Home Designs Master | Valentina Expressions

Saint Patrick’s Day And The Interesting Green | Valentina Cirasola | Interior Designer

17 Mar 2016 Leave a comment

by Valentina in Home Designs Master Tags: #ColorGreen, #DecoratingWithGreen, #HomeDecorating, #HomeFashion, #HowToCombineGreen, #SpringColors, #StPatrickDay, #ValentinaInteriorsDesigns

Here we are already approaching Saint Patrick’s Day!
Saint Patrick, in Latin Patricius, is the patron saint of Ireland. It is traditionally celebrated as a religious event in Ireland, America, Canada and Australia by Irish and non-Irish alike.
Up until the 1970s, Irish laws mandated that pubs be closed on March 17. Beginning in 1995, the Irish government began a national campaign to use St. Patrick’s Day as an opportunity to drive tourism and showcase Ireland to the rest of the world.

A note of history: At age fourteen Patrick was captured from Britain by Irish raiders and taken as a slave to Ireland, where he lived for six years before escaping and returning to his family. After entering the Church, he returned to Ireland as an ordained bishop. One traditional icon of Saint Patrick’s day is the shamrock. An Irish tale tells how Patrick used the three-leafed shamrock to explain the Trinity. Shamrock represents the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit existing as separate elements of the same entity.
Today, people of all background celebrate the day with parades, wearing something green, drinking beer and eating traditional Irish food. Tradition says that people who don’t wear green will be “pinched”…. in an affectionate way.

One reason St. Patrick’s Day might have become so popular is that it takes place just a few days before the first day of spring. Spring is time to renew, refresh and upgrade any space in the home.

I love surrounding myself with bold colors, but not everybody thinks that way. Calm, no need to paint an entire room in bold colors to brighten it up. Use bold and colorful accessories such as rugs, throw pillows, and window treatments to add punch to a room painted in a neutral shade. This way, bold colors can be contained in small areas, making it easy to change or eliminate if later you decide to go with something else, or go with the change of seasons.

Using a bold color in a small room, will add a feeling of coziness. Some people think it will shrink the room, I think it is only how you perceive your space and how you intend to make it work for you. With a bold color in a small room, it is a must to use a spectacular light effect to avoid that shrinking feeling.

Depending on the mood you like to create, green combines well with purple and grey for a modern high tech hipster décor. Soft pink and green tones if you want to create a feminine environment, or yellow and golds if you like your home to have a summer feel all year round. Use cool green and turquoise hues for tranquility.

(Source: Color Palettes)

If you want to use a darker color in any size room, consider painting one accent wall in that color, then paint the remaining walls with a lighter tone of the same shade, or with a different neutral color to set off the bold color.
In the kitchen get creative with your backsplash in contrasting colors. Using a contrasting grout draws attention to the tile. In this example, a light-color grout lets the round green tiles pop.
(photo below: BH&G)

In home décor all the different elements can co-exist in the same space to create rhythm and a dynamic space. Green often is the right color to repaint a repurposed piece of furniture that can be used for beauty and functionality.

I am always available to resolve any design challenges and yes, I am the colorist who brings happiness in any décor. Ciao,
Valentina
www.Valentinadesigns.com

Valentina Cirasola is an Italian Interior Designer working in the USA and Europe since 1990, specializing in kitchen, bath, wine cellar, and outdoor kitchen designs. Often people describe her as “the colorist” as she loves to color her clients’ world and loves to create the unusual. “Vogue” magazine and many prominent publications in California featured Valentina’s work. She also has made four appearances on T.V. Comcast Channel 15 and on RAI – Italian National TV. Author of three published books, the latest ©RED – A Voyage Into Colors is on the subject of colors.
Amazon: http://goo.gl/xUZfk0
Barnes&Nobles: http://goo.gl/q7dQ3w

