Feminine, glamorous, sweet & pretty - what our homes could look like if he didn't hate pink

Don't get me wrong - I wouldn't trade my man for the world, but sometimes...don't you just want to paint your bedroom pale pink? Or drink your tea out of a gold rimmed cup and saucer everyday? Well, those of us who have to consider the men in our homes when making design choices can live vicariously through these ladies who have the freedom to make their homes as feminine as they like. I swear I can smell the perfume emanating from some of these. Enjoy!


I LOVE LOVE LOVE this bedroom. Isn't the bed amazing?!? It's from the loft of lingerie designer Jessie Zinkie, who's decorating philosophy is that "...of course, everything must be soft and comfortable."



A beautiful montage from the desk of Jolene Ballard, part of the interior design Domicile ID.

What a sumptuous office chair...who thought an office chair could be sumptuous?

So, turns out a man does share this bed with Jolene. God bless him - I love symmetrical nightstands - but I don't think Chris would tolerate me being so anal for one minute.



Isn't this pretty and sweet mint green bedroom just the epitome of femininity? I had a mint green bedroom at one point and I found the color to be very soothing.


What do you think? Is your home as feminine as you like it or do you have to tone it down for your man?

All images via Rue

Minimal but not cold - gorgeous Scandinavian spaces

Today is a hectic day, and these spaces just emanate calm and order. However, like some spaces that are super orderly and clean, these still have warmth to them. What do you think?

That green is just the right value to compliment the wood tone but not compete with the black.



Love the coffee table




I'm usually not a fan of "stripes" or other painted graphics, but in the hall like this is doesn't seem trendy to me. Notice how it goes up the molding? It's like the owner's personal little gallery space.

image via KML Design

A variety of delectable dining rooms

It's been awhile since I've posted some dining rooms. I've picked a handful of beautiful spaces in all different decorating styles, so hopefully atleast one strikes your fancy...

Love the table and mix n' match chairs in this Scandinavian beauty...
via Design Interiør


The salon-style wall and dark paint job makes this vintage-industrial dining room feel luxe.
via Scandinavian Chic

A beautiful country dining room
via Elle Decor

I'm a big modern retro fan, but I don't know if I could go this all-out modern retro...
via Alice in Designland

A cheery and bright vintage dining room
via Creamy Life

Even though this is an open floor plan layout, the dining room is still visually divided from the living room.
via Alice in Designland

A calm and serene dining room.
via House & Home

Which do you like best?

More from my summer traveling Europe - amazing Rome

We had a crazy 5 day whirlwind tour of Rome, which left me exhausted but in awe. In high school I studied Latin for 4 years, and it was wonderful to see the Pieta, the Colosseum, and the Roman Forum, which we studied in depth in the course. Rome is just one of those places you have to visit, as photos just don't do it justice.

But I'll try - here goes:

One of the first things we saw was the amazing ruins of the Roman Forum. You can read all about the forum here. It served as a marketplace and where government officials would make speeches, etc. A town square.



I'm sure you'll all recognize our next stop - the Colosseum. Events such as the gladiator battles and other distractions for the masses took place here.


There is just a small bit of "floor" left, so visitors can see the labyrinth of cells and stalls where animals were kept before a trap door would open and they would enter the arena.


The below is Palatine Hill, where there is are many ruins of the palace and grounds of Emperor Augustus. It was a massive site.


Above is the famous Trevi fountain. Beautiful but it and the surrounding area is always packed with tourists.

We randomly went into this cathedral one afternoon and it was such a surprise - I've seen a lot of cathedrals and the ceiling of this one leaves you breathless. It's the Church of San Ignazio. I definitely recommend checking it out. The trompe l'œil is so good - the characters look like they are climbing up the walls. Behind the main painting, the "dome" is trompe l'œil as well!

The amazing Pantheon. The work they've done to restore this building is amazing. The original was constructed in 31 BC, and rebuilt in 126 AD, which is what you see today. It's still the largest unreinforced concrete dome, and has always been in use throughout history.

The Piazza del Popolo

The heartbreaking and beautiful Pietà, by Michelangelo.

St. Peter's Basilica, in Vatican City. The Basilica houses the Pietà

St. Peter's square, in Vatican City.

And below- the amazing Sistine Chapel. There aren't really words so I won't bother.



We stayed in an apartment in the neighborhood Trastevere. It's not super overrun my tourists and we wanted to see where the locals ate and lived.





Here's a list of all my posts from our travels that I've published -

Spain
•Introduction to my European backpacking trip and a list of places we visited
• Galicia - Baiona and Isle de Cies
• Galicia - the coast, some charming vineyards, and Pontevedra
• Santiago de Compostela and gorgeous hidden beaches
• Gorgeous mountain lakes of Picos de Europa
• Stunning mountains - Picos de Europa
• Bilbao and San Sebastian
• Beautiful Barcelona
• The amazing Sagrada Familia Cathedral in Barcelona
• Art Nouveau dream house by Gaudi in Barcelona

Italy
• Not to miss - the gorgeous rocky coast of Italy's Cinque Terre

Creating a space with whites/neutrals, and dark accents

So reader Cynthia wrote me with a question regarding her bedroom suite and using it to create the look she's going for:

"We are in the process of moving into our new house and I was wondering if you could help us with the decoration of our bedroom? We have an antique white colour bedroom suite (same as the photo attached but the only difference is ours is antique white in colour).

We would like our room to be cosy and elegant,with loads of neutral colour and loads of dark wood. Our main inspiration is from the house in "Something's Gotta Give". We are just worried that it might look out of place with the white bedroom suite and that would throw the whole scheme off.."

Here is the style of her bedroom suite - but her's is antique white.

Here are shots from the home in "Something's Gotta Give, " to get an idea of the look she's going for


So lots of neutrals, creams, and dark wood accents. The floors are also a dark wood.
Movie shots via Hooked on Houses

Pretty much, I think the look Cynthia is going for is totally possible with the white bedroom suite that she already has. The important thing is to keep in mind the proportion of lights and darks when decorating the space. So Cynthia might want to balance out her white bedroom suite with some furniture pieces in dark wood - such as lamps, a side table, chair, etc.

This room has white furnishings but dark wood beams and a dark piano.
via Living Better Together

The white furniture in this room is kept from being too matchy-matchy be the addition of the brown leather chair.
via House to Home




3 above via DecorPad

via Ideal Home
The three images above all display a casual balance or white and/or neutrals, and dark woods.

This room is a mix of so many styles but still gorgeous
via DecorPad


via The Lennoxx


The four images above illustrate how even with dark walls white furnishings can be integrated with dark wood; just make sure you supply adequate lighting.
2 above via CocoCozy


Well, I hope I was some help Cynthia - or atleast provided some eye candy. If anyone else has some advice for Cynthia please comment!