came to be as a result of 3 womens' collaboration. Great things happen when women work together, don't it? :-) It was a complete renovation.

I love the use of this cork wall as an art display. It's perfect as you can put the holes in it without worrying about a lasting effect.

A quote from the homeowner that I think I will forever remember: “In Latin America, we’re not afraid of color,” says Devis. “Pink occurs in nature. It’s everywhere in the tropics. For us, it isn’t considered ‘girlie’—I love this pink.”

(Image: Dwell)

Vintage Chic Penthouse

I love mixing design styles, and I love it even more when I see styles that aren't supposed to work, but they do so well. Vintage Modern almost sounds like an oxymoron doesn't it? :)
This sleek New York City penthouse with its clean lines and minimal design incorporates some vintage pieces. Warmth is brought in by the rich brown colors of the furniture, art, and accessories.

Thoughts? What do you think of this mix? I know it's nothing new, but it's one of the most extreme mix of modern and vintage I've seen in a while. I love too that its not disguised, the modern design is able to stand on it's own just like the vintage pieces do, but it still looks cohesive.

(Images: Living Etc.)

Lonny Magazine

Have you seen the current issue of Lonny Magazine? I was struck by how fresh and modern it felt. I noticed that the spaces featured weren't the typical spring colors. There were a lot of white spaces with natural wood, metals etc. I want to share some of the spaces that caught my eye, and what I'm really liking about them.

Probably one of my favorites in this issue is this gorgeous living room with different design features going on. Loving that navy blue(?) wall, the white sofa, pops of orange and yellow. The blue rug looks so tactile and gives a feeling of movement that naturally grounds the room.

That is the nicest mirror I've seen in the longest time. I really have to find out where one can find this. Or this could be a fun DIY challenge. Hmmm...I have a design idea brewing for my girls bathroom and this mirror, in a bigger size will be perfection with what I'm thinking.

I was picking up on this color combination of white, natural wood and some blacks. I always like this color combination. This achromatic scheme almost always works, especially when you add natural materials and textures like they did here. Notice that basket, how cool is that?

That display above the stove is gorgeous and clever. I imagine though the owners may not cook a lot or they are very careful cooks. :-). I can't imagine having something like this in my kitchen, it will be ruined in a day. Looks wise it works, function, not so much.

My eyes are immediately going to that gorgeous striped rug! I so want a black and white striped rug, but I cannot rationalize having it with two small children. It will be a ruined with food stains, crayons and all kinds of questionable stains in a day. The great thing about stripes is that they wake up a room in an instant. It's a great way to bring a modern touch to a room, plus it never goes out of style.

I know and love a good jewelry display when I see one, and this is one!

Can we talk about black walls for a second? I mean when done right it is so spectacular, and they did it right in this dining room. It is a tricky color and so hard to pull off, I think lighting in the space is key to making it work. I really would like to someday try it in a space of my own, my husband says when we buy a big house, and I have a room that only I will be using. :-).  I am patiently waiting for my good fortune.

What spaces or elements are you liking? Plans for the weekend?  I have a movie date with hubby - a much needed date. I hope to finish school work tomorrow so I can have a whole day of doing whatever I and the kids want.  Happy Friday and have a wonderful weekend!!

(Images: Lonny Magazine)

In My House Blog

Have you all heard of In My House blog? I came up on it after finding the images of the cool workspace I featured here. I saw the space in Hus o Hem, and I had to find out more about the people behind it. After following the trail, and I landed at this very happy space. In My House blog is written by Josefine and she features different parts of her home which is a mix of industrial, vintage, and shabby chic. I was so intrigued by her style and, very much excited by how she mixes the unlikeliest of things. I always love that - seeing people mixing things that don't sound like they would work, but they manage to make them look effortless.

I really love the playful use of the lamps in the first picture, and all the beautiful feminine colors mixed with industrial pieces. The mix of the hard and soft is very effective and comes off naturally.

   


   
The aqua window sills - perfection! This space really demonstrates the effectiveness of white, it allows everything else to pop.

   

   

You have to agree that the use of the turquoise/aqua is so well done here. I've toyed with the idea of getting a wooden letter B as shown above, but now I really want one, but an industrial one. Guess Josefine's design bug bit me. I really loved her blog and love how she beautifully put everything together. She also has an online store, but not sure that she ships to the US. Oh guess I didn't mention that she's in Sweden.

I hope your week has been going well! Ready for the weekend? :-)

Enjoy the rest of your day.

(Images: In My House)