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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Top 8 living rooms...

Hello Bloggers!  I have compiled a list of my picks for the top 8 living rooms.  Please keep in mind these are only my choices and I know there are thousands of living rooms out there that deserve inclusion, but, courtesy of House Beautiful, my choices have lots of similarities as you will discover.  What makes a great room? Color? Texture? Balance? All of the above? Which is your favorite and why?

How is your weekend going?  I spent the day yesterday out in the New Jersey countryside, yes, New Jersey has fabulous country, at the Far Hills Race Meeting.  It is a steeplechase horse racing event on grass for charity and didn't disappoint. Lots of tailgate parties, tweed, wellies and wine to go with it.  Enjoy the rest of your Sunday!

White walls, leggy furniture, pop of color with soft reds, rustic beams
design by Jason Bell; image Simon Upton

White walls, leggy French furniture, natural rug, gold
accents, crystal chandelier - neutral and stunning
image by Bjorn Wallander

White walls, natural rug, leggy furniture, gorgeous pop of pink
design by Jonathan Berger; image Francesco Lagnese

One of my top two!  white walls, pop of yellow and blue,
striped black & white floor, star chandelier
design by Ginger Barber; image Victoria Pearson

White walls, curtains, rug, pops of colors - blue and orange, zebra
chair, gold accents
design by Melissa Warner; image Victoria Pearson

White/creamy walls, natural rug, leggy French chairs, metal tables,
lots of gold, LOVE that sofa
design by Dana Lyon; image Reed Davis

White walls, animal rug, white chairs, leggy tables, bust,
hint of gold in the pillow, black & white
design by Stephen Shubel;  image Luca Trovato


MY FAVORITE:
Design by Hal Williamson
Image John Kernick

Mauve walls, leggy French furniture, gold

accents, natural blinds, silky curtains, crystal chandelier

I LOVE French and Swedish furniture

in this type of room - it always looks

beautiful and adds 'legs' -

See any similarities?  I do - lots of white, animal

accessories, gold accents, natural elements,

pops of color, symmetry in some of the rooms;

my favorite room has mauve walls, but I could

see them with a soft white as well - this room is perfect to

me.  The crystal, the gold and the furniture are 

just wonderful; I only wish I could see the front of 

the sofa!!  I have studied this room ad nauseam and I never

tire of it.  Great design should never be tiresome, it 

should always be inspiring.  

With that said, I am available for e-design from anywhere

in the world - please visit my 'Services' page for information-

I am flexible as well, depending upon the project or work

needed.  

Do you have a favorite room from this list? Please let

me know which one and why in the comments below!

Also please visit my Pinterest Boards and

my Whites and Neutrals Board in particular 

for more inspirational rooms-

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What do you love about this kitchen?

Hello blog world, its Sunday and I'm resting at home trying to get rid of this nasty old cold.  I thought I would pose a question today for this picture of a lovely kitchen. What do you like about it? What draws you to it, if anything?  What is the first thing you notice? What words would you use to describe it? Just some things to think about as you decide what you may or may like about this kitchen.  Have a great Sunday!

What do I like? Well, the rustic cabinets with the metal, white,

baskets and blackboards all seem to mix together so well in 

combination with the dark floor.  I love the whitewashed look of

the cabinets as well as the regular stove, not some fancy

Wolf range. Its a very down to earth kitchen don't you think? I also

love that the island is a simple table, not an overdone, fancy 

cabinet that seems to be in every renovated kitchen with granite

countertops.  It is a bit French country no? Original, quirky, unique are what 

come to mind to describe this kitchen. Whew! What do you think?? 

I would love

to hear from you!!

(image)

I can work with you to refresh your kitchen or bath or decorate any room

in your home - contact me here: monacointeriors76@yahoo.com.

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Saturday in the kitchen...

Sorry I am so late posting this, but I had to work today and didn't have time this morning...anyway, today we are in France again as this kitchen is in Provence and has rustic written all over it.  I love the poured concrete counters and the 'crown molding' around the top of the room...how unique and creative! This was first seen on  Joni's 'Cote de Texas' blog (here) and I loved it so much I wanted to feature it here.

Note also the copper pots, basket and green glass bottle. Do you love this look or is it not your style?

Hope you all have a fantastic weekend and I will see you back here tomorrow!!

(image cotedetexas.blogspot.com)

If you need help decorating your home, please contact me at monacointeriors76@yahoo.com and we can discuss how I can assist you with space, fabric, furniture, kitchen and bath consultations.

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Spaah on Sunday...

This beautiful French farmhouse bathroom really resonates with me on this sleepy, very cold and windy Sunday in New England. The wind has been howling for two days now with scattered power outages across the state. The house still seems a bit cold, so a warm cat and clothes are in order!! This bath was featured in Cote de Texas' recent blog post about houses to rent in Provence.

Like the kitchen highlighted yesterday, the stone walls and earthy colors make this bathroom, I think, pretty spectacular. A nice long soak in the tub would be wonderful today.  In my daydream, it is summer and if the window is open, there will be the smell of lavender wafting in and...ok, back to reality here...:( Enjoy your Sunday!!

Visit Joni's blog here --

(image cotedetexas.blogspot.com)

If you need help with a decorating project, please contact me at monacointeriors76@yahoo.com and we can discuss your unique vision and ideas for your home and how to implement them.

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Divine design...

The maps, the green, the ikat print on the chairs, the rug, the chandelier, the curtains, the matchstick blinds, the settee, table and little metal chair...the maps...is this room divine or what?? It is perfection...thank you Hal Williamson for this beautiful room in New Orleans...one of my all time faves from House Beautiful a year or so ago...*sigh*

(original image by John Kernick)
Interior Design by Hal Williamson

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Monday Inspiration...

Wow! this room looks like it is in the south of France...guess what? it is in Napa, CA!! I could relax here and feel the cool breezes from outside...how about you? would you love this room in your house?? So romantic and French...and the color is a beautiful mix of pale blue and lavender...dreamy...

Interior Design by Erin Martin

(original image by Dominique Vorillon)

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Dream kitchen...

This is my favorite kitchen shot in Veranda January-February 2009 by Casey and Anne Sills; the interior design is by Donna Temple Brown, who owns an antique store in Houston, Texas. The whole condo is wonderful, but the kitchen just doesn't look like a kitchen to me. No cabinets on the walls, no de rigeur island etc. I think its brilliant in that it doesn't look like a typical kitchen. Donna designed 'out of the box' and the result is stunning.

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