Eat, Pray, Love: India

August 31, 2010
After my latest posts focusing on Italian style, I realized that I should continue the trip around the globe and write a blog as a sort of homage to Eat, Pray, Love, next stop, India. As I'm sure you already know, the title Eat, Pray, Love refers to the authors time in Italy (eat), India (pray) and finally Bali (love). I haven't seen the movie and admit I have yet to read the book....something I hope to do this holiday weekend. However, I have heard author, Elizabeth Gilbert speak and have read excerpts from her books. No doubt, this woman can write. Her soul just leaps off the page. Here is one of her quotes for you, "He was powerful and I died of love in his shadow.". Wow.

Designers influenced by Indian style typically use saturated colors such as magenta, turquoise, deep lime green and orange in their interiors. When I think of India, I imagine the hot sun sparkling on the shimmering white of the Taj Mahal, layers of gold bracelets on a woman's wrist, embroidered silks with design motifs resembling Indian architecture and beautiful furniture with inlay of bone or mother of pearl.

Photo: Geoff Barringer Source: http://www.dustjacketattic.blogspot.com/

Photo: Designer, Windsor Smith

Photo: Designer, Windsor Smith Source: http://www.simplifiedbee.blogspot.com/

Photo: Geoff Barringer for Ports 61 Source: http://www.dustjacketattic.blogspot.com/

Photo: Designer, Bunny Williams Source: Elle Decor

Photo: Julia Roberts, Eat, Pray, Love

Rachel Hazelton is an Interior Designer from Middleton, MA with design projects in Andover, MA, North Andover, MA, Lynnfield, MA, Boxford, MA, Topsfield, MA, Boston's North Shore and throughout New England.

Italian Style

I posted this blog back in August 2010 featuring designer, John Saladino's beautiful Tuscan style Montecito villa and the brilliant work of architect and designer, Bobby McAlpine.  I often mention that my mind, like other designers, is running a constant movie.  It's been this way since I was a little girl and probably why I spent entire summers dressed in my dancing school costumes.  I was always living in another place and another time inside my mind.  So when another designer posted the Christina Perri song, A Thousand Years, a song that reminded her of a book she read about the prolific writer Dante and his love for his muse Beatrice, I immediately thought of this beautiful editorial that I had included in this past blog post by photographer, Kalle Gistaffson, titled Storia d'amour.  Love is the ultimate inspiration.


On this rainy day, I thought I would share some inspiration from one of our recent projects. Design is about capturing a mood..a place..a time. For me, this is Italian style, casual and elegant. Limestone floors, faded antique rugs, velvet drapes, iron lanterns, cypress and statuary....and always romance.

Photo: Frank Grimm Source: http://www.dustjacketattic.blogspot.com/

Photos: Designer, John Saladino www.saladinostyle.com

Photos: Kalle Gistaffson, Storia d'amour, Source: http://www.dustjacketattic.blogspot.com/

Photo: Edith Wharton's Italian Gardens via http://www.trouvais.com/

Photos: Architect Bobby McAlpine, McAlpine, Booth and Ferrier Interiors Veranda Magazine

Photos: Architect, Bobby McAlpine & Designer, Susan Ferrier Source: http://www.cotedetexas.blogspot.com/

Photo: Frank Grimm Source: http://www.dustjacketattic.blogspot.com/

Rachel Hazelton is an Interior Designer from Middleton, MA with design projects in Andover, MA, North Andover, MA, Lynnfield, MA, Boxford, MA, Topsfield, MA, Boston's North Shore and throughout New England.

Retro Chic

I tend to favor deep tone neutrals and smoky shades of color.  However, I'm kind of crushing over this turquoise and pink combination.  Ever since I came across this photo of Ashley Stark's bedroom again from Elle Decor's November issue, I am seeing turquoise and hot pink everywhere from the Versace Spring 2012 ad campaign to the Kate Spade book below.  Although, truthfully, it's sort of an 80's flashback reminding me of Demi Moore's "designer" apartment in St. Elmo's Fire.  It was totally fabulous at the time.  Shocking, I know.  However, if I recall, I was less interested in Demi's apartment and more interested in her co-star Rob Lowe.  My sister and I had Rob Lowe posters probably from Tiger Beat magazine hanging on our pink daisy "vintage" bedroom wallpaper.

