The Ritz Carlton Reserve Dorado Beach - The Place to Be This December

To contact us Click HERE
If you love a great party, legendary parties, destination parties, then, you must be at the Grand Opening of the Ritz Carlton Reserve Dorado Beach.

image Ritz Carlton via Forbes.com

Ask your favorite designer, and I’m sure they will agree,when they walk into a hotel, they immediately start taking notes on the interiordesign.  I'm no different.  To add another layer, I also love hotels.  For the decor as much as all the other things they promise, like the home away from home, the great getaway, and yes, the perfect night’ssleep.

Call me naive, but until I sat through Robert Thomas's lecture "Design Without Limits", I had no idea that the spaces we drool over and obsess about take billions of dollars to create.  According to Thomas, Interior Designer of Encore and the Wynn Las Vegas, designing hotels is the things dreams are made of.

When it comes to hotels, I’m a little spoiled.  Of course, I have my favorites.  I alwaysstay at the InterContinental because I lovethe rooms and the service.  Even if it'sbeen months since my last stay or if I’m on another continent, they alwayswelcome me by name as if they’ve know me forever.  Who wouldn't fall in love with that, right? 

I have a friend who spends insane amounts ofmoney on hotels.  His thing is staying where the party never stops.  Think theFontaineBleau on New Years Eve.  Or the Ritz-Carlton on South Beach where you can get the Mercedes Benz package and zoom up and down the strip, valet parking at all the hot night clubs.  When he wants to rest, hechecks into the Four Season’s in Denver for days at a time.

I’ve been trying to get him on the phone because there’s ahotel that we’ve got to check out.  Opening in December of 2012, just in time forthe release of the Great Gatsby (random thought), is the Ritz Carlton Reserve Dorado Beach. 
According to Forbes online, the resort has historically beenthe playground of the rich.  Built in the 20's and reaching it’s heyday in the50’s, it was the place to see and be seen for the world’s jet set.  This glorious resort is destined toreclaim its place as a go-to destination for those who take luxurious leisureseriously.

Image Ritz Carlton via Forbes.com

Image Ritz Carlton via Forbes.com

Image Ritz Carlton via Forbes.com

Kelly Wearstler's Glamorous Take on Black and Bronze

To contact us Click HERE
Love. Love. Love the custom stair rails! Love the use of patterns!
The stair rails in this library are my favorite! They were also custom designed by Wearstler.  Love!I love everything about this space. Love the floors. LOVE the ceiling. Love the chandelier!  
 Love the use of bronze in the kitchen. Did I say love in this post already?Love this idea!The Home of Lara and Jeff Sanderson Designed by Kelly WearstlerImages ElleDecor.com

Nina Garcia's New Upper East Side Digs in October Architectural Digest

To contact us Click HERE
I have three of Nina Garcia's style books.  "The Little Black Book of Style", "The One Hundred" and "Style Strategy".  I love the fashion advice and secretly can't get enough of theillustrations by Ruben Toledo.  I adore Nina!  She's smart, savvy and has the most impeccable style.  It's because of her style and love of great art, that I couldn't wait to get a peek inside her Manhattan home. The space, which is featured in the October issue of "Architectural Digest", has all the elements of a well edited wardrobe, timeless pieces, delicate textures, and smart uses of color. I'm enthralled by the art!  It's simple, yet seems so alive.  I'm instantly drawn in by it. I also love the striped fabric on the back of the chairs.
See my favorite rooms after the jump!

5 Amazing Rooms You'll Love For Fall

To contact us Click HERE

This is one of my favorite rooms by Elaine Griffin.  I love love love the color scheme!  I love the yellow and the soft brown leather that she uses in the space.  I love this space for fall because I think it would be an amazing place to have dinner parties.  Can't you just imagine them going well into the night?

Elaine Griffin | ElaineGriffin.com

Maybe it's the wood in the corner.  Maybe it's the idea of longer nights and shorter days, but I could see myself here all fall in slippers and a bath robe.
Definitely my vote for best place to write a novel.

Darryl Carter | DarrylCarter.com

The idea of snuggling into one of these beds with a good book is what makes this an ideal space for fall. The colors are spot on and it just seems like it would envelope you.  The blanket, the suede on the beds...It's all so perfect.

Michel Boyd | SmithBoydInteriors.com

Joy Moyler | JoyMoyler.com

Marian Akinloye did a fantastic job with this family room!  Again, I love the use of orange in the space.  The carpet is my favorite design element as it sets the tone for this serene atmosphere.

Marian Akinloye | MADesignstudio.com

Let's Start with Wallpaper from Kimberly Lewis Home

To contact us Click HERE

Wallpaper Kimberly Lewis Home

I have been looking for a reason to use products from Kimberly Lewis' wallcovering line since meeting her at Blogfest this year.  When I decided to switch directions with my business, I was afraid that I wouldn't get the chance because I wasn't sure if I'd be involved in residential design again this soon.  But as fate would have it, the first day of my new job (Monday) provided me with the opportunity to throw her wares into the mix.  Turns out, my very first project at my new post is a ranch house re-do.  

Wallpaper Kimberly Lewis Home

When I got the images of the house on my desk, I noticed that the walls were all dark paneling and that the ceilings weren't very high.  I'm out of the painted accent wall phase, so I quickly started to think of alternative ways of making the walls special and the rooms appear larger.  
Kimberly's wallcoverings seems like the perfect fit.  I think that they're fun, creative, and provide just the graphic punch our otherwise white color palette needs.  The easy part is recommending the paper, the hard part is fighting for it at every production meeting until I can see it successfully installed in the project.  Wish me luck!

Wallpaper Kimberly Lewis Home

 What do you think?  Could you see this in a 30 year old ranch house?

