Vignettes around the house...

Just wanted to give my humble little digital a workout, so I took more photos around the house. Reading some other blogs, I realized, I didn't get projects done that I had planned on doing. 2011 will be the year, January the month, specifically to get my painting projects accomplished. My hideous bureau will be painted orange and a bedside table, a cool turquoise. And now...

Glass lamp #1...

Glass lamp #2...

A view out the window...

Paris...

And finally...I covered my ugly mattress with a turquoise and white polka dotted sheet that I already had. After seeing the Beekman House in the new Country Living magazine, I thought it was a great idea, since I tried a dust ruffle and it just got mangled and never looked right.  You can't really tell the colors in the photo, but they are blue!

I want to thank all of you who visit me daily or weekly and read my blog - it wouldn't be the same without you! I so love blogging and am thrilled with all the friends I have out there around the world.  As I commented on another blog, this ole' world just seems so TINY now with the new social media. We are all connected and it is a beautiful thing.  Happy New Year and I'm looking forward to 2011!

(images by Sarah for Monaco Interiors)

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Christmas at home...

Here, some images from Christmas at home...

 

Look what Santa brought me! I treated myself to Anne Harwell's beautiful paintings, including one by her father, and hubby gave me Vicki Archer's beautiful tome! I hope you are all having a great holiday! We are bracing for a major blizzard later today into tomorrow here in New England (from New York City north) - White Christmas indeed!!

(images by Sarah for Monaco Interiors)

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Merry Christmas!!

Not the greatest picture of my little tree but wanted to wish all my special blogger friends a very Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!!

Love, Sarah

(image by Sarah)

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Fabulous Fabric Friday...Trina Turk redux...

And now for something completely...cheery and lovely! I featured Trina Turk's fabulously bright fabrics back in June and thought I would revisit with bigger and better pictures.  Also, I think because I was watching a show filmed in Palm Desert, it reminded me of how sunny southern Cal is, where I used to live. Trina's fabrics seem to epitomize the quintessential California aesthetic of outdoor living and sunny fabrics. I love their mod, mid-century appeal too. Enjoy!

Trellis Print  - Citron

Sonriza Print - Marine/Pool

Bamboo Forest Print - Parrot

Arches Print - Pool

Peacock Print - Driftwood

Sunglass Print - Charcoal

Santorini Print - Persimmon

Fronds Print - Punch

Pisces Print - Pool

Super Paradise Print - Punch

I'll take one of each please! Love all these - do you have a favorite(s)?? For more Trina, go here. I will be back later - I'm hoping to get my cooking done so I can take some photos. Hope you are all relaxing today!!

(images schumacher.com)

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A rustic room...

A Christmasy scene...a rustic room I could relax in:

Love this English room with the big fireplace...that is the one feature I don't have in my home...a fireplace. In New England. Go figure!  I think the only accessory I would add, is a nice fluffy rug. Finally, done with work and  3 days off. Looking forward to shopping for food tomorrow and doing some cooking.  I plan on posting some photos, so I'm hoping the light will be good - I only have a few hours of bright daylight!

Hope you are all well and enjoying some quiet time with your families - see you here tomorrow!

(image idealhomemagazine.co.uk)

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Five Decorating Ideas for Christmas...

Christmas wreaths outside a home in Boston...

Simple wreath on a window with lovely shutters...

Red berries in a glass vase...

Shiny red ornaments and sea urchins...

Great idea! red ornaments nestled in a small tree...

I know everyone has seen this picture from House Beautiful - it must be at least 2 years old now, but it is such a great decorating idea for stairs!

(image by Jose Picayo for House Beautiful)

(images by Eric Roth for Traditional Home)

(Interior Design by Gregory van Boven)

For more inspiration go here and here

Are you done with all your holiday shopping? Are you still decorating the house? I am pretty much done now and will be focusing on some holiday cooking, which is not something I usually do, but decided its time to devote more time to it, especially after seeing 'Julie and Julia' - great movie!  That Julia Child, she was something else! Thanks for visiting me and welcome new visitors!!

