Fiyah-place

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...

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

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!

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...

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!

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

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

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

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

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.

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

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...

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.

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!

Easter Monday

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!

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

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