Kelly Wearstler's Glamorous Take on Black and Bronze

To contact us Click HERE
Love. Love. Love the custom stair rails! Love the use of patterns!
The stair rails in this library are my favorite! They were also custom designed by Wearstler.  Love!I love everything about this space. Love the floors. LOVE the ceiling. Love the chandelier!  
 Love the use of bronze in the kitchen. Did I say love in this post already?Love this idea!The Home of Lara and Jeff Sanderson Designed by Kelly WearstlerImages ElleDecor.com

Nina Garcia's New Upper East Side Digs in October Architectural Digest

To contact us Click HERE
I have three of Nina Garcia's style books.  "The Little Black Book of Style", "The One Hundred" and "Style Strategy".  I love the fashion advice and secretly can't get enough of theillustrations by Ruben Toledo.  I adore Nina!  She's smart, savvy and has the most impeccable style.  It's because of her style and love of great art, that I couldn't wait to get a peek inside her Manhattan home. The space, which is featured in the October issue of "Architectural Digest", has all the elements of a well edited wardrobe, timeless pieces, delicate textures, and smart uses of color. I'm enthralled by the art!  It's simple, yet seems so alive.  I'm instantly drawn in by it. I also love the striped fabric on the back of the chairs.
See my favorite rooms after the jump!

5 Amazing Rooms You'll Love For Fall

To contact us Click HERE

This is one of my favorite rooms by Elaine Griffin.  I love love love the color scheme!  I love the yellow and the soft brown leather that she uses in the space.  I love this space for fall because I think it would be an amazing place to have dinner parties.  Can't you just imagine them going well into the night?

Elaine Griffin | ElaineGriffin.com

Maybe it's the wood in the corner.  Maybe it's the idea of longer nights and shorter days, but I could see myself here all fall in slippers and a bath robe.
Definitely my vote for best place to write a novel.

Darryl Carter | DarrylCarter.com

The idea of snuggling into one of these beds with a good book is what makes this an ideal space for fall. The colors are spot on and it just seems like it would envelope you.  The blanket, the suede on the beds...It's all so perfect.

Michel Boyd | SmithBoydInteriors.com

Joy Moyler | JoyMoyler.com

Marian Akinloye did a fantastic job with this family room!  Again, I love the use of orange in the space.  The carpet is my favorite design element as it sets the tone for this serene atmosphere.

Marian Akinloye | MADesignstudio.com

Lenny Kravitz is Expanding His Cool

To contact us Click HERE

Lenny Kravitz

I truly believe that creativity knows no boundaries.  That many creative people suffer not from lack of ideas, but from too many.  I find it exhilarating to see fellow creatives master different areas of life.  I believe that musician Lenny Kravitz, who is one of my favorite artists, will succeed in expanding his design business into a full-on lifestyle brand.  He has mastered being effortlessly cool and cool sells.  According to the Examiner.com we can expect cool furniture, cool bedding, and cool clothing.  What do you think?  Are you willing to bet on Lenny Kravitz's cool?

Image Kravitz Design

Image Kravitz Design

Image Kravitz Design

Images of The 47-Story Residential Tower at the Paramount Bay in Miami

Let's Start with Wallpaper from Kimberly Lewis Home

To contact us Click HERE

Wallpaper Kimberly Lewis Home

I have been looking for a reason to use products from Kimberly Lewis' wallcovering line since meeting her at Blogfest this year.  When I decided to switch directions with my business, I was afraid that I wouldn't get the chance because I wasn't sure if I'd be involved in residential design again this soon.  But as fate would have it, the first day of my new job (Monday) provided me with the opportunity to throw her wares into the mix.  Turns out, my very first project at my new post is a ranch house re-do.  

Wallpaper Kimberly Lewis Home

When I got the images of the house on my desk, I noticed that the walls were all dark paneling and that the ceilings weren't very high.  I'm out of the painted accent wall phase, so I quickly started to think of alternative ways of making the walls special and the rooms appear larger.  
Kimberly's wallcoverings seems like the perfect fit.  I think that they're fun, creative, and provide just the graphic punch our otherwise white color palette needs.  The easy part is recommending the paper, the hard part is fighting for it at every production meeting until I can see it successfully installed in the project.  Wish me luck!

Wallpaper Kimberly Lewis Home

 What do you think?  Could you see this in a 30 year old ranch house?

Sunday Sermon: The Easy Way Out!

To contact us Click HERE

If you choose to run from your problems and take the easy way out, you are only setting yourself up for another failure in a future marriage. What you do not realize is that you will have worst marriage problems later my friend!

Wherever you run, there you will be also and your old ways will be right there with you. And when they start to rise and show their ugly faces, will you quit and run again, starting the circle all over my dear friend?

Together in the race and in the grace of Christ Adonai Yeshua! Maranatha!! ~ Bishop RSW Chea


 

 

Free Emergency Preparedness Training in DC

To contact us Click HERE

  Serve DC’s free Community Emergency Response Team (CERT) volunteer program trains citizens to be better prepared to respond to emergencies in their communities. When emergencies happen, CERT members can provide critical support to first responders, immediate assistance to victims and can help organize spontaneous volunteers at a disaster site. CERT members can also help with non-emergency projects that help improve the community safety.
CERT training is free and open to anyone who lives, works or congregates in the District of Columbia. Classes include:

• Disaster Preparedness
• Fire Safety
• Medical Operations and First Aid
• Search and Rescue
• Disaster Psychology
• Terrorism

Register for CERT Training.

About: CERT is a partner and program of Citizen Corps, a national initiative designed to foster a culture of citizenship, service and responsibility. Learn more about national CERT initiatives.