Hi again, can you believe it’s the last day of January already? I can’t! This month sure flew by quickly. Did you know that today is National Hot Chocolate Day, in fact I’m sipping one right now. Any excuse for delicious chocolate works for me! Today, I wanted to share with you my home sim, Silverlake Village. I mentioned earlier this month that since I’m slowly returning to SL, I didn’t have a opporunity to ‘go-all-out’ for Christmas 2016, so there are just a few items in my Winterfest scene. On my little slice of virtual heaven, I created a country village with four builds nested into the snowy mountains. The first home {shown above} is the Home for the Holidays December 2015 arcade gacha items from What Next. All the gacha items are displayed including the adorable five-room winter cottage I dubbed grandma’s house. The two-story stoned build with porch, snow roof, outdoor string lights and working indoor fireplace is the perfect winter backdrop for the cute snowman, holiday bike decor and snowflake bench {some of the other gacha items}. Grandma’s house is ideal for all seasons with a no snow option and is sure to remain on my homestead. 
Next is Josette Boutique {in green} by Trompe Loeil, also available in 3 other colors {red, blue and black}. Every good village needs a coffee shop, so I converted the space into a cafe with my living quarters upstairs. The cafe has lovely etched windows with an open floorplan in warm woods and a ladder leading up to the loft with fireplace. So far, I spotlit the lower level and this coming week, I’ll focus on the bedroom for upcoming Valentine’s Day post. For outside decor, I used Tylar’s Treasures Cold Winter Night Bench {3 couple cuddle poses only}, hunt gift for Ball of Yarn Hunt (ends today, 1/31/17). Also shown is Apple Fall Farrow Garden Wall set {free}. 
My third stop on the tour is the Iona Conservatory by Trompe Loeil which I’m transforming into a romantic spot. Either a fancy restaurant or a small theater lends itself to the beautiful glass and brick single room copper roof architectural gem. Also shown in the exterior is What Next Wintry Pembury Bench, Winter Harvest Lanterns and Trompe Loeil Valiano Fountain. 
Last but not least is the Alpine Cabin by What Next, which I nicknamed the Ski Patrol Cabin because every country village burrowed in the snowtops needs a friendly snow bunny! This home is decked out mostly in wintery decor with nods to Nordic decor, details here. Thank you for allowing me to share my homes with you. In the past, I’ve never had time to capture the place I call home, just whatever I was blogging at the time. This year, I want to remember everything and have fun!
Category: House Builds
Merry & Bright!
Happy December! I know it seems a bit strange to offer joyous holiday spirit 19 days or so into the month, but I was so preoccupied in sharing my older home design with you, I wasn’t sure if I would be able to carve out time to return to Second Life and style for the holidays. Well, I just had too…the design bug bit me and with a few sleepless nights, I created a cute little ski chalet using What Next Alpine Cabin. Surprise, surprise…the cabin and most of the holiday decor from What Next is currently part of the 12 Days of Savings 50% off marketplace special (ends 12/25/16). I think this is the first year What Next and other home designers are participating in the MP blowout. Last year, I cleaned up on Truth Hair and Mandala Jewelry.
I love styling porches…the entryway needs to be inviting and cozy. With multiple lanterns, benches and welcome mat, Santa is sure to stop here first. I even left some hot cocoa and cookies on the ski lift for him!
Inside the one room cottage is a warm retreat with lots of seating, presents and stocking ready to be filled. An overall Nordic Winter theme in red, cream and touches of green is felt throughout the room. Lots of trees in every style are tucked in the corners and a sweet treat coffee bar displaying Brook Hill Living Finse Deer Tableware complete the Merry & Bright lodge!
Cabin: What Next, Alpine Cabin (50% off on marketplace)
Porch
- Floorplan: Ski Lift Bench & Ski Patrol Sign
- What Next: Winter Harvest Red Lanterns & Picnic Hamper, Holiday Eggnog Latte & Gingerbread Cookies, Wintery Porch Sign, Chimenea, Merry Welcome Mat & Winter Bench, Holiday Wreath, Petite Mailbox (most items are on sale for 50% off on marketplace)
Living
- What Next: Christmas Wall Collage (@ Tannenbaum till 12/25/16)
- What Next: Colonna Coffee Station, Vermont Hot Chocolate Tray, Red Nordic Winter Hanging Stockings & Prints, Boxed Gingerbread Men Cookies, Wintery Wreath, Christmas Gifts
- Dreamscapes Art Gallery: Merry Stool, Tree & Gifts (Home for the Holidays Hunt till 12/31/16)
- Dreamscapes Art Gallery: Merry Crate & Joy Love Peace Tree Crate (Candy Cane 8 Hunt till 12/25/16)
- Dreamscapes Art Gallery: Merry Couch, Stocking & Sign (Peace on Earth Hunt till 12/31/16)
- Second Spaces: Holiday Cards
- Circa: Northern Forest Floor Pillow A Red Trees (Free gift Day 11 on Kitty Cat Advent Calendar)
- Kaerri: Kittycats Advent Grandfather Clock (Free gift on Kitty Cat Advent Calendar)
- Brook Hill Living: Finse Deer Tableware Joule Red (@ The Crossroads till 2/29/16)
Hilltop Living!