Finally in Colors | Valentina Cirasola | Interior Designer

12 Mar 2016 Leave a comment

by Valentina in Home Designs Master Tags: #EthnicFurniture, #Furnishing, #FurnitureArrangement, #FurniturePlans, #IkatPattern, #KilimDesign, #SunnyColors, #ValentinaCirasolaAuthor, #WarmColors

After 25 years or more, unconsciously she felt the need for colors. Her household is made of three men and herself, the only woman, unless she has girlfriends and occasional visitors over whom are not part of the everyday life. Although she decorated her house with taste and classic pieces, the décor has too many beige and black furniture having qualities traditionally ascribed to men. I was invited to speak at her organization on the subject of colors. She attended it and immediately got convinced she needed a transformation. What a transformation has been…..!!!!!
(Click on each photo to view it larger).

(New color scheme)

My goal is to bring femininity into her life, provide some private corners for meditation, writing cards, reading, or receive a close friend for tea instead of sitting in the kitchen. The house is spacious with many unused rooms (the boys are no longer living there). I am creating an office room, energized with colors, where she can perform her work duties, without feeling in an office box. I also introduced her to Ikat pattern and kilim designs mixed with modern lines and some ethnic details.

I can tell you my first time in this house, I started yawning the first five minutes I was there due to too all areas covered with beige, white and black. It was a good thing, because it prompted me to bring color accents everywhere, from rugs, to sofa pillows and bar stools; from wall paint to wall art; interesting mirror shapes and glass accessories; new furniture and new room arrangements. After all, I was called to bring colorful energy. Editing has been part of the restyling concept. It has been necessary to eliminate too many old furniture, too many accessories cluttering each surface, too many styles living in the same space and too many animal figurines. While heavy editing was going on, my new stylish furniture and cheerful colors were pushing in.

(Guest Bedroom)

(Sitting Room)

In a few more weeks the house will be transformed forever and she will never return to beige again.

I will be ready to show the finished product then, for now I can just show vignettes of my restyling concepts. She is now one of us, lovers of colors. She is part of my “get rid of black color” movement.

Colors are contagious for your happiness, be careful how you use them, you might get up in the morning totally cheerful with a smile from ear to ear. Ciao,
Valentina
http://www.valentinadesigns.com

Valentina Cirasola is an Italian Interior Designer working in the USA and Europe since 1990, specializing in kitchen, bath, wine cellar, and outdoor kitchen designs. Often people describe her as “the colorist” as she loves to color her clients’ world and loves to create the unusual. “Vogue” magazine and many prominent publications in California featured Valentina’s work. She also has made four appearances on T.V. Comcast Channel 15 and on RAI – Italian National TV. Author of three published books, the latest ©RED – A Voyage Into Colors is on the subject of colors.
Amazon: http://goo.gl/xUZfk0
Barnes&Nobles: http://goo.gl/q7dQ3w

Transitioning In A New Life | Valentina Cirasola | Interior Designer

26 Feb 2016 Leave a comment

by Valentina in Home Designs Master Tags: #BarrierFreeDesign, #ConsignmentStore, #ConvertaShelf, #EstateSale, #HouseEditing, #LifeTransition, #LoweringCabinets, #TransitionInNewLife

“Old age ain’t no place for sissies.” ― said Bette Davis.
One day we all going to be there if we are lucky to live long enough. How we get there is our responsibility.
Let’s start with “Barrier Free Design”. The first day of this class in my interior design studies, the professor, an architect of barrier free design brought a wheelchair and prompted us in turn to sit in that chair. I can assure you the world standing up as an able body and the world sitting down, as a non-able body are two different realities. We couldn’t even maneuver the wheelchair through desks due to lack of space. Everyday we are exposed to dangers caused by our simple distractions or caused by the action of others. Just to name one, think of the danger of being on the road, how many people now text while driving.
Kitchens and bathrooms are also the most dangerous rooms in the house and a simple fall in one of these rooms can incapacitate us for a long time. Stairs are another danger of the house. My friend at 65 was incapacitated for several months with a fractured to the right humerus bone, just because she slipped going downstairs trying to get to a ringing phone.

