Sunday, October 30, 2011

Can you guess?

                              
   
As designers and design lovers we all know that there are unique pieces of furniture and accessories designed and produced by iconic companies with a high retail price. We all know that at times, due to budget constraints, we need to resource to lower price items, trying to maintain the appeal of the original vision.
I am totally against knock-offs, which are counterfeit and should be avoided at any cost, but I appreciate the effort of  companies in creating valuable alternatives to expensive items.

A magazine I follow (which I will mention only in the “answer post” later this week) has a great game every month publishing pictures of the same room with different price points.
Now it is up to you to scrutinize carefully every single element of the two rooms below and give me an answer:

Which room has a higher price?

Mention one element, or more if you like, that inspired your answer.

Room # 1
Living room High or Low?
High or Low?


 


Room # 2
Living room High or Low?
High or Low?


Warning: this game may become addictive!

Hope you have fun, the answers will be published all together at the end of next week and please don’t comment on Facebook, but only on this post, so nobody can see the answers before they are published by me.

The first correct answer will have “an honorable mention” and a link to their website or blog.

Designer and photographer names for this project will be revealed soon.

©2011 Brillante Interiors writes about new trends, timeless decor, iconic pieces, design ideas, or at times just musing about "a certain Italian way of doing things".

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Thursday, October 27, 2011

Roman holidays



For the 50th anniversary of “Breakfast at Tiffany’s” Rome has dedicated a photography exhibition to a Roman actress, Audrey Kathleen Ruston, also known as…yes…Audrey Hepburn, film and fashion icon of the twentieth century.

Did I say Roman actress? Audrey Hepburn  in fact could be called a Roman citizen since she lived in that city for thirty years, working in Roman holidays, The Nun’s story, War and peace,  but mostly living there a good part of her personal life, in touch with the city and its inhabitants.


Audrey Hepburn Roman Holidays
In the foreground the original Vespa used in the film “Roman holidays”.

After Mel Ferrer, her second husband was Andrea Dotti, a Roman psychiatrist, and they lived there with two sons, Sean Ferrer, born from the first marriage and Luca Dotti, the latter involved in the creation of this show that will help raise money for Unicef projects, a great involvement of the actress who was Unicef Ambassador for many years of her life.


77-audrey-mostra-roma-b
Walking Mr Famous, one of her beloved pets, near Spanish Steps in Rome.


Audrey Hepburn in Rome
Audrey and her elegant mother, baroness Ella van Heemstra, walking in Rome.


Audrey Hepburn in Rome


49-audrey-mostra-roma-b
First screening of  “Breakfast at Tiffany’s” in Rome at Fiammetta Theatre.


Audrey Hepburn in Rome 

Audrey Hepburn in Rome
Candid images of Audrey and her husband.


Audrey Hepburn in Rome 


Audrey Hepburn in Rome
Always smiling, even to the paparazzi!


Audrey Hepburn and Mel Ferrer
Some beautiful accessories and an early image of Audrey at her arrival in Rome
with Mel Ferrer and their son.

“Audrey a Roma” is the title of the exhibition and more than 100 images, most never published, are shown, plus part of her refined wardrobe by Givenchy, Valentino and others. The background is the Rome of the movie “Roman holidays” where she had the first starring role but also the streets for the daily activities of the actress, shopping, visits to museums, gala evenings or simply a walk with her mother, her husband, friends or her sons.


Audrey Hepburn in Rome
Audrey and her first son, Sean, after shopping at La Rinascente department store.


Audrey Hepburn in Rome
Sean Ferrer, Audrey Hepburn and Andrea Dotti in a family outing.


Audrey Hepburn
With her husband at a game.


Audrey Hepburn in Rome


40-audrey-mostra-roma-b 

Elegance, discretion, simplicity, kindness, in one word “style”.

Images from the archives of Reporters Associati, Photomasi, Istituto Luce and Kobal Collection.

©2011 Brillante Interiors writes about new trends, timeless decor, iconic pieces, design ideas, or at times just musing about "a certain Italian way of doing things".

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Friday, October 21, 2011

Great escapes


A dream travel book was published by Taschen and quoting from Taschen books  website:

“To travel through Italy is as close as one gets to being in paradiseFor centuries, writers, artists, architects and merchants have been drawn here, inspired by the beauty of Venice, Florence, Naples and Rome. Countless books, paintings, poems and sculptures are evidence of its undying appeal, and over the past 60 years, the country has become one of the world's top travel and holiday destinations. The loveliness of Italy—its architecture, landscapes, culture and food (some of the world’s finest!) — if not eternal, is certainly enduring, and the easy-going and relaxed Italian lifestyle, il dolce far niente, is still unrivaled.”



Taschen books Great Escapes Italy

The latest of the series Great Escapes, an interesting mix of travel guide and interior design, talks about Italy and it is full of travel inspiration.


Taschen books Great Escapes Italy 

In this book you can find amazing destinations from Lake Como in the North to Amalfi coast and the Aeolian Islands in the South.


Taschen books Great Escapes Italy 

The book is full of stunning images of resorts and legendary hotels full of atmosphere where movies were shot, famous love stories took place, weddings are  celebrated.

If only the walls could talk…

©2011 Brillante Interiors writes about new trends, timeless decor, iconic pieces, design ideas, or at times just musing about "a certain Italian way of doing things".

