Alkemie

Remember to Have Fun and PLAY!!

noreply@blogger.com (Alkemie) — Mon, 04 Mar 2013 21:52:00 +0000

So today, I chose this funny flower as reminder for myself as I'm rediscovering how to PLAY again ^_^ Life should be fun. I'm starting to do things that make me happy no matter how silly or mundane they are - just like when I was young. I put it on my table where I sit every morning when I journal and give myself some quiet time to work on myself.

Which brings me to this quote of the day that I chose - I really love it.

We can only be the best that we can be - ourselves. No one else can be us.

Only you can be you.

A Redesign of My Bedroom for a New Chapter - Moroccan Inspiration

noreply@blogger.com (Alkemie) — Thu, 28 Feb 2013 01:40:00 +0000

I decided to redo my bedroom because I'm starting a new chapter of my life and I want a clean slate with fresh beginnings. I'd like for my surroundings to reflect who I am and where I am right now in life. I imagine a bedroom where everything is low to the ground and I can invite friends and family to hang out with me in my room. A place that can be a sanctuary, that's full of hope and joie de vivre, a place that's warm and inviting and last but not least, inspirational. This is the inspiration photo I'm using to redo my bedroom. I'm in the process of getting rid of a lot of things including my bed frame, dresser and much more. It's quite a therapeutic process to clean out both physically and metaphorically. The room is a guest bedroom in a house in Marrakesh (Vogue Living Australia.) Anyone else cleaning out or doing a redesign?

Thought for the Day

noreply@blogger.com (Alkemie) — Tue, 26 Feb 2013 21:37:00 +0000

I started self therapy and journaling towards the beginning of this month. Part of what I've been doing is choosing quotes and concepts every day - whatever strikes me (I just open the book and flip until I find one that I can connect with that day) to reflect and write about. Somehow, the act of getting my thoughts on paper helps center and clarify things for me more.

This page comes out of a book by Mike Dooley called "Choose Them Wisely." It's referring to thoughts because thoughts become things.

Hot Pink Diva Shoes!

noreply@blogger.com (Alkemie) — Sat, 23 Feb 2013 01:40:00 +0000

Just for fun. I really like the color of my friend's shoes. Hot Pink Diva shoes!

Girl's Cheese and Liqueur Night

noreply@blogger.com (Alkemie) — Fri, 15 Feb 2013 21:31:00 +0000

For the first time in a long time, had a wonderful get together for three of us girls. I don't know about you, but I really adore cheese. My friend Hanny is a dear friend I've known since high school who majored in interior design (her home always looks like it's staged but it's not lol.) She introduced me to Tiffany who is passionate about cheese and design (interesting combo :) I'm definitely not one to judge because my own interests are all over the place - schizophrenic interests ^_^ The girls brought over four different cheeses, olives, marinated artichokes, prosciutto and rosemary garlic Turkey sliced meet - yes you heard right. Delish!! It was intimate and fun, next time I'll need to invite more foodie girlfriends over to share. I provided the liqueur, I'll have to do another post later about liqueurs. I have quite the sweet tooth and a pretty decent collection of liqueurs.

In the mean time, definitely check out Tiffany's blog if you want to know more about cheese and see her design inspirations Triple Creme Decadence.

Winter Inspiration for the Day

noreply@blogger.com (Alkemie) — Thu, 24 Jan 2013 22:10:00 +0000

from Budget Travel raghava47/myBudgetTravel

A Ballad For You to Start the Week

noreply@blogger.com (Alkemie) — Sun, 08 Jul 2012 18:34:00 +0000

Happy Friday and a Happy Tune for You

noreply@blogger.com (Alkemie) — Fri, 24 Feb 2012 19:58:00 +0000

Happy Friday Everyone!!

Here's a Piano Cover of a fun tune I'm working on. No name yet - any ideas?

Song 14 Catchy C by Karen Olivia

Thrifting and Making Over Furniture

noreply@blogger.com (Alkemie) — Wed, 01 Feb 2012 00:32:00 +0000

As many of you know, I love thrifting and finding old pieces of furniture to redo. I also love ogling before and after photos to see how other people have imagined new life into old pieces. If any of you have not been over to Rashon Carraway's blog called Mr. Goodwill Hunting - it's a must for DIY ideas and really cool projects that he's done. I'm showcasing some of my favorite pieces that he's redone in this post. Rashon was invited to do a segment on Nate's design show. This bright sideboard really "wowed" me. I can just see what this sideboard originally looked like - who would have thunk to paint it such a bright color. But the way Rashon mixes it in with the other pieces - it totally works!

This proves that you can paint a piece of wood furniture anything you want - the trick is mixing it in with everything else in the room. Rashon mixed it with more neutral elements and accents in a similar color family - Orange.

I have a secret love affair with plaid. I just thought it was so fun how Rashon accessorized this wing chair. Without the accessories, it would look like a sensible wing chair with a modern black look. With the plaid and the suspenders - it really changes things up and makes the chair pop. The suspenders are just fun!

I've seen this kind of dresser at flea markets or garage sales countless times.

It's astounding that with only some new hardware the

handles and some paint, that it could look so high end?

This is one of my favorite transformations from Rashon's blog.

