Dress To Kill? Not Really | By: Valentina Cirasola | Interior Designer Wednesday, May 8 2013

Dress to kill? Not really. It’s my desire to get out of the house well put together even when I am wearing very casual clothes. If my soul is happy I am happy too, if my eyes are pleased I am pleased too and if my attire can strike a conversation and produce business, I will be even happier. Yesterday, I was dressed as I look in the picture.
I was browsing in a department store, looking for curiosities nothing in particular. At one moment a woman approached me asking for my opinion about some clothes she was thinking of buying. She said “I was well put together” and that was good enough for her to feel confident the opinion of a stranger was going to have a weight on her buying decision.

I explained to her from the point of view of a designer (but she didn’t know it at that moment) and with simple words why she should have bought one thing versus the other. Then someone else was listening and she got closer to really listen in. Then another woman got closer and more women arrived I don’t know from where. Pretty soon I had a small crowd asking my opinion on a variety of decisions and style for them. I should have asked the store to hire me as their fashion consultant!

The reason my outfit attracted people and their interest, was not just the inviting, summer yellow color of my hat.
There are rules for dressing up as there are rules for decorating homes. One can use them to the letter in a strict way, or as guidelines. The important think is to know how to create balance, rhythm and harmony. Those women even without knowing the fashion subject, sensed it I had it all together and felt naturally attracted by my energy.

In my outfit I have all three elements. White is not a good color for my face, but it is needed in the summer to keep cool, thus to balance my figure I put it on the bottom part of my body. The white and dark blue stripes of my top create a rhythm because they go in three different directions; the ruched sides of this top are perfect to disguise and trick the eye just like the effect of trompe-l’oeil designs in homes. The top had to be long enough to cover my bottom, as white tends to enlarge areas where nature has played very generously. My purse, sandals and sunglasses are dark blue. However, without the element of surprise, that “vintage sunny yellow hat”, this ensemble would have been a common mise and it would not have sparked conversation in the store.

This is how I do it, I live my life with simple rules or common sense, as I like to refer to.

• Wearing a griffe on the clothes doesn’t make me feel more important. I know who I am and how I can help people, the griffe does absolutely nothing for me.
• Any common outfit can be dressed up with eccentric or interesting details.
• Personalize my mises as much as possible, not because I demand attention, my brain tells me it I am not interested in looking like everybody else.
• When using colors I keep it down to three and use only 10% of one of the three. In the outfit in the photo, my 10% is the yellow.
• Wear colors that exalt my personality and make me feel good, regardless of fashion dictum.

Designing to me is building. In designing a personal image I build personal style; in designing a home I built harmony and in designing food or tables I build flavors. Voila’ I am here and prompt as ever to help. Consultations on-line are available. Ciao,
Valentina

http://www.valentinadesigns.com
http://valentinaexpressions.com

Copyright © 2013 Valentina Cirasola, All Rights Reserved

 

Valentina Cirasola is a trained Fashion and Interior Designer, working in the USA and Europe. Born in Italy and in a family of artists, style surrounded her since the beginning of her life. Her many years of experience in fashion and interior designing led her to offer consultations in both specializations and now she can create your personal image or your private space. She is the author of three books. Get your copy of Valentina’s book on colors: RED-A Voyage Into Colors available on
Amazon: http://tinyurl.com/9agl5v9
Barnes&Nobles: http://www.barnesandnoble.com/c/valentina-cirasola

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In The Light Of Chartreuse | By: Valentina Cirasola | Interior Designer Friday, Oct 12 2012

 

Hot – Cold – Yellow – Green. Luminous, yet drabby. Undecided, yet strong. What is this chartreuse color? There is character in this color and it takes courage to wear it or live in it. Personally, I love it and have wore it ever since I can remember. I found the way to incorporate it in my mises, even when it was not in fashion. In the history of the costume, light green was considered a manly color. Men wore jerkins embellish with hand made silk embroiders and lace ruffles. Men wore brocade, damask, silk and velvet fabric just like women. Often a chartreuse fabric was designed or embroidered with patterns of pink color with shoes to match. Men were confident with their sexuality and carry chartreuse, pink, or both together,  just as good as women.

