Saturday was a great day for a road trip. In celebration of the beginning of the calendar summer, my husband and I hit the road to Custer, WI, where The Midwest Renewable Energy Association (MREA) hosts an annual Energy Fair. It took us a little over 2h to get there, but the drive was enjoyable and we were both excited to explore the grounds. Read the rest of this entry »
For those of you who have never heard of NeoCon World’s Trade Fair, it is the largest contract design expo in North America. Designers and architects, builders and marketers gather annually at the Merchandise Mart in Chicago, IL for three days filled with product introductions, educational seminars, networking events and lots of fun. Read the rest of this entry »
I must be doing something right if the Web414 group wanted to talk to me to find out how I started and continue on using the world wide web to create and sustain an active presence for me and my business. Read the rest of this entry »
In order to keep my creative juices flowing, I like to expose myself to various types of design like architecture, graphics, fine art, music. This weekend, two of my colleagues and I took a day trip to Spring Green, WI to tour Frank L. Wright’s, America’s greatest architect’s house and school of architecture. Located just west from Madison, Taliesin III is the most interesting and very well preserved symbol of Frank L. Wright’s architectural genius.
I grew up in a house where every piece of furniture, every paint color, every accessory was neatly selected and positioned. My mother’s advanced knowledge and belief in the power of Feng Shui, Chinese art of placement, was the reason behind the decorating style of our home. I must say - it was a good home to be raised in. My early exposure to Feng Shui made it almost natural for me to think in those terms while arranging my first apartment, my current single-family home and the homes and business of my customers. Although I specialize in designing interior spaces, I recognize the value of the curb appeal and most importantly the front door, the message it conveys about you (the home owner) and how you would like others to interact with you.
Luxury as defined by a dictionary is “the state of great comfort and extravagant living” or “an inessential, desirable item that is expensive or difficult to obtain”. Have you ever wondered what would happen to the concept of luxury if it became more commonly accessible and ordinary? How will the future change the idea of luxury, and to what extend the NEED will take over the WANT, just as OLD (reused) is taking over NEW with the idea of environmental responsibility and sustainability.
USGBC has made a determination to establish a clear three-tier credential system for everyone who is planning or has already gained a LEED Accredited Professional designation. Read the rest of this entry »
What sells new construction homes is functional and open layout kitchen, relaxing and suited for two master bathroom as well as high ceiling living areas. Who wouldn’t like to entertain friends and family in a grandiose 20′ high ceiling space with a beautiful fireplace, ornate mental, incredibly tall series of windows brightening the space. With such a dramatic area, you’d think it should be pretty easy to decorate it to marry its unique verticality with your personal style. You may quickly come to a conclusion that it is not at all easy. In fact, there are home owners who get so overwhelmed with the dwarfing size of their home that they would rather sell than hire a professional designer to help bring the human scale back to their lives.
If you are in your twenties and moving into a new apartment, this episode of The Sunday Show, Milwaukee’s biweekly podcast about nothing in particular, is for you! I was invited on the show to speak to some of the challenges apartment dwellers face when they search for a place, move their belongings in, and start to personalize the space to make it their own. If any of this sounds familiar, be sure to watch Episode #5 of The Sunday Show.
the Sunday Show - episode #5 - “apartment living” from the Sunday Show on Vimeo.
While working for a nationwide senior living company, I have learned a lot about senior friendly and universal design approach. The following are a few very important pointers to consider when remodeling a home to fit the needs of a senior, or selecting a senior living community: Read the rest of this entry »