Barrier Free Design doesn’t mean we must fill the house with stainless steel grab bars everywhere, it simply means to adapt the house to necessities we don’t have when we are young and able, but we could have in the golden years, that is if we intend to live in the same house until we depart this world. All the people in my family never even thought of going to senior homes as a good viable solution. The stayed in the same home they raised family and that’s what I will do too when my time comes.

As a designer, I encourage my clients to think of Barrier Free Design in the moment they are remodeling the house and not when they are in need. The solutions are simple:

1. Wider doors to allow walking through with a wheelchair, walker or cane.
2. Wrist blade faucets and wrist blade door handles are easy on people with hand arthritis.

unison inox

3. Lowered sinks for people on wheel chairs.
4. Kitchen shelves with lowering mechanism.

(ConvertaShelf – photo above found on: http://www.kitchensource.com/cabinet-organizers/rv-shelvingsystem.htm)

(Above photo: http://www.crown-point.com/organize/organize.html)

5. Walk-in bathtubs with an interior seat are easier to get in versus climbing in a tub and risk a fall.
6. Decorative grab bars.
7. Rough and skid free flooring material and no waxed floor, no area rugs, no pointed corners, no stairs.
8. Plenty LED lighting to illuminate dark corners, working surfaces and wet areas. LED lights are a major saving on the electric bills.
9. Wider traffic spaces between furniture.
10. Raised garden beds for those who enjoy cultivating food and attending flowers.

This is prevention and not even all the solutions. Transitioning into a new life means downsizing or moving to a senior care center and in both cases a heavy house editing will be needed.

Consignment centers are a real saver of the environment and allow a second life to the pieces they consign. These centers take in their care only sellable furniture or accessories in good and clean conditions.
The process is very simple. Take photos of all you want to eliminate, including garden furniture and garden accessories. Email them to the store. The person in charge will decide if to come out to the house and assess in person the value of each piece. A three-month contract is signed between the parties and furniture will be taken away at your expense. The store will retain 50% of the sales value; the owner will keep the other 50%.

Consider antique stores for furniture, accessories and light fixtures older than 50 years and in good conditions. Kids nowadays don’t want anything old from their parents. They are into the mode of “use it today and throw it away tomorrow”. Only connoisseurs will appreciate your antique pieces.
The less desirable furniture and accessories will go to Goodwill or similar organizations for which you can claim a reasonable tax credit. Remember these organizations make good money out of your trash.

The other alternative is to organize an estate sale. It is not like a garage sale where everything is out on the front lawn, I would not lose my time with that. An estate sale takes place inside the home opened to the public only on days marked for this event. Every piece has a sales tag and remains in the room where they were originally set. All the accessories and small items with a sale tag are gathered in an area where someone of trust can take control making sure nothing walks away for free. Buyers are responsible to take away the large or small pieces they purchase.

Books in foreign languages will go to schools and organizations of that language. Books in English can be left at libraries, Goodwill, or second-hand stores.

Clothing and accessories follow the same route. Designer clothes sell really good at upscale second-hand stores. You will be surprised how many people shop at upscale “second time around stores”, even wealthy people. One of my wealthy friends says: “only idiots shop at retail stores”…perhaps that’s how she became wealthy…. Her wardrobe is filled with extravagant designer clothes purchased in one of those stores. On the other hand, she is size 2 and can find the most darling clothes at a very low price. She is a fashion statement every time she goes out.

