Starry Night

Sleeping among the stars has its enduring visual appeal, especially in children’s bedrooms.  As you can see, the repetition of the stars, the same geometric pattern in its varying sizes creates an illusion of depth, as some of the stars seem farther away

A little girl’s room elegantly designed to nurture a child’s love for creating or listening to imaginative stories. Of course, no child’s room would be complete without a teddy bear…

As always, thank you my dear readers for your gracious support.

Photo courtesy of House Beautiful, photography by William Waldron

Merry Christmas

 Happy Holidays!

&

 Best Wishes for 2014

Courtesy of Southern Accents, photography by Fran Brennan

Attic Design

With the holiday season fast approaching, finding the extra room to accommodate family members and close friends is a luxury by itself.

I came across these wonderful photos of an attic, which was used as a residence in France, designed by Christian Badin. Aside from using the attic for storage in a house,  converting an attic can be quite an investment.

 In this living room, light was nicely provided by the windows. The crisp white walls and ceiling made it look more spacious. Bookshelves were built around the door, providing color, storage, and interest, in addition to creating charm for the connecting room (the bedroom).

Notice the staircase on the right side; it leads up to a bathroom. Because of lack of space, symmetry was created by adding more shelves on the slightly upper level, which made it look cohesive.

 

 As for the elegant bedroom, it was covered with paisley, as you can see above. Its continuous pattern on the walls, drapery, and upholstery helped harmonize the traditional bedroom.

 The collaborative approach between the designer and the architect led to an effective use of the space for occupants, creating a comfortable and chic attic.

Photography by Roland Beaufre 

Trompe L’oeil at its Best

When I first saw this photo of the neo-Greek room, my first impression was that all of the classic motifs on the walls, the pilasters, the ceiling, and even the art above the mantel were real…

 But, after reading the description, and after careful observation (making you want to touch the walls in real life), I realized it’s the refined art of trompe l’oeil, which is a French term meaning to trick of the eye.

 This optical illusion is the work of artist Alan Dodd, at the entrance hall of a London townhouse. It certainly presented the observer with a spectacular impression of reality.

 Courtesy of House & Garden, photography by Richard Bryant

Longwood Gardens

 Who among us doesn’t love walking among exquisite fragrant flowers, streaming water, and towering trees where nature is at its best…sound, movement, texture, color, and line all merge in a magnificent horticultural display.

 I would like to share with you some photos from my recent trip to Longwood Gardens in Pennsylvania. There you’ll find acres of outdoor plants, in addition to the beautiful indoor gardens. A great American gem. Enjoy!

The Italian fountain garden, similar to the layout of the water garden at Villa Gamberaia near Florence, Italy

 Peirce -du Pont's house, the founder of Longwood Gardens

 

 Topiary Garden

 Live music!

 Chimes Tower

  The Conservatory

Photography by Amal for Picture of  Elegance Blog

A Sunny Disposition

After long awaited first signs of spring, you can’t help but to think of happy colors. A timely reminder of spring’s uplifting effects …

How we see color is usually affected by the light’s source, its angle, and the important fact that colors are perceived differently depending on their surroundings. This usually doesn’t apply to the vibrant color of yellow, which is minimally changed by its surroundings.

As you can see in the images below, the color yellow is contained and holds its own.

In the ancient world, the spice saffron was one of the main sources for the color yellow, and was used in paint and dyes for textiles. Enjoy the color yellow as it moves indoors, giving everything a positive feeling.

Photo 1  photography by Guy Dannenberg

Photo 2  designer Sabine Marchal, photography by Andreas Von Einsiedel

Photo 3  courtesy of House Beautiful, photography by Eric Piasecki

Photo 4  designer David Whitcomb, photo- Reed Consumer Books Limited

Photo 5  courtesy of The World of Interiors, designer Roberto Bergero, photography by René Stoeltie

Classic yet Revolutionary

This loft in Kortrijk, Belgium used to be, at one point, a warehouse. To accommodate her client, architect Stephanie Laporte had transformed and designed the space according to the way the client wanted to live by mixing opposites, whether it’s the style or texture to keep it interesting.

A twenty-six foot high glass roof was installed to allow light in above the grand living room, which centered the space. Two apartments were created on either side, and glass partitions created an overlook into the living room. 

  A visual rhythm was created by the repetition of the same

 The simple concrete floors and walls showcased the classic curves and lines of the furnishings, and art both modern and traditional

 

Because of the abundance of light, bold colors were used and the light shining through 

added a dramatic dimension in the dining room. Notice the industrial table

   

Amazing view!

Photography by Gilles Trillard. The New Eighteenth- Century Home by Michéle Lalande