BELLE VIVIR

Merry Christmas

2009-12-22T08:01:00.005-05:00

I wish you a very exited and beautiful Christmas. I'm taking a few days off starting from today and will be back next week. Looking forward to continue inspiring those who keep coming back. Until then, MERRY CHRISTMAS!!!

images from Veranda, design by Mary McDonald

Christmas in the country

2009-12-18T09:56:00.001-05:00

images from Vogue Australia.

Mini Christmas trees

2009-12-15T11:36:00.002-05:00

Simplicity is sometimes all you need when is combined with imagination. Especially in small spaces.

Images from Country Living.

John Saladino

2009-12-11T07:30:00.001-05:00

Villa by John Saladino is definitely on my Christmas list. In this fantastic coffee-table book Saladino showcases the result of a four years restoration project of a 1920's Santa Barbara estate. It also comes with a bonus fifteen-minute DVD tour narrated by Saladino himself. Are those two rooms gorgeous?

American Traditional

2009-12-07T09:14:00.003-05:00

Interiors by William Hodgings featured in House Beautiful January 2008 issue.

Happy Thanksgiving!

2009-11-26T11:53:00.006-05:00

"Joy, comfort and beauty is what makes a home" I wish you have these three key ingredients at your table tonight.

Happy Thanksgiving!!!

image from Laurence Pasquier

the book goes to...

2009-11-24T10:54:00.004-05:00

Congratulations to Sarah Klassen from Sarah Klassen/Haute Design. Sarah I'm sure you'll have fun and get a lot of ideas from reading Elaine Griffin's book. Please email me your address so I can forward it to Gotham Books Publishers. They will mail the book to you. Enjoy.

Lovely bathroom

2009-11-23T08:43:00.003-05:00

I love the tent looking curtains framing the French doors. I also love the warming effect the wood and fabric bring to this bathroom. P.S. remember the wonderful giveaway here. The winner will be selected tomorrow.

image from Coastal Living.

10 things about me

2009-11-21T09:10:00.002-05:00

The sweet and talented Monika sent me the Honest Scrap Award and I'm about to share with you 10 things about me. After that I will pass the award to 7 other great bloggers out there.

1-I studied Kabbalah for a while and I have a better understanding about life.

2-I absolutely REJECT everything about drama.

3-Sometimes I find myself questioning my obsession with Christmas. Really, it's surreal how happy Christmas spirit makes me.

4-I wear something I don't like to make the person who gave it to me happy but I never display anything in my house that I don't like, regardless of who gave it to me.

5-I am a very grateful and just person, I can easily admit when I'm wrong and trust me that's quite often.

6-I love to dress up. My perfect life would be one full of black-tie social events.

7-I believe that good style has NO race or sex.

8-I am my worst critic. I think there is a lot I still need to change and it's my everyday effort to become a better person.

9-I don't come from a rich family but I grew up with maids until I was 16 and emigrated to this country. At some point there were as many as 5 maids working at the same time in my house.

10-In reference to the last one, I have to admit that I absolutely dislike housework. It's overwhelming.

I now pass this Honest Scrap Award to these very talented bloggers without knowing if they have already been tagged.

Cote de Texas
So haute
Fabulously French
French Essence
Colours Dekor
My marrakesh
This is glamorous

A book giveaway contest

2009-11-17T08:20:00.003-05:00

We all know who Elaine Griffin is, unless you've been living under the rocks, her incredible interiors have been featured in many Interior Design magazines. I personally love her lush elegant interiors and I am more than honored to host a give away of her "first in its kind" book, Design Rules, The Insider's Guide to Becoming your own Decorator. Yes, you heard right, Elaine generously is giving her readers those great Interior Designer's secrets that we all wonder about. I have the pleasure to have read her book over this weekend and it's easy and enjoyable to read.
At first I was hoping to see more photos of her gorgeous interiors but as I was reading it I understood that Elaine's intention is not for readers to copy a photo or image but to provide the tools to let our own creativity flow. This book is a must-have for all those do-it-yourselfers who struggle with the basic how-to's and ideas. Design Rules, The Insider's Guide to Becoming your own Decorator will give you valuable advice and ideas to make your home the best reflection of yourself and your loved ones.
"If you are a patient and creative genius, make your own wallpaper from newspaper, graph paper, or gift wrap-affix to the wall with thin white school glue diluted with water to resemble a soupy paste..." is one of the genius ideas you will find in this Elaine's book. But if you don't believe me about how helpful this book can be, believe Margarette Russel when she says "...Translating the basics of chic design for the nonprofessional, she provides irresistible foolproof tips that make sense for every taste, style, and budget."
To enter the contest, leave a comment in this post and I'll select a random lucky winner next Tuesday, 24th of November. The book will be sent to the winner directly from Gotham Books Publishers.

Great and unusual gifts

2009-11-11T10:23:00.003-05:00

I would love one of these. A Science botanical models set or/and a large Euro Antler available here. Yes I still love antlers and I think you should put in your home what makes you happy, regardless of what some magazines try to talk you into.

Displaying collentions

2009-11-09T09:00:00.002-05:00

Bookcases are great platforms to display our beloved collections. From old recipes books to beautiful Beach accents.

from top to bottom second Massucco Warner Miller third Tom Scheerer.

