Saturday in the kitchen...perfect cottage kitchen...

This is a gorgeous little country kitchen -with a farmhouse sink and big faucet (looks like a Rohl), vintage blue chair, classic round rug and pale blue walls.  I love that you can see a glimpse of a bookcase in the foreground as well, in case you want to thumb through a volume while drinking tea.

The cabinetry with glass is also a nice touch that doesn't make the kitchen seem too small.  Do you like this kitchen or are you more into big glamorous kitchen?  I think this is plenty big enough. 

What are you doing on this lovely sunny Saturday?

image

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Have a great weekend!

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Jayne Mansfield's Pink Palace...

Happy Monday Bloggers!  You may have noticed my recent OBSESSION with Polyvore...I just love it and the freedom it gives you to be really creative with a post or moodboard.

For something completely different today, I want to show you the home of 1950's screen siren Jayne Mansfield. The home was known as the Pink Palace and was very photographed and well known in her heyday.  The accompanying pictures are from a 1960 layout in LIFE magazine.  Jayne was married to Mr. Universe 1955, Mickey Hargitay.  The home was later owned by Ringo Starr, Cass Elliott and Engelbert Humperdinck but, was unfortunately demolished in 2002.  You don't find many homes like this these days do you??  Let's discuss the design details, some of which are relevant today as you will see.

The plush living room with cool purple
sofas, white shag and accented with gold.
The mansion had a total of 40 rooms.
I love those sofas and in another color
would still be fabulous. 

Since 'Orchid' is the color of the year, this
pink color is similar and in the same family
of color. I believe the house was on Sunset
Boulevard in Holmby Hills. The Mediterranean
style home epitomizes the Southern
Cal movie star home.

Mickey at the grand piano of white + gold; note
 the colorful throw pillows and Jayne above on a
balcony in a gold gown. 

Look how timeless this is!  The gallery wall
which has been SO popular the last few years;
love her outfit.

Jayne adored pink and hearts - note the heart
shaped fireplace with gold mirrored walls and
another shot of the California cool living room.
White with pops of color - so in style today. 

This a really sumptuous room - note the bear
(literally) rug - animal rugs are in style now
and the super mod chair which looks custom.
The ceiling looks mirrored. Lots of metal accents
in the house as well, note the doors above.

Mirrored headboard, black satin, pink walls and
Jayne living up to her sex symbol image; this
room could have done with some more furniture.
Note the decorative candles above the bed.

This is so over the top, I don't know where
to begin! the gold fixtures, marble vanity top and
pink shag rug which covers the walls and ceiling!
Even the lipsticks are staged to match the hardware. 

Let's not forget the heart shaped tub!
Sweet boudoir chair next to the tub; note the
mod hanging lamps.Would you carpet your
bathroom like this?

The FAMOUS heart shaped pool in the back of
the  property with two small decorative hearts
in the pool.  It was built by Mickey, who
had been a plumber and carpenter.

Note the statues and 'I love you Jayne' in the pool;
Mickey and Jayne posing in the pool.

(images LIFE )

Its interesting to note that Jayne bought the property
from Rudy Vallee and wrote to suppliers for a lot
of the furniture.  She received a lot of it for free. 

Thoughts? If you have never seen this property before,
it is a must see now.  Its too bad it was demolished,
it would have been a great place to visit.

If you don't know, Jayne and Mickey's daughter is
actress Mariska Hargitay who has been the star of
"Law & Order" for years.  Mariska was in the back
seat of the car with her two little brothers when
Jayne was driving and tragically crashed into a truck
and died in Louisiana in 1967.

Click on the names
For more information about Jayne Mansfield;
Mickey Hargitay and Mariska Hargitay.

Go here for more detailed info on the home.


Thanks for stopping by!! Have a great week!
xoxo

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New year...Best of MI...Blenko Glass Company...

Well, here we are in 2014 and I am only now just posting.  Its hard to believe I started this blog over four years ago!  Wow, time has flown in many ways, but its also moving slow.  I am still trying to decide what, who, where and the how of this blog, so in the meantime, I wanted to go back to an early post and see what I was doing.  This is a great company based in West Virginia and if you love glass, you will love this.  I once visited Venice, Italy and got to see glass making in the process and it was fascinating.


What are your plans for the new year?  I don't do resolutions as its a cliche for not getting anywhere or getting anything done.  Too much pressure.  I am nursing a head cold right now, so my energy level is nil. I do hope you have a great year and are able to move ahead with plans, dreams and resolutions.

I would like to thank my loyal readers for stopping by and keeping me going, I appreciate your support!!


From March 2010:

Thought I would write about a little bit of Americana and what better than the iconic Blenko Glass Company in Milton, West Virginia? My mother had the Spring Green Water Bottle on display in our living room when I was a child and I always loved it. Years later, I spied it in a store and bought it as a wedding present for friends.

