Author Archives: Besa

Hana’s Bithday Celebration

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On my previous post I talked about how and why I ended up in NYC at this time of year. Usually I go there at Chrismas time, but this time was for a special occasion.

Beginning of February my niece Hana, was about to turn 18th so she demanded that I fly to NYC to celebrate her birthday together. I promised her that I would be there on her birthday, and that I will even make her a fancy birthday cake.

I was as a bit nervous about how the cake will turn out but at the end Hana liked it and this is what matters. It was a chocolate cake with white butter cream inside, and it tasted delicious. Outside it was wrapped in beige fondant! It was my first time that I worked with fondant and, to make things worst, I had a small amount of fondant to work with. This made the decoration process a bit challenging for me; however, at the end the cake turned pretty. Not so perfect, but certainly cute and fancy!

Hana was at school at the time we baked the cake and decorated the table and the backdrop, so when she returned home she was pleasantly surprised and liked everything what we did. She even became emotional, so we saw a few happy tear drops on her beautifull smily cheeks. I knew Hana’s taste. She doesn’t like things to be over the top, in this case over the top decor. She would find it kind of “cheesy”, so I had to be carefull to not cross that line which would make the decoration seem “cheesy” to her.


For backdrop decoration we used gold round placemats we had at home, fancy pinwheels and HOORAY lettered sign purchased at Target, some tissue paper cut in wide stripes and fringed at both sides lengthwise which were hung at the right side of the wall. It was a very simple set up but it turned very pretty and effortlessly stylish.

Here are some of the photos from the celebration.


Time to lit the candles

Let’s cut the cake

Enjoying the cake

And later on she oppened the presents….

It was such a beautifull day filled with plenty of family love and happines.

Thank you for reading.

Besa

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Stroll Through Some of The Most Iconic New York City’s Buildings

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My recent stay in NYC was one that will be remembered for its duration, fun and the great time spent with my sister, niece and nephew.

The idea to visit NYC during this time of year was initiated last summer by my dearest niece Hana. My sister, niece Hana, nephew Rron and I, usually spent summer holidays together in my beach house in Turkey. However, last summer Hana was not able to join as she attended an interesting summer IT programming course in NYC, but she demanded that I must visit in February and celebrate her 18th birthday together. I promised her that, no matter of what, I would be there on her birthday, and I will even try to make her a fancy cake.

So I did. I arrived in NYC four days before her birthday, made her the cake, celebrated her birthday, and stayed two more weeks in Big Apple strolling through the fun and grand streets of Manhattan and enjoyed the beauty of some of its majestic buildings.


1.The Metropolitan Museum Of Art

Whenever I visit The Met I am always amazed not only by the work of art gathered there, but also by the building’s grandness.

The museum’s original architect Calvert Vaux designed a High Victorian Ghotic-style building for the museum, but its president soon regarded the building as a “mistake” with its outdated style, and engulfed the structure with further expansions making it the largest museum in the United States.

I was lucky to visit The Met at the time when Michelangelo’s work of art gathered from the museums around the world as well as from private collections was exhibited at the museum. It was a life time opportunity, and I am so lucky that I got to experience that.

The Building


Michelangelo’s Work of Art

3New York Public Library

It is simply grand building from the outside and in. Two marble lions, known as Patience and Fortitude, flank the building’s main entrance along Fifth Avenue; inside, the Rose Reading Room may be the loveliest and most majestic public space in New York. The 51-foot high ceilings feature intricate sculpted moldings and painted clouds. It is also one of the city’s newest landmarks.



3.Grand Central Terminal

I read somewhere that this building is over a century old and is home to many hidden treasures. There is the Whispering Gallery close to the iconic Oyster Bar; the Campbell Apartment, a hidden bar within an old office; the secret tunnel that connected the train station to the Waldorf Hotel; and the fabled “M42,” a bunker that may contain electrical equipment, but no one really knows. But if you never uncover its secrets, you won’t be missing out the terminal’s grand main concourse, which makes the terminal perhaps the prettiest train depot in the United States.


In one of the tunnels of the terminal you may enjoy the best napoleon pastry at Financier patisserie. My sister and I shared one napoleon, and it was the best of the napoleons I have eaten so far.

4.Lincoln Center for the Performing Arts

Always love to visit this site, be it as a by passer or when attending the performances at the theatres or at Opera House. The Center’s main plaza and its iconic illuminated fountain is a New York City site landmark on its own.








Verdi’s “Il Travatore” was the opera that my sister and I attended this time at the Metropolitan Opera House. Thanks to my niece Hana we landed superb orchestra seats at very affordable price, and the performance of the “Il Travatore” opera cast was superb.





