Saturday in the kitchen...

Well, my God, its been ages and ages since I've visited my space here.  I started working full time and have been so busy, my little blog has taken a (way) back seat in my life.  I have been blogging for years and its had its ups and downs, so this must be a down phase. I was so committed to it in the beginning, but when it didn't really 'grow' too much, I lost interest. There is so much competition and I just don't dig that at all so, oh well. I so wanted my space to become something, but, I guess its just not part of the plan for me.  I find social media is a way of life now, as I'm sure you all do too. I am on facebook a lot, and with two accounts, that's enough.  I love instagram and take a lot of pics for facebook, but haven't figured out how the heck to link it to both accounts. 

The interior design is on the back burner as well.  I am disappointed as I spent $10,000 to go back to school for interior design only to find retail jobs working 24/7 that you don't need a bloody degree for.  Any design firms want experience, which if you don't have any, how is this possible? And they all want CAD, which I don't do.  However, I am open to and available for design services online. Please check out my VirtualDecor pricing and information.  Sorry, I am venting and damn, it feels good. 

So, back to my 'Saturday in the kitchen' column, which I always enjoyed. It is very hot here today in the New York city area....finally...after a rather brutal winter.  I was in Los Angeles last week for work which was great fun as I got to see a couple of friends I haven't seen in YEARS!!  Spent some time on the Queen Mary in Long Beach as well. My mother sailed over on her from the UK in the early 1950's, and I love ships so it was great to be back there. 

Hope you all have a fantastic Mother's Day wherever you are!

What do you love about this kitchen?  The wall? lighting? island? floor?  I love the whole room!! Especially the wall - gorgeous -

image

I am available for design services via email with VirtualDecor-

please email me for information - monacointeriors76@yahoo.com.

❤ Read More

Saturday in the kitchen...

Hello blog world! How are you? I have been nursing the cold (or flu) from HELL for the past two weeks and I'm still not 100%!  I will do some yoga today and try to get back into my fitness routine, as I haven't exercised for the better part of two weeks and I'm used to moving or walking every day.  

I haven't had much inspiration lately either for blogging, so when the notion strikes me, I will post.  How are you?  Any new ideas or things going on you would like to share here? Please feel free and thanks for stopping by!

Would you like to stop in and have a cup of coffee or tea in this bright, beautiful Scandinavian kitchen?  I love the fact there is NO clutter here at all.  It looks so fresh and appealing to me.  Would you like a kitchen like this or would you add more - more color, texture or stuff?  Do share...

(image)

Architect Katrien van Doren

(VIA)

Enjoy your weekend! 

For more inspiration go HERE!

AND 

Please visit my PINTEREST BOARDS for 

more FUN!!

If you are so inclined, please visit my shop

for some silverware or curtains or 

you can contact me if you need help with 

your interior space.

❤ Read More

Best of MI...5 Tips for a Kitchen Facelift...

How much snow did you get if you are in the Northeast?  We got about 5" in the New York metro area, and I understand parts of New England got a foot.  Well, on this snowy Sunday, I thought I would share a post from August 2012 giving you some great tips for a kitchen facelift.  If this is something you need to do in the new year or are just starting to think about, go for it.  Your kitchen will not only look better, but, if you plan on selling your home, it will boost its overall value.  
Have a great Sunday!! 

**********************************************************************
Time to give your kitchen a face lift instead of an all out reno? Well, you can do a few relatively easy things to make it look pretty again. Here, I will share 5 great tips to give that kitchen a face lift, as well as suggesting popular products that are selling over and over again in the showroom. Not only are they functional and pretty, but, they will give you the updated and fresh look you want in your space.

Kohler has a great faucet in Vibrant Stainless that has a pause button and two different sprays. The single hole on your counter will give you more room, a less cluttered appearance and its easy to keep clean.  This is a great choice if your appliances are all stainless.

I know I have featured the Bellera before, but what a great faucet and 

its under $300!

