Happy Easter and a Best of MI...

Have a great Easter Sunday!  I thought I would post this fabulous picture from a few years ago...I am loving pink this season in all forms.  Just bought a piece of pink clothing, a vest, and have a lovely pink infinity scarf. It is so indicative of Easter to me...enjoy.


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FROM AUGUST 2011:

Wow! A foyer is your first look when you walk into a home, kind of like a first impression when you meet someone, you notice what they are wearing.  I love that this designer chose this gorgeous pink, Benjamin Moore's Razzle Dazzle (indeed!) to greet guests - what a design statement!  Would you paint your entryway hot pink?

Not to be forgotten is the beautiful vintage NEEDLEPOINT chair - can you believe? Jonathan Berger is the designer and I am his newest fan!

(image Francesco Lagnese)

For information about my decorating services, email me at monacointeriors76@yahoo.com.

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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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Dear Design Diary...bedroom love...

I have to admit I LOVE lounging around on Sunday mornings and if it goes into the afternoon, oh well right?  Love having my coffee while I blog and surf the net.  Now its time to actually get some things done ,so before I shower and go off shopping and hit the beach for a much needed long walk, here is a beautiful bedroom I wouldn't mind hanging out in.  LOVE the pinks and florals - do you? And please feel free to check out all my Pinterest boards here.

What are you doing today??



(image Pinterest)


Need help refreshing a bedroom? Contact me for interior styling at
monacointeriors76@yahoo.com.

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The richer palette part 2...

Following my post yesterday highlighting a beautiful and more glamorous palette for the home with deep blue, green and hot pink, I have found furniture and accessories in the same colors to go in the home, so its sort of a 'Gotta have these' kind of day - enjoy your Sunday and tell me which piece and color you want to include in your next project or home!

All images above Maine Cottage

Just for fun! I love this hot pink lamp from Kohl's

And here is a dresser I painted orange:

(image by me)

I bought this for 50 cents from my neighbor-

it was a mishmash of blue + white with 

ugly metal pulls that were rusted. I

replaced those with wooden knobs from 

Home Depot and painted them to match the

bureau with Sherwin Williams 'Rejuvenate' -

I copied the two colors that were used here:

(image by Nancy Nolan)

By Tobi Fairley in Traditional Home - I 

also painted my side tables in the turquoise -

I love this color combo -do you?

Click here for Traditional Home article 

Do you know I have a little shop? I am offering a 

few little gently used items with FREE SHIPPING -

Check it out! Click on the 'Shop' link under

the Blog Header!! 

Thank you for visiting with me!

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A richer palette...

I know everyone has been talking pastels this spring, but let's take a look at a richer, more saturated palette for the home that can bring out the best in what a room has to offer.  I love the deep blues, greens and pinks that paint companies like Benjamin Moore and Sherwin Williams have to offer, but, my inspiration comes from Pinterest this morning. Where else can you find such beautiful photos in one place?? Plus, it goes great with my Earl Grey tea!  Thanks for stopping by and enjoy the weekend -

(image)

Gorgeous deep blue wall mixed with white

(image)

This green is stunning, bringing the outdoors in

(image)

I LOVE this hot pink to greet you as you enter a home

WHICH IS YOUR FAVORITE? WOULD YOU 

LIVE WITH ANY OF THESE COLORS? 

MAYBE IN ONE HOUSE? 

Did you know I have some gently used items for sale in my shop? Please

feel free to browse by clicking the link on the top of the page. I have 

Paypal to make it super easy - and its all FREE SHIPPING!! 

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Best of MI...Saturday in the kitchen favorite...

BEST OF MI series...from January 2012 -Spotlight on Designer Krista Ewart 

I absolutely LOVE Krista Ewart and guess who she started out working with? The fabulous Ruthie Sommers! You can see Ruthie's influence in this great little California kitchen Krista designed for her sister.  The colors, the whimsical touches and materials are just stunning. In her other rooms, she always includes animals in the form of statues, and Ruthie adds this touch to rooms as well.  Happy Saturday!!





While it has started snowing here and I have to head to work soon, this little kitchen by Krista Ewart is too pretty to pass for posting. It is in a sunny little California cottage that was featured in HB a couple of years ago. Some of you may know, Krista used to work alongside Ruthie Sommers, and you can see her influence in Krista's work.

Perfectly pink on a wintry day, the fridge is probably my favorite feature, as well as the 'Keep Calm' poster and the wood detail. The colors are so fresh with the always-fabulous white.

