"One Lovely Blog" Award

I am so honored and truly humbled to have been given the "One Lovely Blog" Award by the talented and absolutely beautiful (inside and out) Australian designer, Frances Russell, of Beautiful Interiors and 18th Century Style. As you all may have read in previous posts, Frances and I met when she saw a white Belgian linen tufted sofa in one of the photographs I had posted regarding new pieces that I had finished restoring and brought to my New Orleans store, disegno Karina Gentinetta.

Frances had been looking for a french antique sofa exactly like this one for over 2 years and when she saw it on my blog, she immediately contacted me and asked whether there was any possibility of shipping it to Australia. Well, to make a long story short, this beautiful antique heirloom and a pair of Louis XVI tufted chairs are on a ship as we speak heading to Australia. I could not be more honored. And this, my dear readers, was the beginning of a wonderful friendship with Frances Russell.

Frances' design style is cool and refreshing.





Her color palette and her choice of fabrics are very coastal and fit naturally with her surroundings.

I cannot wait to meet you in person one day, my dear friend, and walk the sands of your beautiful Australia. I thank you for my award and I'm honored that you would think so highly of me and my blog.

Since I know how much you love baking cakes, I thought I'd bake one for you to show you my appreciation.....

(from my all time favorite cake designer, Sedona Cake Couture!)

So now..... the rules of the award call for telling you seven things about me....

Here goes.....

I, like Frances, come from a place down under. In my case, it is Buenos Aires, Argentina.

I once heard that an Argentine is an Italian, who speaks Spanish, who lives in a French house and thinks he's English. Well, I admit, we are a confused but passionate bunch of people, that's for sure.

I love beautiful things ... whether it's a piece of furniture that I'm restoring...

(from disegno Karina Gentinetta)..

Or a gorgeous couture dress that catches my eye...



I love hats! Especially this beauty ("Confidante") from couture milliner designer and friend, Anya Caliendo.





I love my New Orleans and its beautiful and nostalgic architecture...

I love good food...

And the mocha coffees my husband, AJ, prepares me every morning in our kitchen...


But most of all, I love my children, Liam ....



And my little Roma....

They are the reason I live each moment like it was my first and last.

Thank you, Frances, for this lovely Award.