Old Soul Gallery

A Parisian Affair.

2011-10-11T11:51:00.000-07:00

Because who wouldn't want one. And with Clive Owen.

Photos from October issue of Vogue Spain

Eco friendly = Gawgeous!

2011-07-20T07:06:00.000-07:00

Check out this beautiful, eco-friendly home.

More pics at: sunset

Oh, sh#*! Look at these amazing loos!

2011-06-28T08:16:00.000-07:00

Thank you, Decoratti Access for posting the work of these talented designers.

Samantha Friedman Interior Design, LLC.

Tiffany McKinzie

Alan Design Studio

Dark bedroom walls

2011-01-20T07:25:00.000-08:00

Luxe. Sexy. Grown-up. These are the words that spring to mind when I think of painting my bedroom walls a dark color. Although I know my hubby won't go for it, a girl can still dream.

Hot date with Milton Glaser

2011-01-11T07:23:00.000-08:00

In my efforts to take advantage of all the awesomeness New York has to offer (a resolution I make every year), I'm attending a Creative Mornings talk with Milton Glaser. Creative Mornings is a monthly speaker series of creative-ish people created by Swissmiss, a design blog and studio run by Tina Roth Eisenberg. I'm so excited to hear what Mr. I HEART NY himself has to say. His impact on modern design and illustration is one of the most commendable in the design world. So excited to be attending!

What am I going to bake first?

2011-01-06T09:54:00.000-08:00

Thanks to my good friend, Jose, I now have to decide what recipe to take a stab at first from my new book, Baked Explorations. Will it be the whoopie pies or the pear tart? Your taste buds will have to wait and see!

Happy New Year!

2011-01-03T14:30:00.001-08:00

It's FLOR Friday

2010-12-10T09:58:00.000-08:00

So, although I'm not a fan of floor coverings in general--I think co-op living and the 80% carpet rule has traumatized me--I must say that FLOR has a pretty amazing product. Using a modular design, you can buy carpet tiles and arrange them however you want. I think the flexibility of the tiles is what draws me but the colors and patterns are also very fresh and give a great modern alternative to the old shag.

My personal favorite and what's going in my living room.

All I want for Christmas...

2010-12-08T12:05:00.000-08:00

...are these little appetizer spoons from West Elm! Take note, people, this is the perfect gift for that awesome hostess with the mostest in your life (like moi). These perfect bite-size portion appetizer spoons make me want to whip up tiny servings of shrimp ceviche, although I have an inkling that they'd turn Doritos, or even the eucharist, into fun gastronomy!

Tis the season for sweets!

2010-12-07T10:28:00.001-08:00

Needed something to cheer me up today...

2010-11-15T11:24:00.000-08:00

And this happy little stove from KMLdesign helped.

My Blue Attic

2010-10-28T09:20:00.000-07:00

My hubby keeps asking for mood boards for each room so here's the first one. I love the serenity that comes along with light blue.

Wooden bench love

2010-10-20T14:11:00.000-07:00

I want to find a wooden bench for my foyer!! Here are some great examples courtesy of Brabourne Farm.

Richard Powers-Photographer

2010-10-20T07:16:00.000-07:00

His photography, stunning. His subjects, beautiful. I wonder, can I get him to come and photograph my house when it's done?

All pictures from Richard Powers site.

Weekend Highlights

2010-10-18T09:37:00.000-07:00

My Saturday started out as it usually does; putting in a new door or window and then aimlessly admiring it for a couple of hours.

New door + siding

And then my little suburban Saturday took a turn for the interesting when I got the happy invitation to the Priscilla of Boston fashion show in Chelsea from my good friend Michelle who was moonlighting for Brides Nior. The show was fantastic and although I felt like I stuck out like a sore thumb among the fashion world bourgeois, I very much enjoyed the true "New York moment" of being front row at a fashion show.

After the bride-xtravaganza, we met up with Jose, future editor-in-chief of something important, and went on a pilgrimage for French food. 40 minutes, 20 blocks and a painful-non-inebriated fall later, we found ourselves at Tartine on W 4th and 11th where we shared lots of laughs, communal dining, delicious wine and buttery-French goodness. All in all it was a successful Saturday night.

