decor – Stylishly Zen

Inspiring Design

Published on May 25, 2020May 24, 2020 by soreiya2 Comments

Hi Everyone!

Today’s Inspiring Design is a gorgeous Victorian home located in San Francisco. Victorian homes have always had a special place in my heart since I saw Mrs. Doubtfire when I was younger. When I first saw pictures of this house, I was expecting beautiful and classic design, but with each picture that I saw my jaw dropped further to the floor. It is widely billed as the former home of actress Meg Ryan but the home has undergone quite the transformation since. When the current owners purchased the home in 2014, they hired local architect Tim Murphy to update the home which included a new kitchen, master suite, family room and upstairs lounge. Murphy was able to retain a lot of the original magic of the space by keeping the gorgeous crown molding and millwork throughout the home. Interior design firm Nicole Hollis was also hired early in remodel process to consult on interior finishes, hardware and custom cabinetry along with the furnishings and the majority of the decorative lighting among other things. The front living room is particular favourite (first image). I love the contrast of the marble accents with the chevron walnut flooring against the navy, grey and white colour palette. The house is 7050 square feet with five bedrooms and five and a half bathrooms. The blend of classic and modern throughout the home is stunning, but the incredible bay views is what really made this Victorian home stand out to me. Sliding doors in the kitchen which open onto a terrace offer breathtaking views of the San Francisco Bay. The kitchen itself is a dream with a waterfall marble island, exquisite custom cabinetry and top of the line appliances. Adjacent to the kitchen is the family room and the dining room, both of which offer beautiful views of the bay as well. Aside from the beautiful view, I am completely in love with the sculptural smoked glass lighting fixture hanging above the dining room table. Gorgeous!The most incredible room in this house though is on the top floor. The upstairs lounge offers panoramic views of the city and the bay, including offering unobstructed views of Angel Islands and Alcatraz. The lounge opens to a stunning terrace which houses a fire pit to help create a cozy atmosphere. The views from there both day and night are fantastic and it looks like the most incredible spot to unwind with a glass of wine after a long week. All information and images are from http://www.dwell.com and you can find more images for this gorgeous home here.

Thank you for stopping by Stylishly Zen today and I hope that you are safe and have a beautiful day! XXS

Spotlight with Rachele Biancalani

Published on February 1, 2018January 31, 2018 by soreiyaLeave a comment

Hi Everyone!

Today I am so excited to introduce a new feature here on Stylishly Zen called Spotlight, where I will be interviewing incredibly talented designers, bloggers and entrepreneurs about their lives, their work and how they got started within their respective industry. Today’s Spotlight is with one of my favourite architect and designers Rachele Biancalani, and I was beyond thrilled when Rachele agreed to be the very first person to be featured on Spotlight. Rachele runs her own namesake firm based in Italy which means that she is a architect, designer and business woman extrodinare. It became clear from Rachele’s interview that she lives and breathes design, and this passion and dedication is clearly reflected in her work. A Tuscan farmhouse that Rachele designed has previously been featured on Stylishly Zen (you can check it out here) and I have no doubt that more of her work will be featured in the future. Without further adieu, here is my interview with Rachele:

Where are you originally from and where do you live now?

I’m Italian, I’ve studied Architecture in Florence and I live in Italy right now close to Florence, in Tuscan

When did you know that you wanted to be a designer?

When I was a child I enjoyed looking at similar apartments (at different floors of the same building) and discover how much they were different with various furntiure and different walls.

Where do you get your inspiration from?

My main inspirations are my Clients and their desires; for this reason my works are so different one from the others.

What is your favourite city to visit for design inspiration?

I think Italy (with Florence, Rome and Milan) is very inspiring but also other European Cities as Berlin, London and Paris

From start to finish, describe your ideal day…

My ideal day is wake up early in the morning but without the alarm clock, prepare breakfast for my two children, go to gym, go to work in some of my building site and then work all-day-long with nice collegues and smart Clients, then meet my family for dinner and talk about all the beautiful things we have done during the day.

What is the best advice that you have ever received?

An Architect that I respect and esteem told me that in each difficult situation I have have to keep calm and always trust in myself

What is your favourite food?

My favourite food are vegetables and dark chocolate but not in this order 🙂

List three things that you always carry in your bag

I’ve always got in my bag a meter, my smartphone and a pencil

What is the first thing that you do in the morning and the last thing that you do at night?

The first thing I do in the morning is going in my children bedroom and the last thing at night is to fall asleep with them on the sofa watching some tv series that we love

How do you incorporate wellness into your life?

Unfortunately in this period I’m not able to incorporate yoga, meditation or fitness as much as I would… but it is one of my best intention for 2018.

What does living well mean to you?

Living well for me is definitely to defeat stress and learn to say “no” and take care of ourselves

To see more of Rachele’s work please visit her website www.rachelebiancalani.com

I hope that you have a fabulous day! XXS

Inspiring Interior

Published on September 28, 2017September 27, 2017 by soreiyaLeave a comment

Judging from the amount of Inspiring Interiors blog posts that I have done on Swedish designs lately, it would be safe to say that I have a deep love for Swedish interiors. Today’s post is no exception.

Located in Stockholm, this stylish one bedroom flat is a minimalist interior designer’s dream. The wood furniture highlights the beauty of the herringbone wood floor and the bright white kitchen is chic yet unfussy. The dining nook is an ideal spot to host friends while the little balcony is the perfect spot to enjoy the weather. Overall, what this apartment lacks in size more then makes up for it in design.

All images from http://www.noter.se

I hope that you have a beautiful day! ❤️XXS

Inspiring Interior

Published on May 12, 2017May 11, 2017 by soreiyaLeave a comment

Today’s inspiring interior is located in Stockholm. The bright white walls and many windows allow the natural beauty of this gorgeous apartment to shine. While a wood table and natural fibre chairs are not styles of furniture that I normally gravitate towards, I am loving how they contrast against it’s bright environment and the beautiful marble kitchen. Whimsical touches like the lounge chairs, super cool light fixtures and eclectic art work give this fabulous space personality, while the grey furniture and plants tie everything together. This apartment really showcases the beauty of Swedish interior design. Love it!

All images from http://www.nuter.se

I hope that you have a fabulous day! ❤️XXS

Inspiring Interior

Published on March 21, 2017March 19, 2017 by soreiyaLeave a comment

Hi Everyone!

Today is the first day of spring, but thanks to a snow storm last week there is still a ton of snow on the ground. Winter may be on it’s way out but it seems determined to not go quietly. Normally, by this time of year I am winter weary and dreaming of the warmer weather but this year I have decided to enjoy the last few weeks (hopefully not longer) of winter weather by taking some time to slow down, to nest and breathe.

Today’s Inspiring Interior is reflective of my current, more relaxed state of mind. Located in Stockholm, this apartment is the epitome of chic yet understated Scandinavian design. Large windows offer beautiful views of the city while drenching the apartment in natural light. The colour palate is a sophisticated neutral combination of greys, whites, creams, blacks and light wood. Designed by the talented Pella Hedeby, this apartment is the perfect refuge for a winter weary soul like me. A girl can dream…..