Lamps Plus has long been my go to lighting source for all things lighting when it comes to sourcing for design projects. Whether I’m looking for a stylish bathroom sconce, the perfect kitchen pendant, a chic ceiling light - or, for example, as was the case recently, well functioning ceiling fans.

A 1920’s Craftsman house in Silver Lake was in need of adding ceiling fan lighting, for the functional purpose of both lighting and cooling of rooms. Given the relatively low ceilings and the house retaining heat during warmer temps, ceiling fans were the ideal solution to help keep cool.

Identical Lamps Plus ceiling fans were installed in the living and dining room of this quaint Craftsman home. It was ideal to feature a matching pair with the adjoining rooms. The white fans blend nicely with the white ceiling. Since the ceilings are low (characteristic of Craftsman style), one challenge was finding a ceiling fan that did not have too low of a drop or a long stem, which in researching, many did. The ideal find was the 52” Casa Elite White LED Hugger Ceiling Fan. After seeing it installed, it’s perfect - I really like how closely mounted it is to the ceiling.

The close to the ceiling mounted ceiling fan doesn’t obstruct views nor hangs too low for the relatively low ceilings, like in this living room. A Craftsman house, such as this one, has modest size rooms and less of an open floor plan. The ceiling fans help to circulate and cool the rooms. They’re also a huge energy saver to racking up a costly AC bill during the summer months.

For the bedroom, we opted for the 56” Casa Endeavor White Finish LED Ceiling Fan. A larger ceiling fan was the best choice for what is consistently the hottest room in the house. There was a bit more flexibility in the drop down space, so this particular ceiling fan has a stem. More fan blades were preferred to amp up the cooling affects and this ceiling fan has five blades, compared to four with the 52” Casa Elite White LED Hugger Ceiling Fan.

Summer is a season when we enjoy spending more time outdoors, but it seems in today’s circumstances the outdoors we are spending time in, is our own - our backyard, patio, or poolside. In fact, I recently helped a client furnish her backyard patio to help create that much needed indoor / outdoor living oasis. Then I discovered the company StruXure, manufacturer of technically advanced pergolas. If you’re looking to turn your property into the ultimate staycation, they’ve got you covered!

I was recently introduced to the company Smart Films International SFI. They develop and manufacture Smart Film and Smart Glass products for Privacy and Solar Control (Energy Efficiency) solutions. Smart Films International SFI supplies to both the architecture and automotive industries. I found it interesting for use in interiors to provide flexibility in glass treatments and being able to switch from transparent to opaque.

For Installers, Architects, Interior Designers, Property Owners they offer a full package of Self-Adhesive Switchable Smart Film ready to apply on existing glasses.​

As an interior designer, sourcing for projects online has always been a part of my business. I find that it is an efficient model to do research, a time saving means for clients, and as I become more familiar with finds, I increase my to go to resources. Considering today’s market and the current need for shopping online, it’s advantageous to build a relationship with a source for artwork since I include art selections in every project that I do. Art Habit is an online boutique gallery showcasing original paintings for sale from all over the world. Having a go to online shop curating art finds that I can incorporate into my projects is a really beneficial source.

The founder of Art Habit has an entrepreneurial background and has been involved previously in companies serving niche markets such as luxury ground transportation and private aviation. Their management understands the nuances of bringing a luxury product to market and filling an essential need for an appropriate client base.

I truly believe Art Habit will have longevity in this industry as their showcase is second-to-none and they truly have revolutionized a very traditional method of buying / sourcing art in a way that even the most novice collector can access.

In addition to the online sourcing site, you can find Art Habit on both Instagram and Facebook.

I recently discovered the online shopping site of Studio Pennylane and love the concept behind it: an offering of Jewelry, Candles, Glassware, & Paper Goods that promote gratitude, hope, and well being.

Why the penny?

​We say, “Every time you see a penny think of something you’re grateful for”. A simple penny becomes a sign to choose our thoughts consciously.
For some finding a penny is "lucky." For others it's an affirmation of abundance. Many of us have stumbled on that "penny from heaven" that provided comfort and direction just when we needed it most.

Regardless of what resonates, pennies have stories and our company was birthed from one.

The simple fact is when we focus on things that energize us, empower us, or create harmony in our hearts, our world changes.

When we spot a Penny on the ground, in that moment lives both Gratitude and Mindfulness. We see the penny, it has our attention, and we are Grateful that the Penny has come to us.

We smile.

When we feel good it affects our actions and behaviors and that generates a ripple effect of goodness out into the world.

Studio Pennylane’s Mission:

​Change your thoughts, change the world, one penny at a time.