Outside Tartine. Well worth the 30 minute wait.

Delicious Malbec.

Mussels in white wine & steak au poivre

Jose & Michelle

Lovin' on beautiful kitchens

2010-09-21T11:01:00.000-07:00

I don't know if it's because I love to eat (understatement) or if it's because I love to bake (another understatement) but I'm obsessed with kitchens. Especially when they evoke a feeling of comfort and homeyness, as does this lovely kitchen from Southern Living. Anyone who's had the pleasure of listening to me rant about my new kitchen (due to make it's debut in December 2010) knows I adore contrasting upper and lower cabinets as well as vintage and country touches mixed in with very contemporary lines. I can't believe the cabinets are from IKEA and they look this gorgeous.

It's Hump Day!

2010-09-15T07:50:00.000-07:00

Happy Dance!

Lovin' House Beautiful's Kitchen of the Year

2010-09-15T07:16:00.000-07:00

Jeff Lewis of Bravo's Flippin' Out designs 2010 House Beautiful's Kitchen of the Year and it's absolutely lovely!

Contemporary with lots of airiness and light.

Love the hardwood throughout; definitely a must in our new kitchen.

Feeling the open cabinets.

A stylish, futuristic chandelier serves as great focal point in this sleek and monochromatic kitchen.

To see more, go to House Beautiful

Happy Friday!

2010-09-10T18:13:00.001-07:00

Hope you're weekend is full of spontaneous adventures and exciting epiphanies!

Fiyah-place

2010-08-26T07:54:00.001-07:00

I've been in search of a "look" for my fireplace area (catty-cornered in the first floor living room). I really like this look with the stone on the inside rim and the rest of the mantel and its color going up the wall. I think that I will do something similar but not in a dark stained wood. Maybe a light tan neutral?

Courtesy of Cococozy

It's coming along...

2010-07-29T09:06:00.000-07:00

It's been a year since we closed on our happy, blue colonial. This is it last July.

And this is it now.

Okay, I know it looks worse and truthfully we haven't made a huge dent in this past year but by Christmas I hope to be sharing with you our new home, completely finished.

For more pics: My Gallery

Master Bath Moderno

2010-07-16T07:54:00.000-07:00

Totally going against what I imagined my master bath would look like and giving into a little modern indulgence (Vinny will be thrilled since I know this look is right up his alley).

Luxe Dom Ceramiche Canvas tile

Modern lines and fixtures for the vanity

The old switcheroo!

2010-07-16T07:15:00.000-07:00

I found this gorgeous glass lantern chandelier on overstock.com and have decided to throw two of them over our dining room table! But I won't soon forget about the zgallerie crystal chandelier that I fell in love with a year ago. I've decided to switch it up and put that over my island in the kitchen!

At $167 each, this glass lantern chandelier is a steal compared to a very similar one at Pottery Barn. I'm going to place two of them over the dining room table like so:

(I like this table more and more each time I see it, by the way!)

This one will now go over the island!

How great graphic design can set the tone...

2010-07-15T13:55:00.000-07:00

Thank you Hostess with the Mostess for posting your Festival du Bebe. The graphic design is gorgeous and a prime example how great typography + color combinations can really set the tone for an entire event.

Happy Weekend!

2010-06-11T10:42:00.000-07:00

Whatever you do this weekend, make sure you enjoy it to the fullest. Remember there's an adventure around every corner. My adventure this weekend is...

Home dulce Home June/2010

2010-06-07T09:45:00.000-07:00

So this old house is slowly turning into a home; one 2x4 at a time. We still have a long way to go but I already love her, my old-new-colonial!

Porch framing is up!

The brick, siding and roof should be completed by 4th of July (let's keep our fingers crossed).

I call this "The Excavation Project"; all so the giant won't bump his head every time he ventures down into his man cave.

Pocono's Flea Market

2010-06-03T11:27:00.000-07:00

A few cute items I spotted at a flea market in the Poconos.

Coffee urn from the late 1800's

Too much for the living room?

