Mocha and Meringues

Inspiring me this present moment ‧‧‧
‧‧‧ matching coathangers, rich dark chocolate browns contrasted against beautiful creamy beiges, gold-plated doorknobs and lovely lemon-meringue cupcakes ‧‧‧

Images via paulbarbera, {tig} and lonny mag

At Home with Candace Bushnell: Manhattan

As the creator of one of the most widely recognised costumes and set designs in recent film history, Sex and the City author Candace Bushnell's home is every bit just as fabulous, stylish and chic as the lives she's conjured up for her characters.

mirrored art deco table - Lauren Copen Antiques

Located in Greenwich Village in the heart of Manhattan, Bushnell shares this renovated 1920's apartment with husband Charles Askegard, a principal dancer with the New York City Ballet. Far from over the top, the interior is eclectic, youthful and showcases well her appreciation for tasteful furniture and unique colour palettes.

Let's have a peek inside...

A 19th-century Venetian chaise is dressed up with a pillow from Geminola; the palm-leaf lamp from Le Décor Français dates from the 1800s. I love the bursts of fuschia on the shelves.

Mirror from Paterae Antiques. Great way to visually open up a small room.

In the living room, Caio Fonseca’s Fifth Street Painting C04.13 overlooks a 19th-century tufted bustle chair from Bijan Royal, a vintage brass floor lamp from Retro-Modern, Moroccan poufs from John Derian Co., and an Oushak rug from ABC Carpet & Home. The couple purchased the Louis XVI sofa from writer Jay McInerney and the ivory-and-ebony box is from Amy Perlin Antiques. The vintage mirrored screen is from Neo-Studio.

A pair of gold-leafed sheaf sconces from Downtown flank the living room mantel, which is original to the apartment. The colours are great!

Decorator Susan Forristal reproduced a poster of Bushnell onto wallpaper that lines the powder room. I think this is a bit over the top... however I do like the fittings and the sink, by Smolka.

In the den, ebonized campaign chairs with white cowhide seats from Gray Gardens face a velvet upholstered sofa with a pillow made of vintage fabric from Geminola. The rug is by Madeline Weinrib from ABC Carpet & Home.

The kitchen’s wood-and-glass cabinetry and soapstone counters were designed by Rodos Interior Renovations.

The bed and the Madeline Weinrib–designed rug are both from ABC Carpet & Home, and the antique suzani is from Mughal. Dutchman’s Dawn II, a painting by Ellen Kozak, hangs above it and the midcentury table lamps are from Retro-Modern. This is such a welcoming room!

my favourite set designs from SATC 2

Click here to see more:

• Rachel Ashwell's London home
• Anna Sui's Manhattan penthouse
• Aerin Lauder's East Hampton countryhouse
• Aerin Lauder's fabulous walk-in closet

At Home with Rachel Ashwell: London

If you are a fan of ruffles, crystal chandeliers, vintage slipcovers... if you love to collect mismatched teacups, lacy linens, soft floral fabrics... if pretty pastels, ivories, purest of whites and textures tickle your fancy... then you are sure to love the popular Shabby Chic style founded by Rachel Ashwell.

"Shabby Chic is a look that's easy to live with and remarkably versatile. It's a study in contrasts between casual and elegant; fresh and traditional; simple and ornate; plain and patterned; rumpled and tidy. And it is a style that easily marries a variety of objects into one harmonious whole through the liberal use of white and pastels."

Sounds beautiful, doesn't it? What's more, the best thing about shabby chic is that trying to recreate the feel in your own home is actually achievable and relatively easy.

For those on a limited budget wanting to decorate shabby chic style, Rachel recommends:

1. Less is more. Keep whatever you have simple.
2. Choose select items -- a table, rug, chandalier as the centrepieces of your room.
3. Fresh flowers in separate bud vases add luxury and beauty.

4. Incorporate scented candles into the room - fragrance is important!
5. Mix and match white fabrics with different textures
6. Go flea market shopping and raid thrift stores to find inexpensive yet perfect accents for your home

Adding character to antique, distressed furniture embodies Rachel's signature style. The images shown here are all from her home... thank you Rachel for inviting us in for a peek at your haven.

