Hi babe! Welcome to our home loving community. My hope is that these videos inspire you to be creative, be different, and infuse your home with more of you. You don’t have to follow trends to have a beautiful, relaxing and inspiring home-just the confidence to trust your creative voice.
Interior design, living & timeless style NYC & Pound Ridge, NY Principal Designer & Founder Casa Serenità Interiors Serving globally info@casaserenita.com
I’m a cancer and although I do resonate with cancer’s description, I found myself attracted to taurus’s description of a home 😭 i’m just gonna have to incorporate the 2 lol. Sagittarius is spot on (my moon sign)
I clicked this video for beautiful pictures and it made me happy. I'd like to note how I collect pictures from videos with MS Windows, for those of you who are interested. I make a screen copy with the camera key on my keybord. I draw a square around the part that I want to keep, it gets automatically saved short term. I use the free program Irfan View to save it long term. I open it, use the ctrl and v keys to insert it and ctrl and s to save it. I pick a saving space and a name. Then I use the d key to delete the picture for the next round.
OMG I felt like someone was speaking to my soul. I'm a Sagittarius and you described my taste and style so clearly. Up till now, I've been struggling with my eclectic style, like 'why can't I be more cohesive'. But cohesive can feel a bit boring to me. I love it in other people's houses and even admire it, but not mine. I'm going through a cluttery stage though, so I am focusing on decluttering and only keeping things I truly love. I go from wanting extreme minimalism to extreme eclectic. Not to mention a love of the industrial and a bit of chique and some Middle Eastern touches...hurts my head at times. And THANK YOU for the amazing Pinterest Boards you put together. I have no idea where you find those gorgeous styles.
You’re welcome! Ohmygosh I spend hours combing through Pinterest to find them 😂 Fortunately I enjoy it ❤️ thank you for noticing! Don’t worry you’ll move through the clutter. Little by little or big steps-whatever suits you. Also regarding cohesive-you can still make a space eclectic, interesting and fun while achieving cohesiveness. Study the pics that attract you and find the patterns/connections between things. You can use that as direction to help guide and inspire you along the way. I too get bored of it’s too generic (for lack of better word) and need to be interested in the objects around me. So I understand that needed for sure!
What do you generally think about tvs above fireplaces? In our place, similar to this person, it makes the most sense to be over the fireplace. However I know that a lot of designers consider that location to be too high? btw we plan to get the Frame TV so it can look nice when not in use (aka most of the time).
Good question--it's not my first pick but some living room layouts make it impossible to put the TV anywhere else. In Nicole's case her living room isn't wide enough to place the sofa facing the longest wall (the book shelf wall). Also that would then put the sofa to the back of the room (also a position I do not like unless it's necessary). So it's a matter of picking between one or the other--determining which is better for the purpose of the room. Also, it depends on he distance between the TV and sofa--if it's back far enough it's not too high--as in it doesn't strain the neck to look up at it. The Frame is a good option but it comes with a higher price.
Wonderful and creative suggestions for Nichole using most of what she has but adding some new items. Christina I must tell you how genuine and sincere you come across. Your calm demeanor along with your beautiful smile is refreshing. Love your channel. 🥰
Thank you Mary Ann! I hope it comes across as genuine because it's how I feel 💕 In the words of Dido and that early 2000s hit, "I just want to thank you..." 😂 I had to throw in some humor there--and all so true!!! I appreciate you being here babe!
Great video Christina. I like that these designs options don’t require a small down payment on a farm. The design suggestions were all very realistic to a budget friendly makeover and I love this approach. It’s refreshing and relatable especially for those of us who have furniture and things we have owned for some time. Rethinking design through your eyes is a fun process. Thank you 😊
Thank yo so much, Connie!! Yes, attainable options are really important to me so that we can all learn from this format. It's also more work creatively to approach design this way--however, I wouldn't have it any other way. This is how we come up with unique designs and personal style. It takes creativity. Someone with a large budget can simply hire a designer. They could also go to a high end furniture boutique, purchase everything there and be done with it. Yet we can still achieve a similar look if we get creative and are willing to put in the leg work--which is the fun part for me!
I’ve watched several different RU-vid channels that do this type of content, but I have to say that yours really made the space not only look attainable, but you didn’t have the person purchasing several expensive pieces of furniture. I love your explanations, and the direction that you took the room in. Thanks, too, Nicole for sharing your beautiful room with us! ❤👏
Thanks, luv! Yes I think its' important to work with what we have. Someone can always subgrade if they want but that is not always an option. Also this leaves room for learning and applying to any budget--which I feel is important when creating this type of content. Sustainability thru creativity, after all!