Potty training, the old school way

Vintage toy cars a trucks (wouldn't this look great in a baby boy's nursery?)

Kitchens by the AD 100

2010-05-12T07:22:00.000-07:00

Architectural digest's LOOK AT HOW TOP DESIGNERS AND ARCHITECTS CREATE THE PERFECT SPACE FOR THE SEASONED COOK

http://www.architecturaldigest.com/homes/features/2010/05/ad100_kitchens_slideshow#slide=1

THE staircase

2010-05-11T07:02:00.000-07:00

It's going to look a little something like this. :) So happy the Vinsters and I have come to a consensus. Thank you Apartment Therapy for posting!

Don't care how, I want it now.

2010-04-30T07:12:00.000-07:00

Time for this week's installment of three things to kick off my weekend daydreaming.

I want... Monochromatic tiles for my master bath, as seen here from

Mark English Architects. The construction on our house is going painfully slow which at least gives me more time to daydream.

I want... some cute black flats to rotate into my wardrobe (cos I'm sick of looking like I may or may not go for a jog after work in my yellow Nikes)

Cute Austill flats from Aldo.

I want... to win MegaMillions tonight. I promise I'll use it for good.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R8NIZdAzweE

Mind on crafts

2010-04-29T10:07:00.001-07:00

I've been designing a lot for parties lately. Invites, banners and decorations (photos coming soon!) and I think I want to make a business out of it. I'm working on the plan now and have gotten inspiration from many party designers that have come before me (Amy Atlas, you're my hero!)

And I believe every designer should have their lair, I mean, studio. The little room in my basement is perfect for that so I've been doing my research. Here are some rooms I may take ideas from.

All these rooms have such great organization and great color palettes (very inspiring) but I actually may go with something a little more bold.

Benjamin Moore Caribbean Blue Water paint & espresso furniture from Ikea with white organization drawers.

Banister remix...

2010-04-14T09:43:00.000-07:00

Dilemma!!! I want to keep the banisters in my home but feel they may be too "colonial" for the eclectic, vintage-meets-modern look that I'm creating in our new place. I'm now wondering if there is any way to "modernize" the banisters with different stain options or by incorporating different materials like stainless steel or painted iron.

Maybe inspiration will come after browsing some beautiful stair cases.

Maybe dark stained banisters (to match our dark furniture, sprinkled throughout the house) with white balusters, white risers and lighter color treads in the same color of our floors?

(Pictures courtesy of A Life's Design)

We could go uber-modern/ industrial and add something like the staircase with horizontal, metal balusters or a modern take on a built-in like this staircase by London-based Levitate Architects.

Don't care how, I want it now.

2010-04-09T07:35:00.000-07:00

Aaaah, Friday's here. Another wish list to motivate me.

I want...
better weather!!! This past week was absolutely gorgeous in NYC. I'm getting spoiled.

I want...
to look good in this Nike tennis skirt. I guess I'll have to hit the courts a lot more if I want to look good in this, as well as, improve my so-so game.

I want...
a nap. There's nothing more invigorating!

Thank you Design Crush!

2010-04-05T09:25:00.000-07:00

Easter Monday

2010-04-05T08:41:00.000-07:00

Hope you all had a great holiday weekend. Here are a couple of highlights from mine:

Yummy treats:

Little Miss Kayden's Easter basket from her favorite aunt

My version of the "Fraisier" from Cristina, from Buenos Aires to Paris

And the family:

Little miss sunshine herself, Kayden Marie

With Uncle Vinny

Kayden's view of us

Don't care how, I want it now!

2010-04-02T06:18:00.000-07:00

I want...
Leather Armless Sectional from West Elm
I love the fact that it's modular so that I don't have to commit to one single layout.

I want...
my Mac. It crashed and it's not getting up!

I want...

a really great sports watch

the Nike Imara Kylo Cee Women's Watch

Lighting my home

2010-03-30T08:16:00.000-07:00

Three light fixtures for three different rooms in the house. I have no idea what to call this style. All I do know is that I seem to be drawn to polished chrome, romantic crystal accents and industrial style fixtures.

