Happy New Year!

Another fresh new year is here . . .
Another year to live!
To banish worry, doubt, and fear,
To love and laugh and give!

This bright new year is given me
To live each day with zest . . .
To daily grow and try to be
My highest and my best!

I have the opportunity
Once more to right some wrongs,
To pray for peace, to plant a tree,
And sing more joyful songs!

-William Arthur Ward

Habitually Chic Make Up

I'm very lucky that Estee Lauder sends me products to review because I often fall in love with crazy colors that I would never have tried on my own. I've been getting compliments on their red lipstick so I thought I would share it and a few of my other favorites with you.  I think New Year's Eve is the perfect time to try something new!
  • Estee Lauder Extravagant Berry Long Lasting Lipstick - Great matte color by itself but even better layer with a lip gloss.  Just found out that it's Limited Edition so get it while you can!
  • Estee Lauder Extravagant Plum Pure Color Lip Gloss - Also fabulous by itself but I love it layered over the Extravagant Berry Lipstick.  You might want to blot some off before you kiss someone at midnight!
  • Nars Mata Hari Blush - Looks a little scary bright pink in the compact but actually very natural once it's been applied with a fluffy brush.  Makes me look alive in the winter when I'm pale as a ghost!
  • Clé de Peu Concealer - Worth every penny! Stays creamy and covers without looking like you're wearing concealer.  You'll need this for New Year's Day!
  • La Mer The Treatment Fluid Foundation - Also worth every penny!  It gives light coverage with SPF 15 that looks natural and feels fabulous!
  • Lancôme Hypnôse Waterproof Custom Volumn Mascara - I love Lancôme mascara and always wear waterproof since it doesn't smudge.  If you wear the red lipstick, it's best to go lighter on the eyes but don't skimp on the mascara.
  • Smythson Wash Bag - There is nothing I love more than pulling out this pretty plum colored make up bag from Smythson.  I don't think they make this exact bag any longer but they do have a fun magenta color still available. Happy New Year!

Chic and Cozy

I made it safely back to New York but the snow is still piled high on every street corner.  Makes me wish I had a fireplace and a fur blanket like in the home of Spanish designer Tony Espuch.  Looks like a great space to throw a New Year's Eve soiree as well!










Photos by Amador Toril for Habitania via The Wonderlust Journal

Beautiful Panorama Modern Villa

Villa A is located on the slope of the Poestling Berg – a mountain overlooking Linz, Austria. The site is accessed from the road behind leading down hills to the building’s main entrance, covered by an extended cantilever roof structure. The city’s panorama that it features is truly breathtaking. It can be seen from almost all rooms and from the swimming pool on a terrace.

Corvin Cristian Headvertising Office Interior

Corvin Cristian Romania architect has designed the interior design for office Headvertising, an advertising agency in Bucharest, Romania. This office is located in Old Romanian Stock Exchange building. The theme of the interior design is the design of furniture for storage of goods or file, as a room divider

Autoban The Ojeni Apartment Interior Design

The Turkish design studio Autoban have sent us photos of a recently completed apartment interior they have refurbished and filled with their own furniture designs. Project description from Autoban: Lying between one of the chiquest streets in Beyolu and the lively heart of Tünel, the Ojeni flats boast stunning views over the whole of historic Istanbul and the Bosphorus.

Contemporary Interior Design in Victorian Apartment

A houses and apartments go through countless refurbishments and changing fashions, details such as picture and dado-rails come and go, radiators are boxed over or left exposed and, of course, kitchens and bathrooms are replaced at an astonishing rate. Working in the international fashion business means that the owners of this central London apartment travel

Colorful Vertical Space Apartment Interior Design

Instead of trying to make his vertical space look larger by using the common device of an all-white scheme, the interior design director of a top UK fabric and design company took another approach in this south-west London apartment. A developer had bought an old school, divided the spaces into units of various sizes and sold them on as empty shells.

Luxury Apartment Design with Antique Furniture Decorating

A gallery owner, picture-framing expert and author of several design books has decorated her large London apartment in pale, creamy whites, concentrating on the play of natural light afforded by its luxuriously tall windows, instead of a separate dining-room she has been able to incorporate an antique table and chairs into the new kitchen

Unplanned Decorating Minimalist Apartment in London

Buing off-plan can be risky business, but this apartment was purchased without a plan at all, just an empty space with walls, plenty of windows and a roof. The owners spend a lot time in California and were concerned that wherever they lived in London would never be light enough. The solution was a roof-top above a warehouse conversion.