And it's because of the color he chose to paint this desk. The color is an Amazing shade of green. It reminds me of the shades used for the Marie Antoinette movie. It can be paired with so many other colors as well because of it's soft palette.

I'm not very imaginative when it comes to

remaking lamps other than some spray paint.

So when I saw what Rashon did with this lamp, I just stared and stared at this photo.

Isn't it awesome? Notice the contrasting ribbon and that he sprayedthe top piece of

the lamp to match the base as well. What an eye for color.

Here's Rashon himself in a dapper velvet jacket.

I have a soft spot for velvet jackets as well. Hope

you got some inspiration from Rashon's projects.

Definitely check his blog out.

All photos from Mr. GoodWill Hunting

Just for Fun - Washing Instructions

noreply@blogger.com (Alkemie) — Thu, 12 Jan 2012 20:55:00 +0000

Saw this and had to chuckle.

Sad but true...

Fabulous Asian Themed Pillows

noreply@blogger.com (Alkemie) — Mon, 09 Jan 2012 20:45:00 +0000

So I have to admit that I have a bit of a pillow addiction. I keep a collection of different pillows I rotate in and out. It's the cheapest and easiest way to change up a room a bit without spending a fortune. I discovered these wonderful pillows on a cute site called Wanderloot. Frankly, I'm bit jealous of what the site owner, Julie. She travels all over and finds great stuff in limited quantities to offer. Anyways, check out the pillows which I'm really in love with. They'll be sure to give some color and character to any room. I'm nabbing a couple of these myself.

Love this rendition of a Geisha girl.

Sometimes, the back side of a person or object

can be more alluring. A bit of mystery never hurts.

Hear no evil, speak no evil, see no evil...

It's a popular saying and pops up a lot in

the Nikko region of Japan.

Two sweet Chinese girls in Cheongsam dresses.

Judging from the head dress, here's a Qing dynasty

manchu noble woman from the last dynasty in China.

A Shanghai Girl - I particularly love the style of Cheongsams

or Chinese dresses from the 1930's in Shanghai.

Photos from Wanderloot

An Inspired Turquoise Glass Kitchen

noreply@blogger.com (Alkemie) — Tue, 03 Jan 2012 21:00:00 +0000

Now That's how you can use glass tiles! I am totally obsessed with glass tiles (I think they're the greatest invention.) It goes perfectly together with my love of color. This kitchen combines traditional and classy elements (cabinetry and marble) with a modern sense of color. Just can't argue with the brilliant tile that's carried all the way to the ceiling, topped off with crown molding. Designed by Bridget McCullin of New Jersey.

Photo from Interior Design Pro.Org

A New Year - A New Project - A New Me

noreply@blogger.com (Alkemie) — Tue, 03 Jan 2012 00:47:00 +0000

As many of you noticed, I took a hiatus from blogging for about half a year. 2011 was a year where I experienced internal conflict about many things. I didn’t have any tragedy happen, in fact I have a lot to be thankful for in my life. But there were a lot of things in my life I wasn’t happy or content with. Over the years, I’d gone into this auto-pilot mode of jumping from obsession to obsession outside of work and then having a career meltdown every 3-4 years (where I would panic, stress out, and frantically search for other careers – resulting in practicality winning out, stomping the panic out, and carrying on.)

I had another meltdown this year that resulted in a month of no sleep (believe when I say I love to sleep,) during which Steve Jobs passed away. I watched the commencement speech for Stamford in 2005 and the last few minutes of the speech really got me thinking. Over the years, I’ve read a lot of self help books (what can I say? I like to think I’m working on improving myself.) I am a total nerd, self-professed neurotic (but a highly functioning one), and a bookworm. The two things people notice when they come to my home is my taste in furniture and the number of books I have. It took me forever, but I finally broke down and bought a Kindle - only because it got ridiculous when packing to travel (12 hardback books takes up about half the space in a carry-on suitcase,) so I bought a Kindle for travel. At home, I still like my physical books thank you very much – I have a theory about the difference between physical and digital books, and because I disagree at times with how the publishing industry is trying to sell books digitally. I digress – back to the meltdown at hand. Probably because I hadn’t slept in 3 weeks and was desperate to sleep regularly again, I really took Steve Job’s advice to heart. He felt that the most important thing was to pursue and work on things he felt passionate about – and he felt that everyone should accept no less in order to be true to ones’ self. The last two years, I had started reading all the books I could get my hands on about careers and finding one’s passion. Jobs was adamant about not listening to naysayers or even what conventional wisdom has ingrained into us when it comes to finding the things we are passionate about. I realized at that point, that my problem in finding the things I’m passionate about was coming from myself. I had tried to look for something I was passionate about with a leash on myself. I had unconsciously limited myself with, How am I going to make a living with what I love when it seems like it’s just a hobby? mindset.

For the first time, I could finally throw all of that out the window. And I threw out my leash with a vengeance. We all have to make a living. Not all of us have the propensity to live a starving artist’s life, others have duties and responsibilities. But there was no reason why I couldn’t use time outside of my day job to start exploring. And start I did! My day job is very logical and rational – which one side of me is, but the creative side of me has been starved for too long. It’s why I sometimes feel like I have a Dr. Jekyll and Hyde personality. The logical and creative side of me have been split out when they really should be combined – neglecting one side has also left me feeling imbalanced.