For the foyer

For over the island

For over the dining room table

Ode to Kitchens

2010-03-29T08:17:00.000-07:00

After a very successful and long meeting at Lowes, we've finally decided on the kitchen layout (yes, Miguel Angel, there's a triangle). This is what inspired this morning's post "Ode to Kitchens". Kudos to all the interior designers out there who would have made my life a lot easier if I could afford your brilliant ideas and impeccable taste.
Photos via
A Life's Design, Decorology & Decoratti Access

Don't care how, I want it now.

2010-03-26T06:05:00.000-07:00

I want... Alfajores Havanna, and not the chocolate kind, the yummy meringue covered ones!

Pictures courtesy of http://thisweekfordinner.com/

I want... The Cloak Bag

I want... my mommy. It's been a rough week.

Love this!

2010-03-25T10:02:00.001-07:00

Thanks Ffffound via swiss-miss.com

My Old New Home (4 weeks in)

2010-03-23T11:18:00.000-07:00

So progress is definitely being made. Framing has been 80% completed and that's more than I thought would be done by now. I never knew I could spend so much time in an empty, saw-dust smellin' room, daydreaming about the rest of my life. I feel very blessed.

This is now:

This is later:

The supposed kitchen

The dining room and living room, in that order.

Highlights from Architectural Digest HOME INTERIORS SHOW 2010

2010-03-22T12:39:00.000-07:00

So I dragged the hubby to this weekend's Architectural Digest HOME

INTERIORS SHOW 2010. He would have been better off putting me on a leash. I went gaga over just about everything. Here are a few of my favorite things.

Mitchell Gold + Bob Williams show off their style.

DIFFA Dining by Design exhibit was one of the best. This gorgeous table was divided by a curtain of small mirrors and had a screen playing

Breakfast at Tiffany's at the end. Visually stunning.

My future bathroom.

Don't care how, I want it now!

2010-03-19T07:39:00.000-07:00

Starting today, Friday's will be the day I add my "wants" to OSG. A little something to kick off my weekend daydreaming. Enjoy!

I want...

talitha rug

$1,620.00 6 x 9 @ jonathanadler.com

I want...

cool wall art for my new casita
$55 @ whatisblik.com

I want...

a vacation to somewhere really, really warm

Rockhouse Hotel in beautiful Negril, Jamaica

Classy Kitchen

2010-03-15T13:52:00.001-07:00

So after being admonished by absolutely everyone I know about how difficult it is to keep a white kitchen white, we've decided to go with cherry cabinets instead. Don't get me wrong, they are absolutely lovely but I will always wonder how the white mullions on my glass cabinets would have looked.

Kitchen courtesy of Kraftmaid

For all those artsy chicks

2010-03-01T10:04:00.000-08:00

Awesome package design from a Brazilian designer. Compliments of Lovely Package.

Love is sweet and vintage!

2010-02-19T10:06:00.000-08:00

Congratulations Dennis and Alyssa!!! Dennis, the romantic, proposed to Alyssa on Valentine's Day with this gorgeous 1930's vintage ebay find. So sweet! Best Wishes, friends :)

Be still my tiny-sweets-lovin' heart!

2010-02-12T13:30:00.001-08:00

Everyone loves something. A special person in your life that lets you sleep in on the weekend, a hobby that gives you something to look forward to at the end of the day. Little cute things like Chihuahuas and cupcakes! Oh it's those things that fill me with that giddy, butterfly in my tummy feeling. Like little cake pops from Bakerella.

Happy Valentine's Day all you lovers out there.

Suited to perfection

2010-02-02T06:39:00.000-08:00

The era of carefree cigarette smoking may be over but one thing the 60's definitely had going for it was the amazing, perfectly tailored men's fashions. Made to Measure NY remembers that, paying homage to the tailored suit and showing 2010 that a girl appreciates a well suited man over baggy jeans any day.

Invitation Design

2010-01-27T09:48:00.000-08:00

When Vincent and I were going to get married I always knew I would design our wedding invitations. And after much research and inspiration I came up with this. I had a fun tracing and playing with the scrolls and since have designed both traditional and non-traditional wedding invites for other couples using my own personal style.

