interior design – Page 8

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

Inspiring Design

Published on April 16, 2020April 15, 2020 by soreiyaLeave a comment

Hi Everyone!

I’m sure that it comes as no surprise, but all of this extra time at home has me deep diving into the world of architecture and interiors. So far I have completed Kelly Wearstler’s Master Class, read Live Beautiful by Athena Calderone from cover to cover, and I am now over halfway thru Kelly Wearstler’s Evocative Style. I am also slowing catching up on the pile of design magazines I have stacked up and I am loving all of the interior inspiration that Instagram is currently providing. Aside from other activities that are keeping me busy while isolating, I am very happy in my design education bubble.

The gorgeous kitchen in today’s Inspiring Design is what first caught my attention. While I had never before dreamt of a dark kitchen, with a stunning black marble island, floor to ceiling steel windows and chevron wood floor this may well be the kitchen of my dreams. The Dutch Gable House by Austin Design Associates is the design firm behind the dreamy and contemporary renovation of this historic Melbourne home. The renovation seamlessly melds the existing Edwardian and Federation details with an elegant colour and material palette and modern design. The result is a timeless and sophisticated home that is a design lovers dream. The combination of stunning materials such as Cote D’Azur marble, oak herringbone floors and titanium granite along with the steel floor to celling windows which invite an abundance of natural light, and details such as freestanding tubs and restrained decor make this home bright, inviting and chic. The outdoor space is equally restrained yet inviting. It looks like the perfect spot to enjoy a sunny afternoon with a great book and glass of rose. The proverbial icing on this beautiful home are the furnishings that elevate the materials used throughout the home. From the deep green dining chairs paired with a statement wood dining table, cool and varied lighting choices and the mix of furniture using both natural textures and sleek design, I can’t think of anything that I would change in this home. Love it!

You can see more of this gorgeous home here. Photo credit http://www.thelocalproject.com.au

I hope that you are all staying safe and well while social distancing, and that you have great day! XXS

Inspiring Design

Published on February 17, 2020February 17, 2020 by soreiya1 Comment

The first picture that I ever saw of the Brighton Homestead by Robson Rak Architects was the incredible white entryway. It quickly earned a spot in my dream design file and I often found myself staring at it wondering what the rest of the home looked like. Last week though, The Local Project featured a breathtaking home in Melbourne that I quickly fell in love with. I was pleasantly surprised to find that the entryway that had left an indelible mark on my design dreams belonged to this dream worthy home.

Architectural firm Robson and Rak were tasked with the brief of adapting a stately home into a family enclave for a family with four young boys. They respected the original features and built a complementary extension which successfully elevated the design of the entire home.

The brief included creating an amazing zone for the children and this home balances formality with a sense of play throughout the home. This included extending the underground basement garage to allow for indoor cricket matches.

The colour palette throughout the home is restrained and elegant, with pops of colour to further elevate the sense of play vibe that this home has.

The colour play of light and dark along with large windows that allow for natural light throughout the home along with exquisite carved details, combine to make a unique and dream worthy residence.

Spacious, beautiful and light filled, this home is a study in playful elegance. One that I hope to achieve in my own home.

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

Photos via http://www.thelocalproject.com.au

Behind the Design with Carola Vannini

Published on December 19, 2019December 18, 2019 by soreiyaLeave a comment

Carola Vannini is a talented Rome based architect whose designs are the true definition of timeless sophistication. With a minimalistic yet elevated aesthetic, Carola has the ability to transform worn and dated interiors into timeless, elegant, dream worthy spaces. Since discovering her work, I have spent a lot of time admiring her designs both on Instagram and on her own website. I absolutely love how she uses backlighting to create beautiful lit from within interiors in a variety of spaces. As an admirer of her work, I was very excited when she agreed to be a part of Stylishly Zen’s Behind the Design series:

Did you always know that you wanted to work in architecture? Has it always been your passion?

I actually didn’t. I never thought of being an architect before signing into my university classes. It was a surprise for me to find out such an interesting world.

How would you describe your design esthetic?

I would describe it as a balance between ancient and contemporary minimalism. My motto is “Simplicity is the ultimate sophistication” and I totally believe so.

Where do you find your inspiration from?

It depends on every peculiar case. I always adjust my taste to the environment I have to deal with and, of course, with the clients’ taste and needs.

What has been your most challenging project so far? Why was it so challenging?

It is definitely the one I am still working on at the moment. It is a new construction Barn House in Tuscany. A very big project that I had to design from scratch. Now it is almost completed even though I am still working on the garden and landscape design of it.

