Alek’s Controllable Christmas Lights for Celiac Disease

It’s that time of year again and Alek Komarnitsky has the Christmas light displays all ready to go – all set to raise funds and awareness for Celiac disease-a disease that has affected both his little boys. To date Alek has helped raise over $50,000 for the Center for Celiac Research at the University of Maryland School of Medicine. Here’s a sneak peek, but make sure to visit Alek’s Christmas light website so you can interact (yes, control the lights – kids young and old will love this!) with the holiday displays.

Alek tells us that viewing the Christmas lights via web is also an eco-friendly activity , “While people around the world (157 countries last year) enjoy seeing the lights ON, environmentalists will be happy to know that they can turn the lights OFF with a click of the mouse. Better yet, this is the 7th year I’m using Wind Power and even though that is "clean" energy, I even did a Carbon Offset contribution for the 0.6 Tons of CO2 for the ~MegaWatt-Hour of power consumed – that’s about the same as *one* cross-country airline trip. Finally, by providing viewing via webcam, you don’t need to burn fossil fuels by driving around to see Christmas lights!”

White Gold Tile Flooring from Trend Aureo Collection

We LOVE Trend tiles and will be featuring several of their breathtakingly BEAUTIFUL tile flooring and walls tiles at The Decorating Diva.com. Trend captures the very essence of luxury living as illustrated in the above image. This gorgeous room located in the17th century Villa alle Scalette (Trend headquarters) in Vicenza, Italy features luxurious floor and wall tiles from Trend’s Aureo Collection.

The Aureo Collection tiles for floor (F) and walls (W) are hand-cut , glass mosaics hand-crafted from delicate 24 karat gold leaf (shown above in white gold).

The glass tile product names are listed below:

• aureo 004/F
• aureo 003/W
• aureo Gray
• Strass Swarovski Cristal

Photo Credits: photos by Trend.

Home Decor Buyer Resource: Trend USA Ltd. (Trend  also has a showroom near the famous Design District in  Miami, Florida)

Kitchen Cabinets – Stock, Semi-Custom or Custom? What’s the Difference?

Stock cabinets are the least expensive option and ideally priced for homeowners on a budget. Stock cabinets come in standard sizes and shapes and are typically in stock and ready for you totake home the same day.Semi-custom cabinets offer homeowners more styles, shapes and sizes than they would find in the stock cabinet category however the more flexible options do come with a higher price tag and longer delivery time. Typically semi-custom cabinets are built after you have placed your order.

Custom cabinets are the most expensive. They are handcrafted and made to exact specifications. Whether that means an irregular shaped cabinet, an artistic rendering or whatever design concepts the homeowner plans. Custom kitchen cabinets vary greatly in price depending on the cabinetmaker’s prestige and skills, materials used, project difficulty and schedule (as with anything the sooner you need it the more it will cost).

So how do you decide which kitchen cabinet type is best for you? Ask yourself if budget, style flexibility or customization is important. If you are flexible on style and standard sized and shaped cabinets fit your design plan and your budget is tight then perhaps the stock or semi-custom cabinets are a better fit. If style flexibility and non-standard space requirements must be met then your options are semi-custom or the more expensive handcrafted custom cabinets.

Design Talent Across The Web & The Globe

We’ve received many requests to create a site wide compilation ( a quick comprehensive guide to interesting designers, artists and home decor shops) similar to two recent compilations that were published: 8 Interior Designer Firms You Need To Know and Spotlight on Design Stars By Topic. We listened and here are the interviews and profiles of our favorite designers and artists that we’ve had the pleasure to showcase on The Decorating Diva, LLC over the last twelve months.

Artists

• Ellen Blakeley of Ellen Blakeley Studio is an award winning glass mosaic artist and ceramicist. Her most recent artistic project transforms shattered window and industrial glass into awe-inspiring glass mosaic tiles for home and more.
• Kristen Stein is an award-winning Contemporary Artist living in Suburban Philadelphia.  Kristen’s works are currently available on a variety of online venues and boutiques and galleries throughout the US.   
• Tamar of Nest Pretty Things, a graduate of the prestigious Parsons School of Design, creates pretty, one-of-a-kind jewelry.

