City Councilman Mehaul O'Leary gives Erica Islas of EMI Interior Design, inc. a Certificate of Recognition from the City of Culver city for her probono work at Upward Bound House.
Erica & UBH Executive Director David Snow
Erica Islas and Culver City Mayor Andrew Weissman
Islas familyThank you Andres for helping make this Upward Bound House Project an amazing experience. I enjoyed working side by side with you making our unit EVERYTHING, a family, like our own, would need to get back on their feet. You put in sooo much time and heart into this, I can't thank you enough. Not to mention your great design finds, & imput ! Thanks!
Yesterday's Opening ceremony was amazing, over 300 people came by. I will be posting photos of my room soon , along with photos of the other designers' room as soon as the photos are ready.
TO ALL the Donors of my Project :
THANK YOU , THANK YOU, THANK YOU. Without you, this project would not have been possible. I am completely moved at the generosity everyone displayed. The families that will move into these spaces will benifit so much because of YOU!
Lastly I want to to say "cheers!" to my designer friends on this project.We did it ! Despite the rains, no electricity, and the time frames we all had to work around , WE did it ! It was a sense of community between all of us , sharing our extention cords, our power tools, our donated items. What an amazing group effort. I am honored to have worked with all of you. The families who will be moving into our spaces this February will be touched by all the love we put into this project. Lynnea I am sooo proud of you. You are an angel and a trooper for taking on your very own room in this project . Your room turned out beautiful.
And to my Dear Vanessa De Vargas , you are everything they say about you in the press and More. You Rock ! This could have never happend without you. Thank you for everything. I'm gonna miss this project, I loved having you and Kelly LaPlante as my next door neighbors. Let's do this Again !
To see more photos from UBH Opening find EMI Interior Design, Inc. on Facebook and see Album. 
Ranch Style houses ...My Favorite and next Future "Dream" House. So what makes these Ranch Style homes so great? Truly they are very simple architecturally speaking, yet that is what I love most about them along with these other typical features: They are Single story, Low pitched gable roof, Deep-set eaves, Horizontal, rambling layout: Long, narrow, and low to the ground, Rectangular, L-shaped, or U-shaped design, Large windows: double-hung, sliding, and picture Sliding glass doors leading out to patio, Simple floor plans, Emphasis on openness (few interior walls) and efficient use of space , Built from natural materials: Oak floors, wood or brick exterior, Lack decorative detailing. Although Ranch Style homes are traditionally one-story, Raised Ranch and Split-Level Ranch homes have several levels of living space. 
Driving to Palm Springs this past weekend inspired me to take a detour and drive thru the great neighborhoods and look closely at the architectural details . It is here where these homes can be seen, set perfectly in front of the mountains and nestled in between palm trees. It was a perfect weekend field trip. 
