Missed me??

LifeLoveandLuxury is undergoing renovations so postings have been on “pause” for a few weeks. But more delicious tidbits are to come!! Keep checking back because some of the best things in life are worth waiting for.

Happy Friday!!!

And…

Happy Shoes on Furniture Friday!!

After I purchase my penthouse apartment in Manhattan and a lovely pied-à-terre in Paris, I’ve decided my third real estate purchase will be a beachfront New England bungalow. Seems reasonable, no?  And I’ll fill it with things like mahogany wood, cream-color linen, and a few decorative corals. Oh, and I’ll toss in nautical tidbits here and there, like a telescope to spy on the passing yachts. Clearly, I’m a woman with a plan.

I’m truly, madly, deeply in love with this bamboo cocktail table.  And this room is brilliant in mixing various shades of white/cream fabrics and dark woods to create a perfectly warm feeling in a very light room.

Tossing a traditional, tufted ottoman into a nautically-inspired room is a bold move…and here, it works!

Designed by Victoria Hagan

A little goes a long way in this Victoria Hagan room! The bold-patterned rug adds movement while “mirroring” the ceiling. Brilliant! And those spiral-turned details in the lamp and chair keep the room from being too serious.

The same room from another vantage point. So many soft curves. Reminds me of ocean waves!via Architectural Digest

And…one more view. Gorgeous, no? And is that the coast I see from the windows?

Designed by Victoria Hagan

 Let’s discount a long-held design myth: who says you can’t mix woods? (sidenote: oh lanterns, how I love thee!)

Designed by David Lawrence for House Beautiful

It’s all about the accessories in this shot…and the hydrangeas.

via New England Home

Imagine this room minus the pillows, rug and shelf accessories. Total. Blah. Remember, the little things sometimes mean the most.

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Images courtesy of Victoria Hagan, House Beautiful, New England Home, and Architectural Digest

Home of Stéphane Plassier - via Marie Claire Maison

It’s hard not to absolutely adore this unique Parisian living room! Looks like someone is getting ready for a slumber party, perhaps, with those rolled up sleeping bags. I love how the traditional rug and tapestries are balanced by those quirky, colorful chairs! And that elongated fireplace…be still my heart.

Guess who is rested, tan, and full o’ rum? *raising my hand, now raising the other, now waving them frantically*

Puerto Rico was exactly what my burned-out self needed! After a week of sitting poolside and pressing the rum button (yes, a magical little piece of machinery that summoned cabana boys to bring me delicious cocktails with the simple press of a button!) I’m finding that joining the real world is a bit trickier than I’d imagined. Forming coherent sentences is tough in my overly relaxed state.

So, while I pull myself together, feast your eyes on this gorgeous Spanish Colonial style home located just outside of San Juan. Designer José Solís Betancourt and his partner, Paul Sherrill, created this dream home to evoke a sense of tropical elegance and ease.

A painting by Diógenes Bal-lester warms the space and reminds me of a sunset. Stark carpet, sofa by J. Robert Scott and  teak chairs are by Sutherland.

Dining here would be a dream! Curious about the painting? It’s by Arnaldo Roche-Rabell.

The owners’ extensive art collection is continued through the house, like this oil painting by Rafael Ferrer.

Lighting is imperative to any space…look at the drama these recessed lights and well-placed lamp creates!

A bedroom that opens to a courtyard…this is my idea of heaven.

Dining al fresco in Puerto Rico is one of life’s most wonderful luxuries. Now…where is that rum button?

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Photos courtesy of Architectural Digest / Photography by Dan Forer

Sorry for the silence, my dears, but your girl here is pooped. After an insane few weeks, I’ve decided to flit off to Puerto Rico and recharge my batteries. Sun, spa and margaritas is just what I need.

Check back on Monday, March19th for more fabulousity! Love to you all!

Designed by Cheryl Tague

Old maps stir up such lovely feelings of adventure, harkening back to the days of steamer trunks and railway stations. They’re so rugged and romantic. Plus, they look smashing in interiors! Anyone who’s been nibbled by the travel bug knows the flutter of excitement when faced with the endless possibilities on a map. My dream one day is to pack my bags, grab my passport, throw a dart at a world map, and let fate decide the trip. What’s your ultimate travel dream?

Designed by Craig Denis

via Elle Decor

via cotedetexas / photo Blayne Beacham

via myfirstlittleplace blog

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 Photos courtesy of Elle Decor, Cote de Texas, and My First Little Place

Name that film quote:

“You’re in desperate need of Chanel. Darling, shall we?”

Nigel from The Devil Wears Prada! Classic.

