I’m having such a great time hosting some of my fav bloggers here on mochatini. The response from everyone was great and I am proud to be part of this AMAZING community! Before I introduce you to today’s special guest, I want to take a moment to thank these lovely guests we have visited with so far.
Lanalou Style
Space For Inspiration
Made By Girl
Down and Out Chic
The Drifter and The Gypsy
AphroChic
Leela Cyd
Lovely Clusters
Rough Review
Design Tavern
Fash Mom
Fenetik Design
{ps: I am working on getting blog banners from guest bloggers, so if you see this, please send me your banner (175px w x 100px h)}
And now for the special guest today who you all are very familiar with, Ashley White. Ashley is a web designer and a design enthusiast and her blog decorology is always filled with wonderful inspiration. Ashley recently spent some time in Morocco (lucky girl) which you can read about here.
So without delay- here is Ashley!
The Crown
I discovered The Crown whilst blog surfing, and unlike most hotel reviews, it really stayed with me. A great way to describe it is as a “boutique townhouse inn.” The Crown is a 21st century inn in the heart of Woodbridge, Suffolk. What really makes this place special is the gorgeous, gorgeous interior design by Bentheim. You’ll see what I mean –
image via http://www.bentheim.co.uk
I’ve never quite seen such a mastery of country and modern – it’s a perfect blend of serenity, and creates an environment where one could clear his or her mind and really focus, or truly relax.
Even the bathroom is minimalist without being cold.
images via http://www.bentheim.co.uk
On the hotel site I found a great description of the space – “Our ten very individual bedrooms, as with downstairs, ooze comfort and simplicity, emphasising relaxation over style and indulgence over fussiness – a home from home, but with more than a little luxury. Our bedrooms feature plump goose-down pillows, mattresses fit for royalty (they have the warrant to prove it), crisp cotton bedlinen, Italian lighting and lots of personal touches. Bathrooms have under-floor heating and French organic toiletries. “ Not too shabby eh?
images via http://www.thecrownatwoodbridge.co.uk
image via http://www.bentheim.co.uk
The design firm also decorated the hotel’s luxury dining facilities. I’ll leave those details to the food blogs.
The picturesque village of Woodbridge.
Dreamy no?
See and read more at The Crown.
Visit Decorology Blog
{if you would like to be a guest blogger on mochatini, send me an email {manvi@mochatini.org}
xo
I am so excited to introduce today’s guest blogger, Lana Kenny from the blog lanalou style. Lana lives in Cape Town, South Africa, works in the decor field, loves to decorate cupcakes and is an aspiring photographer. You must hop on over to her blog where in addition to decor, design, interiors and more she also shares her own photographs and finds from south africa.
Hi, I’m Lana and it’s so lovely to be a guest here on the always gorgeous Mochatini! Today I thought I’d share some of my favourite things, a few essentials that I just can’t be without.
Beautiful fresh flowers for instant cheer and occasional tasty treats that put a smile on your face. Books are an absolute necessity, whether it’s just a fun read or an inspiring interiors book, I like to be surrounded by them at all times! I love adding a vintage touch to everything and I absolutely love colour. And lastly, stepping out into nature keeps me in touch with what’s really important and gives me endless inspiration. I hope you enjoy these pics, thank you for having me here, Manvi!
images: lana kenny
Hi sweets. I promised to supply you with tons of inspiration while I am on a little vacation in aspen and inspiration is just what you will find in today’s guest post by Charlotta Ward. Charlotta, from the blog space for inspiration is an artist, design and interior stylist for children. Orginally from Sweden, she has lived in several corners of the world and currently calls Sydney, Australia her home. She is an amazingly warm and courageous mother of two lovely children and I am proud to call her my blogging friend. She also authors a second blog charlotta ward. So, without anymore from me, here is charlotta -
Tropical Bliss
Hello everyone, my name is Charlotta and I am delighted to be here and write this guest post for the gorgeous Manvi!
