There is nothing better than great craftsmanship and synergy with great architecture and design.  Case in point is the brilliant Architect: Juan Matiz of Matiz Architecture & Design that is featured on Remodelista Daily's Blog.   I was captivated by the magnificent photos taken by Ty Cole of the masterpiece work created by Juan Matiz for a Tribeca apartment. Once again, Remodelista Daily and their masterful team gave us a captivating article in the featured section: Architect Visits & House Calls with Christine. I had to write a blog post on this inspiring article.

What captivated me the most in the photos is how Juan Matiz integrated the outdoors in his design but gave it a warm and cozy feeling.  This was done nicely with the metal staircase, with hidden storage underneath.  It was a touch of genius to use metal cables for the cantilevered stair, since they also serve as rails simultaneously.  It takes the traditional stairwell and transforms it into the homeowner's personal bridge to the outside.  How very clever!

One thing that is quite apparent in all of the photos is that the craftsmanship and details of all the work was done by true artisans. Take a look at the Zinc shingles that encase the stair enclosure and small openings of alabaster. This must be quite a sight to see at night while enjoying the moonlight on the breathtaking terrace.

I can't stress enough how important it is to hire professionals when doing a kitchen design or other home improvement remodel project.  From the architect, to the Interior Designer, to the Contractor, to the building permits are all essential in getting a brilliant masterpiece that you will enjoy for years to come.

Although we all can't have Tribeca apartments with outside terraces with views that are priceless, we can bring out unique qualities of our home and add personal style and flair with the assistance of a professionals that can masterfully transform architecture into a masterpiece.

Thanks to Juan Matiz of Matiz Architecture & Design and his fabulous team for inspiring us all not to accept mediocrity when it comes to Architecture and Design.  Take a look at some of their other projects on their website, they are truly a unique team. Design has many forms shapes and sizes. It is refreshing to see the integration so masterfully done.

Image Credit: Remodelista Daily – Photographer:Ty Cole

Click on the following to read more: The Architect is In: Juan Matiz of Matiz Architecture & Design – by Christine – Remodelista Daily -

Did you know that May is National Home Improvement Month?

What home improvement project will you do to celebrate? There are so many that come to mind, such as

• Interior Painting,
• Kitchen Remodel,
• Bathroom Remodel,
• Tile Flooring,
• Laminate or Wood Flooring,
• Quartz Kitchen Countertop,
• Frameless Shower Doors and so much more

Did you know that most homeowners are choosing to personalize their homes with a remodel? According to a recent survey by the National Home  Association of Remodeling Industry (NARI),  26 percent of respondents indicated that they are planning to stay in their homes much longer,  due to decreased home values. 

The recession is no secret to anyone in this economy. In 2010, existing and new single-family home sales decreased 5 percent largely in part due to the recession. However, things seem to be getting brighter. I see more cars in the home improvent retailer parking lots and lots of activity in specialty stores. You can't help but notice all of the increased advertsing by stores like Lowes Home Improvement, Home Depot, Sherwin Williams, Ace Hardware and others on the airwaves. I am impressed with all of the sponsorships and contests these companies are doing to stay front and center in the minds of customers.

I am most impressed with the marketing efforts from Lowes Home Improvement on their "My Lowes"program and advertising campaign "Never Stop Improving". The cute song "Don't Stop" stays in my head and always brings a smile to my face when I hear it. I have not put it on my IPOD, but I was tempted. Sorry that I digress, but the "My Lowes" program has so many positives and is super easy and effective in keeping everything in one place. You create a home profile, manage home improvement projects, track purchase history and more.  Although other retailers have online programs, I have not found one as effective  comprehensive as the "My Lowes" portal and one with a super clever marketing campaign to promote it.

This brings us to what types of remodel projects homeowners are choosing these days. According to the Home Improvement survey, homeowners are trending towards starting projects such as art rooms, yoga studios, wine cellars and tasing rooms, meditation rooms, exercise pools, caterer kitchens, 3-D Murals and several other interesting projects. In our world, we are finding that our customers are not making outlandish improvements, but rather things that will make them happy while giving the home a modern new look.

