Salon de Sucre: February 2009

Saturday, February 28, 2009

Everybody deserves relaxation!!

Back from my break.. I relaxed and feel more energized now to go on with my everyday life.. now how can I relax and leave you my friends out there in the hectic life with no break! I wouldn't do that! so here.. close your eyes ,, or ermmm.. keep 'em open and look at this holiday place and guess what's your next destination..

any guess?

It's Msambweni Beach house and Villas in .... Kenya , Africa!

via Msambweni Beach House and Villas

via Flickr

via Flickr

via Flickr

Sunday, February 22, 2009

Taking Time Off ...

I'll be taking time off from work and from the blogging world starting tomorow ...to travel a bit and relax.. I'll be back on the 27th of Feb with more fun and inspiring interiors and designs ! I want to thank everyone who followed, visited , commented , or blogged about my ROOM. Every comment and every visit is appreciated ..

image via Debi Treloar

Saturday, February 21, 2009

MakeYour Own Blackboards

ERASERS go from dull to delightful by gluing scraps of vintage fabric, wallpaper, and old ads to the backs of standard erasers for retro appeal. Cheerful children's blocks are reinvented as erasers simply by gluing a piece of felt to one side.

TRANSFORM any object with a flat, smooth surface into a blackboard. Here, the Farm Chicks used a drawer, dustpan, and enamel bakeware, but you can make use of anything that strikes your fancy, such as an old mirror or a salvaged window.

APPLY two coats of paint using a small sponge applicator or roller, as the fibers in regular paintbrushes tend to leave behind streaks. Chalkboard paint comes in both liquid and spray versions. If you try the spray, be sure to cover the surrounding area carefully to prevent spatter.

via Country Living

it's mary ruffle

One of the cutest photo based blogs i've discovered is it's mary ruffle.. check it out and I'm sure you will find something to cheer you up!

via it's mary ruffle

Friday, February 20, 2009

More from Knack!

Remember the Inspirational talk from the owner of Knack studio? while searching for her shop
I found those at Flickr from Knack studio and I couldn't possibly not share! ..

WARNING: addictive delicious content !!

Thursday, February 19, 2009

Inspiration Room

Flicking through the pages of Vintage Indie blog .. there was a very inspirational Business Talk section which I want to share with everyone aiming for ideas and inspiration for business start-up.

Below is the post , and if you like to read more about the Business Talk series , visit Vintage Indie and get inspired!!

" Unlike your ordinary business series, focusing on start up (which is important) we wanted to bring you another level to the table. We wanted you to hear first hand from business owners themselves about the "real world" of owning your own business and being your own boss. While researching start up and business plans are all very important, we feel an inside look is invaluable information for you.
Thanks to Barb the designer and store owner behind Knack Studios for graciously sharing her experience with us:

Hi Barb, Thanks again for answering a few questions about opening up your own store. We are excited to hear from a business owner first hand about the aspects of starting, running and operating your own store.

If you could share the top five most important things you suggest doing before opening a store, what would they be?

1. do your homework .... find out what your point of difference is
2. know your target market
3. brand yourself!! This is worth every penny!! Hire a graphic designer to come up with your logo, website and print. Plaster it everywhere and in everything you do!! ( my husband happens to be a graphic designer and has done all my branding for me, but I did realize a dream this year and paid for a letterpress business package!)
4. come up with a business plan ........ know where you are going and how you plan to get there. Use cash if you can , and grow small and smart instead of strapping yourself with a big loan.
5. make sure you have a good support system .... you will need them in the days to come:)

You can read more on this by visiting Vintage Indie blog .. I had to cut this short as it was copyrighted ..My Bad :)

via Vintage Indie

Wednesday, February 18, 2009

A One of a Kind Arabian Style Retreat

Fashion Photographer Philip Dixon's moroccan house retreat is actually in Venice Beach USA , but looking at those pictures you would think that it's somewhere in Morocco! The photographer , as stated by The Style Files " was inspired by his trips around the world. He created this Moroccan retreat almost 20 years ago."

My husband is very into traditional arabian type of architecture so , my dear , this is for you!

via Style Files

I'm searching for Paint ..

It's never an easy task. Even if you just want plain ol' white washed paint , there are a gazillion of shades to pick from.. It's a good thing ,one might think.. but it could be a curse

its not easy even to me as a designer, so many questions run into my mind , why this shade not the other? and should I match it with my furniture, the floor? Shall I test how it looks like with my spot lights ? or with natural light? how much can I use from a pint to test ?

which brings me to the achingly realistic fact that I'm facing with every time I choose paint:

Why would I even bother to buy a full price on a whole pint of color if I just want to test?! I know that some companies make smaller test samples that are sometimes usueful. but I cant find that easily here in Kuwait. You either buy the whole pint , and it'd better be your shade , or else you'd be a paint collector without your knowing !

A favorite blogger and store owner of Knack Studio has the perfect shade in one of her rooms ( shown above ) , and she was kind enough to share with me the name of the shade : forde abbey from Ralph Lauren Paint. WOW Ralph Lauren?! Yes Ralph Lauren.. check out their website and be mismerised! amazing stuff there.. every single shade I've ever thought of and more ..you can even purchase little paint samples !! I need that for sure..

so this is my pick ( again , dear husband , read this carefully and share your preference!! )