I'd put an entertainment console where the desk is and put the TV over that, to avoid neck strain, and use a wall mounted desk in the dining room, where there are less distractions, and the chairs can serve dual purposes. or move the couch further from the wall and incorporate a desk in the shelving unit that can fold, as from Ikea or West Elm -The textbooks pens etc become part of the decor.
So lovely! You always post your videos at night-time Land-of-Oz time, so it's nice to wake up and sneak in a watch before I fully begin my Monday. Today, I read the comments before viewing the video and wowza... what a flurry of excitement and positivity from all the lovely homies over your design. Enough to start my day with a smile. The video and design are brilliant - I'm swooning over those chairs shown at 10min 30secs in (Nicole, if you cannot dupe these, I hope you consider splurging on the originals shown). Otherwise, I second, third and forth all the comments here. Design whisperer indeed 😘🙏💛
I'm swooning over these chairs too!!!! Thank you lovely Joanna!! Always enjoy your thoughtful feedback in the comments and so happy it brings a smile to your face. We got some pretty amazing people over here, right?! Lots of love to ya, babe! XOCD
@ChristinaDiStefanoStudio true true. I can see you put a great deal of thought, time and care into your design for Nicole. You've inspired me to delve even deeper into my interior design obsession - I have been reading my ID books in detail, including the technical side of things. I love learning, growing, and developing... new knowledge and new skills make life continually fresh and new. You've created a sweet, cozy corner here, Christina-bella. Your secret garden is blossoming - we homies are your flowers. 🌻💛🌻
Awww I love the Secret Garden reference 🌻💛🌻 YES to diving deep into your design studies! I feel the same about learning and growing-it makes life forever interesting. I believe it keeps the child in us alive and excited!
Great ideas for Nicole’s living room which she will be so excited to start. Thank you for sharing your thought process. I’ve just decorated my husband’s den/office using a dark green plaid wallpaper and antique buffet and chesterfield chairs etc. It looks really moody and masculine but the wall of book shelves ruins the look (for me) because all the books are different colours.🤨 He won’t let me turn them around or remove the covers, so I try to look at the rest of the room and ignore them! I’ve styled them with family photos and the odd plant, but they just aren’t my aesthetic. Love your videos Christina and take care.🥰
Ahhhhh I’m sorry. I don’t like the look of book covers for that every reason. Too much movement on the eyes and we need a place to rest on visually. I hope he comes around-especially in an office. It’s a place to focus. I myself would be too distracted! I suppose it doesn’t bother him and you created a space that he loves-what you’ve done sounds so nice! I know how it feeling though, to put so much into a room yet have an eye sore that makes it challenging to see beyond!! I’ve been there with rommies when I was younger!!
Hola Christina, Gracias for another informative and creative video. The coffee table is everything. Side note; I like your dress and your pelo looks nice. Have an amazing day. God bless 😊
Thank you, babe!!! It’s always my pleasure (and thank you for the compliment on my dress 🥰). As you know it has been so humid in NY and I just had to keep it cool!
Thanks Nicole for offering to reference your space for inspo 🙌. Great ideas and inspo for layering rugs, adding bookshelves, and bringing in chairs to flank the fireplace. Lovely warm colors with the off white blush walls. Cheers Nicole, for adding your abstract art. You enjoy pops of color just like I do. 😊. Love the mood board, Christina, and all your suggestions to bring cohesion and harmony to this family room. Xo
Thank you so much, Karen 🤗 I enjoyed the challenge of Nicole’s space and hope it helped others understand that we can do so much with paint, furniture and decor-we can transform the whole feeling of a space! No demo needed just inspiration, understanding the challenges, then tapping into our creativity to bring that feeling to life ❤️
Such a fun video to watch! You make us all feel like expert designers. I love that you don't talk down to your audience. I love both options for Nicole's living room! I would love to do bookcases like that in my living room. Thanks for the inspiration!