Home Decor and Furniture Designers

• Amy Butler is a creative designer known for her sophisticated, yet relaxed modern approach to printed fabrics and products for home, fashion, and craft. Through her books, website, and patterns for sewing, Amy has helped to inspire a new generation of young women to "find their own style."
• Founder and surface design specialist, British born, Annette Taylor-Anderson set-up ATADesigns in 2005. She is renowned for her bold statement graphic designs as featured in the press and magazines, both in the UK and Internationally; Her designs break the boundaries of tradition, in true London style.
• Katie, owner of furniture & home accessories boutique Coco Målé, is an investment banker turned interior designer who was raised amidst stacks of interior magazines, with an interior designer uncle, a mom who spent half her life at auctions and a dad who imported stone from Libya and Pakistan, it’s no wonder that she acquired a passion for interiors.
• Becky Mack, Lea Bryan, and Alexis Phillips, of Sideways Shop, are three friends who share a love of architecture, design, and art. Several years ago, they began collaborating and assisting one another on individual home projects. These endeavors, often fueled by many pots of coffee, ranged from stone retaining walls; bathroom additions; landscaping;deck work; painting; and window coverings. Now, they’ve migrated to salvaging some incredible furniture and designing pillows.
• Christine Skaley, founder of Pillow Throw Decor, enthusiastically expresses her love of fabric and creating unique designs, ” Fabric fascinates me! I could work so much faster if I didn’t stop so often to admire the fabric I’m working with. Colour, texture and even the sound of fabric is what keeps me up all night and gets me going again in the wee hours of the morning.”
• Maybelline Te is the editor of “Frou La La” blog and the Creative Director of Snug Furniture, a modern furniture company launching in May 2010 at the International Contemporary Furniture Fair. Snug Furniture is a collaboration between Maybelline and a business partner. They both grew up in the furniture business and met at a furniture showroom. If people had each other at “hello”, they had each other at mortise and tenon joints.

Interior Design

• Trend Funnel’s President and Co-Founder, Mary Elizabeth Beal can’t remember a time when interior design was not a part of her life. As a young girl in elementary school, Mary Elizabeth found her interests were quite different than her peers. “I don’t remember using money for candy, toys or clothes” she says. “Around eight years old, I began saving so that I could afford home décor items like bedspreads and artwork… expressing myself in the decorated environment around me.”
• Heather Bourgeois,design blogger, interior design student and Decorative Product Specialist at Sherwin-Williams, is the creative dynamo behind the attractive and visually engaging design blog, CreateH.
• Posh Living, LLC’s founder Kerry Ann Dame’s twenty year interior design career was launched in a spectacular fashion – working under the tutelage of design doyenne Lynn von Kersting at her renowned design firm Indigo Seas in Los Angeles, California.
• New York based interior design firm Doryn Wallach Design,  founded by designer Doryn Wallach,  specializes in residential and commercial spaces, both large and small.  Doryn’s  forte is mixing styles and materials to achieve a stylish, comfortable environment by mixing traditional with contemporary, using bursts of vibrant color as focal points, and employing interesting, unexpected treatments that are visually exciting.  Working closely with her clients,  Doryn is extremely adept at helping  them articulate what they truly want in an environment, and to keep the design current yet timeless.
• EJ Interiors, a Dallas-based interior design firm, headed up by Emily Johnston, designs creative and captivating interior environments for residential and commercial clients. As a full-service design firm specializing in creating unique and distinctive interiors, EJ Interiors, offers a wide range of design services including decorating, new construction, design coaching and color consulting.
• North Carolina based design firm Interior Concepts by Wanda S. Horton founded by award-winning interior designer Wanda S. Horton, specializes in both commercial and residential design projects. Wanda’s favorite projects are those which allow her to collaborate with the homeowner, infusing their style preferences into their spaces, while allowing for her guiding hand to help the project come to completion.  “I bring, with me, a bevy of resources and people, with whom I’ve had great experiences and relationships.  By allowing me to do what I do best, the client receives the benefit of an enjoyable and beautiful project, with the assurance that we’ll be there to see it through.”
• Los Angeles & Orange County,California based interior design firm Jill Seidner Interior Design, led by principal Jill Seidner, specializes in commercial and residential interior design projects. In addition, Jill Seidner Interior Design, provides on site design consultations (for specialty needs such as color consultations and space planning), and virtual interior design services including an affordable complete room design package.
• As an award-winning design firm, Kimberley Seldon Design Group, led by principal designer Kimberley Seldon, boasts more than 15 years’ experience in full-service interior design projects. Kimberley Seldon Design Group specializes in projects which range in scope from residential estates and urban lofts to commercial contracts and country houses.  Kimberley Seldon Design Group’s clientele extends through Canada and the United States
• Connecticut based design firm, Olga Adler Interiors, provides full-service design, kitchen and bath design, decorating, renovations and home color consultations as well as custom-designed furniture, cabinetry and rugs to clients internationally: from Olga Adler Interiors’ home base of Fairfield, Connecticut to points across the United States and internationally. 
• Interior designers Kerry Ann Dame and Layla Altman, owners of the South Carolina based interior design firm Posh Living, LLC,  focus on creating “homes that are warm, personal, stylish and practical”. Posh Living LLC’s expansive 3,500 square foot showroom offers everything from custom furniture to flooring material to designer fabrics and trims.
• Amanda Moore founded her New York based design firm re:place in 2001. Since the design firm’s inception Amanda and her design team have “specialized in contemporary sustainable design, family homes and nurseries” with a focus on using “recycled, found, natural, and environmentally friendly materials…to keep clients in harmony with the world that surrounds them”.

