Casa

They say the road to hell is paved with the best intentions and I can say with certainty that this is true. My plan had been to start this blog after I came back from Brazil, more focused, with more time. But I was hasty and started it without knowing if I'd have time to commit. I didn't and the result was three months of no posts. But I'm going to give it another shot, inspired in part by the fact that I got an e-mail from CB2 today announcing decorative elements inspired by Brazil.

One of the things that I dream about for my living space, a small apartment on Chicago's north side, is outfitting it with furniture and furnishings that remind me of Rio. From my travels to Brasil, which as I mentioned consists mostly of trips to Rio, I've noticed some key things that many Brazilians have in their homes.

White couches -- I've encountered this in many homes and while I've never thought myself the kind of person who can have a white couch, I've seen families with toddlers keep their white couches gleaming. Perhaps it's the availability of cheap household labor or just the result of a very high standard of cleanliness that I've encountered among almost all Brazilians. Finding a messy Brazilian is about as easy as finding a French person who doesn't like wine. They like their white furniture and combined with the use of color in accessories, it looks elegant and casual at the same time.

Rattan/wicker/natural elements -- I use to equate rattan and wicker with Golden Girls/Miami Beach retiree decor. But no more. Thanks to Rio (and places like Crate & Barrel), wicker has graduated to must-have in my interior design choices. It gives any space a beachy feel, precisely the mood that Rio apartments convey. In the U.S., lots of outdoor furniture is made of these natural materials. In Rio, the line between indoor and outdoor is blurred as many apartments have living rooms that extend into terraces so there aren't rules about what materials you can use where.

White concrete wall -- I tried looking online for a sample picture of what this looks like but many apartments in Rio have a wall, usually between the kitchen and the area just off the kitchen reserved for either a washer/dryer, clothes hanging or a maid's quarters. It's concrete with pretty cut outs in various geometric shapes. Since it exposes the indoor area to outside elements, it makes you remember that Rio is definitely tropical and temperatures hardly go below a comfortable number.

Plans for changing my living space this summer include receiving my new couch from Crate & Barrel (I thought of white but settled for denim in Coffee). I will finally mount the canvas painting that I bought at the Feira Hippie in Ipanema. The Feira Hippie is a touristy but delightful crafts fair that takes place every Sunday in Copacabana's Praça General Osório. They have everything from cute t-shirts and musical instruments (I bought my first pandeiro here) to statues of Iemanjá and soap to prevent evil eye. In the center near the fountain, there are lots of art vendors. In 2012, I bought a painting that features a scene where the Arcos da Lapa are the backdrop to a cute samba club that has patrons dancing downstairs and kissing upstairs.

I think I may have to add to my list after looking at CB2's new Novogratz Brasil Collection. Designed by Bob and Cortney Novogratz who own a home in Trancoso in dreamy Porto Seguro, Bahia, the collection does harken to the tropical feel that isn't quite Miami or Caribbean. My favorites:

The Brasil Pillow - It's made of a natural material (shital pati plant material) and it's lined with a pretty chartreuse.

The Boa Sorte Backgammon set - I don't know if they play backgammon in Brazil but as a lover of all things Brazilian, I go crazy for anything in Brazilian flag colors. This is a muted version of the flag colors and it will go well with the chartreuse on the pillows.

My least favorites: The Luli monkey lamp and the Quadrado rug. I know there are monkeys in Brazil but I've never seen any and don't really think of them as inspiring me to think about the country. When I think monkeys, I think India and Gibraltar, not Brazil. The Quadrado rug looks Native American.

If you go on the CB2 website, you can enter to win a contest to win a trip to Brazil. You can also enter here.