Men of today, confidently still wear these two colors, they think of them as just another way to jazz up some boring ensemble, which men have plenty of those boring garment occupying their closets. In the 17th century Europe, Chartreuse was the color of many highly decorated or carved Venetian furniture from trumeaux to commode (a low cabinet or similar piece of furniture, often highly ornamental, containing drawers or shelves and not a toilet, as in the English language).

In today’s fashion this color persists and has invaded every closet I have seen so far, but who can really wear this color? A person whose skin’s color temperature is considered warm. That means golden-brown hair, brown eyes and yellow-brown skin, or ivory tone skin. This person might choose all the colors in the warm palette, reds, yellows and oranges with the warm undertone of each color. This person also is allowed to choose the cool colors temperature, as violets, blues and greens with the warm side of each color to wear in combination with the reds, yellows and oranges. If you are this person, imagine your chartreuse warm summer palette as in my photo below.

This combination will be perfect for home interior as well, we tend to decorate in the same colors we like to wear. Imagine chartreuse walls, yellow-orange seating area with leopard print pillows or rug, chartreuse accessories and chartreuse window treatment, add warm tone lighting.

A person with a combination of warm color skin, green or blue eyes and light brown, ash blond or red hair has a temperature of sun/moon. This person have a mixed color temperature, thus can choose all colors from the cool and warm palette, as in my chartreuse compliment colors palette. Again this combination can be used for the interior as well. Imagine chartreuse seating and walls, blue-green accessories, black pattern pillows, black chandelier and lampshades. To this picture I would add one wall covered with black pattern fabric and chartreuse window treatment.

Putting together unusual color combinations will show your all-round self-confidence. On my Pinterest, there is a board dedicated to Chartreuse, ideas and a few color combinations: http://pinterest.com/vcvalentina/chartreuse/

Transforming your image or your spaces is a challenge, but working together with me and my ”step-by-step” approach, you can reach your owns special milestone. Ciao,
Valentina

Design Website: http://www.Valentinadesigns.com
Books Website: http://valentinaexpressions.com

Copyright © 2012 Valentina Cirasola, All Rights Reserved

Valentina Cirasola is an Italian Interior and Fashion Designer, working in the USA and Europe since 1990. She blends well fashion with interior and colors the world of her clients. She has been described as “the colorist” and loves to create the unusual. Her latest book on colors: RED – A Voyage Into Colors is published. Find it:

Amazon: http://tinyurl.com/9agl5v9
Barnes&Nobles: http://www.barnesandnoble.com/c/valentina-cirasola

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Colors For Humans | By: Valentina Cirasola | Interior Designer Friday, Sep 28 2012

“Spanish artist Angelica Dass has conceived ‘Humanae’ for Pantone. The project applies the alphanumerics classification of the Pantone coloring system to human skin tone, communicated through a photographed portraiture series. The background of each piece is dyed the exact shade extracted from a sample of 11 x 11 pixels from the very face of the people depicted, with the ultimate aim being to record and catalog, through a scientific measurement, all possible complexions” says Pantone.

Well, this is good news for people like me in the design world. I can add more personality than ever into people’s home. It has been my trait to include in my color palettes the eyes and hair colors of the main people living in the house, often also the color related to their zodiac sign. Now, I can add different skin colors to the décor or to the walls for a total harmony.

Living in our skin color season, with the right color temperature, the right color value and color intensity can only improve our feeling good in the home environment. Is it not the same when we choose our clothes? Yes, it is. That is the reason people consult image-makers to learn about the season of the skin they live in and to select related wardrobe colors in the right season that will make them feel good and project a confident aura.

I just want to make an example. If you have golden-brown hair, brown eyes and yellow-brown skin, or ivory skin tone, your skin color temperature is considered warm. You can choose all the colors in the warm palette, reds, yellows and oranges with all their warm undertones. You will feel at ease with color from Pantone 62-6 C (photo below), for the walls of your home or a few walls in some rooms. Due to your warm skin temperature you are also allowed to choose the cool colors temperature, as violets, blues and greens, but only the warm side of these colors in combination with the reds, yellows and oranges. Therefore your room or rooms will be the result of a series of furniture and accessories enclosed in an upbeat and vibrant color combination, made just for you.

These same color combinations are also perfect for your wardrobe and will exalt all the beauty of your warm temperature skin.

I like this new discovery in the colors adventure very much, it opens new opportunities and allows me to run free with many more solutions.