Kitchen and Bath Design

• St. Petersburg, Florida based kitchen and bath designer, freelance writer and founder of the popular kitchen and bath design blog “Kitchen and Residential Design”, Paul Anater can be found designing exquisite kitchens without boundaries, as he commented to us, “I do design work locally, remotely and virtually.”  Paul is also a regular contributor to a number of design websites and art publications.
• Committed to providing unsurpassed excellence in design, Lori Carroll draws on an outstanding education and notable experience in both residential and commercial design.  As a Professional Member of the American Society of Interior Designers since 1989 and a member of the International Interior Design Association, Lori continues to keep updated on current industry developments.  An extensive portfolio of both local and national award-winning projects further demonstrates her talent.
• Fu-Tung Cheng world renown, award winning designer-craftsman, speaker, author, artist and founder of Cheng Design and Cheng Design Products, Inc. brings an organic, balanced, Earth friendly, and aesthetically pleasing approach to his design work and products. Well known for his extraordinary artistic, sculptural work with concrete (from entire homes to sinks) , Fu –Tung has fused art with function resulting in one-of-a-kind kitchen and bath elements.
• Jamie Goldberg, AKBD, CAPS is an NKBA-certified kitchen and bath designer and a freelance design journalist. Her articles have appeared in Signature Kitchens & Baths Magazine, Fine Homebuilding, BobVila.com, KitchenBathIdeas.com and many others.  She is also a regular contributor to Kitchens.com, where her Sensible Style blog appears each month. 
• As one of the leading experts in kitchen design, Matthew Quinn has worked around the world to provide his clients with original, memorable kitchens and baths. Function is amply addressed, but so are aesthetics and comfort.
• Susan Palmer, CKD, CBD, owner of Susan Palmer Designs, has been designing award-winning custom kitchens & baths for more than 25 years. When Susan approaches a new design project, she does not impose a specific “style” of design, rather, she looks to each project for inspiration. As she states, ”I am merely the vehicle to achieve the client’s dream — the final signature belongs to them.”
• Susan Serra is a CKD (Certified Kitchen Designer), CAPS  (Certified Aging in Place Specialist), USGBC (United States Green Building Council) member and NKBA. Susan is an award winning designer and the principal of Susan Serra Associates, Inc.,  for nearly 20 years. Her design work is widely published in online and print shelter publications and she is a frequent source for the media on kitchen design issues.