If you receive this post by Email and wish to leave a comment please click HERE and go to the comments section.
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Monday, October 17, 2011

A fashionable evening at “The Room”

The Room at The Hudson's Bay 

Here I am taking pictures with my iPhone (thanks so much for being known as a purist photographer, always (?) using my film camera…) on one of the best party of the year in Vancouver, the opening of The Room, a high-end designer boutique of more than 20,000 square foot at The Hudson’s Bay Company, Canadian grand dame department store.


  The Hudson's Bay department store The Hudson's Bay department store The Hudson's Bay department store


The Hudson's Bay department store The Hudson's Bay department store The Room at The Hudson's Bay


The Room at The Bay The Room at The Hudson's Bay The Room at The Hudson's Bay


Keith Richards' daughter at The Bay  The Room Alexandra Richards DJ The Room Alexandra Richards DJ


The Room at The Hudson's Bay The Room at The Hudson's Bay The Room at The Hudson's Bay


The Room at The Hudson's Bay The Room at The Hudson's Bay The Room at The Hudson's Bay


The Room at The Hudson's Bay The Room at The Hudson's Bay The Room at The Hudson's Bay


The Room at The Hudson's Bay  The Room at The Hudson's Bay The Room at The Hudson's Bay

Gorgeous clothes, interesting people, champagne flowing, delicious hors d’oeuvre and…music by the beautiful New Yorker, model and DJ: Alexandra Richards, yes… Keith’s daughter.

I was so mesmerized by the fashion, on and off the mannequins that I did not take many pictures of the interior design, but it was done beautifully and I will show you more images soon.

Images ©Albarosa Simonetti

©2011 Brillante Interiors writes about new trends, timeless decor, iconic pieces, design ideas, or at times just musing about "a certain Italian way of doing things".

If you receive this post by Email and wish to leave a comment please click HERE and go to the comments section.
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Wednesday, October 12, 2011

How to have beautiful windows


Window dressing is one of the essential element to decorate or add color in a house, it gives intimacy and protects from strong sunlight, especially in a bedroom where light effects can be created with the use of transparent fabric and more privacy can be achieved with heavier textiles.
Curtains define a room even if they should not become a focal point, but they should enhance the atmosphere.

Elements to take in consideration are:

1-  the style of your interior decoration is the first element to take in consideration:  modern, traditional, classic, eclectic…
2-  the type of window or door
3-  the natural light in the room
4-  the view and the landscape to be framed
5-  finally the general effect you like to achieve.

Do you remember when you moved from one house to another and windows were bare for weeks? Do you remember how all of a sudden the whole room came together when finally draperies were installed? Surely a sense of intimacy, a touch of color or a filtered light added personality to the room, like the necklace you put on before going out for an event!


2830028626_9ec8d2e09c
Kelly Wearstler

In a few decades we went from opulent draperies with valances, fringes and tassels to a minimalist approach as bamboo blinds and plantation shutters, now draperies are back but we see less lavish textiles and more sheers, or more unexpected materials and dramatic hues and patterns, as in the image above.


Drapes:

Linen and wool or, for a more refined look, sheer linen and silk can make your room sing. Just remember to add an inch or two so the fabric gently touches the floor or go to extreme length if the interior decoration calls for it.  Always use very generous yardage or they would look stingy.


2830028280_894eea2762 


silk%20drapes_3
  
Tie-backs:


glamdesk
In a more formal decoration…if you use tie-backs remember not to put them in the middle but always a third above or below the mid section, to follow one of the golden rules of decorating.


 Shades:

 Relaxed Roman shade


a branca
Alessandra Branca
Relaxed Roman shades can create a romantic look as above.



10-11-2011 6-04-32 PM
Muriel Brandolini
These two images show a different style of shades, more for decoration,
with sheer fabric and exotic trims, than for intimacy or for filtering intense light. 


10-11-2011 6-01-39 PM
Muriel Brandolini


Shades and drapes
Sheer shades and silk drapes together create a luxurious look in a dining room,
I particularly like the unexpected red trim on the drapes .


Walls of fabric:
Another use of draperies is not only to create privacy from the outdoors but to divide areas within the home itself. Canopies  around a bed add elegance and cozy atmosphere to a bedroom and fabric can add a visual depth to any space.

Cote de texas



VW
Vicente Wolf


branca
Alessandra Branca


From House and Home

linen-drapes


Theresa Casey 
A warning: precision and accurate measurements are a must to avoid mistakes, when doing window treatment, because there is always a close relation between fabric, mechanic parts and labor, so a professional should always be called unless it is a simple small curtain applied on the window frame or a loose, unstructured  look like the one in the last image, one of Suzanne Dimma's (of Canadian House and Home magazine)  favorites in her latest blog post.

No matter what your style is, the use of textiles in a house can create drama or simply add character to any decor, just try for a moment to imagine all the above rooms without any window covering...what do you visualize? 
Do you have a favorite way of dressing a window?
A different, unexpected way of using curtains?

 Sources: House Beautiful, Paul Costello, Cote de Texas, Canadian House and Home; ATCasa, Elle Decor.

©2011 Brillante Interiors writes about new trends, timeless decor, iconic pieces, design ideas, or at times just musing about "a certain Italian way of doing things".
If you receive this post by Email and wish to leave a comment please click HERE and go to the comments section.
I love to hear from you!
 
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