Contemporary Tubs

In my latest bathroom renovation project, I will be using a very contemporary freestanding tub.  It is absolutely gorgeous and surprisingly very comfortable.  Yesterday I went out to see these tubs in person and actually sit in them and my favorite was this one by Victoria + Albert. 

 This ENGLISHCAST tub is made of a blend of volcanic limestone and high performance resins which takes the visual and tactile appeal of soaker tubs to a new level. Warm to the touch and naturally insulating, the volcanic limestone compound keeps your bathwater at just the right temperature, allowing for longer, more relaxing bathing experiences. This by the way, in my book is a very eco-friendly trait.  Plus, no one likes to sit with their back up against a chilly tub.Victoria & Albert tubs are also naturally scratch resistant and renewable and won’t creak or flex.

Victoria + Albert has some sexy bath tubs, so check out their website. 

There are so many new exciting bathroom products out there right now , like the new Hansgroghe plumbing fixtures, the white finish faucets, WetStyle vessels and vanities.  Oh and then there's all the new Plumbing codes too.   Anyhow, I can't wait to finish my current projects, photograph them and move onto the next projects lined up.  This is going to be a very busy year in Bathroom renovations for us here at EMI Interior Design , and you will see some great innovative design at it's best.

Getting Started this first week in the New Year.

Every Year I set goals for EMI Interior Design and myself, and it's not necessarily on the last day of the year,  but at the beginning of the year when I start to put together a calendar of projects and see what we have in store for the next couple of months.  

It's then when I realize what we will doing the rest of the year and I set forth other goals that will help me and my company grow.  What I like about my goals is that I set a high bar and therefore making it challenging for myself, so that I don't slack or become complacent.  I constantly check (weekly/ monthly) to see what we got accomplished  and what is left to be done , and I push myself toward the goal every time I see the list.  Of course these goals are always realistic and within reach with lot's of hard work and dedication. 

For Example, last year a couple of my personal and business goals that I set out at the beginning of January '10 were to Get a Contractors License, buy a Vacation home in Big Bear, take a big vacation, Help with a charity project , Get new office space, and couple other smaller things.   

Today I am proud to say that we have completed all these goals, including the renovation of Big Bear and are now renting it out to for the 2011 Snow Season !  Not to mention we also got published 4x's in 2010! So this week on Monday/Tuesday, I set out a whole new set of fun & challenging goals: 5 for me , 5 for my business and I hope to get most , if not all, done by the end of this year.

I whole-heartily believe that you can get what you want , but you have to write it down as a goal and look at it everyday, and ask yourself daily what you need to do to make it happen.  I do this every year, and always have great results. I encourage you to do the same, set some goals, believe in yourself, work hard and diligently and you too shall accomplish them.

Happy New Year Everybody ! May your 2011 year be Joyous and Prosperous.



Keepsake for the New Year !

Next time you pop open a champagne bottle, perhaps for New Years or you uncork that special bottle of vintage Cabernet Sauvignon to celebrate don't throw away the bottle! You can turn the labels on those bottles into a personal decorative piece that commemorates the bottles (and memories)  you've shared.

After you've enjoyed the bottle(s), soak the bottle in a tub of water until the label comes off (almost) on its own. Arrange the labels on a wooden board to your liking and the frame it.

It's amazing how sometimes the simplest things can help create a lifetime of memories!  It's a simple keepsake.  Have a safe and Happy New Year everyone.  "See" you all in 2011 . Cheers ! 

The Future Of Taste: A Great Holiday Read From Standard Magazine And Our Predictions For The New Year

In the design industry, there is a little known secret. All the trends for the year are actually set at the end of the previous year at a secret meeting. A cabal of industry insiders gather in the Autumn to discuss the future season, what will be hot and (perhaps more importantly) what will be not.

These are the Tastemakers.

The Holiday Nostalgia issue of Standard Magazine took us into the world of the Tastemakers' Dinner, where the future is made.

Ok, so maybe it's not that dramatic, but the Tastemakers' Dinner certainly was an exciting place to be for anyone creatively inclined! Plus, there was delicious food and great wine.

The Tastemakers' Dinner, hosted by Kelly LaPlante of Standard Magazine, was a collection of sixteen talented and creative individuals involved in various industries. The media world was represented, as were the design and artistic worlds. It truly was a meeting of the minds, full of friendly and interesting people! And the wine! Did we mention the wine?

Our own Erica Islas was at this dinner. Each of the guests were asked to fill out a card about their predictions for the trends in the upcoming year, but who can really focus long enough in such an amazing atmosphere to write down a complete answer to such a question!

Erica Islas wasn't able to completely fill out her answer card because:

a) she got a little carried away with the open bar... how could she resist?

b) she was too engrossed in conversation with David Metzler of Free Range Media about the future of reality television. (Snooki's getting her own spin-off?!)

c) she may or may not have dropped her pen in the punch bowl and couldn't find it later when she had to answer the question.

d) all of the above

Now that she's managed to find her pen again, she's decided to jot down a more thorough answer to the question.

So, how's 2011 going to look?

We will see use of uplifting color as we exit this recession – people are starting to spend again!


Spending doesn't mean wasting, though and people are ready to renew, reuse and recycle – they'll invest in the right pieces for their home.


Everyone will crave custom, bespoke design – Form Follows Function!

Mixing metals will become more popular. EMI has been doing it for years, but you’ll see more gold and silver together – Don’t be afraid! If it’s done on the runway, you can do it in your home.

We'll also see juxtaposing details and more avant-garde design – EMI is doing it with their kitchens and baths: traditional vanities and cabinetry get modern edge detail countertops. Modern cabinetry will get a classic, traditional edge detail countertop. We'll see a rustic look combined with BLING and glamorous, blinged-out rooms with a pop of rustic.

People will be pushing the envelope with original BOLD art.

Design is moving in a whimsical and playful direction, so we will be seeing a lot of artisan accessories with lots and lots of colors.

Oh, and so much more! Just stay tuned.