Photo: www.ElleDecor.com

Versace Spring 2012 via www.FashionGoneRogue.com

Kate Spade via

Designer, Kelly Wearstler via www.MyVibeMyLife.com via www.TheDecorista.com

Demi's Fab 80's Apartment in St. Elmo's Fire

St. Elmo's Fire via google images

Rachel Hazelton is an Interior Designer from Middleton, MA with design projects in Andover, MA, North Andover, MA, Lynnfield, MA, Boxford, MA, Topsfield, MA, Boston's North Shore and throughout New England.

Style File: Boho Chic

I love a touch of boho chic in design.  It's a stylish way of making a glamorous space more casual and inviting.  I'm really into the idea of adding something unexpected, vintage lamps, a mix of prints and textures with pillows or a bold statement of color through art. 

via

Russell Smith via

New Ravenna Mosaics Ikat Collection

Roberto Cavalli via

www.vogue.com, Lulu DeKwiatkowski via www.trailsofinspiration.com

Designer, Windsor Smith

Casual entry via Canadian House and Home

Designer, Martyn Lawrence Bullard via

Designer, Martyn Lawrence Bullard via www.elledecor.com

via www.crushculdesac.tumblr.com via www.habituallychic.blogspot.com

Rachel Hazelton is an Interior Designer from Middleton, MA with design projects in Andover, MA, North Andover, MA, Lynnfield, MA, Boxford, MA, Topsfield, MA, Boston's North Shore and throughout New England.

Houzz.com

Have you discovered Houzz.com?  What a fantastic site for home owners and designers.  Designers share their work and homeowners can scan thousands of images to save in online idea books.  Definitely check it out.  You can visit my Houzz.com profile via the Houzz green button below. 

Rachel Hazelton Interior Design

 on HOUZZ.COM

Rachel Hazelton is an Interior Designer from Middleton, MA with design projects in Andover, MA, North Andover, MA, Lynnfield, MA, Boxford, MA, Topsfield, MA, Boston's North Shore and throughout New England.

Color & Design: Black Walls

Black defined is the absence of all color.  Chanel said, “Women think of all colors except the absence of color.  I have said that black has it all. White too. Their beauty is absolute. It is the perfect harmony.”.  Rather than overpowering a space, black walls actually recede and allow art, objects and furnishings to stand out.  Notice in the powder room by Windsor Smith below, the black walls create a backdrop allowing the carerra marble and nickel sink to stand out.  If the walls had been gray or any medium value of color, the effect would not be achieved.  Layered black on black, set against crisp white trim or paired with accents of rich color, black will always add style and sophistication to a space.

"I've been 40 years discovering that the queen of all colors was black." -- Pierre-Auguste Renoir

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Aerin Lauder's home via www.elledecor.com

Nate Berkus for shoe designer, Brian Atwood, photo by Simon Upton via www.elledecor.com

Designer Kelly Wearstler

Sex and The City via

Designer Windsor Smith via http://www.decorpad.com/photo.htm?photoId=82833

Whist at The Viceroy Santa Monica by Kelly Wearstler via tumblr via www.desiretoinspire.net

Turner Davis Interiors via http://www.decorpad.com/photo.htm?photoId=82695

Ralph Lauren Home www.ralphlaurenhome.com via www.decorpad.com

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Rachel Hazelton Interior Design for FRINGE Boutique www.shopfringe.com

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Rachel Hazelton is an Interior Designer from Middleton, MA with design projects in Andover, MA, North Andover, MA, Lynnfield, MA, Boxford, MA, Topsfield, MA, Boston's North Shore and throughout New England.