So this year, I’m making a serious commitment to tackle the things about myself I’m not happy with. These things aren’t going to fix themselves. Getting started is hard enough, even harder is changing habits.

Resolutions for the Year 2012

1.) Clean House and Storage

I really let myself go here when I was in auto pilot mode. It doesn’t help that I’m a total pack-rat by nature. While I’ll never be the minimalist type, I can vastly improve on getting rid of the excess of things I have in the condo I live in – and the storage unit (yes it’s that out of hand.)

2.) Play and Discover Passions with Abandon – Be True to Thyself

I have a really open type of personality where I see possibility in almost everything. If you ask someone who knows me, they’re most certainly liable to say “Oh, Karen loves Everything.” While this isn’t technically true, I can definitely see how it would seem so. My answer is to try things out without giving thought to whether it’s practical or not – once I try things out, I’ll know whether I like it or not. It may not be the most efficient way to figure out what I really enjoy, but it’s a sure way. I’m going to figure out my passions this year – even if I hurt for it (I already have bruises from fencing, more on that later.)

3.) Write, Write, Write

The thought of writing was born out of my love of reading, books, and stories. I love a good story in any form – books, movies, song lyrics – you name it. I thought about writing for a year and a half before I did anything about it (sad, but true – I am THAT good at procrastinating.) Because I have such an open personality, I tend to start a lot of things – but not finish them. It’s one thing that really bothers me about myself. I reasoned that I needed a healthy dose of discipline, so I signed up for writing classes which meant I would have deadlines to turn in assignments – and feedback. I have taken 4 writing classes so far in different genres, and have really enjoyed them (well, some more than others because I’m terrible at some genres.) I still procrastinate. I really need to get into the habit of writing at least 5 days a week plus work towards completing two writing projects I have decided on. A novel and a collection of humor essays.

4.) Try my hand at Writing Songs – Incorporate Music back into my Life

Many people don’t know this about me, but I’m a serial musician. I literally collect and dabble in playing instruments. When I was young, I took years of classical piano and violin lessons. I’ve recently pulled many of my instruments out of storage and started playing again – and bought new instruments. Like the Ukulele, a bass guitar, and a five string electric violin – a weird combo I know. A more recent discovery about myself is that I completed the melody / accompaniment of two songs. I never thought of myself as someone who was creative enough to write songs – but I had such a good time completing the two melodies for the songs that I really want to give song writing a try. Whether or not the songs are good is an entirely different story, but I’m having fun.

5.) Start a V-Log

I’ve been thinking about starting a V-Log and would like to start one this year. I’m in the process of swapping my camera for one that can also do video and took a 1 day digital film making course to learn basics – it was fun. I have no designs or inkling to become a director, maybe only for my own V-log ^_^

6.) Create and Lead a Japan Tour with a Fun Group of People

I’ve always loved travel. It’s one of the few passions I have that hasn’t changed since I was young. I go somewhere far every year – I go a little nuts if I don’t. I think I got the bug from my mom, who – while being a very traditional and loving mom – is one of the most adventurous people I know. While I have no plans of becoming a full time tour guide, I love sharing things I’m passionate about with another passion of mine - people. I lived for almost two years in Tokyo and traveled all around Japan. I think Japan is a fascinating country – one that can be a little daunting for westerners to visit because of the language and cultural barrier. I would really love to put together an introductory tour of Tokyo and the surrounding area for those who want to travel somewhere new, do something different, and be able to do it with a fun group where one doesn’t need to worry about all the details on their own. Like traveling with a group of friends and looking after each other.

7.) Lose those last few pounds.

I know this is cliché, but you know how they say those last few pounds are the hardest to lose… They’re not getting lost on their own, so I’m putting it down on my list. I’ve already consulted my personal diet guru (my brother - because he's tried just about every diet under the sun,) and I think his advice is sound. His take is that there are no short cuts and the hardest thing is not losing the pounds, but rather keeping them off – which means if you’re on a diet you can’t sustain long term, don’t bother. I’ve started calorie counting – and dieting is really hard for someone who loves food :( The hardest thing for me is portion control. More on this later.

8.) Family & Friends (Old and New)

I think quality of life boils down to striving for a healthy life. This includes maintaining healthy relationships, because after all, the people in our lives are who enriches our lives by providing color and meaning. I’d like to make it a goal to spend quality time with people in my life and to make new friends, who I can learn from and broaden my horizons.

In Conclusion, I wanted to thank all of you who have been following my blog. I received some really nice emails about missing my blog during my break. Thank you for your patience with me. I wanted to say that you will be seeing posts from me – not only about design, but also about other things. I thought about maintaining different blogs, but it would be too much for me (already have a problem with focus hahaha.) So I hope you will forgive me for expanding the theme of this blog from design to something more encompassing. The design element will stay, but you may see book reviews, gift ideas, the latest activity I’m trying out, and etc.

Most of all, I’d love to hear from all of you. What are you up to? What are your thoughts? Your resolutions? Anything!

Happy New Year Everyone!