Let me know if I can help you with colors in any way. I offer consultations on-line through Skype line. Share me freely. Ciao,
Valentina
http://www.valentinadesigns.com/
http://valentinaexpressions.com/

Copyright © 2012 Valentina Cirasola, All Rights Reserved

Valentina Cirasola is an Italian Interior Designer and former Fashion Designer, working in the USA and Europe since 1990. She blends well fashion with interior and colors the world of her clients. She has been described as “the colorist” and loves to create the unusual. Valentina’s book #3 RED-A Voyage Into Colors is almost ready for the market. Stay tuned!

Amazon: http://tinyurl.com/9agl5v9
Barnes&Nobles: http://www.barnesandnoble.com/c/valentina-cirasola

 

 

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Sunday Gratitude | By: Valentina Cirasola | Interior Designer Sunday, Jun 24 2012

Twice this month I have received an award from bloggers following and reading me.
This Sunday I am thanking Marianne’s from Stockholm for nominating me with the “Beautiful Blogger Award”. I feel so excited about receiving the award and humbly accept it.
Marianne’s blog is about 365 Days Mental Coaching and is very inspiring. Look forward to receive it every day. https://marianne365days.wordpress.com/

My two blog columns are about design, style, architecture, food and Italian culture.
By receiving awards from other bloggers, I have increased my readership and I am so very grateful for that. Through my blogs I was also able to get hired as a designer from distant clients in various parts of the world, such as France, Florida, England, Italy and even got a client locally at 20 minutes by car from my office.

I will tell you three things about me and what I am grateful for:
1. I am not a chef, I am Italian and because of that I wrote two Italian regional cuisine books based on simplicity, healthy and colorful food. “Eating in the rainbow” will keep us healthy, young and will give us a beautiful skin through older age. I like to cook every day, design my food, delight people with my food and talk about food as all the Italians do. I am very grateful I have learned to cook and to have a deep knowledge of food. This knowledge saves me money because I know what to cook that is good for my health and how to put a weekly menu together.

2. I am a trained designer and love my work. If we choose a “work we like, we will never work one day in our life!” Totally agree with this quote and I am very grateful I did find my passion work to carry me through life. I was a fashion designer for 15 years and I have been an interior designer for 22 years giving no signs of wanting to quit. I am grateful to have work and beautiful clients in this not so friendly economy and I am also grateful my new book on colors is just about ready to be published:
RED – A Voyage Into Colors.

3. I am grateful for one new friend I met in person last summer and for so many virtual friends I met through various social sites and blogs. Actually, my virtual friends are also becoming a reality, as I try to meet them through Skype, Facebook video, or Google+ hangout. What fun time we live in! I am super grateful for the technology that can put my family closer, allows me to meet new friends and exposes me to new work. Please, let’s not forget the friends closer to us that we can reach easily and have fun together.

It is my pleasure this Sunday to nominate three bloggers of my liking for the Beautiful Blogger Award:

http://carolgiambri.com/ – She is from Denver, Colorado and writes about beneficial and healthy food, gardening and more.

http://teaandsympathynewyork.wordpress.com/about/ - A British living in New York reporting on everything British.

http://50yearproject.wordpress.com/ – Her nom de plume is TBM, her blog is about the challenge to herself to visit 192 countries, read 1001 books, and watch the top 100 movies before she dies. It has been fun following TBM.

Now, it would be nice if you visit each blog and get to know them. What are your gratitudes for this Sunday? Ciao,
Valentina
Design Website: http://www.Valentinadesigns.com
Books Website: http://valentinaexpressions.com/

Copyright © 2012 Valentina Cirasola, All Rights Reserved

Valentina Cirasola, is the principal designer and owner of Valentina Interiors & Designs. She works on consultation and produces drawings for remodeling, upgrading, new home construction, décor restyling and home fashion. Valentina was featured in Italy on: “Vogue” magazine and many prominent publications in California. She also has made four appearances on T.V. Comcast Channel 15. Check out her books on

Amazon: http://tinyurl.com/9agl5v9
Barnes&Nobles: http://www.barnesandnoble.com/c/valentina-cirasola

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Excited in Grey | By: Valentina Cirasola | Interior Designer Sunday, Mar 25 2012

This weekend, in this part of the world, we are having a spring grey day, but that did not stop me from thinking colors, excitement or positive vibrations. Outside is raining and the sky is cerulean grey, the type of grey that encourages curling up near a fireplace with a book and a cup of hot cacao.
Cerulean grey, I like how it describes itself and the message that communicates. It has a bit of light blue and faint aqua blue mixed in with grey. Cerulean grey is playful and warm, not like the heavy, depressing battle ship grey.
A person with cerulean eyes and dark hair has a high contrast face, which lends itself to beautiful combinations. First of all, grey alone is a very elegant color, together with black and white makes a classic combination. I love to wear grey pearls over a white shirt, jeans, black gloves and black shoes. Cerulean or not, I thought of a few very exciting things I can do with the color grey.

