By Lisa September 27th, 2010
I love how calling a technique by its French name sounds so sophisticated! En plein air painting means, literally, “in the open air” and refers to the act of painting outdoors. Of course artists have long enjoyed painting outside, but in the mid-nineteenth century working in natural light became a focus for Impressionistic painters. In […]
By Nancy September 13th, 2010
I received in the mail today the latest edition of a well respected trade publication for the kitchen and bath industry. This magazine is big – I mean the format is big – approximately 10″ x 14″, assumably to better showcase photos. In the beginning of the magazine, where all good stuff is, are the […]
By Nancy September 6th, 2010
In the market for new barstools? Let these handy tips be your guide as you stroll through the aisles looking for your perfect new seat. Or, give us a call and we’ll do the shopping for you! First, measure the height of your counter or table. Then determine the proper bar stool height by consulting […]
By Nancy August 30th, 2010
Got a tree that needs chopping down? Sure, you’ll have a lot of wood for the firepit… or, you could call Wood From The Hood! WFTH is a company that collects and mills local trees that would otherwise be turned into mulch or firewood, then recycles it into flooring, furniture, millwork, and accessories. Harvesting urban […]
By Nancy August 2nd, 2010
Lately I’ve been reading another book by Carlos Ruiz Zafon, a Spanish author who sets his wonderfully gothic-toned stories in early twentieth-century Barcelona. Of course, as would happen to any good student of design history, my mind wanders through the streets of Barcelona to the works of Antoni Plàcid Guillem Gaudí i Cornet – more […]
By Nancy July 26th, 2010
Have you ever had the experience of running across something new, like a new product or a new idea, etc., and then you see it everywhere? I’ve been having that experience lately and wanted to share it with you. Last week I wrote about that crazy Italian glass bathtub, and what have I been running […]
By Lisa July 22nd, 2010
It’s a lucky side effect of being in the design business that leads me to seek out interesting neighborhoods when on vacation. And boy did I find a great one in Petoskey, Michigan while at my cousin’s wedding. Petoskey is a charming resort town on Little Traverse Bay of Lake Michigan. There is an area […]
By Nancy July 17th, 2010
In my opinion, function is the name of the game and always comes first regarding kitchen and bath design. Certain things just are what they are and because of their function, the basic shape of it really doesn’t change… but the look, feel, and mood it sets can be very different. A good example is […]
By Lisa June 20th, 2010
We all know that one of the first things we want to do when we move into a new home is make it our own. Dolley Madison was no exception. When she and her husband, James Madison, moved into the White House in 1809 the house was 9 years old and had rooms with no […]