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TRANSFORMATION OF MIAMI BEACH LIFEGUARD TOWERS

Miami is full of unique neighborhoods and historic décor. From the Wynwood Walls to Little Havana there is an amazing architecture and culture.

Today we are going to take you to the beach where the iconic lifeguard towers have been the voice and beacon of the beachscape for years.

Architecture and interior design go hand in hand especially when it comes to Miami. Today I am going to give you an inside look at the transformation of the lifeguard towers over the years and why they are so important to the essence of the city.

Due to temperamental climate being on the Atlantic Ocean, South Florida has taken the brunt of many forceful storms. Miami Beach’s lifeguard towers have suffered as well. Before Hurricane Andrew in 1992 hit, the lifeguard towers were very basic and dull and could easily be from any average beach.

That changed when Miami architect William Lane volunteered to rebuild the destroyed towers into conversation pieces that captured the soul and originality of South Beach and Ocean Drive. After the 2005 Storms, towers by other designers were added to the beach as well to create the artful beach oasis.

These quirky and whimsical towers became a staple of pop culture in Miami Beach. They are a true reflection of the Art Deco history. Susan Russell has beautifully photographed the towers for your coffee table reads in South Beach Lifeguard Stations.

That salty sea air and father time really took a toll on Lane’s towers, but luckily enough the newest structures were upgraded with better connecters, larger decks, stainless steel, and impact windows. They now also rise 8 feet high.

Soon enough we are hoping that even more towers will be updated and replaced with even more spectacular designs that spread joy to visitors from all over the world!

You can read even more about the makeover here.

HIGH END INTERIOR DECORATION INSPIRATION OF THE WEEK: IRIS APFEL

We have brought to you amazing lifestyle bloggers, authors, and athletes, today I am going to introduce to you legendary interior designer and fashion icon, Iris Apfel.

This native New Yorker has been on the design scene her whole lifetime, so I just had to spread the knowledge of this remarkable woman with you!

Iris has been in the interior design and fashion world since the 1950’s, and has been a style icon ever since! Though retired, Apfel is still making appearances and spreading her influence at the age of 93!

Two years after Iris Apfel was married her and her husband launched the textile firm Old World Weavers. From 1950-1992 the Apefel’s took part in many design restoration projects including work on the White House for 9 presidents. Those included Truman, Eisenhower, Kennedy, Johnson, Nixon, Ford, Carter, Reagan, and Clinton.

In 2014 the documentary Iris was composed of her life and you should definitely check it out! Let her lifelong energy and iconic style inspire you!

After coming across this interesting Forbes Article I had to shed light in this magnificent icon.

INTERIOR DESIGN AND YOUR CEILING

You have picked your color, painted your walls, and chosen your furniture. Now look up! What’s missing? Your ceiling!

When redecorating a space many people are quick to overlook there ceiling. The ceiling is actually a very important part of a room that deserves just as much attention.

Your ceiling can accentuate the space in many different ways and today I am going to talk to you about a few of them!

Painting Your Ceiling
Try using a color that complements your wall color. Maybe use a shade or two lighter or darker then your walls. This can bring balance and harmony to any room.

Decorative Molding
You can find decorative molding available at a local building supplies warehouse or a specialist-molding supplier. Choose your mold and watch is change the texture and aesthetic to the room. We suggest hiring a contractor when installing.

Wood Plank Ceilings
I would consider installing a wood plank ceiling for a more rustic and country look. In a space with high ceilings plank and groove are elemental options.

Ceiling Tiles and Pressed Ceilings
Ceiling tiles and pressed ceilings are an inexpensive to bring flair to your ceiling. Tin ceiling tiles provide a more lux style. All three options are reasonably simple to install and can disguise a textured ceiling.

INTERIOR DECORATION INSPIRATION OF THE WEEK: TROPICAL STYLE

We pull inspiration everyday from all walks of life to fill your home with a little magic, but today we are going to draw your muse from our very own oasis of Miami.

This summer we are noticing a very popular trend of tropical patterns. We are seeing them in high fashion, accessories and now in your home.

Let’s take this tropical style and showcase ways to blend it in your living space!

