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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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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7 Top Ideas for Being Crafty & Playful for the Bedroom!

7 Top Ideas for Being Crafty and Playful for the Bedroom

Make your bedroom fun and cheerful by getting creative and crafty!

Please welcome guest blogger Jessica Christian from 4 Interior Design blog in the UK!! 

She has some great ideas for adding some fun and unique decorating tips for the bedroom. Please let us know what you think and which idea might be a good addition for a client's home or your own home. 

Unique lighting

Invest in some unique lighting for your bedroom. Create your own unusual lamp shades, designed to cast pools of light and shade on your walls, or even featuring cut out circles, triangles and other shapes. Light does not have to be standard white light anymore, there are colour LED lights on sale at most hardware and home furnishing stores. These allow you to 'paint' with coloured light, creating a wonderfully playful effect in your bedroom. 

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Wall Art

Wall art no longer refers to just paintings, and photographs. You can find or make 3D pieces of art for your room. Once finished and installed on the wall these textured pieces can give a room a wonderful depth, making them excellent for brightening up plain or dull walls. Many shops sell 3D artworks, but they are relatively easy to make, with paper mache, paint and patience! For wall art and wall stickers I always prefer Wall Stickers website or Urban Walls.

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Bean Bags are In!

Bean bags are all the rage this season for stylish yet quirky bedrooms. Invest in a ready-made bean bag in colours that match your bedroom, or make your own using remnant fabric and polystyrene pellets. You can even find a storage bean bag that you fill yourself, with clothes that you do not need at present – for example summer clothes in the winter!

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DIY Furniture

Purchase some modular furniture and have fun rearranging every day! This furniture looks like giant-sized building blocks and you can endlessly make and remake your furniture configuration, changing the look as many times as you like! Modular furniture adds a delightfully fun and childlike air to any room, making it great for all ages, from toddler to pensioner!

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Faces It All

It may sound ridiculous but put faces on your furniture! Large stickers, self-adhesive googly eyes or even carefully drawn or painted faces instantly brighten up any room, adding a touch of whimsy to the atmosphere. Even the back of your bedroom door is a great place for a crafty face as you will be the one who sees it the most – almost as your bedroom is looking out for you and watching over you as you rest and sleep! For comfortable bedding options my utmost personal favorite is Yorkshire Linen Company's website.

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Food Inspirations

Delicious cupcakes, velvety chocolate and even colourful pizza can all be part of your bedroom! Not only can you get your bedding covered in pictures of your favourite foodstuff, you can even find cupcake storage units, chocolate table and chairs and even pizza and lollipop cushions! While perhaps not the best idea if you are trying to diet, food-based décor is very popular at the moment, especially with teenage girls and young women.  The photo below is one example:

(image) + davidelfin

Neon Geometric Designs

Bright neon colours and unusual geometric shapes are perfect to add difference to any room. Make or buy funky lampshades, angular furniture and distinctive bedroom accessories. If this sounds a little too dramatic for your tastes, you can still add that unique mystique to your bedroom by choosing vibrant and unusually patterned bedding! With the great range of styles and fabrics available you are sure to find the perfect playful look that will make your bedroom pop!

 

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Be sure and visit Jessica and her blog here for more inspiring design ideas!! Thank you Jessica for contributing today to start the week out with a BANG!!


Enjoy your week and thank you for stopping by!



Please contact me for design services at monacointeriors76@yahoo.com.

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Happy summer...scenes from July.....

I have to apologize for my absence...I have been so busy and don't seem to have the time I used to for my blog.  What have you been up to?  It is very hot here in Maine, so staying inside has been a good idea.  I have posted pics of some things I have done this month.  I don't usually post too much personal stuff, but, a change of pace is always good right?  I looked after a friend's cat for a week which was fun, went to a lake here in Maine for July 4th and was THRILLED that Andy Murray won Wimbledon! I am a big tennis fan and have gone to Wimbledon and a couple of other smaller tournaments when I lived in England.  I have been exploring Maine and spent last Saturday visiting an island and Sunday at the beach.  I hope you are enjoying the summer, staying cool and having fun even if you have to work! 

Fluff, my little charge for a week in late June...

Lake view on July 4th weekend...

A friend's cat, Bailey...

The lake...

Enjoyed Andy Murray's Wimbledon win for the UK...

The Union Jack...

(all images by me)

What are you doing this summer?? 

See you soon!

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Best of MI...Ruthie Sommers...

Good morning!! Happy Fourth of July to all of you!  I have the day off and will be lounging.  I am watching Wimbledon right now and can't wait for the women's single and men's single finals this weekend.  I used to do a regular column called 'The Green Scene' and decided to run this with one of my favorite designers - Ruthie Sommers.  I highlighted her ability to recycle furniture that she sold in her now-defunct store in Hollywood.  Her design is timeless and looks just as great as it did in June 2010 when I did this post.  Do you like her designs?  Any favorites here? 

One reason I think Ruthie Sommers' design aesthetic is so popular is that she recycles and reuses furniture that she use to sell in her now-closed store in Hollywood,Chapman Radcliffe Home, and in her clients' homes too...here is a house in Hollywood she designed...

Notice the bedside table, which looks like a piece you would see in any consignment shop or Goodwill store repainted to look glamorous!...

 This room has an antique desk in the corner...looks lovely...

The kitchen has several recycled items...the chandelier is vintage, the Saarinen table by Knoll is a classic and the vintage chairs are reupholstered in candy colors...yummy...

