New Year's Eve (already!)

Shopper's moodboard: Olive love

kettle / tapestry wall hanging / copper planters / pillow / chair / sofa

Somewhere in the middle

The week between Christmas and New Year Eve has been marked down in my brain as the ultimate holidays week (pairing, perhaps, with those blissful sun filled ones of August). This comes from my childhood days when it actually was a week off school and responsibilities and full of presents and glorious dinners (and lots of play, of course!). Now, I have to fit somewhere between my memories and soul desires and the reality (yeap, work, deadlines, chores and other stuff grown-ups usually suffer from). Well, working freelance (and from home) helps me find some balance, with the sleep time stretching long time in the mornings and those friend soirées getting the night on fire. It's the sweet exhaustion of the holidays, short but over the top invigorating!

Image credits:

1.Brendt Darby, 2.House&Garden December 2011

In the kitchen

There can be no better place to be during holidays than inside a beautiful kitchen creating, experimenting and eating; all these with good company (not very fun being alone, right?) and some just right jazzy tunes playing in the background. Great opportunity and fun starter to get some help with this cake before the dinner is on ;)

Image credits:
1.Patric Johansson, 2.Rachael Smith, 3.The Greenwich Hotel, 4.The world of interiors November 2011

Emerald power

Speaking of sparkles and glam, what better way to bring the essence of gemstones into your life than surround yourself with deep and impressive emerald green? Velvet and satin, mixed with vintage golden accents and rough, earthly materials, total look or just a hint; whatever your choice may be, the result would definitely be elegant and classy.

Image credits:
1.Matthew Williams via Living Etc December 2011, 2.The world of interiors November 2011, 3.The decorista via pinterest, 4.Rue

Sparkling countdown: 6 to go..

What I love mostly about this season is all the sparkles in the air. The fireworks, the fairy lights, the golden, glittery ornaments, oh, I could live inside a sparkle forever! Which reminds me that we're still in the middle of the holidays and so many beautiful things to follow (yuppie =)
How're your holidays so far? Am I the only one so eager to meet 2012?

All images via Bal'a Dash.

X-mas essence 1225 (Oh, it's Christmas!)

Merry Christmas to you all!
I wish you joy and prosperity, health and abundance, sanity and a wild heart with a room for everyone! Thank you for being around My Paradissi, your company is the best gift ever ☺

Image by sentimentality.

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Hope your plans for this Christmas Eve prove to be exquisitely indulgent, mouth-pleasuring and tenderly snuggling.. Enjoy!

Images via House&Gardens December 2011.

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Christmas mood: The Nutcracker (don't you love the story- and the Bolshoi ballet performing it?)
You can find an Ulbricht Nutcracker, like the above, here.

Cozy holidays

So, Christmas is just around the corner, then.. Oh, time does fly! Green garland details, soft fabrics and fluffy faux furs and the fire warming up the place, complementing the holidays and hopefully will stay long after they come to an end, to keep softening the winter breeze and moodiness. 

How do you plan on spending this festive weekend? Staycation or visiting family and friends (or some luxurious hotel perhaps?). I'll be just around my place this year (with all the celebration and beloved ones all together, of course!).

Image credits:

1.Tria Giovan (via Homes and Gardens December 2011), 2.Mark Bolton (via Homes and Gardens December 2011), 3.New York Obsession

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You crafty folks, why not surround yourselves with little, green paper christmas trees these holidays? You can either make them by following Martha Stewart's tutorial here (top image) or get them ready made, like this sweet christmas tree garland by Jannee (bottom image).

Up in the air somewhere chevrons

Love the shades, love the texture, love the simplicity, love the straightforwardness, love these dishes made by Susan of up in the air somewhere. Check her sculptural work here and her blog there and, of course, her etsy shop (where you'll find all the above)

P.s. Photo template by the amazing Katrina of Pugly Pixel!

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White tree and snow in a glass ball ornament on a white tree with sparkling white leds. Yeap, that's my style..

Image via Merry Christmas!

Bathroom lust

We haven't talked about bathrooms in a while, don't you think? Here is some brainstorming, then. I love the simplicity of the first one with the concrete ceiling and the metallic tubes complementing the scene, the pink window frame and the wooden stove in the second one, the boudoir atmosphere in the third one and, of course, the large chalkboard substituting the mirror (who needs one, anyway ;) in the last image. What's your favorite one?

