Paper Suitcases

Storage solutions are very important in a small space. Finding storage that can also be displayed out in the open is a great win/win. This Paper Suitcase from Pink Loves Brown is a wonderful way to store bills and/or any other papers you have around your home. You can leave it out on a table or right next to your work station. For some strange reason I’m tempted to use it to stockpile my make-up.

Joe Nye ~ Simply a Brilliant Designer

I am a huge fan of the Los Angeles based designer Joe Nye.

He is simply brilliant in mixing colors and texture. Just like

all of his work is, the table scape above is very striking and

has an allure and charm to it. Joe Nye only launched his own

business in 2002 and in a short amount of time has really

established himself as a well known name in the industry.

I would not have thought to mix a clear

glass bowl with fine china. It looks amazing.

I really really love this West Hollywood home he

designed. He paired classical elements with fresh

colors and patterns. Just the right mix of neutrals

and color.

I've really come to love his sofa console tablescapes.

Fresh flowers and gorgeous fabric,

what more could a girl ask for?

I love how he mixes in vintage and antique

pieces. It somehow fits altogether with the

modern colors he chooses.

Very pretty Thomas Paul pillows.

Very interesting wallpaper in the bathroom.

I Love the colors he chose for this chair!

Any other Joe Nye fans out there?

All photos from Joe Nye's site.

High End, Low Price

Ikea is the best furniture store for anyone who has a tight budget and a small space. Their designs get better each collection. I just wish they would start assembling this stuff for me.

Style Icon: Gwyneth Paltrow

It seems like most people either love Gwyneth Paltrow or they love to hate her. I happen to be a fan. Sure, some may think she gives off airs of snobbery. I interpret it as someone who is confident and sure of herself; someone who holds herself to a certain standard. Personality aside, I love many of the style choices she has made.

Wearing a nude gown of silk and voile by one of her favorite designers, Stella McCartney at the 2005 Academy Awards

Chiffon Zac Posen gown at the 2007 Academy Awards

Wearing Valentino, another favorite designer at this year's Fashion Rocks in London

Gwyneth wearing Valentino, with the designer at the 2002 Venice Film Festival

In Balenciaga while pregnant with Moses at the 2006 Golden Globes

Vintage Yves Saint Laurent at the premiere of Running with Scissors in 2006 I absolutely love this dress! I would wear it forever.

Channeling Grace Kelly in a pink Ralph Lauren gown on the night she won her Oscar at the 1999 Academy Awards

Wearing a black button down and Blue Cult's Gwyneth jeans at a Calvin Klein runway show in 2002

I love this casual look. I think her hair was perfect this length.

Simply Fabulous

I found these photos on Popsugar and thought they were so great that I had to share.

Orlando Bloom and model girlfriend, Miranda Kerr at the horse races in Australia. She looks very 1940's, Coco Chanel to me while he is so 1963, Mick Jagger in a suit. I'm not a huge fan of Orlando, Miranda, or Mick for that matter, but I think they look so fabulous here.

Tina Fey arriving at David Letterman.

I love the chic combination of the sleek, black sheath paired with the nude Louboutins.

Cleaning the Bathroom

What products do you use for cleaning your bathroom? It is always interesting to me to read about what others are using! Any great tips? Post away!

Office Wishes

I need a new work area but I just don’t have the room to get what I really want. If I had the space my office would look something like this……



Or this…



Or even something like this……



But with no space I’ll have to work with pieces like this…In the end storage will be the deciding factor.

Kuwait - Here I come ;)

Short break & will be back ;)

Beauty & Design in Chinese Film ~ Curse of the Golden Flower

You should watch this film if not for the eye candy and
colors alone. Curse of the Golden Flower is directed by
acclaimed director Zhang Yi Mo. He is sort of the Chinese
version of Steven Spielberg you could say. He's made
many many films in his life time and in his last couple
of films, his style has definitely changed to become more
artistic and has put huge emphasis on color and imagery.

The film stars Gong Li and Chow Yun Fat. Two heavy
weights in the Chinese film industry. Gong Li was in fact
made famous by director Zhang Yi Mo. Gong Li may not
be the most beautiful woman to live, but she certainly
has presence like no other. Simply by entering a room,
she can command it. I love watching her films.

The whole movie is a showcase of fashion and interiors!
The photo above and the few below showcase one of the main
hallways in the film. It is a "sick" display of beautiful hand
carved panels and woodwork. I've never seen anything like it.

Through clever use of lighting, the same exact hallway

can change into different colors altogether. What was
originally the bright red hallway above is now Green.

A beautiful shade of peacock blue.

And red again. Simply amazing.

Another element that there was an obvious focus on

were the costumes. The scene here shows maids

dressing each other.

And the finished costume. I will note that in no way were

any Chinese ladies allowed to wear bare shouldered gowns

in any time period in history. However, for a modern

rendition of an old story - the colors and attention to detail

are simply amazing.

Another look at those gorgeous gowns.

I just couldn't stop staring at those colorful panels!

This is a close up of those beautifully carved panels.

I wonder how they made the panels translucent to

let in light.

Get a load of that hair do!

And this brings new meaning to the

phrase "Red Carpet Treatment."

A night time peak at the same red carpet.

At the end of the red carpet is a

staircase that leads into the palace.

A great still of a Chinese room with traditional

furnishings and architectural elements.

Her head dresses are simply amazing.

This makes the word "decadent" pale in comparison.

Especially when you realize just how large this square is

and they somehow managed to cover every square inch

of it. All I can do is look in awe. No words can describe it.

I had been preparing a post on this movie but La Vie Est Belle

has beaten me to it. Definitely stop over at her blog to see her post

because she has a different take on the movie and has shared some

really interesting pieces of Chinese history as well.

If some of you are interested in Zhang Yi Mo's other beautiful

films, I would also recommend "Hero" which is also beautifully

filmed filmed. Beautiful in Color and Beautiful in Scenery

with some of the most amazing scenes in China.

All photos from Sony Pictures and taken by Ms. Bai Xiaoyan.