Ohmygosh no 🤗 I am here to inspire you to create a space you love. I know we can all do this but too many things tell us we aren’t creative or skilled enough. It’s like when we were kids and we were told to draw a house. Somewhere in our past we were made to believe it should look like everyone else’s house-brown roof, a square, a chimney, green grass, a couple windows and a door-can you see that drawing? Haha. Why did we draw the same house? I want to bring out that inner child who imagined some sort of wild colorful home with big windows, or a slide coming out of one of the bedroom windows-I’m rambling but what I’m trying to say is we have the ability to do this. I believe we possess raw talent that should be brought to life. Skills we can learn but to be able to access your raw talent and be brave about it, that’s something special. So I want to be the person to help others open that door and let the real you, your imagination, your creativity, come confidently walking through ❤️
I hope we get to see the results from Nicole's redecorating! Christina, one of the things I love about you is that you care about the needs of the person/family... you aren't trying to create a showroom floor design, you're helping people spruce up THEIR space to suit THEIR needs and the way they use THEIR homes. That is refreshing. We live in our homes, and we may want them to be beautiful, but they also need to be usable and touchable. 💛🤍🤎
Yes exactly babe! Beautiful, warm and welcoming “real touchable homes” is it! Your comment brought up a memory from my childhood. Both my mother and grandmother had a big influence on me with interiors and decor. Both had well designed spaces. I moved my grandma’s modernist approach to things-very clean, organized, designed yet purposeful. Growing up I was so afraid to mess up anything and all things had their place. It was a little stressful let me say! Kids make messes and need their space to feel safe if they do! Grandma was more relaxed about it and she gave me that space, I had an entire cabinet of found objects and art supplies to make things-but one room was not for playing-her off white living room. I loved it (maybe this where my love for this color comes from? I loved my grandma so much), anyway digressing-I would sneak into that room to look at the things, touch the different textures, pretend I was living in my own grown up apartment somewhere. It seemed strange to me to devote an entire room to just looking in. Unconsciously I create spaces that are elevated but unpretentious. Spaces to live, to love and to entertain. Places that if something gets a little ding, well then it’s not the end of the world, but rather a memory ❤️
It was a thing back in the day, the beautiful living room for company only! I agree, it was stressful living in my childhood home because my mom, who can create beautiful decor, didn't want anything to show any wear and tear, let alone be broken! I have three young adult children ....I tried to give them a different experience 🙂
@@michdancer13 I love that you are making room for kids to be kids! Yes I felt the same too growing up and so think it’s wonderful you take this into consideration ❤️
Nicole, your space is going to look so amazing. I’m so excited for you! I’m loving the color scheme that Christina put together and the inspiration photos. I think the Hunter's desk corner might be one of my favorite corners. I can’t wait to see it when it’s done. Also, Christina, what a beautiful way to start my morning. I’m loving this post-time, which allows me as a West coaster to wake up easily and with a bit of inspiration for the week. 😊
Christina!!! Design Whisperer!!! I can't thank you enough for this inspiration! I just love it! I want to get started on everything right this second!!! haha! You have such a gift, that is not only your talent and eye, but your thoughtful, genuine approach! Cant thank you enough! I love the art to cover the tv idea too!!!!
Awwwww Nicole! Thank you! I’m so happy we connected over the Neon Chill Playlist from the sanctuary video lol! Luv ya babe!! PS Must check on those Design Whisperer T-shirts! 🤔
Hi Christina, you were right, I love this video. It's good to be back, enjoying this type of content. Christina, I just love looking through your eyes and following what's inside your head. I agree that Nicole has some great pieces in her style. You brought it all together with clever details. Even though it is not my style, now I could feel at home in this space. Can't quite put my finger on it for why that is, but I think because of the play between the different items. Just enough personality, and certainly warmth. Lots of great advice, that is also inspiring to me, even though my place is very different. I found it interesting that you choose green curtains. I would be afraid to choose colored curtains. So I will add this idea to the box of interior design in my head. Actually I can tell you that I am about to order drapes for the closet in my bedroom with a subtle flower pattern, yes, with color! Loved the pillow, brought everything in a nice flow. Lucky Nicole, I would love to see how see would translate your ideas, especially looking forward to the bookcase. Have a blessed week!
Yes I can’t wait to see what she comes up with! There is always inspiration to be received regardless of our design style. Kudos to you Grady for always being open to that 👏 You never know what may come out of it!
@@ChristinaDiStefanoStudio Yes, that is the fun part! Suddenly an idea can totally fall into place in your own home. Love to think out of the box, but you are doing that as a professional interior designer, and that is a big bonus for us!
Aww... just listened to your last words and they touched my heart. I appreciate you, Christina! ..and am always looking forward to seeing you and your videos ❤ Thank you!!
Have watched you from the beginning and knew this would be a great friendship for me! This video started my Sunday off with such inspiration and my mind is just ticking to decorate my new surroundings. 🏡 Thanks for sharing your love for art and decor!! ❤
Oooooh yeah! Love when that inspired feeling comes on and honored I could bring that to you ❤️ Also-THANK YOU, Joyce!!! I so appreciate you being here and bringing your light 🌞
Hi Christina, make sure you’re getting local honey from the area near your country house and take some every day. It will help sooo much with your allergies. 🤧
Yes! Bookcases would be amazing in that space. It looks great, really balances out the opposite side of the windows/fireplace. Also really like the color choices. ❤
Great video Christina! My sun sign is Gemini and I’m Scorpio rising and the description of both decor styles is spot on. I love artwork and photography that is provocative and love interesting pieces of decor because I get bored easily. I love a relaxed feel but there has to be something that’ll make you do a double take in my decor choices. Keep the cool content coming🥰
Amazing babe!!! Yes for the double take!!! I’m so happy you like the video Luly, dear 😘 yes you sound so Gemini and Scorpio! Some of my closest friends are these two signs ❤️❤️
That place looks cool to look, but so many places like that are just tooooo expensive for regular folk! Round Top TX is like that now., mostly ridiculous prices and no bargains anymore … not what it used to be and who can afford that stuff? Loved your sign off, y’all are so cute!
