Beach house in the Hamptons….amazing!
Monthly Archives: March 2014
Pool Facelifts!
If your pool needs updating, resurfacing or remodeling, here are some great ideas. A simple plaster replacement should run you between $5000 to $10,000. An upscale remodel is a larger ticketed item with virtually unlimited expense depending on the design and features selected.
Kitchen Islands
This article has some great ideas for interesting kitchen islands. Featured here is my favorite, I love the contrast between the old wood and the sleek contemporary cabinets, white subway tile and stainless appliances. Reclaimed timber with the quartz counter top mixes a rustic look with the polish finish of the stone. To see other examples click the link below:
A Picture for the Eyes
Ranunculus and Japanese Peonies
INTERIOR DESIGN BY SUSAN GUTFREUND
What I love about this photo is the antique cabbage plate, the beautiful art deco lime green crystal aperitif glass and the glorious colors of the Peonies and Ranunculus beautifully displayed in the white porcelain Chinese vase. Just a picture for the eyes….that’s all.
A Scented Home
Alexandra and Michael Misczynski designed.
Photo by : John Coolidge
Having never gave much thought to the correlation between the mind and scent I was intrigued when I read this interview. I definitely know that when something smells wonderful it does click a memory and evoke an emotion. Just as it does when something stinks! Candles or diffusers are always burning in my home with scents that remind me of the memorable times in my life. So when I read this article in Veranda about Dawn and Samantha Goldworm, custom scentologists, I thought you might like to understand the philosophy and the applicability to your own home and business environs. In the interview they discuss why the olfactory experience in a space is just as important as the aesthetics. So it’s not just style, design and furniture!
Veranda.com: What does a scent say about your space?
12.29: Scent for a space is a very personal, curated decision. Just as important as your choice of furniture, art work and lighting, the scent creates a certain mood and ambience to further accentuate the feeling of your home.
Veranda.com: What kind of effect can a scented space have on people?12.29:
Your brain processes smell in the same way that it processes emotion in your olfactive or smell memory. Therefore, every smell you can recall, is directly associated with a feeling or emotional memory. Walking into a scented space, can have two effects: if the space smells familiar, it can conjure up old memories and bring nostalgia from a past experience or if the space smells entirely new, it can create intrigue into a new adventure.
What’s your advice for people in search of a scent for their home? How can you find a balanced scent that’s not overwhelming and headache-inducing?
12.29: Your scent should work with and compliment all of the existing smells in your space. You would not choose one piece of furniture without considering the other furniture in the space. Your scent is the same. Your cleaning products should be taken into consideration as should your cat or dog, if you have one, as well as children smells and other perfumed products. If you are an avid cook, this should also be considered. To find the scent for your home, I would first consider how you want your home to feel—relaxing, stimulating, sexy, energizing. If your aim is relaxation, look for scents that are warm and inviting, like vanilla and woods. If you prefer a stimulating environment, try green notes like grass, fig or black currant. If sexy is more your vibe, try amber, leather or musk. Or if your prefer to be energized, go for citrus notes and bright fruit tones.
Fireclay Tile
Paul Burns founded Fireclay Tile in 1986, his goal was to make beautiful tile for his clients exactly how they would like it made. Every tile is handmade to order using recycled materials and sustainable manufacturing practices. Their focus is on working directly with their clients to create the home and commercial projects of their dreams. In a timely manner and with the greatest customer service in the world!
Their philosophy, “That handmade things have soul, and good design will prevail as one of our most sustainable assets. We believe in the power of team work and that work should be fun. We believe that life should be lived boldly and with purpose. We believe in the beauty of imperfection and the gift of learning from our mistakes. We believe it is our responsibility to make products for people, products that last for generations, and products that have a story to tell.”
Constantly striving to find new ways to reuse cast off materials, 16 years ago Fireclay Tile discovered a way to use a disposed of fine dust particulate into their recycled clay. Their glass line consists of 100% recycled materials. The vertical integration of their production allows them to incorporate an exceptional amount of their own production waste. Recycling onsite includes water reclamation at cutting and mixing stations, along with rainwater capture. All scrap and defective materials are crushed into aggregate which is used in their recycled clay as well as any glaze over-spray.
And have you seen their tiles? This Caribbean blue tile, used in the kitchen design by Joshua Mogal, contrasts nicely with the white cabinetry and slate grey counter-tops. To visit their site and see a collection of their tiles I’ve included the link below:
http://www.fireclaytile.com/gallery
Kudos to a company trying to do it all and beautifully at the same time!
Flowers for a grey Sunday morning.
Tête-à-Tête daffodils, Ranunculus, Ivy and Mimosa
FLORAL DESIGN BY LAURA DOWLING
Thank you Veranda magazine for the flowers this morning. I just discovered your entre to Spring and on a gloomy grey Sunday morning they were perfect! Now that we’ve been blessed with some rain, the daffodils are popping up all over the hills. For me spring begins with the magnolia trees vibrant fuchsia and orchid blossoms contrasted by the taupe color of their branches. I particularly love it when the trees catch my eye in a pasture full of wild yellow mustard and brilliant green wild grass. Reminiscent of warmer and longer days these botantical and flora expressions of Spring mark the beginning of the energy that propels us into March!
