Unexpected ways to make your dining room chic and gorgeous

My dining room is one of those rooms that is visible from most other rooms in my home, so it's really important to me that it's easy on the eyes.  Here are some fabulous dining rooms, big and small that I would be more than happy to have as my own...

via homeremodelnote

Loving this clean and chic dining room.  It is small, just like mine, so how genius is the floor length mirror at one end of the dining table.  I will definitely be trying that trick.

via homedesignlove

I'm a big fan of bench or settee seating at the dining table. You can put a bench on just one side or on both.

via Lonny Mag

Feeling risky? Go all out and get full bench seating! I would still have two simple mix matching chairs to put on each end to maximize the seating in this space but I love the idea.

How cool is this bench?  And those blue velvet chairs?  The chandelier is often the conversation piece in a dining room, making the chairs the focal point is a nice change of pace.

via Pinterest via La Dolce Vita

I LOVE the idea of combining a library and a dining room.  I grew up in a family that often reads and eats at the same time ( I know, I know...not always a healthy environment for books)

via Pinterest via feedly

Spaces I'm loving right now

My tastes in interiors have seemed to change in the last year or so. More and more I'm liking a sophisticated eclectic and transitional look over a shabby chic and country look.

What are you loving these days?

via 1. Milk and Honey Home,  2. Bolig Magasinet 3. Coco and Kelly, 4. Interiors Porn , 5.  Coco and Kelly, 6. House Beautiful

Interior designer Mark Sikes' Southern California Home: Open, glamorous, and elegant

Interior designer Mark Sikes' and partner Michael Griffin's home is full of unexpected and wonderful moments of old world Hollywood glam, while still maintaining an open and organic feel.  Check it out below:

Couch in the kitchen?  How genius is that for entertainers.  Just make sure it's a stain proof, easily washed material.  Not as crazy about the pendant lights though...

Super comfy looking daybed in a super serene home library.


All the below pictures are of their devine guest bedroom and bathroom.

I would love for a bed half as dreamy as this to be in my master!

The black and white striped awning outside, as well as the black and white palette in the room makes me think of the book "The Night Circus"

Great mix of eclectic (armoire) and elegant (chair)

How unreal is this bathroom - check out the chandeliers!

Love the shower curtain that looks like drapes.  I can't figure out if that framed black and white photograph is in the shower of just a reflection...

What do you think of this Southern California home?See and read the entire story at Lonny Mag

Clean and serene - a look at minimalist design

Minimalism is a popular concept that has been employed for many interior designers over the decades, including very famous ones like Jean-Michel Frank. Minimalism is a design concept inspired by famous artists such as Donald Judd, Carl Andre, Agnes Martin and Frank Stella and it has drawn its inspiration from cultural sources such as the simplicity of Japanese traditional home designs and Zen Philosophy.

I don't tend to feature minimalist spaces too often, because it's not a life style that I think I could live.  However, whenever I do a clean sweep of my apartment, which I just did this weekend, all of the bare surfaces and perfectly straightened books inspires me to try and keep it up.

The basics of minimalism is unadorned and essentials only. Of course, there is a fine line where minimalism crosses over into cold and institutional. If minimalism is something you'd like to dabble in, here are a few principles to help you attain the minimalist loft of your dreams: 

Minimalism is neutral

Think neutral and block colours. Pristine white, light grey, clean taupe, make sure to draw inspiration from fresh, clean colour palettes.

Minimalism is bare

Minimalism means adorning your loft, but still giving it room to breathe. A good place to start is with the walls. Keep them simple and clean. Windows should be free of complicated draperies. There are so many options to keep your space private yet exposed. Look at using blinds by Velux,  and maybe try playing with clean shutters and very light curtains.

Minimalism is personal

A touch of personality brings your minimalist loft to life. You have wooden crates in the cellar? Clean them up and stack them together to create side tables. Whether you get creative or opt for the creativity of others via home furnishing brands and stores, choose pieces that are streamlined and geometric, clean and straight, smooth and curved.

