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HOT NEIGHBORHOODS TO CHECK OUT IN MIAMI THIS WEEKEND: 9.25.15

I really do enjoy sharing the spirit of Miami with my readers and keeping you updated with events and activities that this coastal city has to offer.

Whenever traveling to a city there are always so many interesting neighborhood’s to explore. Today I am going share with you some cool and sometimes overlooked neighborhoods to check out this weekend!

Mid Beach
This neighborhood is filled with some of the most iconic hotels and nightlife in Miami. The Miami Beach Editionmay be his hottest project around. The hotel captures the essence of the city, a hypnotic mix of glamour and play, from the palm-filled lobby diffused with candlelight, to the indoor bowling alley and ice skating rink.

Only a few blocks away, you will find the fabulous Thompson Miami, housed in a restored Art Deco tower, makes poolside lounging an all-day affair with its bright mix of yellow-and-white striped cabanas, Oceanside cocktails, and young spitited crowd.

Let’s not forget the iconic Fontainebleau, which recently added two more hotel towers plus a Vegas-worthy pool area as part of a $1 billion renovation. Hanging by the pool where famous movie scenes have been filmed and then you can dance the night away at Liv.

As you can see Mid Beach is epicenter of luxurious resorts so when you need a get away you know where to escape!

Downtown/Brickell
In Downtown we have the wonderful landmark the Pérez Art Museum. Hanging tropical gardens are strung from the canopies and the glass covered modernist building brings in natural light to show off a grand selection of contemporary works of Latin American art. In the new Museum Park, this area will only become even more vibrant when Patricia and Phillip Frost Museum of Science opens in 2016.

A downtown revitalization project in the works promises a cultural arts center, urban-chic dwellings and lofts, and an assortment of hip boutiques, eateries, and bars, all to bring downtown back to a life it never really had.

TOP 5 HIGH-END EXTERIOR DESIGN TIPS

Of course we are always here to give you high-end interior design advice for you home. It is also important to care for your house as a whole, which means the outside too!

Your outdoor space is just as important and today I am going to share with you some high-end exterior design tips!

1. Plan for the Weather
It is always the smartest choice to plan ahead. All four seasons will affect your outdoor space in many different ways. Different colors look differently based on the season. Thinking forward will solve this problem, you can use more neutral tones and bring gradual pops of color in through moldings or windowpanes. There are plenty of apps you can use to see what colors would look best in the space.

2. Painting Prep
It’s important to prepare the area to be painted and there are 3 steps that are the most practical approach. The surface must be dry, the surface must be clean and the surface must be sound. By following these easy steps you can prep you outdoor walls the simplest way possible.

3. Follow Mother Nature
The most beautiful exteriors always have a connection with the surrounding. Every landscape has tones and color you can pick up on and use in your style palette. Ignite your garden by following these steps and you can add even more natural color to your outdoor style guide. Following Mother Nature will guide you to the most fabulous exterior design.

TRICKS TO BRIGHTEN UP A DARKER ROOM

For homes that are naturally dark there are a bunch of ways to lighten them up! Though dark spaces can feel intimate, bright rooms can transform a home and uplift your mood.

Here are some simple decorating methods to help brighten up a room.

Lighting
Since you can always just place a window in a room, replacing natural light with superficial light is another way to brighten it up. You can help balance your lighting with floor lamps that will help evenly distribute illumination. Having lamps with dimmer switches can easily change the ambiance as well.

You should make sure that the room has an assortment of lighting types. This includes overhead lighting (recessed fixtures, pendants and chandeliers), task lighting (desk lamps, art lighting and table lamps) and accent lighting (sconces and under-cabinet lighting). These types of lighting will help layer the space and not overwhelm it with brightness.

Mirrors
You can always bounce more light off of any reflective pieces so why not go for the decorative ones! Vintage mirrors or mosaic mirrors are beautiful home accessories that will help create focal points in your home while brightening up the room by reflecting the light from you lamps.

Try places a mirror directly across the wall from your window. Even add a drape over the mirror to help give it the window like effect. This window mimicking will give the illusions for a second window while bringing more light into the room.

Paint
When choosing a color to paint your walls lighter neutrals such as warm white, dove gray or light taupe will make a space appear more open and airy. You don’t have to just paint your walls to create this effect; you can also paint your ceiling or moldings.

Use paint with sheen. Painting in a flat, matte or satin finishes will soak up light, while semi-gloss, high-gloss and lacquer finishes tend to reflect light.

HIGH END INTERIOR DECORATION INSPIRATION OF THE WEEK: DECORATING WITH PINK

If you are redecorating a room in your home and are daring enough to make a big change then why not go bold with pink!

When using shades of pink thoughtfully in your home you can create great intrigue while avoiding a child-like look. Were not talking about dousing your lawn with pink flamingo ornaments, but finding tasteful ways to bring a splash of color into your home.