​Vision:

Studio Penny Lane was created to promote a global educational movement fostering Mindful Awareness for children. The goal is to positively reset the direction of how we teach our children by eliminating patterns of negativity, fear, and helplessness, and to replace them with the tools to love without condition, dream courageously, and recognize and nurture each child’s true gifts. Their intention is to empower youth to create positive change in their own lives and ultimately their families, schools, communities, and the world.

The Apothecary Jars collection: Pennies From Heaven Apothecary Clear with Gold print

Petite Penny Collection: 2 Petite Pennies in Yellow Bronze

Coffee Mugs: Be You...Coffee Mug

Mindfulness Tool Kits: Gratitude Giving Bank Tool Kit

Phukit Collection: Phukit Apothecary Jar Clear

Kraft Cards Collection: Trust the process card on Kraft

Journals: Four Score Leather Journal

Candles: Be Brave…it takes courage to change and follow your dreams 3 oz. Lavender Scent

With Spring / Summer around the corner, comes home renovations conducive to optimizing your outdoor or exterior designs. A product that architects, designers, and contractors use for pool covers, pergolas, carports, and awnings is: Azenco International.

Azenco imagines, designs and manufactures a range of high-quality outdoor and pool cover systems. With unique designs and recognized knowledge, Azenco constantly improves the technicality of the pool covers, bioclimatic pergolas, carports and awnings. The company innovates by developing patents each year to bring new contemporary outdoor designs, exclusive options and more safety to any outdoor living space. From inground pool automatic solar covers or pool decks to modular pergolas, Azenco’s products are fully adjustable and fits all types of spaces. Additionally, the outdoor layout specialist innovative outdoor solutions are wind-resistant and don’t rust.

Created in 2011, Azenco Groupe became fastly one the main company providing pool enclosures, slatted covers and outdoor layouts in Europe and in the United States.
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With its unique design and its recognize knowledge, Azenco develops every year new patented with new finishing touches, contemporary designs and exclusives options to bring more pleasure, comfort, and security to your outdoor space.

The R-Shade pergola fits any outdoor space and suits all styles of architecture: modern, contemporary or classic. R-Shade protects from the sun, the rain or the snow. The insulated sandwich panels regulate the outside temperature. R-Shade is also waterproof and wind-resistant.

The R-Blade pergola protects from the sun in summer and allows the light and heat to penetrate in winter. R-Blade can be equipped with an automated solution allowing better climate management with a sensor system: rain sensor for automatic closing, wind sensor for automatic opening in case of strong wind and temperature sensor integrated into the Automatic opening in case of snow or frost conditions.​​

Additionally, some of the key benefits are that the R-Blade is fully modular, made of high-quality materials, and has automatic climate control. Options include: infrared heating system, wind and/or rain sensors for automatic closing, LED rail climate control.

Azenco aLOS obtains new patents every year and some of the unique features offered are:

​1. No visible hardware.
2. No apparent gutters (located into the posts for better evacuation).
3. Fully adjustable to any outdoor space.
4. Twin-wall louvers for the R-BLADE (unique in the market) for better sealing, resistance, and longevity.

Azenco’s carports are ideal for parking your car outside your home, in your garden, or driveway. The carport is made of a thermolacquered aluminum structure certified Qualicoat Qualimarine with slabs treated of alveolar polycarbonate Anti-UV double face. The carports are also ideal for multiple vehicles.

Pooldeck is a clever solution that transforms your pool cover into a deck or patio with its discreet and contemporary design. It’s a 3 in 1 solution that fits most pool sizes. Options include an internal motor, gray or black colors, & a Qualicoat aluminum structure guaranteed for ten years. The benefits provide effective thermal protection, variety of configurations, space optimization, & a solar powered motor.

Neo is a telescope pool enclosure consisting of nestled panels of different widths that fit into each other. This allows for you to uncover your pool as you wish, either module by module or entirely.

​The shapes of the telescopic pool enclosure are made of aluminum thermocoated Qualicoat QualiMarine label and the plates are made of 8 mm alveolar polycarbonate treated double-side anti-UV for the roof and transparent polycarbonate 4mm on the sides. The profiles have also a ventilation canal which limits and evacuates the condensation of the polycarbonate plates. The EPDM seals between the profiles and the plates ensure an excellent water tightness.

R-Design is a “bubble for your pool”. The pool enclosure is ideal for making your pool a pool yiu can use year round, essentially an indoor pool that can still be open to your garden or backyard.

A true living room, the Azenco’s high pool enclosure brings a real added value to your house and your garden. Offering a wide space enough to circulate around the pool, you can arrange it as you wish (shower area, relaxation area, garden garden furniture, etc.)

I’ve always had a love for contemporary abstract art and often specify for clients, whether their homes are modern or transitional. It just seems to be a medium that ties in so well with a variety of styles adding color and vibrancy.

