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 miracle of indoor plumbing. The concept—which owes its fruition to Hyunjung Lee, Jaeyong Park, Changjin Shon and Seulki Park (of Hyundai), and Ill-woong Kwon (of Gromo)—employs the technology of hydroponics in a more, ahem, utilitarian manner than I’m accustomed to seeing.

The key is the degree of control users have over the typically unpredictable elements of rain and sun: “Light, water and nutrient supply is controllable, so users can decide the growth speed… It also lets users know when to provide water or nutrients to the plants.” And, beyond the obvious bounty of fragrant basil and jaunty watercress (literally right next to the kitchen, an additional boon is the re-invention of “eau d’apartment,” for Nano Kitchen also works to naturally purify the air, leaving your cramped studio redolent with the smell of freshly sprouted greens.

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; more refined, and make the room seem smaller. Warm colors create an energized mood.

Warm colors include red, orange, yellow, and yellow-green. These colors should be placed in areas where you want to stimulation conversation.

Cool colors create a tranquil mood. Cool colors include green-blue, blue, blue-violet, and purple. These colors should be placed in areas where you want to set a relaxing tone.

Neutral colors include black, grey, brown and white colors. These serve mostly as accent colors.

There are three groups of colors: primary, secondary and tertiary. Primary colors are pure and are created without the need to mix other colors. The primary colors are red, blue and yellow. Secondary colors are created by mixing colors. Secondary colors include green, orange and purple. Tertiary colors are created by mixing primary and secondary colors. The tertiary colors (intermediate colors) are red-violet, blue-violet, blue-green, yellow-green, yellow-orange, and red-orange. Although these groups of color have the ability to work together, they all give off a different emotion and energy.
Blue represents tranquility, reliability, and harmony. Blue also has the tendency to slow blood pressure, lower body temperature, and reduce appetite. Softer shades of blue are mostly recommended to give your home a soothing feel.

Red is the most energizing of all colors. It boosts stimulation, arousal and raises awareness. Red has the ability to raise blood pressure and make people react faster. Use red in the living and dining room to stimulate conversation. However, be careful in using darker red coloring in rooms where people will spend a long period of time in, as it may increase irritability.
Yellow represents happiness, energy, and joy. It works well in dining areas like kitchens and dining rooms as well as your bathroom. Yellow makes space look larger than it is, but should be used in small doses considering that excessive amounts can instill a feeling of anger or frustration.

Green represents nature, newness, and refreshment. Green is a very soothing color and has calming effects that may reduce stress and anxiety. Green can be used to decorate any room in the house and provide the perfect color for decorating a kitchen or bath.

Orange is a warm, glowing, cheerful, and energetic color that triggers excitement. It’s a good idea to use splashes of orange in your décor.

Purple represents spirituality, luxury, mystery, and royalty. Use lighter hues of purple to set a relaxed feeling.

White represents purity, cleanliness, and innocence. White is a safe color for any room of in the house, whether to decorate the entire room or just parts of it. White creates the illusion that the room is bigger than it is.

Black represents sophistication, mystery, elegance, power, and sexuality. Black should be used as an accent color in the house.

After you have decided on your color scheme, you can start decorating in a manner that will deliver the end results that you desire. You can create an atmosphere perfect for entertaining guests or one that is more suited for personal relaxation. Most importantly, you will sculpt the room décor that you envisioned and will feel a sense of accomplishment in your work.

(I located this article on the R.Jabbour & Sons website and felt it written so well I wanted to share it)

About R. Jabbour & Sons


R. Jabbour & Sons, founded by Ralph Jabbour, was established in New York City in 1931 on the corner of 5th ave and 59th st in the Savory Plaza hotel building. It featured the finest imported hand made household linens, ladies lingerie, and housecoats. Fifteen years later, Ralph’s son, Edmond, returned from WWII naval service and joined the business which had moved two doors further east to a larger storefront in the same building.

Over the next 30 years, the business expanded and moved to locations on East 55th, east 56th, and east 58th streets, always between 5th and Madison. Because of these central locations, it garnered customers from all over the United States and Europe.

Dedicated to showing the world’s finest handmade linens for the home and exceptional style and quality, the company is now in its fourth generation and continues to provide exceptional service for all bedroom, bathroom, and dining needs. Today, this unsurpassed quality is found in their products that extend beyond the home into executive office suites and boardrooms as well as private yachts.

One is always pleasantly surprised to find their selections and suggestions just perfect for all occasions. Custom embroidery and detailing is available to enhance the unique quality and elegance. Lasting relationships with their customers is testimony to both the service and quality at R. Jabbour & Sons.