If you would like your home to reflect your ideas and unique vision, contact me and we can work together to make your dream come true. Please inquire at monacointeriors76@yahoo.com - I would love to assist you with any project large or small!

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Design tips for your home...

Country Living has been a bit of an inspiration for me this month and I wanted to share a great idea for those of you who, like me, may have a rather ugly Tempur-pedic like mattress. I have tried the dust ruffle, but it just won't stay in place because the mattress is so heavy. The ruffle ends up all mangled, so, when I saw this brilliant idea, I just can't wait to try it:

Don't neglect your mattress - why not cover it with a fitted sheet??? why didn't I think of this? What a great idea!  Now, I'm on the lookout for a blue and white sheet...

The Beekman residence again and, this time, the hallway is decorated with a large decorative glass jar filled with branches and little decorations. I know its been done before, but, I like the way it looks and seems easy to do...

The Chicago house of Lisa and Dan Tiemann is beautifully simple and I love the way Lisa took twig wreaths and spray painted them gold for a really beautiful effect.  You can do this year round or just at the holidays and you could try different colors.

How about dressing your chairs up with angel's wings? Such a creative and unique way to decorate your dining room...for more inspiration go here -

I hope you have a great week - see you here next time!

(Beekman residence images by Lucas Allen)

(Tiemann residence images by Laura Moss)

If you would like your home to reflect your ideas and unique vision, contact me and we can work together to make your dream come true. Please send inquiries to monacointeriors76@yahoo.com - I would love to assist you with any project large or small! 

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Christmas decorating house tour...

This house is so charming and so beautifully dressed up for Christmas, I couldn't resist it. The cozy home is decorated by the homeowner each year and lucky for her, the color scheme of red, white and blue easily adapts to holiday decorating.

Note the little tree on the shutter...

Beautiful red and green...I love the glass...

The mix of stripes and checks and the floral wallpaper is genius...

I just ordered a plaid vest from Lands End that looks like the lampshade!

LOVE this room...

No detail is left out...what is in that jar?? 

Jingle bells, jingle bells...

This says Merry Christmas doesn't it? Love the skates, trees, stockings and shabby chic mirror...

Thank you for visiting me this week...it will be time for a giveaway soon after the holidays, so I will be thinking of something that you guys will like. Have a great week!

(images Courtney Wilson for bhg.com)

If you would like your home to reflect your ideas and unique vision, contact me and we can work together to make your dream come true.  Please contact me at monacointeriors76@yahoo.com - I would love to assist you with any project large or small!

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Saturday in the kitchen...

Its time for a festive, holiday-themed kitchen and I thought I would include a couple of different kitchens...hope you are all having a great weekend and getting things done before next week!

This is the Beekman residence from the new issue of Country Living...love the Christmas colors...

This is an Victorian house in Chicago...I love how they styled the kitchen - and, that farmhouse sink!

An old cupboard is dressed up for the season...

I will be mailing cards, doing last minute errands and finally tackling my painting project - turning my blue and white dresser orange - I hope!! That is the plan anyway. What are you doing?

(images Country Living)

(Beekman image by Lucas Allen)

(Chicago image by Keith Scott Morton)

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Winter wonderland...

Because it was freezing here today, only in the low 20's, I thought I would post some photos I took in March 2007 of my trip to The Balsams Grand Resort in Dixville Notch, New Hampshire...an incredible place. Not only is the food amazing, we were snowed in by a blizzard and, oh, HAD to stay an extra night! Dixville Notch has the distinction of being the first place to declare voting results in a presidential election and the New Hampshire primaries. Ballots are cast at midnight in the Primary Room at the Balsams.  So here, some snowy scenes as we approach Christmas next week...

It is a stunning place with lots to do - no TV's, but skiing, ice skating, sleigh riding, snowshoeing, cross country skiing - or you can eat, relax and play ping pong and other games! Summer offers golf and tennis. If you want to visit and need more information, go here - have a great rest of the week!

Thanks for stopping by!

(images by Sarah)

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