Pulling The Plug {Post Hurricane Sandy}

"Pulling the plug: a sustainably built, off-grid farmhouse

A carefully planned 17th-century conversion is not only sustainably built, but off-grid, too." The Telegraph 

In the wake of hurricane Sandy, I cant help to think about our complete and utter dependence on electricity. 

Fishing around for the answer I came across this amazing Farmhouse set in the remote countryside in the UK. 
This ingenious owner rebuilt this old derelict farmhouse into a self sustainable home, the only bill they pay is to the local council (property tax). 

No heating, no electrical and no water bills...

They used a wood burning Rayburn Stove for cooking and heating water, a well with an automatic pump and a product called 'Waterpebble' that warns you when water levels are low and more...

Take a look at the link below for the full article and images taken from The Telegraph UK.

Image Via The Telegraph

Pulling the plug~ A Sustainably built off grid Farmhouse

D

Bathroom Inspiration {and how to organize your ideas}

Renovating a bathroom is probably one of the most challenging but at the same time most satisfying rooms to redecorate; bringing not only daily pleasure to those in the room but also increasing the value of your home.

Inspiration comes from the latin word Inspirare meaning ' to breath into '. We inspire to breath new life into our home when we embark on a renovation project. 

Wherever you look, images of stunning interiors make you fall in love over and over again, one day it may be a clean lined contemporary bathroom and the next day an elegant classic design. There is an abundance of design inspiration online, in books and magazines and on TV, and then there is the inspiration around you, from the outdoors to a vintage tablecloth your grandmother gave you. Using something you love as the basis of your design can spark a myriad of ideas, it may be the colors or textures, or even the memory of a place you visited can be the 'lift off' for your bathroom project.

I advise my clients to hold on to anything that inspires them, it may be a brightly colored scarf, a ripped out page of a magazine with that gorgeous glass tile on it or even postcards from their vacation. But how do we deal with the torrent of ideas that stem from online resources such as ours and others like Pinterest? 

• It is important not to get overcome by the thousands of design websites available, chose your sources wisely.
• Try not to take other homeowners comments on designs to heart. Their taste or experience will be different from yours!
• Browse through the Professional portfolios, look closely at the designer and company and check out their work and credentials.
• Go to bathroom frontrunners product websites such as Franke or Kohler and see what is new on the market.
• If you are looking for a designer to ultimately work with you on your bathroom project browse the work of designers in your area and not across the country! It is invaluable to find a designer that suits your style and who is located close by.
• Before and after photos are really inspiring, this is what your bathroom could look like!
• Save the images you absolutely love in an Ideabook, it is very easy to save hundreds of photos in a span of a week and not remember why you chose them in the first place.
• Edit your images every now and then, as you become more familiar with what you like and don't like you will become more select in your choices.
• Organizing your inspiration is key to a good meeting with your designer, you will have limited time so make use of it wisely.

Traditional Bathroom design by Minneapolis Interior Designer RLH Studio

Here are some tips on how to gather and organize your ideas.

Contemporary Bathroom design by Denver Interior Designer Andrea Schumacher

Browse randomly through images saving all the bathrooms that appeal to you. On a single day you could be focusing on a one particular item for your bathroom, for example floor tiles or bath tubs and the next day it could be wall colors. Open a folder and save these under a particular heading for example 'Vanities' or 'Shower Fittings'. This method will keep you organized and prevent you from getting overwhelmed. It will eventually also help narrow down your choices come final selection time.

Traditional Bathroom design by Columbus General Contractor Michael Matrka, Inc

Organize your favorite images by style. A 'My Style' folder can contain anything you love, be it contemporary, classic or a mix of both, your favorites will come to light automatically. Sometimes you will save the same images over and over again. This is an indication of what you really like and you are forming your style. I would take time to note down the design company responsible for your favorite pictures and browse through their work, their style may be just right for you.

Modern Bathroom design by Miami Interior Designer DKOR Interiors Inc.- Interior Designers Miami, FL

Look for trends in your collections, you may be gravitating towards marble floors or mosaic backsplashes? You will see that many of your images start to lean towards a particular colorway or that a similar product keeps reappearing in your collection, this is not a coincidence, you are carving out your personal preferences which in turn starts to define your style. Some websites are tagged with product information as this can take hours off sourcing for a particular item. Make a note of these materials for future reference, as finding that particular floor tile once again prove difficult.

Eclectic Bathroom Tile design by Los Angeles Tile Stone And Countertop Filmore Clark

http://www.filmoreclark.com/

Inspiration can be found everywhere, from online sources, great stores and glossy magazines, for me simply finding a tile that excites me is a great starting point for a great bathroom design. Let me know what you think, I hope I have helped you to channel your inspirations!