I know that It may sound exciting to customize your home in such a unique way and style, however, everything should be done with planning and consideration about the usage of the area. The National President of NARI, Dean Herriges, MCR, CKBR, and Owner of Urban Herriges & Sons in Wisconsin, makes an excellent point when he stated:

“Make sure that whatever your adding is going to be something that you really intend to use, otherwise the space will end up being underutilized and make you unhappy.”

The Home Improvement Survey goes on to show the following results:

• 13 percent responded they had not planned to stay longer in their homes
• 28 percent planned to stay one to five years longer
• 23 percent planned to stay six to 10 years
• 10 percent planned to stay 11 to 15 years longer
• 26 percent planned to stay 16 to 20 years longer.

If you are looking to start your Pompano Beach Home Remodel project, begin your process by writing down your remodel goals and budget for the project. This will help you when you are deep into the project and will help keep you on track.

Click on the following links to read more on this topic:

Homeowners personalize their home rather than move - NARI Survey

Homeowners are choosing to Personalize their Residence – KBB Online

Homeowners Stuck in Place, Remodel - Woodworking Network – Bill Esler

Many Homeowners Decide Remodeling is Wiser than Moving - LA Times – Kenneth R. Harney

Photo Credit: Lowes Home Improvement – My Lowes Commercial -

Disclaimer: I personally Love the "My Lowes" Home Improvement program. I also personally feel that their marketing and advertising team have created an outstanding advertsing campaign.

The stylish and updated BeauxArts.02 from SieMatic offers new elements, materials, colors, surfaces, and proportions for the kitchen. The BeauxArts 0.2 was designed by the mutli-talented talented Kitchen Designer Mick De Giulio. He is also an author of the well known book: Kitchen Centric, which is a hardcover 258 page book of brilliant kitchen designs. The book has everything you need to know for designing a dream kitchen, regardless of space. If you are into kitchen design or considering a new kitchen remodel, I suggest you grab a copy of Kitchen Centric.  Kitchen Design enthusiasts will definitely enjoy this book.

When you look at the the BeauxArts.02 Kitchen Cabinets, you will see that this is not your grandparents kitchen from yesteryear.  The BeauxArts.02 Kitchen brings a sophisticated and look and feel with the rich colors and materials. Some impressive features of the kitchen cabinetry include sleek metal handle recesses, contrasting color of dark walnut shelves behind white sliding doors and a picture perfect mirrored base on the cabinets. The countertops, the crowning jewel, are made of white composite and stainless steel.

If a homeowner is seeking a kitchen remodel that redefines "Classic" or "Traditional", the BeauxArts.02 Kitchen is a perfect choice. It allows you to have fun with Interior Design and to "play around with different styles and combine design elements that seem like opposites to create one harmonious entity".

KITCHEN DESIGN RULES: "The only rules are the rules dictated by your own personal style – playing around with styles and volumes, colors and materials, symmetry and asymmetry is part of the experience." – SieMatic BeauxArts – USA

Please read the following links of the fabulous bloggers for the inspiration on this post.

KBB Online – Intriguing Kitchen Cabinets product feature on SieMatic  – KBB Online

SieMatic BeauxArts – DeGiulio Kitchen Design - Mick De Giulio – Principal

Designer Andy Day -Siematic BeauxArts.02 – Andy Day Lifestyle Blog

SieMatic BeauxArts.02 Debuts in Germany - Binns Kitchen Design Bath Blog

SieMatic  US – BeauxArts.02

All Photo credits: SieMatic – BeauxArts.02

Time flies when you are having fun! It has been a few weeks since the Coverings 2012 show in Orlando. A special thanks goes out to the Interior Design team for putting together a fabulous slideshow recap.  It brought back such beautiful memories of the Coverings 2012 Conference.

