Orange

If you had asked me, what is my least favourite colour, I would have said "orange".

Without a doubt.

But.... I find that orange works great as an accent colour to add life to any setting. I mean, even Blogger is using orange as the accent colour for their theme! :-)

When you feel like your home is lacking in colour, throw in some orange!

Orange and blue looks great together. Here, the orange place mats bring zest in to this neutral coloured room.

House Beautiful

Or, how about some orange trinkets styled on your shelves in the kitchen? I absolutely love this kitchen and the deep blue colour with the bright orangey-red.

Helen Norman Photography

Even an orange book in a bedroom would do. Love the little birdie on it.

via The Pink Pagoda

I love the texture and look of this single vibrant orange cushion in this grey-toned sitting room. This is such a beautifully-styled room.

via Belgian Pearls

Or you can go bolder by throwing an orange cloth over your dining table like this one. I love the velvet texture of this fabric. It looks so rich.

via Belgian Pearls

This beautiful room by John Saladino uses orange and green - colours that complement each other well. Don't you just feel like hanging out here all day?

Veranda

This room, decorated by Giannetti Home uses orange cushions as an accent.

Velvet & Linen

Orange-coloured flowers brighten up this pretty little breakfast nook.

BHG

Or, you can just use oranges - and I mean the fruit - in a bowl to brighten up your kitchen!

Martha Stewart

So how would you use orange in your home?

Have a great week!

Just imagine...

I've been busy.

I know, I know, I've been giving the same excuse so many times for my lack of updates.

When I saw this photo on Pinterest, I thought to myself, wow, I need a break. Work and life has been hectic.

Leo Trippi

What caught my eye was the view outside. What a breathtaking view to wake up and see that.

I also love the lines of the poster bed and the linens. Lovely.

Okay, back to reality!

Happy Eid-ul-Fitr!

It's the second day of Eid, our religious holiday where Muslims all over the world celebrate the beginning of a new month after 30 days of fasting. This is the time where we spend our days with our families and loved ones over good food and laughter.

In the mood of Eid, I'd like to show you some photos of Islamic art and architecture - something I've always thought was beautiful. It's not exactly religious, rather Islamic art and architecture depicts the ways of life of its people and is influenced by many different cultures.

I have collated some beautiful photos over the internet for you to enjoy.

The below is a mosque in Semerkand, Uzbekistan. I love the turquoise colour of the dome. Surrounded by huts and greenery, it is a beautiful sight. 

Source flickr

An element of Islamic art usually found decorating the walls and window screens of mosques and Muslim homes and buildings, is the arabesque, an elaborate application of repeating geometric forms that often echo the forms of plants, shapes and sometimes animals (specifically birds).

This is from the same photographer, still in Semerkand, Uzbekistan.

Source flickr

Symmetry is often used on walls of art - to interpret balance and peace. I love the bright mint of the doors.

Source here

The use of blue and whitewashed walls is beautiful here in Tunisia.

Source here

This is a hotel in Hammemet, Tunisia.

Source here

More blue and whitewash. I love this.

Source here

The garden is an important element in Islamic architecture - due to the spread of the religion in hot, arid areas, gardens were built with cooling fountains and greenery for shade.

Granada, Spain. Source here

I believe Spain has some of the most beautiful gardens influenced by the Muslim culture. Notice the symmetry used in these gardens.

Alhambra, Granada, Spain. Source unknown

 The lush gardens of the Alhambra Palace.

Courtyards instead of back yards are popular in residences due to their privacy to enjoy one's own garden. This residential courtyard below is a beauty.

A residential courtyard in Qurtaba, Spain

Another beautiful courtyard to enjoy the outdoors without the heat. Lovely aged brick walls, arches and a hanging lantern complete this photo.

The courtyard of a townhouse in Cairo. Via Cultural Kiosk

Well I hope you enjoyed these photos. If you're celebrating Eid, I wish you Happy Eid and peace to you and your family!

Sheers and panels

Our house renovation is almost complete, and now, it's time to think about how to dress our windows!

Personally, I like decorating room by room, so thinking beforehand on what curtains to use for all the rooms in our house is quite the challenge for me.

