Great Idea for a floating kitchen shelf!
Category Archives: Designs
12 Key Decorating Tips
Decorator Confessions
Judith Taylor, award winning Toronto designer, recently commented on the tried and true talent and skills designers use to create your ideal interiors. In her own words, “I hate to break it to you, but designers don’t follow a secret rule book. There are no hard and fast laws governing what we do. We are creative types by nature and love to imagine, dream and explore, following out intuition.” So that being said, if you follow her 12 key decorating tips….and are blessed with a bit of a creative flair….you can create the home of your dreams.
1. Pick the paint color last.
2. Give your furniture some breathing room.
3. Hang artwork at the right height.
4. Know how to arrange furniture on a rug.
5. Resist the urge to be too theme-y.
6. Create a focal point.
7. Consider sight lines.
8. Edit your collectibles.
9. Vary the scale.
10. Add layers of light.
11. Be bold
12. Ignore all principles in favor of creativity!
Her philosophy of going with something personal that makes you smile and, above all, is comfortable is how I’ve always worked a room. “Overly designed rooms don’t really translate in modern life,”she adds. I couldn’t agree with her more, however I might add, check out where your animals sit or sleep, they instinctively know where to find comfort….and usually the best seat in the house. You can ask my Mother about that one!
Visit the site below for detailed explanations and visuals
Unique Hardwood Flooring – Mirth Studio
Colorful, Decorative Wood Tiles
Mirth Studio produces colorful, patterned hardwood tiles for flooring, walls and backslashes. The 12 x 12 inch tiles can be inlay-ed into an existing floor or installed together to create a unique, decorative feature. Easy to install and fully customizable, you have the look of tile but the warmth of wood. They can be installed over most subflooring – wood and concrete. Great alternative to traditional wood floors! Here are just a few examples of their collection>
Mirth Studio gives back….for every order they donate to The National Forest Foundation to plant a tree in the US!
Drought Resistance Landscape
Dark mulch in this landscape adds contrast while providing soil moisture retention, of particular importance to California this year considering our drought conditions. So how do you enjoy a beautiful visual landscape with a limited water allotment? California has always been in the forefront of sustainable planting. Now more so than ever landscape designers and professionals are implementing a “xeriscape” approach to their designs. This landscape philosophy was originally created in 1981 by the Denver water company integrating seven principals into the design and approach to water conservation in a garden habitat. Further explanation of these concepts is available in the following link.
SF Flower & Garden Show
This year’s San Francisco Flower and Garden Show will feature edible gardens, sustainable plantings for drought conditions and educational presentations emphasizing California grown flowers. The 3rd largest Flower & Garden Show in the nation, the show features 16 different gardens creatively designed with ornamental edibles, drought resistant plants, outdoor dining scapes as well as the fantasy creation, “Jules Verne’s Volcania.”
Each day features a theme:
Wednesday – Florist Demonstrations
Thursday – Meet the Flower Farmers
Friday – Succulents in Centerpiece Design
Saturday – Botanical Couture Authors
Sunday – DIY Bouquet Designs
Early Bird tickets are on sale now @ $15.00. Coupons are also available @ http://www.proflowers.com/.
San Mateo Event Center
March 19 – 23
Pebble Beach Food & Wine 2014
Don’t forget the Seventh Annual Pebble Beach Food & Wine Festival April 10 – 13. From celebrity chefs Guy Fieri to Masaharu Morimoto, and exceptional wine tastings to interactive cooking demonstrations. Held at The Inn at Spanish Bay to purchase tickets for this epicurean extravaganza, visit www.pbfw.com.
Stained and Stenciled = Parquet 2014
Designers and flooring contractors are utilizing stencils and stains on wood flooring to create the intricate rich look of parquet.
Renters Design Dream!
This is a great idea for a temporary facelift or a renter wanting a commitment free improvement to their new surroundings. These grout-less tiles and designs produced by Marine Wall Tiles are marine grade plywood suited for moist conditions. The company states that they resist delaminating, warping and mold. The magnets on each corner of the tile attach to a corresponding steel sticker for installation and pattern design.
Customizable with a color combination choice from their Pantone, the tiles are built to last and suitable for both residential and commerical projects.
Classic Gardens Reinvented
In contrast from my previous post where we featured the serenity created by a smaller urban garden, the principals of Classic gardens have their origin in Ancient history epitomized in French formality. Originally associated with vast, estate acreage they were defined by clean geometry, symmetry, balanced proportions and crisp lines. Not unlike the principals of the smaller yards. Featured here are selections I thought epitomized the classic designs of the past adapted for our American home sites. Whether you use traditional or sustainable plantings, ornate stone walls or rustic fences the visual success and enjoyment of a yard is all found in the symmetry and fluidity of the design. The Greeks used a measurement called “the Golden Triangle” to create a unique proportion in the designs and architecture of both their gardens and buildings. The Golden Triangle whose numeric value is called “phi”, named for the Greek sculptor Phidias produces a taller triangle and thought to be more elegant and architecturally more appealing to the eye. This method of design is still transforming our landscaping of today.
www.schmechtiglandscapes.com
Serene Small Spaces
Garden terraces in urban areas can be transformed into relaxing and soothing sanctuaries for escape and deprogramming in our hectic, internet connected life. Even in a small area two separate seating areas have been created in this invitingly private retreat. A wisteria draped pergola frames a reclaimed wood deck featuring a Jacques Pergay sofa. The river rock pebbles create a cool contrast to the wood and an additional element to the yard providing an idyllic hideaway.
What I enjoyed about this small garden terrace was the contrast of the 18th Century ornate interior juxtaposed with the rustic wood furniture. Although the chairs are not as comfortable looking as a wonderful cushioned chaise, the colors do present a nice visual and a serene area for escape.