Grigch Hills is Pouring on Saturday
Grgich Hills Estate is pouring some of it’s old vine zinfandel from this Calistoga vineyard tomorrow. A limited production, but unfortunately it’s only for its members. Still a beautiful picture and with the prospect of a gorgeous weekend, a trip to the wine country might be a lovely outing. While you are there The French Laundry is 20 years old this year!
Flooring Options for your Bath
This article from HGTV features photos of 10 different bathrooms with examples of designs and flooring types. I loved the colors of this light grey tile, it gives the room a sophisticated, contemporary, elegant feel. Featured also in the article are examples of Pebble flooring, Exotic Marble, Various types of Ceramic Tiles, Bamboo flooring, River Rock and Concrete Tiles. Thought it was a great pictorial example of what’s out there if you are thinking of a bathroom remodel or new construction. Also consider the option of radiant heated floors, they are economical in the long run from an energy cost stand point and cozy on the feet at night when you have to get up!
http://www.hgtv.com/walls-doors-and-floors/8-flooring-ideas-for-bathrooms/pictures/page-4.html
Weekend Blueprint~
After reading an article written by Laura Gaskill about a timeline for the weekend and the rejuvenation benefits recouped, I was prompted to add my own editorial comments on how to get the most out of your two days of bliss! I’ve highlighted her subscripts and then elaborated with my own thoughts. After thinking about it overnight I realized that without the balance of work and life we really can’t reach our full potential for both our families and our workplace. We need the time to stop and smell the roses so we can afford to buy them during the week!
1. Kick off the weekend right by hiding all things work and stress related. In other words on Friday night don’t go through the list of oh my god I’ve got to take care of ….start to think about things to do over the weekend that you love to get lost in…gardening, cooking, nesting, riding, etc.
2. Saturday morning indulgence. Now for some that might mean sleeping in or reading a great book in bed. Others might enjoy an early morning run, riding your bike to the ocean and surfing, hitting the golf tees with a hot coffee and a granola bar, setting off on a bike trek or getting to the barn with the early morning sunshine steaming from the rails of the turnouts. Whatever your “go to” passion is, indulging in it once a week is such a wonderful thing and tremendously rejuvenating. After all the first thing to do on Saturday morning should be what we work so hard during the week to enjoy.
3. Save up for Saturday treats. For me that would be a hot apple fritter! Who said once a week would kill you? Corned beef hash with poached eggs, chocolate milk oh – la – la’s, lox with bagels and cream cheese, pancakes with syrup…anything food related starts the day off with a smile for your tummy and makes your heart happy!
4. Schedule Serenity. Meditation…hmmm…maybe. A quiet walk on the beach, sitting in the sun and thinking about absolutely nothing but how lucky you are (no matter what is going on). Connecting with that little voice that pushes you through the rest of the week and making a deal with him or her to give you a break for 10 minutes! Seriously, leave me alone and let me relax.
5. Set a home-work boundary. It’s all right to schedule some work time in the late afternoon right before you have a glass of wine. That way you will keep it short because a new vintner’s special is waiting for the uncorking.
6. Pick a weekend high point. A project that will give you the sense of fulfillment once accomplished. Whether it’s planting a new garden, reorganizing the garage or cleaning the drawers in your closet. Sometimes it’s those little things that make you feel at peace with the rest of the world because you have cleaned your clutter and can start another day fresh and ready to go.
7. Cook a double dinner. I love to do this all the time. When I can make one meal and morph it into another I feel terrific. It’s like recycling, being green and saving money all in one dish! Who wouldn’t feel great when you can clean the refrigerator and eat something tasty at the same time.
8.Sunday evening checklist. All right now you’ve had your enjoyment for the weekend and you have to start gearing up for Monday morning. Whatever you need to do to psychologically prepare for the week, by Sunday late afternoon you need to kick it into gear. Papers ready for a meeting, suit pressed, shoes shined, appointments confirmed, emails returned (the ones you’ve been avoiding)…it’s time to check back in, gently! Get ready and then relax for the rest of the evening with a lovely family dinner and a great movie which moves us into….
9.Weekend closure. In our family it’s Sunday night dinner, which more often than not has been on the stove or in the oven all day. With smells that fill the home, for me it’s always a time to be thankful we have each other. Embracing the ups and the downs, the joys and the sorrows we come together this evening to share. We light the candles and sit down this night to remember how special we are to each other. And now with a full tummy, dishes done and movie ordered…we move into…
10. Set a positive intention for the week ahead. This one I was in total agreement with Laura. Before heading to bed on Sunday night, give a little thought to what you hope for in the coming week. Think of something positive to look forward to, plan to wear something new or fun to work and have every intention to enjoy and appreciate all that your life is!
If you would like to see her analysis, here is the link:
http://www.houzz.com/ideabooks/23384643/list/10-Steps-to-a-Happier-Weekend w=300