The slide show on the Interior Design magazine website is POV: Coverings 2012 slide show.   It is a great product roundup featuring 22 magnificent photos from the Coverings 2012 Orlando show.   I am impressed that some of my favs like SICIS and Lenny Kravitz for LEA Ceramiche were included in the Interior Design Slideshow. Please check out this slideshow and several others on the Interior Design website.

Interior Design Trend Tip: Digitally created graphic patterns and natural-inspired textures continue to be the strongest trend, per Interior Design.

Don't forget to check out the Digital Library while you are on the Interior Design website.  It provides a wealth of info on thousands of products conveniently at your fingertips. You don't have to go out searching for things, everything can be found in one place. See for yourself by visiting the Interior Design Digital Library.

A few of the highlighted selections featured in the Slideshow include:

                                                                                         Turkish Pavillion tile display

photo credits: Interior Design Magazine

Designing interesting homes and keeping them kid friendly is never an easy task for an interior designer. I totally enjoyed the well written article on blog Design Crisis, Team Wipeable – Designing for Kids, by the multi-talented Erin Williamson.  The article was fun to read, with Erin's great sense of humor and visually stimulating photos. I always enjoy reading the Design Crisis blog, which always provides vivid photos, drawings and witty commentary on interior design.

The Team Wipeable blog post, referenced an article from the amazing publication, TRAD Home – Spring 2012, Blogger Issue, written by Interior Designer, Naomi Stein of  Design Manifest. Naomi wrote the brilliant article "Classically Modern" featuring Mona Ross Berman. It was a real treat to read, especially with the photos that translated the design themes into living masterpieces. Congratulations to Mona Ross Berman and the other talented designers that made "10 Up-And-Coming Designers" named by the Editors of Traditional Home magazine for 2012.

One of my favorite photos from the Team Wipeable article was the banquette with the beautiful laminated fabrics from duralee covers. The colors are so rich and vibrant; It definintely sounds "Kid friendly" and "pet friendy", with this stain resistant material. I look forward to checking this laminated fabric out in person.

Naomi shares a list from Mona Ross Berman of "five things" to remember when planning an interior design project.  They are on target and should be in the front of every Home Design "Idea Book". The list includes the following:

1. Always match paint to fabric, not fabric to paint.There is a limited universe of fabrics.
2. Space planning and scale are essential to design. A floor plan is helpful
3. If your budget doesn't allow you tackle an entire home improvement project from the start, take on your project in stages. Plan everything from the start, your overall design budget and vision.  This keeps you on track.
4. Let your Art make its own statement!
5. Use Vintage pieces to mix things up, without breaking the bank. They can give a room real "design cred".

Another must read article in this Spring 2012, Blogger Issue from Trad Home was the "10 Design Apps".  I am not surprised that, Pinterest, topped the list.  The "Must have Design Apps" list also included:

• LivingRoom for Ipad, lets you play around with different layouts at your fingertips, according to Editorial Director Tom Delevan;
• The Small Luxury Hotels of the World App allows you to get inspired globally on designing for small spaces according to Designer Ryan Korban;
• The color capture App by Benjamin Moore helps you figure out the closest paint match to fabric or a piece of furniture, according to Designer Ron Marvin;
• The super cool GoDesign app,  helps keep designers organized on the go, according to designer Sara Gilbane.

I strongly recommend that you ead the entire article and check out all of these super clever apps. It is nice to see that James Bond is not the only one with super clever gadgets. Interior Designers now equipped have state of the art technology to help them stay on top of their design game. Homeowners can join in on the action and take advantage of some of the Design Apps. Try them! I am sure that you will find a few that you can't live without.

There are an endless variety of colors to choose from, each able to evoke a certain emotion or mood. The following are a few examples of the colors available for homeowners, looking to instill their personality into a space:

Red:
Red is a bold color, meant to evoke emotions of passion and excitement. Using this color instills a room with attitude and style, which clearly displays the homeowner’s fiery personality. As a strong color, it may be hard to balance red with other colors. However, lighter, complimentary colors such as white, yellow or gray can tone down the passion that red brings.

