Be Square
New Tiles Show Asian Influences
Friday, June 15, 2007
Ann Sacks looks East for inspiration in three new tile collections that incorporate the decorative details and natural theme of Asian and Eurasian design.
Crafted since the 16th century in the Turkish town that inspired their name, Isnik tiles are characterized by intricate designs and vibrant, glasslike glazes.
The bold scale and modern sensibility of Koi tiles are balanced by a rich palette of Japanese glazes that gives them depth and visual texture.
Made-to order Sakura tiles enliven timeless Japanese design with rich color and graphics. Inspired by tradition but surprisingly modern, Sakura offers a series of geometric field and nature-inspired mural patterns.
Local sources include Tile Encounters in Santa Maria and Santa Barbara, and Matt Clark Tile and Artisan Tile & Marble in San Luis Obispo.
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No Shoes, No Shirt …
... Come On In! Casual Homes Evolve
Wednesday, June 13, 2007
After reading this book, you just might start saving your pennies for a vacation home—or bring that casual sensibility into your own.
“The Barefoot Home: Dressed-Down Design for Casual Living” by Marc Vassallo showcases homes that exemplify the lack of formality, openness and connection to nature that define the concept. California is well represented in the striking layouts, which feature homes from around the country.
Vassallo provides floor plans along with the lush photography and strong descriptive writing. If you’re looking for ideas on how to make your home more relaxed while still remaining stylish, this is the book for you.
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Lighten Up!
Leather Furniture Goes Pale
Monday, June 11, 2007
So you thought leather furniture was tufted London gentleman’s club brown, slippery 80s bachelor pad black (goes with chrome) or rustic Western (let’s hear it for antlers). Well, don’t tell that to Hancock and Moore. Yes, they’ve got the standard color palette, but they’ve also got a knockout selection of pale, creamy shades that will change the way you think about leather furniture.
They hand-select their leather, looking for grain consistency, which means color will be absorbed evenly. With eight-way hand-tied springs and other hallmarks of fine, hand-made furniture, a Hancock and Moore piece is built to last. Local retailers are Davidson’s in San Luis Obispo and Cabana Home in Santa Barbara.
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Tool Thyme
Botanical Style for the Handywoman
Friday, June 08, 2007
You’ve never looked so good hammering a nail or clipping a rose as you will with these ‘’pretty useful tools’’ from the Victoria and Albert Museum Shop.
The gardening set is a must-have for the stylish gardener - the hand trowel and cultivator is decorated with the vibrant Cray chintz design by William Morris. The Daisy tool set includes a combination hammer (with 4 screwdrivers in the handle), slip joint pliers and a 6-in-1 screwdriver all printed in a gorgeous “Daisy” design by William Morris, a naively drawn image of meadow flowers.
The firm of Morris & Co. designed and produced a wide range of glass, tiles, furnishings and textiles which went on to become synonymous with the Arts and Crafts movement and the Victorian era as a whole. “Daisy” was the first wallpaper pattern to be issued by the company in 1864.
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Small Change
A Bigger Idea From "Not So Big" Author
Wednesday, June 06, 2007
Fans of architect Sarah Susanka and her “Not So Big” series have a reason to cheer. With her latest book, the author of the thought-provoking “The Not So Big House” has expanded her concept of quality over quantity beyond the home.
“The Not So Big Life,” asks if our desire to improve our homes is really just a transferred need to improve our lives. Quoting Mahatma Gandhi, she urges us to be “the change we wish in the world.”
Using stories and exercises, Susanka shows us how we can become the architects of our own lives, remodeling our assumptions, our philosophies and our actions.
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Steamy Scenes
In the Kitchen, Of All Places
Monday, June 04, 2007
Another chef’s secret is out. Cooking with steam yields great-tasting results and it’s fast and convenient.
Miele introduced the world’s first built-in convection steam oven in 1999 and continues to lead the pack. Traditional steamers and pressure cookers generate steam slowly and raise the temperature gradually. Miele’s combination steam oven has an external steam generator outside the oven cavity.
When it’s introduced, the steam surrounds the food from all sides. This immediate and intense exchange of heat ensures that food is heated rapidly and is sealed instantly to retain all the vitamins, color and flavor.
It’s like having your very own waiter—you command the system by selecting the type of food, weight, quantity, desired finish and so on, and the oven conducts its own needs assessment. Now if only it could reduce the calories!
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