Architectural Design

Fish House Built on Water Takes Eco-friendliness to the MaxIf you love water and nature in general then you'll love the Fish House in the pictures below. Designed by Guz Architects in Singapore, this spacious house seems to be built on water and it's definitely fun to live in.Besides the impressive pool that seems to endlessly revolve around the Fish House, you also have a spectacular view of the ocean that's just outside. Moving on we find a great interior dominated by wood finishing and plenty of natural light that comes in through those impressive windows. And yes, that's a green patch of grass on top of the Fish House that will let you enjoy some time outdoors without actually leaving this ingeniously designed house. So if you live in Singapore...

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Dorm Rooms

Chic, Functional Dorm Room With expertise in dorm makeovers, Alabama-based designers Katherine Bailey and Melissa Manifold of Moxii Design Studio share their secrets on maximizing style -- and square footage -- in a typical dorm setup. Plus, they give us the scoop on dorm essentials and need-to-know info, regardless of your school’s locale. I commend all the designers for this dorm makeover!!! BRAVO!!Hide Dorm Floors Provide panache underfoot. “Don’t be afraid to add personality from the floor up,” says Melissa. Decorative rugs, carpet squares, or bound carpets make an eye-catching focal point and bring warmth. Be sure to leave clearance for door swings, allowing air to circulate. Insufficient ventilation quickly causes condensation and...

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Luxury Fabric

Gorgeous bright fabrics with a glamorous gleam, the new Bises Luxury Fabric collection from Rubelli and Sahco brings exotic flair to modern interiors. Featuring bold designs and vibrant spectacular colours, these luxury fabrics make a powerful statement. Founded by Ruggero Bises over 30 years ago, Rubelli is known for its design innovation and reinterpretations of traditional motifs. From graphic patterns to exotic florals the luxury fabrics use large scale patterns for dramatic effects. Sensual gleaming fabrics, wrap furnishings and windows in lush decadent beauty. Vibrant woven beauty, the Rubelli Bises Collection instantly transforms furnishings and interiors into sensual artistic masterpieces.Ruggero Bises founded his textile design company...

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Entertaining/Soft Black Bean Tostados

This hearty Mexican meal has countless variations. Fix the salsa and bean spread separately for snacks, roll the tortillas burrito-style, or make this dish vegetarian-friendly by omitting the chicken.Yield: 4 servings (serving size: 1 tostada)IngredientsSalsa: 1/2 cup chopped peeled avocado1/2 cup chopped seeded tomato1/4 cup thinly sliced green onions2 teaspoons fresh lime juice1/4 teaspoon saltRemaining ingredients: 2 tablespoons water2 tablespoons fresh lime juice1/2 teaspoon ground cumin1/8 teaspoon salt1/8 teaspoon ground red pepper1 (15-ounce) can black beans, rinsed and drained4 (8-inch) flour tortillas1 cup shredded roasted skinless, boneless chicken breast (Optional)3/4 cup (3 ounces) preshredded Monterey Jack cheese1 cup shredded...

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Design Styles/Part 3 of 3

Today, we are continuing Part 3... About design styles and everything you always wanted to know about design but were afraid to ask.MoroccanA heavily layered look consisting of intricately patterned fabrics, colorful mosaics, metal lanterns, textured walls, bold, jewel-toned colors, layers of Oriental rugs and pillows in luxurious fabrics and ornately-carved wooden accents. Design by David Bromstad. LOVE David's creativity and his program (Color Splash)!!!!Shabby Chic Coined in 1980 by Rachel Ashwell, this cottage-inspired look includes weathered white-painted furniture, painted motifs, floral prints in muted colors, white slipcovered sofas and vintage accessories. A sense of brightness and airiness is always evident in these interiors....

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Designer Appreciation Day

Designer Appreciation Day Set for Sept. 8Thought I would display my own family room in honor of this tribute. The High Point Design Center has planned a Designer Appreciation Day for Wednesday, Sept. 8. Events include a complimentary lunch by E. Ellingtons at The Atrium on Main, 430 South Main Street, in High Point, N.C., and a presentation by Terri Maurer, ASID National Past President and co-author of Interior Design in Practice. All High Point Design Center Showrooms will be open for shopping throughout the day, including Swaim, Christopher Guy, and The Atrium showrooms. Host showrooms include Bernard Christianson, Christopher Guy, Swaim, and Durham Furniture. For more information, go to http://www.highpointdesigncenter.c...

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Design Styles/Part 2 of 3

Today, we are continuing Part 2 About design styles and everything you always wanted to know about design but were afraid to ask.EclecticThis catch-all style borrows from several other design styles and evokes a sense of imagination and surprise with unexpected contrasts. The style is not simply throwing together everything and anything, but rather relies heavily on the building blocks of design (color, pattern, texture, composition) to make the space look cohesive. A multitude of fabrics is characteristic, whether patterned, textured, solids or all three. Design by Andreea Avram Rusu. English Country A feminine look, with lush rose patterns, extensive uses of greens, reds, pinks and blues are characteristic of an English Country home. Ornamental,...

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Entertaining/Pear Tree

Pear TreeA tart, refreshing, nonalcoholic drink that's appealing to mojito fans.Ingredients1 cup ice1/3 cup pear juice2 tablespoons Lemon-Lime Juice (see "Bar Essentials," below)2 tablespoons Simple Syrup (see "Bar Essentials," below)4 fresh mint leaves, plus 1 mint sprig for garnishPreparationPut all ingredients except mint sprig in a cocktail shaker and shake until well blended, about 10 seconds. Pour drink with ice into a tumbler or a snifter. Garnish with mint sprig.Note: Nutritional analysis is per mocktail.Bar Essentials: Have these on hand for mixing great mocktails.Simple Syrup: Equal parts sugar and water, heated until the sugar dissolves. (Your yield will be the same as the amount of water you use.)Lemon-Lime Juice: Equal parts freshly...