Office Design

• The Office Stylist is a daily blog that shares tips, products and advice on how to live well at work. From the best, tasty snacks to keep at your desk to chic office supplies to how to transform your personal workspace Sayeh Pezeshki, author and founder of Sorting with Style, shares what you need to know to live big at work, wherever work is.

Outdoor Living

• Marcia Blake is President & Creative Director of Outdoor Interiors®, a full service design firm specializing in creating spectacular outdoor environments, and a Design Consultant for O.W. Lee, a leading manufacturer of finely handcrafted casual furniture. Her collection, Outdoor Couture® by Marcia Blake consists of luxurious throw pillows, outdoor drapes & table runners which has garnered rave reviews for dramatic, yet comfortable outdoor accessories.
• Vic Walker is a Senior Industrial Designer at Dimension One Spas, and has designed consumer products for over 15 years. Walker’s skilled background in biomechanics and ergonomics has helped him create and redefine many features and products in the hot tub industry. With more than 15 patents, Walker is passionate about his continual quest to improve hydrotherapy experiences for consumers.

2009 Christmas 12 Days of Design Notebooks {Days 10-12}

12 Days of Design: Christmas Gift Guide {Day 10}

12 Days of Design: Christmas Gift Guide {Day 11}

 12 Days of Design: Christmas Gift Guide {Day 12}

All images copyright of respective owners.

2009 Christmas 12 Days of Design Notebooks {Days 7-9}

12 Days of Design: Christmas Gift Guide {Day 7}

12 Days of Design: Christmas Gift Guide {Day 8}

12 Days of Design: Christmas Gift Guide {Day 9}

All images copyright of respective owners.

Swarovski Crystal Palace Carbon Crystal Sails at Design Miami 2009

Magnificent Swarovski Crystal Palace Carbon Crystal Sails designed by Greg Lynn. The Carbon Crystal Sails installation was located at the entrance to the Design Miami VIP lounge. Elegantly sparkling and billowing sails spanning more than 80 square meters, reaching heights of over 7 square meters, and encrusted with more than 1,500,000 Swarovski crystals, made the Swarovski Crystal Palace installation the most awe-inspiring experience during a week of never-ending beauty.

Greg Lynn’s life long love of sailing, coupled with his knowledge of sailing material technology (hence the carbon sails) and computer modeling contributed to the creation of what is without a doubt the most stunning art installation at Design Miami.

Greg comments that upon being contacted by Swarovski for this commission, “ I immediately thought of the translucent laminate sails as a way of getting the crystals suspended in the air – not as an object but as a sheet or surface through which light could pass and be reflected. Like the chandeliers the array would be diaphanous but with their curved surfaces these ‘fabrics’ could also define spaces and make enclosures in the form of suspended ceilings, room partitions or even walls.”

Detail views of the Swarovski Crystal Palace installation of Carbon Crystal Sails. According to Swarovski:

The panels in Lynn’s installation will feature three different coloured fibres; black carbon fibre and aramid both in its ‘natural’ gold and in a crimson-died version. These fibres will be woven and incorporated in different ways, blending to create richly nuanced colours. Set amongst these fibres will be thousands of tiny clear and coloured crystals, with hues including aquamarine, pink, red, peach and blue, which will contribute to reflection, highlights and also surface washes of colour.

More than 1,500,000 crystals and more than 117,000 meters of carbon and aramid fibers have been used to create the panels for this installation, which were assembled by computer-guided robots on dynamically formed molds at the North Sails 3DL factory. The panels vary in size, with some as long as 14 m and as wide as 8m. The material is so thin that even panels with a surface area of over 50 square meters can easily be folded and packed into the trunk of a passenger car. The entire installation, including the weight of the crystals, weighs less than 350 kg.

Christian Louboutin at Design Miami 2009

A quick look at the recently opened Christian Louboutin boutique in the Miami Design District. More photos to come.

Christian Louboutin will be on the Design Miami 2009 “Design Talk” panel (with Mattia Bonetti and Jacques Grange) on Thursday, December 3rd (5:30PM to 6:30 PM EST) .