Image credits:

1.Amy Neunsinger, 2.Micky Hoyle ,3.Mikael Dubois, 4.Russel Smith

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Cozy holidays in warm whites and naturals (and the fire still burning)..

Image via.

Straight cut and green

Large built-in fireplace with a simple rectangular opening and a green chair to lounge on when the day gets colder. Similar but not the same. Which one would you prefer? (I'd probably chose the first one due to its country style references)

Image credits:

1.Charles De Lisle (via yatzer), 2.Pierre-Jean Verger

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Cheerful and playful this christmas tree over at Yvonne's place. Now, that's a tree I'd like to have around all year long!


Image via The Yvestown blog.

Shopper's moodboard: Christmas cottage blues

temari ball ornament / christmas tree / gold pinecone ornaments / scarlet chaise / vintage overdyed rug / tealight holder / throw / chandelier / gingham stationary

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Christmas table scape designed by ever talented Michaela and Lotta of Hey Look. Raindeer place card holders for kids and twigs, horse cookie cutter and glass jars used as votives are only a few of their weapons for a super stylish, repurposed holiday decoration. I highly recommend to visit their blog for tons of inspiration!

Images via here and there.

Sunday plans

We are just beginning to get close to the holidays and I'm already in a festive mood. This translates to late night sleeping, friends gatherings and a reluctancy to do anything scheduled or demanding. Which brings me to a Sunday topped with to dos and unavoidable work deadlines. Ok, first things first then; catch up with the necessaries and then spend the evening ice skating and cotton candy eating ☺

Image credits:

1.nicety, 2.Douglas Friedman, 3.tumblr (can't track down the original source, any clues?)

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We have a big white Christmas tree decorated with golden ornaments over at My Paradissi. Pure and sparkling (as we wish our hearts to be..).

Image by me.

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It's funny.. we traditionally use to decorate little boats for Christmas in Greece instead of trees but sort of this way not that one..

Image via Habitually Chic.

Ice skating under the sun

So, guys, have you ever been ice skating? Unfotunately, in Crete there is not enough cold to have real ice (well, perhaps up high into the mountains..) so we have to compromise with an artificial ice skating rink put in the center square of the city every Christmas. Not bad at all I admit. Although I have never been skating on the real thing, it's definitely a fun (and exausting) way to spend those holiday evenings!

By the way, check Stephanie's etsy for loads of Route 66 retro roadside images here. The above image lies here.

Under the stars

Image found via favim.

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Christmas tree in silver and gold. Not that expensive..
Christmas tree in silver and gold and loads of tiffany & co presents underneath. Well, that's a pure 100% glamourous decoration (and an expensive one).

Image via The Glamourai.

Seafoam winterwise

Mixing seafoam greens and turquoise with warmer tones of wood and textiles seems to be the key to bring a cool hue into one's place. Like using large mustard yellow pillows and throws or wooden floors and cabinetry.  Don't be afraid to try bigger surfaces like walls as long as you pay attention to the complementing details (an eye-catching gilded mirror adds style and a more vintage elegance) or, if you'd rather go with  smaller pieces go for a classic smeg fridge or a simple painted isle in the kitchen (like the above repainted one from IKEA). 

Image credits:
1.Paul Costello ,2.apartment therapy, 3.Daniela Mac Adden (via Interiors), 4.Chrissie Cremers

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 Star-shape fairy lights create a festive atmosphere, even when draped from antler horns on the wall..

Image via Chateau de Konstanse via NIB.

Pink bouquets

Do you think that these tables would look the same without the pink shaded bouquets of hydrangeas and peonies? I bet they won't. Even with their wishbone vintage chairs, the mod shelving or their large, rattan pendants..

Image credits:
1.decor pad, 2.curated style

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White christmas stocking; Santa's feeling romantic tonight..


Image viahvitur lakkris.

Shopper's moodboard: I'd rather be fishing, deer

rensslear double sconce / matchstick bottle / sign ornament / reflector retro ornament / deer in a jacket / alpine trees / retro TV ornament / coil candle