I wanted a romantic feel for my spring wedding. I think I did a nice job!

Time stands still for pretty jewelry

2010-01-26T08:00:00.000-08:00

These sweet necklaces from Brevity are the next gift I'm getting myself once I reach my goal of losing 15 lb.. (A pretty good incentive, I think) The 24k gold clock arms are simply gorgeous.

Milkcake Logo. So sweet!

2010-01-20T13:41:00.003-08:00

Here is the logo I created with the help of Laz Marquez, an amazing artist, art director and friend and creator of faceitdaily. This is the image for my tres leches (delicious Latin American milk cakes) business and I think it's a great way to visually explain what tres leches cake is: yummy cake dripping with sweet milky goodness!

Our life for the next six months in PDF format.

2010-01-20T13:20:00.000-08:00

We found out our permits were cleared today and we can start construction!! I'm so happy yet scared about what the next six months hold.

If my new house were a catalog...

2010-01-18T12:52:00.000-08:00

...it'd be Pottery Barn. Is it terrible that I love everything in their catalog? I feel devoid of a sense of style but it's just that everything is so darn pretty!

Things I would really like to have in my house:

1. My living room: Manhattan leather couches with light blue paint on the wall and red accents. I absolutely love this look!

2. My bedroom: Toile! My old soul hearts toile! A little 1700's France right in our bedroom, you can't get more romantic than that.

3. My dining room: the Benchwright dining table has so much character. It's industrial design is reminiscent of an early-20th century work table and I think it would look amazing with the chandelier that I fell in love with in Miami (see earlier post).

Vintage movie posters or locations?

2010-01-15T11:42:00.000-08:00

I'm starting to daydream more and more about what each room in my old colonial is going to look like, even though we haven't started doing much construction (actually, we've done nothing). One thing I do know is that I love vintage posters and I would like to get some framed for our living room. I'm torn between old movie posters or some really cool location posters.

Here are some of the ones I'm looking at. I definitely want it to be rich in blues, reds, yellows and greens, especially since my hubby is holding firm to the decision of neutral colored walls.

All posters courtesy of art.com

Happy Friday!

2010-01-15T09:37:00.000-08:00

I came across this old picture from my trip to London a few years ago and it made me smile. What's better than a happy little hippie playing with bubbles on a Friday!

The chandelier of my Old Soul dreams

2009-11-18T08:30:00.000-08:00

So, while I was on a photo shoot at a lovely Coral Gables home in Miami, I came across the chandelier of my dreams!

The modern brushed metal bar had an industrial feel but the vintage inspired chandelier crystals were so sweet and feminine. I nagged the photographer to take a few shots of it for me. After some research, I found out that it's the Cellula Chandelier from DWR made with Swarovski crystals and retails for about $2600.

Cellula Chandelier at DWR

http://www.dwr.com/product/lighting/ceiling/chandeliers/cellula-chandelier-complete-set.do?sortby=ourPicks

I think I'm going to take a stab of recreating it with the help of my handy brother, René. I'm going to hit up the old Pocono flea markets where I've seen tons of old crystals for sale.

I may even mix it up and make it colorful. I'll try to post pics once I'm done with my Old Soul creation. Stay tuned, it may take me while.

My Old New Home

2009-10-23T09:20:00.001-07:00

My husband, Vincent, and I purchased a beautiful old colonial in the town of Rutherford, NJ. It's completely gutted and although we are renovating it, I would like to stay true to some of it's old character.

I believe it to have been built in the 1940's or 1950's, making it a Colonial Revival, with its 3 stories with living areas on the first floor and bedrooms on the upper floors. It also has wood siding, simple, classical detailing, paneled doors with sidelights and a center entry-hall floor plan.

I now have the daunting task of picking out all new EVERYTHING. Since it's completely gutted, I have the privilege and challenge of choosing everything from floors to toilets! Although Vinny and I agree on a lot of big things, our opposing tastes make this a bit difficult.

One thing I'm sure of is that I'm keeping the beautiful banisters on the stairs which you can see as soon as you enter the home. They practically yell "I have witnessed more good-bye kisses and joyful 'honey, I'm home''s than you will ever imagine."