Fabulous French Designer

I have recently come across the work of Nathalie Vingot Mei, a French designer and decorator based in  Aix en Provence. Her work has been published in a number of magazines including "Art and Decoration", "Australian Country Style" and "Marie-Claire Maison".

Her style is relaxed, yet with great attention to detail. Her  understated interiors have a comfortable, lived in look rather than that contrived and 'decorated' look.

She uses vintage finds from flea markets and antique stores which gives her interiors an individuality that is so appealing.

A simple linen curtain is given a lift with a pretty border.

Her bedrooms are understated and romantic.

She is particularly clever with her decor for children.

And here are some of her bathrooms which illustrate her style of simplicity balanced with touches of luxury.

I'd love to know what you think of her style

Till next time

Sharon x

Source: here

Monday Musings - Loving or Loathing Laundry



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Monday is the day we change all our bed linen so it's a big wash day in our house. Laundry really feels like a real chore but maybe the solution is to make it into a pleasure rather than a pain.

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Women the world over have been doing it for centuries and I'm sure, will be doing it for centuries to come.



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Using beautiful wicker baskets instead of plastic, old fashioned dolly pegs and sweet smelling laundry products will all help to make it less of a chore.

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I once went to a talk about caring for linen and the expert told us that a lovely way to dry freshly washed  linen was to lie it on a chamomile lawn and it would smell wonderfully sweet!

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I just need to quickly plant a chamomile lawn.

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As much as I love all the old fashioned laundry equipment - I'm very relieved that we live in the age of washing machines - imagine having to do it all by hand!

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I'd love to stay and chat, but I have laundry to do.

Till next time

Sharon x

From Dreary to Dreamy

This weekend retreat in Colorado is a perfect example of how changing the wall colours can completely transform a space. This pretty cabinet flanked by two chairs is in the entry way of the home.

This living room with its yellow walls and very imposing stone chimney breast was badly in need of an update.

The interior designer, Jessica McIntyre, has been so clever with her choice of colours in this home - mostly neutrals with a touch of blue every now and then.

Somehow the yellow walls made these beams in the dining room seem oppressive. With the lightening of the wall colour below the whole room gets a lift.  

The kitchen with its blue range and red and yellow walls and brown/beige tiles was just a "mish mash" of colour with no cohesiveness.

The only changes are the wall colour and the tiles behind the blue range, yet what a transformation!

 

The breakfast room area here looks small and poky.

Now totally transformed by paint - what a pretty room. The art is a faded tobacco label on a wooden panel.

Here is the master bedroom before which looks rather dreary with its flat brown walls.

 

Transformed to light and airy.

Furnishings are kept simple.

The TV room with its sloping ceiling, yellow walls and brown carpet looks very unwelcoming.

 

The small window was replaced by this gorgeous reclaimed barn door. The ceiling is painted a few shades darker than the walls making it disappear. This combined with the light coloured flooring make this room seem spacious and airy - a far cry from what it was.

So here's to the POWER OF PAINT!

Till next time

Sharon x

Image source: here