Bevolo Gas Lamps - A New Orleans Sight for Sore Eyes!

One of the things that left a lasting impressions of New Orleans for me was these beautiful gas lamps.  I'd never seen them before. 

Yes, These are gas lanterns on the porch ! Aren't they magical?

Imagine a whole city with these beauties.  What's so pretty about these is how the flame flickers. It's pretty magical .

Bevolo's gas burners were designed to provide a unique "bat-wing" shaped flame while offering the lowest BTU rating. They are only available on Bevolo fixtures and cost approximately $7-$8/month to operate. 

Cool right?

 It all began way back about 68 years ago.  Bevolo Gas and Electric Lights began in the French Quarter in 1945 when Andrew Bevolo Sr. revolutionized the production of gas lamps.  Utilizing a hand riveting technique , he created sustainable gas lights.  WAY before his time Right?  His master craftsmanship and artistic style paired up with the talents of renowned architect A. Hayes Town created what is now known as the French Quarter Lamp.  They are everywhere I tell you !  This family owned business continues growing strong , producing each and every piece by hand.  I had the pleasure of visiting the showroom and factory with Modenus & the BlogTourNOLA team and I got to see the production in person myself. 

 Bevolo lamps are sustainable.  Bevolo handcrafts their fixtures from the purest copper possible.  They pride themselves on fixtures that are lifetime products and will be in your family for generations to come.  To read more about this click here. and here for more reasons to LOVE and purchase Bevolo.

Don't you agree that these could be AMAZING everywhere ?  I REALLY want one now :)

Photos: by Erica Islas & some Courtesy of Bevolo

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 and 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 .