What is Steve Jobs up to these days?

And what do you think Steve Jobs is up to these days?

I thought these were cute and they made me smile.

Have a great day.

The Art of Cloisonne

The art of Cloisonné was very popular (and expensive) a couple of decades ago, but it is currently out of vogue in today's interiors.

Cloisonné is the Asian art of decorating metal with vitreous enamel.  The ancient art used cut gemstones.  The artist first makes the design and outlines it in gold or silver wire strips to create compartments.  Then the compartments are filled with colored enamels and kiln fired. Today's inexpensive pieces are made out of copper instead of gold and are not as detailed as past pieces.

If you like Cloisonné, only use one or two pieces in a room sparingly.  Too much of it will date a room and make it feel old.  Put the pieces higher up in a bookcase or built in rather than at eye level rather than at eye level, center stage of your coffee table. Cloisonné is hard to place in today's homes, but if you have a vase, you can freshen it up by french mounting it and converting it to a lamp. 

The antique and really good stuff can be purchased at absolute steals in auctions and estate sales these days.  So hold on to your grandma's old pieces. Give it another decade and they will be right back in.  

The ICON A5

The new Icon A5 is  the coolest designed airplane ever-- love it!

Everyone who knows me, knows I'm a huge fan of helicopters and airplanes, so it's no surprise that I was so excited when I first heard about this amazing plane.  It is a newly designed light sports aircraft that only requires 20 hours of training.  It is so versatile and amphibious that it can land in lakes, rivers, grass strips or regular airport landing strips.  And when you are done flying, at the push of a button, the wings can fold for storage.

The 2 passenger Icon A5 is being called the Apple of air crafts because it is so user friendly. It has sparked huge interest and has already sold over 150 units which will be available in 2013. Actor and pilot John Travolta said about the A5, "This thing is awesome!  It has my name all over it!"

 I want one too!

Jamali

A few years ago I bought 2 lovely pieces of art for my home from Orlando resident artist Jamali. 

Jamali has created a large body of work in his 25 years. He paints in traditional oil on canvas but is best known for his textural technique of using pigments on cork.  He feels his art is mystical in nature and that he is inspired by God. He is considered a contemporary shaman artist and call his work Mystical Abstract Expressionism The artist was raised in the foothills of the Himalayas near the Khyber Pass. The son of prominent physicians, Jamali was sent to a British military academy, before moving to the US. 

Today his art is sold at JAM "Jamali Art Museum" in Orlando.

http://jamaliartmuseum.com

Light Up Your Life

Really cool furniture, with fiber optics and illumination  seem to be showing up more and more.

First it was illuminated disco dance floors and then planners started using white plastic tables and inserting lights to illuminate them for night events.  It seems the trend has caught on and modern furniture manufacturers are making all kinds of fun pieces that illuminate in your home and patio. Some are made out of light colored translucent onyx and some are made out of resins. 

Light up your life with some of the pieces.

 

Big Splash

You can't put a price on the love your pet gives.  But how much would you pay for puppy love?

The most expensive dog in the world  was sold in March of 2011 to a Chinese buyer for the price of 1.5 million usd.  It was a rare Tibetan Mastiff who was named "Big Splash".  He currently weighs 180 pounds and has a fluffy red coat of fur.

The Tibetan Mastif is considered one of the oldest breeds of dogs and it is rumored that both Buddah and Gengis Kahn owned one of them.  These furry dogs come from the mountain lands of Tibet, which explains all that crazy hair! They were supposed to be the guardians of the land of Tibet and protect it from invaders. The physical strength of this dog is enormous so monks gave them the position of guardians.

But no matter if you pay $ 1.5 million or get your dog from a Humane Society, the love they bring to your life is priceless.

Glam Shoe Closets

Gone are the days where we could pack up a trunk and move cross country on a wagon with all of our belongings.

Like handbags, shoes have become the must have accessories. Women today have so many shoes it takes entire rooms to store them.  Boots, heels, flats, dressy, casual, day, night.  The variety and occasions are endless.

A whole new crop of specialty closet designers have surfaced and one of my favorites is LA Closets designer  Lisa Adams.  She has a portfolio of who's who and has created lovely spaces for these tiny treausres.  Perfectly designed rooms with all of the bells and whistles to accomodate some of these tiny treasures.  

How many shoes do you have?

http://www.laclosetdesign.com/home.html

It's On Amazon!

My candle is now available for sale!

For all of you who want to buy one and have it shipped out right away, my candle is now available and in stock at Amazon.com. Of course, I'm a bit biased and think it's the prettiest and most fragrant candle available.  But you be the judge and let me know what you think.

So click on and enjoy it!

http://www.amazon.com/SE-105-Sandra-Espinet-Scented-Candle/dp/B007I8HPP0/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1334336003&sr=8-1

Ginger Flower

Have you ever walked into a Shanghai Tang store and wondered "Hmm, what is that yummy smell?"

Well, it's their signature ginger flower room spray and it's fantastic!  If you have never tried it you must. I remember the first time I walked into a Shanghai Tang.  The smell was pure and distinctive and immediately entered my olfactory hall of fame. It's soft, summery and very unique.  Fragrance is as much a part of a great home as design.  Scents bring back memories and create atmosphere.  

But not all rooms sprays are created equal. Cheap grocery store spays with fake ingredients can leave unpleasant odors and if the spray reaches your fabrics, they leave little tiny yellow spots. They can also activate allergies and make you sneeze.

Get your spring on and get your house smelling beautiful.

http://www.shanghaitang.com

ESPACIOS INTERVENIDOS | 25 INTERIORISTAS

A new coffee table book called "Espacios Intervenidos - 25 Interioristas" ( Intervening Spaces - 25 interior designers), an oversize coffee table book filled with images of the work of the 25 of the top interior designers who work in Mexico. 

I am so proud and excited to announce that I was one of the interior designers chosen to be featured along with Francisco Hanhausen, Phillipe Stark and Avelino Gonzalez in the book.  And if that were not enough, my job photos were selected for the front and back sleeve covers!

Having such amazing clients who trust and love our work, and such an incredible design team that consistently produces such great detail is the reason I love my work.  Despite all of the crazy hours and insane amounts of paperwok, I never get tired of coming to to the office.  Design truly is my passion!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Amazing Easter Eggs

How dedicated are you to making Easter Eggs?

Artist Jacek Yerka has created an art out of making incredible pierced egg designs. They are so intricate and so delicate that they look like lace.

I'm not sure I could ever have the patience to create anything this beautiful, but I am looking forward to painting some good old Easter Eggs this weekend.

Have a happy Easter weekend!

EASTER IS APPROACHING!

Easter is almost here.

Do you have any plans or ideas for fun parties?  I am just getting into the mood so I am sharing a few Easter images so you can get inspired.

Have a great day!

Tori-Tori

I love going to Mexico City and I cant wait to get back because they have a hot new restaurant that is creating lots of buzz.

Tori-Tori is the super cool Japanese restaurant designed by Rojkind Arquitectos and Esrawe Studio.  It is located in the upscale Polanco district and has a unique style all of its own. It is contemporary, cosmopolitan and yet still has the simplictic Japanese aproach to design.  The facade has a modern version of ivy, made out of steel that surrounds the building to create soft shadows and shapes.

And the best part - sushi is one of my favorite foods!

Sitting Pretty

It's easy to sit pretty out in the sun these days because there are so many choices in cool chaise lounges.

So before you go out and buy the same old, same old chaise lounge, have some fun and do a little research on what is now available.  Great otdoor furniture can easily be found and stores like Janus et Cie.

 www.janusetcie.com