A restored Belgian farmhouse

An artistic director and a graphic designer (with 4 children) restored this former farmhouse in Brussells to its current charming state. I'm always attracted to black & white tile floors and tall bookcases! And I love that pearlescent tile shown partially on the wall in the kitchen/dining area- an unusual touch. A few modern elements are mixed in with traditional ones, and it's quite different from typical Belgian-style interiors. (photos from Claudio Tajoli/ Francesca Berte; from Hachette Home Oct. 2009)

Suzani sofa

This sofa, made by Bokja, is giving me all kids of ideas about re-upholstering used furniture pieces with antique textiles! (from Elle Decoration Nov 2009; photographer unknown)

The home of a collector: Leif Sigerson's New York home

An interesting interior- Danish interior architect & set designer Leif Sigerson's home in New York. Full of vintage finds from all over the place, rustic collected objects, assemblages that mean something to him. I think it's clear he's a set designer- snippets of his rooms could be stage/ film sets for a story. (photos by Ditte Isager/ Elle Decoration Nov 2009)

A villa near Vicenza: Aldo Cibic

Modern design master Aldo Cibic's Italian villa is set among hills and lemon groves near Vicenza, in the northeastern part of Italy. While the decor seems a mixture of his trademark more modern styles, the structure is quite classic, and even rustic (as in the kitchen). My favorite thing about this home, other than the heavenly setting in the lush Italian hills, is those fantastic windows! (from August 2009 Il Meglio di Ville Giardini; photos by Mads Mogensen; styling by the photographer's wife, Martina Hunglinger)

Anthropologie, welcome to London!

It's finally here- the long-awaited opening of the first Anthropologie store in Europe. I had to see it, so I made my way to Regent St. this afternoon. I know lots of design buffs like Anthropologie's style, so I thought I'd post my findings.


One of the coolest displays in the store was the hanging teabag design in the windows on the ground and second floors - paying homage to the English, no doubt. The teabags were different colors, as if they'd used herbal teas of all sorts, and upstairs I noted they actually still smelled faintly of green tea!


Most impressive is the wall of greenery- plants and grasses fill a wall illuminated by natural light flooding in from a skylight above. It's beautiful. The staircase flows alongside the wall, so it feels very open and bright. Hung in the stairwell are candy-colored chandeliers of flowers and reclaimed materials, made by South African artists Magpie Art Collective.



The homewares section has huge antique Belgian or French painted armoires and cabinets filled with pretty glassware and books. This dining table above is fantastic.


I love the structure of this shelf with molding from the top of an armoire. Could I make one? I think so!

Overall, it's a lovely interior but I was floored by the prices! Wow. It's as if the American numbers were kept on the tags and they stuck a "£" in front. Decorative cushions were £90-250. There were some special one-off pieces, too- like antique (I think) Turkish-looking quilts for £2,200 and a really cool carpenters' bench for over £9,000. These prices are expected for a small boutique or designer store, but I was surprised to see not just the homewares, but the clothes priced as high as they are. Recession? Who says? Because if Anthro's London prices are any indication of what consumers might be willing to buy, the recession is over!


I felt right at home inside the store, because the interior is completely consistent with the U.S. stores I used to visit. It is so consistent, in fact, that I could have been in Anthropologie anywhere: New York, Charlotte, anywhere. There wasn't much of a British flavor, except for this Union Jack wall hanging by Becky Oldfield, of Lost & Found design.

Very cute, albeit small, childrens' section


Yes, I could have forgotten I was in the UK, except for the view outside the window- unmistakeably London! It's cool to have Anthropologie in London, and I'm glad it's here, though I can't say I'll be a frequent shopper there. I'll have to stick to buying from the US & having it sent over...

New Orleans Style- Angele Parlange

Lately I'm loving a mix of New Orleans/ French decor everywhere I can find it! I found one dose of this style via this creative NOLA designer, Angele Parlange. Her colorful fabric choices and the way she's interjected not-too-serious things into her antebellum home make it personal and unique. It's a bit more relaxed the way she mixes things up, which is a more acheivable style in the real world (for me, at least). I also think that's just the perfect room of books, don't you? I mean, with so many books at arms' reach from the bed, well, it could be tempting to just not leave.

These images come from her book, Creole Thrift. I loved looking through this book at the bookstore when it came out, though to my regret, I didn't buy it. I should have gotten it while I had the chance, because I can't find it in London! It is full of of personal memoirs and stories collected along with snapshots of her family's life.