I have an idea of how I want my curtains to look like - a neutral colour in a natural material that I won't get bored of over time. I'm not really into patterns, as I like the flexibility of plains where it can go with any theme.

But the thing that has left me scratching my head is on how to layer day with night curtains. You see, houses here are so close together, that day curtains are a must - it keeps sunlight in, but gives us the privacy we need during the day.

I was thinking of going for sheers and pair them with panels - but I really can't find much inspiration out there. Here are a few photos of rooms that have dressed up their windows with both sheer and panels that I will refer to as inspiration.

Velvet & Linen

This is from Brooke Giannetti, I love the use of this gauzy sheer fabric, layered with linen panels for night curtains. Gorgeous.

Phoebe Howard

Phoebe Howard

Phoebe Howard

Phoebe Howard mentions in her blog to stay away from polyester when you use sheers, and she likes using double poles to pair sheer curtains with panels. Aren't the three photos above just beautiful?

The photos of the room below uses double poles with sheer curtains and panels. The room is just beautiful, so I thought I'd just put in all three for your viewing pleasure. :-)

The sheers bring that elegant and romantic touch to the room. I love the use of natural textures of linen, sisal, antique chairs and console. 

You can better see the double poles used here in this photo. I love the stripe on these chairs. 

Source unknown! Let me know if you know who the designer is!

The below room has a modern touch to the interiors as well as the sheers used. You can't really see it, but the sheers to filter in light and maintain privacy is hung as blinds and pulled all the way down to the floor. This is a gorgeous room.

via Eclectic Revisited

The below is one of my favourite photos of sitting rooms - you can't really see the curtains, but they have also used sheers and panels here.

via Mark D Sikes

A beautiful dining area uses sheers and panels here too. I love the ornate chandelier.

House Beautiful

Well, I guess I'll be referring to these photos when I'm making choices for my windows! Have a great week ahead!

looking for a lantern for my dining area...

It's been a while since I last wrote, hasn't it!

Well, work has been rather hectic, so I haven't had much time and energy to update here.

My husband and I have been busy looking for lights to decorate our new home. We've been looking for three weekends and still haven't found anything suitable for our dining area until today! I can easily say that looking for pendant lighting can be as difficult as looking for our wedding rings two years ago :-).

I've never really been a chandelier kind of girl - I like simple lighting, and I am drawn to the simple elegance of lanterns.

However, after scouring a total of... (counting in my head)... 12 (!) different lighting shops, today there was a shop that had great-looking lanterns at reasonable prices. In addition to that, lanterns are categorised under the 'outdoor lighting' section, so today, while admiring the lantern I liked, I didn't tell the sales girl that I was considering of hanging it in our dining room. I think she would have maybe laughed at me.

Anyway, we haven't bought the light yet as we were rushing off somewhere after that, so we'll probably buy it tomorrow or next weekend. I hope I can post a picture of it here and show you then.

In the meantime, here are some of my inspiration photos of lanterns in dining areas. Take a look!

Velvet & Linen

I love this sunroom with the french doors and windows! Isn't the lantern so pretty as well?

Munger Interiors

A simple, clean white dining area with a lovely, squarish lantern. Love it. Love the Roman shades with the elegant grey stripes, too.

Tammy Connor Interior Design

I am in love with this room above! I love the sheers with the thin iron rods and those glass doors. Beautiful!

Loi Thai's dining room

Now who has not fallen in love with Loi Thai's dining room yet? Well, I have. Amid the neutrals, the beautiful dark lantern makes a great accent. I love the size, too.

Sally Wheat - Better Homes & Gardens

A pair of industrial looking lanterns complete this look in this fresh and bright dining area. Check out the ghost chairs. Aren't they lovely?

So what do you think? Well, I am most certainly loving the lantern look and most likely will get one for myself!

Have a great weekend, all!

white fan

You don't really see ceiling fans in interior photos, but when they do, I'll be among the first to notice. Why? Because having a ceiling fan in this hot humid weather of Malaysia is compulsory. Every room must have one. And I like to see the kind of fans decorators use for their homes so that I can make the right choices for my own.