Designer Christian Audigier's Luxruious Los Angeles Home (Ed Hardy brand)

noreply@blogger.com (Alkemie) — Mon, 13 Jun 2011 07:00:00 +0000

Designer Christian Audigier, who designs the Ed Hardy brand,

is putting up his Hanock Park home in Los Angeles for sale at

$8.263 million. Some of us may not have 8.26 million lying

around, but we can certainly admire rooms from this seven

bedroom, seven bathroom home. If he does manage to sell it

for that price, he will have made a nice profit from it since

he purchased the home for $4.78 million.

The house dates back to the 1920's and is 8,276 sq. ft. of

luxurious home. Let's take a tour shall we?

The hot pink may be a bit much for some of us, but I Love

looking at someone who's bold enough to put so much hot

pink in their living room. Get a load of how long the sofas

are - definitely custom made.

Favorite things from the room:

1.) Style and velvet of the couches

2.) The pink crown above the fireplace

3.) The smoking hot wallpaper on the ceiling

4.) The shiny black floors

I love the traditional lines of the house.

A bathroom with french doors - what an airy bathroom.

Now that's a spacious kitchen. Can't quite tell what type

of flooring it has, but the traditional and clean lines of the

cabinets with the butcher block top island.

There's a lot of gorgeous molding in this room. Don't

the dining chairs just look comfy?

This is like the perfect room for a sleepover!

Love the coziness of this sitting room. The flowers are

perfect for staging, but I wouldn't put them there if I was

using the room. Imagine having to duck around the flowers

to see who you were talking to.

Being in socal and all, can't forget the outdoor living!

I wonder how many living rooms and family spaces

this house has.

I absolutely ADORE The color of this couch.

Isn't the blue so rich and beautiful?

Poolside, Hollywood style.

Yet another dining space. This is like the 3rd or 4th dining

space we've seen!

This is probably the comfiest sleigh bed I've ever seen.

It's completely covered by a plush, camel colored

fabric.

Hope you enjoyed ogling this house as much as I did.

Photos from Realtor.com

A Tea Party for the Girls!

noreply@blogger.com (Alkemie) — Mon, 23 May 2011 07:00:00 +0000

Sorry gentlemen, this one's for the ladies. I saw this fabulous post on

Lila's blog Pretty Prowler. Her mother puts together a party every

year for just the ladies in the family. What a fantastic tradition! It

makes me want to create one like it. Aren't the Tiffany Blue

cupcakes cute?

This year's theme was Breakastat Tiffany's with Audrey Hepburn,

who is one of my style icon idols. Just look at all the love that went

into preparing the event. Check out the rest of the photos

at Pretty Prowler.

Sugar Baby : Confections, Sweets, Cakes & Other Delicious

Recipes for Cooking with Sugar

I've saw this book that came out recently and was waiting

for the right post to showcase it. Isn't the cover beautiful?

With a gorgeous name to match it. If you're in the mood

for a small party or get together and need some ideas in

creating beautiful sweets to go with it, check out

SugarBaby.

And the winner from the drawing is Karena from Art by Karena!

She'll be receiving a copy of House Beautiful's Blue. Be sure to

visit Karena's blog.

Photos from Pretty Prowler

1001 Arabian Nights - A Desert Retreat in United Arab Emirates

noreply@blogger.com (Alkemie) — Mon, 16 May 2011 07:00:00 +0000

About 2 hours from Abu Dhabi in the United Arab Emirates lies a unique desert

retreat called Anantara Qasr Al Sarab. The word Anantara in Sanskrit means

"without end" which is meant to evoke a feeling of freedom and harmony. If

the library is any indication of what the resort is like, I'm in! It's a wonderful

modern mix of Arabic and rustic desert style.

Have you ever thought of going to the desert for a retreat? I must admit that

it's not the first place I usually think of for a retreat, but, it does have a different

kind of appeal.

Especially if the stars look like this in the middle of the desert.

The sky looks clear enough to see the milky way.

Part of the appeal for me is the wide open space of a desert. Just like the ocean,

the desert has its own fits and can be calm as it is violent in a sand storm. I can

just imagine Lawrence of Arabia in this vast space.

What a fantastic entrance!

I've always loved fountains in a courtyard.

One of the best things I love about Islamic architecture are the arches.

This room manages to look spacious and cozy at the same time with its

warm rugs and textured ceiling. Not always an easy balance to achieve.

I could definitely see myself spending a peaceful week here.

A suite with a generous balcony.

A villa with a dipping pool with a desert view that transports one

out of this world.

Since I was a child, I've always been entranced with tents.

Bedouin tents are so comfortable with all of the lounging

spaces. It certainly sets the stage for socializing in comfort.

Now isn't this what you would imagine an exotic desert hang out

space to look like?

You can always go for a camel trek if things get too quiet.

For those of you who have never ridden on a camel, they

are very tall - so if you have a fear of heights like me, have

a care. But in any case, well worth the experience.

It may not be everyone, but this gives meaning to the phrase

"In the middle of nowhere." Sometimes, having a little

quiet time in a place that is so foreign from what one is used

to makes it easier for one to reflect. It's also a fantastic way to

try something different.

