Lifestyle – Page 6 – 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

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

Five Faves While Social Distancing

Published on March 31, 2020March 30, 2020 by soreiyaLeave a comment

Hi Everyone!

It feels really weird to be writing this post today. Regardless of where you are in the world right now, you have been touched in one way or another by the global pandemic that we are currently experiencing. While the situation is frightening and anxiety inducing, it has also really given me some perspective and allowed me some time and space for some much needed clarity in my life. I wanted to share my five faves at the moment that are helping me to stay sane, keep my anxiety at bay and smile a little bit brighter as we take the steps necessary to flatten the curve of cases of COVID-19. Here are my Five Faves while practicing social distancing and self isolation:

Working out with Melissa Wood Health

Like most people I have been forced to modify my workouts. I am a bit of cardio junkie so not being able to hop on the treadmill or elliptical trainer at the gym has been a huge change. I decided to embrace this as an opportunity to switch up my work outs and I purchased a subscription to the fitness app Melissa Wood Health. The moves are low impact and seem so simple but it is so hard! It is a great way to challenge my body and keep me active while I practice social distancing. If you are looking for less expensive ways to work out then hop onto Youtube, there are a ton of videos there that will help you to get moving and relieve some stress.

Cooking with Jennifer Fisher Kitchen

I have always been a fan of Jennifer Fisher. If you are unfamiliar with her, she is a very talented NYC jewelry designer who is also a really good cook. I have been loving all of the recipes that she posts on her website and she walks thru a lot of her recipes on Instagram Stories which really helps to keep me motivated to try new things. Over the past week and a half she has been posting more recipes and videos and everything looks so good! Since I began self isolation I have made her banana bread recipe twice, sautéed artichokes and her recipe for twice baked potatoes. Whole roasted cauliflower, pantry soup and more banana bread will be a part of my meal planning for this next week. If you are looking for some delicious and easy recipe inspiration check out her recipes on here Instagram page @jenniferfisherkitchen or on her website here

Jennifer Fisher’s My Mom’s Da Bomb Banana Bread – it is sooooo good and addictive!!!!!

Live Beautiful by Athena Calderone

If you have been following this blog for a while then you know that I am a total design junkie. Athena Calderone is the creator of the gorgeous blog Eye Swoon (www.eye-swoon.com) and she just released her second book Live Beautiful in early March. Within this book, Athena goes into the homes of incredible designers around the world and shows us their spaces and their design choices. The homes are gorgeous and endlessly inspiring. If you are searching for a gorgeous design book to get lost into for a few hours or if you are searching for some fresh inspiration this book is for you.

Breathing App

My job in manufacturing has issued temporary layoffs during this uncertain time and I live alone so there have been moments that I feel a little uneasy and anxious. I think that it’s important to acknowledge these feelings rather then suppress them, sit with them and unpack them to really understand why I am feeling the way that I do in that moment, so that I can move forward in a healthy manner. A part of this process is learning to take moments to focus on my breathing. Some people are trying meditation during this challenging time but I have had better luck with consistently taking moments to focus on my breath so this is the method that I am sticking with right now. The Breathing app is something that I heard about last year and immediately downloaded it. Developed by Eddie Stern and is inspired by resonance which is “the scientific name that describes what happens when our heart rate, heart rate variability, blood pressure and brainwave function come into coherent frequency.”(via http://www.eddiestern.com). It helps to regulate your breathing so that you instantly feel calmer and more relaxed. You basically follow a ball – as it expands for a count of 4 you inhale and as it contracts you inhale for a count of 6 for a total of one minute. You can adjust the breath counts to what you feels what works best for you. The app is free and I have been using it at least twice a day (morning and night) and I cannot recommend it enough. If you feel that you need some help taking a moment to help regulate your breathing and feel calmer in the moment then this app is worth trying.

Ugly Delicious Season 2 on Netflix

I love food shows and Ugly Delicious is no exception. Season 2 dropped on Netflix earlier this month and it is soooo good! This time off has allowed me to catch up on a ton of shows that I have been meaning to watch but this series really stands out. I especially loved the episode about Indian food which featured the supremely talented chef Floyd Cardoz who sadly passed away last week after being diagnosed with COVID-19. I love learning about cultures thru food and Ugly Delicious does a great job showcasing both the similarities and subtle nuances between cultures. If you are searching for a cool, fun and interesting show to binge on then Ugly Delicious should definitely be on your list.

Thank you for stopping by Stylishly Zen today. Please feel free to share in the comments things that you are currently loving, and tips that you are using to stay sane during this crazy time in the world. Please stay safe and take care and I look forward to hearing from you! 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