http://www.kaufda.de/umwelt/ in Germany is promoting planting a tree for each blog and domain that supports their mission.

“My blog is carbon neutral" is an initiative, originally started in Germany by the "Make it green" programs, that has the goal to reduce carbon dioxide emissions. Their goal is to save one million trees.

They will plant a tree for you, neutralizing the carbon dioxide emissions of your blog for the next 50 years! The trees will be planted in the spring of 2010 by the Arbor Day Foundation. For more information about how and where the trees are planted, see the NEWS section.

So far they’ve saved 40,838 trees. If you have a blog, join me in promoting this great cause!

Everyone can make a small contribution to the environment. Every tree counts!

The Perfect Outdoor Escape Matching Sunbrella upholstery and a round indoor-outdoor rug from Couristan unify an assortment of vintage rattan porch furniture into an open-air living room suite. Behind the chaise longue, a grand hooded basket chair — handed down and restored for generations — presides over a massive table and lightweight French park chairs.

I especially love the huge basket chair! Wouldn’t that be fun to snuggle in? I am so ready for summer!

Cozy Furniture and Decorating Ideas - How to Make a Room Cozy - House Beautiful

She was the designer of the year in 2008, Maison et Objets.

As an artist, textile designer and decorator she works from her several studios in France, London & Belgium. What I love her work for is her incredible textile patterns.

You can download a pdf from her site here that showcases her newest work. I love the light airy look of her latest designs.

You know by now how much I love the colors pink and blue! These are stunning, aren’t they?

What is my favorite though are her script patterns. She uses 17th century French calligraphy to make some beautiful pieces. See some of them here -

Here’s a video of Carolyn explaining her methods and philosophy:

Make sure you go to her website to see more of her fantastic collections and work. Let us know if you enjoyed this designer spotlight and if you’d like to see more of them! We always love your comments.

In our last post we featured Eldorado Stone for your interior and exterior spaces. In this post, we feature new surface materials that are wonderful in the bath and kitchen.

Bathroom Products - Surfaces

Hakatai

“Hakatai's Bohemia series of glass mosaic tile offers an array of blended colors.

Adding visual interest to any kitchen or bath, the 1 3/16-in. x 9/16-in. mini-brick style, semi-transparent tiles are arranged in a traditional offset pattern. Focused on neutral hues, warm golden browns and cool blues, the collections’ color palette includes mirage, mallard, chanterelle, nutmeg, loam, sargasso sea and azul. The pieces are approximately 1/4 in.-thick and are film-faced for easy installation. The tile can be used on interior walls, countertops, backsplashes and light residential floors.”

CaesarStone

CaesarStone has a new quartz product out called Motivo™ which I just love! It is a textured stone with a new look and feel.

“Using a brilliant, patented new technology to apply an embossed effect to a range of our surfaces, Motivo makes a stylish statement with its pattern-designed finishes including Lace and Crocodile. Motivo opens up a world of inspiration and imagination by delivering endless creative options for stunning spaces.

Magnificently Versatile

As with all CaesarStone quartz surfaces, Motivo is nonporous, easy to care for and appropriate for numerous applications, including wall paneling, custom-made furniture, kitchen countertops, vanity tops and more.”

Here’s some shots of how Motivo would look on your walls or countertops. Here is the Crocodile pattern – so sophisticated. Amazing!

I also love the Lace pattern – especially for feminine spaces. Beautiful!

So these are just two of the new surfaces that are out there that I think are the most exciting.

With spring here, wouldn’t the lace pattern be especially wonderful in your new spa bathroom? Let’s make that a reality in your home! Contact us here.

Here’s Eldorado’s latest video showing how their stone can transform the look of your home indoors and out. I especially love the wine cellar and the niches in the stone wall for candles in the spa bathroom.

So tell me – which is your favorite application of their beautiful stone? Here’s a few examples from their site of different ways to enhance your home with stone. Gorgeous!

Stone gives such a warm stability and permanence to your walls, flooring and exteriors.

Give us a call and we can transform your spaces with natural, inviting stone to give you a new look to your environment!

In Long Island, a Home for All Generations

Maxine Hicks for The New York Times

"UNDER ONE ROOF

Mike Delfino, far right, designed his house in Port Jefferson Station to accommodate three generations of his family.

