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Decorate a Dreamhouse - Mallorca Island

Written By: Patricia Lynne
Editor: Sarahjoy Crain

My dreamhouse location requires a roomy beach bag, a straw topper and a major tan; my whimsical place will be on the beautiful Island of Mallorca!

My notes for this Dreamhouse state create a design scheme consisting of white walls with much natural materials and color. This is the journey of adorning the interiors of my imaginary seaside abode.

Bit of Background:

Mallorca is the largest island in the Balearic Islands archipelago, in Spain, with a population of 869,067 covering 1,405 square miles.

People choose the Island of Mallorca (as we call it; the Spaniards call it Majorca) to find their own oasis of calmness, to escape from their otherwise hum-drum of everyday life.

But one must understand, it is with the native people of Mallorca where the real magic resides, the native people's unchanging, traditional values. Oh to be able to fit that lil' piece of sanity into a world gone crazy. If you're an expat in Mallorca, you've chosen to exchange a hectic, pressurized life for a free, alternatively-happy one in the Mediterranean.

Now, Full Steam Ahead, Join Me As I Go About Decorating My Dreamhouse On Mallorca Island

Click here to continue this article including Tuna Apple Mini Melts Recipe.

Art Objects Make Room Come Alive

Objects of art are sometimes awfully energetic - for being inanimate objects, of course.

We know clay is not alive, as in, clay is considered a non-living material. However, when clay is sculpted into a form, it can take on its own unique personality. Knowing how objects interact wi

Article continued, including Mini Black Bottom Cheesecakes recipe, click here.

How To Organize Your Home

Subtitle: Less Things More Life

The little country of Norway is known for furniture styles that are sleek, clean and minimalistic. I recently

learned a wonderfully-interesting fact about this Country. The "people" who study on country's citizens' contentment levels in life and lifestyle report that Norway tops these scales..... Hummm ..

Ahhhh . . . . .

A lovely Norwegian woman (sorry, didn't catch the name), said, succinctly, "Less Things, More Life."

It makes my back and shoulders relax!

A cluttered environment can greatly affect one's serenity and sense of calm.

Left, cookbooks in a basket . . . fun, open container - you can easily sort through the books to see the one you want. We thus have 'creativity'. When you want to clean, lift the basket and viola! Easy access for cleaning is right there, thus we accomplish 'serenity.'
It's a win win.

At right, the green pedestal tray

is a DIY, simply a painted candlestick glued
to a large plate. It has a small towelette
that conveniently both fits the kitchen theme
and is functional eliminating messy soap
scum spots. Containers or trays can be
DIY, thrift shop, Pottery Barn or
Container Store.

A few fun notes about reducing clutter are:

Article Continued, Click Here and go to Zucchini Oven Fries Bonus Recipe

Decorate a Dreamhouse - Mallorca Island (Cont'd.)

Articled continued from main post, to return, click here.

My dreamhouse location requires a roomy beach bag, a straw topper and a major tan; my whimsical place will be on the beautiful Island of Mallorca!

My Mallorca Island Dreamhouse Living Room:

Left, the artwork, "Full Hands, Full Heart," a giclee print of an original acrylic painting was a nice color starting point for fulfilling my design scheme. This piece is by Katharina Magdalena Short and is still available, but has a limited edition of 150. Design tip: giclee signed, numbered and titled limited edition prints are a great way to start an excellent art collection.

Below, left is one-of-a-kind, original oil painting, "Midway I Faltered," by Amy Cheng. Below right, is "Serenade," a giclee print (more affordable, more available) also by Katharina Magdalena Short. Serenade so reminds me of my lovely Mallorca house. What joy!

My family lives in this room, my beautiful entertaining room. Its art pieces are significantly strong; they surround my living room, setting the stage for my necessary, functional pieces, which pieces I choose and how they are displayed.

This table is prodigious here with its hand forged metal base, oversized, industrial casters and shaved oak top and shelf, it is the Boho Cocktail Table. The generously-sized table has room for the set of three Barkley Candlesticks, magazines, an enticing coffee table book - or if you're hosting a party, a tray of Tuna Apple Mini Melts recipe follows.

The Kensington Chandelier measures 29.75" high x 27" in diameter; I like its simple but strong curves.This slipcovered sofa from Ballards is beautiful but I switched out its throw pillows shown here, with the more colorful, decor pillows. All three are from Pier One, green Daisy Pillow, the blue and green Suzani Pillow, and Petals Pillow In Teal. Design tip: it's all in the accessorizing!