Another way to get rid of your clothes is to fill up luggages and take them to stores that are geared to buy used clothes. Receiving money for your used clothes is an incentive to free the wardrobe and go to a restaurant to celebrate you accomplishment.

eBay and Craigslist are also good places to sell. For those clients who don’t care to spend time online, don’t know how to do it, or don’t have the time, I will assist them in the process, but of course, I will charge a certain percentage on the sale to cover for my time and knowledge. I love to help downsizing and then create a new environment. I am here prompt and ready to help. Ciao,
Valentina
http://www.valentinadesigns.com

As a designer in business since 1990, I am interested in helping people designing their interior and exterior spaces with an overall feeling of peace, relaxation and harmony that will draw them home eagerly. I am always looking to add that special touch with original findings to the spaces I design. Featured on Vogue Italia magazine, Gentry and many prominent magazines in California. appeared on RAI, National Italian T.V., my story continues. Find copies of my three books on
Barnes&Nobles: http://goo.gl/q7dQ3w
Amazon: http://goo.gl/xUZfk0

Speaking On Stage Colorfully | Valentina Cirasola | Interior Designer

12 Feb 2016 6 Comments

by Valentina in Home Designs Master Tags: #ColorfulFashion, #ColorfulInteriors, #ColorTalk, #DecoratingWithColors, #RedVoyageIntoColors, #UsingColors, #ValentinaCirasolaSpeaker

I was on stage yesterday talking “colorfully” before a group of over 30 gentlewomen. I want to thank the Berkeley Italian Section Club for hosting my event. I enjoyed everyone of the participants and the tasty lunch.
The topic was: “Color Your World”.

©Valentina Cirasola

They all responded well to colors, in fact the audience came dressed in colorful clothes. It was surprisingly pleasant for me to see the wonderful expression of colors in their outfits, usually, I don’t get to see that many colors in an audience. I explained why colors inspire us and why we should wear them, throwing an arrow against certain colors I consider “boring” but useful nonetheless, in that all colors are beautiful and important in their functions.

The focus of my talk was to explain why certain colors are not at all good to use alone. Beige, for instance, in the interior as well as in fashion, can act as a stabilizer when it is used with hot colors, like orange, red or yellow. Black can act as a grounding agent when a room is decorated in total white or beige and a total black outfit will come alive with small colored accents, such as a colorful pair of shoes.

The eye needs to rest on some colors to feel relaxed. If a room is decorated in a monochromatic color there is no relief and the eye wanders around, therefore even though monochromatic schemes are beautiful in their character, always need some other colors as company. If wearing a total beige outfit, it is necessary to distract the eye of the viewers from the dullness of a total beige scheme.

Many women came up to me at the end of my conversation on colors to tell me how entertaining and informative my talk was. I never expect everybody to agree with me in these presentations. My knowledge comes from my long years of studies and most importantly from my 25 years of work experience in the design field. One woman talked to me about how good she feels in her total beige home with large windows through which she receives a ton of natural light and is able to see the nature outside. She feels relaxed and at ease with her neutrals, if she would color the walls she would feel overwhelmed ~ she said and I agree. If neutral tones are the preference, by all means, use neutrals. I just reminded her that nature has made all colors and perhaps it wouldn’t be a bad thing to add small accent colors in the accessories.

(All photos by Seeds found via Pinterest).
Visit my Pinterest boards. https://www.pinterest.com/vcvalentina

Neutral tones found in nature are beautiful and they are far from being all beige and dull, as you can see from my photos. They are delicate, soothing, relaxing and lively. “Live in colors, change you life, change your energy”. Ciao,
Valentina
http://www.valentinadesigns.com

Home Trends In 2016 | Valentina Cirasola | Interior Designer

09 Feb 2016 Leave a comment

by Valentina in Home Designs Master Tags: #2016ColorTrends, #2016HomeTrends, #CologneInteriorDesignShow, #DynamicLighting, #ErgonomicFurniture, #InteriorDesignHomeShow, #SmartFurniture

Some people go on vacation to relax and to get lost, I go on vacation to live in someone else’s culture for a while and to learn as much as I can. During my latest trip to Europe I learned about new home trends, living customs of new generations and novelties in the design world.

At Cologne, Germany interior design trade show I saw homes designed for the Millennial generation. The show dedicated to home interiors presented trends that will shape furniture, furniture functions and interiors sector with unique ideas for every room, every style and requirements, from the basics all the way to designer items and luxury furnishings.