What is your favourite project to date?

Among the completed ones, it is Navona Penthouse. I am very attached to that project because I had a great feeling with my clients and brought me a lot of satisfaction when it got published on last April issue of AD Italia.

How long does it take for you to normally complete a project?

From the design to the final step, I would say one year. But then, again, it depend on the case.

What is your favourite part about working in architecture?

The design part, where creativity can flow out of my head. Afterwords, the works themselves can get pretty stressing and tiring. Less creative and more practical.

Any favourite travel destinations that you like to escape too?Why?

I really enjoy Greece, especially the small islands. But my heart is actually in Thailand. A little too far from me to escape there only for a few days though.

How would you describe the design style/esthetic in Italy?

There is always a cassic and elegant touch. No matter what, if you were born in Italy, you breath beauty since your first day of life and I truly believe that this effects us all. Not only architects.

Do you have a favourite type of project to work on (private/public)? Why?

I mainly work on residential and I like it very much. I would really to go back to some public space design though, such as restaurants or hotels.

What wellness practices do you incorporate into your lifestyle to help you deliver such beautiful projects? (This can range from workouts, nutrition, meditation practice, etc)

I am a pilates and yoga fanatic. I really think that my daily workout is the best moment of my day; so useful for me to take a break and go back into myself. It helps me to face the rest of may time with much more energy and positive attitude.

Any words of wisdom for someone who is just starting out their design career?

Don’t give up your ideas for your clients’ ones. If you are really convinced that something is right that way, try to take them by hand and gently make them understand your point. You are the architect, right?

Thank you for stopping by and special thanks to Carola for taking the time to participate in this month’s Behind the Design. To see more of Carola’s work you can visit her website at http://www.carolavannini.com or check her out on Instagram @carolavannini

I hope that you have a beautiful day! XXS

All images courtesy of Carola Vannini

Five Faves

Published on December 17, 2019December 17, 2019 by soreiyaLeave a comment

Hi Everyone!

It’s hard for me to believe that it is almost Christmas! It feels like the past few months have flown by and I am not even remotely prepared for the holidays! Nonetheless, I am looking forward to sleeping in and enjoying delicious food over the next few weeks so my countdown is on! Here are the five things that I am loving right now:

I have been a Mindy Kailing fan for many years, and when I first heard about her movie Late Night earlier this year I was really excited to watch it. Unfortunately, I was unable to make it to the movie theatre to see it so I was thrilled when it was released on Amazon Prime earlier this month. This past Friday after a long day at work, I poured myself a glass of wine and settled in to finally watch this movie. It was just what I needed! Funny, smart and well written I expected nothing less from Mindy Kailing. If you are looking for a great movie to watch I highly recommend this one.

I am always on the hunt for a great smelling candle and I especially love it if I don’t have to pay a ridiculous amount of money for it. While doing a bit of Christmas shopping the other day, I discovered Capri Blue candles. All of the candles that I tried smelled amazing but I finally settled on Exotic Blossom and Basil which has a light clean fragrance. Once lit my home smelling fresh and welcoming, love it!

There are always such delicious baked goodies around the holidays but my absolute favourite is always gingerbread. I have been on the hunt for some over the past couple of weeks and FINALLY this past weekend I found my favourite holiday treat! It was soooo good and I am planning to enjoy a few more before the holidays are over.

I made the decision at the beginning of 2019 to listen to more podcasts. I really enjoy listening to them as I get dressed in the morning or even while I eat breakfast. I consider podcasts a great way to learn about subjects and people that interest me. One of my favourite podcasts is the Goop podcast and last week the host chatted with Melody Hobson about being colour brave rather then colour blind. As a visible minority I really connected with the subject matter, and I strongly feel that anyone that is interested in this issue listen to this podcast as Melody Hobson is a articulate, incredible woman who is really interesting to listen to.

Maybe it’s the colder temperature and my desire to nest in a chic space, or my love for marble and contrasts but I have absolutely fallen in love with this kitchen. The colour of the statement foliage on the counter contrasts well against the marble, cabinetry and floor and helps to elevate the chicness of the entire space. Bright, beautiful and welcoming this kitchen is definitely going on my mood board!

Thank you for stopping by today! What are you currently loving right now? Let me know in the comments below and Happy Holidays!!!!!! XXS

Photo credits: http://www.IMDB.com, http://www.goop.com, @ashleystark, http://www.simplyrecipes.com, http://www.capri-blue.com