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Photos courtesy of Simply Beautiful World, Sea of Shoes, Souvenirs of a Girl

]]> http://www.lifeloveandluxury.com/2012/03/shoes-on-furniture-friday-chanel/feed/ 1 http://www.lifeloveandluxury.com/2012/03/chalet-chic-locati-architects/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=chalet-chic-locati-architects http://www.lifeloveandluxury.com/2012/03/chalet-chic-locati-architects/#comments Thu, 01 Mar 2012 12:13:25 +0000 lifeloveluxe http://www.lifeloveandluxury.com/?p=2959

Once upon a time there was a chalet hiiiiiigh in the mountains of Montana, with beauty so grand it could turn the most citified of city folk into hot-tottie-drinking, nature-loving snow bunnies. Such a fantasy is made real by the geniuses at Locati, a firm known for their elegantly rustic interiors. Their use of natural woods, rich leathers and organic textiles are luscious…and notice their use of lighting! Each room is modernized using unique, interesting light fixtures. Let’s settle in and feast our eyes, shall we? Hot tottie anyone?

A geometric chandelier in the great room takes things to a whole other level of chic. I’m also adoring the huge, multi-tiered chandelier in the foyer.

Oh, if these chairs could talk! I imagine fabulous dinner parties have been hosted here, just below a pair of drum pendant lights that remind me of spider webs, for some reason.

Not to ignore another fabulous pendant light, but these rock & roll leather chairs in the game room are SO cool!

Welcome to the kitchen, where the name of the light fixture above the marble-topped island has escaped me. Let’s call it the Multi-Candle Chandelier, shall we? Whatever it’s called, it’s absolutely perfect and adds such a sense of “homey” to a spacious kitchen.

Bed alcoves are popping up everywhere! The team at Locati framed this alcove with rustic oak and lined the back with drapery fabric, giving the entire room a gorgeous texture. And that suede headboard: yummy.

Now, let’s mosey on over to the neighbor’s house, also in Big Sky, MT.

Breathtaking…and exclusive. This home is located in the posh Yellowstone Club, an expansive retreat with homes built throughout the 13,000 acres of Montana wilderness.

The Great Room with a GREAT view – give me a good book and I may never leave.

Everything about this bedroom is elegant, modern, and simply lovely. I love how the fireside chair adds a tinge of color without overpowering the natural color palette.

The hall leading to the bathroom gets jazzed up with an energetic abstract painting. Plus, what do we think of those rough-wood lamps?

The home office doesn’t take itself too seriously and still puts the landscape center-stage.

Pizzazz in the game room!

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Photos courtesy of Locati Architects and Interiors / Photography by Roger Wade Studio

]]> http://www.lifeloveandluxury.com/2012/03/chalet-chic-locati-architects/feed/ 2 http://www.lifeloveandluxury.com/2012/02/just-because/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=just-because http://www.lifeloveandluxury.com/2012/02/just-because/#comments Wed, 29 Feb 2012 12:29:39 +0000 lifeloveluxe http://www.lifeloveandluxury.com/?p=2952

Aren’t they just precious?

Confession: I’m completely, utterly, unquenchably (is that a word?) obsessed with dark woods mingled with contrasting white/ivory accents. The shoe cabinet I’m halfway through refinishing is done in Minwax “Red Mahogany” and Benjamin Moore’s “Linen White” in a high gloss finish. I’ve even dyed my hair a mahogany red to spice up my Nicole Kidman-esque ivory skin. Yes, these are signs of true obsession. If I mention a mahogany/white tattoo, somebody please consider an intervention.

via Hanson General Contracting

Why do I love it SO much? First, it’s versatile. This particular contrast works in nearly any style room, including a sleek kitchen with subtle traditional twists. Sidenote: that gold diamond floor!

Photo by Max Kim Bee for Country Living

This four poster bed from the 1940′s is romantic yet substantial, not allowing the room to feel too frilly or feminine. Looked at one way, it feels a bit Modern Traditional, but for me, I see British Colonial mixed in, too.

via House to Home

Mahogany and ivory chairs, in this room, are kind of like that guy at the party who introduces everyone. Midcentury Modern Saarinen glass-top table, please meet Traditional Gold-Framed Artwork. Oh, and over here is Art Deco-inspired buffet table. Everyone mingle!

I believe the console table against the modern white wall is walnut, but nonetheless the contrast plays a huge role in this room, adding an earthy yet elegant element that ties everything together.

Obsessed yet ?

P.S.  I promise photos of my finished shoe cabinet will be posted eventually. This mahogany-red head isn’t the best DIYer so it’s taking a while to achieve perfection. But it’s worth the meticulous moments! My Louboutins will not be stored in anything less than luxury!

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Photos courtesy of Houzz, Country Living, and House to Home