Mrs Veranda

Mrs Veranda was very pale and feeling sad. Therefore we decided to give her a treat. We have polished and varnished the floor. We painted the furniture and bought new pillows. The result is a delight! Have a look yourself.

It was hard work but also a kind of therapy.  I worked listening to my favourite radio program. 

Before

The garden furniture looks great in white.  However, some experts told me that they will get dark soon, because of the smoke of the cars. Which cars? I live in a small street in Switzerland! Anyway, let's see how long it lasts. 

After

If you want to refresh the look of your wooden garden furniture, follow the tips bellow:

1. Place the furniture away from any other furniture or objects you might harm when painting

2. If you are spray painting, pay attention to the direction of the wind ;)

3. Put some newspaper or plastic underneath the piece of furniture

4. Clean the furniture with soap

5. Scrape off any paint that is peeling from your garden furniture

6. Polish the wooden furniture

7. Choose the right colour, make sure that it is weather resistant 

8. Apply two coats of paint

9. Buy some new pillows and accessories for your outdoor furniture

10. If you plan to polish the floor as well, paint first the furniture and then treat the  floor

11. Don't forget to choose your favourite songs to listen while polishing and painting.

Have a lovely spring.

The New Traditionalist

As a brave wife, sometimes I have to watch House of Cards with hubby. And then I discovered these beautiful interiors.

The style is called new traditionalist: they use a neutral colour palette, elegant fabrics, brass lamps, dark wood trim,  gold frames, carefully chosen art pieces, etc.

It is interesting how the Underwoods express their style: morden and minimalist through fashion but warm and charming in their home and offices.

Wow, I am in love with the elegance of this style.

Zurich International Interior Design Fair

I have seen beautiful furniture at the Zurich International Interior Design Fair Neue Raume 13, which happened last week in Zurich. In short, I would like to present you some works which I loved: 

The name of this chair means a lot to me, who loves the Zurich lake. The Seefelder chair by Strala.

Celebrating classics with the  Poeta Sofa designed in 1941 by Finn Juhl

Rugs made by talented hands: Shyrdarks from Kyrgystan.

Inspiring lighting by Ligalicht 

Amazing floorings: Hakwood by Guignard

And much more. It was a great exhibition. If you didn't have the chance to see  it this year, try to visit it next year. 

An International Interior Design Fair in Zurich

More than a hundred national and international exhibitors were chosen to show their furniture, lighting, accessories, fabrics, wallpapers, kitchen and bathroom designs from November 27 to 1 December 2013 in Zurich, Switzerland. 

It is a great opportunity to check the latest trends, young creations as well timeless classics. Enjoy it!

The Simplest Tastes

Hi there,

I know, I am very quiet at the moment. The thing is, we moved to a new place and, once again, I have to reinvent myself. 

For instance, I let you with a Oscar Wide's quote:

I have just the simplest tastes.  I am always satisfied with the best.

Oscar Wilde

Picture: Book Around Beauty by Barbara Barry

A Wall to Wall Bookcase

I saw this picture few months ago at The Yvestown blog and I still have this great idea in my mind. 

It is such a beautiful bookcase, made with Ikea cupboards by a brilliant carpenter. Well done! 


I was, for a moment, jealous that my husband was not a carpenter and instead of building our bookshelf ourselves, we had to order it. 

A converted barn in Mobberley

Before I left England, I had the opportunity to take pictures of a beautiful house in Mobberley. The owner describes it as follows: Our barn is 300 years old and it was converted eight years ago. It used to be a cow shed previous to that. 

I love the entrance. The piano provides such elegance, telling us the mood of the house.

 Beautiful beams, doors and flooring welcome the visitor.

There is a combination of warmth and elegance in this home. Look at this lamp hanging from the first floor. You can see it from the corridors and from the floor below as well. 

 Amazing corridors

Lovely furniture

Never forget, a princess lives here. 

The rules of the house are: 1. a girl's bedroom must be pink!

2. a boy's bedroom must be red and blue!

I love the airplane lamp.

The second boy's bedroom, following the same colour scheme: red and blue

What do you prefer, an antique desk to philosophise about life?

Or a modern one to relax?

The sofa in front of the door surprises me! After all we don't have to be  obvious all the time!

A modern and white kitchen provides a clean look to the ambience

This corner is perfect for a cosy bench where the family can have its meals together. Lovely place to chat too!

 The guest room:any doubt that we are in England?

It is a pleasure to present this home, renovated and furnished with a lot with charm. When I visited this place I always had a good time there.  Thank you Vickie and family.

Bigas Luna in Zurich

An exhibition is happening in Zurich, showing  Bigas Luna films and, to contradict the erotism and hilarity of his work, a selection of films by the Berlim School. 

It is a great opportunity to discover or to see again some masterpieces of this great director who brought some much fun and life to the screens. 


29th August to 2nd October 2013 - Kino Xenix 
Kanzleistrasse56 8004 Zurich
0433221380

Body milk under the shower

I am back to the Swiss life although a Swiss life without my favourite women's magazine Annabelle, is not a Swiss life! And since its readers chose the Nivea Night Cream Acqua Effect as their favourite and I tried and enjoyed it as well, I have been paying more attention to this traditional label. 

Nivea has just launched a body milk to be used under the shower. It works like this: You have a shower as usual, use your normal product and rinse off. Then you apply Nivea in-Shower body milk while still in the shower. Rinse off. Dry yourself, get dressed and go. It might be a good idea for people like me, always too lazy or busy to use some cream after a shower. I think it is worth trying it.

The Butterfly Effect

I am very interested in what my children have read. In What Katy Did I've found an old and wise proverb: 

'For the want of a nail the shoe was lost,

For the want of a shoe the horse was lost,

For the want of a horse the rider was lost,

For the want of a the rider the battle was lost, 

For the want of the battle the kingdom was lost,

And all for the want of a horse-shoe nail.'

Never forget, the tiny movement of a butterfly's wings can start a series of events that may cause something as huge as a tornado. Before the next term begins, repair the drawer which doesn't close properly or fix the door which is sagging on the cabinet. Let's avoid accidents.