November 30, 2010

Laila...the fragrance...

A co-worker just came back from Disney World in Florida and while there, visited Norway in Epcot.  She wandered into 'Laila the Essence of Norway' store and met the creator of the fragrance, Geir Ness. He autographed a picture for her and she came away with some samples.  The fragrance smells very fresh and "doesn't fade, because it mixes in with your skin's oils."


The fragrance is a mix of "Norwegian wildflowers as well as as some fruit fragrances such as watermelon."

Are any of my Scandinavian friends familiar with this perfume? Have you heard of it or visited the store in Epcot?  I will be wearing it tomorrow...

For more information about Laila, Geir Ness and Norway, go here

(image laila.com)

November 28, 2010

Spaaah on Sunday...

Today we are going somewhere exotic for a different kind of spa treatment...Africa!  I love the idea of a safari by day and spa treatment or relaxing hot bath to wind down the end of your busy excursion after spotting lions, tigers and gazelles!  Do you? What is your dream destination?  A safari is mine, minus the bugs and diseases...of course!

Can you imagine taking a bath here?? wow! so rustic and romantic...


Albida Suite at Chongue River Camp - Zambia

(image courtesy thesafaricompany.net)

November 27, 2010

Saturday in the kitchen...

Its Saturday again and time for another inspirational kitchen...from Ideal Home UK, a great magazine that always has really informative design tips and photos.  This lovely pale blue kitchen highlights the use of a floral pattern while keeping the furniture simple with warm wood tones. Look at the pretty pottery lining the open shelves too. I love the chest to the left of the table - because it doesn't look like a traditional kitchen cabinet.


(image by Ideal Home)

I hope you all have a fabulous weekend! I'm off to the eye doctor later...thanks for joining me here this week, I appreciate it as always.


If you would like your home to reflect your ideas and unique vision, contact me and we can work together to make your dream come true. Please send inquiries to monacointeriors76@yahoo.com.

November 26, 2010

Fabulous Fabric Friday...Eric Cohler's Lodge Collection...

Following my recent post about the 'Antlers' fabric (more on that later) I decided to highlight the Eric Cohler Lodge collection for Lee Jofa. Although this has been out for awhile and a couple of bloggers mentioned it, I thought it would be fun to see the designs again.

The gorgeous Antlers fabric in green with the equally gorgeous Dinesen Linen on the chair...

Pillow is Whitcomb Linen and curtains are Woods Print...lovely...

The IKAT print is Ephesus...love the color combo...

The elegant Giovanni Pais fabric...

Curtain is Mille Fleur (love this too), the Colin chair is Graphic Velvet and the bench is covered in Luke Twill (the latter two are not part of the Lodge collection)...

A sampling of Eric's rug collection - clockwise from left:  Drayton, Belden, Iliad, Parc Monceau and Kerry...


OK, guess who scored 4 yards of the Antlers in green??? yes, me...I went back to the fabric store to check and see if it was there (I had called and a woman told me it had been sold!) - lo and behold, there it was! I paid $6 per yard!! I may go back for more next week, but there are only about 4.5 yards left.  Don't know what to do with it yet - any suggestions???

Here is the Antlers in Red - I like this color too...a lot!

Anyone have suggestions for what to do with my fabric?? Have a great Friday!
Thanks for visiting me this week, as always, I appreciate you!!

(images by John Bessler for Veranda except the last two - unknown)


If you would like your home to reflect your ideas and unique vision, contact me and we can work together to make your dream come true. Please send inquiries to monacointeriors76@yahoo.com

November 25, 2010

Giving thanks...

Happy Thanksgiving to all my American blogger friends - don't eat too much today, rest, enjoy and give thanks for everything you have!

PS: So glad to have a couple of much-needed days off - how about you?? will you be shopping tomorrow?

(image Aimee Hearing for House Beautiful)
(Interior Design by Ralph Lauren)

November 23, 2010

Jazzy jewels...

I am posting something a bit different today that I may start including regularly to diversify my blog. That being said, have you seen Ross-Simons jewelry before? My mother used to get the catalog and I forgot how well-priced and beautiful their jewelry is. Not only that, but the colors and combinations are so inspiring, especially right near Christmas!! The necklace above is turquoise and pearl with sterling silver ($56.25 can you believe??) - love the blue and white combo as I do in interiors...


I LOVE this stack of rings - I love to wear 2-3 rings together - this is only $108.75 for all five!! I love the mix of the gemstone colors - rather like a room -how pretty would these colors look in a living room?...

I have a beautiful Carnelian ring my mother had as a young girl in Scotland...I love these teardrops -so pretty and they will only set you back $138.75...