5.Rockefeller Center

Place where everyone wants to be during the Holiday Festivities and take a picture of beautiful decorated settings. It is fabulous place around the year though.
It was quite chilly the day we visited the site, but it is always fun being there and snapping some pics.

6.St. Patrick’s Cathedral

The City’s most famous of worship is a neo-Gothic marvel, with ornate decorative elements-spires, stained glass windows, marble cladding that makes it stand out amid Midtown’s skyscrapers. The massive renovation project which began in 2012, has restored some of the church’s most iconic elements including the heavy bronze doors, its ceiling, and the massive organ.

During my stay there I also took every opportunity to stroll through the magnificient central park and enjoy everything this beautiful place has to offer. It is a stunner in every possible way.

And eventually the day to return back home came as planned, so I left this place filled with fantastic memories and beautifull time spent with my sister and her family.
Until next time!

The New Year’s Eve Table Setting

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The countdown to NYE is on, and my table is already set.

Usually my table is not set up early on a day, but I liked so much the table decor which I designed for the National Television RTK, the Morning Show so I had to use it for my dinner party tonight.

I was invited to set a festive table for the RTK Morning Show and share some table decorating tips with the viewers. The table decor came out really nice and elegant, so I decided to use the plates, cutlery and all decorative elements for my New Year’s Eve dinner party.

I am happy to share some of the photos of this festive table!

Enjoy, and Happy New Year 2018!

May this New Year be filled with happiness, prosperity and plenty of health!

Thank you for visiting and following this blog!

Besa


Rustic Holiday Table Setting

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The dinner table has always been a place to gather with family and friends for good food and good conversation. So many memories are made at the table, and especially during the magical Holiday Season.

I love to entertain — and enjoy making the table look inviting.  I find that part to be the most fun, and always keep myself showering with the questions like:  What will I use for the centerpiece?  Will I have a color theme?  Candles or flowers?  Round or Square plates? And the list goes on!

This year I felt that I should have a Rustic Holiday Decor. I wanted to bring the outside in with natural greenery using elements from nature that are growing wild outside our door.

The centerpiece for a rustic tablescape doesn’t need to be anything fancy or elaborate, therefore, I DIY-ed this long garland from fresh pine branches where I arranged cut pomegranates and small green apples.


In between the garland branches I placed thick candles in variety of heights. For the true rustic look I did not use a tablecloth, so everything is layered on a black surface of my dining table and even without any addition of the china, cutlery and glassware it looked so stunning.

For the placemats I chose wood looking ones, and for that true rustic look I mixed and matched the glassware using different types of crystal from my collection. Mismatched crystal looks sophisticated yet not too serious.

The cutlery was also vintage, a set that used to belong to my in laws, and was not in use for decades. The china is also a vintage set that I purchased 30 years ago, but which is super cute and I never wanted to get rid of, and I am glad I didn’t!

On top of the plate settings I placed a pear, an organic gift for each guest. The pears added a whimsical touch to my rustic decor and it looks stunning!

Everything on this table is so simple, mixed and matched, and the effect of combining all these things together worked perfectly. The table setting looks so earthy, organic, fruity and inviting. I am loving it!



So my friends, the Holiday Season becomes truly magical thanks to our desire to make it look as such. Anyone of you out there, with a bit of effort and a lot of passion can turn any simple table into a magical setting.

May you have a Magical Holidays!

Have a wonderful Christmas and Happy New Year!

Besa

My Festive Mantel Decor for 2018

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Holiday decorating is one of the most magical elements of the festive season. Bringing the Holidays to life with imaginative decorating ideas for indoors and outdoes is a lovely way to surprise family and friends at a time of the year which is meant for delight.

However, when it comes to decorating for the Holidays I tend to lean towards modern, minimalist decor which suits busy people who love decorating and entertaining without putting so much time and effort into decorating process.

First thing that got decorated in my house this year was our fireplace, and although it looks grand and luxe, it was so simple and easy to create the look.


I wanted a mantel decor that is modern and traditional at the same time.

So to achieve the desired look I DIY-ed a 5 meters long garland from the fresh pine branches and added some eucalyptus leaves here and there.


Above the fireplace I hung my lovely brush stroke painting which I painted two years ago.

For that anticipated modern look I placed clusters of black candles on each side of the mantel and to add a traditional flare to the look I added subtle peach silk ribbons; and at the same time for wanting these bows to still look modern I toped them with a black cotton ribbon. The black ribbon complements the black candles and it really gives the whole scene a modern look.