William J. Blenko founded the company in Kokomo, Indiana in 1893 having left the East End of London where he was born and learned the art of glassmaking starting at age 13.  He came to America in 1893 to start a business selling stained glass windows.  The only countries manufacturing the glass at that time, were Germany, France and England. Thanks to William's entrepreneurial spirit, the company has continued to flourish.

This is still true today - his family has kept the company going and I like to think that supporting American-made products never goes out of style.  You can even tour the facilities in Milton, WV at Blenko's Visitor Center.

Aren't these gorgeous? and very affordable!  (I added a couple of new products)

C418L Large Dimple Glass Crackled

($36.00)

1113 Cobalt Swirl Bowl ($120)

1108 Bella Bocca Vase ($80.00)

Fire and Ice Vase ($200)

Blenko Water Bottle ($46)

For more information, visit http://www.blenkoglass.com/

Which one would you like for home? (my favorite is the Water Bottle)

(images)

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For design services, please contact me for rates at 
monacointeriors76@yahoo.com

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All about the color...purple...

This is one of my all time favorite designs by New Orleans designer Hal Williamson in House Beautiful and I studied these pictures when I got my issue.  I had never thought about the color purple much before this article, but, he uses these muted tones so well that I fell in love with the color.  I would especially love to use Martha Stewart's 'Shantung' (for Sherwin Williams) if its still available.  I remember I went out and got samples of this color while I was still in design school and used it in a project.  I love the style of furniture in this house as well as the colors.  

Do you love it or not?  Would you use these muted purple/lavender tones in your home or for a client's house?

Benjamin Moore's 'Driftscape Tan' which reads lavender
Such a gorgeous mix of furniture and materials

You can just spy the iconic Beverly Hills wallpaper
in the kitchen of large banana leaves

Silky curtains and a photo of Ella Fitzgerald in the parlor
Walls are 'Grisaille' by Martha Stewart, another
muted lavender

Martha Stewart's 'Shantung' for Sherwin Williams
Silkscreen of Mahalia Jackson by New Orleans artist
Richard Thomas
Toile  'Louisiana Purchase'

(Article here)

(interior design by Hal Williamson)

(images by John Kernick)

Oh the lucky people who get to live here - 

If you need styling services, please contact me and

I can work with you via email - 

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WOW! This is new...INC bedding collection

I found some GREAT bedding at Macy's and didn't realize that the clothing design company 'INC' has created a new home bedding collection.  This collection called 'Bloom' is particularly sophisticated- I couldn't find other pictures except these two.  What do you think? Will you buy these for a client or your own home?

I love the mix of white with the colors and the black
and white - very elegant

A night view still looks great and the furry pillow adds
texture -

(images Macys.com)


These look fresh and modern to me, and gives a
designer lots of options to mix colors.


Have a great day!

Please visit my PINTEREST BOARDS for
more inspiration.

I am available for VirtualDecor from anywhere in the
world.  Please contact me at monacointeriors76@yahoo.com.

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Design idea #1...curtain as a room divider...

I want to share with you a design 'tip' that I have used and would like to highlight for inspiration.  If you have a hallway or entrance that needs to be visually separated from a living area, or that might be draughty in the winter, or, just needs a little spicing up with color and pattern, then go ahead and add a single panel or pair of curtains.

In my cottage, I added a single panel curtain, though I have used a pair in the past.  One curtain does the trick here. The hallway is a brick floor and one wall is wood paneling (the other is two windows), so, to give it some 'oomph' and add color and pattern in both the living room and hall, I added a blue and white check Swedish style curtain. It also distinguishes between the two areas since there is no door here. I got these curtains a long time ago on sale at JC Penney's home store. I don't think I paid more than $15 for them, so they were a bargain.

View from hall into the living room giving the impression of two
distinct spaces

Curtain is blue, but shows as 'grey-ish' here because of the light

Rugs add more color and tie in with the blue checks in the living room

Looking into the hallway, I know, the paneling is very 70's,
but I love the look of it here - mirrors are from IKEA
and the 'LAKE' sign is vintage

Here, you can see the brick floor and a glimpse into the front
bedroom with my vintage leather footstool I scored for $25!!
The chair is IKEA's Poang with white cover, antique Art
Deco rug


The curtain adds just enough to this application to give the room some
'oomph' as I like to call it.  I can switch it up with a different colored
curtain or add a sheer with it.

When I lived in England, I knew some friends who liked to cover their
front door with a velvet curtain to keep out the cold.

How have you visually separated a space with no door?

What do you do to add some warmth, color or pattern to an entrance
or hallway?

(images by me)
Don't forget to visit my PINTEREST BOARDS FOR INSPIRATION!

THANK YOU FOR STOPPING BY!

