El Mueble: Spanish Design Inspirations

I visited El Mueble, the spanish design magazine, website recently and found some beautiful images that I thought you all might like to see.  You'll definitely notice a theme here:  very muted colors, white furniture and (almost always) beamed ceilings.  Because I love neutrals, these rooms really speak to me:

Which one is your favorite and why? 

If you liked this post you might also like this post about Spanish Design.
You can find more Spanish Design inspiration here.

Gold & Brass Accents

Perhaps you've already noticed that gilded meatallics - including brass - are coming back (or have they arrived?) in a huge way.  I wrote a post a while back about gold with white and gray that you can read about here, but here are a few favorites that focus on a bolder look.  I'm not sure where my infatuation began...

Maybe this trend was inspired by the uber-popular sunburst mirrors?

Or this insanely popular office that was all over blogland a while back?

 For me personally, it could have begun with my finding this gilded antiqued mirror for Linen Haus... 

Regardless, I'm loving it!

The classic:  black and brass. 

I really like it in a white kitchen with touches of green...earthy but a little upscale, too.

I love it with coral!  It makes my coral, which is mounted on lucite, look a little tame.

How about just a touch on the inside of lampshades for some glam?

It highlights geometrics so beautifully. 

A few years ago I would have still chosen zebra, but with a silver base.

Now, I'm not so sure...I'm thinking gold ups the ante a bit!

Another great example of a white/brass/green kitchen.

This would work beautifully in a 50's remodel.

I'm loving the gilded nesting tables for a touch of romance.

It is really growing on me. How about you?

Sources and more images can be found here.

The Latest From Linen Haus

As you might have read earlier this week, we ended up coming back a day early from our trip to Slovenia.  That meant missing the market in Lubljana on Sunday, which was disappointing.  However, the upside was that I could visit some of my favorite contacts (and discover new ones) at our monthly local antiques market here in Munich.  I found a few things to round out the Linen Haus inventory:

A beautiful set of appetizer/dessert plates from Villeroy and Boch.

Set of six, each with a different fruit motif and french writing.

Almond colored, vintage damask tea towels with crimson monogramming.

Set of two, but will be sold separately. 

Crisp white set of eight napkins with a subtle art deco gemetric pattern. 

 Antique German leather bound book with gorgeous textured paper front and back

and beautiful illustrations throughout.

Vintage Tea Towel with Art Nouveau design, monogram and beautiful sheen.
These are quite long so they also make a beautiful table runner.

Two vintage German grain sacks with indigo striping.  

Ideal for pillows or upholstering seat covers!

Antique latin linguistics book from Vienna, 1844.

This book had a nice surprise inside:  I found an invitation addressed to the "Hochgeboren" - ie those of "high birth" - introducing the start of "the season"...I'm thinking probably for the debutante coming out season at that time.  I thought that was a pretty cool, and unexpected, piece of history.  I might have to frame it.

And, last but certainly not least, four more beautiful tablecloths. 

I sorted through many, many linens with stains, holes, etc. and brought home only those without flaws. 

More good news:  I have decided to go ahead and open up Linen Haus this month! 
I'm putting the finishing touches on the photos and descriptions.  An announcement is coming soon so stay tuned!