Well Done Mr. Lucini!

Look at this yumminess that I stumbled upon this morning...

These pieces are by designer Marcelo Lucini and are absolutely delightful! This collection is designed for Airedelsur. I am always drawn to home goods that incorporate bone, horn and mother of pearl. I have many pieces strewn about my home that feature these elements. I just love it. This collection, in particular, is captivating. The clean, chic lines married to the rustic finishes and materials are perfect.

Airedelsure describes their aesthetic as uniting native Argentinian craftsmanship with modern refinement, and I couldn't have said it any better. Each piece is entirely handmade using traditional materials such as animal horns, natural leathers, alpaca silver, animal fur and semi-precious onyx.

These serving pieces are unique and would make a beautiful statement at any table. However, their collection isn't just limited to tabletop items. They also make stunning lamps, pillows, throws, candlesticks and striking accent furniture pieces.

And...just when you thought that this sophisticated collection couldn't get any better...

They also have a fabulous line of fashion accessories, including handbags, belts, gloves and jewelry!!! Oh my, aren't they lovely?

Check out the collection here. Airedelsur is sold in the finest boutiques and department stores such as Barneys, Bergdorf Goodman and Neiman Marcus.

Just gorgeous!!!

We're All Mad Here...

That is, in Wonderland of course!

Most people who know me are aware of my love for all things Alice! I have been obsessed with this lovely little girl and her adventures in Wonderland for as long as I can remember. I have read Lewis Carroll's originals, Alice's Adventures in Wonderland and Through the Looking Glass. I've seen every re-make that I know of out there, and most recently I received a new spark of excitement when I learned that Tim Burton (Edward Scissorhands, Sleepy Hollow...to name a few) is directing his version of the cult classic. It is in post production now and should come out sometime in early 2010. I can hardly contain my excitement. Not only do I loooove Alice in Wonderland, but Tim Burton is one of my favorite directors. I love his dark, brooding characters and even darker story lines and sets. I am inspired by the imagination in his work! One of my favorite creations by Tim Burton is The Nightmare Before Christmas. I even have a miniature village of Halloweentown, that lights up, and has all of the wonderfully creative little monsters, from the film, milling about. I put it up at Halloween and I adore it! So... the fact that Mr. Burton is directing one of my all time favorites is just too sweet to imagine. Watch the trailer here. Mr. Burton's version is going to be a little on the scary side, which is actually more true to the book than the latter versions. The book was more like a nightmare than the kooky and colorful dream that Disney relayed. I'm really looking forward to seeing someone else's vision of this loved classic.

Take a look at these colorful (and a bit freakish) versions of these infamous characters from the amazing mind of Mr. Burton.

The Mad Hatter (played by Johnny Depp, of course)

The White Queen played by the lovely Anne Hathaway

The Red Queen played by Mr. Burton's wife, Helena Bonham Carter

There is something about Wonderland that, I think, appeals to us all. Wouldn't you like to just fall down that hole, leave the troubles of this world behind, and have an afternoon of tea and cakes with a rabbit in a waistcoat?

I would!

images are from the amazingly talented Maggie Taylor who also shares my affinity for Miss Alice.

La Dolce Vita

Ok...wow...my amazing husband just surprised me with a trip to Italy for my 3rd 29th birthday! To say that going to Italy has been a lifelong dream of mine, is an understatement. It is part of my heritage and I have dreamed of Italy for as long as I can remember...from the time that I was old enough to know that I was Italian. I literally cried my eyes out when he gave me this amazing gift. I so don't deserve this man!

We leave in a few weeks and I have a lot of work to do, but just can't seem to get my head out of the Italian clouds. These beautiful images are making my heart go pitty-pat...

I will definitely post more after we've gone and hopefully will have my own beautiful photos to share. Ciao!

Another Before & After

This project is a master suite for lovely clients that I have worked with for almost 7 years now. I decorated their master suite, for the first time, back in 2001. Back then, as you will see in the before picture, we used heavy, rich, colors that were so popular at the time. They were ready for a fresh new look and enlisted my help, as we have gradually been updating all of the rooms in their home since. I will show you their master suite in 2 parts because we are still waiting on some backordered fabric in the bedroom and so it is not complete yet.

Sneak peek...

My clients wanted to use as much of what they already owned as possible (doesn't everyone...unless you're just sick of something). They have beautiful furniture and so I was happy to give their existing furniture a crisp new look. Unfortunately you won't see this part until later :)

In the bathroom we made minimal changes that would give the most impact and update the space without breaking the bank.

Here is the before...

Shiny brass hardware was so popular in the 90's...ugh. This is something that I tell every client...change the hardware...it makes a huge difference! So that was one of the first things to go and we replaced it with supple oil rubbed bronze. Our main goal was to update the color scheme. In '02 we used eggplant, maroon, deep sage etc. which was the part of the "old world" look, that was so desirable back then. So we wanted to get the dark colors out and bring in some fresh grays and creams to brighten the space. We painted the walls a warm gray, Benjamin Moore's Bennington Gray. Next we painted the millwork several shades darker than the walls, Benjamin Moore's Ashley Gray. This removed the "builder standard painted cabinets" appearance. We also replaced the builder basic counter tops with a gorgeous slab of Calcutta marble (my absolute favorite).

This marble is ah-mazing! Check it out...

New light fixtures replaced the very dated shiny brass ones and a petite chandelier was hung over the vanity for something a little extra special. We hung a custom mirror on top of the "wall of mirrors" to break this space up and define the vanity. It truly makes the area feel custom and not so cookie-cutter.

*Fun extra - a flat screen tv was mounted behind the mirror, in the wall. Not only does the mirror glass disguise it but it is a space-saver too. (look right next to the orchid)

We brought the fabrics from the bedroom into the bathroom for continuity. The client had the vanity stool from the previous design, so a quick swipe of antique gold paint and a new cushion and the stool has new life :)

For the shower and bathtub area, we changed the dated shiny brass frame to a seamless one with oil rubbed bronze hardware. We changed the shower before I got my "before" pictures, but you get the idea.

We pulled the heavy chenille kingston drapery down and installed a custom faux roman shade mounted inside the box window for a cleaner and more tailored look.

New accessories. Not just decorative...bath salts, pretty soaps and natural sponges.

The right small changes can have a big impact.