On eBay, I found this new 4 pieces bed set and duvet filled with sunflowers over pearl grey for only $98.00. A snip! http://tinyurl.com/84hbe7d

Another beautiful choice, again on eBay, is the green base cotton 4 pieces bed set and duvet with large yellow tulips. The soft grey in the leaves is gentle and very pleasant, together with grey flooring and some few grey lampshades in the room, the environment is inviting. Try these colors, they will slap the grey out of a rainy day!
http://tinyurl.com/7x3e378

A Canadian company presents the eco-green collection in the tones of aqua green and stone. As you can see the accent in this room display is the red lampshade (I imagine there is more than one lamp) that warms up the cool grey tone palette.

The set from the same company called Floral is so chic and elegant. I love the chocolate satin piping against the light grey and golden tone floral design.
With this combination, the walls in the room can pick up a golden cream color and much more chocolate-brown accents to echo the piping.
http://www.highlandfeather.com/linen/Floral.htm

Frette, the famous Italian linen company presents Tundra, a stunning mixing of gray into beige. http://tinyurl.com/76euadq
The grey slate flooring under the bed gives the right shabby chic attitude to the setting. I love natural materials!

For a long time the color grey has been regarded as a boring color fit for seniors, but in this decade grey has assumed a younger attitude. More fashion companies are using grey paired with raspberry, yellow, pink, orange. Gray and yellow have been a new inspiration for weddings themes too. (Source Williams Photography)

Dark or light grey is beautiful on women as much as on men. These fabulous hand painted man’s ties by Bethany Shorb on Etsy worn by the right men on the right outfit, I am sure will turn some heads. http://tinyurl.com/6wvfj7s

And this exquisite necklace by Deborah Lonergan on Etsy is the perfect accessory for the gray palette: http://tinyurl.com/83hged3

Since I cannot cook anything grey, oh, that would look so unappetizing if it did exist, I am going to make may usual colorful orange muffins, the house will smell sweet and colorful. Take advantage of these new color solutions, but if you get stuck in your color selection for home or for the color you wear, I am here to help. I am one call or email away. Look out for the launch of RED-A Voyage Into Colors, my new book on the subject of colors. Ciao.
Valentina
www.Valentinadesigns.com

Copyright © 2012 Valentina Cirasola, All Rights Reserved

Valentina Cirasola is an Italian Interior Designer and former Fashion Designer, working in the USA and Europe since 1990. She blends well fashion with interior and colors the world of her clients. She has been described as “the colorist” and loves to create the unusual.

Check out her books on

Amazon: http://tinyurl.com/9agl5v9
Barnes&Nobles: http://www.barnesandnoble.com/c/valentina-cirasola

 

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Woman’s Day In Yellow | By: Valentina Cirasola | Interior Designer Thursday, Mar 8 2012

March 8th is the International Woman’s Day.
It is traditional on this day to give yellow mimosa flowers to women as a sign of respect and solidarity. This is a day to celebrate appreciation and love towards women and to celebrate women’s economic, political and social achievements. Women give Mimosa to each other as well.

Yellow is one of the many colors that characterizes spring and summer. A controversial color that makes people feel happy, but creates anxiety; it is the color of the sun, which gives life to nature, but as the autumn approaches, the leaves turn yellow, lose their life and die. It is a cheerful color, however not many people can wear it, they feel either washed out or don’t feel good in yellow. Being a bit of a difficult, but inviting color, how can we include yellow in our fashion or homes?

(Bouquet Bed from Arch-Expo).

Orienting your color scheme to your own particular hair and skin coloring is a good practice to make a pleasing cosmetic environment. The same practice is valid when decorating any spaces we live in. Before pairing colors with yellow, we should know how to distinguish each yellow.

