Wednesday, October 30, 2013

Mid week cravings

It must be the "nesting" bug, but I have this desire to revamp, change everything in sigth.
I lay down in bed daydreaming about projects, DIYs galore.
First in my to do revamp list, my living room.
Some ideas...






Pics source: my pinterest living room board

Tuesday, October 29, 2013

Extending your style during and post pregnancy

I have learned a few things, style-wise, during my first pregnancy. One of them is to extend and purchase non-maternity clothes, so you can use them during and post pregnancy.
I still wear and cheer most of my first pregnancy wardrobe. I have been adding a few items during this one, such as:
ASOS Maternity  Capri Pant, here

 Thakoon Button Front Silk Blouse, here:



Monday, October 28, 2013

Drexel: a world of changes

The pictures speak by themselves: what a coat of paint can transform a simple piece of furniture:

Original state:




Black lacquer:


Or the blue version:
Pics source: 1stDibs, and Maison MY

Wednesday, October 23, 2013

Dining room ideas

The addition of wall paper under the chair rail, in the dining room, is under its way, and I can't be happier!
If I had to start over I would go with two different wallpapers, one for the top, other for the bottom.
A modern chandelier, a mix of chairs, round table, and gold flatware!


Dinning room



Ethan Allen traditional chandelier / Wallace flatware / World Market bird home decor / Red wallpaper, $15 / English Classics Furniture pedestal table / John Robshaw upholstered chair / Upholstered chair

Tuesday, October 22, 2013

A room fit for a wanderluster

Recently, I got to know my baby's gender: It's a girl!
Growing up I was a tomboy, and never had a tendency for choosing pink, say over blue!
The nursery room is under TLC, as due to some leaking gutter got some water infiltration damage.
I have decided to go with vintage navigation maps and blue and white stripes with details in white and coral.
My inspiration board came from these pictures found on pinterest.







The current state:


A new blank slate for a future baby girl room:


Sunday, October 20, 2013

More of Aerin Lauder

With the expectative of getting my hands in the new Aerin Lauder book that I mentioned on my last post, I spent a few minutes lusting over Elle Magazine pictures of her NYC apartment.






Love the dresses, the dreaming, and lusted over the internet, dressing room. The gold details are just perfect in a sea of blues and greens!

Pictures source: Elle Magazine

Friday, October 18, 2013

F&F: Fashion Fridays, Aerin Lauder a style icon in the making

I have never been a big fan of Estee Lauder cosmetics, but I am a truly fan of her granddaughter endeavors in fashion and interior design.
She has coming out at the end of this month her book: Beauty at Home. Mine has been already pre-orded, and yours?
Some imagines gathered around the Internet to end a nice beginning of the weekend.


Her book that will hit bookshelves, and coffee tables very soon.

 Her simple and elegant style

 Aerin headquarters in NYC

 Aerin Lauder for Lee Jofa fabrics

 May I have that gold console, pretty please?

The essence of Aerin: simple and sunny


Wednesday, October 16, 2013

Genevieve

With the replacing of the windows on the 2nd floor "reading room", now being transformed into a playroom, some of the many toys that were housed in our family room have been moved into the new playroom, and a more adult environment has been created.
In the family room, a built in has survived and houses memos, books, and orange color galore!
I love orange color, it reminds of my travel to Thailand, the Buddhist monks robes, the praying beads,...for me is a very soothing color.
I have added some of my souvenirs from several distinct places, such as Mozambique, Ethiopia, England, Costa Rica, South Africa, and Goodwill from just around the corner!
Mr Y has a very good eye for bargains and nice things, as well. He was a darling when he got an antique print with a lady called Genevieve, my late mom's name.
I used the holes that can be found on the sides of the built in to pass through the red and white ribbon I  got a few years ago in Cape Town, added a clock from Target bought for song at Goodwill, and slowly my built in is being nicely dressed with my cooking books, cake stands and magazines.




Tuesday, October 15, 2013

Stripes and florals: yes, please!

Do you get happy when sometimes decor purchases just fall in together as a well though puzzle?
Well, it was how I felt today when I put the Thibaut stripes wallpaper I had bought a while ago on ebay,  and an amazing Sharon Kessler fabric adquired at my most recent DeBois haul.

The plan:
Wallpaper the lower portion of the dining room walls, and replace my not so fancy paper curtains to some snazzy roman shades.
What do you think? Do you like/mix prints with stripes, either on your fashion or home decor?


Stripes and florals:



Fabric detail:

Hasta la vista, paper curtains!



Monday, October 14, 2013

A berry nice jam: everything and figs!

One of my fondest memories of my childhood is the aroma from a pot full of blackberries being slowly transformed into the best jam one could wish for!
Now a mother myself, I try to create olfactory memories for my son.
Over the summer I enjoyed the peak, and consequently the low prices, of blackberries, blueberries, raspberries, strawberries, and figs to buy extra, freeze them up and few couple of months (2-3) later put all of them in a nice jam.
You can do jam for each fruit separately. I just decided to do a melting pot of all them!
I took all fruits of the freezer and covered them with sugar, I used very little as all fruits were ripped and were very sweet. I after coating them with sugar, I pour them into a heavy pot, I used my Le Creuset, and left them over night. This way the fruit juices are released.






After a bath of sugar overnight:



Bring to a boil and then simmer for 30-35 minutes:



Give some whizzes with the immersion blender, if you don't have (go and get it now!) you can use your blender


I have already shared at least 2-3 cups with a good friend of mine, and the remaining I just put it in a weck jar. The remaining I will be doing berries vinaigrette, roast chicken, you name it! Many potential ways to use!


They will not be here for too long! Many teas with crackers, or mini toasts, with goat cheese, are seen ahead!



Friday, October 11, 2013

F&F Fashion Fridays: Fall into the details

Fall, besides being my favorite season, is also one of the best periods to unleash our inner-fashionista. The weather is grey and dark enough to follow its color path. There is so much color we can inject into our wardrobes that gives that special "punch". Some ideas:


















Photo credits: pinterest