Thursday Inspiration

Photo credit here.

I am swooning over this photos!  I thought I'm done with the white, pristine, feminine interiors but when I saw this, I can't stop staring and had to read more about the owner.  This beautiful dresser and desk belongs to the grand daughter of Grace Kelly's clothier (I like that word!), Katie Ermilio who is a designer herself.  Check out Rue magazine for more photos of her home and be inspired! It's almost weekend!  Yay!!


I would love to hear your thoughts.

Up Close and Personal

Exactly a month ago I shared with you here, the house of my dear friend Aura.  I was just being bold and ambitious to create a once a month post on beautiful, REAL homes.  But to tell you honestly, I didn't know if I can come up with a second one.  Now it can be told, I was a bit scared if I can really pull this through.  But I guess luck is on my side or should I say I got friends on my side?  Because today, I am excited to show you another friend's house.  Yup...I charmed my way to have her house posted here in 40andbeyond.  And of course, she cannot resist as I implore with French pastries in my bag.  So, for this month of November, let me share with you the second...

Up Close and Personal

My very good friend Doris, has the most charming "Shabby Chic" - inspired home right smack in the middle of the City.  The moment you enter her home (shared with her hubby and beautiful daughter), you instantly feel like you're in a country home and you just want to find a corner (amongst the many cozy nooks that she has!), lounge and bask in a good book.  Or just like what I would do when I visit her, I'd just be idle and feast my eyes with all her pretty vignettes!  Take a visual tour with me and feel some French, country charm...

As you enter the main door, you will be greeted by the family's oval-framed silhouettes.  I am not very fond of frames but this set is just perfect to welcome the guests!

The warm and inviting living room.  The color palette of green and white, accessorized with silver makes it very relaxing.  It really feels you're in a bed and breakfast  cottage.

(1) Collection of antique, silver candle holders  (2)  A snuggly corner of the living room (3) Simple cushions dot the all-white cozy couch (4)  Shabby and distressed candelabras on the coffee table

The dining area is right next to the living area. I love the way Doris make use of old pieces, (some were hand me down from her family) and gives them a new life by making it functional again. Can you see the old sewing machine behind the chair?  She refurbished it and made it into a console.  Now it's perfect to hold her antique, silver tea set. 

The study is accessorized with inherited and vintage stuff.  This nook is screaming I-N-S-P-I-R-A-T-I-O-N!  Can you hear it??

(1-2) Medicine cabinet of Doris' grandfather, now houses her collection of thimbles and vintage children's books (3) A bread box cum chopping board is now used to keep clutter away (4)  My favorite!!!  Super cute, vintage, mini Golden books (remember those story books with very simple illustrations?) (5) A DIY mirror/candle holder.  How clever is that? Doris has her own handyman whom she trained to make her distressed furniture (6) A collection of mini bird cages

Located at the attic, is Doris' guestroom. Very "Rachel 

Ashwell-y"! I would not be surprised if guests would want to stay there forever!  It's very cozy and it's like a big eye candy for people who like vintage and shabby chic interiors!

The white, wrought iron bed is draped with a quilt hand made by Doris' grandmother.  Can you see the pretty Doris by the canvass panel?  Sorry Dors,   I know I said you were not in the picture. :-)

(1) Study nook at the guestroom with an antique swivel chair (2)  Bookshelves that hold Doris' collection of Classics (3)  Hard bound Charles Dickens collection.  I envy this! (4)  Bedside table is home to vintage Pooh collection (5)  An antique Dutch table lamp with a pretty vintage photo frame, shaped like a purse.  Very pretty! (6)  Complete view of the bed with the side tables 

And here is the master's bedroom...simple, white and still true to the house's look - very Chic!  Doris made sure she is surrounded with all her favorite, pretty, vintage things.  Most of them were found and bought in the antique and thrift stores during her US trips.   

(1) Doris' closet is defined with a pink, fabric curtain.  Just pull the curtain to the side, and voila!  You see all your clothes in a single hand sway.  How easy is that?  (2) Desk that holds her thrift store finds, like the African American ragdolls.  Truly a rare find!  That's my other favorite!  (3-4) Her pretty, pretty, (did I say pretty?) dresser.  I love the mini, dainty luggage boxes used to hold her perfume, brushes, etc.  I thought it's a mini boudoir in it's own right!

