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Creat a Romantic Rome Home Interior Design

Creat a Romantic Rome with Red, Pink and White
Romantic pink living room

Romantic Bedroom: Lace Bedding. Mix elderly and new, sheer and crocheted. Start by layering your bed with crochet-edge sheets (purchase or sew crochet trim to plain sheets), then top it with an extra-wide lacy panel. The look is pure romance.

Romantic pink living room: Red and pink couch, white walls and floors. Look for damaged pieces of vintage lace to recycle in to pillow decoration. Salvage the best sections for the project and stitch onto colorful fabrics so the delicate designs pop.
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Santa Claus is coming to town

Yesterday I brought out the Santa painting my Mother made and arranged it with some ornaments.  And when my 6-year old came home from school...
 He added his own touch.  And I love it.
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Beauty on Monday

Another beautiful morning has risen above the horizon, mild air caressing the bare trees, nothing pointing to a soon arriving winter. I am walking with just jeans and a sweater, a jacket is not needed.


Yet, yesterday was the beginning of the Advent time, the four weeks before Christmas, and I have began to decorate with greenery. The holidays are coming, trees are sold at every corner and since the day after Thanksgiving the shops are filled with everything for a festive time.

Our home at the holiday season 2011


There are dreidels and chocolate filled coins, St. Clauses and reindeers, angels and menorahs. Candles and greenery, stars and more stars blinking everywhere.
All sitting peacefully side by side.



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How I wish that the spirit of love and tolerance would spread across the borders, to people who believe burning pipelines, blowing up cars and killing others will bring good change to their world. How much I hope for peace, something I, unfortunately, have too often reason to believe will not happen soon.
How can this small blog spread any goodwill and hope at times (like all others), filled with horror as soon as I look a little further then my backyard?
I feel strongly over the years since I have began writing this blog, how quickly kindness spreads when we are open minded towards others, enjoying their point of view, tolerate the ideas we do not share and stay positive and supportive.
It is wonderful to get to know so many people all over the world, at the same time knowing many more are out there reading this, without leaving a trace. Can goodwill and change come through a small blog, dedicated to beauty, art and the philosophy of life?


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I hope my words will make others see for a moment what I see, let them feel how wonder- filled and precious life is and how much love between people can help along our hope for peaceful side by side living.
Getting to know people with different believes and values, being open minded towards their dreams and hopes can bring us closer. Small steps do wonders and just trying to come closer to your odd neighbor or the strange co-worker can make a difference.


Can you imagine?

Our school, like many others, has an annual holiday drive to help children in need to receive a gift for the holidays. My children pick usually more then one of those wish cards from a tree in the school lobby. They feel compassion and hope our gifts will spread more then something material, but love towards someone we do not know, hoping that these children will grow up knowing of love in a world where desperation could rule instead.





Let us stick together, all of us writing beautiful blogs, spreading compassion, tolerance and love towards others.  Let us begin at home and let it grow into the world. 
Let us share more then the beauty of material things, but kindness and goodwill among each other!
Holding one other hand and a chain begins.....


I am wishing you all the beginning of a lovely and peaceful holiday time.






All images as indicated and my own, bumper sticker via google image.
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a fun kids table idea... Angry Birds

My mom is so clever.  Every year she does something adorable and fun for the childrens table on Thanksgiving.  This year included fondant Angry Birds and handmade stick launchers.  Big hit!
 And handmade felt hats for the boys...
... and for the dads and grandad.  Afterall, who doesn't love Angry Birds!?
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Thanksgiving 2011

I am so thankful for all what this year has given us.
My heart is filled with Thanksgiving.




My wishes for all of you is that you may feel the same!


Happy Thanksgiving!



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Happy Thanksgiving from my family to yours

I'm thankful for my 6-year old who brought this home from school...
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Tea pot

Today is a gray, rainy day. What better way to lighten the mood but with a cup of golden tea, a touch of milk and a home baked cupcake? Made by my girl last night! 
The tea pot was a special Marshall's score last week! Barbara Barry's Top Note Design for Wedgewood! YES! 
I am sure some of you know the thrill...
But as any tea lover will agree with me: No teapot is really good unless it pours smoothly, without dripping and sputtering! This one is excellent, reminding me a little bit of the genie lamp from Thousand And One Night, which of course gives me an reading ideas for some long winter nights! 


 But I am sure this one will serve us longer than that...



Good night!








Book via amazon.com and teapot image my own.
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Mellow yellow

For whatever reason I have lately an infatuation with yellow. I have actually never really liked the color on me or near me. But as many things change in life my love for yellow has emerged. Of course, yellow rooms have been around for the longest time, evoking light and sunshine and warmth. Nancy Lancaster's London yellow drawing room comes to my mind, a classic and often repeated design among the countless admirers.

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A wonderful Lancaster inspired living room

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I have found Jan Showers use of yellow quite admirable. The soft toned yellows feel more relaxing to the eye and less exciting.




These yellows do not scream, but rather create elegant, happy backdrops for our busy lives.