Tropical interior design can involve the use of many natural materials, such as wicker, rattan, bamboo and teak. You can also go tropical with fabrics featuring palm leaves, lattice prints and flowers.

Tropical Bedrooms
Who doesn’t want a bright and cheerful tropical bedroom! White walls, a palm leaf fan, and bamboo blinds and furnishings keep the space fresh and breezy.

You can create this look by using palm leaf wallpaper, or green and white lattice-print wallpaper in the bedroom. This green and white theme is the perfect setting for vivid accents in colors like electric blue and sunset orange.

For a sheik take on a tropical bedroom, try a coastal mural in earth tones. Let the light shine through your glass windows and let the rich greenery flood both inside and outside the space.

Tropical Bathrooms
You can also make a bold tropical statement in your bathroom. We see it all the time and there is nothing wrong with a themed bathroom. A modern twist on the tropical theme can include leafy wallpaper, a wooden or bamboo mirror and a cane tissue box cover. Place some yellow calla lilies in a vase and your look is complete!

Don’t forget the more plants the better!

Tropical Kitchens
There can be many different ways you can approach decorating a kitchen. Tropical kitchens often have a lot of rich foliage. This space is also perfect for displaying bowls of delicious fruit. White trim gives your kitchen a punchy edge while your leafy ceramics and bamboo accessories will also standout.

Choose a room and try this look out for the summer!

A FRESH LOOK TO SOUTH BEACH’S LINCOLN ROAD

One of the most beloved streets in Miami is getting a makeover and we are here to give you the scoop!

Lincoln road is not only a tourist attraction but is truly the heart of the South Beach where arts and culture meet.

Stroll past some of the best restaurants, boutiques, and art galleries that Miami has to offer!

Lets take an inside look at what the developers have in store for Lincoln Road.

Organizing cafe tables along the inner spine of the walkway, leaving a minimum of 15 feet of grayer sidewalk open for pedestrians in front of businesses. Umbrellas for the tables would be either uniform or picked from a small selection of styles.
New public art exhibition space under some of the Lapidus structures along the mall.
A new folly would be constructed at the Washington Avenue entrance to the mall, providing shade and allowing for performance space at night. Similarly, at the Euclid oval, a flat-water fountain would be added where there’s currently turf. The fountain could be turned off and set up as a stage at night with new lighting overhead.
Organizing cafe tables along the inner spine of the walkway, leaving a minimum of 15 feet of grayer sidewalk open for pedestrians in front of businesses. Umbrellas for the tables would be either uniform or picked from a small selection of styles.
The black-and-white, piano-key design of the center would remain. Laying down new material that wouldn’t require yearly coats of paint would bolster it. In a few areas, more of this design would be revealed as planters are redesigned and seating is added.

5 DECORATING TIPS FROM LIFESTYLE BLOGGER EMILY SCHUMAN

Last week I brought you some professional kitchen tips from New York Times Best Seller Nate Berkus, today I am going to bring you even more of the best guidance you’ll find on the internet!

I know it can be hard to find the crème of the crop when it comes to high-end interior design inspiration and luxury lifestyle on the Internet or in literature, and that is why we bring you the best on our blog!

Today I am going to share with you 5 spectacular decorating tips from lifestyle blogger and author Emily Schuman.

Many of you may have heard of Emily from her blog Cupcakes & Cashmere. Schuman’s blog was started in 2008, encouraging and inspiring readers through fashion, food, beauty, and interior design. Since then she has been a national best seller and has most recently published her second book Cupcakes and Cashmere at Home.

Check out some decorating tips from Cupcakes & Cashmere here!

Search and Use Free Resources
Decorating advice can come from a professional but when designing on a budget it is extremely help full to use free tools that are available. “These free websites helped us to plan and lay out the rooms in our home,” Emily recalls. “The inspiration boards we created were a crucial part of honing in on exactly what we wanted.” You can read the top interior design applications here.

Let the Green In
The importance of letting the outside, in your home cannot be stated enough. The elegance of natural beauty cannot be replaced. “Pretty plants and flowers can add inspiring splashes of color and extra texture to a room,” Emily maintains. Schuman also suggests hanging plants from the ceiling; this can avoid taking up too much floor space.