Winter and summer yellow is stripped of any gold reflexes. Winter yellow is pale like the winter sunlight. Spring yellow is hot and delicate, like the yellow of the daffodils; summer yellow is riper as the pineapple and it is also sharp as lemon; the autumn yellow is deep mustard gold.

White is the neutral color needed to calm the yellow and it is perfect for the blue-based winter and summer skin tone, as it brings out the pink tone in their skin and make them look healthy. Winter and summer people can use yellow in home décor with a good amount of white. White washes out people with golden tones skin. Spring and autumn people need to turn to creamy beige colors.

It is good to pair yellow with metals. Add silver for people with a blue-based skin tones and gold for people with yellow-based skin tones to bring out their warm coloration. Brown and purple are perfect colors to tone down the yellow. As you see in bedroom photograph, a metallic yellow is the accent color in the bedspread, pillows and glass details.

It communicates well with the metallic purple, the silver coloration of the floor and the white light of the lamp, but what brings everything together is the golden brown of the wood furniture with a yellow tone. This room will work well with an autumn person.

The right cosmetic color will lift our spirit and light up our face, it will work the same in our home décor, after all if one color doesn’t look good on us, it will not look good in our environment either. The walls or décor will reflect the wrong energy and we will never feel comfortable in that space.

Mimosa (acacia dealbata) was introduced to Europe from Australia in 1820.
It is probably the first tree to flower as early as January with yellow flowers.

A Mimosa Cocktail to serve at a morning brunch is the easiest drink to prepare:
Mix one part champagne (or other sparkling wine) and one part thoroughly chilled citrus fruit juice, orange juice or grapefruit juice.
It is traditionally served in a tall champagne flute.

Tomorrow, celebrate your beautiful self and give a woman a mimosa.

My book on the subject of colors RED-A Voyage Into Colors is just about ready to be released. Stay tuned for the launch, but if in the meantime you need suggestions on colors, please do not hesitate to leave your name in the box below. Ciao,
Valentina
www.Valentinadesigns.com
www.Valentinaexpressions.com

Valentina on Affluent Living:
http://youtu.be/kWuB7I8uJjg
http://youtu.be/eC2LVXANG5U

Copyright © 2012 Valentina Cirasola, All Rights Reserved

Valentina Cirasola is an Italian Interior Designer and former Fashion Designer, working in the USA and Europe since 1990. She blends well fashion with interior and colors the world of her clients. She has been described as “the colorist” and loves to create the unusual.

Check out her books on
Amazon: http://tinyurl.com/9agl5v9
Barnes&Nobles: http://www.barnesandnoble.com/c/valentina-cirasola

 

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The Gift Of A Leap Day | By: Valentina Cirasola | Interior Designer Thursday, Mar 1 2012

“Leap Day in the Gregorian calendar, is a date that occurs in most years that are evenly divisible by 4, such as 2004, 2008, 2012 and 2016. Years that are evenly divisible by 100 do not contain a leap day, with the exception of years that are evenly divisible by 400, which do contain a leap day; thus 1900 did not contain a leap day while 2000 did. […] […] a complete revolution around the sun takes approximately 365 days and 6 hours. Every four years, during which an extra 24 hours have accumulated, one extra day is added to keep the count coordinated with the sun’s apparent position.[…]” Wikipedia says.

I hope that you have taken advantage of the gift of an extra day to do something fun.
Yesterday, my business of course was on my mind, as everyday. I start very early in the morning and I go on and on, without noticing the hours, mixing pleasure and work.
However, yesterday at one point, I decided to enjoy my leap day and left my studio for a discovery mission. I visited a few fashion stores and then I sat at a fancy café for a delicious and relaxing cappuccino. While I was sitting at the café I went over in my mind on the items I had seen in stores and what I am considering buying.

Animal print pants will still be around this spring and even though I have plenty of them, I wouldn’t mind having a red pair. They are so fabulous under a blazer.
Could never have enough of corsets in all shapes and forms, especially if they are encrusted.
Cuff bracelets are so attractive when more than one covers the forearm. I love the orange and brassy looking metal.

There is a plethora of shoes in stores, half of which are not even worth considering due to cheap material that will do nothing for the feet only hurt them. I am Italian and accustomed to super good quality shoes, I refuse to put plastic shoes on my feet. The right choice of shoes will contribute to the sexiness of the feet worth admiring. Unfortunately women will fill up their wardrobe senseless with shoes, no matter what.