Blue:
Many homeowners choose different shades of blue when trying out a new color for their room. It’s no surprise – many individuals tend to associate blue with a feeling of calm and trust. A versatile color, blue goes along with a variety of other colors, such as green, orange, or other neutral shades. In addition, try combining different shades of blue in order to give your room a seaside feel.

Gray:
Don’t be fooled into the misconception that gray can only be used to a depressing effect. Gray is a cool, neutral color that installs a room with a sense of balance. Used for both formal and informal settings, gray goes well with a variety of other colors, given its placement between light and dark.

Earth Tones:
There are a range of colors that fall within earth shades, including coffee, beige, and brown. Traditionally, shades of brown reflect a stable, wholesome personality, with a preference towards the organic. In addition, these colors tend to reflect a personality in touch with nature, as well as a connection to the outdoors. Adding plants and other natural elements complement these colors well, giving the entire home a down-to-earth atmosphere.

Purple:
In the past, purple was associated with royalty, as only the rich and powerful could afford to purchase the dyes used to make this rich color. Nowadays, purple tends to evoke a more spiritual feel, while a lighter hue can create a sense of peace and tranquility. Neutral colors such as beige and pink are great color options that compliment a room painted with purple.

Pastels:
Many homeowners typically use pastel colors, such as light pinks and baby blues, for nurseries or rooms for young children. However, they can be used in any room to evoke a soothing, calming feeling. Pastels are a great neutral color, and fit well with a variety of furniture and interior decorating styles. If you’re looking to instill your space with a comforting atmosphere, pastels are a great option.

Christine Cooney loves learning about architecture, gardening, and floor plans. Her goal is to devise a home plan online for her own dream home.

Congratulations to the Coverings 2012 team for doing such a fabulous job this year on the Orlando Conference. As a first year attendee, I must confess that I did not know what to expect. You never know if the team just has a great marketing arm that designs pretty brochures, great class descriptions and a build up of desire. Coverings 2012 delivered on all fronts, for the attendees and the exhibitors.  Everything was perfect, from the pre-show build up to the actual conference. My only gripe was that I did not stay for the entire show, this is entirely my fault. 

If you have an opportunity to attend a Coverings show, I strongly suggest you attend.  It is nice to see what new products manufacturers are coming out with in the industry.  The educational classes are important also and allows you to learn things from peers around the country. I was impressed with the educational track and some of the awesome speakers like Marc Kushner, world renowned Architect and co-founder of Archetizer.com.  I strongly suggest that you bookmark Archetizer.com and register on the site. It is chock full of great photos and projects. Sorry, I digress, but it is such a stellar site. You have to check it out.

In terms of the exhibits and exhibitors at Coverings 2012,  so many of them took my breathe away. One in particular, stole my heart, that would be none other than Ceramics of Italy. They pulled out all of the stops for their 40,000sf Italian tile trade show floor. There was a masterfully designed 3000sf  pop-up restaurant and cafe that served pasta and scrumptious Italian refreshments throughout the show. The architect creatively designed an information desk within the restaurant area, so that visitors could learn more from the participants involved from Cermaics of Italy.  The personnel and literature at this information desk were top shelf. Kudo's to the team that put this all together. They deserve an award for outstanding excellence for promoting the brand so seamlessly throughout the show. This should be used as a case study exaaple for associations and groups coming together for a trade show.

I could go on for days, discussing how great all of the exhibits were, unfortunately,  that is not the purpose of this post. However, I can't leave out Crossville for their splendid integration of QR codes within their exhibut display. The Crossville team used this new technology very well. Another great exhbit was that of LEA Ceramiche. This exhibit was so well thoughtout and put together. I was really impressed with the design by Lenny Kravitz Designs.  It was so stunning and unique. The reps at the booth were so helpful and informative. Lastly, Sicis was another favorite of mine. I was actually just describing a mosaic that I would love to use in an interior design project, before the conference.  Their mosaic displays were breathtaking. I would love to have this exhibit on my Ipad to show at client meetings. The Sicis design team should take a bow for this outstanding conference display.