So, this year also, my mantel is pretty simple, and super easy to decorate. And, if you make your own garland and have some candles around (which I am most sure everyone does), this is an easy and non costly decorating project to undertake.


Are you done with your Holiday decorations yet? If not than it is time to hurry up! The Holidays are just around the corner and you want to see those happy faces of your family and friends when they enter your decorated house!

Happy Holiday Decorating,

xo xo
Besa

My Whimsical Outdoor Christmas Tree

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Ever since I planted my evergreen trees in my backyard few years back, I always envisioned some of them being decorated for the Holidays. It never happened though; until this year. The weather was nice and warm last days of November, so I decided that I would take advantage of this weather and decorate one of my backyard trees.

Before starting to decorate I had to come up with a theme, and this part was a bit challenging. I wanted a theme that would be interesting, unusual and fun at the same time, and I had no idea what would that be.

How I came up with the idea is a funny story itself. I was shopping for good deals this past Black Friday, and I happened to find beautiful knitted hats on sale. The store offered a big discount on hats and they were all mixed up in a huge tall bin. The challenge was now to find the red coloured ones only. It took me almost an hour until I found a dozen of them, and then I just stopped because my back was hurting from digging in that deep box full of hats.

So my friends, this is how I came up with the decorating theme for my outdoor Christmas tree. I thought that knitted hats for outside decor make sense. They reflect warmth and relaxation, just what we need during a Holiday season.

To add the festive touch to these hats, using a glue gun, I added a white deer ornament to each of them and some white fur at the top.


To add more to the festive look I made some weather proof cartoon boxes by wrapping them with the plastic foil first and then wrapped them with another layer of decorative fabric, so they would resist the rain and snow.


I decorated the tree mostly with white ornaments, white and gold ribbon and added a lot of white snowflakes, and lastly I hung the red knitted hats.

The addition of hats on the tree made it look so whimsical and so fun.

My backyard this year is looking prepared for the Holidays!


And most important thing: my furry best friend IMMO is loving it!

How about you? Did you start with your Holiday decoration yet? Busy and don’t have time to tackle it? Staff at BESA GM Interiors can help you with your Holiday Decor needs! Make your appointment today by contacting us through our e mail besagmblog@gmail.com! We would be happy to help you get the best Holiday Decor ever.

Thank you for reading and checking out this page.

Besa

Decorating Around a TV – DIY Project

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Earlier, when TVs were enormous and bulky, decorating around them represented a real challenge. Luckily, these days although the sizes of TV sets may be large, they come in very flat and thin shape making it much easier to decorate around them.

There are plenty of ways to style a media stand, however one of my favourite looks is a symmetrical art display around the TV and this is what I did a few days ago for a small living room project in a rental apartment.

The console holding the TV was a classic piece of furniture, and I wanted to create a decorating concept that would somehow relate to this piece of furniture.

However, I also wanted to maintain and apply the eclectic decorating style that I am inclined of. Having this in mind, I decided that I would create a modern wall art pieces, but I would hang them in an old fashioned way so they would,in a way, somehow relate to the classic style of the console.

To create this look I used inexpensive black frames,lined them with off white card stock paper:

inserted a 5 cm wide black self adhesive paper at the centre;

glued a dried spring of eucalyptus on top;

and assembled the frame;

At the back I stapled two pieces of ribbon at each end and tied a bow at the top, and after hanging the first one on the wall I thought they looked so fun and eclectic.

It was a super easy decorating project, but the impact it had on this rather small living room was huge. The room now looks grand and large and everybody just loves it.




Thank you for reading and for visiting this page.

Besa

Dinning Spot Transformation

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BESA


Apartment sizes have lately shrunk drastically, especially those located in big cities. Spare square footage has become a real luxury, so most people are left with an option of “living small”. Furnishing a tiny apartment is quite challenging, especially if you already own furniture which may or may not fit nicely in your new tiny space.

However, no matter of how challenging the furnishing of a small space may be, if you apply a good design, you ma create a feeling of “living big” even in a tiniest apartment space.

Lately, I was involved in an open plan living room project (in a tiny apartment), where I had to fit an existing dinning room table and chairs in a tiny kitchen space; and I also challenged myself to make this space look much bigger, elegant and stylish.

To achieve the bigger space effect I used stripes.

I had a small amount of black leftover paint from a previous project which was just enough to add a few horizontal stripes to the wall where I was planning to fit the dinning table.

Within few hours of light work this spot changed dramatically to this:


For the wall decor I created this three-dimensional wall art.