The magic world of Hermes

2009-11-06T07:47:00.004-05:00

Once in a while I love to go into Hermes website to get carried away by its one of a kind magical world.

A house full of personality

2009-11-03T08:34:00.002-05:00

My favorite rooms in this house are the bathroom and breakfast area, although I wouldn't mind living in all of the others as well.

images from Nuevo Estilo.

Happy weekend

2009-10-30T09:12:00.004-04:00

I hope you can find sometime set-aside for yourself this weekend.

Fireplace in the bathroom

2009-10-28T08:47:00.006-04:00

I'm a follower of bathrooms with a fireplace. If my bathroom were big enough I would definitely install a fireplace to look at the soothing fire while soaking in my tub at the end of a busy day enjoying a glass of wine. I can't think of a better way to unwind after a hectic day.

top image is from Home & Garden, second from Peter Dunham.

Furniture in the bedroom

2009-10-26T08:10:00.001-04:00

images from top Alberto Pinto, Kelly Wearstler and Barry Dixon.

The origin of the Decorator

2009-10-23T08:16:00.013-04:00

Did you know that, according to Interior design & decoration 6th ed., in Renaissance France (c.1500-1610) the profession of the Decorator was created due to the need of a constant or frequent knowledgeable supervisor capable to use the talent of each artist to the best advantage, to arrange every piece of furniture and position them to best effect. The decorator or ornemaniste was also an engraver who was able to facilitate his client with a vision of a final result through the medium of engraving. The Ornameniste Abbe Jaubert once wrote "To excel in this art, which has been born before our eyes, it is necessary to have a good eye, to have a good knowledge of design, to understand perfectly the merits of each piece of furniture, to show them in their true light, and to create an ensemble that will give pleasing impression".
No wonder France is been always the Center of the arts.

image from cartoon stock

Le Palais rhoul

2009-10-20T09:38:00.004-04:00

Dreaming of being in Hotel Le Palais rhoul in Marrakesh.

An unconventional beach house

2009-10-19T10:04:00.006-04:00

Kelly Wearstler did it again. This time in a non-predictable beach house she designed for her family. "Ain't no boats sailing in this house" Every item and piece is a sculpture of its own. Many of them custom designed by Wearstler. I know this is not a house that it would be appealing to many people. Maybe because of being afraid of it's new and surprising design. That's exactly the reason I like it. I love it when designers proof that not everything is done and not everything is made equal in design.

I absolutely love the inter lacking design of this sculptural staircase. Clever, the way Wearstler made of an often useless space into something stunning. Would you guess this is bleached-walnut?

Have a warm weekend

2009-10-15T09:35:00.003-04:00

Sorry for the lack of posts. I've been busy planning another project. I'll share the details with you later. I love the calmness and the soothing colors in this room and the wall with corals above the bed is so clever. Don't you think?

A beautiful weekend

2009-10-09T08:14:00.002-04:00

I believe that what we look at on a day to day basis can affect our mood and health. Let's look at beautiful stuff.

Julia Yenicag Paulino

I just loooove this room by Scott Laslie.

Happy birthday Cutiepie

2009-10-06T08:53:00.004-04:00

It feels like yesterday when our little one was born. I can't believe we are already celebrating his birthday. It's been such a pleasure and happiness to have you in our lives. We love you Lucas very much and wish you all the happiness and health in your life. God bless you.

Image from vi.sualize.us

A whimsical dining room

2009-10-05T07:52:00.004-04:00

I would kill for a wall covering like this for the entrance of my home. Not too busy so your eyes have space to rest but with enough personality to be a very beautiful statement. This gorgeous dining room was designed by Joe Nahem. Image through House Beautiful.

My most recent project

2009-10-02T08:03:00.000-04:00

I wanted to share with you a few images of my most recent project. I finished it last week and had it professionally photographed by Robert Levin for my up-coming website. My sweet client and myself are very pleased with the result. Ms. Whiton moved into this small pre-war rental apartment a few months ago and she wanted to make it feel hers as much as possible. Similar to many other pre-war apartments this one was lacking light so we decided to keep it as open, airy and clean as possible. This also served well for the extensive art collection to shine on its own. When I came to this apartment a few months ago there was only an old sofa and plenty of art resting on the walls. The sofa has been under Ms. Whiton's possession for quit a while now but it was in need of a complete re-do. I chose a neutral tone of damask fabric and added a few pillows in different textures to add some character. The curtains were done in gorgeous stripes that bring out the colors in the pillows and in the sofa. The two chairs are from ABC Carpet in New York. To make the light in the room multiply I painted the mahogany fireplace in white and added a layer of mirror around the inside. The dining room opens up from the living room but we wanted to make it look separate so we wallpapered the walls in Acapulco Sand. I had an inlay console custom made in a long but narrow shape in order for the space to be functional but not crowded. The magnificent sconces are from Lerebours Antiques. Once I saw them I knew they would be perfect for the sophisticated tropical ambiance we wanted for the dining room. Hence the beautiful Louis XVI-style caned chairs. The cowhide rugs used in both rooms are also from ABC Carpet. (you can click on the pictures to see them better)