As homes are becoming smaller due to high-priced real estate, the millennial need self-assembly furniture, furniture with multiple functions and ergonomic functions. The preferred material, believe or not is natural wood. I was so happy to see that versus furniture made of pressed sawdust put together with poisonous glues as we have seen up to now. Wood represents warmth, stability and sustainability.
“Smart” furniture with the addition of technical functionality will perform highly in various tasks for a high-speed modern lifestyle . However the “affordable furniture” by being fashionable, practical and versatile offer expressions of individuality.

The millennial want natural material in terms of fabrics, curtains, bath/bedding products and any home fabrics made of grasses and wood fibers. Well-being and visual appearance is a consideration of the new generation, in other words, they want to sustain the environment and still be able to have something beautiful in their homes. In the Sleep segment, the show presented highly functional mattresses designed with new scientific knowledge that will give relief and ease good sleep. “Holistic” is the definition of a home for new generations.

Formal living and dining rooms will disappear in favor of friendlier great room where family and friends can relax, eat and drink together seated on comfortable sofas and chairs. To minimize cleaning time and devolve that time to comfort, home spas and relaxation is one of the areas this young generation looks to get help with gadgets and smart solutions, don’t we all?

(All photos by IMM)

Dynamic lighting, which changes brightness, coloration and temperatures tones is a big revelation. Depending on the tasks performed at any given time, dynamic lighting will be brighter to stay attentive, dull and warm for relaxing, or soft for falling asleep. Of course there are many colors for bathing in chromotherapy.

Home gardens might disappear altogether in place of wood decks. The millennial want to entertain in intimate outdoor spaces, but don’t want the maintenance of grass and temperamental plants. The exterior will be an integral part of the interior without the barrier of walls and glass, at least in good weather, thus we will see more retractable glass walls, made of foldable doors and smaller backyards designed into vignettes, versus gigantic field of grassy lawn.
Colors, colors and more colors will fill the interiors of the future. This make me super happy. Ciao,
Valentina
http://www.valentinadesigns.com

Valentina Cirasola is an Italian Interior Designer with a passion for kitchens and cooking. She especially loves to design all those rooms with a “make me feel good” tag attached, such as kitchens and wine grottos, outdoor kitchens and outdoor rooms, great rooms and entertainment rooms. She is a public speaker and a mentor. She is also the author of two Italian regional cuisine books and a book on colors, all-available here in this site on the Books page and on
Amazon: http://goo.gl/xUZfk0
Barnes&Nobles: http://goo.gl/q7dQ3w

Monochromatic Appeal | Valentina Cirasola | Interior Designer

20 Jan 2016 2 Comments

by Valentina in Home Designs Master Tags: #DecoratingTips, #DesigningWithColors, #DesigningWithMonochromaticColors, #HomeRemodeling, #MonochromaticWhiteInteriors, #ValentinaInteriorsDesigns

Working with a monochromatic color scheme seems easy for those who know how to do it. In decorating with one color only it is important not to keep it boring, to put the accent on details and to play with light effects in a large way.
The house showing in my photos dates 1987.

Entry Gallery After

Living Room Bar Before

Living Room Bar After

The interior of every room was made entirely out of oak wood inside and out, wall panels, windows and shutters, floor, kitchen and bath cabinets, interior doors and beams. It was a very dingy, dark and not practical home for today’s needs. The only firm demand was to turn it into a very bright, airy, contemporary and functional home. The Clients liked subtle colors such as golden beige and were open to other color suggestions as long as they were not bold. After studying various tints and tones of subtle colors, this was the last scheme chosen. Clients envisioned a very white home, but this color scheme for the interiors and exteriors really got them excited.

All the walls in every room, including kitchen and baths cabinets have been faux finished with an elegant metallic effect that is only noticeable by getting closer to the walls.

