WOW ! What color is that ? HGTV June 2013 Issue

Featured in New June Issue of HGTV Magazine 

It's all about COLOR ! 

On Stands now.

Thanks for the shout out HGTV !

Featured on Page 56 in "WOW! What Color is that?" 

Turtle Lake By Dunn Edwards - Kitchen Design by Erica Islas 

This Seafoam color is sprinkled throughout kitchen , not only on upper cabinets, but also on glass knobs, kitchen table, and kitchen runner. Color was inspired by the decorative ceramic tile.

For more photos on this kitchen click here .

Designer, Mother ,Wife, etc...

This is my family.... my fun little family.

My dear friend Erika Ward invited me to do a blog post on her wonderful blog BluLabel Bungalow / MotherLode Monday.... (click to read) where I share my intimate motherhood and business juggle adventures.  I am so blessed to be able to have the best of both worlds and I am SO Thankful.

Best wishes to all the working mothers out there who juggle life too!

HAPPY MOTHER's DAY !

BlogTourNola Rebuilding NOLA Fundraiser

BlogTourNola was an enriching experience all around.  Veronika of Modenus and the generous Sponsors not only organized an amazing Architecture and Design tour, but they also took us to see another side of New Orleans, the side that many of us have forgotten about since news media has moved out of there and on to other stories and tragedies.  Yet, the fact remains, that New Orleans is still being rebuilt after almost 8 years. 

So we spent the day visiting communities in Gentile and the Lower 9th that were hit hard by Hurricane Katrina.  We met few families that day and went inside their homes.  It was not easy... Many of us in tears as we heard their stories.  These people LOST everything.  Everything but HOPE. 

We met one gentleman in particular who touched all of our hearts . His Name is Joe Robert.

This is Joe's House

Joe Pointing to the Levy

The Levy Behind Joe's house

Levy wall, Joe's house

Insid Joe's House - Slow Progress

Nearly eight years later, Joe and Gloria’s house is still uninhabitable. While a new house has been framed out, the building lacks essentials including electrical, drywall, flooring and plumbing.  Because Joe is a contractor by trade, he has the skills to work on his house, but he has generously donated much of his free time to volunteering with St. Paul’s Homecoming Center helping to rebuild other people’s houses.

Joe works on his home little by little, but is often derailed by setbacks such as having his house broken into and his tools stolen. Even though Joe was forced to save up until he could replenish his tool supply, he has not lost his faith in humanity.

Fortunately, Joe and Gloria received some good news recently when Storehouse of World Vision selected the couple and their house for a rehab project. A few weeks ago Storehouse joined forces with the National Kitchen and Bath Association (NKBA) and St. Paul’s Homecoming Center to help rehab kitchens and baths in three houses as a lead-in to NKBA’s Kitchen & Bath Industry Show (KBIS) held April 19-21 in New Orleans.

It was such a pleasure to meet Connie Uddo , Executive Director of St. Paul's Homecoming and the many volunteers of the program. "We have each other and that's the greatest resource of all" she says. 

They together with WorldVision are helping rebuild these communities with generous Partnerships such as NKBA and KBIS and many more.

Please visit the World Vision website where they have dedicated a page to Joe Robert and his story as well as a link to a fundraiser just for Joe. www.worldvision.org/nolaprojects. Every little helps.

Best of KBIS 2013

My 5 Favorites from KBIS

1. BRIZO - Freestanding Tub Faucets

2. TOTO - Air Injection and Sana GLoss glaze 

3. Silestone -Eco & Nebula

4. Kohler - Moxie !

5 . Wilsonart -Faux wood grain counter top material

BRIZO's display stopped me in my tracks.... it was spectacular !  More spectacular though was their awesome freestanding tub faucets.

“Extreme attention to detail was taken in the development of Brizo freestanding tub fillers,” said Laura Brooks, Brizo senior brand manager. “Not only do they blend well with our existing bath collections, but our freestanding tub fillers incorporate design innovations to help ease installation and improve functionality for a true statement in the bath.”

