I just received a Kreativ Award from the talented and lovely Trish over at Trouvais.  I met Trish months ago and I was immediately drawn to her exquisite images and her always interesting blog posts about antiques and French Interiors & Gardens. I learn a lot from her. And she always ends her personal comments with “Merci”!. I like that too! So dear Trish, Merci! It is an honor to get your lovely recogniton!

Here are some images from her blog. Lovely, n’est-ce pas?!

Here I am supposed to say 7 things about myself. But this time I am not going to tire you with more facts about me. Instead I refer to an earlier post here.

I enjoy every single blog I follow, they are all special and very close to my heart. This time I have decided to pass this award forward to 7 creative blogs that I just recently started to get to know (or know better!) . They are all amazing & lovely. They all cover different areas (which I like – I love to learn new things!) and they are all genuine & friendly! Love them!

Dandelion & Grey

EMD Design Journal

Beadboard UpCountry

The Clueless Crafter

The Design File

Sogni e Sorrisi

Lilla Huset på Prärien

Happy Kreativ Blog Award to you! Share 7 things about yourselves (that we all should know) and pass on the baton to 7 other blogs that you like!

We have seen decals on walls for quite a while.  As well as numbers and quotes on just about everything. But what about taking that traditional, gold mirror to the next level, with a written bold statement or quote ? (Can you tell that I had Punk Rock tendencies in my younger days?!). If you don’t want to use your treasured family heirloom piece then there are tons of large, gold mirrors at consignment stores waiting for a new (& fun) home!. I am really fond of the second image!

Images via the lovely Lotta Agaton

All that’s left is to figure out what paint to use (safe on glass without being permanent as well as Windex tolerant, which has alcohol in it) and what the actual quote would be!

I am personally not a super fan of mass produced wall decals but the ones from the French company, Harmonie-Intérieure, are an exception. Their decals are really classy and beautiful and look like they were tailor made and hand painted.

Happy rest of the week, wonderful friends!

Not many words needed here. I am totally, madly in love with this reading nook. And that’s because, I am a huge book & art lover. I like my book areas to be organized but show life. I love the color gray. Seats should be comfortable with a capital C. Mixing old with new is my style (look at the ceilings and the industrial book shelves). Slipcovers work great with 3 young kids, messy huz & 2 spoiled cats. I crave daylight. I like just about everything in this room down to the simple reading light and the fresh flowers. (This image is going straight to my personal “So Me” file).

Happy new week to you all! I hope you all are off to a good start! Sending you warm thoughts and good energy. Hug, Monika.

Image from the always lovely Belle Vivir.

Oh how happy my desserts would be in an antique cupboard like this in our dining room. It would function as a buffet and it would be the center piece of the room. My guests would be served only Champagne (I go nuts for Champagne!) from simple, antique flutes together with the most decadent individual Pavlovas. Certain rooms in my home are definitely more modern, but I love my dining room old style with a lot of heart & warmth. (Also love the Magnolia branches in the gray vase. No need for masses of flowers).

I am so going to try to make my own Pavlovas (discs of meringue layered with organic whipped cream and fresh strawberries) this weekend.

I found the recipe (and these images,  from an old magazine) in Oprah At Home. Does this look heavenly or what? Here is the recipe.

And a little bit of history, folks:

Pavlova is a named after the Russian ballet dancer Ánna Pávlova. Colloquially referred to as “pav“, it is a cake of meringue with a crispy crust and soft, light inner. The dessert is believed to have been created to honour the dancer during or after one of her tours to Australia and New Zealand in the 1920s. Where it was created and the nationality of its creator has been a source of argument between the two nations for many years, but research indicates New Zealand as the source.

I don’t blame them – I would fight hard for that dessert too!

Happy rest of the week, friends!

Image via Flickr

Happy Tuesday to you wonderful friends! (I took Monday off due to President’s day. All we did was to enjoy the sun - which is not always out in lovely Seattle!).

I don’t know about you, but in these times of economic down turn, we are paying more attention to our budget than ever before. No unneccesary purchases. I am so tired of things anyway. I want less – not more. I want to surround myself with good quality objects and things I really LOVE. And for the first time I am so ready to take on some Do-It-Yourself projects not only for budget reasons but also to bring even more personality and heart into my home.

There are 3 things that I would love to start and hopefully also get finished in March. (Am I too ambitious?). And this is where I was going to show you a close-up image of my $37 (!) consignment wing back chair before it will get a makeover (and I know it is going to look fabulous once its done! Maybe like below).

Wherever I look – I see fabulous wingback chairs….

Image via House Beautiful

Image via Coco &  Kelly

I was also going to show you a fabulous mirror (found at the same store) that I am going to paint. But you see, Prince William (2.5 years) took off with the camera on Valentine’s day - and it is nowhere to be found! I have turned the whole house upside down. Zip, nix, nada. Camera is in hiding.

So here is a 1 year old image of the chair and me (with the criminal!). You can’t see much but at least it will give you an idea. (I will bring you more pics as soon as the camera has resurfaced! The chair has wonderful bones and is so comfortable. It is just in need of some love and a good upholstery makeover.

Camera thief – Prince William!

Here is another project that I saw over at A Perfect Gray. And now I want this in my home too! The talented home owner/blogger (yes, that is her lovely living room!) put together those wall panels with mirrors. Hello!! She had two of these lovely antique French panels. And on them she attached vintage  Sunburt mirrors. (I might visit my local antique restorer and have him make a pair of panels for me). How lovely! How personal! How Splendid! (And her white wingback chair looks like mine – pre-makeover.)

Any DIY projects you are extra proud of and would like to share with us? Please step forward, friends! We all want to learn some new tricks!

Image via Flickr