Dx

Guest Post on Canoe Design & more..

A couple of weeks ago I was asked by design blogger Anna at Canoe Design to guest post on their FURNITURE FRIDAY's  series.

Take a peek

http://canoedesign.blogspot.com/2012/08/furniture-fridays_24.html

On another note, I have been invited to join Christopher Peacock Home as their Senior Designer for their fabulous new showroom opening in the D&D building in Manhattan NY.

I anticipate great things happening in 2013 and I would love to share this new exciting journey with you.

If you are not familiar with his work, visit http://peacockhome.com

Happy first day of Fall!

Dx 

Fall Color Trends 2012 {Neon Shmeon}

I am an 80's girl, leg warmers, leggings and headbands were staple pieces in my teen closet. You could say I gave Madonna a run for her money. But by 1986, I admit I was far from sad to see that color trend end, and looking back on photos of myself requires sun glasses and comes with a warning.

So you can imagine how I took to the news that NEON is back this Fall. Maybe I'll just skip it altogether, after all I heard that black, white and navy are still in. But before you all sigh a collective sigh of relief, give Pantone a chance to explain themselves, innocent until proven guilty no?
Pantone is quick to tweak neon, calling it Nouveau Neon (no doubt to avoid scaring away any designers born between 1960-1970)
But only as Pantone can do, they hit the nail on the head. Spot on. Each Nouveau Neon more pleasing than the next, Asian-inspired bamboo yellow-green meets Posicle Orange both vibrant and fresh and then brilliantly adding a soft butter rum tan to tame the firecrackers citrus and raspberry.

Lets wait and see how this plays out, I cant wait to use Camelia Rose or Citrus somewhere soon!

PANTONE Fall Color Trends 2012

~D~

Sweet Tea & Lemonade

JUNE, how I have been waiting for you, dreaming of SWEET TEA and LEMONADE, swinging ever so slowly back and forth on the porch with a love romance upside down by my side as I nap......
JULY, even more inviting, no running for cover for the odd shower, I know its going to be a nice day and I am about to share it with  the butterflies and the bees.
On my own with nature, not even my favorite songs (sorry Adele) are welcome to spoil my peace.

LEMONADE

Image & Recipe Via Food Network Magazine
Photograph by Jonathan Kantor   

DIRECTIONS
Remove wide strips of zest from 2 lemons with a vegetable peeler (do not remove the pith). Make 2 cups simple syrup (recipe below), adding the lemon zest before heating. Let cool, then pour into an ice-filled pitcher. Stir in 1/2 teaspoon salt, 2 cups each fresh lemon juice and water, and some lemon slices.
Simple Syrup: To make 2 cups simple syrup, bring 1 1/2cups each sugar and water to a boil, stirring until dissolved. Let cool.


SWINGS

Victorian Swing ~ Source Unknown

http://pinterest.com/pin/234750199297198064/

Source Unknown

FABRICS & Accessories

Clarence House Fabric

Coral Tieback ~ Clarence House

http://www.snowflake-designs.com/butterflies-bees-on-blue-fabric

LOVE BOOKS.

Communications Design graduate student Claire Kelley created an app—Summer Fiction— highlighting interactive content from five novels being publishing this summer by Free Press, a division of Simon & Schuster.

Click here http://pages.simonandschuster.com/free-press-fiction

Take a nap, read a book, go for a walk, relax....

~D~

 

Free Flowing Form ~ EGO Paris

I like smart, I like functional and I certainly like SEXY!
All this PLUS fun colors and pretty flowers..you can't possibly beat that!

Ego Paris is just Fabulous! I heard of them through one of my favorite online mags the New England Home Magazine.
Just take a look at these, I mean seriously! Free flowing form sunshades reminiscence of seagulls in flight. Design forms that blend in with the waves, this chaise is not called 'Fish" for nothing.

Fish Chaise Longue

Are you sitting down? I would recommend you do it NOW.
I don't mean to be mean and I know its Monday and that there is a WHOLE week left of school before anyone can even dream of flying away on vacation, but I cant keep it secret any longer.
Its my duty ahem as a designer to part with glorious products to my readers :)

Take a look at this and come kick me if you don't like it...(Not too hard please, my knee is playing up)
Give me my latest issue of AD a Margarita and come get me September 1.

Eden Nest

Backrests and tables included

True to my love of function and form, KAMA Quattro Modular Collection has a smart and versatile collection, the table is my favorite piece.

Video for KAMA

Video for KUBE

Find the complete collection at http://www.furniture-egoparis.com/



~D~

{PS I only write about products I love, I am not sponsored & if I am I will let you know!)