Additionally, Brizo freestanding tub fillers flow at 10.5-15 gpm, depending on the trim and rough selected, which is significantly higher than many standard counterparts that flow between six and eight gpm.

I will be designing a bathroom around this Siderna Black matte free standing faucet .

Silestone and ECO by Cosentino - Quartz Surface

New Nebula Code Series.

We got a special SNEAK PEEK of their newest product in development and it is gorgeous.....

 .... Can't show you a photo of the product but I can tell you it's name and features.......it is Really cool !  It is Called Dekton. 

TOTO

Toto's patented Sana Gloss glaze is awesome !

It prevents debris and mold from sticking to porous, ceramic surfaces.  So that means it keeps your toilet bowl cleaner longer which means fewer chemicals in the environment and less water used for cleaning.

ALMES series if one of my FAV's

TOTO has always been a favorite.  Love their innovation and their pride in sustainability !

PEOPLE, PLANET,WATER - Toto's Motto

The innovation of their new air injection shower systems are very impressive too! 

Wilsonart - Faux Wood CounterTop

DuVerre Hardware - Good Looking and Eco-Friendly.

Good Looking and Eco-Friendly .  Now you got my attention Du Verre ! 

As a designer, I am always looking for new products that are innovative and ahead of their time.  I love products that are great quality, timeless and never trendy.   So I was really excited (while on BlogtourNOLA with Modenus) to learn about this hardware company Du Verre  , I mean I was SO impressed!  

Du Verre is not only a design leader for quality and original contemporary hardware, but they are also Green!  Yes, eco-friendly.  I love a company who is passionate about sustainability without sacrificing design.  Du Verre die cast hardware is made from recycled aluminum which is fully compatible with LEED objectives . Check out Du Verre Green Initiatives. 

Du Verre is a company who really gets it. All around.  In today's design market, collaborations are key.  And they are no spring chickens to that.   Their collaborations with award winning designers include some of my favorites designers, like Goodman Charlton, Erin Adams and more..

But don't take my word for it ..... Really ! Check them out yourself.  You'll be glad you did.

Let me know your thoughts.......Great Stuff huh?

Best of all ....Du Verre hardware is in-stock and ready to go , check them out here and remember that for your next project .

Architecture and Design Museum Gala on May 11th

I am honored to have been asked to participate in this amazing event !

It's gonna be the bomb digitty bomb!

CELEBRATE is A+D Architecture and Design Museum - Los Angeles’ annual gala that brings together design leaders and creative thinkers from around the world. This year on May 11 we will toast the artistic journey that fuels great design. The centerpiece of this unforgettable evening will be the presentation and sale of one-of-a-kind carry-ons – suitcases, vintage train cases, modern day satchels, futuristic jet-paks and more – designed and imagined by noted architects and designers. The festivities will also include a curated silent auction, international cuisine, music, drink and more! See list below for the Suitcase Designers, more on silent auction items A+D Museum website . 

I was asked to design and fabricate a one-of-a-kind Carry-on. 
Here's what I designed and fabricated.  I call it "Clearly my Carry-on".

My Design Inspiration :  Vintage suitcases, brass and lucite....I love them, so I drew my inspiration from there to design my carry-on with a twist.  Lucite is timeless.  Lucite has a nostalgic vibe and is futuristic at the same time. I imagine having a clear carry on could be fun. Don't you?  It's bold, maybe a little edgy, but also very chic. Why not make it easier for airport security and the x-ray machine at the airport. Not to mention, it would be very hard to mistake your carry-on from anyone else’s, hence the name “ Cleary my Carry-on” 

The evening will feature a runway presentation of one-of-a-kind carry-on suitcases, imagined, designed, and donated by world-renowned artists, architects and designers, including Karim Rashid, Steven Ehrlich, Yazdani Studio of Cannon Design, Christobal Valecillos, BMW DesignworksUSA, Fentress, Frederick Fisher & Partners, Kathryn M. Ireland, Trip Haenisch, and Craig Hodgetts of Hodgetts + Fung. (Complete list follows at end of release.) The only restriction is that the artwork conforms to the allowable TSA-designated carry-on luggage size. Modeled performance-style during the event, the pieces will then be available for purchase as part of that night’s premier silent auction. All proceeds benefit A+D Museum. The evening will be emceed by actor and TV host (Alter Eco/Discovery-Planet Green) Boise Thomas, while KCRW DJ Raul Campos returns to spin tunes all evening.