By MARCELLE S. FISCHLER

Published: February 24, 2010

EARLY this month, three generations of the Delfino family moved into the 3,400-square-foot stone and stucco home they designed for themselves in Port Jefferson Station.

Mike Delfino Jr., 52, and his wife, Maria, 49, took the master suite on the right side of the first floor. Their sons, ages 16 and 20, have bedrooms upstairs and a large game room that could be a living room if they decided to boomerang back home as adults. “If they get married,” their father said, “there is room for them to have their wives there and get a start.” On the left side of the first floor is another master suite, with sitting room and bath, for Mrs. Delfino’s mother, Anne Calaci, 84, who is making the transition to the Delfinos’ new spread from her home in Mineola. After Mrs. Calaci’s husband died four years ago, the Delfinos wanted her to move into the 2,200-square-foot center-hall colonial they then owned, also in Port Jefferson Station. She balked. “The other home was so small she thought she was going to be in our way,” said Mr. Delfino, the owner of an insulation company. In response, the family decided to design a place that would accommodate their multigenerational needs.”

A version of this article appeared in print on February 28, 2010, on page RE5 of the New York edition.

Read the rest of this article here. Do you live in a multigenerational house? Perhaps you anticipate the need for one soon? Would you like to discuss the options available?

Contact us here and be sure to leave comments below! We’d love to dialogue with you.

"Since private gardens may pose a few limitations (space, neighbors, budget) it’s often in the public spaces that landscape designers can really go wild." So for real inspiration, don’t look next door – look at these beautiful gardens for inspiration!

Beijing Olympic Forest Park, Beijing

Built for the 2008 summer Olympic Games, the design of this lush and vast park was governed by the main principles of the ancient Chinese practice of Feng Shui in order to merge natural and artificial elements as seamlessly as possible. The result is perhaps most apparent here, where a man-made lake beautifully surrounds the existing flora. The trees already growing were kept in their original locations, and the lake was dug out around them, isolating the tree clusters as islands, which were later linked by bridges. The effect is surreal, mystical, and enchanting.—Leah Konen

En.Beijing2008.cn

Photographer: Beijing Tsinghua Urban Planning & Design Institute,

courtesy of ASLA.org

The Museum of Modern Art Roof Garden, New York City

The new roof garden atop the Museum of Modern Art won’t welcome you with lush wildlife and a bench to leisurely enjoy your favorite book. In fact, the garden isn’t even accessible. Created solely as art for working Manhattanites looking down from above, this inventive roof garden plays off traditional camouflage patterns to create a space truly unique. The design started out as a translation of a Xerox copy of a pair of skateboarder’s camouflage pants. Using crushed stone, recycled glass, recycled rubber mulch, fiberglass gratings, PVC fittings, and finally, artificial boxwood plants, the synthetic garden creates urban camo on an impressive scale.—LK

MoMA.org

Photographer: Peter Mauss/ESTO,

courtesy of ASLA.org

Francisco Alvarado Park, Zarcero, Costa Rica

Landscape designer Evangelisto Blanco shaped this dream-like wonderland out of conifer cypress trees in the 1960s. The enchanting park beckons to the young at heart with figures like waltzing elephants, a monkey on a motorcycle, and a crowded bullfight ring. But our favorite is definitely the 16 topiaries that curve to create these eerie and mysterious archways where visitors can wander.—Tory Marlin

CostaRica.com

Photographer: Jamie Royer,

Flickr.com

The Eden Project, Cornwall, UK

Set up in two climate-controlled biomes, the Eden Project leads visitors from the canopy treetops and lush foliage of West African and South American rainforests, to the wine- and olive-producing dry terrain of Mediterranean and Californian landscapes. The unusual grounds also hold a sustainable education center where rainwater helps flush the toilets and more than 32 acres of outdoor gardens. Just beware of serpents and tempting apple trees.—TM

EdenProject.com

Credit: EdenProject.com

Lost Gardens of Heligan, Mevagissey, U.K.