I am available for myVirtualDecor design service from anywhere in the
world - my rates are reasonable and I can assist you
with any design project. 

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Green Design notebook...Velux blinds and windows...

I have often wondered why we are not tapping in to the power of the sun.  On walks I notice how many houses are right in the sun all day and why the builders didn't add solar panels or windows to harness all this energy. I understand its not an option yet, but going forward I would love to see most houses built with these options so we are not so dependent upon oil, gas and electricity.  So, if you had the chance to replace windows or add some windows at the top of your house, would you?  Not only can you let natural light in the house, but, you can control the amount of light coming in with blinds.  How practical would this be? I personally love a house that gets tons of natural light and it would be a sticking point for renting or buying a home. I need curtains and blinds opened in the morning to let in as much light as possible don't you?  I don't know, the curtains drawn all the time seems a bit depressing. 

So, if you had the chance, would you add more windows or better yet, add windows on top of the house? I would!  I could open up the whole roof if I had my way. So, if you did this there is a company that caters to this need and it would add style and practicality to the home. 

VELUX blinds is a company that includes both solar panels, windows and blinds in a one stop shop. So, for those of you with a house that has an attic or room at the top of the house that you would love to open up and add a whole new look, this is a place you should shop. If you want windows that offer more ventilation and sunlight, check, if you want windows that save energy, check, if you want electronic blinds to control the light coming in to your house, check.  VELUX blinds has you covered, literally, for all your needs. 

 

Blinds available in a variety of different colors to match your
decor;




Electronic operation for your light filtering and black out needs;





Blinds in different positions on the windows;




Solar powered skylights with all the fantastic advantages;




Great idea for ventilation in the bathroom;




Let the light in!!


(all images VELUX blinds (UK) and VELUX blinds (USA))
Sponsored post by Velux Blinds


Can you decide which you would prefer?  I love all the options and would really 
like the solar powered windows with electronic blinds.  With different colors
and options to fit your budget.  

Thanks for stopping by and have a GREAT day and week!! 

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Yellow + white = Gorgeous Bedroom

I have been remiss in posting this week as I have a few things going on and I'm taking a blogging class! But, because its so cold here in Downeast Maine, I thought it would be a good idea to post this gorgeous yellow in a dreamy bedroom to remind you that spring is, in fact, coming very soon...when, who knows? But until then, I want to look at bright colors. Enough of the black, grey, maroons and browns - its over!! So let's think spring and move forward!! Happy Sunday!!

What do you LOVE about this room? What don't 

you love? Would you use these colors in your bedroom?

(image)

Please contact me so I can help you decorate and style your 

interiors.  Please click on the 'Services' above and you can

email me: monacointeriors76@yahoo.com.

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Best of MI...Dear Design Diary...design match

BEST OF MI...January 2011

Welcome!  How are you doing on this winter Saturday?  Still doing my Best of series and today I want to know if you like matching wallpaper to curtains and fabrics? Would you do this in your home? Do you like the look or do you prefer different patterns? Lots of questions so please take a look and let me know!! Have a great weekend!

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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.

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Best of MI...Fabulous Fabric Fridays...Richard Smith

Happy New Year one and all!! Hope you are having a great day just enjoying 'being...' I loved this designer and it was part of my 'Fabulous Fabric Fridays' series that ran for quite some time. I thought it would be fun to hop across the pond for this edition as it was one of my favorites. I hope you enjoy it too - have a fabulous and successful 2013! Thank you for joining me here - I appreciate it and look forward to many more postings! xoxo

10.2010

Fabulous Fabric Fridays...Richard Smith...

'Fairlight' - Richard's 17th century farmhouse

I'm sorry I'm so late with this post but I spilled hot coffee on my laptop keyboard and it stopped working! Needless to say, I purchased a keyboard that is spill-proof (!!) so it is just a quick fix until I decide to take my laptop in for some 'surgery...'  I digress...welcome to Jolly Old England for this post. Highlighting a fabulous textile designer in the UK - Richard Smith who has redone his country home and uses ALL his own fabrics to decorate...I think you will like what you see - I can't decide which room I like best...:))

Richard has designed fabrics for F. Schumacher and Warner Fabrics...

Richard Smith in his studio amongst his textiles...

'Cecily' hand printed silk...

I love all of the rooms, but the turquoise linen fabric in the dining room and these curtains above are particularly beautiful...Richard has done different collections for 'No. 9 Thompson' and you can see more here.  Since living in England, I have a soft spot for all things British and of course, British design.  Thank you for spending a little time with me this week and I hope you all have a great weekend!! I have something special for you next week so please stop in again! xx :))

(original images by James Merrell)
(Interior Design by Diana Kelly with Richard Smith)

You might also like:

Fabulous Fabric Fridays...new series...

Fabulous Fabric Fridays...new series...

Fabulous Fabric Fridays...Clarissa Hulse...

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