This post would not be complete without a big Thank You to D&B Tile Distributors of South Florida for organizing the bus trip for their clients in the trade.  I was pleasantly surprised at how much fun we had on the bus ride to the Coverings show in Orlando. This is despite our bus breaking down enroute to Orlando and the West Palm Bus breaking down, back from Orlando.  We all made Lemonade out of this mishap and enjoyed each others company. The D&B Team deserves a big round of applause for their efforts and all the coordination and planning that went into organizing the Coverings trip.

I look forward to keeping in touch with several of the great people that I met on the Coverings Trip. Thanks again to everyone  next year.

I am sure that I was not the only one inspired by Coverings 2012. Keep an eye out for a new blog from the talented Architect and Interior Design team at Kravit Architectural.  I hear they will be launching a new blog that will showcase some of their projects and design inspirations. Can't wait to read it. I am sure that it will have lots of breathtaking photos.

Black granite countertops with wood cabinetry for a warm polished look.

                                                                                                                                Photographer: William Waldron

White marble countertops with stainless steel cabinetry for a clean and modern industrial look

                                                                        Photographer: Andrea Ferrari

Brown granite countertops with sleek brown cabinetry for a cool sleek amd modern kitchen

                                                                                          Photographer: Jason Predock
                                                       Featured in: Announcing The Met Home of the Year

Pompano Beach and Coconut Creek homeowners can create beautifu litchens with high quality surfaces including granite, marble, Caesarstone and other natural stone and engineered surfaces.

The Roche Bobois Spring Summer 2012 collection is inspiring with a burst of spring flair!  The various shapes and colors makes you want to sink into one of their ultra comfortable sofas. The European design and quality is magnificent!!

Featured in the Bobois Spring Summer 2012 Brochure is the Perception Sectional in Leather. They offer over 40 colors to choose from to put this masterpiece in your home. The sofa design is by the ever so talented designer, Phillipe Bioux.

The "Exclamation modular in fabric with removable slip covers is breathtaking and functional. The two options for the legs, choice in black metal chrome or wooden legs, enables you to further accentuate your signature style.

The Utopia sectional in leather really stands out. It offers over 50 colors to choose from, so that you can match it accordingly to your interior decor. The sleek design will make any room look ultra modern and invitin. You are given the option for leg choices with chrome plated metal or stained wood.

Visit the Roche Bobois website to learn more about these featured items and other artfully designed masterpieces. Play around with some of their cool features like the Roche Bobois 3D Studio. You can make your interior design dreams come true with the help of Roche Bobois 3D STUDIO!

Use the Roche Bobois 3D Studio to create your room layout, place your furniture and accessorize your personal space. The planningtool is fun and super easy to use. The best part is that you can visualize everything in context to your actual layout. View your selected products together with actual materials, room finishings and lighting. When you are finished, share your designs by printing, emailing or saving them for future use. This goes a long way in helping you create a design of your dreams.

Finding the right kitchen layout that best completes your dream kitchen design is the first step in your kitchen remodel process.

Sometimes it is hard to imagine that items like your kitchen countertops, kitchen cabinets, kitchen floor or appliance preferences all come after the kitchen layout and kitchen floor plan.

When looking at a kitchen remodel, you must first decide whether you are keeping the existing kitchen floorplan. This will help shape what direction the kitchen designer takes in the new kitchen design. The most common kitchen layouts include the following:

• L-shaped Kitchen Layout
• Galley Kitchen Layout
• U-shaped Kitchen Layout
• G-shaped Kitchen or Peninsula Kitchen Layout
• One-wall Kitchen Layout
• Island Kitchen Layout - (U-shaped Kitchen or L-shaped Kitchen with Island)