So what are your thoughts in general? Do you like the decor?

Would you go to a place like this? Why or why not?

Photos from Qasr Al Sarab's website

Blue Rooms from House Beautiful - Enter for a Free Copy

noreply@blogger.com (Alkemie) — Mon, 25 Apr 2011 07:01:00 +0000

Blue by House Beautiful

House Beautiful recently released a beautiful small book simply called

Blue. It has an edited collection of rooms decorated with the color

blue. I know blue is a soothing color and a favorite of many people.

The volume looks to be cloth covered and has great photos for ideas

and inspiration for anyone looking to use blue for their rooms or as

an accent color. Not all of the images in this post are in the book but

most of them are. The book is available through Amazon at a great

price.

**I have a copy of the book from the publisher that I will offer up

in a drawing. Simply enter a comment for this post about topics

topics you would be interested in seeing posts about. It can be

anything about interiors, lifestyle, travel or etc. Comments

accepted for the drawing until May 15, 2011.

House Beautiful has been putting out some scrumptious publications

on blue rooms. This is the March 2010 issue that focused on blue

rooms from last year.

This is one of my all time favorite bathrooms (in the book Blue.) It is

a blue and white modern interpretation of a Moroccan bathroom. I

love everything about it from the river stone floors to the details and

blue tiles.

The rug and chair make this bathroom feel cozy.

A bathroom that is also a dressing room. I always wanted a

blended bathroom and dressing room. Alas, there is no room.

There's no other word to describe this blue other than fresh.

A posh dining room with a beautiful blue.

This image is in the book and also the March 2010 blue magazine issue

of House Beautiful. Absolutely gorgeous isn't it?

I'd stay in this bedroom any day.

Who says one can't squeeze furniture into a small room?

Love the palette and the blue striped accents.

Gorgeous paring of deep blue and lime.

A great example of a monochromatic room.

Stripes and stripes can go together.

This living room somehow manages to be comfortable and posh.

A Posh cottage look?

This living space has tons of seating.

Wouldn't it be perfect for family reunions?

The dramatic wallpaper pattern really makes this room pop.

Be bold with your furniture color choices.

Isn't this a fun room?

Another great example of colored furniture.

Blue rooms anyone?

Remember to post your comment about post topics you'd like

to see for a chance to win a copy of Blue from House Beautiful.

**I have a copy of the book from the publisher that I will offer up

in a drawing. Simply enter a comment for this post about topics

topics you would be interested in seeing posts about. It can be

anything about interiors, lifestyle, travel or etc. Comments

accepted for the drawing until May 15, 2011.

All images from House Beautiful

Tina's Fashionable Swedish Abode

noreply@blogger.com (Alkemie) — Tue, 05 Apr 2011 07:30:00 +0000

This is Tina's super chic home that she designed and decorated herself. Tina runs the blog called Signed By Tina - it's a must read. I was totally blown away by how polished and glamorous her place looks. She has some serious style. Tina grew up in Sweden but now lives in a small Swedish town. "Country Living" does not mean a cramp on style.

I love how Tina effortlessly blends modern with glitz. Tina was kind enough to allow me to interview her. Notice the IKEA chairs.

1.) Can you give me a little background on yourself? Where do you live (city, country)? What you do?

I was born and raised in Stockholm, Sweden. When I was 25 I moved to Sydney, Australia to pursuit my dream of becoming a veterinarian. After finishing the degree, I moved back home to Sweden and ended up moving to my boyfriends hometown, Norrköping, which is located 1.2 hr from Stockholm. Unfortunately. the veterinarian profession was not for me, so right now I am studying web development.

2.) Are you a designer or are you self taught?

I am self taught. Although, my mother has worked with interior decoration/design for many many years. I think that my passion for having a nicely decorated home stems from my mothers passion. I have always worked with design of some sort....just not interior design. Both my mother and I are very creative, which helps with the design process.

3.) Is your place new? Did you purchase it and renovate it?

Our place was build 1910. We purchased it a year ago. It was run down with almost everything built in pine. We had to remove walls, remove the entire kitchen, strip the place of wallpaper - you could see all the layers from when it was built. I think we touched everything in this flat. I don't think the previous owners would recognize it!

4.) You have some interesting wall art including a frame that has what looks like a lot of circular pieces of paper on it. Is this something you made? And if so what did you use? Metallic paper?

I have done most of the art myself, except some of the photographs. I have a couple of those art pieces that you mention. They are made out of vinyl or faux leather. I found this gorgeous gold and silver metallic vinyl that I used for the paintings....and some of the furniture :) I cut out circles and then I glue them in different patterns. You can also use paper...

5.) You upholstered a chair and a bench in a really pretty metallic champagne color. What sort of fabric is it? Do you have a source or a brand name for the fabric?

The chair is upholstered in the silver vinyl and the sofa in the gold. It is a rather thin vinyl and probably not the best for upholster furniture, but I could just not resist. They are bought at a Swedish online store called panduro.se.

6.) What inspires you when you are designing/decorating your place?