A simple project where I used existing frames and on top of the glass I glued a set of cutlery. For special effect and to add some colour, I used a red frame, backing of which was removed so the stripe on the wall would be visible.

I used a checked black and white table runner. Black stripes of the runner run opposite of the wall stripes so they create another depth. Adding some table decor made the dining spot look richer and more inviting.

With a few design tricks, within few hours this space looks bigger, prettier and more inviting, so the moral of this post is: You can “live big” in a small space if you apply a good design.




Not sure how to make your tiny space look bigger? Got a design dilemma and you need some help? Contact BESA GM Interiors Studio at besagmblog@gmail.com to arrange for a free 15 min design consultation.

Thank you for reading,

Besa

Attic Space Makeover

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Attics are usually unfinished spaces known for being either neglected or cluttered. Almost everyone who owns such a space tends to keep sending there all those unused items that one is reluctant to throw them away. However some, who are in a possession of an attic, are not faced with the clutter or neglect issue, but rather are lacking either a working or living space. Finishing this space up costs money and this is why usually people keep postponing tackling such projects.

Nevertheless, in case you are in a need of an extra space, the lack of financial means doesn’t have to be the major issue of not tackling an attic project.

By being creative and with the use of some DIY skills you can turn your bare attic into a very stylish space.

This is an example of an attic space that I managed to turn into a very stylish space, in less than 24 hours spending only a few euros.

To achieve this look I used a roll of white table cover paper to hide the bare front wall. The side attic openings were treated with white second hand curtains. The floor was covered in black sheet of plastic that is used in agriculture.

The used furniture pieces were repurposed and remodelled to fit the overall design.

As the attic lacks natural light more artificial light was aded to make the space a bit brighter.

So don’t let your mudroom, basement or garage fall victim to clutter and neglect. Update your specialty rooms with these money-saving ideas or call a professional to help you complete your projects.

We are here to help. Write us at besagmblog@gmail.com to check how we may contribute in completing your projects.
BEFORE

AFTER

Thank you for reading,

BESA GM

Boho Chic Picnic

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It seems that this year we are going to have an extended summer. With temperatures hitting as high as 30 centigrade almost every day, it would not be a bad idea to plan a picnic. Who doesn’t love kicking back to eat delicious food in the sunshine with good company?

This is what we did on several occasions last year together with my mom, sister and my nephew. Since we really enjoy picnicking, I’d like to contribute some tips and tricks to help you host a perfect picnic .

Location
You can have a picnic pretty much anywhere, but your choice of setting is one of the most important considerations when planning your picnic.

Do you want to hike to a picturesque spot, connecting with nature ? If so, get your walking boots on and pack light, taking only the essentials in a rucksack; food, drink and a blanket to sit on!

Do you want to dine in a place with wooden picnic benches to avoid sitting on the ground? If so, you can take more with you as, most probably, there’ll be parking close by.

As far as location is concerned, you could even have a picnic in your own garden or backyard if you don’t have much time to spare. Prepare your picnic as you would if you were visiting a park! This is what we did in one of the occasions. We picnicked in one of the corners of my backyard, and we had so much fun!

Comfort is key
A picnic is the ultimate chill out so it’s important that comfort is one of your main considerations.
A picnic isn’t a picnic without a blanket, and it is advisable if it is waterproof. You can buy a cheap shower curtain at a dollar store and place it underneath the blanket to instantly waterproof it. Scatter the blanket with cushions from your sofa for an instant boho chic vibe.

For our picnic I used my oversized decorative sofa cushions and instead of a blanket I used my patio carpet which is for an outdoor use. The use of these cushions gave this picnic that boho chic vibe.

Food, Glorious Food
Food is a must for every picnic, so bring cold dishes that do not require reheating, sweets and do not forget fruits.

No picnic is complete without drinks. Opt for refreshing homemade drinks like lemonade or nonalcoholic cocktails containing mint and other refreshing herbs.

Styling
To enhance the enjoyment of your picnic experience, you may want to do a bit of styling of the picnic venue.

Inject lots of color into your picnic with plenty of hot pink, navy and other colors of your choice.

Keep the bugs away with giant citronella candles and set out your summer snacks on mix and match china plates.

Fill a vase with your favourite flowers and serve up a batch of your favourite drink in a cool carafe. Put a string of solar lights, just in case you will stay longer until it gets dark.

The fall is already here and there are only e few warm, sunny days left to enjoy this year; so, grab your picnic basket, a blanket, pack up your favourite snacks and fruit, some decorative accessories, find a nice, shady spot for your picnic and enjoy it. It is so much fun, as these photos can tell!


Thank you for reading,

Besa

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