My chaise lounge by Ballards Design is the favorite spot in my living room (as I suspected it would be). Inari Table Lamp is subtly perfect when seeking a practical and comfortable, reading spot. The Winslow Nesting Tables, kinna' like hearty tv trays, become the 'go-to' pieces; one or the other is always being moved for one need or another. The chaise lounge is further accessorized by adding two decorative beach themed pillows both available from By The Sea Decor.

Seeking texture I couldn't pass up this whimsical, muted-iron Bird Chair. It's so delightful, I might buy two. (You gotta' love the small, perched bird atop of the chair!) Design tip: Side chairs, sometimes called, occasional chairs, that you can move around your home for various uses are just radically expeditious in any home.

My Mallorca Island Dreamhouse Dining Room:

I love this white walled dining room with flagstone fireplace built into the niche. It is earthy - much texture. The Benchwright Dining Room set made of reclaimed wood is quietly dominant. This is beautiful, this is green, this is a distinct, natural design style setting for my Mallorca Island home. From Pottery Barn I selected the Gridley Metal Caged Storage Cabinet. Like the mix of materials of this industrial looking metal piece with the reclaimed wood, hearty dining room table.

Women Carrying Houses by American contemporary artist Brian Kershisnik, this giclee print is still available and is on my dining room wall.

My Mallorca Island Dreamhouse Master Bedroom

With amazing views from this room of the turqoise blue Mediterranean Sea, my master bedroom is a mere backdrop to Mallorca's beauty.

This space is where I curl up with a book, where I gather my thoughts . . . it's just simply the best place in the whole of Mallorca.

These items would make for a serene master bedroom - they're a nice fit.

At right, Brian Kershisnik artwork, "Eating Peaches," original artwork and all signed and numbered prints unfortunately are sold out. Design tip: Brian Kershisnik's artwork is hot and only getting hotter, a go to article about building your art collection is "Artwork On A Budget."

Below, beautiful in the room is the Kensington Chandelier. Bed and bedding (Nightingale Duvet) are from Anthropologie, the duvet and bedding is Nightingale, bed is Autumn Filigree. An adept choice also for my Mallorca home is the set of three Yuma Trunks.

Below is "Large Horse, Small Riders," from figurative contemporary artist Brian Kershisnik. It is also unfortunately sold out, only available through private sale. You can view currently available original artwork, one of a kind pieces at the Santa Fe, Mexico Meyer East Gallery. Click here to see more affordable and still available Kershisnik giclee prints.

Below, left is my lovely master bedroom sitting area, Priscilla Tufted Settee and Walter Spring Floor Lamp are both from Anthropologie.

My Mallorca Island Dreamhouse Rear Yard/Balcony

Just off of my master bedroom we created a small balcony. I'm thinkin' if you're ever gonna' build a balcony with a view, it's in Mallorca, of the Mediterranean Sea.

Mallorca is number one* when it comes to choosing a place for your second home. For me and my family, we chose this Island as number one for our primary home.

I could so live here in this Dreamhouse in Mallorca, couldn't you?

*Go to article, "Why Mallorca Is Number One / All About Mallorca"

Tuna Apple Mini Melts Appetizers

Yield: Makes 45 tartlets

Total: 1 hour 30 minutes

Ingredients:

1 cup mayonnaise

1/2 cup diced Pink Lady apple*

1/3 cup finely chopped celery

2 tablespoons minced red onion

1 hard-cooked egg, peeled and chopped

1 teaspoon fresh lemon juice

1/4 teaspoon kosher salt

1/4 teaspoon freshly cracked pepper

2 12-oz. cans solid white tuna in spring water, drained and flaked

3 1.9-oz. packages frozen mini-phyllo pastry shells, thawed

12 deli Havarti cheese slices, cut into 4 pieces each

Garnish: thin Pink Lady slices

Preparation:

Stir together first 8 ingredients in a medium bowl. Stir in tuna. Cover and chill 1 hour.
Divice mixture among phyllo shells (about 1 tablespoon each), and place on a 15" x 10" jelly-roll pan. Top with cheese pieces.
Preheat broiler with oven rack 5-1/2" from heat. Broil tartlets 1 - 2 minutes or until cheese is melted. Serve immediately. Garnish, if desired.

*Gala apple may be substituted.
This recipe is from "My Recipes."

Want More? Click to read other Decorate A Dreamhouse Articles:

See also My Decorate A Dreamhouse - Mallorca Island Pinterest Board

This is so much fun!! If decorating isn't easy for you or if you are in need of some particular interior design assistance, our designers at the Something Beautiful Shoppe will be happy to work with you - working with professional helps assure you get the look you deserve while helping eliminate costly mistakes.