Can't wait to see the amazing artwork these creatives created.  Tickets to this amazing event is selling out quick !  Get your tickets here.

CONFIRMED PARTICIPANTS

Adams Morioka
AECOM
ARUP
Chris Barrett
BMW DesignworksUSA
Studio Tim Campbell
Curated.
Steven Ehrlich
Escalante Architects
Fentress Architects
Berenika Boberska, Feral Office
Fitzsu
Form
Frederick Fisher & Partners
Gensler
April Greiman and Michael Rotondi
Trip Haenisch
David Hertz
Heydey Partnership
Hodgetts & Fung
Brad Howe
INTERSTICE Architects
Erica Islas, EMI Interior Design
Kao Pao Shu
Kathryn M. Ireland
Karten: Design
John Friedman Alice Kimm Architects
Kirkpatrick Architects
Dan Meis
Minarc
Lehrer Architects + Arktura
Lorcan O’Herlihy
Gary Paige
Karim Rashid
Jennifer Schanen Rider with Luz Mercado
Gwen Samuels
Selbert Perkins Design
SITEWORK LA
Paola Tassara, Studio BRASA
Cristobal Valecillos
The Warner Group Architects, Inc. + Artist Simon Raab
wHY Architecture
WRKSHP Partners
Yazdani Studio of Cannon Design 

P.S. Thank You very much Andres for helping me fabricate my vision and also for styling the photo shoot !  You are a amazing !  XO

Home Spa with Mr. Steam / Spa en casa con Mr. Steam

Photography by David Young-Wolff - Design by EMI Interior Design, inc.

Bathroom renovations are by far one of my favorite design projects to undertake.  I love creating a bathing experience for the client.  

The Bathroom is the first room you go to in the morning and probably the last room before you go to bed, so why not make it a retreat.  

El baño es la primera sala en la que uno va a la mañana y, probablemente, la última habitación antes de ir a la cama, así que ¿por qué no lo convierten en un refugio.

Home spas are not a trend, they are very common now a days and they are really easy to create. You simply have to start with a steam shower of course. The health benefits of steam showers are so rewarding.

  Steamtherapy is great for your skin, helps relieve tired muscles, naturally detoxes your body of impurities, and much more.   Best part of creating a spa retreat at home is you can customize it with other cool features.  Imagine an aroma therapy steam?  How about Chroma therapy?  

Steamtherapy es ideal para la piel, ayuda a aliviar los músculos cansados​​, desintoxica naturalmente su cuerpo de impurezas, y mucho más. La mejor parte de la creación de un refugio de spa en casa es que usted puede personalizarlo con otras características interesantes. Imagina una terapia de vapor aromático? ¿Qué hay de Chroma terapia?

Check out this Video on SteamTherapy.

Haga clic en el video en SteamTherapy.

Mr.Steam’s® full spectrum Chromasteam™ mood lighting system and Aromasteam™ aromatic essential oils system renews mind, body and spirit.

 Click and Create your own home spa with Mr. Steam's Virtual Spa.   It's really simple to use.

Haga clic y Crea tu propio spa en casa con Spa Virtual de Mr. Steam. Es realmente fácil de usar.

And who doesn't love a warm towel.  Okay, I have to admit , that is spoiling yourself, but why not, don't you deserve it ? I haven't met a client who has opposed a towel warmer when I offer it.

  Next time you are designing/renovating a bathroom think about creating a bathing experience, a home spa, a retreat to relax in and reap the benefits.  Start with a Mr.Steam unit and top it off with a Mr.Steam Towel warmer.

Photo: Mr.Steam . Towel warmer