With a dislike for underground and expensive taxis, Rachel rented a flat within walking distance of her London shop. The flat largely came furnished, including a couch that the landlord described as 'terribly uncomfortable'. Instead of purchasing a new one, Rachel simply applied her style by lining its cushions and back with 12 Marseille quilt pillows, instantly transforming the couch into a shabby chic sofa! How fabulous is that.

Her bedroom came furnished with a bed, two armoires and a white chest of drawers which became the deciding factors of the room. I especially love the floor-to-ceiling windows overlooking the garden outside and the clean, crisp white furniture. Tells such a beautiful story.

Finally, Rachel advises...

Romance is very important in my signature style - lighting and flowers demonstrate that. Dimmer switches allow lights to go from practical to moody.

Less is more. Leave room for everything to breathe. I do like an abundance of things such as towels, pillows, flowers or layering rugs - but I do not like cluitter.

If you don't use it, lose it. I like to have pretty things in my kitchen ready for use, but I also like an openness to my shelves. Things in my life don't have time to gather dust. If they do, that means they're not useful.

Respect the unsung hero. Make use of spaces that aren't the focal points of the house. Line drawers and cupboards with lovely vintage wallpaper, pop a vase of flowers in a nook or hallway.

Stay within the rules of beauty, comfort and function. These will always create an end result you'll love.

images via lonny

Well, I hope you have enjoyed pouring over today's feature.. it was certainly a blast for me to put together. May you all have a happy day and be inspired in one way or another to create something utterly and uniquely charming for your own homes!

A Perfect Morning

by Emma Sullivan

This photo has captured the exact tone and mood of the bedroom I've been secretly dreaming about since forever. I love the soft lighting, sheer curtains and beautiful floral covers . . . so cosy and perfect. Could not think of a more beautiful way to start the day, wouldn't you agree?

Attention to Detail: black is back

When it comes to decorating the house, black is not a colour that I use a lot. Lately though, I have seen many interiors with little touches of black here and there and it makes me realise that the effect created could be rather striking as opposed to dull and dark. Today I have only chosen my favourites to showcase, the ones that made me do a double-take...

1-2: this is glamorous; 3: avant-gardenist via d16;
4: melanie acevedo; 5: desire to inspire; 6: otis & frank;
7: lonny mag; 8: magnus selander; 9-10: laura resen;
11: metropolitan home

I don't know if I'm daring enough to paint my doors black yet, but I've certainly been inspired to use a lot more black frames around my house and even ditch my current bedside table for a black one. Most of all, I just love the way those shoes are presented in the glass dome! Ultimate perfection...

Attention to Detail: Textures and sunlight

Captivated by the sunlit elegance of these images and loving the contrasting textures in each of the rooms. A perfect way to spend the Tuesday afternoon away, don't you think?

The Bedroom: A Haven of Rest

Of all the rooms in a house, I think the bedroom is the most important - it's where one starts the day and the last thing one sees before one drifts off to sleep. For many people it is also a sanctuary away from the troubles of the world and an ultimate escape from reality. Like me, it's where I can read read read to my heart's desire, compose some music, let my mind wander...

These days, trying to create bedrooms that are individualistic yet space-saving and cost-effective can be a real challenge. There are so many innovative designs and gorgeous colour schemes out there -- how do you know where to start? Well I was positively breathtaken when I discovered these gorgeous concept images by Sergi from Barcelona. It has given me many ideas for working with minimal space and inspired me to be more daring with furnishing choices. Don't you think he does a wonderful job of creating magic with colour?

One of the reasons I am especially drawn to Sergi's design concepts is because he makes his rooms look inviting and warm. The contemporary furniture he has selected is perfect for creating that spacious feeling in what would otherwise be a very cramped environment. It also looks classy and effortless. Has he succeeded in making you want that clean and tidy area for yourself?

Images from decodir

I hope today's post has given those of you looking to redecorate your bedrooms some renewed inspiration and ideas! As a side note, I am very interested in finding out what colour everyone's bedroom walls are at the moment -- or if you've seen any particular shades that look really good. I am hoping to repaint my little haven soon and I think it might be time for me to start experimenting with some colour...