Art Objects Make Room Come Alive (Continued)

Article Continued From Main Post, Click Here

th us and our surroundings can be enjoyable as well as helpful in the creation of beauty.
This object, this ceramic piece, caused the stir. Looking through a Guild Catalog,

I saw the object WAS that cannonball girl. I was seven years old. It was MY curled-up body. My knees drawn tight to my chest. I could feel the impact of hitting that water. I was under the warm summer sky. I felt the SPLASH! It was me, me, me. There is nothing like a cannonball! For a split second, I was the art.

Objects can have so much energy that there are times when we become one them, such as with Marie E.v.B. Gibbons’ “Cannonball Swimmer.“ I melt with it. When we can see and fuse with an element of beauty, either natural or man made, this energy is unique and can make for special moments. The Cannonball art piece is not just a beautiful sculpture, rather I know Gibbons’swimmer intimately, she now has her own personality.

With objects that we already are endeared to (such as a framed photograph of a friend or an unique art piece that embodies a passion) we can make sense of this energy. If we place a cherished photograph on a small table, among a displayed collection of items, the strength of its energy makes it seem larger than it really is. The perceived size

of the object is changed by its energy.

Recognizing how we interact with our surroundings, it's understood that what we see can affect the quality of our lives. Objects that we use in our environment are not seen in isolation. We must endeavor to place items as artistically as our eyes & our brains are capable of. If we want to consciously create a restful room, for instance, we will reduce items that individually and collectively cause tension to the eye.

Objects can cause emotion. The more we learn about their essence and the energy they give off, our world and how we see it and enjoy it is improved. In learning to recognize and more fully appreciate our surroundings we are more able to create beauty in our own lives.

This article is one in a series of Design Concepts, to go to the entire list, click here. Bedside table photo is from House Beautiful, framed horses (no longer available) are from Pottery Barn.

Mini Black Bottom Cheesecakes Bonus Recipe From Food And Wine

These yummy desserts are from Food and Wine’s Grace Parisi and they're a favorite dessert to make any time of the year -- and a hit everytime!

Ingredients

Vegetable oil spray

24 plain chocolate wafer cookies, preferably Nabisco*

3 tablespoon(s) unsalted butter, melted

8 ounce(s) cream cheese, at room temperature

1/4 cup(s) sugar

2/3 cup(s) fromage blanc (6 ounces), at room temperature*

2 large eggs

2 teaspoon(s) pure vanilla extract

1/4 cup(s) seedless raspberry preserves, warmed

Directions

1. Preheat the oven to 350 degrees. Line a standard 12-cup muffin pan with foil baking cups and spray the cups with vegetable oil spray. In a food processor, crush the chocolate wafer cookies. Add the butter and process until fine crumbs form. Spoon the chocolate cookie crumbs into the prepared baking cups and press with the bottom of a glass to compact. Bake for 5 minutes, or until almost set. Leave the oven on.

2. Meanwhile, in a medium bowl, beat the cream cheese and sugar at medium speed until smooth. Beat in the fromage blanc, then add the eggs and vanilla and beat until smooth.

3. Pour the cheesecake batter into the baking cups, filling them three-quarters full.

4. Bake the cheesecakes for 15 minutes, or until slightly jiggly in the center. Remove from the oven and spread 1 teaspoon of the warmed raspberry preserves on top of each cheesecake. Transfer the muffin tin to the freezer and chill the cheesecakes until set, about 15 minutes.

5. Remove the cheesecakes from the pan and peel off the foil baking cups. Transfer the cheesecakes to a platter and serve. The mini black-bottom cheesecakes can be refrigerated for up to 4 days.

* Substitutes, you can use crushed Oreo’s instead of chocolate wafers and mascarpone cheese instead of fromage blanc (since they are impossible to find at a regular grocery store), but they still come out pretty amazing!

This recipe will become a staple in your home!

[image source: Food and Wine]

Decorate A Dreamhouse, Manhattan Brownstone (Cont'd.) + Lemony Lemon Brownies Bonus Recipe

Article Continued From Main Post, Click Here To Return.

Written By: Patricia Lynne
Editor: Sarahjoy Crain

In my current Something Beautiful Journal entry, "Decorate A Dreamhouse," I'm imagining I'm living in a Manhattan Brownstone in the Upper West Side Of New York, like the ones shown at left.