12 Days of Design: Christmas Gift Guide {Day 1}

The 12 Days of Design: Christmas Gift Guide {Day by Day}

• 12 Days of Design: Christmas Gift Guide {Day 1}
• 12 Days of Design: Christmas Gift Guide {Day 2}
• 12 Days of Design: Christmas Gift Guide {Day 3}
• 12 Days of Design: Christmas Gift Guide {Day 4}
•  12 Days of Design: Christmas Gift Guide {Day 5}
•  12 Days of Design: Christmas Gift Guide {Day 6}
•  12 Days of Design: Christmas Gift Guide {Day 7}
• 12 Days of Design: Christmas Gift Guide {Day 8}
• 12 Days of Design: Christmas Gift Guide {Day 9}
• 12 Days of Design: Christmas Gift Guide {Day 10}
• 12 Days of Design: Christmas Gift Guide {Day 11}
• 12 Days of Design: Christmas Gift Guide {Day 12}

All images copyright of respective owners.

In-Review: Design Miami 2008 Highlights

Design Miami 2009 opens to the public on December 2nd 2009. In the meantime, here’s a few of our favorite images and reports from last year’s amazing show. {Stay tuned for our Design Miami Coverage starting Dec 1, 2009).

Design Miami 2008 in one word: Impressive. A must see for the design aficionado. Not just for the designs exhibited but for the breathtaking structure that houses said exhibits. The Design Miami exhibition structure was created by the New York-based architectural firm Aranda/Lash, and sets the tone for the outstanding and innovative design finds housed within.

Exterior "lace draped" entry – Design Miami Exhibit Hall and detail view of "structural lace"

Beyond Organic: Design in the State of Nature is the first Design Miami in-house curated exhibit. This exhibit is a stylish nod to the role nature has in design.

GLASSLAB performed live outside, creating unique and beautiful glassware. They captured the attention of the press, and the general public as they demonstrated the age-old technique of glassmaking.

Tom Dixon‘s installation of heavyweight furniture created through the industrial process of flame cutting steel. The furniture was designed and created for the grounds of the 14th century Sudeley Castle.

One of my personal favorite’s was the Al Sabah Art & Design Collection. The Bokja design collection by the very talented artist/designer team of Hoda Baroudi and Maria Hibri is pictured below. Their fresh, colorful approach to design married with the artisanal traditions of the East creates a unique, original piece of furniture with a story of its own. The Bokja collection is housed in a Design Miami satellite location on 40th NE street. You must make time to visit and enjoy this amazing visual experience. Actually, the entire experience at Al Sabah’s exhibit was extraordinary. From the beautiful music, incredible fragrances and delicious Middle Eastern treats created an environment that delighted, enticed and seduced the senses. Like I said, you have to make Al Sabah Art & Design Collection a must see on your Design Miami/, Art Basel and Art Miami excursions this week and over the weekend.

Industrial Organic Chic by Sebastian Erranzuriz from Cristina Grajales Inc (New York). The images speak for themselves. Mr. Erransuriz is a tremendously talented artist that has captured and fused the beauty of nature with the hard reality of industrial materials like glass and steel. My favorite pieces are the bamboo plant wall shelf "Bilbao"- absolutely ingenious design and the rooted tree table base. I like the duck lamp for its surreal beauty and the fashion in which the lamp mimics the duck’s posture (had it had a duck head).

David Wiseman‘s collage chandelier and wall sculpture. Beautiful. Inspiring.Captivating. Ground-breaking. Just a few words to describe this work of art. Take it in for yourself at R 20th Century‘s exhibit booth.

Campana Brothers at the Albion Gallery Exhibit Booth.

Chandeliers from XYZ Designs at the Contrasts Gallery Exhibit Booth.

Jousse Enterprise presents Rick Owen’s Stag Benches and Table Base.

Priveekollektie showcases the "Cliclounger set Miami" designed by Alexander Pelikan and the "Fredersen/Miami" wingchair by Joe Kranen and Johannes Gille.

Matthew Marks Gallery Roy McMakin Domestic Furniture.

The Decorating Diva Best of Design Miami 2008: Exhibit Booth Design

Sebastian + Barquet (New York & London) -The Decorating Diva winner for Exhibit Booth Design at Design Miami/ 2008.