A special owdo to you!

Where in the world are we off to today? Jolly old England, of course. The first on the tour is a beautiful home in London designed by Mlinaric, Henry and Zervudachi of MHZ


The living room is arranged with 2 conversation areas. This looks like a lovely room for entertaining.

I noticed the floor coverings in both the living room and the dining room. They add a little pattern to the room.This is a simple yet elegant sitting vignette.


And next is an apartment dining room in London and it is by the same designers. I just like the casual use of the bookshelves in the dining room.


Check back in for more visits to far away lands.

Parlez-vous Francais?

Today we are off to France. I fell in love with this design all because of the stained glass windows- you can just see one in the background. I feel like it gives this modern room that little wow factor. I love the play of the light reflecting on the wall.
What a great view of the room from atop the stairs. This is also a great example of the use of textures in lieu of a lot of color.

design cult interior

Feeling Hungry? I mean Hungary!

design suto kata & suto laszlo interior design

The world of design according to me :) This is the first installment in my look at design around the world. The first country I am touring is Hungary. I just fell in love with this bedroom- it is so calm and serene, modern yet warm and inviting. I'm not usually a fan of the bed being so low to the floor, but for this room, I make an exception.

design suto kata & suto laszlo interior design

A view of the living room with a peak into the bedroom. The mixing of the different patterns give such a great visual interest to this small space. Notice the ceiling treatment- a small detail but nice impact just the same.

design suto kata and suto laszlo interior design

I love the use of the transparent fabric in this kitchen/dining area. It gives softness and contrast to the otherwise hard edges in the room. The chandelier is like jewelry to this room. Just the right touch.

design suto kata & suto laszlo interior design

Did you notice the accent stripes behind the sofa? It gives a new feature in the room without being overpowering.

A Tribute to Red

Since February is the month for the color of red, what better examples of the use of red than in the designs of the Gramercy Park Hotel completed by Ian Schrager in a collaboration with artist Julian Schnabel.

Sweet!




Just for fun, would you like to test your design IQ? Go to Fine Living and test yourself!

Happy Valentines!

Secret? What secret?

Have you ever had to keep a secret? Well, I have been keeping a big one since the week before Christmas and I can now let it out! I was contacted by Kieren DiTullio, home editor of the Ladies Home Journal and asked if I would like to have some of the merchandise from Neutral Dwelling featured in a photo shoot!!! Would I??????????? Are you kidding me? Somebody pinch me!!! Is this for real??? So of course I responded with a resounding YES I would love it!

I later received a phone call asking me to ship the merchandise to the photo shoot in Connecticut for a layout that would appear in the March 08 issue. I was still in shock but I dutifully sent it. I waited a couple of days and the merchandise was returned perfectly.

I was patiently awaiting my copy of the magazine to arrive in the mail but my husband went to Target today and there it was- sitting on the shelf with Dolly Parton on the front cover! YEAHHHHH! He calls me on the phone and says he is holding it in his hands- I am asking (anxiously I might add)- Do you see it? What page? How does it look? He says, "Ah, page 82- but I don't have my glasses so I can't read what it says" So I squeal "Please come straight home!" While I wait for him to arrive I am running around the house in a nervous frenzy cleaning anything I can find (Nervous energy is good for something!)

I hear the garage door open and run down the stairs- There it is - Page 82 March 2008 LHJ !!! The layout is called "A Blossoming Tabletop" and there they are- the Roost Porcelain Tea lights- and there, there it is Neutral Dwelling! Oh look- it says Where to Find It- Page 170- I flip quickly to that page-there it is again- Neutral Dwelling- www.NeutralDwelling.com !!! I turn back to page 82- Oh it looks lovely!!!- I turn the page- Page 84- there is another picture of the Tea light. I am now dancing around the kitchen!!!!!!!!

Texture Versus Color

In the Architectural Digest this month, there is a feature on the Phinda Getty House which is a lodge in South Africa. The photos were so intriguing to me- all of the textures in the interiors which were designed by Chris Browne of Johannesburg, South Africa. I couldn't find a website for him but if anyone knows of one and would like to share that would be great.

My interest in Chris's quote concerning the interiors, "We relied on texture rather than color" started my research. What I found on flickr was a treasure trove of photos of many different lodges in Africa by Drive South Africa

All of these interiors exemplify some of the most wonderful uses of texture with little or no color that I have ever seen! Take a look at this textural feast for your eyes and notice the use of stone, wood, leather, wicker, glass and more!

Creature Comforts

Ez at Creature Comforts has re-designed her blog roll! It looks like it was a very industrious undertaking- but the final product is outstanding! Thanks for including Neutral Dwelling!

Surprise & Delight

I have magazines and tear sheets that I like to keep for inspiration. (Much to my husband's chagrin) Anyway, I was going through one of my folders and found this shotgun house that I had torn out and saved. I'm sorry that I don't know what magazine published it....

If you have ever been in the South you have probably seen many of these houses. The shotgun style houses were built from after the Civil War through the 1920s. They are narrow one-story dwellings without halls. The rooms are placed behind one another in single file. The reason they are called shotgun is because if one were to fire a shotgun through the front door, the shot would pass through the lined up doors of each room and out the back door. Although in reality, the doors don't usually line up.

This example of an updated shotgun's interior brings Surprise- in how great it lives & Delight- at it's fresh sophistication and traditional feel but in an updated way.


The sofa is a John Saladino design, John is a noted international designer and author that blends contemporary and antique so well, which is what this house is about. The high ceilings lend spaciousness to the small space.


No house can have enough storage. This is great use of a small space in the bathroom.



I love the doors leading to the backyard.


This house has a more modern arrangement but with old-fashioned attributes that adds that southern flavor. The key to the home's charm is the blending of the old and new which makes this a wonderful example of simple transitional design.

Bloggy Give Away Winner!

Thanks to so many who participated in our 1st Bloggy Give Away!
We are happy to say that we have a winner and it is Boy & Girl of A Boy and A Girl and A Pug
It was great fun and all of the posts were great- Each and everyone was read! Thanks Again!

Valentine Card Design

I was so excited to go to the mailbox yesterday because the Valentine Cards that I designed for my daughter arrived from the printer. Here's hoping we all have a wonderful Valentine's!

Tagged!

I was tagged by Jennifer from Canada with My Designing Life to list 7 random things about myself.

1. I have found a new love of nature in photography.
2. I love one of my Christmas presents-- a Wacom Tablet
3. My favorite dogs are poodles and malteses- I have the sweetest red poodle named Harley and his best friend, Sugar who lives down the street is a gorgeous maltese.
4. I can make a "mean" pork tenderloin.
5. My favorite spot for rejuvenating is down by the lake with friends.
   
6. I find that walks in the woods bring me peace, contentment and a connection with God.
7. I enjoy playing the Wii- Guitar Hero Rocks!

Happy Weekend!