BELLE VIVIR: Interior Design Blog | Lifestyle | Home Decor

More black and white beauties

2013-05-23T16:45:00.001-04:00

A few extra black and white images to end the day. Enjoy!

images via Gaelle Le Boulicaut, Elle Decor Italia and Pinterest

Beautiful black and white inspiration

2013-05-23T08:12:00.002-04:00

A black and white space designed by Luis Bustamante

Are you a blogger? Do you know those days when you wake up with no idea what to post about? Today is like that for me. Maybe it's because it's my husband's birthday today and I rather focus on that mostly. Happy birthday my love! However, there is always time to squeeze in a few gorgeous images of black and white spaces to inspire. Enjoy!

Day Birger et Mikkelsen office

via Pinterest

via Lonny

Celine classic box

Le Royal Monceau Raffles Paris

Kitchens in the living room

2013-05-22T07:59:00.000-04:00

If your kitchen happens to exist in a corner of your living room then give it a small dose of its own chocolate, I mean of the living room medicine. Yes, that's right! camouflage the kitchen and make it look like part of the living area. Hide the pots and pans inside the cabinets, add a beautiful back splash or a mirror, continue the wallpaper on to the little kitchen walls, and accessorize it with non-kitchen items. Enjoy the inspirations!

Michael Formica home

Richard Norris and Mark Leslie kitchen

Olivier Gagnere

Luis Bustamante

Ladies in Graphic Sweaters

2013-05-21T20:31:00.001-04:00

The late Diana, princess of Wales

A few late night inspiration of elegant women wearing graphic sweaters in very sophisticated and chic ways. Enjoy and G'night!

Graphic Sweaters

2013-05-21T09:20:00.001-04:00

Can you think of a more adaptable piece of clothing other than a graphic sweater now a days? Of course there is always the pencil skirt and jeans but graphic sweaters are super easy to accommodate to your styling needs as well. You can play it up with a nice skirt and heels and play it down as well. One of the nicest and freshest outfit I saw lately was an assemblage of a graphic sweater, mid-calf skirt and a wedge sneakers, kicks. I'm ready to buy a few. Enjoy!

For the budget-conscious

1- Lover, 2- Hipster please, 3- Geek Chic, 4- Studio sweater in tropical love, 5- Don't Kill my vibe, 6- I'd rather be shopping, 7- number 7, 8- Aztec sweater.

Below, for the bigger pockets

1- Suede studded top, 2- Face cardigan, 3- Joie, 4- Juicy couture, 5- Green Leo print 6- Wild Fox, 7- MCQ camouglage 8- Feline black gold, 9- MCQ

For the home: Unique wall treatments and textured walls

2013-05-20T09:42:00.001-04:00

Few design techniques can transform a room as the enhancement of its walls. Wall treatments have never been so exiting and unconventional from highly crafty fluted plaster walls to artistic pyramid paneling walls, architectural motifs that were accredited for exterior texture and furniture have been forever moved inside to residential interiors in never-seen-before ways. Most of the time the effect is so impressive and powerful that little else is needed to complement the already aesthetic walls. The more traditional methods such as the ones used in the first four rooms, fluted walls, are not an alternative for DIYers. It is a skill to leave only to professional hands. The more modern texture walls such as wood block stacking, tiling and origami would be an easier choice for very clever, handy home owner.

Fluted plaster walls are spiced up with paint and finished up in a curvature a few inches off the ceiling. I love the round endings, top. Designed by Jean Louis Deniot via AD.

In this living room fluted plaster walls are taken to the edge of the ceiling and softened up with clear and delicate curtains. Designed by Miles Redd.

A more austere space designed by Stephen Sills with textured stone floors and wood paneling ceiling in the back room and the textured walls enhance the stern space.

This eating area via Architectural Digest has a softer version of the same fluted walls as they are less deep. The back wall displays a subtle treatment with horizontal ingrained lines.

In this family room wall treatment raised the standards. A proof that architectural motifs are not kept for the outside, they are moving inside residential spaces as well. Kelly designed pyramid paneling and painted them in gray converting this room in a work of art.

In a bathroom wall antiqued mirror and slabs of marble are applied on a striped pattern.

This veneer paneling is simply amazing. Lighting is inside each of the veneer cavity reflecting light up and down. I can only imagine how beautiful this space is at night.

For a more organic effect cover a wall with wood blocks of different depth.

This Delta Hex tiles for the bathroom would bring uniqueness and interest to a modern bathroom.

This conventional paneling wall is spruced up by adding a different design to the ceiling. via Scandinavian Deko.

A more rustic version of a wooden slat wall. via Archilovers.

Long pieces of flat wood are stacked up in two different ways to create an artistic effect. This would be from my opinion the easiest technique to mimic in your home.

