January 31, 2011

January 30, 2011

Spaah on Sunday...

A soothing bath with plantation shutters and light filtering in looks so inviting...this bath is a deep soaker, so you could linger for awhile...have a great Sunday!

A spa bath in Virginia's horse country...

(Interior Design by Shoshana Datlow)
(original image for Traditional Home by Ron Blunt)


Decorating dilemma? Contact me at monacointeriors76@yahoo.com and I will assist you - you can also send a short video or picture with the question(s).

January 29, 2011

Saturday in the kitchen...

Thank you for joining me here for a quick look at another gorgeous kitchen. I must have sun on the brain, because this kitchen is a mix of peachy-yellow and white - just what the doctor ordered on a cold, winter day. Let's pull up a stool and have a cup of coffee...

The mix of copper, marble, tiles, textured stools and rug makes for a warm and inviting kitchen...

Gorgeous farmhouse sink with sparkling bridge faucet...and look at that paper towel nook!

Another view looking at the stove alcove with subway tiles...

A relaxing seating area to linger over a meal...

The sparky bridge faucet on marble and closeup of decorative tiles...
Paint colors are custom mixes by Benjamin Moore, Butterscotch and Glowing Apricot

This lovely kitchen is in New Canaan, CT and was designed by, Joan Pluck and her sister Louise Brooks, the Architectural Designer for the project.

(original images by Tria Giovan for Traditional Home)

If you need help decorating your home, please send inquiries with pictures or a short video to monacointeriors76@yahoo.com and we can discuss how to transform your room(s)!

January 28, 2011

Fabulous Fabric Friday...Hable Construction...

Hable Construction has long been a company that is admired for their fantastic fabrics.  They also create storage, posters, bags and custom creations...here is a little glimpse into their colorful world - since it is the dead of winter here, I find these fabrics particularly uplifting don't you??

Fuchsia Rope Duffel...

Purple Beads Storage Box...


Cherry Cookies poster...


Emerald Geraniums poster...


Kiradu Fig pillow...

Capri Palm pillow...


Navy Geraniums poster...

Malta Tides pillow...

Sweet Pea Beads pillow...

You can see a lot more here - some styles are only available online and you can purchase fabric swatches...you can also visit here to see this designer's fabulous use of these fabrics (p.s. she used to work with Ruthie Sommers)...I hope you all have a great Friday and even better weekend!! See you here tomorrow for another 'Saturday in the Kitchen' - I hope you will join me!!


(images by hableconstruction.com)

If you need help decorating your home, please send inquiries with pictures or a short video to monacointeriors76@yahoo.com and we can discuss how to transform your room(s)!

January 26, 2011

I won!!...

I was so excited tonight when I got home and was going through my blogroll and checked Katie Denham's blog, Katiedid - to find out I won a beautiful book - 'Stealing Magnolias' - I am beyond thrilled and can't wait to get it in the mail!! In honor of the book I thought I would post photos of Southern design at its best by one of my all time faves, Hal Williamson - his work is simply stunning! Thank you to Katie and Glitterati for the chance to win this book - Visit Katie's lovely blog here.

Here is the book...can't wait to get this...

A magnolia and gorgeous chair...

One of the pictures that started it for me...the purple walls - 'Shantung' by Martha Stewart for Sherwin Williams...I actually got a swatch shortly after House Beautiful ran this story, and it is stunning...but, for me, the chairs, the painting, the crystals, the candlelight, every detail in this room is so beautifully photographed. And look at that fabric on those chairs!

The living room...I love this shot looking out to the hall where there is a photograph of a room...it almost looks like you are looking into another room on the other side of the hallway...and the purple walls...


The soothing blue bedroom...you can't see in this picture, but the silk curtains are monogrammed on pelmets...the shades, the silk cover - the little table between the windows...

The shabby blue chest, the silk sofa, pillows and the drum stool- and notice that little zebra rug!

Well, the green walls, curtain fabrics, pink rug, pink fabrics, white chandelier and the antiques - and maps! I love maps so this whole house just seemed to 'speak' to me as it is not a style of design I would have done. 

That's what I love about design - so many styles, so many different ways to look at things and be creative in individual ways.  There is no definite way to design a room or space - the designer's interpretation is so unique and that's what I love.

Kudos to the photographer for this portfolio - I think it is one of the reasons I find it so compelling.

Do you like this style of design? Would you have done this in a similar way? Or is it not your cup of tea?

I hope you are all having a great week! Thank you for visiting me, I so appreciate your support. We are getting ready for MORE snow here on the East Coast - brace yourselves!!!

