Every home should have: Books

There is only a handful of things that would make a house become a home other than books.  It lends the house a life and intimacy of its own.  The thing I miss the most from our previous home is our beautiful black bookcases filled with books and magazines ranging from different subjects that covered everything from Design, History, Bestsellers to even fun books like "How to be like Audrey".  They have this magical touch that makes them look good in any type of display either piled up on the floor, on top of a table, or in bookcases. Yes, every home should have books.  Enjoy!

Images from AD, HB, Elle Decor.

The Fabulous Weekend

Can Mondays be the third day of the weekend from now on please?  I can't believe how fast this week went by.  May seems to be the month where half the people I know celebrate their birthday, including my hubby, so I've been a bit busy not only with work but also with birthday appointments, ha! 
Not sure what the weekend brings me, nothing planned yet.
Can we talk about those chairs above... Are they beautiful or what?  I don't know who makes them, if anyone can tell, please do. 

A Happy and sunny weekend!

Jamie Drake: The Library

This year the designers had the challenge of converting boxy modern rooms, usually without much or any architectural interest, into beautiful and interesting spaces.   They mainly accomplish this by covering almost each and every wall in either wallpaper, wood paneling or by utilizing a paint technique.  Jamie Drake covered the library in a beautiful sea foam green grass cloth wallpaper on one side of the room and wood paneling and built-ins, painted in the same kind of green, on the rest of the room.  Most of the furniture were kept in white, maybe to brighten up the space.  The ceiling was covered in a hammered silver paper that reflects light. 

The beautiful painting above the sofa is by Andy Harper and displays almost the same colors as the pillows. I have to say that this year the art throughout the show house is perfect.  The chair is by Julian Mayor. 

I love how Jamie installed mirror on the wall across the window by multiplying the stunning view.

photos by Julie Yenicag for Belle Vivir

Library

 

 A wall of white bookcases packed with books juxtaposed a gorgeous sawhorse black table.  via Pinterest

I recently read that one of the latest amenities in the hot New York City real estate market is to provide buildings with common libraries.  Many of the exclusive buildings offering this kind of convenience to their future buyers have in their shelves only Architecture and Design related books and usually from luxury Publishing houses as Assouline. I can understand why this would be a catch for buyers especially those looking for a luxury lifestyle living.  A library feels old school and cozy and there's always a welcoming feeling.  I don't think there is anything else other than a library, or simple bookcases with books, that can make a house instantly feel a home.  Enjoy!

 Haynes-Roberts Inc.  OMG! the floor, the floor, checkered marble floors.  Am I about to faint here?

Isabel Lopez Quesada.  How not to love a woman with this incredible amount of style.  I mean, really?  This library is full of soul and character.  Probably Isabel is just like that. 

This room has pretty much everything I go for, a gallery wall, bookcases filled with books, all organized by subject, from what I can see.  Source Unknown

 House Beautiful

Oscar and Annette de la Renta's home.  What can we say about Oscar's style that hasn't already been said?  It's classic and elegant to its core.

This library, with its black walls and lacquered bookcases, is small in space but huge in style. 

I love this room because it's all about comfortably chic.  Notice the steel trunk behind the sofa.

Layers in interiors: Pattern over pattern

Nothing more inviting, welcoming, and cozy than a room with a good dose of layers.  

image from Nuevo Estilo via HOH.

Why not?

Make a glamorous and cozy library out of your hallway?

Iris Apfel home

Food for Thought

"Be faithful in small things because it is in    them that your strength lies."  Mother Teresa. 

Industrial Bookcases: The Round-Up

Lately I've been loving the Industrial Decor, mostly thanks to Steven Volpe's home featured recently in Elle Decor (picture above).  There is something downtown-chic in Industrial Decor that makes me feel young and adventurous every time I see a room with industrial touches.  Unlike more feminine decor it's a style that can appeal to women as much as men.   It's also budget friendly due to the vast availability of vintage industrial furniture at flee markets.  Some of the staples of Industrial decor are muted colors like browns, black, white, grays; too much pattern and color is not its thing, while finishes such as metal, unfinished or whitewashed wood, leather and hides are more used.  As much as I love build-ins, I think there is a lot of flexibility in bookcase on casters.  Below, a shopping suggestion of really cool bookcases! Enjoy!

1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8

Food for Thought

"You must have a room, or a certain hour or so a day, where you don't know what was in the newspapers that morning... a place where you can simply experience and bring forth what you are and what you might be."  Joseph Campbell

 Images source: Unknown, Poppy Talk and Pinterest.