In the last few years, women shoes resemble more like heavy tanks than sexy shoes, adding only heaviness to the legs and that trend is still continuing in the spring. The chunky heels are back in fashion, at least they are better for supporting the weight of the body. Heavy, massive shoes are not really becoming for women with very muscular or heavy legs, but often women will wear what is in fashion at all cost instead of what looks good for their body shape, or skin coloration.

In the spring fashion there are so many bright and sunny colors, vividness and gentleness. There are more colors in the spring palette than in any other palette and not much of dark colors.
Spring people (light skin and hair with low contrast coloration) should avoid dark color, especially white and black. The colors of the Far East are perfect for a spring person: light purple, peach, saffron, orange, bright green, turquoise or soft lilac and light blues. The choice of colors is endless this coming spring.

I saw many flowery prints and powdery colors, dusty beige, pearl gray, or dusty rose. I tried on a lovely dusty rose leather jacket, the shape and the design were absolutely gorgeous, but the delicate color washed out my golden tone skin and blonde hair. I had to let it go with disappointment. Knowing about colors helps me not to buy on impulse. The wrong color will drag me down and the face will look opaque, as if the light has been turned off.

It was a good exercise thinking of spring in this rainy, leap day and a much appreciated gift from the cosmos. I was also rolling in my thoughts amused at the knowledge that in some countries, on leap day, women can propose marriage to a man and wondering how many did and got excepted, or how many did not get excepted and must wait four more years for the same chance.

Using colors is an art. Either one is gifted at birth, or one must learn it.
“To see the sunlight, one must have sunny eyes” ~ Anonymus.

Should you need my help in selecting architectural colors, or fashion colors, please do not hesitate to contact me by leaving your name in the box below.
Please share me with your circles freely. Ciao,
Valentina
www.Valentinadesigns.com
www.Valentinaexpressions.com

Copyright © 2012 Valentina Cirasola, All Rights Reserved

Valentina Cirasola is an Italian Interior Designer and former Fashion Designer, working in the USA and Europe since 1990. She blends well fashion with interior and colors the world of her clients. She has been described as “the colorist” and loves to create the unusual. She is the author of RED-A Voyage Into Colors, the forthcoming book on the subject of colors. Check out her two published books on

Amazon: http://tinyurl.com/9agl5v9
Barnes&Nobles: http://www.barnesandnoble.com/c/valentina-cirasola

 

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My Red Philosophy | By: Valentina Cirasola | Interior Designer Saturday, Feb 25 2012

Lovely to place another check mark near my goals with the word DONE. Here I am at my third book, finishing up the publishing process.
Red-A Voyage Into Colors will be released in the Spring 2012.

In this book, I have talked about colors in our spaces, homes, offices, gardens, fashion, food and astrology. I have also included easy studies on colors for those readers who want to learn how to make colors, learn how to see and interpret them, or learn to understand their psychology. Oh, yes, wear the wrong colors and the face will show signs of aging, the body will look awkward, out of proportions and the wrong colors in the house will give us headache.

The philosophy of Red-A Voyage Into Colors is based on the playful nature’s colors we have been gifted with and that we enjoy every day. It was easy to think of nature and write about it. I get up in the morning and salute the sun. Even when it rains, I welcome the gray colors of a wet day and wear the brightest colors in my wardrobe as a propitiatory dance to let the sun return into my life, but in the meantime I enjoy the changing of weather. Nature is my inspiration, always.
Color is life! We live under a blue sky and a yellow sun; a silver moon kisses us at night; we swim in green-blue seas and climb on brown mountains; we stroll in green parks and forests, our gardens are filled with a profusion of colored flowers. Nature has done it all for us, we can just copy it and celebrate. We are the nature; we are the colors.

[Find my images on Pinterest]

A jolt of happiness travels through our brain and body when we get up in the morning and see beautiful colors in our house and then again when we go into the closet to select special color combinations fit for the occasion of the day.
With the promise of a colorful day that will put our disposition on a positive track, why would anyone live without colors?

So many people spend their life in dreadful beige homes, or worse in the colors for resale value, living not in colorful spaces of their liking, but living the life of the next buyer. People are so afraid of colors and yet colors have flavors, emotions, harmony and music. Colors play along with the daily rotation of the sun transforming their structure and light each time the sun touches each colored surface with its warm rays and because there is rhythm in colors, let’s not forget that each colors will increase our creativity, or inspire us.