I collect clippings and digital images, and have done so for years. I only collect things that moves me and I think I have like 8000 pics. So for our flat, I actually went through every image that I had and picked out a few that I just loved...then I worked from those. You think when you start that it will look like the picture you have chosen, but in the end, they look nothing alike (you wouldn't even think the picture was my inspiration). It kind of evolves from that original idea into something that reflects you! And things change along the process as well. The kitchen was going to have green accessories and the dressing room baby blue and black colors - it didn't happen! I can still miss the blue in the dressing room but the wallpaper that I had picked out had the wrong shade.....totally wrong.

The kitchen during the remodel with bare walls.

The tiles that went up in the kitchen.

And Voila!

A super slammin chic and sleek kitchen!

7.) I noticed your kitchen is very minimalistic and all cream/white. Is it difficult for you to keep it so clean? What are the countertops made of?

It is minimalistic which wasn't our intention actually. We were suppose to have green as an accent color but I didn't find anything that I liked, so the base palette remained, black and white. I added white in different shades and gold to warm things up. We have now added more plants, which helps. The kitchen is not actually ready. We will have a huge wall-to-wall mirror over the stove and counter (behind the kitchen fan). I think it will look fantastic and open up the space even more. The counter tops are high shine laminated wood in arctic white. Because it is so minimalistic, I find it easier to clean, even if it is white. Instead of hiding the dirt on darker surfaces, we find it and can remove it :) Hate having lots of bottles of oil and vinegar, salt and pepper shakers, other little accessories, that just sits there and collect dust and grease.

8.) How would you describe your design sense or style?

Modern with some Hollywood regency flair :).....or just My Style. If there is something I hate, it's mainstream. Especially in Sweden, everyones home looks exactly the same. I thinks thats weird and spooky.....I rather see a home that reflects the people living in it - no matter how it looks.

Now this is called paying attention to the details.

I LOVE what Tina did with her towel bar.

9.) How long did it take you to completely decorate your place?

It took us 2 months before we moved the furniture. I renovated the flat all day long while my boyfriend was at work and then he joined in the evening. Hard work, but fun! The last decoration pieces has just been finished or not finished yet (the kitchen). There are some things or ideas that takes time....and some rooms took longer than others. I am one of those people that can stare into a room and just sense that something is not right. It could be the position of a pillow, a missing accessory.....anything really! It is a bit of a curse, especially when you don't know yourself what is wrong with the room.....but it all comes down to harmony!

10.) Do you have other hobbies or collections?

I don't collect things (except for my clippings). I am quite the opposite these days - I would love to have an empty storage :) Sometimes I feel things weigh you down.....

If I had the space and time, I would probably collect old furniture that I would renovate and sell :) Love old and cheap furniture!

11.) Where do you usually shop for your furniture, accessories, lighting and etc?

There are things that you should splurge on and things you really shouldn't. A lot of our furniture are really cheap pieces, Ikea or second hand. We have painted them and modified them to make them personal. You can save thousands by doing this. New, expensive furniture do not usually have better quality than antique ones..... My main weakness are lighting! You definately need to splurge on that! You can just tell if it is cheap or not, and lighting is the most important thing....that is what sets the mood! Also, I would splurge on wallpaper (if wallpaper is what you want).....you can really tell the difference between expensive designer paper from cheaper brands. We saved quite a lot by shopping wallpaper overseas. Same brand, different price :)

Other tips!

Our home might look extravagance for some people, but it is not! I have used really cheap furniture, second hand or from Ikea. Then you modify them to make them personal. Make your own art and save money, plus it makes the space really personal. Do most of the renovation yourself to save money. We actually saved 2000 USD by installing the carpet ourselves - never done it before, but it was so easy. Ask your friends for help - a friend put up the wallpaper for free for us.

There are so many ways you can save money but still have your dream home.....you just need to invest with your own time! :)

I hope everyone enjoyed touring Tina's home and learning about her as much as I did.

Photos from Signed By Tina

A Ritzy and Glamorous Parisian Bathroom

noreply@blogger.com (Alkemie) — Tue, 15 Mar 2011 07:20:00 +0000

Can you believe this is a guest bathroom? It makes me wonder

what the master bathroom of this home looks like... I can definitely

see that the inspiration comes from the famous and ritzy Parisian

hotels. Doesn't this bathroom look divine?

Super tall ceilings (marble tiling from floor to ceiling -

even the crown molding seems to be in marble! Love

the gorgeous chandelier and the tiled in design that says

"Monsieur" and "Madame."

The shower is well lit. The designer (Betty Lou Phillips)

shows a twist on tradition by using baby pink towels instead

of the white towels that hotels and spas usually use.

The fixtures are what totally make the place high end

(along with the tons of Carrara marble which literally

covers the entire bathroom.)

The inspiration came from a pair of napkin rings the designer

bought 15 years ago in Paris. She used the design as an inspiration

for the bathroom.

Get the look:

Polished Carrara marble tiles, Candide tub, étoile tub filler, faucets, and showerhead, Normandy sinks, and vanity mirrors from Waterworks: waterworks.com.
Large leaning mirror from Found Antiques: dallas-antiques.com.
Vintage pharmacy chest from Scott Antique Market: scottantiquemarket.com.
Crystal and silvered French chandelier from Jacqueline Adams Antiques: jacqueline?adamsantiques.com.
Milagro towels in Pink from Matouk: matouk.com.