Living Room Before

Living Room After

Kitchen Before

Kitchen After

Inside Kitchen Before

Inside Kitchen After

Master Bath After

Earlier, I talked about putting the accent on details when working with monochromatic colors. The existing beams overhead were overwhelming and felt like a heavy lid. I put LED lights inside of them and the ceiling came alive when illuminated at night or grey days. Each pillar of this home had a brass band at the bottom. I left it there and with the new cream color those bands created an elegant accent. It looks done on purpose to break the verticality of the pillars.

Getting rid of all the oak obstacles and details, making each space open and livable was a real pleasure for the clients and me.
What really made this large space was the floor. I selected a large planks chestnut hardwood floor to run continuously all over the house. The very dark brown of the floor grounded the décor and helped this 10,000 square feet home covered in cream colors not to look aloof and floating in the air.

Dark wood furniture mixed with a few satin metals, glass tables, and a few antique pieces satisfied the needs of both husband and wife in different age group. They said “Now we can breathe! ”. The intercommunication system between rooms was a necessity.

As you can see there is no need to live in dull colors, even mortally boring beige can be attractive, sophisticated and exclusive. Ciao,
Valentina
http://www.valentinadesigns.com

Valentina Cirasola is an Italian Interior-Fashion Designer working in the USA and Europe since 1990. Often people describe her as “the colorist” as she loves to color her clients’ world and loves to create the unusual. “Vogue” magazine and many prominent publications in California featured Valentina’s work. She also has made four appearances on T.V. Comcast Channel 15 and on RAI – Italian National TV. Author of three published books, the latest ©RED – A Voyage Into Colors is on the subject of colors.
Amazon: http://goo.gl/xUZfk0
Barnes&Nobles: http://goo.gl/q7dQ3w

The Animal In A Pool Of White | Valentina Cirasola | Interior Designer

14 Jan 2016 Leave a comment

by Valentina in Home Designs Master Tags: #AnimalPrint, #AnimalPrintAccessories, #AnimalPrintFurniture, #MonochromaticWhiteInteriors, #ValentinaInteriorsDesigns, #WhiteInteriors

Fashionable white interiors look clean, spacious, larger, pristine and they seem to give out more light than any other colors. Many people I know love to live in contemporary white, flat, no depth, or in shabby chic white where a bit of antique patina is playful. However beautiful in some people’s eye, white is a tiring color. Our eyes to feel comfortable need to find a resting point on shadows and colors, otherwise will wander aimlessly.

(Photo: Oscar de la Renta Collection Leopard bombé chest of drawers)

I am not particularly fond of a white interior, it doesn’t speak nor does appeal to me. I am realizing that my clients who have lived for long time in a white walls house with white or beige furniture are calling to change their colors. White is bright and creates no interesting games, that’s why is tiring and after a while people hoped to have used colors from the start. Nowadays to help patients heal faster in a cheerful environment even hospitals paint colors on the walls and nurses wear colorful uniforms.

A monochromatic white colored interior works well if it can be broken with textured walls, or contrasting accent walls, colorful art and interesting fireplaces, geometric mirrors with different frames and various warm metals, a well-designed hardwood floor or even all these items together.

Found on: matt.ahomestools.com

Guild Master

Happywall.com

Hemphill’s Rugs & Carpets

(All photos credits given to the respective owners)

I love the rhythm that animal prints create. If you like all white walls with white furniture and don’t want to change anything, at least introduce colorful and lively animal prints in a few accessories such as lamps, pillows, a throw cover, a carpet especially on stairs or a stand alone dresser, maybe some candles or dinner plates. I am not saying to cover your home in animal prints, do it with taste, sparingly, add some greenery, some live plants in corners, then all will appear chic and more cheerful.

