A YEAR in The Life of an Interior Designer -reflection on 2013

Take a peek into my interior design adventures of 2013... It was an incredible Year filled with great moments.  I traveled a lot and met a lot of wonderful people.  I am so grateful to everyone in this book and others who I don't have pictures of , who made such an impact on my life this past year.   I put this album together for me as a keepsake but then I thought... why not share it.  So here it is .

Click here to view this photo book larger

Poggenpohl - Timeless Beauties

What is it about these Dreamy Kitchens ! ?  

Ahhhh Poggenpohl ...no one does Modern Kitchens like this .

The new +EDITION collection from Poggenpohl combines classic details with modern appeal. This innovative kitchen design features natural walnut wood veneer along with white lacquer cabinetry, available in flat panel or thin frame detail door styles. New black glass upper wall cabinets include the same thin frame details with finished interiors and LED lighting.

When Friedemir Poggenpohl founded the company in 1892, he wanted "to make the kitchen better". 2012 marked the company's 120th anniversary, making it the world’s oldest kitchen brand. During this time the company set major milestones. In 1950, Poggenpohl was the first kitchen manufacturer to present the fitted kitchen. Driven by the power to innovate, it was in 1960 that the company launched the first solid-wood kitchen and in 1967 the kitchen "must": the kitchen island.

Poggenpohl now offers its customers the largest choice of colors and materials that has ever been available in the company’s history. This is where Poggenpohl places emphasis on wooden fronts that give the kitchen a warm and classy look. The new wooden fronts are available in framed and unframed natural walnut and natural ash heartwood. These wooden fronts cut a particularly attractive figure in combination with the latest color shades of "blossom white", "polar white", "sand", "pebble grey", "sand grey", "terra" or "black". The new color diversity is available in the form of direct coating as well as various lacquered finishes.

If you are looking for top of the line functional kitchen cabinets, these timeless beauties are for you.   They are innovative and ahead of their time.   But don't just take it from me, go to your local showroom and open every drawer , see the fabulous finishes, accessories and fine details yourself.  These Kitchens are worth the pretty penny.  There's a reason why Poggenpohl has been around for over 120 years! 

Silestone by Cosentino - A KBIS 2013 Favorite

One of the best things about Modenus' Blogtournola is the connections you make and the products you are introduced to.  Sure I knew about Silestone (by Cosentino) and have used them several times on projects, But I didn't  really know them.  I was so impressed by this company.  There is so much to love about them.  For starters, they are a family owned business , who doesn't love that? They take SO much pride on their products and it shows as they are a world leader in quartz, natural stone, and recycled surfaces. 

Una de las mejores cosas de Modenus 'Blogtournola son las conexiones con las empresas de los productos que realice. Claro que sabía de Silestone (by Cosentino) y los he utilizado varias veces en los proyectos , pero ahora conosco mas de ellos que antes. Estoy muy impresionada por esta empresa. Para empezar, son una empresa familiar, quien no ama eso? Ellos toman mucho orgullo en sus productos y se nota, ya que es líder mundial en el cuarzo, piedra natural y superficies recicladas.

This year at KBIS, Cosentino introduced Silestone Suede finish, an exceptional matte finish with a distinctive design aesthetic that sets it apart from the traditional high‐gloss appearance of many natural stone surfaces. The elegant texture is smooth to the touch, giving the surface a softer appearance with little reflection.

Este año, en KBIS, Cosentino presento un acabado que se llama "Suede" parte de Silestone, un acabado mate excepcional con un diseño estético distintivo .  La textura es suave al tacto, dando a la superficie un aspecto más suave con poca reflexión.

With designer Kim Lewis at Cosentino Booth KBIS2013


Also Debuting was Nebula!  LOVE THIS new product.

También debut fue Nebula! Me encanta este nuevo producto.

Why We Designers LOVE Silestone! : 

Made of Natural Quartz, the 4th hardest mineral found in nature

The only countertop with built-in antimicrobial protection

Scratch-, stain- and scorch-resistant
Low maintenance - cleans with soap and water; never needs sealers

Offers 15-year manufacturer’s warranty

Hecho de cuarzo natural, el cuarto mineral más duro encontrar en la naturaleza
La única encimera con una función de protección antimicrobiana
Arañazos, manchas y quemaduras resistente
Bajo mantenimiento - limpia con agua y jabón, nunca necesita selladores
Ofrece la garantía del fabricante de 15 años

Cosentino also introduced four new colors of their Eco line which I LOVE!

Lastly , Cosentino previewed the highly anticipated new ultra-compact surface, Dekton by Cosentino, at KBIS for the first time in North America.  The revolutionary new product, which can be used for both indoor and outdoor architectural applications, is UV resistent, and comes in large format, extremely thin slabs and will officially launch in North America later this year.  I was not allowed to take photos of product , but let's just say.... it is pretty fabulous!  I was able to take picture of the key attributes :)

Por último, Cosentino enseño la nueva superficie muy esperado ultra-compacto, Dekton de Cosentino, en KBIS por primera vez en América del Norte. El nuevo y revolucionario producto, que puede ser utilizado para aplicaciones de arquitectura de interior y al aire libre, es resistente a UV, y viene en gran formato, placas muy finas y se lanzará oficialmente en América del Norte a finales de este año. No se permitió tomar fotos de producto, pero les puedo decir.... es bastante fabuloso! Solo tuve la oportunidad de tomar la foto de los atributos clave :)

TOTO - People .Planet. Water.

I Love TOTO!  They have always been one of my favorite companies for bathroom products and my plumbers LOVE when I specify it for renovations.  It's really a no brainer to use them.  Their product is innovative, functional and they have something for every design style.

At this years KBIS , I saw some amazing products, and TOTO was one of them.

Toto's Air injection technology is pretty amazing.  You can't feel too much of a difference with a regular shower head, BUT you can SEE the difference in how much water is saved with TOTO's air injection technology.  TOTO had a great display demonstrating just that.  Here (photo below) I am testing it out with the Modenus BlogtourNola team.

The TOTO Shower Systems’ overhead rain showerhead uses patented air injection technology to increase the volume of water in each droplet by innovatively drawing air in through the showerhead and pumping it into the water droplet – enlarging and increasing their volume. To further enhance the showering experience, the overhead water falls in short, pulsating intervals.


TOTO’s products, technological innovations, operations, and policies demonstrate a clear commitment to sustainability that dates back to its incorporation in 1917 when “environmental stewardship” was one of the company’s founding missions. Respect for the environment is embedded in the culture at TOTO. Whether it is engineering high-efficiency toilets, faucets, and showers or implementing a closed-loop paper-recycling system.

People. Planet. Water.

Water Conservation Advocacy
TOTO plays a significant role in leading the sustainability movement in the plumbing industry. In fact, its active role in advancing policy and leading certification organizations demonstrates how its products and practices to help ensure environmental responsibility:

• TOTO USA is the only plumbing manufacturer to receive the EPA’s Water Efficiency Leader Award 
• TOTO is the first plumbing products manufacturer to have employees become sustainability experts by gaining LEED Accredited Professional status 
• TOTO is the first major plumbing products manufacturer to join the United States Green Building Council (USGBC) and is a founding member of the Alliance for Water Efficiency. 
• TOTO partners with the EPA to help develop the language of the WaterSense program and to help establish the testing criteria to validate the integrity of the high-efficiency product performance.

Besides all the wonderful innovative features, TOTO offers really great looking products.  New this year at KBIS was this Wyeth suite.  It is timeless and a must have on my next project.

 AIMES Suite happens to be one of my Favs!  Can you see why ?

What's Your Favorite TOTO Suite?

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

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.

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 .

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