This chair looks like it came from a consignment shop, redone with new upholstery...the sconces on the wall are vintage too...

Ruthie made this home more personal with items already owned and used...not brand new...it is a great way for the client to save money and own something unique...you can use organic fabrics too that don't cost a lot (more on that later)...I'll be back on Friday with the Fabulous Fabrics series - see you then!

Visit Ruthie Sommers website: http://www.ruthiesommers.com/

(original images for Traditional Home by Grey Crawford)

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Bathroom vanity before + after...

I finally got around to getting my new little vanity installed in my cottage, which I am now renting.  The old sink and faucet was hideous and it was in desperate need of updating. I still need a medicine cabinet, but with the new vanity and faucet, I decided a new shower curtain in yellow and white would  give the bath some much needed 'oomph.' 

The cabinet and lavatory top is from Bertch and the faucet is Kohler's Fairfax.- I love it!

Before - sorry its a yellow color!

After! 

The top is Bertch's Sage pattern - a faux-granite
The cabinet has the white 'Centennial' style door

Kohler's 4" centerset Fairfax in chrome 

Beautiful curtain from TJ Maax

Sorry the pic is a bit dark 

My renter is enjoying the new setup - notice in the pic above the old
sink to the left; you can also just about spy the Flipside showerhead
from Kohler - it makes for a great shower!

(images by me)


What are you doing today? Have a great Father's Day!!


Please email me if you would like to redesign a room -

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

Happy weekend!  Thought I would post from my archives today...this was from 6/19/10 three years ago. What a great kitchen and very patriotic don't you think?

Hope you all have a fantastic weekend and Father's Day!





From July 2010:

Inspired by this cottage kitchen with a beautiful red wall and stainless units...IKEA no less! It has a camp-like look and I love the lamps and chairs (made for the US Navy in the 1940's) -



Design by Amanda Kyser...

(original image by Ngoc Minh Ngo for House Beautiful)

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Best of MI...White + white = gorgeous

How are you all doing? I am in a new environment and have been terribly remiss in not posting at all recently.  I have been so busy, but don't want to completely neglect my little blog.  I feel like I have put so much time into it and have met so many wonderful people online - I only wish it was a small source of income.  Did I just write that? Well, you know, hours and hours and hours online with no tangible payment. My life was turned upside down last year and I have been putting back the pieces of my new life without my beloved Scooter, who unfortunately finished his journey with me in December.  So, I continue to forge ahead and concentrate on the new horizon.  I am keeping my head up and my eye on the ball - have a great rest of the week friends!! Thank you for visiting me, I appreciate your support.

Be sure to follow my Whites + Neutrals board on Pinterest or all of my Pinterest boards here -


From July 2011:

I got my digital issue of Lonny a few days ago and these photos stopped me in my tracks...so dramatic, so cool and so WHITE. I love white with color, but this is just insanely gorgeous and difficult to do. I went to a show house in Maine about 3 years ago and saw a white room and bathroom in person and I couldn't believe how seriously beautiful it looked.  I particularly love the use of photos/wallpaper - it looks so dreamy - would you use this effect?

That wood bottomed coffee table is great ...

I love the mix of furniture here too...

Well that wallcovering is just amazing...Jarlath apparently uses real photographs and transforms then into wallpaper - !!

Are you in a white mood too? maybe because its summer, I feel like I love 'lighter' design or maybe that's the direction I'm headed...do you decorate with a lot of white? For more inspiration go here -

(images by Patrick Cline for Lonny)

(Interior Design by Jarlath Mellett)

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

Well, its my last Friday in my seaside cottage and I've gone for my last walk...its bittersweet for me, but on to bigger and better things now.  I thought in true fashion for a Friday, I would post one of my favorite columns about one of my favorite places in the world: England.  My mother was born in Scotland and I lived in England so it has a very special place in my heart. Not to mention aunts, cousins and friends live there so its always a vacation I want to take.  So, enjoy and have a great weekend! I will be posting from my new digs soon! Thanks for following and stopping by -

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From October 2010

'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...

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

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 :))

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Best of MI...Fabulous Fabric Fridays...Saffron Marigold

I have so many great posts from the past, I thought it was rather inspiring!! I used to do this column every Friday and this company has some seriously gorgeous fabrics that are STILL so in demand.  I love all of these, but the 'Morning Dew' really catches my eye. Which is your favorite??

Enjoy! 

SAFFRON MARIGOLD - FROM JULY 2010

Welcome to the world of Saffron Marigold...following last week's post featuring 'Les Indiennes, I am in love with all fabrics Indian.  These are curtain panels that are so reasonably priced, its ridiculous. The first photo above is called 'Maharaja -Beautiful Burgundy Royal Elephant Colonial Curtain' - isn't that great? and it is only $24.99 per panel!! Happy shopping indeed!

Spice Route - Decorative Red Orange Moroccan Tab Top Panel -

Kilim Noir - Designer Black Gold Tab Top Cotton Panel -

India Rose - Luxury Pink Floral Indian Sari Print Curtain Panel -

Morning Dew - Elegant Decorative Yellow Blue French Beaded Valance - (this valance is only $19.99)

The company also creates shower curtains, duvets, bedspreads, pillow covers, sheer curtains, table linens and cushion covers. The website is beautiful...for more inspiration please go here: http://www.saffronmarigold.com/ - there is a catalog and you can sign up for 'exclusive savings and announcements.'

Which fabrics would you choose for your home? perhaps some curtains? or a bedspread? Do you like a lot of pattern around your windows?

(images courtesy saffronmarigold.com)

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