Mingling Vines


The Anabelle scrolling vine embroidery gives the feeling of a beautiful English style bedroom. The white and green contrasting creates a soft, natural and relaxed atmosphere. Milano sheeting with hemstitch detailing only adds to the design presence of this bedding set.



For the minimalist, simply a white Egyptian cotton terry towel. Auberge is made from 650 gram double-twisted yarns...Ahhhh, the softness!!! Monogram your initials on the towels for a more intense feel. The towels do not come monogrammed. If you would like to have them monogrammed, they will custom design per your request.



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 through some magic or sleight of hand unspecified by De Ceulaer, Nomad’s individual elements can “borrow” power from a central source, then be moved elsewhere yet still retain the appealing glow. This nifty trick renders Nomad akin to so many branches become light-shedding torches, but the designer provides no behind-the-scenes information vis a vis the particular mechanics that make this possible.

I’m guessing batteries and LEDs are involved, but until De Ceulaer enlightens us, we’ll just have to settle for this explanation of Nomad’s primordial utility: “just like the cavemen discovered that, when a tree was hit by lightning, they could take out one of these burning branches, you will discover that you can take elements of light from this fire as well… this lighting object would be ideal to be used for garden parties, in restaurants or cafés, terazzas, big events or parties, hotel lounges, and even private spaces.”

Pillow Talk

Alisa Embroidered Lumbar Pillow Cover



Susanna Paisley Embroidered Pillow Cover



                  Cara Embroidered Pillow Cover

                  Olive Oil Branch Pillow Covers

                  Coconut Button Pillow Cover
                  Textured Linen Pillow Covers

I hope you had as much fun as I did looking at these FABULOUS pillow covers featured at Pottary Barn.

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 rooms.

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 visiting.

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 page below for more creative designs... http://www.shawnarobinson.com/media.html

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 realism and fantasy." He combines this approach with a love of color and practical advice that shows how to transform tired rooms into unique, vibrant spaces.

He currently resides in Miami, Fla. LOVE David's Designs!!!!



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 ideas.

Extensive designs and products found on Liever, this sofa is lovely, the pattern and design makes a beautiful statement as traditional elegance.

I love this overstuffed style sofa!!!!!!!!!
Unique, stylish so contemporary....LOVE IT!!!!

Paltrow Project


Feature Designer
Annette Joseph
Atlanta, Ga

Interview 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 space a beautiful yet comfortable landing pad for a busy woman and her family, temporarily living in the south.”


“Gwyneth does a lot of cooking and we agreed that the kitchen needed some alterations, mainly a gas stove. I assured her I would make it a cook’s kitchen, (and I did.)”




“Then we surveyed the rest of the apartment, the only request she had was a proper bathtub, as she loves to bathe her kids at night. After our walk through we sat down in my office to hammer out the details, so I could get started. I only had 10 days to plan, tear down, construct and decorate the apartment (a 3 month project condensed into 10 days.)”


Details on Annette's project "What an amazing job", Bravo Annette.

Dining Designs

Formal and clean dining room


The 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 flair


A 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 classic


A distressed pine table feels right at home in this modern take on a farmhouse dining room. Floral chairs emphasize the colors in the valance and curtains, and a large centerpiece enhances the room's appeal. An accent rug continues the country feel against the pine-stained floor.



Contemporary dining room


This dining room provides a large space for entertaining any party or for seating up to eight people. The warm earth tones, travertine floor and natural stone wall make this a serene spot for a feast. The floor-to-ceiling windows give the feeling of being outside without having to contend with the elements.


Dining room nook


In a small home, sometimes a room must perform not only double but triple duty for everyday living. Here the dining room serves as a formal dining area, a conversation spot and a kitchen all rolled into one. A round glass table provides a light, airy feel. Colors in the Roman shades tie the room together by picking up elements in the dining-room table, counter seats and ottoman.

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 into the beautiful Caribbean. In these bedrooms, one can always hear the sounds of the sea from the antique four-poster mahogany canopy beds.

In building The Hermitage, emphasis was put on working with Jamaican materials and skilled Jamaican craftspersons to achieve a hand-made look that is both rare and unique. The house has floors of either locally quarried pink marble or random-width guango wood, cut-stone walls grace the reception and living areas, and the fine woodwork features built-in mahogany armoires, mahogany arches, hand-crafted curved-top glass French doors and classic West Indian louvers. The home possesses the most upscale finishes, including marble showers, marble countertops, solid brass hardware and bathroom fittings, and fine Jamaican furnishings.