Classic Contemporary France Interior Designs

vernet paris hotel room interior design

vernet paris hotel room interior design

vernet hotel paris bar modern interior design

vernet hotel paris bar modern interior design

mies van der rohe orange daybed sofa design

mies van der rohe orange daybed sofa design

modern furniture style interior design

modern furniture style interior design

mies van der rohe daybed barcelona

mies van der rohe daybed barcelona

kids and main bedroom interior classic contemporary design

kids and main bedroom interior classic contemporary design

contemporary vernet hotel french style bedroom interior design

contemporary vernet hotel french style bedroom interior design

french style windows classic design

french style windows classic design

bathroom bedroom classic contemporary design

bathroom bedroom classic contemporary design

classic contemporary interior room design

classic contemporary interior room design

classic contemporary kitchen dining room design

classic contemporary kitchen dining room design

Interior Design Ideas For Beginner Interior Design Ideas

Some people seem to have a natural eye for design and always seem to have great ideas interior design. I’m not one of those people. Only a week I was setting up a new office and are looking for a nice accent piece. At the store I came up with a combination of items that I liked, and then decided to ask one employee to a second opinion. My idea was shot down as combining different styles. So I seek another opinion, and got the same answer. I asked myself, “If I like it, is not that good enough?” Maybe for an eclectic and personal space, but for a business office, it is not good enough. The interior design should make a statement, and “I do not think so” is not what I would share.

Interior Design Ideas

So I started doing some research for interior design ideas, and I learned a lot. Here are four tips that I found useful, and if you are a beginner design, hopefully you will too.

Interior Design Ideas

1. It’s ok to copy ideas from anywhere you can find them. Your friend might not naturally be a great designer, but when he saw the HGTV enough, he might have become one over time. If he has a room that you like, feel free to copy, a replacement, your own taste. Watch shows the house a few decorations, and read magazines, you’ll soon have a lot of interior design ideas from which to choose. Take ideas from anywhere you can get them, and then tweak them to make their own.
2. Look at your living space and keep only what you really love. If you do not like something, or do not care if it’s there, get rid of it! Either throw it away, donate it to charity, or the box if you have family values. Just because it was originally owned by Great Aunt Delilah, does not mean you have to show them. You still can save it to hand to the next generation, or hand over to someone else in the family.

Natural Classic White Living Room

Natural Classic White Living Room StyleNatural Classic White Living Room
Natural Classic White Living Room StyleNatural Classic White Living Room
Classic White Living Room StyleNatural Classic White Living Room

Designer Angela Free used four different shades of Benjamin Moore white paint in this living room: Spanish White on the inner wall molding; White Dove on the outer wall molding; White Opulence on the molding and crown trim; and Sand Dollar on the ceiling. Free describes this latter color as a "a very pale rosy white"; she painted it in high gloss to create "a soft reflective glow." Decorative artist Katherine Jacobus painted a subtle faux linen effect on all the molding to give it a sense of depth and dimension

Contemporary Interior Design in Victorian Apartment

A houses and apartments go through countless refurbishments and changing fashions, details such as picture and dado-rails come and go, radiators are boxed over or left exposed and, of course, kitchens and bathrooms are replaced at an astonishing rate. Working in the international fashion business means that the owners of this central London apartment travel frequently.

Classic Contemporary Style Sloane Square Apartment

Moving from the United States to the notoriously cramped city of London can be spatially challenging exercise, and the interior designer who lives in this Chelsea apartment was well aware that finding a large apartment, all on one floor, would take some time. Situated on Sloane Square and designed by the architect Lord Willet in 1900, the building including an original cage type li

Autoban The Ojeni Apartment Interior Design

The Turkish design studio Autoban have sent us photos of a recently completed apartment interior they have refurbished and filled with their own furniture designs. Project description from Autoban: Lying between one of the chiquest streets in Beyolu and the lively heart of Tünel, the Ojeni flats boast stunning views over the whole of historic Istanbul and the Bosphorus

Chic at Work

Sometimes I miss working in an office.  I used to think up more creative outfits because I didn't want to bore my co-workers by wearing the same thing each week.  Since the same people don't see me everyday now, I feel like my outfits have gotten a little boring.  One of my New Year's resolutions is to restyle my wardrobe and take more risks.  That's why I like Vogue's new online feature, Five Days, Five Looks.  Who better to learn from than those who work at the chicest magazine.  Senior Accessories Editor, Filipa Fino, is up this week and I love her classic style with pops of colorful accessories.  She's definitely my new style idol. I will definitely be emulating her look after we dig out from the blizzard.  Until then, I hope no one sees what I'm wearing!  Happy New Year!





Photos by Marko MacPherson

Model Chic in Madrid

Hope everyone had a great holiday and those of you on the East Coast are surviving the snow.  I'm keeping my fingers crossed that my flight will take off on Tuesday but until then, I'm going to continue drooling over Naty Abascal's Madrid home.  I came across it while I was flipping through Hola! magazine at Rizzoli.  I don't speak or read Spanish so I can't tell you anything about it but it looks like she has a fabulous art collection.  Naty was a model and is friends with Valentino so its elegance doesn't surprise me.  It also doesn't surprise me that her neice is just as beautiful.  They make me want to start my New Year's diet and exercise regime today instead of January too.  Enjoy!