Today I'm loving...

...this utterly gorgeous dining room...with glamour and restraint striking a fine balance...

via house beautiful

Hope you all are having a lovely week.

Why don't you...

via icanread

That's all it takes to make the world a better place. A lovely weekend to you all!

Giving thanks...

No matter how life is going for you...there's always something to be thankful for. Remember to count your blessings and be grateful.. Happy Thanksgiving!


quote & mage via here

White on white + Art walls...

Two rooms..with their all-white color schemes paired with eclectic art walls...and touches of pink...So similar yet distinct...Though neither is my natural style..I am drawn to both...

images via pinterest

Monday mantra...

via icanread

...and on that note let's say hello to a brand new week! Happy Monday!

Getting my act together...

In other words, planning outfits by putting together my silks and jewels for a cousin's wedding over the weekend..I will see you again on Monday..Have a lovely 'rest of the week'!

image via maison marigold

The times they are a-changin' ...

via here

Today has been a day of notifications..and I am not complaining. It's a great way to start a brand new year. Have a lovely day you all !!

Purple Pause...

Two living rooms...

One cosy and casual with a bohemian feel...

The other..grander...more traditional but not seriously so...

Different styles...but purple is just perfect for both!

Classic love: Serge Mouille lamps

A French icon from the 50's, the Serge Mouille lamp in all its avatars is a great example of beauty in simplicity. Mouille made all his lamps with hand, never resorting to the use of machine technology to boost the numbers, despite huge demand for his designs. It is no wonder then that his iconic lamps are more than just a source of lighting..they are infact pieces of art..just as Mouille had intended them to be.

I love them for their clean lines and amazing versatility. Here are some of my favourite interiors where a Mouille lamp take pride of place but doesn't ever overwhelm ..such is its quiet understated beauty...

The ceiling lamp in the foyer...talk about making a first good impression!

via AD

In bedrooms...

via wfora

via domino

via elle decor

In the living room...

via elle decor

Adding to the edginess of this modern dining room...

via AD

The white fixture fits perfectly with the neutral elememts of this dining room...

via regardez ca

The very modern sconces provide such a stunning contrast to the traditional overtones of this gorgeous living room...creating perfect harmony...

via elle decor

The iconic standing lamp, that started it all...at home in its  mid-century environs...

via pinterest

A perfect spot for reading...

via from the right bank

An absolute stunner...

via betsy brown interiors

You can even take in the bath with you..well..almost....Afterall..every room looks better with a Serge Mouille lamp!

via tumblr

Can you tell  by know how high it figures on my list of must-haves?

Monday inspiration...

via pinterest

A perfect work-space to kick-start a brand new week on a cheerful note..Happy Monday!

Why don't you...

via pinterest

Have a wonderful weekend my lovely friends... Eid Mubarak!

Weekend eye-candy...

The living room in the Beverly Hills estate of Ellen DeGeneres and Portia de Rossi is at once warm and cool..casual and elegant..where traditional mixes seamlessly with modern ...Perfect but unpretentious...

via Architectural Digest

To read the full article and to see images of rest of the house, please visit here.

My Turkish Delight ( just one of many)...

First there are those magnificent sights and sounds that pull you in, the moment you step a foot in that magical land they call Turkey ...and if that is not enough to keep you rivetted, there's always the mind-boggling array of goodies from textiles to ceramics...from glassware to spices..that keep calling your attention wherever you may look. It is literally impossible to come back fully satisfied from a trip to Turkey,  for even if you have an extra bag full of your shopping treasures, you are well aware that you have only just scratched the surface...and it is this sense of having left something behind...an exquisite suzani..an antique kilim, perhaps.. that'll take you back once more. I know I'll have to go back some day...but in the meantime I'll just enjoy some of my lovely finds..my beautiful acquisitions..

This glorious Suzani for one...

The beautiful pattern in rich vibrant colors (the purple is much deeper than it looks in the images) and the exquisite hand embroidery is even more stunning in person...

It's an old piece made by the local women in Cappadocia. It needs some finishing touches..a border and a backing, perhaps..but I couldn't resist putting it out on my bed for Diwali...I think it has all the makings of a family heirloom...

all images via maison marigold

House Tour- Harlem brownstone transformed...

Textile designer Christina Azario spear-headed a massive renovation that added two more floors to the existing three and nearly doubled the square footage of a dilapidated traditional brownstone to create a whole new lofty residence for her family in New York...and the biggest surprise..it took all of 10 months!! To maintain the uniformity of the exterior with the other brownstones in the row, the facade was left untouched but beyond that everything else was completely overhauled. The back of the house was extended and the wall replaced with glass, adding both space and light. With a harmonious mix of rough and refined, traditional and contemporary, it is a beautiful light-filled home with a very clever maximization of the ultimate luxury in New York ...SPACE!

 Lets take a peek...

Kilim-covered chairs add color and pattern to the restrained palette of the living room...

The kitchen features stainless steel counter-tops and hand-painted cabinetry... integrating traditional and contemporary...

In the light-filled master bedroom , tufted headboards reach all the way up to the ceiling. The linens have all been designed by Azario...

In the master bath, the tub has a European look and fittings are Georgian inspired, yet the feel is very clean and contemporary...

The library has custom-made modern shelving which contrasts beautifully with the rustic Asian cocktail table and  the wooden Brazilian chairs. A Turkish rug adds warmth to the space...

 

To read the complete interview with Cristina Azario and to see more images, please visit here.

all images via elle decor

House Of Fifty Holiday issue is live (and I'm there too)...

House of Fifty

The holiday issue of House of Fifty is now live and I am very happy to have made a teeny tiny contribution to this superb spread! Click here to read page after page of inspiration for a beautiful home and so much more... (You'll find me on pages 128 through 135).

Congratulations, Janell for the great job you've done (yet again) and thankyou for making me a part of one of my favourite magazines!