Old World Cozy Nooks

...now sharing some curious interiors sending us back to the glory of yeasteryear! Luxurious and cozy lounge areas for the most comfortable relaxation when reading and day-dreaming!

↑... beautiful sitting area in faded greens enlivened with the SPRING BLUE and LEMON YELLOW of the cascading curtains!

↑... such a sunny space, elegant yet playful! Chinese vases on the table and Asian style background art  for some exotic touch...

↑... i'm loving this quite rare colour mix of ORANGE & PINK here! The whole room is just a marvel, isn't it!?

↑... and, lastly, this musical salon, which is rather too dark to my taste, still i like all the object the room is filled with and how everything is arranged here!

Interiors with an old-fashioned feel

Well, i'm ready with a new interior inspiration series! I can't believe that only some time ago, old European style might keep me indifferent! Today, i find myself really obsessed with anything Victorian:Edwardian and Steampunk era, the Tudors epoch, and that's not to mention my AngloMania in general! So, now, here's a mix of interiors, more of a classic fusion, where you can feel a breath of good old times!

↑ ... i love wood in interior design! No matter whether it is untreated or processed in any way, it always brings sense of soulful warmth and stability. And stripes, they fit perfectly both Oriental and European style!

↑ [left] MARK HAMPTON's GORGEOUS BLUE-YELLOW DINING ROOM. + [?] - dark blue and terracotta for a solemn and near-mystical feeling.

↑ ... love these earthen hues together together with faded greens and berry tones!

↑ ... PHOTOGRAPHY BY THOMAS LOOF. Great idea of painting walls in different colours. I find this to be an excellent option that allows to interprete not only a single one, but different 'stories' at a time connected within one space.

↑ ... PHOTOGRAPHY BY THOMAS LOOF. The way i love it - the more the better!;

↑ ... ESTUDIO DE INTERIORISMO FACTOTUM/BARCELONA + LONNY MAGAZINE. 

⇅ ... I love old manors and it's always a big spot of attraction to me when travelling.

↑ ... These featured rooms are from a 1700 Swedish house. [found at LANTLIV]

Lush Interiors by Howard Slatkin

It's quite rare that i happen to find interiors where i would drool over absolutely every detail, but now it seems to be exactly the case! I'm talking about one-of-a-kind spaces by HOWARD SLATKIN, -- pretentious (in the very best sense of this word) yet enveloping with overwhelming coziness! Moreover... as stated in the original article, everything(!) you see in the rooms is designed by Mr. Slatkin himself! Really, looking over these images, i feel myself like Alice in Wonderland, eager to discover and be surprised! Well, come join me for a little tour around the splendorous, 18th-century style NY mansion! 

[IMAGES AND TEXT BELOW THE PHOTOS VIA NYTIMES :  PHOTOGRAPHS By SIMON WATSON.]

[...The dining room was inspired by Raphael’s Loggia at the Vatican. The ceiling was painted by the artisan Alexander Solodukho. The slipcovers are from Chelsea Editions; the curtain embroidery is by Jean-François Lesage.]

[...Slatkin refers to the narrow living room as the “bowling alley.” To compensate, he stained the dark parquet floors a pale gray to match the walls and open up the space. The curtain hardware is from P. E. Guerin.]

[...Slatkin wanted the guest bedroom, with its French empire steel and bronze canopy bed and 18th-century Chinese wallpaper, to feel like “an enchanted moonlit fantasy garden for guests.” The curtains are from Stark Carpet and Fabric; the door hardware is from P. E. Guerin.]

[...The elevator vestibule connects with the back hall leading to the guest suite, screening room and candle room.]

... the apartment has a unique aura i have no words to describe, have you felt this too? Details are perfectly thought out, yet with that not a hint of ostentatiousness, -- it's the house that lives and lives big!

... Needless to say, i'm so much eager to get my copy of Howard Slatkin's book ''FIFTH AVENUE STYLE,'' to be able to submerge myself into long contemplation of his full of treasures apartment! 

 

some more links you might like: 

❂ LUNCH FIFTH AVENUE STYLE WITH HOWARD SLATKIN

❂ AND, DO HAVE A LOOK AT MANY OTHER PHOTOGRAPHIES [HERE] FROM THE APARTMENT ALONG WITH AN INTERVIEW WITH THE DESIGNER. 

❂ HOWARD SLATKIN's INSTAGRAM

Flowers @ Home

...I was inspired to create this post by FLOWER DELIVERY by BLOOM NATION, (a US company providing a marketplace for the country's independent florists to showcase and sell their handcrafted arrangements), suggesting me to share some ideas on how to decorate home with flowers and plants. Of course, I gladly accepted the opportunity to deal once again with my fav topic!
Actually, the ways of displaying flowers indoors are really limitless, just as far as our fantasy may lead us. And though, what i'm showing today is not anything extraordinary, yet, something curious to see, something kinda well known to perceive afresh!