The final home in the series is the Scarlet Creative Hudson Townhouse which I used as my main living quarters since 2015. I often had several projects I was working on simultaneously on platforms or extra parcels, so it was nice to have a place called home. The townhouse was placed on a hilltop overlooking the art studio and other structures below. Behind the house on a hill the parcel dipped down revealing an inner lake in the region where I situated the boy’s waterfront cabin. I love the exposed brick, beautiful natural wood and large floor to ceiling windows in the townhouse. The textures designer/owner Charlotte Barlett create are so authentic and offer an open canvas to design. 
The bottom floor first room is a lounge area with a living room submerged in rich leathers, warm brown tones and highlighted with copper metal accents. The uncluttered space is a mix of traditional and modern with an emphasis on clean lines. The second room on the bottom floor I used for the kitchen and dining room, previously blogged here. 
Up the ladder leads to an open loft space, perfect to fit two twin beds against the huge windows and on the other side an additional bed for guest. I love designing bedrooms, so the loft area with a balcony that overlooks the kitchen needed to be a fun whimsical spot ideal for sleepover parties with girlfriends.
Finally, the last stop on the house tour guides us to the master bedroom suite. Walk through the antique lace curtains and you are greeted to an enormous space ample to fit two queen size beds. A communal fireplace joins the sleepy heads with an extra lounge area tucked in the corner complete with sweet treats.
Hope you enjoyed the house tours! Generally, I never have time to take a photo of my personal homes I lived in, so it’s nice to reflect back and remember how much I love SL interior design. I have a confession to make, late last night (when I was supposed to be sleeping) I logged back into Second Life. My former landlord auto-return my stuff and sold his land. There I was at 2am, madly searching for another parcel….oh gosh the craziness has started again. Found one and yes I’m in the middle of building a winter village, hope to share it with you soon. As always, any comments or questions are welcomed. Till we meet again, happy decorating!
A room with a view!
Next in the series of homes I previously designed in 2016 but never had time to share with you is Niki’s Art Studio. As you know, Niki is my former design/business partner and sim owner. She is an artist (painter & photographer) in her first life and has always wanted her own studio in Second Life. I found this awesome shed by Hideki and Niki designed an eclectic industrial warehouse space with a lounge area displaying photography and sketches in the front room. 
And in the back is Niki’s disheveled workspace with multiple ‘works in progress,’ spilt paint cans, neon signs, ladders and great natural light. Niki’s studio has a funky creative vibe perfect for the artist-in-residence. Once again, big shout out thank you goes to Kirra Frantic who took time to capture our designs. If you have any questions or comments, please feel free to post below, connect with me on social media or email: gloriasilverstonesl@gmail.com. 
Hello Again!
Greeting readers and friends! It’s been far too long since I’ve blogged, in fact it’s been 9 months. No, I don’t have a new bundle of joy to share with you. So where have you been, you ask? Well, back in April my Mom had a stroke and it devastated me to my core. She is paralyzed on her left side, bedridden and recently suffered violent seizures. I quit my job, put grad school on hold and assumed the role as her full-time caregiver. As soon as it happened, I wrote a letter to my clients, sponsors and friends, as well as posted it on my Facebook page. At the time I wasn’t sure how long our journey would be or if I would ever return to Second Life and blogging. Well, I have yet to step my toe back into SL but I did want to share with you some pictures my dear friend Kirra Frantic took (back in April 2016) of my homes.
First, in the trio series is my version of a guy’s lakeside hangout chill zone. A few years back (Fall 2014) my dearest friend & former design partner, Niki and I joined forces to host our first ever open house, His & Her. My style has always been sweet and girly whereas Niki’s is more masculine and industrial. Ever since that initial venture I’ve try to design one male focused space a year. The man cave cabin is a sports lover dream with a game area, baseball memorabilia, vintage vinyl and a cool loft bedroom. Since I don’t currently have the build up, please feel free to email me if you want to know where I purchased an item. Stay tuned for an art studio. Happy decorating!
Gloria Silverstone 