A LITTLE ITALIA...

One of the most recognizable architectural structures in Milan is the Galleria Vittorio Emanuele II. It is also known as "il salotto de Milano" (Milan's drawing room) due to it's popularity among the Milanese as a meeting place for dining and shopping.

Architect Luca Bombassei's home is a great example of  Modern & Old World design.
via Plastolux

Nothing more handsome than a herringbone floor. Horizontal architecture!

Luca's use of classic black and white speak to beauty and modern elegance.
I wouldn't mind living here. Would you?

These spherical beauties were displayed at the worlds largest furniture trade show.
Saloni Del Mobile in Milan

Ludwig Mies van der Rohe's (less is more) "Brno Chairs" done in Dolce and Gabbana Style.

Here D&G added just "a little more" to make it their own.

 Dolce and Gabbana's Restorante Gold

Design meets function and beautiful things happen. Intimacy is created by alternating the entrance to each table, creating smaller spaces within the space. The connection is made by an ungelating ribbon of banquets adding fluidity and movement...All lit by a cloud of champagne bubbles... ethereal at it's best!

 

Old meets new in an 1840's neoclassic railway station reinterpreted by Moschino. No lack of imagination here. Moschino creates an envoirnment that is unexpected and taken from the pages of a fairytale.

Whimsical and Magical!

Maison Moschino Milan

The lobby at Moshino Maison

"Sleeping in a Ballgown"

"The Attic"

"Life is a Bed of Roses"

 "Shadows"

"God is in the details" - Ludwig Mies van der Rohe

 

Thank you Lauren for inspiring me to take a look at Milan due to your recent visit!

CIAO!!!

 

Wallpaper???

Okay! So it's not conventional wallpaper as we know it! Nevertheless, I had to share these examples of taking a simple material or object and making a huge impact! Katrine Hildbrandt Hussey, a Display Coordinator for Anthropologie  stopped me in my tracks with her floral display. Hundreds of delicate paper petals climbing up the walls and onto the ceiling. Sculptural beauty executed to create a visual dance out of paper plates! Katrines manages to create artwork that is wonderful to look at in addition to being green...how cool is that! I can't wait to see what she does next.

The next fun "spotting" I stumbled upon was the fabulous vintage clothing shop "CIRCA" in New Bedford, Ma.. The shop was filled with fantastic vintage clothing and accessories. If you love vintage glam apparel this place is a MUST! So much fun and plenty of eye candy "rack style" to choose from.

~Here's their take on wallpaper!!~

Hatboxes to the ceiling!! Talk about a visual.

I love creative ideas that don't take themselves too seriously.

Embrace your creative impulses and be fearless.

A weekend in Stockholm, Sweden

Stockholm is the capital of Sweden and located on 14 islands at the south-central east coast at the mouth of Lake Malaren. Known for it's beauty and architectural abundance, it is also the largest and most populous city in Sweden. The majority of Stockholm residents work in the service industry, resulting in minimal heavy industry, making Stockholm among one of the world's cleanest metropolises. Open water and parks are a few of Stockholm's geographic characteristics that have many referring to it as, "The Venice of the North."

The Stockholm Royal Palace displays grand curb appeal.

Stockholm's  "Livgardet" serve and protect.

"The Venice of the North"

Stockholm StreetStyle struts street chic glamor!

A recent trend in restaurant design: Inject red for visual interest and energy.

A little color on a wintry day can go a long way.

A pop of pink Scandinavian Style! {via Skona hem}

Mode Man {via Stockholm StreetStyle}

A contemporary apartment in central Stockholm {via freshome}

{via Scandinavian Chic}

Cafe break!

Delicious delights!

How does one choose?

{via Home Decorating Reviews}

A vacant cobblestoned street and one lonely bike...tempting.

Sanctuarial lighting.

Dusk.

Photos other than linked images by Skye Lena.

A Last look at Amsterdam

Inspiration to paint your ceilings from The Amsterdam Historical Museum.

Where Rembrandt called home from 1639-1660.

Rembrandt's home was originally built in 1606 and has just recently gone through a major renovation.

Sleeping quarters.

Street scene

                                                   Days end and the city starts to light up!

Photos by Lauren Cortizo and Hailey Rowe

Amsterdam in Black and White

The next stop in the Netherlands takes us to Amsterdam. Here are a few of the building facades that Lauren found inspiring...

Notice the Dutch gable and all it's adornment. The purest example would have a scalloped/curved eaves that lead up to a pediment.

Renaissance inspired, the large windows above the doors are much more florid in decoration and detailing than a typical transom window. 

 Here is a minimalist approach to dutch architecture.

Shutters at their best!

Thanks Lauren and Hailey for the great images! More to come from Amsterdam....