These spectacular gardens were once part of a family estate that fell to a state of neglect after World War I. In the 1990s, Tim Smit and a group of enthusiasts restored the space, incorporating a spectacular display of rhododendrons and camellias, a series of lakes, and the Mud Maid, the blossoming land sculpture by Susan Hill seen here. Now one of the more popular botanical spaces in England, the once lost garden has not only been restored to its formal glory—the tourism it's garnered has helped revive the local economy.—LK

Heligan.com

Credit: © Heligan Gardens Ltd

Topiary Gardens at Washington Old Hall, Tyne & Wear, U.K.

The greenery in Washington Old Hall, an English manor house that was an ancestral home of George Washington, is formed in a charming lattice pattern the appears to curve up and under perfectly—a nice change from the typical teddy bear and elephant topiaries.—LK

NationalTrust.org

Photographer: George Cole

The Overhanging Gardens of Marqueyssac, Vézac, France

Set up on a cliff that hangs over a river, the grounds of this French Revolution-era chateau hold 150,000 boxwood trees, artfully organized to create winding pathways and labyrinths for visitors to enjoy. Viewed from above, the beautiful, rounded boxwoods have a cobblestone effect–an enchanting departure from the tailored, geometric lines of many French gardens.—TM

Marqueyssac.com

Credit: © Laugery

See PointClickHome for more details!

The National Kitchen & Bath Association Unveils Kitchen and Bath Trends for 2010

This week, the National Kitchen & Bath Association (NKBA) revealed its key kitchen and bath design trends for the new year. Culled from a survey of designers that was conducted by the association, they indicate a continuation of a number of existing trends in the marketplace, but also suggest shifts in the direction that kitchen and bath design will take this year.

Following are the NKBA's seven kitchen trends and four bath trends for 2010.

KITCHENS

1. Traditional Is the New Contemporary According to the survey results, traditional will continue as the most popular kitchen design style in 2010, with contemporary following closely behind. Where transitional kitchens fall in this survey is unclear, but that the Shaker style is mentioned as experiencing a strong resurgence suggests growing demand. As to color palette, last year saw an increased interest in neutral tones (perhaps because of the challenging economy). The same should also hold true in 2010. Expect shades of white, as well as off-whites, to be the most common kitchen colors, while brown, beige and bone hues will also enjoy wide usage.

2. Cherry on Top Not surprisingly, cherry will remain the most popular wood for kitchen cabinetry, followed closely by maple; alder cabinets will also gain ground. As for cabinet finishes, medium natural, dark natural, glazed and white painted will all be common. Other colors of painted cabinetry and light natural finishes are in decline, however, as are distressed finishes.

3. Floored by Tile Ceramic and porcelain tiles, as well as those in natural stone, remain popular kitchen flooring options (probably for their durability and relative budget-friendliness), but nothing beats the warmth of hardwood, which will dominate the kitchen landscape more than ever in 2010. As to countertops, granite will maintain its lead, edging out quartz, which will nearly (but not quite) catch up in popularity. For backsplashes, ceramic or porcelain tile and glass will serve as the materials of choice.

4. Flexible Faucets Standard kitchen faucets will become less standard in 2010, ceding ground to more convenient models. Pullout faucets continue to increase their market dominance, while pot fillers will also become more prevalent. To complement those white kitchens, the NKBA predicts that most faucets will be specified in brushed nickel, followed by stainless steel, satin nickel and—surprisingly—polished chrome.

5. Undercounter Refrigeration Surveyed designers cited French door and freezer-bottom as the two most popular styles of refrigerators, while side-by-side units will retain their share of the market. Also noted was the increased use of undercounter refrigerator drawers, which are ideal for point-of-use convenience and for keeping a kitchen design open. In addition, the NKBA found that undercounter wine refrigerators were recently specified by half of kitchen designers.

6. A Range of Cooking Options The tried-and-true range continues to serve as the workhorse for cooking, although the combination of a cooktop and wall oven is beginning to overtake it. Gas will maintain its position as the most popular type of cooktop over electric, although induction cooking is coming on strong due to its energy efficiency.

7. Dishwasher-in-a-Drawer Standard dishwashers, which feature a traditional door that pulls from the top down, will still be the most common type in 2010, but an increasing number of drawer-style units will be installed in kitchens this year for their convenience and their ability to wash small loads of dishes when needed, thereby saving water and electricity.