The Luxury Bathroom

Lately I've been really into bathroom books. If you'd like more

inspiration for high end bathrooms, The Luxury Bathroom is one to

check out.

Photos and "Get the look" information from House Beautiful

Farmstay Vacation

noreply@blogger.com (Alkemie) — Tue, 01 Mar 2011 06:36:00 +0000

Ever considered a Farmstay vacation for the family? Well here's a glamorous

and fun way to stay on a farm with the entire family to enjoy all the fun things

at a farm without the grueling work. Isn't the above tent fun? At Kinnikinnick

Farms located 85 miles northwest of Chicago, you can stay on a farm in a tent

like this for about $189 - $239. It sleeps up to 6 depending on which tent you

choose. I love the rustic inspiration of a tent. I loved tents as a child and don't

think I ever really outgrew them.

Isn't it a gorgeous setting? There's a lot of activities available as well.

Hot piping breakfast!

The tents have plumbing and kitchens.

Here's a closer look at one of the tents. Isn't it fun?

Kind of glamping.

Sleeping quarters.

And after all, the tent is on a working farm. Isn't a red barn

quintessentially American?

An honest to goodness oven to bake bread in.

You can pick your own fresh produce.

Or just have fun in the pumpkin patches.

Plenty of farm animals to follow around.

Or play with.

Gorgeous forested areas to play in.

Complete with a campfire at night.

It's fun for the adults too. If you're interested in this Farmstay, you

can find more information at featherdown.com. Otherwise, if you're

like me - there was a lot of farm and rustic inspiration in the tents

above.

Photos from Featherdown

Georgestown House in Waterford County Ireland

noreply@blogger.com (Alkemie) — Wed, 09 Feb 2011 07:41:00 +0000

I'm sure many of you are real estate stalkers just like I am. How about this

gorgeous Georgian estate in Waterford complete with stables, tennis court

and lake. The house was built in the early 1800s complete with 110 acres

of land. Doesn't it look like the quintessential manor house in Ireland?

It's so picturesque - as if it could be lifted off the pages of a novel.

The house looks so cozy.

Definitely spacious enough for big families and entertaining.

Such a homey bath.

Now this is a sunroom!

Imagine being able to grow up in a place like this.

Gorgeously manicured gardens.

I wonder how much of the land is so well manicured.

Wow, this property must take an army of gardeners to upkeep.

All for the price of 3.4 Million Euros.

Photos from Knight Frank

Rustic Log Cabin Inspiraiton from Dunton Hot Springs Colorado

noreply@blogger.com (Alkemie) — Thu, 20 Jan 2011 10:28:00 +0000

I absolutely love hot springs and what could be better than sitting in a

hot spring in a natural setting among mountains and birch trees.

in a fully restored ghost town... How awesome is this cabin

complete with a hot spring inside!

If only it didn't cost an arm and a leg... But one can dream.

The interiors to the cabins and buildings offer fantastic rustic inspiration.

Makes me seriously want to build a little log cabin that I can escape to

myself. I love this modern interpretation of a log cabin - complete

with all the modern comforts. The room is spacious and manages to

be cozy at the same time.

Dunton Hot Springs is an old Western ghost town that has been restored

absolutely gorgeously near Telluride, Colorado. It has several cabins

offered to guests as well as having bonafide hot springs to soak in.

Among the cabins is the two story houses that can be rented out by

groups and family.

This cabin has its own outdoor hot spring to soak in.

If you have kids, the Indian teepee is very cool.

This is the bath house. A farmhouse with a lot of glass windows.

It's absolutely fantastic.

Care for a calming and relaxing soak with a beautiful view?

Fall in many places often offers some of the most gorgeous views around.

Especially with autumn with birch trees...

Here's a cute cabin with a rocker outside.

Dunton Hot Springs like a white winter wonderland.

This is a picture that just belongs in a frame on the wall.

Can I build one of these in my backyard?

The deck really gives this cabin character and a place to relax outside.

I wonder if it's warm enough to stay in the teepee overnight.

More rustic decor inspiration.

Super cozy log cabin room.

Rustic = Stone, Wood and Leather

Don't forget the native American designs and patterns.

I really love the ambience of this room.

Cabin in the Woods

If you like and enjoy rustic spaces like I do, check out the

book above for some great inspirations from personal

log homes and hotels. I just received it today and it has

some really gorgeous log homes and spaces in it.

Photos from Dunton Hot Spring

Another Gorgeous Campion Platt Space - Contemporary White Soho Loft

noreply@blogger.com (Alkemie) — Thu, 06 Jan 2011 17:19:00 +0000

I especially love this Campion Platt designed condo for it's

luxurious textures. Love the soft shaggy rug with velvet,

mirrors and other glamorous yet comfortable fabrics and

touches.

I'm always a fan of sun rooms and this one is super cozy!

Chic white dining space.

Isn't the stone in the bathroom just fabulous?

Gorgeous backlit Onyx countertop in the bathroom.

A fantastic design for a smaller room. The

layers really make the room cozy. Platt

uses so many luxurious layers great space

planning.

A warm bedroom with colors used in a subtle way.

