Fab fashion...inspiration...

Time for a little change of pace!  I love fashion and thought I would share a couple of items from two European brands that are so chic, there is something for everyone, especially petites, which is what I am.  I have trouble finding clothes that fit me properly and usually find the petite sections are woefully short of chic clothes as compared to regular sizes.  I can wear some regular size shirts, but, trousers, coats, bathing suits and sweaters usually have to be cut in a petite size.  I included a couple of handbags, because, well,  I LOVE LOVE handbags as I'm sure you do too. 

How do you find your clothing?  I also find sizes vary from brand to brand, which is apparently normal.  One reason I love Chico's is that you can buy your sizes in 1, 2 or 3!! How great is that?  Let me know any shopping secrets you may have, I would love to hear!


Check out BODEN USA and LAREDOUTE:

FROM BODEN USA::

This bag just ROCKS!!

Can you tell I LOVE DOTS?? LOVE!!

Thank you Diane von Furstenberg -
the wrap dress is versatile, flattering
and sexy - 'nuff said

A tweed jacket to go with my entire
wardrobe? yes please!

 FROM LAREDOUTE:

A sexy black dress is a MUST HAVE for any
wardrobe -

I LOVE a handbag in red, so pink is just as
pretty and flattering to ANY color in your
wardrobe...plus the flowers, adorable

A sweater jacket for cool nights in spring or
 fall - perfect

Bootcut jeans flatter EVERYONE, these are
a must have for tall and petite alike -(images bodenusa & laredoute)

How do you like?  I love all these - which is
your fave??

For more fashion inspiration go here and here and
for even more visit my Fab Fashion Pinterest page
which is proving to be one of my most followed!!



Don't forget to check out my design services if
you  need some help refreshing or styling a space!!

Thanks for stopping by - have a GREAT
rest of the week!

xoxo

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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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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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Fashion inspiration...Vera Wang...

I recently bought a Vera Wang top and I was thrilled as I've been looking to buy something from her petite collection at Kohl's for ages!  It is a multi-colored top with an asymmetrical neckline which gives it a unique and slightly edgy design. One of the things I love about it is the mix of colors, which got me thinking about how it would influence the colors in a room. I'm sure we have all thought about this, when you buy a piece of clothing what do you love about it? I think Domino magazine used to do a feature on clothes/rooms.  So here is my interpretation of how you could use this top to design a room:

(image by me)

(image by me)

Hopefully you can see the colors here - it is 

brighter than it looks with lots of yellows, greens,

reds and pinks and hint of teal -

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I LOVE this TETRIS lamp! This is my favorite example -

I love all the colors here - 

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All images from my PINTEREST boards -

Do you have a piece of clothing that could influence the design of 

a room for a client or in your own house? 

Don't forget to check out my Monaco Interiors Shop!! 

Have a great Easter!!

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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 -

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Gorgeous deep blue wall mixed with white

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This green is stunning, bringing the outdoors in

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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...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??

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Everyone looks fabulous in pink!!

Pink + white = perfection
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I know this room has been seen before, but its one of my all time faves!
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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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Best of MI...Traveling in style indeed...

Happy Weekend bloggers! Well, I have to go to work tomorrow for inventory so I will not have a full day off...but, this cold weather here in downeast Maine has me dreaming of warm climates and sandy beaches or European cities, I'm not picky!   Please join me for another post from my 'Best of' series about traveling and looking oh-so-stylish. I would LOVE to look this chic all the time...oh well, a little dreaming is ok right? 


Best of MI from April 2012:

Well, I was supposed to be in London this week but got a cold and was unable to fly. I won't bore you with the details, but, I have had four ear operations and flying with any congestion is just not possible. So, I was thinking...a long time ago I lived in Great Britain and flying back home regularly introduced me to looking more like a grown up rather than a student, since I was a few years out of college: looking great while making the skip across the pond. I used to make a real effort because I didn't want to look like a typical American in a nylon jogging suit that made a loud swishing sound when walking. I was determined to stand out from the crowd. I remember one outfit of leggings, a beautiful pair of brown boots and my mother's big brown faux fur coat. I thought I looked pretty good and I probably did!! It was better than sweats...so, from my favorite pin board take a look at these:

OMG, who wouldn't want these gorgeous bags to fly with???

I would love to step off the plane wearing this, preferably on the tarmac 

where the paparazzi are waiting...;-)

Yes, I will take those sunglasses and I want my hair like that too...

Ok, Kelly Ripa doppelganger (I think)...but the pearls and glasses make the

statement...hello love, I'm here...

I would like to carry this bag on the plane with me, but, with white gloves on too...

I secretly wish I could dress like its the 1950's all the time...I would love

to wear this for travel...or to work...

Back to reality...I love this chic and colorful outfit and it 

would look right in London...

Or polka dots...I would love to wear this while pulling my 

suitcase behind me at Heathrow...

The more casual travel look, but still paparazzi-effective with the scarf...

This looks so comfortable - the bag isn't too big,

the leopard scarf, Birkin like bag and smile just 

screams 'I'm cool' -

Now, my grandparents used to drive one hour home from their lake house and 

would dress up - suit, tie, dress, patent handbag...the works.  They might

stop for dinner and run into people they knew. But, full disclosure, my grandfather was a former Congressman so he could be recognized and always wanted to look his best. 

I think we have lost the art of dressing up everyday and I wish we could go back to a time when everyone made an effort to look presentable whether at the grocery store or dropping the kids off at school.

When you look good, you feel good and people will treat others differently based on appearance. 

Do you like to stand out from the crown when you travel or go to the store? Do tell!

Have a great week, welcome and thank you to my new followers!

(images via)

Please email me for help with styling your home at monacointeriors76@yahoo.com - 

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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)

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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.

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