BATHROOMS

1. In with the Old, Out with the New Although some may disagree, the NKBA predicts that traditional will be the most popular design style in bathrooms in 2010, with contemporary designs a distant second. As with kitchens, neutrals are in. Beige and bone will be the most common colors used in bathrooms, followed by white, off-white and brown, indicating a somewhat subdued color palette this year.

2. Ceramic and Granite Ceramic and porcelain tile will be the dominant flooring materials in bathrooms this year, while natural stone will continue to prove popular as well. Though increasingly popular in kitchens, hardwood flooring won’t become common in bathrooms in 2010. For vanity tops, granite will remain king, with quartz and marble also proving popular options.

3. Simple Fixtures Maintaining the more subdued palette, the most common color for fixtures will be white, with bisque and off-white the only other options at all common in new or remodeled bathrooms. For sinks, simple undermounts will be most popular, followed by integrated sink tops, drop-ins, vessel bowls and pedestal designs.

4. A Nickel for Every Finish Faucet finishes in the bathroom are similar to those used in current kitchen designs, with brushed nickel continuing to lead the way in 2010. Polished chrome and satin nickel will also be incorporated into many bathrooms, just as they had been throughout 2009. These faucet finishes will be followed by bronze and stainless steel.

Kitchen and Bath Design Trends From Kitchen and Bath Business Magazine – kbb How many of these elements are already in your own kitchen? How many would you like to incorporate in a new kitchen? Are you ready to start a kitchen project? Let us know what your favorite elements would be in your new kitchen and we can make it happen for you this year!

2010 Color of the Year Unveiled

Feel swept away in 2010.

Pantone announced its 15-5519 Turquoise as the color of the upcoming year. The hue was chosen for its combination of serene blue and invigorating green, as well as its ability to evoke thoughts of soothing, tropical waters and an escape from the everyday troubles of the world.

"In many cultures, turquoise occupies a very special position in the world of color," said Leatrice Eiseman, executive director of the Pantone Color Institute. "It is believed to be a protective talisman, a color of deep compassion and healing, and a color of faith and truth, inspired by water and sky. Through years of color word-association studies, we also find that turquoise represents an escape to many–taking them to a tropical paradise that is pleasant and inviting, even if only a fantasy."

Turquoise appeals to both men and women and translates to fashion, as well as interiors. With both warm and cool undertones, turquoise adds a splash of excitement to neutrals and browns, creates a classic maritime look with deep blues, livens up other greens and is trendy when paired with yellow-greens.

The hue is available in Pantone's line of eco-friendly paint. Ideal for a powder room or kitchen, turquoise offers a spa-like feel or when used as an accent, creates lively visual interest.

Kitchen and Bath Design Trends From Kitchen and Bath Business Magazine – kbb Tell us what you think of this color! How would you use it? What feelings come to you when you think of this color? Make sure to comment below.

Based on the movie Girl with a Pearl Earring, design legend John Saladino transforms this Soho apartment.

“As one of the great Dutch painters of the seventeenth century, Johannes Vermeer transformed scenes of everyday life into masterpieces revered for their silent intensity, purity of light and form. Drawing parallels to his own work, renowned designer John Saladino chose the Vermeer — based film ‘Girl with a Pearl Earring’ as his inspiration for the VERANDA show house at SoHo Mews, a modern condominium building located in Manhattan's trendy Soho neighborhood.”

Saladino used a gorgeous palette of colors inspired from the girl’s headdress of luminescent blues, rich taupes and dreamy whites. The textures of this living room are so appealing to me with the scratch-coat plaster on the walls (which at first glance I thought was a velvet upholstered wall) and the soft cashmere throw on the table.

As well he used the wall treatment in the breakfast nook and dining room for that rough-luxe look I love.

“Curtains draped throughout the house not only introduce an element of mystery but also help absorb noise in keeping with the meditative silence Vermeer's artwork projects.”

This little vignette from the bedroom console is just lovely!

"I followed Vermeer's philosophy, which was to take vernacular objects and imbue them with transcendence," the designer explains. "I tried to give these rooms an almost ethereal light."

This is my favorite room of the apartment. I love the colors, the soft muted light and the painting by Victoria Adams.

See more beautiful images from Veranda. INTERIOR DESIGN BY JOHN SALADINO ARCHITECTURE BY GWATHMEY SIEGEL ASSOCIATES PHOTOGRAPHY BY ANTOINE BOOTZ