Recently, I was introduced to the work of artist Anne B. Schwartz. Anne is a Los Angeles based painter whose abstractionist painterly imagination remains grounded in the world of places and things.

Ricordi d’Italia:

The collection Ricordi d'Italia, merges her explorations of the mellifluous properties of color, light, and surface with direct inspiration drawn from travels to Italy.

​Crystal Aura:

The Burst collection, is an intimate selection of works from Ricordi d'Italia enlarged into wholly new paintings, compositions with exotic rhythms that are deeply influenced by Schwartz’s studies of Asian Sumi-e ink painting.

​Anne welcomes inquiries and collaborations with designers, collectors, and galleries.

If you’re interested in purchasing any of the artwork seen here or on the artist’s website here, please contact her directly here.

​(*Please note the inventory of available paintings fluctuates. If these specific pieces are not available they can be custom made. Please inquire for more info.)

In conjunction with KBIS in Las Vegas next week, January 21-23, the International Builders Show (IBS) will also be taking place. I attended KBIS last year and crossed over to IBS checking out all the many suppliers for the home building industry. It’s fascinating to learn about new products and see all the many materials available to the industry. One company I am looking forward to visiting at IBS is the supplier Door Stud, which is a door installation tool that revolutionizes how builders install pre-hung or slab doors.

A range of products are available which includes the standard at just $249.99 and a commercial grade door installation tool for heavier doors. A quick door installation kit is also available to expedite the door hanging process for professional builders, which allows for hanging doors five times faster.

They have 2 main products for your door installation needs (sold in pairs):

• Standard/Residential 1-3/8” to 1-3/4”
• Heavy/Commercial 1-3/4” to 2-1/4”

For the DIY, the Door Stud features some instructional info and tips on their blog and for more product info visit their Instagram here.

Understanding door types is extremely important too for installation, everything from interior to exterior doors, to pre-hung and slab doors. I know I’ve had my fair share of door installation problems in past projects - especially in older homes - so a product like the Door Stud offers assistance for the variety of door types in project installation.

Looking forward to visiting Door Stud this coming week at the International Builders Show. They will be in booth number SU3816 if you are attending and would like to learn more about the product.

A concept to love: growing food right in your own kitchen.

This innovation is from the company Natufia which offers the ability to grow produce right in your own kitchen with their integrated system. An aesthetically well designed unit can be incorporated into your kitchen design, with pods and plants to choose from, growing in an automated environment. Once produce is ready to harvest, you can pick - just as you would from a garden.

The units are designed of high-grade stainless steel and ceramics for durability and aesthetics. The compact component can merge seamlessly with your kitchen design. In addition, Natufia is sustainable and environmental friendly. There is no packaging, waste, or logistics.

There are thirty-two pods available and plenty of room for larger plants with robust automatics to maintain the perfect environment. Having food harvested right before consuming provides unparalleled freshness and taste with all nutrients, vitamins, and minerals. An undeniable luxury: fresh food year round, no seasons or weather changes. Additionally, the produce is grown from the highest quality Demeter seeds without pesticides, herbicides, or fungicides.

Natufia believes you can transform your life by growing food in your kitchen. Natufia Hydroponic Home Kitchen Garden was created to offer families a holistic solution to healthy living. Natufia makes it possible to grow food to scale all of your produce needs right at home.

Natufia will also be at KBIS taking place in Las Vegas next week. I’m looking forward to visiting their booth and stay tuned for more social media posting when I am there visiting live!

For more info, visit https://www.natufia.com

I recently came across the company Docking Drawer. They are the creator and market leader of in-drawer electrical outlets, with patented and simple-to-specify solutions which offer a reliable way to add movable drawer outlets safely, while keeping your spaces organized. ​Docking Drawer offer a variety of solutions designed to fit into all types of cabinets and countertops which can be installed in your home’s kitchen and bathroom as well as in custom furnishings.

They offer a variety of in-drawer power outlets for items like hairdryers, curling irons, etc. For a full list of the collection, view here.

For charging outlets, they offer a selection for tablets, laptops, cell phones. These are a great way to customize furniture in your home for an organized and clutter free environment.

Charging and power outlets for built-in closets are a convenient way to charge up the gadgets that make their way to your closet and also items like running watches that are stored there.

For great desk organization, these are a must! There is just too much taking over the surface of a desk, especially when it comes to cords.

Docking Drawer are also great for commercial and retail applications. Specifying outlets and charging stations requires design planning and locations and integral part of the as built drawing process.

Docking Drawer will also be an exhibitor at KBIS in Las Vegas this month. I’m looking forward to stopping by their booth and will be posting live from the show!

​For more info, visit www.DockingDrawer.com