interior glass doors: 2010-04-18

LOS PORTAPLATOS

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En las cocinas rusticas es muy comun contar con un portaplatos, un guardaplatos o acumular estos en estantes para que queden a la vistas.

Dado que las vajillas antiguas son realmente interesantes, estas se exponian mucho mas que lo que se hace actualmente, de alli que estos mobiliarios aparezcan en las cocinas o los livings.

Mira que yo no quería....... pero se ha hecho querer ...... y aquí la tenéis ...... tomando el sol en cuanto ha visto la puerta abierta.....y eso que la tengo cerrada a cal y canto...... Acaba de hacer tres meses y medio...... Fue el deseo de mis hijos ( y del padre ) a los Reyes Magos.....

Estas combinaciones de cocinas modernas con colores frescos pertenecen a la empresa italiana Lago. Con sus diseños forma espacios en la cocina con muebles de colores frescos, respetando la idea y los gustos que cada persona desea tener en su cocina, de acuerdo a su estilo y necesidades.

Imágenes de cocinas en: Lago.it

One of the wonderful things about writing Willow Decor is the opportunity to get to know Architects, builders and other designers. Like any master skill, if you look closely and listen to these talented individuals you can learn an amazing amount. Master architect, Tom Catalano of Catalano Architects, was kind enough to send some photos of a house he recently finished. While the house clearly exceeds the price range most of us can afford, reflecting more closely on the design, we can learn a great deal about how to add details and features into our own more modest homes, for a stunning effect.

Here is the exterior of the home. Of course it is beautiful, but interesting things to note are the the roof lines and the use of multiple materials. Stone, cedar siding and wood accents and doors are featured prominently.

Additionally notice the curved roof lines, copper roofing and copper accents. The cobblestone driveway also adds to the wonderful feeling outside.

In your own home try to assess if you can add any one of these features to your existing exterior. A new wood door or cobblestone edging along your driveway or walkway can instantly elevate your exterior.

Of course some things are difficult and expensive to change once in your home- like banisters. But take a look at this entry. The iron spindles add a such a lovely accent to space. Also notice all the mouldings in this area. They are so beautiful. The addition of moldings is another way to add grandness to your spaces.

The gorgeous living room has all the architectural features to make it a showplace: limestone fireplace, curved large windows, beautiful mouldings. Here the mouldings have been painted a soft seafoam, rather than white and become more prominent in the room. Paint is great tool to use to call more attention to a wonderful feature in your room - who could forget the black painted mantel from the movie It's Complicated (photo link here)?

The dining room color echos the living room colors and provides a beautiful flow. Also notice the light fixtures. I love sconces in a dining room. They provide ambient light that can really help create a spectacular atmosphere. Also notice how the beautiful windows are not covered with heavy draperies, but allow the light to flood the room.

Thea kitchen is an area where details abound: the ceilings are coffered, the cabinets have all the extras, not even the tile was overlooked.

Notice the detailed inlay on the cabinet crown moulding and the extended sides of the cabinets. Also of note it is the wood wall moulding which highlights the arched opening into the breakfast/dining area.

I imagine that wall moulding was used to off set this moulding detail entering the family room. The wood trim around the stove hood is interesting.

Here is a close up of the tile design. Although the center piece is most likely expensive, the tiles that are not embellished are generally more affordable. Adding decorative tiles in strategic places, can give you an expensive, beautiful look for a reasonable cost. This can be done in your current tiled space, by carefully removing specific tiles and replacing the opened area with something more dramatic.

Another doorway with wall moulding that looks into the breakfast/dining area. I really love the raised fireplace. So cozy in the winter. Notice the color of the kitchen ties in nicely with the color of brick.

Off the entry, which you can see through the doorway is the library. Who wouldn't love to be surrounded by such fabulous wood and furnishings? Notice the ceiling - a deeper russet than the kitchen. Painting a ceiling in this tone really envelopes you in the room. (Have you noticed I am really into painted ceilings lately?)

Wonderful marble bath with wall mounted faucet.

This house has it all, including a to-die-for mudroom. The beadboard walls are so inviting. I love the branch like pulls. Also notice the floor; the slate is set on the diagonal which will make the space seem larger, and then edged horizontally, interesting details!

Here a back stairway brings you to the second floor. I suspect it is off the mudroom due to beadboard walls. I love beadboard in a newer home. It adds a nice touch by adding depth and a sense of age.

This is an entry to seating area -not sure which floor it is on, but I included it to show the wall moulding detail. It is interesting to me how well the rosettes mimic the kitchen backsplash tile. I love when details of one room are echoed in a different way in another room and this is a great example. Stunning!