Let’s take a look at some ways you can decorate with pink!

50 Shades of Pink
When is comes to pink you do not have to only stick with one shade. Experiment a bit by mixing pastel pink, fuchsia, and dark pink to come up with an entirely unique room.

Liven up Your Room with Pink Flowers
If you have an especially neutral space, pink flowers such as roses or peonies make a great accent. Again you can mix up the shades with pink and burgundy flowers for the ultimate dreamy bouquet.

Mix is Up with Pink Patterns that Pop
Choosing pink patterns that pop mixed with unexpected patterns like black and white, and floral is an inspiring idea. You can really transform a room while adding a memorizing wall.

Pick a Pink Statement Piece to Draw Your Eye In
Make a cool piece of pink art the focal point of a room in your home. You can even create the artwork yourself by just painting a canvas pink and framing it or grabbing a large swatch of pink fabric.

Make your Kitchen Cool with Pink Appliances
Retro appliances are one of the biggest kitchen trends right now. Retro appliances come in pastel shades like mint green, baby blue, and pastel pink. It doesn’t get much more fun and bold than a pink fridge!

AN INSIDE LOOK AT THE WYNWOOD WALLS

We have talked to you a bit about the history of the Wynwood Walls, but today I would like to dig a little deeper.

Fresh and upcoming graffiti artists have curated this amazing and free open art space over the past few years.

The walls have changed but the intensity lives. As a huge supporter of the arts today I am going to tell you the inside scoop of some of the current artists.

Maya Hayuk
This Brooklyn artist creates paintings and massively scaled murals with inspiration from outer space, traditional Ukrainian crafts, airbrushed manicures, and mandalas.

Hayuk weaves visual information from her immediate surroundings into her elaborate abstractions, creating an engaging mix of referents from popular culture and advanced painting practices alike while connecting to the ongoing pursuit of psychedelic experience in visual form.

Ryan McGinness
McGinness was raised on the surf and skate culture of Virginia Beach and now a fixture in Manhattan’s art world, his work uses the language of signage and corporate logos to communicate more personal messages.

His mural for Wynwood Walls, entitled 33 Women, uses a palette of red, orange, green and yellow Day-Glo paint on a black background. In these works, he offers his own distinct version of the female nude, a constant throughout art history. A true brilliant addition to the Walls.

Shepard Fairey
“Obey” campaign and for his Obama “Hope” poster. His mural for the Wynwood Walls, visible from 2nd Avenue, is a stunning example of his wheat-pasted work.

Knowing that the walls would be protected provided an incentive for him to design and create a pasted mural that is more polished than what he would be able to do without permission. His finished work includes references to human rights with the figure on the far left of Burmese opposition politician Aung San Suu Kyi; the imagery also deals with climate change and the question of war.

Retna
LA-based artist RETNA loves going out to Miami. His bold and distinctive murals for Primary Flight, painted on some of the biggest walls around Wynwood since 2006, have become a part of the city’s artistic landscape.

The artist strives to embrace the universality of human experience in his work. You don’t need to decipher his letters to think of the different ways even ancient cultures have recorded their history.

Alex Diaz
This Puerto Rican street artist began her street artistry in 2009 and quickly became known for his impeccable attention to detail and unique style of painting.

Diaz’s unmistakable technique uses thousands of tiny black brushstrokes to create extraordinary murals. His work features fantastical and dreamlike depictions of animals in a state of metamorphosis. Diaz’s work is truly exceptional and beautiful experience.

HOME DESIGN AND SIMPLICITY

One very important element with high-end interior design is simplicity. The ability to extract home items until you have created an astounding room aesthetic is something that takes practice and patience.

By simplifying your home you have increased positive energy by creating a synced flow through your rooms. Today I am going to share with you some tips and tricks to keep your home simplified in a positive way.

Clutter-free organization
Getting rid of clutter can be challenging for most. Taking the time to actually go through your belongings and decide what to keep, donate or throw away is really important and crucial to simplicity. Everything that remains you can organize and put away in unseen storage.

Pops of color
If you have neutral-toned furniture you can bring bold colors in with you home accessories, such a throw pillows and standing lamps. Painting an accent wall is an awesome way to bring color into a space. Pick a color from a throw pillow or wall-art piece to make the room cohesive. You can also add pops of color by choosing a cool wallpaper design for an accent wall. Also you can also spruce up the room with the wonderful color of flowers and it will also add a natural element.

Symmetrical yet functional
Balance is everything when placing furniture in a room. The furniture should form a relaxing and symmetrical arrangement. There should be about 3 and 10 feet between each seat. Additionally, instead of pushing each piece up against the wall to create more space, give your furniture a bit of breathing room a few inches from the wall. This makes the room look and feel open and airy.

