A bit of romance on this Valentines Day

Valentines Day is such a beautiful day, it's a day when you can stop for a minute express your love to your loved ones and indulge yourself a bit. You don't need to go all out to feel special and romantic a small gestures will do and often times they are the ones that you will cherish and remember forever. Happy Love Day to all!!  Xo

Take the time to enjoy a delicious cup of coffee with your loved one or by yourself and enjoy this moment. You can even carve out a small break in the middle of the day just for that.

You don't have to wait for someone to gift you flowers, stop over to get a small arrangement of flowers and arrange them in a beautiful container where you can enjoy their beauty and fragrance.

Write someone a small love note, You don't have to get a typical store bought card, Small creative notes can be meaningful and unexpected.

Snuggle up with your puppies, they love you unconditionally. Just don't give them any chocolates or sweets.

Find a great spot in your house to read a great magazine, a book or look through some great memory photos. Life is about stories and memories :)

Invite your loved ones for a beautiful signature cocktail or just simply make one for yourself, a divine pink one would be so beautiful

Cherish this day and remember every day is a Valentines Day!

Have a beautiful day lovebirds!

xoxo

Chicago Interior Design - Public Hotel

Recently we celebrated my sister's birthday at a local Chicago Gold Coast hotel - Public Hotel. This historic Chicago hotel recently underwent a major interior design renovation and the resulted environment is purely divine - I could live there :) - the perfect juxtaposition of Modern and Classic with a bit of Whimsy. The contrast of polished against rustic, exquisite moldings, natural linen against polished floors, crisp white panelings and pediments against barn wood ceiling and columns results in a perfectly luxurious, sophisticated yet laid back atmosphere. Not to mention their food is delicious and the atmosphere rocks! Take a peek:

xo

New Office Interior Design

I am in the process of designing our office. The new space will embody lots of personality, chicness, contrast, freshness, sass, creativity, glamour as well as comfort while keeping my lovely dogs in mind.
I think every designed space should really focus on the person that will spend their time there. Our surroundings impact our well being so strongly it's a must. You should always strive to create a space filled with elements, colors, objects, textures that speak to you, turn you on and remind you of amazing stories, good feelings and memories.
Here are a few offices that I love, not only for many elements that speak to me but also because they are so personal, filled with beautiful objects, lush finishes and furniture that would normally be extensions of luxurious home interiors. I'd love to hear what you love about your office interior or what you would love it to look like? :)

beautiful amount of darkness, white and gold sparkle

Such a sexy space, the dark wall sets the mood the mix of textures and materials excites the space and that light fixture rocks it!

Such chic elegant space! love the black lacquer shelves, beautiful molding detail and the layers of books excites me!!

Such a stylish, soothing office space

Loving the vivacious colors, happy feeling and burst of creativity

chic , sexy, elegant yet the leaning mirror and seagrass carpeting relaxes it a notch

Such a fun, cozy and exciting space

Loving the order, clean lines, brightness and crispness of this office space

Happy Wednesday!

xo

Interior Design and Traveling

Part of the interior design business and gaining inspiration to evolve and come up with new creative concepts and ideas is definitely- traveling. Your client's homes or sources that are part of the project could very well be remote and sometimes traveling is a must in order to result in a beautiful, custom design. On the other hand there are those trips where I travel to meet with my business coach or attend a conference that contribute to the growth and focus of my design business. Sometimes you feel like you spend all day on the plane or at the airport so reading a good book or a magazine, reflecting a bit and grabbing a nourishing bite is a must. Here are some snapshots from last week's travel. Hope you are having a lovely week, where are you traveling to next? Any great places you like to stop in while traveling? Do share :)

Start the traveling day with breakfast for one

While in the security check I meet 3 amazing french bulldog puppies that are on their way to Atlanta. So freaking scrumptious!

On my layover in charlotte I eat a nourishing lunch

Also while at Charlotte on a layover I spotted a spa, I wish they would have one at Ohare airport, I swear I probably would be a regular :) A flight is so much better after a pedicure, manicure and a massage, ahhhhh :)

Have a lovely Week!! xoxox

The Novogratz home in Trancoso Brazil

Most of us have heard of the vibrant New York based Novogratz family. We either watched their shows: 9 by design on Bravo or more current - Home by Novogratz on HGTV.This Husband and Wife duo create moder home designs by mixing high and lows while adding playful and artistic elements.
If you  have watched the shows then you have seen their most recent home (I say most recent because they move so often) and that home is totall modern fabulousness. Well, I came across another home that they own in Trancoso Brazil which happens to be an amazing antidote to their home and life in NYC. Such an amazing laid back paradise for the family to unwind. Take a peek, I'd love to be transported right Now so that I can swim and lounge by that amazing pool, then take a nap in the hammock, drink a tropical drink in that fun bar, later take a shower in the festive pink bathroom followed by a good nights sleep (so that I can do it all again the next day) in of the serene bedrooms. Ahhhh how relaxing. Let me know what you think :)?

Don't you  just love the roof overhang, the beautiful warm colors, tropical foliage oh and that pool. So lovely

[ all photos via The Novogratz Blog ]

What is it about hammocks that makes you feel so so good.

Beachy splendor

So Fun! Seriously, Such a happy Shower!