Aquamarine is my birthstone so I couldn't let this one go by...I LOVE the raw stone - it is 18.95 carats with Iolite in sterling and it is designed by Christie Brinkley! (only $95.00)

Since Prince William and Kate Middleton have set April 29, 2011 as their wedding date, I thought it fitting to include this classic sapphire and diamond ring for all the brides-to-be out there (or not!). This ring is $1,295.00.

This beautiful ring is blue and white topaz with Larimar and is just $56.25! Hmmm, note to self - buy one for me for Christmas!

For more beautiful jewelry and gift ideas, go here 

(photos of gems by ross-simons)


disclaimer - I was not paid for promotion of this company or their jewelry - I just love their stuff!!

Have a great rest of the week bloggers!!

November 21, 2010

Spaaah on Sunday...

This is one of my favorite little powder rooms...not a spa exactly, but equally soothing and unique...Designer Krista Ewart uses colors and patterns so deftly in here, I just love it.  Do you??

PS: I'm crazy for dots!

(image by Victoria Pearson for House Beautiful)
(Interior Design by Krista Ewart)


If you would like your home to reflect your ideas and unique vision, contact me and we can work together to make your dream come true. Please contact me at: monacointeriors76@yahoo.com

November 20, 2010

Saturday in the kitchen...

What grabbed me in this kitchen is the pale blue cabinets...so pretty! I like the black countertops and warm wood floor too...and the pop of color at the window.  The sink and faucet are the main reason for choosing this lovely English country kitchen!

Do you like painted cabinets and dark countertops?  Are you partial to the apron-front sinks too or do you prefer stainless or china??

Hoping you have a great weekend! Thank you as always for joining me here this week, I love having you and reading your comments!

(image idealhome magazine)


If you would like your home to reflect your ideas and unique vision, contact me and we can work together to make your dream come true. Please send me an email with any questions - monacointeriors76@yahoo.com.

November 18, 2010

Oh deer!...

On my lunch break today I was browsing through fabrics in a local store and found this Lee Jofa "Antler" fabric marked down to $6 for 9 yards...whoa...I couldn't believe it.   I found myself drawn to it and will go back to buy it. I was thinking it would look great on the sofa at my family's lake house...and it goes along with my obsession for wanting antlers - I have been looking high and low for something I might like and found tonight on sfgirlbybay's blog (go here.) Victoria is featured in Pure Green magazine, a new online green living magazine and the antlers (pictured below) are one of her holiday picks.



Antlers available here - LOVE, LOVE, LOVE!


Letterpress etched coaster available here as well...

Do you like antlers and the deer motif? or any animal motifs? Do you have antlers hanging in your home? If you are looking for some great ideas for Christmas or Hanukkah, check out Haus Interior - they have great stuff! Hope you all have a great Friday!!

(images - 1 John Bessler for Veranda; 2 & 3 hausinterior.com)


If you would like your home to reflect your ideas and vision, contact me and we can work together to make your dream a reality.  Please contact me at monacointeriors76@yahoo.com

November 16, 2010

Finally...another royal wedding...!

Well, its finally happened after much speculation...Prince William will marry Kate Middleton next spring or summer somewhere in Britain.  The couple attended a friend's wedding last month and they certainly looked very relaxed and happy together...

They are very photogenic...

This is where they will live in a remote part of Wales...I love seeing their digs, don't you??

Here is a rendering of their house (!) - though, no details have been disclosed as it is to be kept private for obvious reasons...

The couple today after announcing their engagement. I love that Kate's dress matches the very familiar (to those of us who were around the first time it was worn) oval sapphire and diamond engagement ring that Prince Charles gave to Lady Diana in 1980 (or was it 1981?)...it is William's way of keeping his mother in on the 'excitement' since she isn't here in person...I thought that was sweet.

I will look forward to this spectacle as I have on 4 previous occasions...Diana & Charles, Andrew & Fergie and then Edward & Sophie and Charles & Camilla...best of luck to them on their new journey - I hope they will have a lot of privacy, but somehow I doubt it...I'm also looking forward to Kate's wardrobe and her transformation - that will be fun! Are you looking forward to the wedding? or do you not follow any royalty?


(photos courtesy the Daily Mail)

November 14, 2010

A little Suzanne Kasler holiday inspiration...

With Christmas just weeks away now, I am getting my Ballard catalogs both in the mail and online and just fell in love with these items from Suzanne Kasler's new holiday collection. I love the vintage look of these gift tags and they are a perfect match for...

 ...these rolls of bronze, pearl and light green metallic paper - wouldn't gifts look so chic wrapped in this paper?

I have a custom built doll's house (made in Vermont) and absolutely loved rearranging and arranging all my furniture in it as a child, so these take me back to my little early 'design' days...and they are only $15 for these 3! what a great addition to any tree, though I am partial to my little tabletop...:)

On a different note, I love these mats to put either inside or outside of your home...they are all natural and have sweet snowflakes on them to signify winter...these are 100% coir and are hand stenciled.