My heritage is Swedish but for the last 11 years I have lived in Sydney, Australia. As my blog ‘Space for Inspiration‘ spills over with design impressions from the motherland, I thought I would devote this guest post to life in the tropics.
Though I have country-hopped for over 20 years (‘Euro-trash’) the transition from the old world sophistication of Europe to the exotic and casual lifestyle of tropical Australia was a little overwhelming.
Packing my bikini next to my laptop each morning and leaping from a boardroom meeting straight to the beach for an early evening swim seemed too good to be true at first. Actually it took me a couple of years to stop pinching myself..
The actual pace of living is different and it is true that with a warmer climate comes a more relaxed attitude to life in general.
Being ‘comfortable’ and ‘at ease’ are much higher rated than being ‘correct’ or ‘formally stylish’, and this may be the key difference between Stockholm & Sydney. (Just try suggesting a ‘no-worries-mate’ kind of attitude to a Stockholmer in mid -November…)
When in Australia I find myself wanting to spend most of my time outside – be that in on the beach, in a deck chair under a (spider free..) tree or sipping a cold drink by the pool. As such a stylish hammock, fabulous cushions for the garden chairs and a brilliant lantern for the porch become much more important than that designer rug for the guest-room. I find this very refreshing, especially after my 8 years in London where the (read: ‘my’) focus was on chic and sober sophistication. Comfort came second to looking fabulous and living stylishly.
That said, the basic approach to design here is very similar to that of my beloved Scandinavia (I was quite surprised..) – simplicity, comfort and practicality are key and I find that the base for most environments here, like in Sweden, is white.
Decor accents tend to be stronger however, and the hot weather and colourful surroundings inspire bolder decor moves. Suddenly feel it is OK to choose the bright red cushions rather than the more elegant (and sensible) muted ones..
Though my Swedish heart still beats for the frosty North, I love life in this tropical paradise and I could go on forever about the bliss of life here. I will however love & leave you now with promise to be more generous with tropical inspiration in my own blog from here on.
G’day & Hejdå all – hope to see you over at mine soon.
x Charlotta
Hop over and say hello to Charlotta on her blog space for inspiration.
images: supplied by charlotta ward
Hello dears, today’s guest post is by the newly married Jen Ramos of Made by Girl. Congrats Jen!
Jen is the owner of Made By Girl, and Im sure you must have seen her pretty LOVE and BLOGS and COFFEE posters. Jen recently gave her home office a fantastic makeover that she, like me, shares it with her husband. I am always on the look out for spaces that are not only stylish but also work for a couple, which is why I knew I had to ask her to talk to us about it.
Here is a before pic -
So without further delay, here is jen talking about her office makeover.
Home office makeover
Hello, im Jen Ramos… Author of Made By Girl blog. I’m currently the owner of an online shop called Made By Girl. There you will find a fun & colorful collection of cards & screen prints to send to your friends or decorate your home! Feel free to visit my blog for the most inspirational interior spaces, my DIY projects and so much more!
The reason I decided to re-do my office was because I felt it wasn’t as inspirational to me or my work anymore.
I really needed to accentuate the large windows in my office and getting the curtains helped do just that. It looks & feels brighter making the outside appear as though it were indoors.
My inspiration came from various work spaces I saw on blogs.
I gathered about 10 photos of work spaces that inspired me & just headed in that direction with the renovation. Paying attention to every detail, like how many shelves would be just enough for my books, the placement of my inspiration board as well as which direction the desks would be facing.
I even drew everything out on piece of paper (prior to the renovation) to get a better feel of where each item would be placed & how it would fit together.
My goal was to accomplish a brighter, more stylish and roomier space……I think I’ve achieved that & am extremely happy with the results!
Jen’s blog| shop
See more before pics here.
images: jen ramos.
list of sources for Jen’s office makeover –
parson’s desk and lamp – west elm
macintosh rose wallpaper by graham and brown
curtains – west elm
storage unit and containers – west elm
So my dears, here is another guest post from a wonderful blogger micaela from the blog the drifter and the gypsy. I recently started to follow her blog anf I am hooked to her inspiring monday mosaics!!