Kohler Bellera

For the sink: this is a really beautiful and functional undermount sink that is a standard 33x22 size for your cooking and cleaning needs - it has a pretty 'v' detail on the bottom and looks like a commercial sink without the price tag:

For about $600 this can be yours - it is available smaller and

as a drop-in -

Kohler Vault

For a great looking counter that you don't need to do anything with, such as treat it with sealant, look no further than Caesarstone Quartz - I chose a pretty neutral that is also recycled material to help keep your living environment clean and toxic-free:

Oyster 9601 - a gorgeous neutral to go with light or dark cabinets -

Caesarstone Quartz

Need an island but don't have the space or money for a large size? Check out Ikea's Bekvam mobile cart - I had this and it was really useful. You can stain or paint it any color to match your decor and at less than $60.00 its a steal!

Great for storage, moving around and extra space for cutting or cleaning veggies -

Ikea Bekvam Cart

Last but not least, the paint color to give the kitchen some added 'oomph' right? I like Benjamin Moore's VOC-free Aura collection. Tons of colors to choose from so you can go light or dark. I chose a pastel green and to keep the environment clean, this paint is non-toxic so its safe and won't harm you or your kids:

Benjamin Moore Parkside Dunes 568

Benjamin Moore

I hope this gives you some inspiration for the kitchen project you've been thinking about doing but didn't want to spend a fortune. You can do one of the tips, two or all five!! You don't have to do all of them. 

Have a great Sunday! What is your favorite go-to tip for fixing the kitchen? Paint? new faucet? sink?


If you need help decorating your kitchen or bath or just need a face lift with a mood board, please contact me!! I can help - email me at monacointeriors76@yahoo.com. ;-))


(images courtesy kohler, ikea, caesarstone and benjamin moore)

❤ Read More

Saturday in the kitchen...

The snow is falling now in the metro New York city area, the temperature is cold so its a great time to invite you in to have a cuppa tea or coffee in this gorgeous kitchen.  The mix of textures in this kitchen...the stone floor, metal, wood, wicker and fur are a fabulous combo making this more like a room than a kitchen.  And it has my favorite AGA cooker, even better.  I love the fur literally 'warming' up the space - do you like it?  Have a great weekend!

(image)


Contact me for online consultations for styling your own home-
monacointeriors76@yahoo.com

Thanks for stopping by and don't forget to visit
me on PINTEREST!!

❤ Read More

Sunday in the kitchen...

Care to join me for a scone and some strong Vanilla Spice Chai tea??  Ok, so what don't I LOVE about this kitchen? Its definitely colorful and I really love the happy yellow juxtaposed to the black + white.
The floor is lovely as well - so clean and the yellow lamps - love.  Notice the black and white details above the cabinets and against the wall near the window.  It looks like every detail was very planned and executed just right.




What are you loving?  Do tell -

(image)

Enjoy the rest of your day!

Please visit my Pinterest boards for lots more inspiration!!

Need assistance with decorating your home for Christmas?

I can help with holiday, art selection and decoration, room

refresh, color consultation, organizing, textile selection,

office redesign, bath fixture selection, kitchen fixture

selection and space planning.  

Please email me

for more details at monacointeriors76@yahoo.com.

❤ Read More

Olivia Newton John's kitchen...

Hello bloggers! Hope you are all doing well!  I am taking some time off for myself after moving and am always looking for inspiration.  I came across one of my favorite celeb's house for sale and really love the kitchen and had to share it with you.  

The kitchen is light with natural wood - the cabinets are stunning

Another view with furniture and lots of glass

I love this bathroom with the vintage style tub, glass and light

(images)


I also added the picture of the bathroom as I love the look as well.
I could definitely live here, could you?

Thanks for visiting!
Have a great rest of the week!

Please contact me for interior styling, staging or assisting
with choosing fixtures for kitchen or bath.

❤ Read More

Sunday in a colorful room...

