Falling in Love with London's Doorways

{How perfect is this? I love the color of the medallion and the fancy script that reads No. 1. Of course, it's number one!}

London is such an easy city to fall in love with. There are so many incredible things about it and best of all, it leaves you wanting more. One of my favorite things about the city was the gorgeous architecture. Elegant and stately, everything is very clean, well-manicured, and ultra charming. There were so many houses that I was completely smitten by in London, but I have always loved doors and doorways, so they especially caught my eye on this trip.

Perfect Symmetry

I'm not crazy about the glass block steps on the left, but I thought it was interesting to see how neighbors had updated their doorways over time.

I fell in love with this quaint, little street.

Love the turquoise!

Kensington- Notice the placement of the doorknob.

Knightsbridge

Knightsbridge

Isn't this the most beautiful shade of blue? I think this is my favorite color right now.

So many buildings have these charming flower boxes...

especially the pubs. I would say the pubs probably had the most beautiful displays of flowers spilling from their windows.

A less elegant, more industrial, but no less charming residential building in the East End

I love the beautiful, feminine details of these doorways, especially the one on the left. This was definitely one of my favorites.

Around the Corner from Spitalfield's Market

A little austere, but lovely nonetheless

I love this. Do you think the neighbors are friends? They must get along fairly well in order to have agreed on colors that complement each other this well. I can't get over how perfectly straight the line dividing the colors in the center is.

I thought this cascading plant was gorgeous! Any idea what it might be?

As much as I loved the bright colored doors, I thought black was a great choice for this home.

So many doors had doorknobs in the center of the door as opposed to on the left, which I thought was really neat. I also love the doorknocker here.

All of the homes at the Tower of London have bright, turquoise doors.

A Stately Home near Buckingham Palace. Aren't the doors gorgeous?

I thought this townhouse on Gloucester Road was exceptionally pretty.

Masculine and Elegant

Royal Blue in a Royal City

A Cute Little House

I thought this old red door was really neat. I didn't see too many red doors in London. Various shades of blue seemed to be favored over red. I don't think the trim color really goes with the red door, but I digress.

Another quaint street with lovely homes in Kensington

These pretty flower doorknobs were everywhere in the British Museum!

This house was hands-down, one of my favorites. I love the flowers spilling out of the windows, the stately black doors, and the fabulous sign with the street number. So gorgeous!

Personal Style, Defined: Haven and Home

I am so thrilled to share this installment of Personal Style, Defined with you. Marianne, of Haven and Home is a very talented designer with a great eye and a huge heart that comes through in her work. She's a total sweetheart and is super stylish to boot. I love that she considers her style "Edited Eclectic" as I can totally relate. Enjoy!

First I would like to thank Paloma for asking me to be part of this series. To be involved in a series that has included such wonderful bloggers is beyond flattering. La Dolce Vita is one of the first blogs I started reading and I am thrilled to be a part of it.

Okay, now to matter at hand, defining my personal style. I am a Decorator, this should be easy right? Well, just like several people before me have mentioned, it is almost impossible because I love certain elements about all styles across the board. I guess I would define it as Edited Eclectic. I like when rooms have many layers but are thoughtfully put together.

Two things I know are part of my personal style for sure are the color Grey and soothing neutral rooms with raw materials and beautiful fabrics. There are definitely strong Belgium and Swedish influences in my style. Barbara Westbrook and Kay Douglass could come design my house any day.

I have used the room above before when trying to define my style. I chose it for the natural elements, the jute rug, raw wood on the furniture, clean crisp linen upholstery, and dark curtains that add to the room without feeling stuffy.

My style is definitely more on the casual side, I want my spaces to feel warm and inviting. Although I don't mind formality as long as there are some casual elements added in. Below is a nursery I consider formal but it is not over the top so it retains that inviting feel.

I love walking into a room and finding something unexpected which brings me to another element I love in rooms-stripes! I can't tell you how many times I have used them, I love the special feel they give to rooms.

There are days where I dream of having an all white house-clean, crisp, light and airy (although I think this comes from looking at color all day)...

Then I am exact opposite wanting dark cozy rooms or bright color throughout...

I love feminine rooms...

And I love more masculine feeling rooms too...

Here are two rooms with similar components yet they are completely opposite. I love them both equally. Can you see why I get confused when trying to define my style? One common denominator these two spaces have? They are both well edited which I think is important.

While I like neutral and calm like the first few pictures I can't resist bold statement making rooms either. I have never, ever met a geometric touch that I didn't love...

Which reminds me that a pretty geometric patterned fabric is always the first one I am compelled to pull for myself or a client.

This piece definitely defines my style. Bleached wood? Check. Pretty, not standard hardware? Check. Amazing carving that isn't too ornate? Check. Okay I will take it! Now where to find an extra $1,350.....

I digress. When looking through pictures for this post I saw so many genres that I loved that really Eclectic is the best word I came up with to define me. Edited Eclectic embodies my preference for spaces to be casual and inviting but also look like thought went into them without being "done".

Thanks again Paloma!

1. House Beautiful 2.House Beautiful 3.House Beautiful 4.Southern Accents/Heather Smith 5.Domino 6.????Help I can't place this room 7.Domino via Flickr 8.House Beautiful via A Life's Design 9.House Beautiful 10. I Suwannee 11.Harmony and Home 12.Michael Smith (I believe) 13.Cottage Living 14. Max and Company 15.House Beautiful 16.Sara Story 17.Schumacher 18. Lee Jofa 19. Wisteria 20. Veranda?