Hello everyone! This is Micaela from The Drifter and the Gypsy where I blog about everything that inspires me, including pretty homes, photography, and fashion.
Today I wanted to share with you a photographer that has been inspiring me lately. Her name is Lucie Camp and she is only 18, but so talented! I hope you enjoy and are inspired as well! All the photos are from her flickr.
Micaela’s blog
ps: interested in guest blogging here on mochatini? send me an email mochatiniblog {at} gmail {dot} com.
xo
Today’s guest post is by the lovely Jeanine Hays. Jeanine is the creative director & founder of AphroChic, a lifestyle brand that synthesizes high-end design and ethnic culture to create a sustainable line of pillows and apparel dedicated to the company’s mantra of, “modern soulful style.” I absolutely LOVE her designs, especially haze mimosa! Jeanine also writes an interior design blog dedicated to trends in modern interiors that reflect a sense of personal style.
Contemporary African Style
Hello, this is Jeanine Hays from AphroChic. I am so happy to be a guest blogger on Mochatini. I am an absolute fan of Manvi’s style and the gorgeous interiors and fashion that she posts each week. Today, I thought I would share a little bit of AphroChic style with you. My blog, AphroChic, is all about blending modern style with culture and ethnicity. We call it modern soulful style.
This interior is the epitome of modern, soulful, style. Interior designer Aline Matsika creates spaces that integrate African pieces and French furniture. The end result is a unique brand of contemporary African style.
Aline’s interiors speak to her experience as a global citizen. Originally from Paris, Aline has made New York her home, a place that has influenced her modern sensibility.
In her interiors you will discover Louis XVI chairs covered in antique Kuba cloth, and 1930s arm chairs covered in Senegalese cotton and raffia. At the same time spaces are clean and contemporary with white walls, and sparse decor.
Triumphant in bringing together diverse cultural styles, Aline’s interiors are truly unique and absolutely beautiful. You can view more of her incredible portfolio right here.
AphroChic Shop | Blog
Today’s guestpost is from Rachel Follett of Lovely Clusters. Some of you might know her from guest posts last year here on mochatini while I as in Argentina, and some of you know her from her old blogs design lovely and dwellings and decor. Not long ago, Rachel along with partner launched Lovely Clusters, a place to browse beautiful handmade and vintage items from very creative artists and designers from around the world. Lovely clusters was on the Times list of top 50 world best design blogs. Rachel lives in beautiful Hawaii.
Creating Collages with Interior Inspiration
Hi! My name is Rachel and I blog over at Lovely Clusters. I am a huge fan of Manvi’s blog so I am thrilled to be here today!
Photo Source: Skona Hem via Emmas Design Blogg
It can be hard to find that initial spark of inspiration when starting a new project but you can find it anywhere if you look hard enough. Often times Interior Designers will use artwork, a fabric pattern or a rug to use as inspiration for a space to decide on colors, shapes and style of the rest of the decor. For this post I used the interior as my source of inspiration to create a collage/cluster. I was inspired by the colors but I also wanted to capture the similar feel of the bedroom.
Row 1: mdrona, strikk, TuscaloosaRoad
Row 2: SimpleThrift, dedeetsyshop, timelessvixenvintage
Row 3: knackstudio, splendidpix, drawflowers
I mainly chose items from my website Lovely Clusters where you can find many beautiful items from etsy sellers and beyond. You can see all the curated clusters by clicking here
Thank you for having me today and I hope you enjoyed my guest post. 
Lovely Clusters Shop | Blog
Hello dears. I’d like to introduce a new series of guest posts on mochatini. I have planned a line-up of a few inspiring and stylish bloggers. And I am really excited to welcome them here.
Today’s post is by Leela Cyd. Leela is a food and travel writer on a nine-month dream journey through India, Vietnam and Turkey with her new hubby. That lucky lucky girl! She also has a cookbook in the making. You must must check out her yummy recipes on her blog in the meantime.