Can I please have this bedroom?

Premium balcony and outdoor space in NYC.

Made to Order
Campion Platt

If you like Campion Platt's designs, I highly recommend

the above book. I just received it this week and the book

covers some of the best residential spaces and homes that

Platt has designed. Platt manages to layer with

sophistication in a way that is streamlined and simple -

his designs do not seem overdone or too much.

Photos from Campion Platt's site

Play Food and Toys for Tots!

noreply@blogger.com (Alkemie) — Fri, 31 Dec 2010 18:59:00 +0000

Chef Costume from Amazon

Happy New Year to everyone! I apologize for no post the last 2 weeks.

It's been a bit crazy and I was on a cruise with extended family the

last week (connecting to the internet was $.50 a minute and I heard it

was an ultra slow connection so I refrained.)

It's that time of life for me when many of my friends are young or new

mothers. It reminded me that when I was young, I loved playing chef

or having tea parties. I would have loved to have a little costume and

play food! All of my picks in this post for play food is from Amazon

where I spend way too much every month on books, gifts and etc.

Since I just returned, I'm afraid I'm a bit late in posting this next part but

it is for a good cause and today is the last day. CouponMountain.com has

pledged to give up to $50,000 to Toys for Tots based on the number of

"Likes" CouponMountain receives on Facebook.

Toys for Tots is a charity that gives toys to unprivileged children who

don't have normally have the chance to receive holiday gifts otherwise.

CouponMountain will give $1 for every time someone clicks the button

"Like" at the top of the below page. Please take a moment log on and

click "Like" on CouponMountain and pass it on.

How You Can Give $1 to Toys for Tots:

· Go to: www.Facebook.com/CouponMountain

· Select “Like”

· CouponMountain will donate $1

· Spread the word to your friends

Country Club Sandwich

I'm totally on a play food roll. I think it's so cool

because I never got play with bonafide play food ^_^

Baking cookies (which afterwards one

can use the cookies in a play tea party.)

Decorate a Cupcake

Now this set is pretty cool. You can decorate a cupcake with

markers and then wipe them off to do it again and again. They

have versions of this for cookies as well. It reminds me of the

Cookie app on the I phone which I totally got hooked on.

No one should forget about the food groups!

Another look at the Food Groups.

Deluxe Wooden Cutting Fruit Cake

Can't forget the fruit! It's best to eat fruit on an empty

stomach to get the maximum nutrients possible - that

means eating fruit before a meal or as a snack on it's

own. It sounds like the opposite of what most people

do but it is true.

Pizza Party at my house! This is really fun set for kids.

This is what it looks like all done up and ready to serve.

Grill Set

How about a play food set for the boys? What could

be better than a grill set for the boys :) It's one of

America's favorite past times in the summer - BBQ

and grill.

Stir Fry Set

I am Asian so I must say that a stir fry set certainly appeals

to me. Also because it's just fun to dump food into a pan

and pretend to cook it by stirring it around.

It's pretty good - comes complete with a "knife" for

chopping, snow peas, beef, mushrooms and veggies.

There's one thing that I always thought was interesting,

Westerners usually eat the snow pea but not the snow

pea leaves. Chinese people usually eat the snow pea

leaves instead.

Fancy Cake Set

Last but not least is the special occasion fancy cake set. Every

girl should have one of these ^_^ Perfect for a play party, a

play tea party and play wedding.

Here's to getting in touch with your inner child. Happy New

Year everyone! I'm going to do my New Years Resolution

for 2011. Whether I complete them is another story...

usually get at least half way through them so I'm thinking

this year, my list should be more realistic as to what I think

I can accomplish.

Campion Platt - Fabulous NYC Architect and Designer

noreply@blogger.com (Alkemie) — Tue, 14 Dec 2010 08:00:00 +0000

I'm really not sure what took me so long to discover the New York

City based architect and designer Campion Platt. His designs are

utterly gorgeous! Not to mention that he has a great eye for space

planning and colors as you can see from the above image. This is

New York City apartment and he has really put the available space

in the open living space to good use. A signature of Platt's is luxury

and texture. He always pays attention to fabric and texture. The

above space not only looks chic but it looks very cozy.

Another look at that fabulous blue couch.

And the backs of the lush blue velvet chairs.

The dining area save space by using a cozy banquette

seating. I totally want one of these for my own nook.

A statement piece of artwork

hangs above a cool console.

Built-ins in the study.

The study has orange as main color with the

seating and as an accent color in the lamp

and pillows.

Here is the second bedroom and the size of the bedroom is

really nice for NYC. I adore the mirrored tri-level end

table used in this room. Where can I get one?

And the master piece - the master bedroom which has gorgeous

large windows, a fluffy white bed and a comfortable yet chic

looking curved sofa. What a great use of space. Different

functions without the room feeling crowded with storage and

cabinets lining the wall underneath the windows. This

bedroom has such a light, airy and cozy feel to it.

Outdoor space in NYC is always coveted and this condo has the

perfect amount of balcony space - enough for comfortable chairs,

table and champagne of course. I'm now officially a fan of

Campion Platt's work. What were things you particularly liked

in the design of this condo?

Photos from Campion Platt