Good morning!  It is another gorgeous day here in Maine and for your viewing pleasure, I have found this room to perk you up.  Loving the color combos, wallpaper and zebra print in orange.  I had a great day out in Portland yesterday and will share pics with you this week.  Thanks for stopping by and have a great day -

((image)

Please visit my PINTEREST page of Colorful

Rooms for more inspiration -

Contact me for interior styling at monacointeriors76@yahoo.com.

❤ Read More

Sunday in the kitchen...

Hello friends! Happy Sunday!  I am house-sitting this week for a friend and taking care of her adorable cat, Fluff.  So, I am adjusting to the new schedule and surroundings.  I have been so remiss in posting because I am in a new living situation and am not spending as much time on the computer.  This is a good and not so good thing right?  I thought I would post a kitchen for you to dissect and decide what you like or don't like about it.

Let me know what you think!

I love the IKEA units and yellow walls - the whole look

is so sweet.

For more kitchens go here -

Go HERE for my kitchen board on Pinterest -

and HERE for all my boards.

What are you up to today?

Please contact me for interior styling, refreshing a kitchen

or bath, living areas or staging a room  - monacointeriors76@yahoo.com.

❤ Read More

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)

❤ Read More

Sunday in Drew Barrymore's kitchen...

Drew Barrymore is selling her Montecito estate and looking through the rooms, her kitchen caught my eye.  I'm not sure I like it, though I love yellow and wood counters, it doesn't seem all that user-friendly. What do you think of the two fridges next to each other? Do you like this kitchen or would you do a complete gut renovation? I think I would change it big time starting with the floor.

(image)

What say you?  Do you love it or hate it?

Have a great weekend!! 

xoxo

❤ Read More

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.

❤ Read More

Saturday in the kitchen...in a blizzard...

The snow is piling up and the wind is blowing hard here in Downeast Maine!  I am hunkered down for the day here as it really isn't a good idea to go anywhere. I'm hoping my car is ok out there...Well, I came across this lovely kitchen that belongs to actress Keri Russell and was featured in an issue of Elle Decor in 2011.  I love the earthy looking reclaimed fir cabinets - lends a very nice textured look to the kitchen don't you think?  To everyone in the Northeast - stay inside! I may be back later to explore more faucet options for the farmhouse sink.


(image by William Waldron for Elle Decor)
Grohe faucet, Sub-Zero Fridge, Viking stove, Light by Rejuvenation

Don't forget if you need help styling or decorating your home, go
to my 'Services' link at the top of the blog for information!!


Happy Weekend!! Stay warm and safe!

xoxo

❤ Read More

Easter Sunday in the kitchen...

Happy Easter and Happy Passover to everyone! This is one of my all time favorite designs for a kitchen - the kitchen that looks more like a room without the usual counters, cabinets and island with all the de rigueur appliances.  I would love to sit down here every day.  I hope you have a wonderful day!

Interior Design by Pam Pierce

(image)

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

❤ Read More

Sunday in the kitchen...

I thought these yellows and golds would be a nice reflection of the autumn season here in New England...so cozy and comforting...love the metal lamp and textured shades too.  The mix of the wood and creamy colors makes it look like a kitchen I'd want to bake a pumpkin pie in, how about you? care to join me for a cup of tea and pie?? Hope you are enjoying the weekend!

(Interior Design by Kathy Smith)

(Original image for House Beautiful by John Gould Bessler)

❤ Read More

Sunday in the kitchen...

Hello readers!! I am soooo happy to be back...my laptop met an unfortunate fate with some hot coffee (!) and it has been a long week away from my favorite pastime! I am now working on my new, though reconditioned laptop and wanted desperately to post. I love this kitchen with natural wood tones and beautiful red and white blinds and red paint. A very cheery and comfortable breakfast nook from Ideal Home magazine. I was reading UK mags all weekend and was inspired by the European aesthetic. Please visit me again this week as I have a special treat in store for you that I had to put off because of the laptop disaster. So, thank you for visiting and I will see you all here tomorrow! Have a wonderful week!!

(original image by Ideal Home magazine)

❤ Read More