The master bedroom is tranquil and beautiful - again gorgeous windows and french doors to private patio flood the room with light. The leather headboard provides a nice balance to the stunning wood ceiling.

Finally the opulent master bath. So much space and light - a dream with private make up area, separate sinks and glorious soaking tub! Small glass shelves dividing the vanity spaces provide privacy and openness at the same time.

This house is an exceptional example of classic home design. Though we may never be able to live in such a home, there are many small elements we can take from this and use in our own spaces. Take a fresh look at your room. Can you add some crown moulding, paint the ceiling or the mantel, add some tile? Outdoors can you edge the walkway with cobblestones or create a pebble path in the garden? Small changes can bring big impact. Let me know if any of this inspires you!

(all photos property of Catalano Architects - do not copy without permission)

TEXTOS Y LEYENDAS RUSTICAS

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Mas leyendas en interiores rusticos, que son piezas cada vez mas utilizadas en este estilo.

Son interesantes propuestas de interiores blancos.

There is so much fun stuff going on this weekend that I just had to share it all. Saturday is another One Kings Lane Tastemaker sale and this time it features Windsor Smith. That's her work above. I had the please of meeting Ms. Smith in LA and she couldn't have been nicer or more stylish so I'm sure her picks will be very chic!

Also on tap is the Los Angeles Antiques Show which runs through Sunday. I really wish I could pop on a plane and check out this fabulous event. I heard nothing but wonderful things about it while in LA!

If you're in New York, I highly suggest you check out Bergdorf Goodman's awesome Beauty Gift Card Event. The gift card entitles you to $25 off a $100 beauty purchase through Sunday. Not quite as good as the $25 off a $50 purchase which is what the event used to be when I first moved to NYC but I can't really complain. Any discount at Bergdorfs is a good discount! I for one will be stocking up on my favorite Bronze Goddess self tanner from Estee Lauder!

After you load up on beauty products at Bergdorf's, you can head down to MoMA and check out the Henri Cartier-Bresson photography exhibit! I might see you at both!

It's supposed to rain Sunday so I ordered my copy of The Young Victoria on DVD to watch while I hibernate inside. I loved this film and can't wait to see those beautiful costumes again. And of course handsome Rupert Friend too!

If you want to add something fun to your cart after ordering The Young Victoria, then let me suggest the humorous new book Classy by fashion journalist Derek Blasberg. I like to think that all of my readers are already classy so feel free to send it to those less fortunate. Bless their hearts.

Last but no least, start sucking up to all your well connected friends so you can snag a reservation at the soon to open new restaurant, The Lion (62 West Ninth Street at Sixth Avenue). The preview dinner last week brought out Ashton and Demi as well as every other fashionable New Yorker since the chef, John DeLucie, is also the chef at another no number listed restaurant, The Waverly Inn. Haven't heard if truffle mac & cheese will also be on The Lion menu but I did hear that Barbra Streisand performed in the same space in the 1960's. If she was there today, I bet she'd be singing Big Papa Can You Hear Me? Bonne chance and bon weekend!

A thank you, a tag and a Belgian farmhouse

First of all I want to thank all of you for the nice comments on my blogpost about our outbuilding! I really appreciate that a lot!

It is so nice to read that you all are so interested in what Jan and me are working on. Now you motivated me going on gardening and to finish the decoration of the outhouse!

A second thank today is for Inger Helen from the beautiful Norwegian blog Karnashus ! This week she wrote a post where she posted a few pictures of my outbuilding and so a lot of her readers came to visit my blog! A lot of Scandinavian bloggers are followers of my blog now!

Welcome to all of you new friends!

Among these readers are even bloggers who also have a beautiful blog. I have visited a few of them the last days and I am sure I will keep going on to visit the others the coming days.

If you want to read this post of Inger, click on the picture below.

Thank you so much Inger!

Sharon from the wonderful My French Country Home blog tagged me this week! She asked me to post the 10th photo on my computer and to tell about it.

Discovering the 10th photo on my computer files, it was not that interesting , so I decided to post another one which was a bit further in that same file and which has always been one of my favorites!

My dad together with my son Anthony, making a birdcage in our working places. This picture was taken in August 1999. Anthony was 3,5 years old. And it was 2 years before my father passed away. Anthony was the first grandchild and there was a very close band between those two! This picture is always giving me a warm feeling and a lot of good memories!

A BELGIAN FARMHOUSE

I am sure that, while enjoying these pictures, you will recognize the style of our Belgian designer Axel Vervoordt.

Of course you will, because this house is of his son Dick Vervoordt and his family.

The house is located only a few miles away from the city centre of Antwerp.

Father and son together renovated this old farmhouse into a real charming family home.