An origami wall treatment is perhaps the more time consuming if considered for a DIY project. The walls in this restaurant in Tokyo are covered with folded paper. via Upon a fold

Sunday Quotes

2013-05-19T09:25:00.003-04:00

Toward the rear seasons

2013-05-17T11:12:00.001-04:00

Here in Sao Paulo seasons appear to be cemented. Summer percolates into fall and Spring- did it last a day? I kept waiting for summer to arrive to enroll our son Lucas into swimming classes, instead we had a full version of what is a regular fall and tropical winter combined. We’ll enroll him this fall which surprisingly has been a lot more pleasant with more sunny days and warmer temperatures than the actual Summer season. Well, that was until today when I woke up to a very dreaded and cloudy day and... oh wait, is it today that Fall will finally filter in? But now that I think about it that's not possible because this Saturday will be Festa Junina which is according to Wikipedia "the annual Brazilian celebrations historically related to European Midsummer that take place in the beginning of the Brazilian winter." Since planning is everything for the ones living here, I'll take a few layers of clothes in case it gets a bit cold and of course I'll also make sure I wear something very light underneath in case this very-unusual-Fall decides to filter back in. Have a good one everyone!

MSGM floral baseball cap

Carlo Mollino chair via T-Magazine

Shourouk Picie Necklace

Diane Von Furstenberg patchouli box-clutch

Lou Marotta via Elle Decor

Turban Roundup

2013-05-16T13:29:00.000-04:00

I realized that a round up of turban headbands would not be a bad idea for those who want to try them. After all a true fashionista must have fun trying on different trends and ideas. Enjoy!
1- turband, 2- pink and green, 3- Leopard, 4- yellow ditzy print, 5- Eugenia Kim Lula, 7- Cult Gaia Bardot, 8- Sasha turban, 9- Preeti turban headband, 10- Eugenia Kim, 11 Etsy

Hair trend: Turban Headband

2013-05-16T09:13:00.001-04:00

via Home Heart Craft

It's not new this trend of turban headbands but, it's more and more popular every time. Especially during summer when ladies tend to leave their hair carelessly dry au naturale. There are two types of turbans, one that covers the full head, a closer interpretation of the Sikh turban and the turban headband which is the case in point here. I'm kind of obsessed with both styles. The first because it would be of great help in those days when I'm just too lazy to wash my hair and the last one for when I wash my hair but, want a fashion statement! How about you ladies, would you use a turban?

Le Blog de Betty

via WTF

via The Sartorialist

via Fashion-Isha

Mary Kate Olsen

A room inspired by: Ilse Crawford

2013-05-15T13:41:00.001-04:00

The world would be so uninspired if all Designers decorate the same way. Don't you think? Think about it, inspiration comes from what intrigues you from what makes you question the ways and forms of that particular style. If every building and every house has one same style then life would be quite boring. That's the main reason I always admire designers who listen to their hearts rather than what's trendy. They create spaces entirely personalized and unique!

Mirror, scalloped console, horn sculpture, chair, side table, golden elephant sculpture, floor lamp, wall sculpture, saucer sconces and floor.

Ilse Crawford

2013-05-15T07:52:00.002-04:00

"My intention is to bring heart into the modern architecture and make it livable" Ilse Crawford

Ilse predominant aim is to make usually cold architecture warm and real and transform them into spaces with feelings of being there longer and fit for family. Remember this very leading dining room designed by Ilse I posted a while ago? The space was of a magnificent size taking the main role in the house. Well that's because Food is in her own words "a social glue" Nuevo Estilo magazine editors granted Ilse Crawford with "The Special Award" this year. Well deserved!

Shopping Suggestion: A la modern chic closet

2013-05-14T18:02:00.000-04:00

A Get the Look kind of post for the chic-conscious lady who ain't mind to look polished as well. Enjoy!

1-Necklace, 2- Wrap over coat, 3- Chanel vintage bracelet, 4- Givenchy clutch, 5- Tara Jarmon skirt, 6- Christian Louboutin ankle boots, 7- Celine butterfly sunglasses, 8- top, 9- Saint Laurent leather belt.
quote from this Pinterest acct.

Street Style: Chic and Modern

2013-05-14T07:19:00.000-04:00

This is an entire modern-chic ensemble.

Dear ladies, what would be of the world if we didn't wake up every morning wanting to look pretty and chic in our own skins, wearing the pieces that we delineate as our individual defined-style? Style is, at any given moment of the day, everywhere and it's an endless source of inspiration. These uplifting images here represent only a handful of what is for me modern and chic. Enjoy!

Stylish and sophisticated.

Very personalized and unique outfit. I love it!

Adore the blazer

New York chic street style via Fashion Magazine. Love the white sunglasses.