Allow yourself to experiment with various color combinations and challenge your fantasy, when in doubt, always refer to nature.

I have produced one book a year for the last three years. I can really say nothing is impossible! I know which book will be next, I will leave that news for later.
Stay tuned for the release of Red-A Voyage Into Colors, hardcover, filled with my photographs and my drawings.

I am available for hiring in speaking engagements on colors and how we can use colors to our advantages. Ciao.
www.Valentinadesigns.com
www.Valentinaexpressions.com

Copyright © 2012 Valentina Cirasola, All Rights Reserved

Valentina Cirasola is an Italian Interior Designer and former Fashion Designer, working in the USA and Europe since 1990. She blends well fashion with interior and colors the world of her clients. She has been described as “the colorist” and loves to create the unusual.

Check her two published books on
Amazon: http://tinyurl.com/9agl5v9
Barnes&Nobles: http://www.barnesandnoble.com/c/valentina-cirasola

 

 

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From Italy To America | By: Valentina Cirasola | Interior Designer Wednesday, Nov 16 2011

The PM Philippe Matthews Show aired my interview yesterday on the Blogtalkradio:

http://www.blogtalkradio.com/thepmshow/2011/11/15/valentina-cirasola–from-italy-to-america

The homepage of his website says: “If You Like O You You’re Gonna Love P” and I truly do. Philippe is a wonderful, caring person.
Considered the Oprah of the Internet, Philippe Matthews is the owner of the PM Show and PM Blog Radio Talk Show, Internet entrepreneur and a Philanthropist.
He is the Author of: “SHOCKPhilosophy” book on mindset for massive manifestation, “Developing the Mindset to Be Rich Before Becoming Rich” and “How To Make Millions When Thousands Have Been Laid Off” books.

Philippe Matthews on all of his T.V. and radio shows features Bestselling Authors, Thought Leaders, Change Agents, Entertainers and World Class Experts in Personal, Spiritual and Professional Development such as Marianne Williamson, Dr. Wayne Dyer and Dr. Deepak Chopra. Best selling Financial Authors Robert T. Kiyosaki, Robert G. Allen and Suze Orman. Media and motivation moguls such as, Stedman Graham, Russell Simmons, Zig Ziglar and countless more!

I feel so fortunate to have been interviewed on his blogtalkradio and to be part of his Internet family of many respectful, well-known people.
The interview was a pleasant casual encounter between Philippe and myself as if we were in his living room talking about my experience of coming to America and make a 365 degree life adjustment. Philippe doesn’t ask questions that are different, he asks questions that make a difference.

In this interview I wanted to be an inspiration to young adults and to people who feel lost in the unfriendly economy we are currently living. Philippe touched on many points one of which was spirituality and business.
I am in a design service business and a tough one! I must sell my ideas, which are real to me, but intangible to my clients. I sell my services and my ideas without being salesy, with love, friendliness and a lot of humor, never as a pushy salesperson. I never forget to be grateful to my Supreme Being for what I have, for all the great people I meet everyday and for the opportunities I can create just by asking the Universe.
In fact, I made a joke that I have a direct line with my Supreme Being and when I want something it is easy enough to dial number one on my real telephone.
There is always that “Someone”, that “Presence” next to me ready to listen and never feel alone in this world, even though, I crossed the ocean by myself to set up a new life in America.

To have a spiritual guidance is very important, but to have a mentoring guide is equally important. I really never knew what mentoring was, other than having my parents as a guide and teachers. But when I arrived in America, I discovered a whole new way of thinking and it felt as if everyone I met had something more interesting to say than the person before. I followed very famous people, read their autobiography, their successes or non-successes, tried to understand their motivations and I stored the best examples they had to give.

Daydreaming was another point of my interview with Philippe. I had a vision of becoming an artist since a tender age, but it wasn’t well taken in my Italian family. I left my doors opened to all kinds of opportunities and when the time came, I took actions. No dream will ever come alive and take shape without actions!
It is has been a fun journey ever since I started daydreaming, a journey that will continue as long as I can with fun, humor and more opportunities.
In my design business, I don’t know when I stop having fun and when my work starts.
That to me is success!