↑ [both] BRIGITTE.DE    well, flowers in vases is the fastest & most classical way to enliven your interior space. These may be either monochrome or bright, compact or lush coffee table arrangements, a seasonal bouquet on a dining table, a drawer or a nightstand - just anything that gladdens your eyes and is harmonious with the surrounding space.

↑ AT HOME WITH INTERIOR DESIGNER JANICE ISSITT + ↑ JACKSONVILLE MAGAZINE
↑✪ ... i'm loving the idea to display flowers by placing them in front of a mirror which not only duplicates the beauty of the blooms, but also, being a good light reflector, helps to show them in the right light.ツ   ↑✪ ... a bouquet that occupies no place on a table is... a hanging bouquet! 

↑ ARENT&PYKE + AD SPAIN  ✪ ... i know, some people don't like ferns at home, but i, personally, enjoy the feeling of deep forest they bring. And, if the space is limited, shade loving ferns with their lush foliage feel very comfortable somewhere near the ceiling - e.g. on wardrobes, cabinets etc.

↑ PHOTOGRAPHY BY LEELACYD.COM GOOD FOR COUNTRY HOUSE: ✪ ... while gathering material for this post, i've come across a word 'JUNGALOW', joining together two ideas -- a JUNGLE and a BUNGALOW. To me, this supposes lot's of cascading type of tropical plants, succulents & cactuses. Here, handmade window shelves serve as a collector's display for fav objects and, of course, plants. A small terrarium has found its place there, too.

↑ BOUQUET IMAGE VIA GOOGLE SEARCH + FLORA-DESIGN.RU  ✪ ... Now, about a trend that is of my very special interest - dried flowers bouquets and arrangements! I feel really super amazed by the numerous unique designs and varieties of combined materials of the dried creations!

↑ BRIGITTE.DE + SWETTMABELUK INSTAGRAM  ...or, if you don't want to go through the hassle of plants caring, but still need the presence of flowers in the home -- a few little blooms arranged simply in a glass, fancy or milk bottles will look no less charming. 

↑ A BATHROOM via GYPSYYAYA + AN APARTMENT IN ITALY [A MAGAZINE SCAN]   
↑✪ ... many tropical plants feel perfectly at home in bathrooms, even in those with no window. High humidity and low light is right what they need.

↑ [image on the right] HANNAH BLACKMORE INTERIOR PHOTOGRAPHY  ✪ ... in a room, there may be only a few, but statement plants, e.g. arranged in pairs, as here -- guarding on both sides of the entrance, or plants with eye-catching foliage and large leaves working like accent pieces.
↑ BRI EMERY'S HOUSE Photography by: LAURE JOLIET PLANTS WITH PERSONALITY
✪ ... Now, let's have fun -- choose a face pot (of a human, an animal or a fantastic creature) and try yourself as a hairdresser!
✪ Also, you might want to learn 25 UNEXPECTED WAYS TO DECORATE WITH PLANTS from KATE THORN. 
✪ And, check out more ideas on BLOOM NATION's BLOG & BLOOM NATION's PINTEREST

Elegance in beige

This London apartment designed by KATRINA PHILLIPS feels like a small oasis of serenity and harmony! Soft shades of coffee with milk are livened up by occasional spots of berry colours. Well, something has definitely hooked me here!

Straight lines of classic European elegance are refined by the presence of Oriental pieces - a Moroccan ceiling lantern, a carved wooden wardrobe (i guess it's what it looks like) on the right and even a woman in pink makes her special contribution to the room's atmosphere.

I love bay windows! They not only allow in much light, but also provide a perfect space to arrange a comfortable lounge zone.

The niche, that might first have been a kind of architectural defect, is turned into a collector's display of favourite objects. ✪ The bedroom continues enveloping with peaceful vibes. Coffee & Milk tones of textiles, furniture and heavy, similar to stage drapes, curtains make a soothing but not dull colour palette with the light pistacchio of the walls. 

Gustavian Style House in the South of England

Yes, Swedish Gustavian style is happening to be the order of the day here! Even if this is not your style, this house definitely has a curious story to narrate, a story that is worth listening to! found via here.

I don't know how it feels to reside daily in a space like this, but the more i examine the pictures the more i feel drawn to all the different shadows of whites reigning here  -- from the warm tones of condensed milk to dazzlingness of beaten egg whites, lots of intricate details are curious to look at, and i like how the atmosphere of royalness is harmonized with nostalgic pleasantness of rural manor...

