Tuesday, February 28, 2012

Best Backsplash Ideas For Your Kitchen

Hi everyone, I am Jessie, the author of Mix And Chic blog. I love blogging about stylish and inspiring interiors and always feature cool home decor products and anything interior design related. I was excited when Chantal asked me to write a guest post on her lovely blog.

Today I will be sharing some of the best backsplash ideas for your kitchen. Let's take a look.

Adding patterned tiles is a great way to create a beautiful decorative element in the kitchen.

Backpainted glass are practical and looks great especially with a bold splash of color in a modern kitchen.

 Brick tile backsplash are a classic, especially when laid brickbond pattern.

Mirrored backsplash, another great alternative to add light and brightness in a kitchen.

Marbled backsplash, a classic choice for timeless beauty.

Turning photograph into printed vinyl that sticks on to the back of toughened glass as backsplash is fun and unexpected.

Stainless steel backsplash is germ resistant and is perfect for any professional kitchen.


Which one is your favorite backsplash option?

Friday, February 24, 2012

I phone picture




- Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone

awaiting Matteo

Awaiting Matteo's arrival, seems he is happy being in the belly, not wanting to come out.
I'll be posting a bit less untill he is born.
There will be some guestposts by friends.
Enjoy your weekend!
Many xoxoxo Chantal

Thursday, February 23, 2012

Barcelona chair

Who doesn´t like the Barcelona chair? Mr Beau didn´t in the first place, but now he is turned around, now every time we see the chair, he says: ´´hey, there you got that beautifull chair again´´.
I always thought that the designer, Mies van der Rohe, a German lady was, to me the name Mies sounds femenine, untill I saw his picture: Ludwig Mies van der Rohe...I couldn´t be more wrong.
He was part of the modern architecture, just have read it myself over at Wikipedia...
The nice thing about blogging is that you learn, either you look things up or you learn it from other blogs.
I have tried some new delicious recipies, make up tricks and decoration DIY´s, all thanks to blogging and reading blogs. I am so thankfull for that, but hey I am wandering off..
Let´s enjoy these bbeautifull images, shall we...



Wednesday, February 22, 2012

Guest post - winter activities by Christina Johnson




Doesn´t the picture of table makes you feel hungry?
The sweet lady Christina Johnson wrote me a guest post about winter activities. 
Here in Spain is still very cold, even in many regions in Spain it was snowing...

Activities to Bring Family and Friends Together During the Winter

Winter wind chills the body right down to the bones. Once inside your house, you really don't want to bundle up and go out again. But staying close to home can isolate and keep you from planning activities with friends or doing fun things as a family or with other families. Instead of hibernating at home, you can choose to warm up with activities that get you out of the house and enjoying time with others.

Plan a progressive meal with close friends. This can be with a group of singles, couples or families. A meal consists of an appetizer, main courses, dessert and snacks. Decide among those friends participating who will offer which part of a meal. At the first home, an appetizer is served. The group moves on to main courses at different homes. Everyone relaxes over dessert and coffee. Couples can work together at one home. A progressive meal not only gets friends and family out of the house during the winter, but also gives individuals a chance to show off their cooking skills.

For a variation, add one last stop after dessert. Include snacks and a movie at a home with a set up allowing friends to enjoy the movie together. The movie can also be shown with dessert or a kid's movie can be shown in the family room to keep the children occupied while the grown-ups eat and chat.

Plan a winter competition. As children, you built snowmen and made snow angels. You may have made snow forts and had snowball fights. Recreate those fun children's activities in a large backyard. Friends can team up or families can compete against other families. However, those involved team up, the object is to win points for your team. This does mean at least two individuals must serve as judges. This could be an older relative or friend. Teams have a certain amount of time to complete each activity or event. These events may include creating a unique snowman, making the best snow angels, winning a snowball fight, etc. Winners receive fun, little prizes. Everyone gets warmed up inside with hot chocolate or coffee and popcorn.

Get together, bundle up and take a tour to enjoy nature during winter. Take pictures of the scenery. Capture the snow on trees at a local park, skaters on the pond or delicate ice crystals forming on leaves. Discover how winter changes the scenery and capture both the ordinary and not so ordinary way nature reveals herself in winter garb. Compile the pictures in a slide show to enjoy later with snacks and something warm to drink.

With a little imagination and creativity, your family and your friends can plan memorable winter get togethers.

Christina Johnson who works remotely for Elliman Prudential in the New York City Apartments and Rentals market. She is using her journalism major to combine what she loves most, writing and her career. Her specialties include home decor design and DIY home improvement projects.