My Brownstone located in the Upper West Side is among the State of New York's finest neighborhoods, with its charming, brownstone facade and classic styling; the neighborhood is favored for its historical value, dating back to the nineteenth century. Its wonderfulness includes:

My Brownstone is located on a tree-lined street just one-and-a-half blocks from Central Park in one direction and one-and-a-half blocks from Riverside Park (overlooking the Hudson River) in the other; it's just steps away from several subway and bus lines, making all of the City's wonderful attractions easily and quickly accessible.
A short cab ride, bus, or 10 minute subway ride puts you right in the heart of midtown with the theatre district, Carnegie Hall, Rockefeller Center, Empire State Building, Times Square, the shopping of Fifth Avenue and MOMA. You can walk to Lincoln Center for the Performing Arts and the fabulous Museum Mile, including the Metropolitan Museum of Art, the Whitney Museum of American Art, the Guggenheim, The Museum of the City of New York, etc.
SoHo and Tribeca, with their unique, interesting shops and galleries, are a quick subway-ride away. This Upper West Side neighborhood was recently featured as New York's hottest restaurant row.
The exterior of my particular Brownstone has been tweaked a tad - I painted every inch of the exterior of my unit enamel white. It stands out - the detail of the stair rails appears even more stunning in white.

The interiors are a fresh, sophisticated cottage look, with a mix of Swedish and French antiques. The color scheme is subdued; my unit is open and airy and full of light helping to provide a feel of endless space - enhanced by 12' ceilings.
Although it is fresh-looking and on the side of contemporary, there are unexpected accents throughout the house that are antiques or that have been painted and decorated in a way that lend intentionally to the drama of agelessness.
Ensuring that wonderful quality of comfort, I have purposely made it welcoming and romantic through the combination of color and texture (including provision of monogrammed bedding, Egyptian cotton sheets and wonderfully soft blankets and throws).

We're going inside now so please join me as I write in my SB Journal on decorating the interiors of my sophisticated Manhattan Brownstone.

Decorating My Dreamhouse Formal Entryway:

When you enter my Brownstone, there is a small formal entryway and here you are greeted by the resonance of this significant Swedish late Gustavian Grandfather Clock as it chimes in the new hour. The warmth of its sound brings life to my house.

It is one of the many beautiful antiques available from Talisman Antiques of London.

Decorating My Dreamhouse Living Room:

The windows in my Brownstone are significant - they are numerous and oversized owing to the 12' ceilings.

The window coverings are simple but elegant, also a nod to a more contemporary look. I've avoided ornate valances, cornices, tiebacks and tassels. They are a simple silk drapery style that just slightly forms a "puddle and poof" on my floor.

Hanging in the center of my Manhattan Brownstone living area is this dramatic 59" high black Murano Style Venetian Noir Chandelier . This beautiful hanging light is available from the Something Beautiful Shoppe.

The chandelier's style is a reproduction 17th-century Venetian-style chandelier, the curves and strength of the black is an important feature with other pieces throughout the room.

Fell in love with this white linen Swedish settee From Tone

On Tone Antiques. The curbed backrest and cut outs are delicate and a perfect backing for the detailed embroidered and pearl decorated lumbar pillow. The frame includes laurel leaf trim, applied lion masks & flowerettes, front turned fluted legs & rear sabering legs.

The coffee table measures 58" x 33"

- and is definitely 'art as furniture.' By Eva Zeisel, this piece is one of my home's favorite unexpected accents.
Born in 1906 and still designing today, Eva Zeisel is known world wide for her work with clay but it was not until she was in her 80's that she began designing coffee tables. Zeisel is a recipient of the Cooper-Hewitt National Design Award For Lifetime Achievement. The Eva Zeisel Coffee Table is available from Design Within Reach.

Again I chose muted fabric color tones on these upholstery pieces, my Club Chairs, French Napoleon III, dating back from the 1870's to 1880's. From Tone On Tone Antiques, the chairs are covered in a heavy Belgian linen and each chair holds a very soft-colored, floral decorative pillow.

The Louis Ghost Transparent Chair is both enchanting and comfortable.

With classic baroque style and innovative modern design, in a short time this chair has become an iconic piece in the canon of Philippe Starck for its instantly recognizable Louis XVI chair shape pared down to an essential form and boldly reinterpreted in plastic.

And ..... it is sitting in my living room - - a-hem, just a cute little sidechair.

The "Manuscrit Rug" is my choice for underfoot - Joaquim Ruiz Millet is an architect and designer, and a writer, filmmaker and gallery directory. His Manuscrit Rug is an expression of all of his passions and features a romantic poem that he wrote in his native Catalan. It features the actual handwriting of the designer, the rug is an enlargement of a page in a novel Ruiz Millet is working on.

Last but not least, artwork for my living area's walls:
I have chosen this one oversized artwork by Pablo Picasso, "Evening Flowers." It has been framed and matted to just over 5' .