Awww thanks Susan 🤗 I’m with you on that! Monger’s Market is a very cool experience and good if you want something right now. You are paying for the convenience, but I love the hunt and the satisfaction of a good deal! I think purchasing second hand has become more popular and so people selling these pieces can really capitalize on it. I’ve also noticed furniture manufactures adding in vintage findings to appeal to this market. It’s also regional. Like for example Round Up-I haven’t been but I can tell that something like that is going to be popular, and so people would likely have higher prices this way. Same goes for Monger’s Market. There are also a lot of decorators up here with clients that like unique pieces-and so again, bigger buyer base, more competition/demand to buy-therefore higher prices. Now I have found that if you know what you’re looking for (i.e. use those places to educate yourself) then you can find people on eBay/Etsy that actually want to sell their stuff now versus sit on it for a higher price. I want cool, unique and quality-at a good price 😂 Who doesn’t??? Hahaha
Aquarius! ❤ EVERYTHING YOU SAID.. I love me some colour, but I've moved from colours to metallics of every kind. really, I need to stop collecting! And I've been trying to find my fit in design, but nothing really fits like a glove. This makes total sense!..
Hahahaha well babe you are ahead of the curve so you should make your own style and not try to fit into someone else’s box! Maybe that’s why you’re not finding your fit-because you are THE trend maker 😘
I loved this and I've been bing watching your videos. I'm a Brooklyn Heights neighbor, hi! I'm a Virgo sun and this is spot on. Neutrals with a pop of muted color (usually mustard). Now here's the thing. My office space is dark and moody, think Farrow and Ball darks. After watching this video I took a look at my chart and scorpio is in my 6 house of work. LOL go figure! I would be awesome for you to do a video on home office spaces and work nooks.
Ohmygosh! Hello neighbor!! I love Brooklyn Heights-and home offices too. (Mine needs some love that’s for sure.) Heck yeah for exploring your chart further and how amazing is that??? What a cool discovery about Scorpio 🖤 This would be a fun tie in for the home office too! I have Venus in Scorpio and so do love a dark, moody room. Since the video I’ve been wondering if our Venus placement could be a good indicator on how we should design our bedrooms. You’ve got my head spinning with fun ideas now 😂😂😂
@@ChristinaDiStefanoStudio That would be so awesome! My Venus is in virgo with sun same degree in 4th house . Makes sense that I went with brightest white coastal (blue chambray drapes) modern minimalist in my bedroom. Living room has lots of woods, off whites, tans, leather, greenery and soon a new green couch. Very banana republic ish.
@@JB-yt7uu Oooooooh! Love the chambray drapes!! Your living room sounds lovely! We need plants in your house but we’re not there during the week. So they’re outside. We are both plant lovers. They add a great feeling to a room.
This popped up on my feed! Now you’re at 10.2k subscribers!!! 👏🏽😊 Your genuineness and authenticity draws people towards you! I think I mentioned to you before, my perspective on design has shifted quite a bit since starting to watch your content! Thank you for helping us be creative and feel happy with our homes, no matter the stage we’re at in life!! ❤
Actually thank you, Senia 🤗 I’m am so grateful that my videos can introduce a new perspective to you-that means the world to me. This is why I started making these videos and now we’ve grown into an amazing community. There are so many lovely people here-thank you for being one of them 💗 PS I’m going to screen shot this for those days when I doubt myself! Thank you-thank you and big hug to you, babe 🤗
Hi Christina, I enjoyed your video. Thank you so much for your good work. I have a question. How can you hang a painting eye level when it’s over headboard and the headboard itself is high-level and more ? Thank you
Good question. My first thought without seeing it is that the art piece might be too big for the space-or depending on the piece, for example it’s oversized, you can layer it behind the headboard. Sometimes this looks nice BUT only if it’s a combination that makes sense with the art headboard combo. Without seeing it I would say to opt for something smaller or out artwork on the sides above night stands. You have to gage if the piece you want to add looks right to you or if it feels off. You can get a gut feeling if you think it looks wrong. Try it and let me know! 🤗
