December 31, 2012

Best of MI...Inspiration for 2013...


Happy New Year!! Here is to new beginnings, bittersweet endings and best wishes for a fabulous 2013!  Welcome back to my continued 'Best of' series...I loved this story about the Nearings and hope you will too.  It provides inspiration, which is what all of us need at the end of the year as we look to the new year.  I hope you all have a wonderful time today and tonight and I will see you back here in 2013!  Much love and thanks to my followers, readers, and anyone who stops by my little tiny corner of the internet universe - I love 'knowing' and communicating with all of you!! xoxoxo



Not to be preachy or anything like it, but I came across these wonderful words that are food for thought on this summer Sunday. Helen and Scott Nearing left their cosmopolitan life in New York City to live in the wilderness of Vermont in 1932 and wrote a book, 'Living the Good Life: How to Live Sanely and Simply in a Troubled World' and it was described as 'this century's Walden.'  They lived as simply as possible and later Helen wrote a memoir, 'Loving and Leaving the Good Life' and lived into her 90's and Scott lived to 100. I LOVE this list that Helen included in her memoir and hope you see something you like as well:



*Do the best you can, whatever arises.
*Be at peace with yourself.
*Find a job you enjoy.
*Live in simple conditions; housing, food, clothing; get rid of clutter.
*Contact nature every day; feel the earth under your feet.
*Take physical exercise through hard work; through gardening or walking.
*Don't worry; live one day at a time.
*Share something every day with someone else; if you live alone, write someone; give something away; help someone else somehow.
*Take time to wonder at life and the world; see some humor in life where you can.
*Observe the one life in all things.
*Be kind to the creatures.

Which is your favorite? I love all of them, but particularly like 'live in simple conditions' etc. But they all give me something to ponder.

Have a great Sunday! ;-))

(image by me)


December 30, 2012

Best of MI...vintage + traditional = inspiration...


Its almost the end of 2012 and my posts have been sporadic as I was enjoying a week off...I want to show a 'Best of Monaco Interiors' series so here is the first post focusing on the beautiful work of designer Berkley Vallone, featured back in April...I just love her style and you will too - happy Sunday!! xoxo

I got my new Traditional Home magazine and was completely blown away by the pictures of the homes. Gone are the uninspired homes they have regularly featured! This issue has one house after another of really unique and different looking homes - traditional with a vintage and colorful twist! One designer really stands out for me - Berkley Vallone, who lives in Scottsdale, AZ and has a really charming and quirky home. See what you think:


Vintage trunk with a 'B' on it...



Whimsical teacup clock...


Gold details in the entrance hall...


Glamorous powder room...


More whimsy in the form of a lamp...cute dog too!


'B' on a pillow...


Check out this cake! wow!


Concrete counters, blue tiles, colorful dishes...looks like Orla Kiely...


Wow, wow - Lee Jofa paper, Jonathon Adler accessories, Elkay faucet!
what a laundry room!! Love the black + white...


Gorgeous leopard chair in the master...
Berkley and her mother run their own design company -

What do you think? Love it? 

Hope you are all having a great Sunday!
For more photos and information go here -

(images via)

Photographs for Traditional Home by Colleen Duffley


If you need help decorating your home please email me for information and pricing -monacointeriors76@yahoo.com.

December 15, 2012

Serenity now...

I am having a hard time living without my beloved little best friend and with all that is going on in this crazy world, I am seeking out calming interiors.  White is such a wonderful option and it is no wonder that it is the color of mourning in Arab countries.  Its strangely soothing quality is much needed in this frenetic and crazy life.  When in doubt, go with white - peace and prayers to everyone...




Happy weekend -



December 9, 2012

Good night sweet Scooter...

I had to make the most difficult decision I have ever had to do today - to let my beloved cat go - I am distraught, but know that it was the right thing to do as he was very sick. Please say a prayer for my sweet little Scooter tonight - I miss you Scooter and love you forever -




Good night little man, I love you forever and will miss you 
dearly - xoxo


This entry was posted in ➨

Dear design diary...whites + neutrals + Scooter...

Hello blogland! My posts are sporadic because I am dealing with a very sick cat right now and it is taking a toll emotionally.  Scooter has diabetes along with thyroid issues and had pancreatitis last week, which he is still barely recovering from. I have to give him subcutaneous fluids nightly along with a litany of medicines - its not pretty, so I am taking it one day at a time. He is 17 years old now and I can't tell you how truly difficult this is for me. I have already thought he was a goner twice now, though he showed improvement, but now seems to be on a downswing.  I will be honest, it is really stretching me financially, but I wouldn't think twice about getting him proper care.

So its Sunday now, and I started writing this yesterday.  We had a very bad night, I won't go into detail, but I have a call in to a doctor and am waiting for her to call me back to discuss the situation.

I can't really focus on the blog right now but wanted to highlight fabulous design inspiration from Pinterest - once you start pinning, you can't stop. I particularly love all the white and neutral photos, so much that I created this category. I am also obsessed with all the fashion on Pinterest and find it has given me good ideas to apply to my own rather boring wardrobe.  Do you find this to be the case too? What is your favorite category?

Enjoy!

The incomparable Darryl Carter...via


Beautiful design by Georgia Carlee via






Swedish design via




This is a rockin' space -



If you are so inclined, please say a little prayer for my valiant little Scooter,
fighting for his life right now - he is very strong and stubborn. 

Have a great Sunday -

xo

December 1, 2012

Saturday in the kitchen...

Back to my Saturdays in the kitchen, this is a gorgeous little kitchen that offers color, pattern and light.  When you look at this kitchen, what is the first thing you notice? What do you like about it? The colors, wallpaper, red cupboard? Would you copy anything from this look?

It is snowing lightly here at the beach this morning...relaxing, had a bowl of oat bran and cup of Vanilla Spiced Chai tea and now I need another cup.  I plan on doing a whole lot of...nothing(!!) this weekend, how about you??




Please visit my Pinterest boards for more
inspiration -

Also, my shop is open and I am offering items at 
20% off !!!

Need a bathroom or kitchen refresh for the new year?? Contact me
and I can help you with the design and the product selection!!

Please contact me at monacointeriors76@yahoo.com.