I find that my living room area is dynamic with its tall, elegant drapery presentations, beautiful but subtle Swedish pieces, the explosively-black chandelier, overhead, the artwork-as-furniture coffee table by Eva Zeisel and then, of course, the Manuscrit Rug. It is lovely and complete and I rest at the selection of this one very large art piece.

Decorating My Dreamhouse Dining Area:

This beautiful dining collection is from Maison

Home Interiors which

is located in Richmond, Virginia.

I love the tall global candleholders and how they play off the glass reflections in the crystal chandelier and off of the tall cabinet's glass fronts.

On the opposite wall I have the Ballards Canterbury sideboard in cream, and also from Ballards, the Lemon Topiary Tree.

Decorating My Dreamhouse Master Bedroom:

My bedding is romantic with its scrumptious feeling, goose-down insert duvet, monogrammed pillow shams and embroidered bedding. Both the bed and bedding are from Pottery Barn.

I like comfy places to sit and read. I like to put my feet up, I like a nice view. These two pieces fit my needs and I like the tactile feel and look they offer my bedroom - the natural woven Seagrass Wingback Armchair and Ottoman, are also from Pottery Barn.

I love waking up and seeing this Anastasia Mirror - it is graceful while the shelf with its contents allows it to look as if it is a functional piece.

Decorating My Dreamhouse Rear Yard

Living in Upper West Manhattan doesn't allow for grand sized gardens and courtyards, let alone a swimming pool. But we did it.

Good planning = greenery and more than adequate walking, meandering and entertaining space.

If decorating isn't easy for you or if you are in need of some particular interior design assistance, our designers at the Something Beautiful Shoppe will be happy to work with you - working with professional helps assure you get the look you deserve while helping eliminate costly mistakes.

This has been so much fun, writing my "Decorating A Dreamhouse," this time in the Upper West Side in a Manhattan Brownstone. Of course I just imagined decorating it, but I desired to create an inviting, sophisticated but enchanting home.

I could so live here. Couldn't you?

Click Below To Read: Other "Decorate A Dreamhouse" Articles

A Bonus Recipe For You - Lemony Lemon Brownies:

Ingredients:
The 'Brownie' Batter

3/4 cup all-purpose flour
3/4 cup granulated sugar
1/4 teaspoon salt or sea salt
1/2 cup (1 stick) unsalted butter, softened
2 large eggs
2 tablespoons lemon zest
2 tablespoons lemon juice

Tart Lemon Glaze

1 rounded cup powdered sugar
4 tablespoons lemon juice
8 teaspoons lemon zest

Directions:

Preheat oven to 350deg.F. Grease / spray an 8" x 8" baking dish with butter / cooking spray and set aside.

Zest and juice two small / large lemons; set aside (can substitute lemon juice)

In the bowl of an electric mixture fitted with the paddle attachment, beat the flour, sugar, salt and softened butter until combined.

In a separate bowl, whisk together the eggs, lemon zest and lemon juice until combined. Pour into the flour mixture and beat at medium speed until smooth and creamy, about 2 minutes.

Pour into baking dish and bake for 23-25 minutes, or until just starting to turn golden around the edges and a toothpick inserted into the center of the brownies come out clean. Allow to cool completely before glazing. Do not overbake or the bars will be dry (even with the yummy glaze).

When brownies are cooled completely, make the glaze . . . sift the powdered sugar, add lemon zest and juice, and whisk together all three ingredients. Spread 1/2 the glaze over the brownies with a rubber spatula. Let glaze set. Spread the remaining glaze over the bars and let it set. This glaze does not harden like most. Cut into bars and serve!

Splash Sale Items:

Click here to inquire about the following products:

Top Row, Clockwise: "Daisy," Circa 1982 Blue On Blue, Andy Warhol, Table Lamps Group, Left To Right: Eire Table Lamp, Beale Table Lamp, Hoshi Table Lamp, Metro Table Lamp, "Light And Shade," Art Print By Kate Birch, "Blue Nude," Art Print By Henry Matisse, . . . "Pink Horses," Art Print By Avalisa, Round Footloose Ottoman, Limelight Chair with Peacock Pillow, Prince Valiant Chair in Blue With Monet Pillow, Aurora Blue Plates

Decorate a Dreamhouse - Mallorca Island

Art Objects Make Room Come Alive

How To Organize Your Home

Decorate a Dreamhouse - Mallorca Island (Cont'd.)

Art Objects Make Room Come Alive (Continued)

Decorate A Dreamhouse, Manhattan Brownstone (Cont'd.) + Lemony Lemon Brownies Bonus Recipe

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