Delightful home of Marina Coriasco

I have been loving these photos of stylist Marina Coriasco's home, shown in Elle Interior (Norway) in December 2008. About that living room- I never have thought I could live in a loft-like open area, because unless you are a sparse decorator, it might tend to look messy. But here, I think she's achieved a good division of the space, with the areas being well-defined, yet everything blends visually without chaos. It looks livable to me.

The details in the bedroom are also lovely. I only wish there were more of these so we could further explore her home. These are taken by the talented photographer, Birgitta Wolfgang Drejer.

Sunlit spaces

The past few autumn days here in London have been heavenly: crisp and cool with brilliant blue skies. It would be a shame to sit inside on days like this unless you have a room in your house that lets the sunlight stream in. Like these. (photos from Domino, Cote Sud)

Feminine decor

I'm going through a phase where I swoon over rooms that are decidedly feminine. I think this was brought on because I'm trying to figure out how to infuse some feminine charm into my own rooms- kind of tricky when my husband's style, which is cool in itself, leans toward the heavier side with accents of steel accessories and darker-colored 40s and 50s retro relics. Softly-colored walls, elegant drapes, sparkling chandeliers and French antiques are calming and pretty and make me feel at home. Maybe an antique French chair with curved lines, a crystal vase kept filled with flowers- something to bring lightness in- could work to counterbalance? It's a challenge. I don't want to fill the space with pink and frills, but there must be a way to add some ladylike charm? (photos: top- designer Suzanne Kasler; Southern Accents; Oct. 2008 House Beautiful; Domino)

Kitchen love

I never tire of looking at kitchens: Floor to ceiling cabinets (or "cupboards", as I was corrected in saying); open shelving; windows; huge rough-hewn chopping blocks; gleaming tile or bright colorful wallpaper; wooden countertops or marble surfaces- I love it all. To me, kitchens inspire creativity in the way we cook and eat, as well as provide a backdrop for the place where your family and friends spend a lot of time, since that's where crowds tend to gather.

I happen to have lucked out in our new London flat- the kitchen is roomy (by my standards) and has loads of cabinets and a fantastic stove range. But the best feature is the windowed french doors looking out onto surrounding neighbor's gardens! My next task is to find the right chairs for my little wooden dining table so we can have a real dinner party. (images from Domino, House Beautiful, Bolig Liv and Country Home)

Subdued Victorian style

Hello- I didn't disappear- I just moved overseas. After a month-long break and finally arriving in my new home, London, I'm glad to start posting again!
Apartment hunting here has me looking at unusual spaces and trying to come up with ways to use a fresh new room as a canvas for our furniture and things. I've been seeing a few Victorian-period flats- as they're called here- lately, none quite this grand, though. I love the large room proportions. This is a house in the British countryside, and the details are in some ways reminiscent of Italy- like the entryway's ornate stained glass and the bright pink sitting room with the raspberry damask setee and chandelier with drops of glass to match.

More colorful bedrooms

Whether it's vibrant walls in an unexpected shade or soothing surroundings with a shot of color in the pillows or throws, I love the way bright color is used in bedrooms. These remind me not to be afraid of trying a non-pale color in the room where I sleep. (photos from domino, House and Home, Marie Claire Maison, cookie)

Homes in white: simple and clean

I fell in love with this home featured in Living Etc. - a family with four children fill this London home with a whitewashed interior. It's light, simple, clean and gorgeous. Proves you can have lots of white in your decor scheme, even with little ones. It helps that there are huge windows and rooms of truly spacious proportions. (Living Etc. May 2006; the home of Linda Loenen, styled by Reini Smit).