Minimalism is light

And not just in terms of colour. Minimalist living spaces play of the lightness of its pieces and surroundings. Furniture should be light and low, no bulk or bulge. Rooms should make the best of natural light, again with the use of things like Velux window blinds, and knowing how to play with reflective surfaces can add space to any room.

Minimalism is inspirational

Finally, in order to achieve your dream of minimalist loft, you will need to know where to look for inspiration:

• Start by doing your research. What pieces do you have in mind to help create the ideal minimalist look for your loft? What feel do you want? Get some ideas on Pinterest and get some light inspiration.

• After gathering ideas of what you want for your home, visit stores like Ikea and Dwell for a selection of minimalist furniture pieces.

 • For windows, look to brands such Velux for great ideas on what kind of windows, solar thermal installations and blinds you might want for your loft.

 • If you want exquisite lights and light fixtures, look to brands such as Artemide and Boffi, and websites such as keslighting.com.

credits: 1., 2. interior design decorating, 3., 4. Apartment Therapy, 5. Loftlife Mag, 6. Por Homme

*disclosure: This post in partnership with itzala.co.uk

Table inspiration and eye candy

Pretty uses for one of the most versatile pieces of furniture.

The most apparent use - for dining...highlighted here by a conversation-starting chandelier and a salon style wall.

If you're like me, you can never choose just one book to read. A table gives you the space to spread out.

My office desk is more like a table, because the surface space is so vital to my productivity.

1. House of Fifty 2. Traditional Home 3. & 4. Ryland Peters & Small

When life gets hectic, it's the little things..

Phew...sorry for the neglect this week! I have a lot of major deadlines this week..my average bedtime the past two weeks has been 3 AM. Anyway, I figured I'd take time today to post some eye candy, not only to inspire you, but also to give me a much needed break from my current projects. Here are some little (and big) pleasures to indulge in if you can...

a peaceful soak

a meal enjoyed without TV and catching up with those you live with but don't necessary get to talk to everyday!

A beautiful place to read...

The piece you've had your eye on for ages and finally get to bring home

Little details that make life beautiful

What makes your life beautiful?

via 1. Mag 91, 2. Design Interior, 3. TradHome, 4. Adore Home, 5.  ?

A winter's day refuge: the home library

As the days get colder and gloomier, we naturally spend more time inside. Sometimes a rainy or snowy day is just the excuse you need to cozy up and spend the day with a new or well-loved book.

via House of Fifty

That's one comfy looking loveseat. I'm sure I could read there all afternoon.

via Little Green Notebook

Talk about book storage!

via Loft Life Mag

If I ever have the space, creating a little reading nook like this will be a top priority!

via Maree Homer

via Marie Claire Maison

Check out how they've even extended the bookcase on the sides. Definitely making the best use of space here.

via Poppytalk Handmade on Pinterest

via Apartment Therapy

I've been reading a lot lately that if you have "ugly" books, to cover them in plain white paper to create a nicer looking shelf. I don't know how I feel about this. Something about it to me seems too forced, but I've never seen it in person. Has anyone tried this?

via Ballard

dreamy

via Sweet Home Style

Squeeze the most out of an otherwise unusable wall space by running low shelf units along the bottom.

via Sweet Home Style

Do you have a dedicated home library, are your books spread out throughout the house, or have you carved out a space for books in another room?

Home office bliss

The home office is so important to me since I work from home. I think with more and more people working from home these days we'll be seeing even more great home office inspiration and solutions in mags and blogs.

Happy Friday!

a fab duo office

via Ballard Home

so pretty!  The white, the cube shelving - the window seat!!

via BHG

Tons of storage for inspiration!  My shelves are always overflowing, but sometimes I feel like the more storage space I have, the more likely I am to hoard more stuff...
via Ikea

Looks like an archivists dream right?

via Inc.com

A down-to-earth but still chic space.

via House of Fifty

via Ivy and Piper

Only problem with this one is that the gorgeous wall mural might have me daydreaming of tree houses all day

via Sweet Home Style


Which one do you like best?