Beach House Design in Mona Vale

This house is able to be ‘zoned’ to 3 separate areas; the sunroom at the back, the bedroom and hallway, and the living area to the front. This assists in the retention of heat in the winter months. Cross ventilation is carefully considered through the whole house. The front living area ventilates through a series of louvres in a bank of high level clerestory., and the bedrooms also have cross

Really Cool Business Cards

We ran accross some really clever business cards today and we thought we share them with you.  They are just so original and so unique. Plus, they make a great marketing tool too-- don't you think?

 

Images from Inc. Magazine

 You can find more clever examples here.

Outdoor Lighting Basics for Designing Garden and Landscape

Several garden and landscape designer forgot to designing the outdoor lights elements, Outdoor lighting is an often over looked, but crucial element to creating great outdoor spaces. Outdoor lighting extends the function of outdoor spaces into the evening, and helps define a warm and inviting living space. A variety of lighting effects are possible through proper use of outdoor lighting.

Uplighting: Uplighting can be used to highlight a vertical object in your outdoor space such as a specimen tree, an interesting façade, or landscape structure such as trellises and arbors. In order to prevent glare, fixtures should be aimed away from viewer. For objects viewed multiple sides, well lights with louvers should be used, and located as close to the base of the object as possible.

Spotlighting: Special landscape features such as sculptures, specimen shrubs or benches can be lighted from above utilizing shielded spot lamps. Lights should be concealed in adjacent trees or structures, and should be used judiciously in the landscape.

Path Lighting: Patch Lighting is accomplished by utilizing low mounted spread lights along one edge of a path. Path lighting is available in an endless array of styles, and often becomes a feature of your outdoor space.

Moonlighting: By strategically locating small ‘up and down’ fixtures inside of large trees, it is possible to replicate the effect of moonlight filtering through the branches. It is crucial the fixtures are specially designed for this purpose.

The key to all these affects is to not over due it. Nothing is more tacky than washing your property with gigantic flood lights. Remember, part of what makes a beautiful outdoor space at night, is the fact that it’s dark out!

Decorating with Pink

We're crazy about the color pink.  Not for clothes, because unless you are five, pink clothes just seem silly.  And don't even get us started on those pink Juicy Couture sweatsuits...

We love pink decor though.

Unfortunately, we are unable to indulge in our favorite color, mainly because there is a man in the house and he won't allow it.  But one can dream, right?

Here are some inspirations for you...

Image from Metropolitan Home

Image from House Beautiful

Image from Vogue Living

Images from House Beautiful

Have a great day, everyone!

Luxury Silk Flowers

It's raining dogs and cats here in Los Angeles today. We never had a storm like this before. You'd think we're in Seattle!

When it's rainy and gray we find ourselves just craving colors (or a hot pot of soup). Just something to cheer us up!

The best way to add colors is via accessories, as you know.  That or you have to change the paint, the uphosltery, the drapes blah blah blah.  Who has the time and the money?

We found this new line of silk flowers that we just love so much. They are made for very high-end, upscale hotels but it's available commercially too.   They look totally expensive (but they are really not).

Check them out:

We'll be loading these up in our silk flowers section this weekend so please check back then.  Thanks.

Modern Plants

There are certain things that just instantly make your home look dated, you know? For example, fake plants that look fake, like the god- awful ivy plants that you see at Michaels?

We saw some modern plants that we think you'll really like. They're totally chic, and the best part is, they look so incredibly real too.

Here are few:

These will be posted on our modern plants section by the weekend or so.

Turquoise Accessories

Did you hear?  Turquoise is officially the color for 2010 , according to the LA Times.  We always like turquoise.  It's a happy, happy color. 

In case you are into it as well, here are some great turquoise accessories from Global Views:

All of these items can be found on our home accessories section.