Do you have a favorite? have you started planning your gifts and wrap? or are you all done and I'm just behind the '8 ball?' Hope you all have a great week! Thank you as always for taking the time to stop by my blog and leave a comment, I love to read what you think!!

For more holiday inspiration, go here -

If you would like your home to reflect your ideas and vision, contact me and we can work together to make your dream come true. Please contact me at monacointeriors76@yahoo.com to discuss your project.

(images by ballarddesigns.com)

November 13, 2010

Saturday in the kitchen...

A country kitchen after my heart...the Belfast sink with bridge faucet, wood floor and counters, cream cabinets and lovely window fabric make this a special kitchen. Warm and welcoming, come with me and have a cup of tea! Enjoy the weekend!

(image by Ideal Home)


If you would like your home to reflect your ideas and vision, contact me and we can work together to make your dream come true - monacointeriors76@yahoo.com

November 10, 2010

Rockin' red and Katie Ridder...

I fell in love with this wallpaper in the Country Living's eco-friendly House of the Year. It is a prefab country cottage that was assembled in a month, built in New York's World Financial Center and is 1,607 square feet. Katie Ridder designed the whole house with a green aesthetic and environmentally friendly materials. Best of all, this house is available to the public, along with four other prefab (or modular) models, so come on in and take a look!

I love the red, white and blue, and, that Katie continued the beautiful wallpaper in the dining room, only on the ceiling! Brilliant idea...the chairs have soy-based cushions and are made with sustainable hardwood...(wallpaper is by Farrow & Ball)


The living room continues the wallpaper on the ceiling and blue velvet chair, and Benjamin Moore's low VOC Natura paint, Moroccan Spice...

Vintage wallpaper and Kohler pedestal and faucet in the powder room...

The master bedroom has more red, white and blue...the blue and white lamp sits on a table with a red drawer; the bed is made of sustainable Mindi wood and the mattress is 100% organic...

The exterior of the 'Home Green Home'

Do you like wallpaper on the ceiling? Do you have a favorite room? Or is it too much color for you? Hope you enjoyed the visit...we may visit again soon!

(original images by Lucas Allen for Country Living)

If you would like your home to reflect your ideas and vision, contact me and we can work together to make your dream come true - monacointeriors76@yahoo.com

November 8, 2010

Jonathan Adler visits Kohler...

Well, brace yourself for this spectacular bathroom at Kohler in Wisconsin...Jonathan Adler visited last month to open the room at the Kohler Design Center and it certainly doesn't disappoint. Inspired by Stanley Kubrick's movie, 'A Space Odyssey,' this shining white space looks futuristic and just so cool with the glowing, lighted floor, gold accents and glass. Not to mention the Kohler products...It is titled, 'Barococo Futurism...and blends "modern geometric shapes and French neo-classical detailing."

Velvet curtains and gold faucets...beautiful!

Cool glass shower...

Cocktails...iced tea with whole milk...

The designer opening his new room at the Kohler Design Center...

Mr. Adler with CEO & President David Kohler, left...

Just a parting shot to keep you salivating...a truly gorgeous and unique space  and it IS so sci-fi looking isn't it??

(images courtesy of kohler.com)

November 7, 2010

Sunday serenity...

Wishing I was here...the Aromatherapy Crystal Steam Room at the Beverly Wilshire Hotel in Los Angeles (it reminds me of the Planetarium I visited last Sunday)...visit this spa here - with a houseful of kids this weekend, I need to be here NOW!!! Happy Sunday to you!

(image fourseasons.com/beverlywilshire)

November 6, 2010

Saturday in the kitchen...

Check out this gorgeous kitchen! I love it because it is so unique and multi-talented...it doubles as a "dressing room and elegant closet" and is on display at Kohler in Wisconsin. I love the mirrors as tiles and accents on the cabinets.  The sparkle of the chandelier is like icing on this couture cake!!


Have a wonderful weekend!!

(images kohler.com)

November 4, 2010

Fabulous Fabric Fridays...Peter Dunham...

Its fabulous fabric time again and I am excited to include one of my favorite British interior designers...here are my top 5 picks for Peter Dunham textiles...(this week anyway!)...

Starstruck Indigo



IKAT Peacock


Globe Greystone


Arabesque Saffron


Peterazzi Pale Indigo

I just LOVE Peter Dunham's aesthetic and LOVE his fabrics and chose only my top 5 but I truly love all of them...I think the Saffron fabric would look great as curtains in my bedroom makeover, but sadly, would be over budget :(( - which one is your favorite?

To see more, go here
Visit Peter's website here

(images peterdunhamtextiles)