(Interior Designer - Hal Williamson)
(Original Images for House Beautiful by John Kernick)

January 25, 2011

Dear Design Diary...white, light & bright...

Dear Design Diary: I would like my bedroom to look like one of these rooms! In the dark days of winter, I love to look at soothing, pretty, white and light interiors don't you??  Well, here is a small roundup of some pix that make me wish it was warm right now!

Design Tom Stringer; Image Ngoc Minh Ngo

Design Tom Stringer; Image Ngoc Minh Ngo

Design Leslie Klotz; Image Laura Resen

Design John Willey; Image Ngoc Minh Ngo

Design Valerie Smith; Image Don Freeman

Design Ruthie Sommers; Image Don Freeman


Design Alexandra Angle; Image Victoria Pearson


Design Ginger Barber; Image Victoria Pearson


Design Carolyn Espley-Miller; Image David Tsay

Design Krista Ewart; Image Victoria Pearson

Design Albert Hadley; Image Simon Watson


Design Tom Stringer; Image Ngoc Minh Ngo

Design Susan Tully; Image Laura Moss

Aaahh, so lovely and so many great designers in this bunch. Hope you enjoyed it!!

(Original images for House Beautiful)

January 24, 2011

Supporting Etsy...

Looky loo what I bought last month before Christmas - they were delivered to me a couple of weeks ago and I just LOVE them. I found the store on Laura Trevey's beautiful blog here - they are made by Earrings Nation based in Singapore...


Little rain clouds with precious drops of lavender water...

For more gorgeous jewelry go here -

(image earringsnation on etsy.com)

Hope you all have a great week!! For those in the deep freeze, stay warm!


January 23, 2011

Spaah on Sunday...

Eric Cohler designed this towering spa for the Kohler Design Center in Wisconsin. The standout is the 14 foot soaring shower, which you have to walk through to get to the powder room. He was inspired by Roman architecture and chose earth colors to give the visitor a truly relaxing, serene experience. It is a blend of 'comtemporary and Renaissance' using Kohler fixtures and Ann Sacks tiles. Imagine taking a shower here...aaahhh...

The shower looking towards the powder room...

Look up! the 14 foot ceiling in this fantastic shower...

The vanity in the powder room...

The shower with Ann Sacks tile, Kohler fixtures and earth tone colors...

For more information about Kohler go here and here for the designer's site...

Would you like this design in your home? Hope you all have a great Sunday!

(Interior Design by Eric Cohler)
(images courtesy kohler.com)


Do you need help decorating your house? Please inquire at monacointeriors76@yahoo.com and I will work with you to create a comfortable home that reflects your unique taste. I am accepting online consultations and/or projects both large and small.



January 22, 2011

Saturday in the kitchen...

I have a confession to make...I have recently been hooked on the 'Real Housewives of Beverly Hills' calling it my guilty pleasure, so I think I have warm, sunny places on the brain (we are buried in snow here)...i.e., sunny Southern California.  So, I couldn't resist a beautiful kitchen in Beverly Hills courtesy of Kohler's Idea Home with full photos on the website here.  Take me away!

I love this glam look - mirrored tiles with the gorgeous Karbon faucet...

So sleek and shiny...all silver and white...

You can't beat this view out the windows!

I love the shot of green chairs outside...the kitchen and house was designed by Erinn Valencich and it is stunning...

(Interior Design by Erinn Valencich)
(Images courtesy kohler.com)


Do you need help decorating your house? Please inquire at monacointeriors76@yahoo.com and I will work with you to creat a comfortable home that reflects your unique taste. I am accepting projects large or small.

January 18, 2011

Design match...

What do you think about matching patterns of wallpaper and curtains or furniture fabrics and wallpaper? Do you like it? I rounded up some photos to see the effect and I think it can be quite stunning depending on the patterns or colors.  A couple of the pictures you have seen here recently by Windsor Smith...

I love this bedroom - it gives this room importance to a stunning effect...

I quite like this as well...the pretty pattern in soft gray adds drama to the dining room...
(images Victoria Pearson; Design Windsor Smith)


The curtains match the bedspread here...
(image Thomas Loof; Design Susan Ferrier)

The curtain blends in with the wallpaper...
(image Jonny Valiant; Design Allison Caccoma)

The bed fabrics blend here with the wallpaper...
(image Frances Janisch; Designer Meg Braff)

Is this something you have done in your own home or for clients? Do share! and has the client been happy with the result?

(images and designs as noted above)

Do you love the way your home looks? If not, contact me at monacointeriors76@yahoo.com to create new space that makes you happy.  I am accepting online projects both large and small.