Friday, February 17, 2012

Guest Post - furniture upholstered in Toile by Mari

Hi, I'm Mari and I write for Arcadian Lighting, a wonderful resource for light fixtures and lighting trends online. I'm so happy to be here at Beau Lifestyle doing a guest post about furniture upholstered in one of my favorite fabrics--the appealing and enduring Toile de Jouy. Born in the 18th century, toile (literally cloth in French) with its naturalistic scenic designs printed in a single color has seen a real rebirth in recent years. Today's toile is a merging of the old and the new, sometimes coming from the same design houses as the originals. Thanks for letting me share these lovely pieces of furniture all dressed up in beautiful toile. Enjoy!
Toile Upholstery
Toile is an expected element in this very traditional space, but its color not so much. The turquoise Chinoiserie toile upholstery and slipcovers freshen the design and bring the room to life in combination with the glamorous ceiling light.
Toile Upholstery
This chair upholstered in a "heading out West" toile fabric would be perfect in a ranch home or mountain cabin. It's an all-American take on the historic textile.
Toile Upholstery
A black on cream toile illustrates just how easily this historic fabric and traditional upholstered pieces can merge seamlessly into a contemporary setting. Even the lighting fixture, a completely contemporary floor lamp seems right at home besides the totally traditional seating.
Toile Upholstery
Oh, so French, this lovely settee is covered and draped in blue on white toile. Wouldn't this comfortable seating be the center of attention in either a formal or shabby chic bedroom?
Toile Upholstery
This toile upholstered wingback chair is anything but stuffy. It may be formal in style, but the combination of solids and different colors in the toile gives it an updated look and decidedly quirky appeal.
Toile Upholstery
This bold pink living space just begged for an element of surprise. The designer answered back with chairs upholstered in an unexpected deep pink on brown Chinoiserie toile.
Toile Upholstery
What is more feminine than a pale purple or lilac palette in a bedroom? Perhaps a French bed upholstered in soft purple toile with matching bedding? In such a lovely setting, one can imagine a glamorous pendant light or ornate chandelier hanging just out of sight.
Toile Upholstery
Last, but definitely not least in design impact is this amazing toile with an orange background. Upholstery and drapes against the same design on wallpaper, now that's a toile statement! Images 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8

Now its your turn to combine great toile upholstery with inspirational lighting fixtures that you easily can find at Arcadian Lighting!

Thursday, February 16, 2012

Hermes Blanket

These Hermes Blankets are so divine, not only do they look chic, they are functional.
I do not even want to know what they cost, probably I can add it on my wish list in 10 years, but I can´t help myself liking them a lot.




Wednesday, February 15, 2012

sliding barn door


Really like these sliding barn doors, you don´t have the fuss in small spaces of a door that can´t open all the way, and they look so lovely too.





Tuesday, February 14, 2012

Happy Lovers day


Happy valentines day!
Eventhough we do not really celebrate it as we think it should be Valentines day every day, express your love throughout the year, my Beau picked me up from work today for lunch.
Yes... I am still working with my huge belly, and I intend to do it untill the day Matteo´s deciding to make it´s entrace to the world, it´s rewarding putting the effort into your own business and see it bloom.
I hope I do well in being a good mom for Matteo, and also do not let my clients down, I´ll have to find a good way to do it all. Many kisses for now, as I am going to see a movie wit my Beau, probably one of our last movie nights as a couple.

Monday, February 13, 2012

Beau Lifestyle´s Nursery Revealing

Finally I can reveal Matteo´s nursery, after many ´to do´ things were done, thanks to the grandparents. It´s a mix of vintage finds, some new things, DIY projects and Ikea. I wanted to create a room that I am confortable in too. 15 more days untill my due date, I have the feeling Matteo wants to come a bit earlier, so today I have packed my hospital bag and took pictures of the Nursery.
I am so in love with the vintage faux bamboo chandeliers that I won on Ebay, I have got them rewired and painted them, so they are as good as new again.

The XL changing station, with everything in reach. The hat and sleeping bag are handmade gifts.


The curtains with the ribbon that my mom DIY-ed, I am so happy how it looks.

The Leander crib with the animal prints. The owl is handmade by my mom who used the same fabric as I used to upholstered the little chair.

I would love to have a little library with childrenbooks, so now I started collection them.


The wonderfull O´verlays, that give the 2 little closets an instant wow factor and you can´t really tell the mess behind them.
another love of the nursery is the vintage parrot lamp I purchased on Etsy. Other Etsy purchases is the vintage tea cup with the gold M monogram and the peepee teepees (fabric cones) so Matteo doesn´t pee on me when changing his diapers.

Room Resources:
Crib: Leander
Shelves: Ikea
Blocks: Dwellstudio
Dresser: My former office desk, designed by me and custome made.
Artwork: Sharon Montrose
Picture Frames: Ikea
Rug: Ikea
Lamps: chandeliers from ebay, parrot lamp from Etsy- modern logic and floorlamp Artemide.
Vintage elephants: Etsy -  Curate
Swaddle blankets: Aden and anais
peepee teepees: Etsy - lil´twinkle star
Geometric pattern in closets: O´verlays
2 grey Closets: Ikea
Wall closet: own design and custom made, inside is a guest bed and more of Matteos clothes hanged up.
Globe: thrift find
Bench: thrift find
Sheepskin: Ikea
pillows: Caitlin Wilson textiles - fleur de chinoisie and the other 2 are DIY
Fabric: Diamante

Sunday, February 12, 2012

My weekend love´s

It´s sunday night and had a great weekend, hope you did too. I wanted to share my 3 weekend loves, my new Zara flats of this spring collection.
My birthdaypresent, the by me desired Goyard Bag.
Last weeks flowers that give a lovely smell in the house.
Tomorrow, monday, I will finally share Matteo´s Nursery on this blog!

Thursday, February 9, 2012

DIY glitter keys - a cup of mai

 Reading one of my fav blogs a cup of mai, I adored her DIY glitter keys.
So easy, so fun!

Wednesday, February 8, 2012

My momma did it...curtains

I loved this picture from Martha Steward´s site, that also tells you how to DIY add ribbon to your curtains. We just finished the project and instead sewing the ribbon we used some fabric glue and ironed it on.
Here my mom is doing the proyect.

Will show you the result when revealing Matteo´s nursery soon, it´s getting very pretty!