In honor of Her Majesty's Diamond Jubilee

This weekend marks the Queens Diamond Jubilee!
To mark this quintessentially British day I will be showcasing anything and everything Union Jack..

God Save The Queen


Fun piece of furniture

http://sheridanfrench.blogspot.com/2011/07/furniture-re-vamp-x-four.html

Fun pillows & bunting

Image Via The Daily Mail Designed by Jan Constantine

Sausages n Mash?

Falcon Union Jack Range Cooker

Seriously cool Wallpaper

http://pinterest.com/pin/234750199296750421/

Accessorize in True Brit Style

http://pinterest.com/pin/234750199296750433/

Faded Focal Point

Designed by Emily Wheeler

Conversation Piece

Topps Tiles Back splash UK

Nothing says British like a MINI

You NEED a MINI in your life! 

{Go visit Mike at Princeton MINI ~ Shameless plug.... ;) }

MINI w/Union Jack Roof

Enjoy the celebrations

CHEERS!


~D~

Know that we are not paid to feature products,names or services...we just LOVE what we show!

Adieux chalk boards, say hello to IdeaPaint!

This is one of those times where I see a product and I shout out 'What took them so long!!

IdeaPaint have come up with an ingenious clear paint that transforms nearly any surface into a WHITE BOARD, isn't that just great?

I'm guessing its a clear lacquer of sorts.....lets investigate further~ According to IdeaPaint it's a clear top coat that can be applied to any dry paint surface or even wood, transforming any surface into a white board, or green board or an ORANGE wall if you fancy, or even your board room table!

Is it just me! Or do I hear the church bells ringing? My husband is giving me the "only you would get so excited about this" look... But I beg to differ, there are many did I say MILLIONS of design junkies out there who just like me will be placing an order for this revolutionary stuff.

For the hefty price of $225.00 which covers 50sq ft, it can be yours... here's the link
http://www.ideapaint.com/work/shop

Send in your pics!

~D~

Introducing Ottaviani at CELLINI

Cellini is our family run businesses on the lovely island of Malta.

Located in the heart of downtown Sliema also know as 'The Ferries', Cellini is at the center of anything shopping.  You will inevitably pass our shop if you visit or live in Malta!

Please stop in and take a peek! 

Cellini is now stocking  OTTAVIANI, an elegant and timeless Italian manufacturer of gifts and home decor.
Ottaviani

In order to remain interesting and unique you will only find one or two of each item, so hurry in!

Candle Holder by Ottaviani at Cellini

Fruit Bowl by Ottaviani at Cellini

Portachiavi by Ottaviani at Cellini

iPad cover with zipper in leather by Ottaviani available at Cellini

To see more Ottaviani products and to join in the conversation please Like our Facebook page https://www.facebook.com/CelliniSliema

~D~

Cellini
11 Tower Rd (The Ferries)
Sliema Malta
Tel 21331867
email cellinitrading@gmail.com

Strawberry Picking ~ A picture post!

Tehrune Orchards ~ Princeton NJ

~D~

HOMEMINT by Justin Timberlake & Estee Stanley

Our favorite singer, songwriter & and hilarious SNL star Justin Timberlake has teamed up with West Coast fashion & interior designer Estee Stanley to create a line of vintage furnishings and artwork.

HomeMint is an interesting concept, you can become a member and by doing so get may perks including 50% off furnishings decor & art, first look at new creations & special invitations to HomeMint events.

In his own words Justin explains the creation of HomeMint.


"HomeMint merges my love for interior design with my passion for innovation to create a personalized home collection -- it's like having your very own interior designer. A home should be inspiring and a reflection of you and HomeMint brings your individual style to your space."

Whilst his partner Estee explains how it works.

"My home design process is very much like fashion styling -- I accessorize and layer to bring a space together the way I would style a look. For HomeMint, Justin and I curate and design a versatile, eclectic collection of pieces we love for our members every month."








First you figure out your Home Style by choosing images that most appeal to you, for example 'Which living room best reflects your taste?' and so on.. And whilst you are enjoying figuring out your style the questions cleverly end up being a survey, and you having to part with your email... yet again. However this does give you the benefits of becoming a member.
Your Top Items are then selected based on your answers and I must say they did choose a nice throw pillow for me!

From their Private Collection ~ Jacobean Print $39.99 for Members

In Collaboration with Canvas

Unique Finds

ART by Justin Timberlake

Check out the webiste for yourselves at http://www.homemint.com/ to find your style>
I think the fun part will be checking back each month for new additions to their collections!


Have a great week :)
~D~