Now, let me take you to Gaby's room.  As I have known Doris way back our working days in the same company, I kinda witnessed and watched Gaby grow from that little cute girl, and now a beautiful woman.  Yup!  I feel so old last time I saw her.  She's all grown up and working!  Where did time go??  And this lady is not just physically gifted; she is also very smart and writes very well!  Visit her blog here and be the judge.  If only I can have a fraction of her writing competency.

Hand painted checkers in baby blue and white for the wall.  How sweet is that?  Her quilt (again another handmade piece by the great grandmother) matches her wall and complements her white, shabby, wooden bed.

(1) Study bureau with shelves on top that houses her books and collectible toys (2&4)  Some of Gaby's vintage dresses and camisole.  Sorry Gabs, your mom and I raided your closet! (3)  The classic Pooh collection which my daughter Bianca adores! (5)  Hat and bag rack by the side table keeps her collection organized.

More pretty things that can't be missed!  

So, there you have it.  The "Ignacio cottage" brought me so much inspiration that I started pulling out my Rachel Ashwell books just so I can continue to enjoy Shabby Chic interiors when I got home.  I should start looking for another home to feature here...before I start painting my house white!  I hope you enjoyed this post as much as I enjoyed working on it.  Thank you so much Dors, for opening your home to 40andbeyond!  Hopefully I can produce the third post  of 

Up Close and Personal  

by December!  Calling all my dear friends!!!


I would love to hear your thoughts.

Waffles, anyone?

Pancakes or waffles?  I will have to choose the latter.  It's one of my favorite breakfast, with fresh strawberries and cream!  Yum!  

Photo credit 

I also enjoy my waffles in the bedroom and in the bathroom.  

Photo credit

I used to dress up our bed with colored, patterned or floral sheets.  But for the last four or five years, I started collecting all-white bed linen.  Waffles are not so cheap so I didn't think twice of hoarding a couple of sets when it went on sale at British India.  (How can you go wrong with 70% off?!)  I think it will be my favorite for a long time.  White, clean, but warm.  Perfect for our bed!  (I just throw a bed runner or accent pillows if I want to see some splashes of color on the bed.)  Same goes with our towels, we only use white.  It feels like you're in a hotel all the time!  How about you?  Do you also like all-white and waffled or do you prefer colored sheets/towels? 

I would love to hear your thoughts!

La Femme

I kinda married early, and never got to live on my own.  When I saw these photos, I thought this is how my house would have looked like if I had the chance to live on my own before getting married.  But don't get me wrong, I have no regrets, my husband and I had our own little nests that we fixed and decorated together.  It's been five houses in the last 15 years! Five beautiful lovely homes with my loving husband! I am so blessed!

WHITE.  FEMININE. LIGHT. FRESH. INSPIRING...

Who said White is Boring??

I just discovered a  brilliant interior designer, whom I think will be my favorite for a long time!  Her name is Tine Kjeldsen, from Denmark.  Her creations are a mix of different styles,  (I won't call it eclectic.)  and not confined to a particular look.  Such talent to be able to put together lovely pieces of different texture  and yet complement each other!  It's contemporary, clean, and organic!  It's WHITE but nothing close to boring!  It would be a shame not to share this with you.  This is her HOME...Enjoy!

The two black round thingy on the wall are old baking sheets used as blackboards now. 

How creative is that? 

This is the dining room.  I love the contrast of the white table next to the bamboo chairs.  Very organic!  The chairs look like Filipino pieces, right?  I won't be surprised if they come from here.  Tine owns a store  with outlets around Europe, Japan and Philadelphia, USA.  When I was reading about her store, I started to miss KAYU (home store in Eastwood I used to co-own with 4 other friends.)!  Been thinking of putting up another home ware shop soon!  Calling Annette and Aura! 

I don't mind having this for my study!

Another play on texture and color...brown leather handles on wooden cabinets. 

Such a delight to work in this kitchen!

Can you tell this is a bathroom counter at first glance? 

What do height, texture and a bit of color bring??

Understated elegance!

White on white...I was never a fan of an all-white interior.   But this one I like!  It's modern, but not spartan-white.  It's organic, but not country-white.  The whole thing just spells

L-O-V-E-L-I-N-E-S-S !

Hope this brings inspiration to your weekend!

Beautiful photos credit here.