Varying textures
Having only one texture in a room can seem bland. You can avoid that by varying the fabric types on your couch and curtains. Mix in some metals or wooden accents to draw the eye around the room.

GREAT OFFERINGS FOR OUR FELLOW MIAMIANS

HIGH END INTERIOR DESIGN INSPIRATION OF THE WEEK: PATTERNS THAT POP

Is one of the rooms in your home in need of a drastic update? Are you tired of your bland old eggshell walls? Well then today’s inspiration may be just perfect for you!

Today I am going to share with you how you can upgrade your home instantly by applying bold patterns to your walls! Let’s take a look at how these patterns come to full fruition in your home.

Our earth is covered in unique patterns throughout nature, fashion, animals, and architecture. There is always a distinctive print to take away inspiration from.

This year we have highlighted the Chromatropic pattern and dazzling wallpaper. See below some featured patterns that have been hot this year!

Mod Optic
Bold geometric designs are making their way into home decor with subtle shifts in scale and color. These strong three-dimensional patterns create a clean, modern style that communicates sophistication and boldness. Infuse contrast and depth to create a clean, modern backdrop for existing decor.

Striking Linework
The once simple stripe has found new life with a bold, modern twist. Sharp angles and a fractured, abstract look bring dimension to the standard stripe, and add strong visual impact to even the most awkward spaces around the home. Consider using neutral paint colors for more traditional and elegant looks or brighter colors to infuse energy into the space.

Geo Elemental
Merging traditional shapes such as zigzags and diamonds with various color treatments adds a modern feel to deep-rooted tradition, creating a meeting point for contemporary and universal. The lively repetition of eye-catching, sharp lines is ideal for spaces that draw attention in one direction and evoke a strong sense of place. Using earth tones and natural colors add to the global feel of the pattern, while cool neutral colors provide a relaxing aura.

CONGRATULATIONS TO NATIONAL INTERIOR DESIGN COMPETITION WINNER JOSEPH DANIELSON

I am huge supporter when it comes to the youth and arts. I believe it is very important for our students out there to have ample opportunity to let there artistically ability grow and shine.

We have talked about the Young Arts Foundation and The Locust Projects, which are local heavy hitters here in Miami. Today we are going to share with you one special student winner from Iowa State University.

A junior studying interior design at Iowa State University, Joseph Danielson, has won the 2015 Raymond Waites Design Competition sponsored by the International Furnishings and Design Association Educational Foundation.

This contest is intended to foster a student’s creativity and develop a room with their personal visual inspiration, warmth and spirit, and ability to reflect their design influence through various cultures.

As you can see the competition is no joke! It takes incredible skill and focus to be a winner and Danielson made it happen! This year’s competition challenged students to design an up-to-2,500-square-foot luxury “dream home entertainment area” featuring an indoor gourmet kitchen and attached outdoor entertainment space with a pool. Designs had to include both traditional and modern elements along with an original outdoor furniture product.

Here is a glimpse of what Danielson created, he incorporated French Provincial and English Neo-Palladian architecture and interior design elements in a natural palette of cream, bronze and green.

A truly amazing feat, we just wanted to take the time to congratulate Joseph on his artistic victory!

You can read even more about Danielson’s victory here.

3 GREAT AND BUDGET-FRIENDLY INTERIOR DESIGN WEBSITES

Moving into a new house or apartment can be very pricey. You may not have the time or funds to go the professional route but there are many valuable options out there that can help! From apps to websites we sort the best out for you.

Don’t give up too soon when it comes to your interiors. Remember that your home should be a reflection of yourself and your style.

I have provided you below with these amazing web-based services that offer decorating plans and buying guidance for a low cost.

LaurelandWolf.com
This virtual design firm charges a onetime fee per room. Start by viewing sample spaces and clicking “Love it” or “Leave it” to pinpoint your style. Then answer a few questions housing questions. Next, upload pictures of the room. Designers send mood boards of ideas, and you select the one you like best and work with that designer virtually until you land on a plan. You’ll get a shopping list, a layout, and how-tos to style your space.

Homepolish.com
This company charges a flat fee for an in-person design consultation—offered in major cities only—and beyond that, an hourly rate. If you live in a smaller city you should opt for a virtual experience and save 20% of the cost! You can also benefit by buying suggested products on your own, rather than through a designer, which often entails markups, and by using Homepolish’s vendor discounts (Design Within Reach, CB2, and many more).

Decorist.com
This process kicks off with an interactive style quiz. Once you’ve turned in answers and uploaded photos of your space, along with a list of the furniture you want to keep, a designer sends two different room plans and requests feedback. The third (and final) plan gives suggested layout tweaks incorporating your feedback, plus a clickable shopping list for new pieces to add to the mix.

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