(image by Victoria Pearson)


If you need help decorating your space, choosing fixtures for your bathroom or kitchen, please send email me at monacointeriors76@yahoo.com.

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Best of MI...That touch of pink...oh yea...

Hello bloggers! I'm back with another edition of my 'Best of' series and I love this simply because it is all about pink!  I love pink and these images are so great and that cupcake, well, I just had dinner and wish I could eat one right now! Hope you are all having a great week - thanks for stopping by and enjoy the images - ;-)) oh, and as always you can view my inspiration here -


It started with the gorgeous pink cupcake which led to all different views of pink in all its glory. Pastel, bright, soft...pink is fine in any form, don't you agree??

image

image

image

image
Everyone looks fabulous in pink!!

Pink + white = perfection
image

I know this room has been seen before, but its one of my all time faves!
image


All images are from my new OBSESSION...PINTEREST!!  


If you want to decorate or redecorate but aren't sure where to start, I can help! Please send me an email at monacointeriors76@yahoo.com for more information.  

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Dear design diary...

I was so excited to see Ruthie Sommers in the new issue of 'Veranda!' - I haven't seen any of her work recently so its about time as she is one of my favorites. What a gorgeous home in Chicago - with signature Ruthie touches- pink, elephants, lots of color, Palm Beach style and wallpaper. Feast your eyes and let me know which room is your favorite!!

Purple, yellow and an elephant table 

Soothing and love the rugs -

Parisian salon style -

Lacquered walls - dramatic

Soft pink and tailored curtains

Gorgeous wallpaper in gray with green - stunning

Pink, pink and pink!

Gorgeous mirror, lattice cabinets and that light -

(all images by Francesco Lagnese for VERANDA)

Love the inspiration of Ruthie's style in these rooms - does it give you

any ideas to try in your home?  Paint color? wallpaper?

lighting? mirrors in the living room?

Food for thought -

I can help make your home fabulous - contact me at monacointeriors76@yahoo.com.

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Dear Design Diary...

I really LOVED every room in this home featured in the new Ivy & Piper magazine of Lady Chatterley's Affair blog's house.  Have you seen the issue? There is something so comforting and cozy yet simple and chic about the colors she uses against a white background. It is an aesthetic I truly love, how about you?  Feast your eyes:

What do you love here? I love the black + white paper, the 

gingham, the chair and chair fabric 

What do you love here? I love the fab gingham window treatment,

the blue lampshades, the colorful pillows, chairs and white walls

LOVE this room! The green and blue sofas, tables, lamp, 

gingham, white table and rug

Red, white and blue never gets old - and that chair!

(photography by Stuart Parker for I&P)

Look how cute the baby is!! (and the subway tile here is wonderful) -

thank you TINA of Lady Chatterley's Affair for sharing pics

of your lovely home and the INSPIRATION! 

Visit her blog for more fun -

Read Ivy & Piper for more inspiration! 

I think I want to move to Australia, the design scene there

is so vibrant isn't it?

If you need inspiration, stop by my blog and many other

design, art and fashion blogs for your daily fix

If you need assistance decorating your home, please contact me at monacointeriors76@yahoo.com for rates and information. 

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Pink power...

I just got my new House Beautiful and as usual, there is so much inspiration. I have been very drawn to the color pink lately and there is a survey in the mag that says bloggers have chosen pink over other colors more than anyone else. Well, I love this dining room with the elegant curtains, gorgeous linen textures, crystal and blue and white.  Note the pattern on the wall under the console...Wouldn't you love to sit down here for a meal? How great would everyone look bathed in candlelight? I'm in...

(image by Bjorn Wallander)

Have a great rest of the week!

If you would like to place a small ad on my blog, please contact me at

monacointeriors76@yahoo.com.

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That touch of pink...

It started with the gorgeous pink cupcake which led to all different views of pink in all its glory. Pastel, bright, soft...pink is fine in any form, don't you agree??

image

image

image

image
Everyone looks fabulous in pink!!

Pink + white = perfection
image

I know this room has been seen before, but its one of my all time faves!
image


All images are from my new OBSESSION...PINTEREST!!  
DON'T FORGET, IF YOU WOULD LIKE THE CHANCE TO OWN A KOHLER FLIPSIDE SHOWERHEAD, PLEASE ENTER MY GIVEAWAY HERE !!  ALL YOU HAVE TO DO IS BECOME A FOLLOWER!!!

Have a great week!!

For information about my decorating services please email me with any questions: monacointeriors76@yahoo.com.

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