Hello Mochatini Readers — I’m Leela — a gal from Portland, Oregon but am taking this year to travel with my new husband — writing, photographing, cooking and eating all the while. You can follow my journey (India and Vietnam so far, Turkey on deck) at my blog, LeelaCyd.com.
Touching Vietnam
The textures of Vietnam are as vivid and colorful as they are diverse. Every pagoda, market, restaurant, garden and road-side stop offers up a specific aesthetic, unique to this country. The colors and design qualities of each new place demand to be touched, pondered and soaked in. Observing, thinking and brushing things with my fingertips has taken up the majority of my time here in Vietnam. The place exudes atmosphere, history and magic — what with all the dragons and mist everywhere (it’s actually poring down rain right now), it truly transports the soul to an older era . . . Making it so easy to imagine myself a princess, taking tea in my Mom’s “Pleasure Pavilion” (a gorgeous spot looking out onto a pond in the Hue Citadel), a moment perhaps when dragons and princes dueled in the clouds.
This series of images focuses not so much on the specifics of each location, but on a detail of its surface. I want to illustrate the mood and styling of some of the sights we’ve seen and take note for when we return to Portland and set up an apartment once more. It’s these tiny details of a country that truly inspire me — from an everyday plastic tablecloth (shown in image 7) with a beautiful rose print to the bright gate, laying derelict on the side of the road near a military cemetery, the neutral brown complimenting the yellow so nicely (image 1). I hope that everyone has a chance to visit this remarkable land — full of prosperous and tragic history, bustling cities, beautiful people (I’ve never seen so many cute coats as on the ladies in the North) and lush countryside. There are so many things to see and touch.
Yellow gate near Military Cemetery in the DMZ (Demilitarized Zone), near Hue
A young emperor and flags written with deceased family member’s names at Chinese Pagoda in Ho Chi Minh City
Dragon vase — there’s such amazing painted porcelain here — at Hue Citadel
Ribbon and coy fish at Hue Citadel
Detail of plants in big pot, Hue Citadel
Dragons at Hue Citadel
Table cloth at ticket-check counter at Kao Dinh Tomb, Hue
Red doors at Pagoda in Ho Chi Minh and traditional Pagoda topper (shown at friend’s house instead of it’s typical home atop a pagoda), also in Ho Chi Minh City
Pink porcelain used as mosaic tiles in Jade Emperor Pagoda, Ho Chi Minh City
- Leela Cyd
Guest post by Elizabeth Calwell from Rough Review
There is something to be said about a chair – and that is – that it’s a make or break situation. This becomes oh-so –clear when you’re trying to concentrate in a big snuggly chair where your papers keep disappearing down the sides of the cushion. Or conversely, when you’re trying to relax in a frustratingly uncomfortable desk chair. The utilitarian chair, made for sitting one’s self upon, is no longer just a chair by any stretch of the imagination.
Furniture in general has merged with design to combine function, modern design philosophy and comfort together to make pieces that not only serve a purpose, but change our mood and alter the overall feel of a room. From designer, to commercially available retail, choosing the perfect one to serve your individual needs is now a rather difficult task. The bottom line? There’s a lot to think about when buying a chair. Luckily, there’s a lot of clever designs out there to offer inspiration.
bibilio chaise
From the sleek and modern, to the literal and practical – chair design knows no boundaries.
The Cave – dornob
Leve Chair – Australian Design Awards
Whilst these designs are innovative and sleek, nothing beats a delightfully girly, handpainted vintage-inspired chair. I’d love one of these to do my study in – would make it so much more bearable!
Jane Hall Design Wooden Bearger Armchair
Guest post by Anand Gahlot from Fenetik Design
How awesome are these little cookies from Neos Brand. Not sure how I feel about eating the head of our President {even in cookie form}, but they do look scrumptious and the packaging is just as delicious!
The minisite for the cookies is pretty effective in keeping with the branding, packaging and overall theme of the product. Check it out here.
via
images: Neos Brand