I also have a column on ThePMShow website under the title: The Good Life, from which I publish my thoughts once a month.
http://thepmshow.tv/category/more/the-good-life/valentina-cirasola/

Much obliged Philippe to be enumerated among your high-caliber people. Ciao,
Valentina
www.Valentinadesigns.com

www.Valentinaexpressions.com

Copyright © 2011 Valentina Cirasola, All Rights Reserved

Valentina Cirasola is the principal designer and owner of Valentina Interiors & Designs. She is a trained designer and has been in business since 1990. She works on consultation and produces design concepts for remodeling, upgrading, new homes, décor restyling and home fashion. Valentina was featured in Italy on: “Vogue” magazine and many prominent publications in California. She has made four appearances on T.V. Comcast Channel 15. She is also the author of two Italian regional cuisine books available on Amazon, through her publisher and her website:

http://outskirtspress.com/ComeMiaNonna
http://outskirtspress.com/SinsOfAQueen

 

Amazon: http://tinyurl.com/9agl5v9
Barnes&Nobles: http://www.barnesandnoble.com/c/valentina-cirasola

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Chaos And Dinner | By: Valentina Cirasola | Interior Designer Saturday, Oct 29 2011

What a way to celebrate Halloween! Last night and for the second time, I went to a cabaret show at Teatro Zinzanni in San Francisco, the ultimate crazy amusement. Teatro Zinzanni is one in a long line of high-spirited San Francisco theatrical experience.

The high pace, high energy program evolves in a combination of cabaret, cirque, opera, vaudeville arts, games and dances. There is no real stage, actors, singers and acrobats perform in the middle of the circular room and between tables where diners are sitting.

Guests are greeted at the door by young and beautiful women in fish nets stockings, garter, feathers and corsets. It is a step back in time, a prelude of an exceptionally fun evening.
“The Belle Époque” era, late 1800, is the style of dresses all the staff wears and the high performers are in their stage costumes or the character they impersonate.

The interior of the Theatre reflects the same era, with a lot of red velvet upholstery and gold trims, very frivolous, but very stylish and very Moulin Rouge.
Waiters and waitresses, bus boys and girls all serve in costume, dance and sing while they are holding in their hands the dishes full of food to be served at each table. This is fine dining at its best. I especially appreciated the squash velute’ soup with roasted apple slices, dill and a few lemon juice drops. Photographing during the performance is not allowed.
The scenario is happy, up beat and frivolous and the performances take place during the development of a 5-course dinner.

The only draw back is that unless you buy the table for yourself and company you bring along, you will end up being seated with many other people who might not be interested in socializing for the time you must spend together at the dinner table.

On my left I had a couple in their early ’50 and a couple in their early ’70 on my right. We made our acquaintances at the table.
The people on my right clearly don’t find life very amusing, because they did not even laugh one time during the show. The show was so funny, how could they not laugh? The people on my right were checking their watch every 15 minutes, counting the time aloud: it’s seven o’ clock, it’s 7:15, it’s 7:30, perhaps the show started past their bedtime and couldn’t wait to go home and get in the sack.

My evening was fun no matter what and I really enjoyed myself, but if I had been seated with a crowd more alive, the evening would have been an incredible one.
Perhaps those people sitting at each of my side, deep down inside, wished they could have been as a free spirit as I am.

The show at the Zinzanni mirrors the spirit of the city, a magical place that embraces frivolity, fun, intimacy and self-expression.
Enjoy life when opportunity comes, enjoy every moment and don’t worry about people who want to put a break on your frivolity or happiness.

If you have a desire to decorate a home theatre in La Belle Époque style, or only one room, I am here to help you, just leave your name in the box below. I would be thrilled to decorate in such exciting Parisian style. Ciao,
Valentina
www.Valentinadesigns.com

A Design Success Story Video:
http://youtu.be/pOKI6LkOkkA

Copyright © 2011 Valentina Cirasola, All Rights Reserved

Valentina Cirasola is an Italian Interior Designer and former Fashion Designer, working in the USA and Europe since 1990. She blends well fashion with interior and colors the world of her clients. She has been described as “the colorist” and loves to create the unusual. She is the author of three books available on

Amazon: http://tinyurl.com/9agl5v9
Barnes&Nobles: http://www.barnesandnoble.com/c/valentina-cirasola

 

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