The last one perhaps does not really qualify for a yellow room, but the overall feeling for me is yellow, rather then neutral.


Some Farrow & Ball wallpapers I love:


Farrow & Ball's Brockhampton Star

Farrow & Ball's Ranlagh papers


Farrow & Ball's Vermicelli papers



Have a happy, sunny week!






All images as indicated and via Jan Showers website.
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It's Beginning to Look a lot like Christmas

Just a little pretty from The Junior League of Austin's annual A Christmas Affair.
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How to Start Your Home Design


Thinking of building a new home?  Here are some tips for getting your ideas together for your home design. 
  • Find and purchase your land
  • Start documenting your ideas to present to Bonin Architects

Why is it important to purchase your land before you start getting too far in the process of the home design?  The land will undoubtedly have an impact on the design of the home:  its footprint, number of stories, whether or not you can have a walkout basement, orientation, etc.  Once you have your land, Bonin Architects will visit the property with you to help site the home within the town Planning Board regulations and the Comprehensive Shoreland Protection Act guidelines.

Then it’s time to start gathering your ideas for your new home.  General requirements such as the use of the home (primary residence, vacation, or retirement home), the number of bedrooms and bathrooms, the location of your Master Bedroom, the use of outdoor space, and having an eat-in kitchen or separate dining room are some things to start thinking about. 

Bonin Architects will work with you during the Schematic Design Phase of the home design to develop the size, footprint and layout of the home.  In this phase you will also address any specialty features, rooms, and other priorities you have for the home, including a home theater, office and/or media room, craft room, sun room, porches, decks and basement use.  Use your current home as a comparison for what you like and what you do not like about each room, space, and its use.

Working with Bonin Architects for your home design will result in having much more than a home with a standard floor plan – together, we will create a custom home design that matches your philosophy and lifestyle, a reflection of who you are, how you live.

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Friday thoughts





This weekend looks simple. 
There will be no shopping and no stressful cleaning, I'll take breakfast in bed and give lazy new meaning. 
I might take the dog for a walk in the park.
I could lay in bed and read until dark.
I'll write a few mails and chat with my mother.
I'll have tea on the sofa and a walk through the garden.
The sun will shine through all smudgy windows, but 
I will relax and put all off for Monday.


V.Z.







Picture via google image. Poem by me.
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Ikat Print... on Christmas cards

This pretty and fresh card design fromTiny Prints is on my eye for my family's card this year.

 I ordered round cards last year for something different from all the others.  Very fun.
 And I'm thinking about the tri fold as well.   Very sweet.
 Don't forget matching labels!  Love these.

http://www.tinyprints.com/shop/picture-christmas-cards.htm
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A midweek autumn dinner

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When the days grow short and darkness rises early, I enjoy cooking comfort food.
Last night I prepared acorn squash and bratwurst,  Brussels Sprouts and some delicious ice cream afterwards.


It's so easy and makes a satisfying meal. The scent of the baking squash is irresistible. Once the sausages are frying, it becomes enticing...


The dog did not leave my site and waited patiently to get a morsel.
My son explained why he needed definitely a test bite before dinner.
My husband asked at six if dinner was ready....
My daughter volunteered to set the table???
Guys, we never eat before seven?!


 Nicely browned, with a hint of butter and brown sugar! Hmmmm!


Alright! Dinner is served!






Top image from Joseph Oregon Fireworks Pottery, bottom google image, inbetween my own.
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Fall/Winter patterns


I love the patterns of the seasons.
It gives me another reason to freshen things up around here. At one of my last visits to BoCoCa, a lovely neighborhood in Brooklyn, I found this lovely patterned paper and had an idea how to use it!


The large and not exactly exciting IKEA wall unit, which has served our rambling family dutiful for more then 10 years now, needed a little help. Its still in almost perfect condition.

Sometime last year.
I have been contemplating painting it, but shy away from the mess, since we use this room constantly. I decided to let it be and just make little improvements....The biggest challenge is not to let it get too messy and filled up. Which, of course, is not easy with an overflowing library.
Before:



And after:


I love these individual cubbies, like in a doll house I can set up little scenes...with things I love!




I have began 'winterizing' our house, cozied up corners, pulled out blankets and pillows.




I brighten dark spots with candles and warm up my husband's reading leather chair with an enormous sheepskin.



Talking of patterns, I found two lovely books at a yard sale on Sunday, they belong right into this post and will give me great more decorating inspirations. They are not new, but that does not matter...timeless design always fits in.




My daughter is a little under the weather today, we are going to sit down and have lunch, something we never  do together during the week, so it's special....but the poor baby just wants tea...


Are you warming up your place? At least in this hemisphere it will be necessary really soon.


And look who walked by today...(You shouldn't be around this time of year....)




It has been a rambling sort of post, with no clear pattern at all. Pictures of all sizes....Forgive me! 


Just a little while ago my good friend Patricia from PVE came by for tea and a walk, it's good to have her back. 
Why don't you stop by at her blog and say hello?





All images by V.Zlotkowski
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