Peaceful

I hope this brought you a bit of relaxation and sunshine to the end of your week.

xoxo

Is Domino magazine coming back?

It's snowing like crazy here in Chicago. We did get a little spoiled with the warmer weather in October, November and December, so I guess we are due for some Chicago wintry weather. On the other hand I hope we don't get covered up completely, since I have a very busy day tomorrow.
I wanted to share with you some interesting gossip I have been hearing regarding Domino magazine. I know many of you were sad when this magazine pulled it's plug so I am excited to see what this talk is all about. Check it out by clicking here --> "Another Iteration of Domino".  Would you love to see Domino come back in another format? I still love my read lead magazines, but it would be fun to see it in any format at this point :) Have a great weekend, stay warm :)  Xo

Interior Design Textile Obsession

beautiful luxurious sofa upholstery and pillows

fantastic geometric voided velvet sofa with soft romantic sheer drapes- beautiful

a fun intricate fabric pattern

beautiful leopard velvet pillows quilted satin mattress cover, velvet bolster pillow and great wool bed upholstery

beautiful heavy voided velvet sofa

lovely pattern drapes

I am an Interior Design Textile Junkie! YES that's what I said :) I have a thing for design fabrics. Ever since I can remember I loved textiles, I loved playing with different patterns, textures while creating layered vignettes fabric vignettes- it was quite fun, it still is, but now I do it with lots more knowledge and purpose :) .
My mom also been very passionate about textiles, I remember when I was little, she used to purchase so many different fabrics (for the home or apparel) to either update the draperies in the house or have the tailor make new dresses for my sister and I. We used to admire the patterns and colors and often picked them ourselves. I still remember one of the last summer dress that she had the dressmaker make for me, it was white silk fabric with beautiful vibrant colorful butterflies all over and yes I picked the fabric and designed it myself, it was fun :). 
There is something amazing about luxurious great quality fabric that adds a great level of sophistication, interest or just a fantastic character to a room.
To this day I LOVE the part of an interior design project when I get to select textiles and create a perfectly balanced interior environment for my clients.
By layering, blending textures, selecting the right type of fabric for the space as well as the scale of the print and pattern, you can completely transform a room to an amazing landscape.
I love all types of textiles since they are all relative to what you are trying to achieve in the design. But my favorite are beautifully crafted luxury textiles with lots of confidence in pattern and color. I love love vivid colors, luscious heavy velvets, heavy linens, beautifully crafted damasks, fun masculine geometric patterns as well as modern bright florals. When it comes to textiles and anything else in the design goods industry (furniture, textile, lighting etc.) great quality and great designs usually are more expensive, but they oh so worth it on so many levels.
Tell me what types of textiles do you enjoy?
Have a beautiful rest of the week!

White Interiors

After the wonderful January heatwave we got hit with a ton of snow. It's kind of crazy to go into such a drastic direction, yet I am definitely used to this given that I live in Chicago. ;-) It could be pretty nice if you make the best of it. My dogs also like the snow, and keep nudging me to throw them snowballs so they could chase them. 
Another wonderful thing about having everything covered in snow outside is the amazing light. I am not sure if you know but light is what you see after it has been reflected from a surface (these are some of the things you learn in detail in Lighting and Color theory courses while in design school, the science behind it etc. Good stuff :) ) That is why same light can look so different in completely different interior, surrounding etc. Anyway, so given that there is plenty of beautiful White snow outside, everything is so much more brighter. Even nights are not as dark, it's quite fantastic.
The reason why I am so excited about it is that I love me some bright sunshine peeking in through the windows or when I drive and now it's even brighterrrr :). In addition even though I love me some colorful and moody interiors I am also a huge white on white fantatic. I love the modernity, the crispness and the fresh feeling of a pure white interior. It could look so modern but it could also be so soothing and elegant.
Below are a few beautiful white interiors for you that embody the fabulous white on white aesthetic along with that soothing feeling it gives.
I'd love to know how you feel about white rooms, do share your thoughts in the comments below. Happy Friday!!

Elegant white living room, layered in textures and details

beautiful relaxing white bedroom

beautiful light flooded white office, it's so fresh soothing

perfectly elegant kitchen with crisp white cabinets

Beautiful, mostly white living room accented with lots of shiny surfaces

Beautiful casual white beachside dining. So relaxing!

xo

Bissfull as Spring

Currently the weather here in Chicago more resembles Spring than "Chicago in January" weather. The temperatures make the birds chirp and even some flowers started to bloom. I know it's not going to last long yet it's oh so magical. Tomorrow should be the end of this few warm-day-wonder, but I just love it so much. You know when Spring is here and everyone starts to wear lighter clothes (especially here in Chicago) everyone is out, the sun is shining. It's just that perfect happy feeling. This great feeling of joy, garden leisure, and outdoor festivities. Just love that feeling and we are having a glimpse of that now.

All of you that live in climates where it doesn't get to the single digit freezing temps, you should feel so lucky!  I envy you ;-)  I vow that one day during the really cold seasons I will seasonally temporarily move to the warmer climate and work from there. :)  Enjoy your week! xo 

lovely blooms

casual outdoor living

November, December, January & February home office :)

pinterest

xo