Bianca Brandolini wearing Valentino studded flat sandals

Victoria Beckham in Celine

10 Easy Canopy Bed Ideas

2013-05-13T08:52:00.000-04:00

A modern canopy bed by Jean Louis Denoit

To many people, the thought of a canopy bed would give them the creeps. Not to blame them if the first image that easily slips into our minds is a frightening postcard from The Jacobean period style. A heavily carved gilded bed with a heavy cornice, swags hanging from the canopy and so much fabric enclosing you is for sure a recipe for rhinitis. Today's canopy beds couldn't be farther from that and you don't need a four poster bed to create one. Anyone with a regular bed can build one with curtain rods and fabric securely hanging from the ceiling. Check out YouTube for some cool tutorials or head over to Lonny Magazine where Michelle Adams documents how she made hers.

Whichever way you decide to make one, a canopy over the bed is one of the most romantic ways to decorate your bedroom.

Via Southern Accents

An upholstered crown canopy bed via Architectural Digest.

By hanging a big piece of fabric from two curtain rods is a very easy way to create the canopy feel.

Dara Caponigro bedroom

I love to see them hanging direct from the ceiling. It makes the rooms look bigger.

By Jamie Creel via Elle Decor

This is way more elaborate and professionally done by Phoebe Howard.

Design by Katie Ridder via Elle Decor. A perfect girls canopy.

In the picture above the canopy seems to be hanging over the bed from curtain rods and chain. Designed by Mark D. Sikes

Happy Mothers Day

2013-05-12T09:09:00.002-04:00

"All that I am, or hope to be, I owe to my angel mother. " Abraham Lincoln

"Children are the anchors of a mother's life." Sophocles

"Motherhood: All love begins and ends there." Robert Browning

Friday eye candy: Citi Bike

2013-05-10T08:47:00.000-04:00

The new Bike-share scheme to launch this May in New York City, Citi Bike will offer Eco-conscious and fashionistas more than 300 docking stations from 59th St to parts of Brooklyn. Everyone will be able to enjoy biking around in the City without having to haul it along with you. Members will have access to unlimited 45 minute-long rides for $95 a year. Tourists and visitors will be able to buy passes. The scheme is sponsored by City Bank. You can read more about at Dezeen magazine. I think it would be only cool if not fear for the bikes to offer child-seats. Enjoy and pretty up yourself to ride!

i will always lovu...

Under any circumstances you should wear heels to ride a bike.

I couldn't resist. OMG!

Style inspiration: Ada Kokosar

2013-05-09T09:52:00.000-04:00

Ada Kokosar in a Stella McCartney dress and Kira Lillie necklace

You could say I have an ada-diction for Ada Kokosar's personal style. She is a stylist and a fashion consultant whose style renders me feeling ashamed of my still-in-progress-style. Her style is everything I want to have, minimalist, modern, sophisticated with the right amount of masculinity that sets her apart and above many other fashionistas. Reading more about her in the Telegraph I found out we like the same designers and for the same similar reasons. This only makes me admire her more. Enjoy!
From Telegraph, interview by Ellie Pithers
Who are your favourite designers?
Nicolas Ghesquière for his talent for looking forward and making the most sophisticated, modern look; I love his structural shapes, sleek overcoats and statement shoes. Riccardo Tisci for his vision - I've known him since he started and he has achieved so much. His woman has a very unique, strong personality and a mysterious allure. Phoebe Philo for her effortless, relaxed modernity. Marc Jacobs because I really appreciate his styling talent. Raf Simons for his search for detail…read more.

Love the detail of the pockets in her skirt

Allure

Unexpected color combinaton.

Adore those booties.

Perfect!

That skirt

Another unexpected color combination.

Masculine shoes and an Hermes belt.

Too much clothes for you so far? Don't worry she also does sexy but just on the little side.

For the home: Dining Rooms to inspire

2013-05-08T05:50:00.000-04:00

Diane Von Furstenberg dining room

The ease of city life; convenience, fast pace and unlimited access to restaurants has taken a toll on family time at the table. Seldom, families get home at the same time to enjoy a warm diner together. Most likely kids eat in front of the TV while parents eat well probably also in front of the TV if not in front of the computers. I know this because we're guilty of this due to our lack of a dining table. Yes, we've been living here for 7 months... I haven't come across anything that blows my mind besides, I normally take this long to find what I want anyway. We all have our flaws don't we?! Luckily, we were used to sitting together for dinner like real people while living in the States and I kind of want to have that back soon.

Lauren Santo Domingo's Paris apartment.

Gabriela Perezutti via Harper's Bazaar. Love the Art Deco chairs.

Sputnik chandelier hanging above an Eero Saarinen tulip dining table and chairs can't go wrong.

Design by Sloan Mauran via House and Home

Brooke Shields dining room via Architectural Digest.

