We’ve Moved!

Exciting news, my lovelies: We’ve moved!!! We’ve found a permanent home and a brand new, chic look. Pop by and bookmark us for more fabulousity!  www.lifeloveandluxury.com


Serenity Sunday

One more luscious shot from the UXUA Casa in Brazil. Just settle in, breathe deep, and let life slow down for just a moment.

 

Trending: Orange with Shades of Gray

We’re on the brink of Halloween Weekend, my dear readers, and I simply couldn’t resist finding some Cheese Doodle Orange interiors! But instead of the traditional black/orange pairing, we’re going in a slightly different direction: shades of gray. Not everyone will dig the bold choice, but if you’re brave enough to try, you’ll find the combo balances vibrancy and elegance perfectly. What do you think? Would you try this at home?

Designed by Sheila Bridges for Elle Decor

via Pinterest

designer unknown

designer unknown

via decorpad

via Apartment Therapy

via Decorpad

via Decorpad

Designed by McGill Design Group

Designed by Ron Marvin

Brazilian Breezes

Today I’d like to “I Dream of Jeannie” myself outta this rainy, cold city and re-materialize on a warm beach with a cocktail in my hand and a massage appointment in 15 mins. Clearly this girl needs a vacation! And topping my list of ohm-sweet-ohm locations is the UXUA Casa Hotel in the Brazilian village of Trancoso. Just browsing through their resort photos brought a little dash of needed serenity.

The resort, designed by Wilbert Das in collaboration with local artisans, fuses organic and natural elements with astoundingly luxurious touches that have caught the eye of everyone from Vogue to Travel & Leisure.  Accommodations include opulent casas crafted from old fisherman’s huts and a four-star tree house hovering above the garden. Dear god, is there anything more fabulous than sipping a cocktail while lounging in a tree house? Perhaps only if there is a massage involved.

Back to Black

via Pinterest

Confession: I’m crazy about Halloween. I adore the costumes and ghost stories, carved pumpkins and everything draped in dramatic black. So to add an elegant air to this spooky season, I’ve compiled some fabulously fearless ebony rooms.

via Pinterest

via Pinterest

via Pinterest

via Desire to Inspire

via Desire to Inspire

via LonnyMag

Designed by Nicole Cohen for Rue Magazine

via Marcus Design

via Velvet Moss

via Design*Sponge

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Images courtesy of Pinterest, Desire to Inspire, Lonny Mag, Rue Magazine, Marcus Design Inc, Velvet Moss and Design*Sponge

Happy 130th Birthday, Pablo Picasso

Pablo Picasso in his studio

“My mother said to me, ‘If you are a soldier, you will become a general. If you are a monk, you will become the Pope.’ Instead, I was a painter, and became Picasso.”
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130 years ago today in Málaga, Spain, Baby Picasso made his debut onto the world stage. Little did his mama know her bundle of joy would rock the art world to its core, yet here we are, decades later, still in awe of his work. It amazes me, as I look through my own Picasso collection (well, my collection of photos of other people’s Picasso’s!) how intensely their presence impacts the mood of a room. Clearly, although the artist is gone, the art lives on.
Happy 130th Birthday, Picasso!
Designed by William Hodgins for Architectural Digest. Hanging above the fireplace is Picasso’s “Femme dans l’Atelier”

Designed by Marie Burgos for Elle Decor

Designed by Stephen Sills and James Huniford for Architectural Digest

Designed by Christopher Maya for House Beautiful. Hanging above the fireplace is Picasso's "Woman In Armchair"

Designed by De La Torre Design Studio featuring Picasso's "Tete de Femme"

Designed by Richard Hallberg for Veranda Magazine

The Astor Bar at the St. Regis Hotel in Singapore displays several original lithographs from Picasso's "Toro" series

Seeing Double

Kerrisdale Design

Some say the kitchen is the heart of the house, but I’d argue that the true heart is the main seating area. This is where martinis and heart-to-hearts happen. This is where you take refuge after a horrendous day. This is where you snuggle up with the people you love. Big expectations for such a condensed space! That’s why striking a serene balance is important. A well-balanced space automatically soothes your brain (just ask your therapist!) and makes you feel protected. One easy way to achieve this sense of zen is by mirroring your sofas then anchoring them with a fabulous cocktail table. Sprinkle the space with an accent chair, pillow, blankets and voila! Instant ooohhhhmmmm…

Home of Mark Badgley and James Mischka for Elle Decor

Atmosphere Interior Design

via DecorPad

via DecorPad

Jean Allsop

Jennifer Bandier for Lonny Mag

Joan Behnke

Larry Laslo

Lindsey Bond

Lynn Morgan

Serenity Sunday

Dream Weekend Retreat

The good news: we’ve made it to the end of a busy week . The bad news: we don’t have First Class tickets to Jackson Hole, WY being handed to us on a silver platter. (Trust me, I checked.) So, it seems we’ll just have to improvise via Madeline Stuart and lose ourselves in this glamorously rustic mountain retreat.

Images and product information available via Madeline Stuart

Van Cleef & Arpels: A Fairytale

I feel as though I should begin with “once upon a time,” because no other phrase better sums up the fairytale that is Van Cleef & Arpels. In 1906, the legendary Parisian jeweler opened the doors to its 18th-century mansion-turned-boutique at 22 Place Vendôme – the same address where it can still be found today. Since then, Van Cleef & Arpels has become one of the premier jewelers of all time, lending their creations to icons like Marlene Dietrich, Grace Kelly, and Julia Roberts.

To mark it’s 100th anniversary, the renowned flagship store underwent a total re-design – a task entrusted to French designer Patrick Jouin. Jouin, who seems to have conjured his own magic, produced a breathtaking wonderland for the grand reopening in Autumn of 2006. The 2,500-square-foot space was opened up to create a main salon, accentuated by a majestic chandelier of hand blown Marino glass flowing through its center. Gentle architectural slopes and curves give the room a heavenly effect while signature fairies keep watch from their fanciful perches. Staying true to the spirit of romance and luxury, a neutral color palette allows the jewels to take center stage.

Stepping through the doors of 22 Place Vendôme is magical, whether you’re entering the VIP room to view exquisite precious jewels or popping in, like I plan to do, for a peek at the elegant boutique. Welcome to your own, personal, fairytale.