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Design Styles/Part 1 of 3

Every thing you always wanted to know about design styles, but were afraid to ask.Art DecoStreamlined, geometric style of home furnishings popular in the '20s and '30s featuring rounded fronts, mirrored accents, sleek lines and wood furniture with chrome hardware and glasstops. Design by Erinn Valencich.Arts and Crafts Arts and Crafts style furnishings became popular in the United States between 1910 and 1925. The focus was simple in form, without extraneous decoration, often showing the way pieces and materials were put together. Architecturally speaking, Arts and Crafts covers Craftsman style, work by Frank Lloyd-Wright as well as the bungalow style popularized by Greene and Greene. "Truth in Materials" was very important to Arts...

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Edible Living Wall

Restaurants love the idea of growing their own vegetables. But in an urban environment where space is tight, the typical garden has to be rediscovered to operate in a small footprint. Tournesol Siteworks is a commercial-grade sitework company that manufacturers irrigation systems, site furnishings and planter systems. A recent example of their work can be seen in Los Angeles, at Pizzeria Mozza. The living wall grows lettuce, peppermint, celery, parsley, sage, and other edible plants. The area of the wall is 10’ by 12’ and protrudes roughly 15 inches from the surface. Apparently the staff is enjoying the wall so much, they have picked some of the plants clean.Tournesol VGM Modular Living Wall consists of recycled plastic planting modules and...

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Entertaining/Creamy Tomato-Basil Pasta

Ingredients3 cups Farfalle (bow-tie pasta), uncooked1/4 cup KRAFT Sun-Dried Tomato Dressing1 lb. uncooked peeled deveined medium shrimp1 cup Fat-free reduced-sodium chicken broth1/2 tsp. each garlic powder and black pepper4 oz. (1/2 of 8-oz. pkg.) PHILADELPHIA Neufchatel Cheese2 cups Grape tomatoes1/2 cup KRAFT Shredded Parmesan Cheese8 Fresh basil leaves, cut into stripsCOOK pasta as directed on package. Meanwhile, heat 2 Tbsp. dressing in large skillet on medium heat. Add shrimp; cook and stir 2 to 3 min. or until shrimp turn pink. Use slotted spoon to remove shrimp from skillet; cover to keep warm. Discard any drippings in skillet.ADD remaining dressing, broth and seasonings to skillet; cook 2 min. or until heated through. Add Neufchatel;...

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Paris Art

Eiffel_TowerNotre_Dame_de_ParisOne of my sons travels with his firm, as a Senior Consultant for Cooper Design Group, based in San Franciso.Chris Noessel is a senior consultant at Cooper. His industry experience ranges from owning a small, museum-focused company in Houston to working with Microsoft's futures prototyping group in Seattle. For marchFIRST he was Director of Information Architecture, conducting research and design for notable web sites such as Apple, SEGA, and Harmon Kardon. He was one of the founding graduates of the Interaction Design Institute Ivrea. He is currently writing and speaking about a work being coauthored with Nathan Shedroff about how science fiction and design influence each other.Chris, sends me gifts from...

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Minimalist Kitchen

What are you looking for in your kitchen? The sublime new shapes and styles of La Cucina Alessi? The eco-durability of new materials as in Silestone’s Countertops and Kitchen Surfaces? Or perhaps you prefer the modular disappearing trick of the Logica Kitchen System? If, however, you’re after a subtler kind of prestidigitation (as in shrinking costs), you should have a look at Pedini’s Magika. This kitchen was conceived with an eye to the easy balance between a buyer’s bottom line and the demanding aesthetic imperatives of what some might rightfully claim as the birthplace of the modern kitchen.Magika is handsome minimalism on a budget. The kitchen combines the sleek lines and handcrafted finishes of Italian cabinetry with economical production...

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Cottage Style Decor

Creamy white wainscoting, painted shutters, sumptuous linens, and an upholstered headboard make this Southampton master bedroom luxurious. Get this look!!!I love this fresh feeling, the colors are cool and the setting is sumptuou...

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Entertaining/Spaghetti with Creamy Spinach

Cream cheese melts in the heat of the pasta to form a luscious sauce. The fresh spinach called for here provides a delicate flavor that frozen spinach just doesn't duplicate. For speed, we recommend the prewashed kind available in supermarkets.Servings: 4Ingredients10 ounce prewashed spinach2 tablespoons butter3 scallions including green tops, chopped1 1/2 teaspoons dried tarragon3/4 teaspoon salt3/4 pound spaghetti5 ounces cream cheese, cut into cubes2 tablespoons chopped fresh parsley1/4 cup grated Parmesan cheese1/2 teaspoon fresh-ground black pepper Preparation1. Remove any tough stems from the spinach. In a large frying pan, melt the butter over moderately low heat. Add the scallions and tarragon and cook for 2 minutes. Add the spinach...

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Cortica

Cork is a material best known for preservation. It salvages our delicate wines when the air would otherwise spoil them, would have kept our memos safely tacked onto it’s board - if not for the invention of email - and when utilized by Daniel Michalik, helps sustain our environment. Based in Brooklyn, Michalik has developed a highly-evolved design of cork furniture that reuses the non-toxic material to create a handful of different items including the Cortiça chaise longue and the Sway stools. Indeed the reuse of materials is one argument for green design, but besides that, a Cork Oak tree lives for 200 years. After it’s approximately 25 years old, the cork can be stripped off of it’s trunk every nine years.But not only is a cork tree long-lasting,...

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