Use Unexpected Artwork or Conversation Pieces
When is comes to choosing artwork for you walls try thinking outside of the box. Try using personal mementos. “Art can be expensive,” Emily contends. “So I dip into drawings from childhood, concert posters, or mementos — like a wedding speech written by my best friends — to get framed.”

Pay Attention to the Little Things
“Don’t discount the little things,” Emily advises. Small details can make or break a space. Emily suggests taking a closer look at cords, outlet covers, lampshades, and knobs. By simply reassessing those tiny design details, you “can breathe new life into your home for not a lot of money.”

Buy a Bar Cart
Bar carts are a simple way to make a room look lavish and formal! “They’re so festive and can fit in with any home,” Emily believes. “The best part is that they occupy a small footprint and are a good way to conceal an unsightly corner.” If you don’t want a card try being more mysterious with a bar in the globe!

INTERIOR DECORATION INSPIRATION OF THE WEEK: BLUE CERAMIC

This week we are bringing you one of the hottest tile trend inspirations! Blue ceramics create the perfect combination of freshness and grace. Classic blue and white ceramic hues are making a come back in a big way.

This bohemian yet elegant trend is making a comeback in the interior deign world and today I am going to share it with you!

First I am going to get into the history of ceramic tiles. Blue and white were brought to the historical kitchens and bathrooms of palaces in the 17th century. These materials were bought from China, and then built into tiles by Italian immigrant artisans. In addition to floral patterns and traditional geometric styles, many design schemes also included landscapes with windmills, plains and seas.

Through out the years a harmony grew between traditional and modern style ceramic tiles. This growth was achieved by the blue and white combination and the patterns of the past. The combination of modern decorations in the mix of design and geometry creates a contemporary version of this historical trend.

To create an artisanal look, Spanish ceramic tile manufacturers created wall tiles with hand-made details. These tiles blend perfectly with the blue hues to achieve a seamless vintage look. This makes the tiles unique and gives them a sense of elegance and refinement.

As you can see these beautiful tiles are timeless and can be a conversation piece. They have been around for centuries so why not try and add a classic piece of history to your home.

Try and use this inspiration in your next decorating project!

CHROMATROPIC IS ALL THE RAGE AT DESIGN MIAMI/BASEL

If you’ve been reading for a while, you know by now that I get very excited when I come across innovations in the world of high-end interior design. Art that I love and design, I just want to share it with everyone I know.

Here is the inside scoop on the textile theme that is taking over Design Miami/Basel!

Founded in 1935 Maison Pierre Frey now has an archive of some 7,000 wallpaper and fabric designs that demonstrate the house’s commitment to fine craft and rich, hand-drawn pattern work. Design Miami/ collaborates with the luxury textile house for its 10th Anniversary to create Chromatropic, a camouflage-inspired print collaged from tropical textiles from the Pierre Frey archive and collection.

Chromatropic also appears in a capsule collection created by Hentsch Man, a fashion label known for its use of prints. The Hentsch Man anorak, hat and sneakers are available in limited numbers, alongside a specially produced J. Crew Chromatropic pocket square, at the JUNE-Basel pop-up store within Hall 1 Süd.

This geometrical, colorful, and punchy pattern is making waves in the design world this summer! This tropical flavor mixed with architectural design is truly inspiring when it comes to fabric and home decorating. Be on the hunt for this pattern because this new sensation will be selling quickly!

TOP 5 BOOTHS AT DESIGN MIAMI/BASEL 2015

Last week in Miami the 10th Anniversary of Design Miami/Basel took Basel, Switzerland last week. This is an important event that globally represents the strength in design that comes from Miami.

Design Miami/ is the global forum for design. Each fair brings together the most influential collectors, gallerists, designers, curators and critics from around the world in celebration of design culture and commerce.

This event is more than a marketplace for design, where the world’s top galleries gather to present museum-quality exhibitions of twentieth and twenty-first century furniture, lighting and objets d’art. Each show balances exclusive commercial opportunities with progressive cultural programming, creating exciting collaborations with designers and design institutions, panels and lectures with luminaries from the worlds of design, architecture, art and fashion, and unique commissions from the worlds top emerging and established designers and architects.