Carolina Irving dining/library room.

via this Pinterest account

Met Gala 2013: Best dressed at the red carpet

2013-05-07T07:53:00.000-04:00

Dakota Fanning faultless at The Met Gala in Rodarte.

The red carpet at The Met Gala sure gives the Oscars's red carpet a run for its money. And for all the good reasons. It's an event hosted by Vogue which each year celebrates an exhibition displaying costumes from The Met's Costume Institute Department. The Ball marked the opening of this year's theme "PUNK: Chaos to Couture" And designers rocked it, literally! Here are my favorites and my bests who shined the night by wearing their own, I mean their designers own interpretation of Glam Punk!

Loved the back of the dress.

Alexa Chung wearing Erdem

I love this outfit. Anja Rubik in Anthony Vaccarello

Daisy Bevan. Don't know who made her dress but I loved this dress. The shoes not so much though

Jessica Alba wearing Tory Burch

Kerry Washington in Vera Wang

Gwen Stefani

And last but not least, Gwyneth Paltrow in Valentino. Not too punk but always beautiful, stunning.

Marta de la Rica

2013-05-06T13:26:00.002-04:00

Interior Designer Marta de Rica seems to favor mixing iron vintage chairs, distressed wood with polished cabinetry. She also seems to prefer concrete finishes over tiles or marble for bathrooms and kitchens. These choices of hers translate into homes that have a modern sensibility yet feel homey and livable. Enjoy!

Beautiful vignette. I adore the sconces.

Antiqued mirror and french chandelier in a bathroom. The bathtub looks like a personal pool.

Distressed wooden door gives interest to a very delicate room. Adore the black reading sconces.

Another view of the bedroom where Marta displays a chair without upholstery.

A modern kitchen with traditional patterned floor.

Symmetry frames the door with A pair of Sputnik sconces over a pair of draped sconces designed by Frederique Mechiche.

A powder room wallpapered in a Grisaille wallpaper depicting old buildings.

Marta uses a library card index file cabinet for her jewelry and accessories.

Friday Eye candy: Happy feet

2013-05-03T08:18:00.001-04:00

Literally most feet are happy in flat shoes; even more if the shoes happen to be funny and cute! I posted a run up of slip-ons earlier this week but they are two totally different types of shoes and meant to complement different styles. One being more sneaker-type than the other one, I feel I can post about these little cuty ones without overwhelming you. After all it's all about dressing accordingly. I'm sure you've seen these kitty face shoes by Charlotte Olympia or the Marc Jacobs ones which feature a mouse face, around. Enjoy!

Taylor Swift wearing Charlotte Olympia.

Charlotte Olympia

Marc Jacobs left and Charlotte Olympia right, having a very interesting conversation.

1 Jeffrey Campbell, 2 Del Toro, 3 Del Toro, 4 Melissa, 5 Marc by Marc Jacobs, 6 Charlotte Olympia leopard flat, 7 Smidgen flat, 8 Kitty Cocoa Vegan flat

Every home should have: A stunning entryway.

2013-05-02T08:46:00.001-04:00

I found this entryway in a Spanish home magazine and fell in love with the old-school-royal-Bohemian-kind of feel it evokes. I remembered having seen the geometric wallpaper by Osborne and Little used by an European Designer way back so I know it's not a new design even though it hasn't been too much used. Unfortunately the magazine doesn't list the name of the model and I couldn't find it out myself either. The console is by Gio Pointi and the light fixture by Barovier and Toso. I love the pop of color on the chair fabric. Enjoy!

Image scanned by me.

Slip on it

2013-05-01T09:28:00.000-04:00

It's nice to dress up and look very much like a lady, but it gets to a bit too comic to be running in high heels while trying to catch a flight, walking up subway stairs, grocery shopping and well you get the point. And trust me I've seen a bunch. Many days all we want is to slip on a pair of comfy shoes and hit the road contentedly and chic. The extra inch or two doesn't hurt women's vanity either. Enjoy!
1-Michael Kors, 2-Vans, 3-Soda Stud, 4-Celine, 5-Kurt Geiger London Diamante details, 6-Givenchy, 7-Michael Kors, 8-Walter Steiger, 9-Celine, 10-Givenchy, 11-Tie dye

Celine slip-ons

Celine

Givenchy

Phillip Lim

The coolest wallpaper: In Monochrome tones

2013-04-30T11:52:00.000-04:00

From illusory to geometric, there is enough wallpaper to please the world. I'm drawn to monochromatic wallpaper lately for its ease to embrace whatever else is in the room. These ones are among my favorites. Enjoy!
Cow Parsley wallpaper, Circus wallpaper, Balaustra wallpaper, Boa, Piccadilly, Malachite, Nuvolette and Tile Wallpaper.