Once you get into colors, it’s hard to get out. Colors are contagious for your happiness.
If in doubt on the color to choose, please contact me, I can arrange an interesting palette of colors for your personality. Ciao,
Valentina
http://www.valentinadesigns.com

As a designer in business since 1990, I am interested in helping people designing their interior and exterior spaces with an overall feeling of peace, relaxation and harmony that will draw them home eagerly. I am always looking to add that special touch with original findings to the spaces I design. Featured on Vogue Italia magazine, Gentry and many prominent magazines in California. Appeared on RAI, Italian National T.V. Find copies of my three books on
Amazon: http://goo.gl/xUZfk0
Barnes&Nobles: http://goo.gl/q7dQ3w

History of Pomanders And Its Charm | Valentina Cirasola |Interior Designer

16 Dec 2015 Leave a comment

by Valentina in Home Designs Master Tags: #ChristmasPomander, #DecoratingWithPomanders, #HistoryOfPomander, #PerfumedPomanders, #Pomander, #PomanderForPerfumes

I re- blogged this very interesting and amusing reading. https://theloveforhistory.wordpress.com/2011/06/08/history-of-pomanders/ – Click the link to read it. Thanks to Love of History Blog for sharing this post. To this, I will add my own.

I am so glad my hands don’t know how to rest and do nothing. Perhaps I am a type A person and as long as I keep on creating I will be fine. One day, I thought of creating special home décor with an antique flair from Renaissance time. Pomanders are incredibly easy to make and can have a variety of purposes. The pomanders I made decorate doors and lamps. Luckily we live in times in which soaps and hygiene are an important daily routine, thus my pomanders were not made to hide any odors, as explained in the article I re-blogged from “The Love Of History”. It’s quite an interesting and amusing reading on the function of pomanders in the past. You will love it too. Find it at the very end.

Today, since the function of a pomander has changed, we can stuff it with our favorite scents to give the house a spritzy clean air. We can make also a centerpiece with clove-studded oranges embellished with ribbons.

Another simple solution is to peel oranges, make circles to look like roses, hot glue the edge, if you like, select live pine branches with small or baby pinecone attached and put them in a vase with the orange peel roses here and there.

I hope this help you creating a fragrant, organic Christmas in your home. Ciao.
Valentina
http://www.valentinadesigns.com

Valentina Cirasola is an Italian Interior and Fashion Designer, working in the USA and Europe. She blends fashion and interior well in any of her design work. She loves to remodel homes and loves to create the unusual, as much as she likes to restyle people’s images She needs your story to design your dream. Check out her books on

Amazon: http://goo.gl/xUZfk0
Barnes&Nobles: http://goo.gl/q7dQ3w

The Love of History

Throughout history, the importance of scent has never been denied. Mystical and powerful, scent was an offering, a force of attraction and a curse. The pomander, a ball filled with perfumes worn from the Middle Ages onward, was a form of protection against sickness and death.

Origin

The word “pomander” originates from the French “pomme d’ambre.” A common interpretation of this phrase is “apple of ambergris,” referring to the wax substance used as a base in pomander recipes. Others take the phrase to mean “apple of amber” or “golden apple,” as in the fragrant citrus fruits exchanged during holidays for good luck.

Purpose

The pomander became popular during the Middle Ages when the black death and other ailments ran rampant. Sanitation during the era was lamentably lacking. The streets and even some homes were strewn with filth, bodily fluids and the discarded remnants of past meals. People thought that the…

View original post 229 more words

Christmas On The Sea | Valentina Cirasola | Interior Designer

14 Dec 2015 2 Comments

by Valentina in Home Designs Master Tags: #BlueChristmas, #ChristmasDecorations, #ChristmasOnTheSea, #CoastalChristmas, #CoastalColors, #RedVoyageIntoColors

Every year I have a new challenge for beauty, style and originality: how to decorate my Christmas at home. Stores propose the same old thing, red, gold and green.
At times I see gold and silver with white. Rarely I see other colors. Christmas is a traditional holiday I like to respect the traditional celebrations, but being a non-traditional designer, I like to bring innovations in this yearly event and make it really special.

I was born on the beautiful blue-green water of the Adriatic Sea, the East side coast of Italy, I thought this year my Christmas will have a coastal flair with driftwood and succulent plants.
I want to create a very organic atmosphere that I might keep even after the holidays. With glass baubles I want to create light and reflections and that will be the shimmering I am looking for instead of using gold specks everywhere and fake ornaments.