Today I am going to share with you the highlights of this years show!

Demisch Danant, Jousse Entreprise
Demisch Danant has dedicated its space to the exhibition Radical Rabat: Nomadic French Style of the 1970s, featuring, and inspired by, a series of major works by artist Sheila Hicks, created for her 1971 exhibition in Rabat, Morocco, and not seen publicly since then.

Southern Guild
Hailing from Cape Town in South Africa, Southern Guild is focusing on designers from five African countries (Botswana, Burkina Faso, Mali, Senegal, and South Africa), underlying the creative vitality of the continent, which is also being feted right now at the Vitra Museum with a dedicated exhibition. Most of the pieces are created by hand the designers. Of note is a funky “fish” pod by Porky Hefer, the white earthenware of Astrid Dahl, and the ceiling lights of David Krynauw.

Jousse Entreprise
The Parisian Jousse Entreprise has an interesting booth that focus on modern design with stalwarts like Jean Prouvé and Charlotte Perriant. Highlights include a toad (crapaud) armchair by Francois-Xavier Lalanne, dating 1968, and Zombie armchairs by Roger Tallon, dating 1967, along with the designer’s Cockle armchair module 400, 1965.

Galerie Patrick Seguin
Galerie Patrick Seguin, with its prime position at the start of the fair, never disappoints, each year promoting the demountable houses of Jean Prouvé. This year, the gallery commissioned Rogers Stirk Harbour + Partners (RSHP) to adapt a 6 x 6 m demountable house by the French architect and designer, furnishing it with his designs. Smelling of fresh pine, the small holiday home is based on the original plans with some modern living facilities added, including tiny pods playing as external bathroom and kitchen, and a four-glazed-panel entrance that enhances the living space and opens onto a new external decking platform that can be lowered.

Galerie Steinitz
Amidst all this contemporary design, Galerie Steinitz is almost an anachronism. But the renown antiquaries is holding its own with a small, but beautifully decorated booth dedicated to the Japonisme art movement of the late 19th century and the designs of Edouard Lievre. Taking center stage is a high rosewood table by Lievre replete with gilt bronze and a griotte marble top. The table used to belong to academic and military painter Edouard Detaille, today forgotten but renown in his time. Another highly decorative piece by Lievre on offer is a stunning large jardinière in cloisonné held by bronze dragons, along with an impressive carved wood fireplace (dating from around 1870) by cabinet maker Gabriel Viardot that mixes Japanese, Chinese, and Indian influences all in one.

KITCHEN TIPS FROM NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER NATE BERKUS

There are many opinions in the world of interior design and I am here to scope out the best and enlighten you with some professional wisdom. High-end interior design can be found everywhere from pop culture to printed materials.

Week by week I love providing you with information regarding various projects to work out in your home. We are going to be taking you to the kitchen today. The kitchen is one of the most important living spaces of a home.

Today I am going to share with you some home decorating tips for your kitchen from American interior designer, author, and TV Personality Nate Berkus.

Here are Nate’s best tips for updating your kitchen this summer…

Make The Investment
For a refined and timeless aesthetic think oak cabinets, parquet floors, and brass hardware. Sometimes it’s the best idea to splurge when it comes to your kitchen “Updating old, worn-out appliances will automatically make a kitchen feel more modern,” he says. “Always reach for the best you can afford because you want them to go the distance.”

Update a Few Small Details
When it comes to updating your home for the summer, it’s easy to just grab a few fun home accessories to brighten up your living room, but this will not work if you are looking to update the kitchen. “Maybe it’s as simple as cleaning out your cupboards and repainting your cabinetry,” says Berkus.

Add Your Very Own Personal Touch
Berkus says the key to making your kitchen look good is incorporating your own lifestyle. “You need your kitchen to be hardworking but also personal,” he says. “What elements can you add that will reflect who you are, how you like to live?”

Remember, Classic Simplicity Will Always Look Good
For timeless kitchen quality keep the design simple. “Things like the sleek, flat-door design you see in the refrigerator to the finishes of the range and microwave—every detail was considered and the goal was always, ‘How do we make these appliances look good, not just right now, but 10 years from now?’” he says.

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