Kitchen Gardens

Grow your own vegies in your kitchen? The Kitchen Nano Garden by Hyundai Engineering and Construction and Gromo is one such creature. Bronze winner at the Fast Company 2010 Idea awards in the category of commercial and industrial product, the Kitchen Nano Garden promises an accomplishment that has historically eluded even Mother Nature: a vibrant, green garden of comestibles sans the assistance of either sunlight or rain.If the prospect seems like merely some cleverly-phrased misdirection, I say au contraire, for Kitchen Nano Garden is very real, I assure you. All it takes (took) is some ingeniously-tiered metal shelving; some climate-controlled, glass-walled miniature compartments; a handful of purposefully-directed lumens; and the relative...

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Linen/Bedding Luxury

When decorating a home or a room, one should always remember that color has a psychological effect on mood and emotion. All colors work together to create a specific mood from the color of paint on the walls, to the color of your carpet, to the color of your couch. For this reason, when decorating a room, you should keep in mind what kind of tone you would like to set. Do you want to create a relaxing atmosphere or perhaps a more energetic one? Then think about how certain colors affect your mood and if they work harmoniously into your décor theme.Once you decide what kind of feeling you want to portray, it’s time to pick a color scheme.Light colors give the feeling of openness and make the room appear larger and brighter. Dark colors are warmer;...

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Faux Fire

De Ceulaer’s Nomad Light Fire is a form of modular lighting that’s constituted of any number of portable “lighting sticks.” As with Twist Together, the individual elements can be conjoined to a central (plugged-in) element that—very like the luminescent crystals of Superman’s hidden icy enclave—transfers energy from one stick to the next.The result of this infectious electricity is that several lights seem to draw power from one. Just as with fire, one spark from Nomad Light Fire easily morphs into a veritable conflagration of illumination. But the comparison with fire ends there since Nomad Light Fire obviates the danger element. Ultimately, De Ceulaer’s inventive glow sticks make for a humorous substitution for the elemental camp fire. And...

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Pillow Talk

Alisa Embroidered Lumbar Pillow CoverSusanna Paisley Embroidered Pillow Cover                  Cara Embroidered Pillow Cover                  Olive Oil Branch Pillow Covers                  Coconut Button Pillow Cover                  Textured Linen Pillow CoversI hope you had as much fun as I did looking at these FABULOUS pillow covers featured at Pottary Ba...

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Painted Ceilings

Often in older homes ceilings are painted white, regardless of the wall color. Using any color other than white will make the ceiling feel low. If you must use something other white, make sure it is the same shade or paler than the wall color, or you'll create a cave-like feeling.One place where painting the ceiling the same color as the walls can work is in rooms decorated in a very modernist style. Here, the monochromatic look of using the same color can work, especially if you're using a somewhat monochromatic scheme in the rest of the room's decor.If your ceilings have the popcorn finish, you will need to remove it in order to paint your ceilings. Other than that hassle, they can add beautiful dramatics to large roo...

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Vacation

I am off to a short summer vacation to PA for a visit with my sister and her husband, Dr. Stahl, if you live in or around PA you may want to check out his website. My sister is a cardiac surgical nurse, I will be in good hands for any unforeseen issues!!!  Click the highlights to learn a little history about the state I will be visiting. Pennsylvania's architecture is exciting in itself. Can't wait to relive a lot of history.Posts will resume automatically as scheduled.Feel free to preview my archive articles or just spend a little time reviewing my links and site in general.Thank you for visiti...

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Happy Chairs

Happy Chair is the creative expressions of NASCAR race driver Shawna Robinson. Her background in professional racing spans more than 20 years. Her creativity and passion for design go back even further.This weekend I received, "Charlotte", magazine and found a great article about Shawna Robinson. I was intriqued by the fact that she uses vintage chairs, restores them and adds colorful prints with mix patterns to create these fun/unique designs. Shawna displays her "Happy Chairs" at Sleepy Poet Stuff located here in Charlotte.  How fun are these chairs, great for a dorm room, daughter's room or just simply because you love it!!! Shawna offers many other accents to elegant styles as well.Check out Shawna's media...

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Color Splash

One of my favorite shows on HGTV is Color Splash. I particularly love David Bromstad's approach to design and creativity. My favorite part of his design's is when he creates a," one of a kind", piece of art to tie the room together with stunning pops of color with art!David Bromstad, the season one winner of HGTV's Design Star, is currently one of the hosts on HGTV's Color Splash. He is known for his endless energy and out-of-the-box thinking. David began his career as a design student at the Ringling School of Art and Design in Sarasota, Fla. Earnest, passionate, talented and innovative, Bromstad creates awe-inspiring works on many platforms, including custom art, furniture building and interior design.David says he "blends styles that incorporate...

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International Connection

I was contacted by Liever a Dutch owned firm who specialize in interior design and hotel design, since it is summer, I researched a couple of outdoor furniture ideas on their site and loved the furniture and the ideas. We are now linking together and sharing design ideas through our websites. While reseaching their site,I used google translate to convert their site from Dutch to English. How fun is this across the seas!!!!!!Styling tips in this picture from Liever:  Lets you keep the holiday feeling at home! Make the roof of bamboo and wicker blinds instead of the entrance. So you create your own Balinese vacation paradise. Serenity In Design welcomes Liever to America, I look forward to exchanging design...

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Paltrow Project

Feature DesignerAnnette JosephAtlanta, GaInterview with Annette Joseph and Gwyneth Paltrow“When I first got word I would be designing a temporary living space in Nashville, Tennessee for Gwyneth Paltrow while she was filming a movie, all I knew is that she was a very accomplished actress, loves to cook, and has a website called GOOP.”“Anything more about her I was about to learn at our first design meeting in Nashville, on a cold day in January.”Our meeting:“We met in the apartment, which in a word was a shell. All it really had to speak for it was a fantastic view of downtown Nashville, and that’s about it. The kitchen was builder grade (in other words, not so nice) and the bathrooms were very ordinary. The big challenge?: How to make this...

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Dining Designs

Formal and clean dining roomThe French chandelier and the dark wood of the table give this dining room a heightened sense of splendor. The color from the upholstered cushions on the chairs is carried through the accented walls, tying this room together with a formal and clean look throughout. Dining room with a modern flairA minimalist space requires a minimalist design to provide the right balance. Though this space isn’t tiny, it does provide lots of design challenges. The homeowners chose a simple table with simple chairs to create the perfect place for any meal. To further reduce the space needs, the homeowners put a shelf on the far wall to keep everyday items within easy reach. Country classicA distressed pine table feels right at home...

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Ahhhhh!!!!!!!! Jamica

The 1991 winter season was the opening of The Hermitage, named after an old plantation house that occupied this spectacular waterfront site about two hundred years ago. The Hermitage is set on almost four acres of waterfront, has four bedrooms with fantastic sea views, a fine staff, and a large octagonal pool with panoramic vistas of the Caribbean Sea. The pool has seats with whirlpool jets on one side and a large deep end on the other. Below the house is a private seaside patio, and the far end of the site opens out to the Bluefields Beach. The rooms at the Hermitage are the most commodious of our villas, and have the most spectacular sea views. All of the bedrooms have western-facing outdoor terraces that overlook perfect sunsets reflecting...

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