Well, some people go for air conditioning sans the ceiling fan, but I've always preferred the good old ceiling fan. Mostly because air conditioners makes my skin dry. 

Anyways... we have to start looking for fans in our new house. And I'm digging white ceiling fans. Not those contractor-chosen white fans (that is being used in my current apartment) we see often.

But something like the one in this photo. 

via Elements of Style Blog

Okay, too bad that we can only see like, three fourths of the fan... well, I did tell you ceiling fans rarely show up in photos of beautiful rooms. And, might I say, this room is beautiful. Loving the window seat and the collection of blue and beige pillows. 

So, if you're a Malaysian, please tell me where I can find a white fan similar to the one in this photo! 

Much appreciated! Have a lovely week ahead!

niches

I like the idea of having niches here and there around the house... those small spaces where you can retreat to and perhaps enjoy a good book.

Lately, I've been seeing niches used in walls to keep pretty vignettes, books and especially bathroom supplies.

Here are some of my favourite bathroom niches for you to enjoy.

via Greige

Wall niches are usually found in beautiful bathrooms, due to their streamlined look and simplicity. I love the one in the photo above. It looks so elegant.

Check out the unique shape of the niche below. Beautiful!

traditional bathroom design by burlington architect Smith & Vansant Architects PC

White tiled niche. Pretty.

via Furniture Fashion

This little niche is oh so cute.

BHG

Does your bathroom wall have extra space for a niche?

Have a great Monday!

desk dilemma

Hey there, it's been so long since I last wrote! More than 3 weeks, I think. Life has been rather hectic for the past few weeks with family weddings, a huge launch that my department had to prepare for (yes, I have a 9 to 6 job. I wish my job was just decorating and blogging all day, but that will have to wait for now).

Anyways... now that life has gone back to normal again, I thought I'd just catch up with a short post of what's on my mind right now.

I'm supposed to be decorating my brother's room and he has this desk in there that looks like this.

I have been contemplating on painting this little desk - but what colour?

I'm really liking the blues on these wood pieces...

via Polish & Patina

I really like the worn look of the two chests flanking the door. I'm seeing this worn chalky blue almost everywhere...

via Roses and Rust

A Swedish chest of drawers is stained in blue. Isn't it pretty?

via Desde My Ventana

The bright chalky blue of the buffet table stands out in this neutral dining area.

Tim Clarke

And I adore the blue cabinet in the photo above.

Or maybe we should paint it chalky white like this Swedish desk in the photo below?

a Swedish white desk from Tone on Tone

Any ideas?

Have a great weekend!

floor cushions...

I got this message from a dear friend of mine...

"Amnah, what should I do when my idea of living room decor is not materialised because my husband's idea of decor is a sleeping mat and pillows on the sofa 24 seven? I can't seem to decorate it because it just looks like a big messy bedroom... should I move the TV elsewhere so that the living room does not look like a bedroom?"

My suggestion would be to either move the TV to a bedroom...

modern bedroom design

Or if you don't like the idea of having a noisy TV in your bedroom, how about getting comfortable and pretty floor cushions for that extra comfort the husband is craving for while he watches his favourite shows?

These would be my picks for flat floor cushions...

Pottery Barn

Kaboodle

Kaboodle

Etsy 

And oversized pillows look great too like the striped one in the photo above!

Here are some images of pretty rooms that look comfortable without the sleeping mats and extra pillows from the bedroom...

Home Design

Floor poufs and cushions make hanging out on the floor as comfy as sitting on the sofa in the outdoor room above.

via American Gypsy Living

On a good day, oversized floral pillows sit atop flat floor cushions neatly.

via Home Interior Design

These two floor cushions sit beneath the coffee table and can pulled out for extra seating when there are guests.

via American Gypsy Living

Textured floor pillows look great in this eclectic room.

source unknown

Floor pillows makes a room look more casual, inviting and less formal.

source unknown

source unknown

I really do like the idea of having floor pillows! It would be great for those lazy days enjoying my favourite shows on TV!

Happy Wednesday!