I will use mini trees decorated with sea shells and ocean blue glass ornaments. I will scatter beach lights everywhere, fill vases with blue crystals and wrap gift packages with nautical maps.
The table will be dressed with bluish plates with a mixture of gold and blue drinking glasses.

Source: San & Spiral

©Valentina Cirasola - Photo taken in ZGallery

The focus of my table is always food, wine and conversation with interesting people for which I reserve a large space. Decorations take a second place, inconspicuous and elegant in their simplicity. This year I want my decorations fresh looking with cool colors. I want to remember the aroma of the sea, imagining all the fresh seafood just caught and brought alive to the table in wicker baskets, the fresh oysters, shellfish and the happy faces of my family, all fish eaters, around the bounty from the Adriatic Sea.
What are your Christmas decorations this year? Would you like to tell me about it?

While we wait for the new light to come into our life and celebrate it, I will wish all of you a very Happy Christmas and if you don’t celebrate it, please take some rest time and celebrate your life. Ciao,
Valentina
http://www.valentinadesigns.com

Valentina Cirasola is an Italian Interior and Fashion Designer, working in the USA and Europe. She blends fashion and interior in any of her design work. She loves to remodel homes and loves to create the unusual, as much as she loves to restyle people’s images. She needs your story to design your dream. Check out her books on
Amazon: http://goo.gl/xUZfk0
Barnes&Nobles: http://goo.gl/q7dQ3w

Setting Stage For Thanksgiving | Valentina Cirasola | Interior Designer

11 Nov 2015 Leave a comment

by Valentina in Home Designs Master Tags: #NaturalMaterialCenterPiece, #NaturalTableSetMaterial, #ThanksgivingColors, #ThanksgivingStage, #ThanksgivingTable, #ThanksgivingTableSetting, #ValentinaInteriorsDesigns

I have been thinking of a new style table setting for my Thanksgiving dinner. Last year it was Bohemian, two years ago it was all about nature, this year the décor of my table is still in roaming in my thoughts and I better hurry.

Flemish and Dutch paintings, lithograph and prints of course, are under scrutiny at this time for a project I am doing, people want their home to look properly attired for the holidays and I feel inclined to reproduce one of those food still life on my table.
The question is only one. This kind of setting almost requires a formal dining with crisp tablecloths, well polished silverware, sparkled crystals, a menu suitable for all needs and impeccably prepared by a personal chef, all the guests selected carefully to be congenial with one another and the house in order with elegant decorations.

I can see myself stepping in a 1500s dinner set, but most of my Californian friends would rather eat informally, roaming in my kitchen while different dishes are being prepared, pouring glasses of wine to each other and some of them would feel even more adventurous and will want to help out with the preparation of the food. Among all the Flemish paintings I have seen, I am considering reproducing one of these as my table settings, fruit in the bowl is simple and easy to do.

(Painting – Flemish Splendor – Carol Lee Thompson)

(Jacob van Hulsdonck – Flemish Still Life with Lemons, Oranges and a Pomegranate)

I am attracted also to natural materials, acorn, colorful corn, pomegranate, persimmons, fruit and sprig of autumn spices.

AEGEAN HURRICANES – Pottery Barns

I can take it even further and use some driftwood with natural plant inserts and plants in glass baubles,

(Valentina Cirasola’s photos above)

although the animal print tablecloth is very tempting…….

(High Street Market)

Which is it going to be? In two weeks you will soon find out. Meanwhile, have you thought of how you are going to set the stage for your Thanksgiving? Create a story first, then build on it. Surprise yourself with originality! Ciao,
Valentina
http://www.valentinadesigns.com

Valentina Cirasola is an Italian Interior and Fashion Designer, working in the USA and Europe. She blends fashion and interior well in any of her design work. She loves to remodel homes and loves to create the unusual. She needs your story to design your dream. Check out her books on
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