Feeling Royal

... as you may already know, my always favourite interior design styles are Arabian - bedouin and  luxurious Arabic, Moroccan, desi (Pakistan and India) and the 60's. Now, it's about a different style i've always stood far away from -- the royal style of European interiors, no matter whether it was about classical originals or any modern interpretations. 
I know it's not correct from a specialist's point of view, but i like to call it 'royal' to myself meaning several interior decorating styles like classicism, baroque, rococo, bourgeois,  neo gothic and even classic country all together. Of course, it's impossible not to admire the artistic beauty of all these styles, but i never considered any of their elements for my home (financial aspect apart 8].
Now, i don't know what's happened, may be... maturing?? Anyway, exactly these brilliant works by some worldwide famous decorators have definitely found a way to my heart! I can imagine myself feeling comfortable, cozy and inspired inside their modern Renaissance spaces! Another deco-stream to keep an eye on! 

↑ I am starting with an interior designed by legendary Mario Buatta, an American interior decorator, who is considered 'a premier interpreter of English country-house classicism' (still i have a feeling, Italy is always present in his designs, do you, too?) and whose works speak to me the most! There'll be more rooms by Mario Buatta down below. [...LIVING ROOM OF HILARY AND WILBUR ROSS's MANHATTAN pied-à-terre: An investor and his wife enlisted Mario Buatta to create a colorful backdrop for their collection of modern and contemporary art and photography. Sherbet hues enliven the living room, shown, which features a commanding barrel-vaulted ceiling...] photography: SCOTT FRANCES source: AD

↑ TRADITIONAL LIVING ROOMIN A FRENCH COUNTRY-STYLE RESIDENCE IN MANILA, PHILIPPINES. photo: MARY E. NICHOLS source: AD

↑ TRADITIONAL DINING ROOM IN A PARIS APARTMENT. ["the 18th- and 19th-century Chinese export armorial plates are family heirlooms of one of the owners, Sylvain Lévy-Alban and Charlie Garnett"] ... love the presence of red here! source: AD  photo: PASCAL CHEVALLIER

↑ A REGAL RESIDENCE OF AILEEN MEHLE BY MARIO BUATTA: photography: SCOTT FRANCES/ AD

↑ TRADITIONAL OFFICE/LIBRARY BY MARIO BUATTA IN CHARLESTON, SOUTH CAROLINA

↑ TRADITIONAL LIVING ROOM/MUSIC ROOM BY KARA CHILDRESS INC IN HOUSTON TEXAS
...i am loving these powdered pinks paired with light copper tones, and a chandelier ...ahh, such a feast to the eyes! source: AD photographer: ERIC PIASECKI

↑ TRADITIONAL OFFICE/LIBRARY BY FRIEDERIKE KEMP BIGGS and GEORGE W. SWEENEY in NEW YORK ["...Working with architect George W. Sweeney, interior designer Friederike Kemp Biggs refashioned a New York penthouse for herself and her husband, Jeremy. Sweeney added an arched transom window in the home office."]  photography: DERRY MOORE source: AD

↑ TRADITIONAL BEDROOM BY FRIEDERIKE KEMP BIGGS and GEORGE W. SWEENEY in NEW YORK  ... yes, i'm loving all things pink )), and this little pouff is simply adorable, isn't it? photography: DERRY MOORE source: AD

↑ THE ESSENCE OF THE GEORGIAN COUNTRY STYLE ON LONG ISLAND's NORTH SHORE: ["...Enveloping the master suite in blue toile “cools down a very sunny room,” Buatta remarks. “...but if you don’t have a great room, covering it in one fabric can hide a multitude of sins."] ... i may say it also vice versa,  -- a room has to be very sunny in order to be all white & blue :) designer: MARIO BUATTA photography: GORDON BEALL source: AD 

Flowers & Interiors

... it's quite seldom when i happen to google-find interiors that would appeal to me fully (the perfectionist in me always makes the task even harder), but here's something eye-catching from my recent finds... 

Today i've made the pics go in pairs -- interiors + bouquets which, from my point of view, you might find in there, or the other way around, use flowers colour scheme as a starting point to create a certain interior. ... ok, now, no more words, only INTERIORS+FLOWERS! 

↑ via TUMBLR  ↱ MACRO FLOWERS by CRISTINA MANCHENKO

↑ ARCHITECTURAL DIGEST INDIA  ↱ via Amaryllis, Gerbera und Ranunkeln - [LIVING AT HOME]

↑ [LIVING AT HOME]   ↱ DECORATOR ROBERT KIME

↑ via TUMBLR ↱ [LIVING AT HOME]

↑ via TUMBLR ↱ [LIVING AT HOME]

↑ via Herbststrauß aus Knäul-Glockenblumen, Klee und Hirse - [LIVING AT HOME]

More interiors on their way from my carefully selected little collection... :)