One of the parts of my trip that had me the most excited was getting to go to a bookstore in a different country and snag as many interior design related magazines as possible.
Of course on the one free day we had in Bogota I felt horrible and had stay in bed and rest, because the wedding we were attending was that night.
My sweet husband ventured out with my Mom, Dad and Grandma and returned with 9 magazines!
My favorite magazine was El Mueble.
Here is a peek into some of my favorite rooms: Loved all the white/cream that was going in the room. Also loved that the toss pillows in the room are the same shade of blue/green color that is coming from the glass coffee tables.
Loved the massive Parson style dining room table.
Another dining room that caught my eye with great lighting and oh my those tufted chairs.
A different view of the dining room from above. Had to share the great sliding doors to the room.
Stripes, stripes and more stripes. You know I’m a happy lady!
Jaw dropping indoor/outdoor dining space:
I feel in love with this roman shade. It’s so soft looking plus the added lighter trim that ends in a small bow killed it for me.
Love, love, love window trim painted in a dark shade.
All of these calm, serene spaces seriously make me want to start painting my house in shades of white.
It’s going to reach 90 today in NY and that pool in the background was just calling my name. Plus I’m in love with the stone gray paint color on the walls.
You know I’m a color lover, but that something hard to find in all of my international magazines, but I did end up finding a room with a touch of fuchsia!
Trends I noticed in all of my magazines was:
-Lots of neutrals
– Layering of neutral on top of neutral. So neutral wall, with neutral furniture, neutral window treatment, but with the help of textures it all worked.
– Drum shade lighting
– Lighting done in sets of 2 or 3
-Big chunky Parson type dining tables and coffee tables all throughout.
– The love sisal rugs as much as we do!
– Variety of wood tones used in a home and in it’s natural state. Not a lot of painted furniture.
– Color is used in a small doses. Either in a toss pillow, table runner or window treatment.
– Normally only one if any accent color in a room.
-Mostly all of the spaces had a touch of nature them. Either with a fabulous view to the outdoors or greenery sprinkled throughout the space.
The other magazines I came home with were: AXXIS, Casa y Jardin, Casa Viva and Nuevo Estilo (which was already a favorite).
What international magazines do you make sure you always get your hands on?
My living room is one of the rooms that evolved drastically from when we first moved one. Originally I painted the walls chocolate brown and did accents of white, blue and orange. That lasted maybe 2 years.
Our dining room sat empty for months. Okay maybe it was empty for just a handful of weeks and then we couldn’t take it anymore and put in a folding table and plastic outdoor chairs, but in my mind that was still empty.
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All very beautiful rooms. I think tne neutral pallete is so soothing but I have to have color in my life. I am with you on the stripes, I never met a stripe I did not like, Happy Wednesday,Kathysue
Wonder if I could find El Mueble here – looks like a great magazine! I always try and get Canadian House and Home and Living Etc. when I can find them.
I L-O-V-E these designs, they are inspiration. I especially love the dining room and the soft colors..
XOXOX
Kiki
Living Etc! I love it – too pricey to buy a subscription but I'll pick up one at Borders occasionally – so much inspiration!
See what I mean? That's what I did all last weekend. Looking at all these neutral tone on tone rooms. Gorgeous!
Oh I get this magazine every month here in Switzerland, I just love it! Hope you enjoyed your vacation in Europe!
Vickie
Just saved a BUNCH of those photos to my inspiration files. I love how design transcends culture, language and location. Absolutely beautiful. Thank you for sharing!
My favorite? haha that would require leaving the country! Those are some awesome resources you've got there though! And I've never met a parsons table that I didn't fall in love with.
Just got back from a trip where I bought El Mueble and Nuevo Estilo – love them! While writing my post for a give-away of both magazines, I did a little googling and stumbled across your blog! Love it and love your PVE blog banner – she is amazing! Going to have to add you to my blog roll!
:)Heidi
I am Portuguese and now live in the USA – but after all these years, El Mueble is still my favourite magazine and my mother gets it in Portugal for me and mails it to me here in the USA!
Sadly, not available anywhere on this side of the pond.
As for foreign magazines (truh be told, I do not but american shelter magazines anymore) – the British: Homes and gardens, House and Garden, House Beautiful, Country Living; and the Canadian House and Home!
I am Portuguese and now live in the USA – but after all these years, El Mueble is still my favourite magazine and my mother gets it in Portugal for me and mails it to me here in the USA!
Sadly, not available anywhere on this side of the pond.
As for foreign magazines (truh be told, I do not but american shelter magazines anymore) – the British: Homes and gardens, House and Garden, House Beautiful, Country Living; and the Canadian House and Home!