The Temple House is a luxurious 16,350 square foot building in South Beach. It was originally designed and constructed in 1933 as a single-family residence by world famous Art Deco architect L. Murray Dixon.
In 2003, the property was renovated to maintain the architectural features and make necessary upgrades. It is now available for private events. Now onto the lovely images!
Simply outstanding shadow work by Kumi Yamashita, a New York based Japanese artist! Via Design Bureau, an amazing trade magazine and blog.
Hi there! You can also find me on Pinterest!
Above is a photo from our recent vacation in Sedona, Arizona. There is a place called Buddha Beach where you can witness in awe thousands of stacked rock sculptures near a Vortex site at the Red Rock Crossing in Sedona. It was amazing! I love Sedona!
I took an iphone pic of Hotel Maya while reading Sunset magazine at the doc's office! I just love the window grill and colored panes! See more images here and here and on Facebook.
I love any fresh take on event design! Meet Jose Zalidivar of Fiction Events, a Miami-based architect turned event designer. Read more about him and other up and coming event professionals here.
I love these wire spheres from Accent Decor! They are available in many different colors. Check out the video tutorial by the talented Hitomi Gilliam on how to create this stunning modern arrangement!
OH EM GEE! I am head over heels for this spiral ceremony setup on the beach in Cabo by none other than Colin Cowie! More images here.
Check out Tiare Floral Design from Tacoma, WA! The floral artist,Tomasi Boselawa is a Fijian artist living in the Northwest. His unique perspective on floral design is informed by his Fijian culture. Check out the floral art gallery to see some stunning floral arrangements!
Found these the other day... Check out Chive for some wonderful options for a simple and modern table scape.
This Thanksgiving in Seattle it snowed! Needless to say we got stuck indoors and as the snowed cleared I had to use what I had at home to create the table setting. I brought out my collection of gourd shaped vases and small bud vases and luckily a color theme occured - brown, plum, rust orange and teal. I used some dried branches I had laying around along with some awesome natural cotton boll sprigs I bought at a display sale. I was inspired to use the cotton sprigs because they reminded me of snow. I also had these tiny metallic ornaments in teal that I hung from the branches and ribbon from my Thanksgiving 2008 table.
Rafael's party was so much fun! Despite the forecast for snow, lots of friends and family turned out to celebrate with us at the colorful playspace, Whirlwinds. The venue's orange, blue and green walls were the overall inspiration for the party. Check out these photos!Here's my my pint sized birthday cake table! I found the banner and paper centerpiece at a party store and added my custom character in the center. The big character was cut out from a simple 20x24 photo enlargement at Sam's Club Photo. Much cheaper than Kinko's and it was on glossy photo paper! The cardboard cake stands are readymade, I just decorated them with ribbon. I found these on the cheap at Jo-Ann Fabrics.
The cake toppers were homemade using printouts, tape and toothpicks.
Colorful balloons, felt table runners and custom cut "confetti" characters completed the look.
The cake toppers had two different character faces! so cute =)
Here's the birthday boy! His godmother made him a fleece suit to match the character I drew!
Here's the cake room as viewed from the play room.
Here's the awesome playroom! There were tons of toys and riding toys and a huge slide/jungle gym (not shown). The parents told us they loved the stress-free party because the kids could run wild while they socialized with the other guests.
Inexpensive white plastic tulip base photo frames from Ikea lined the bookcases with photos of Rafael throughout the year.
The take home party favor was an organic lollipop in homemade packaging.
Here is my Smilebox slideshow of the party:
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I can't believe my baby is turning one! He's the reason this blog has been so lazy! Sorry folks =) I am truly enjoying being a mom! Below is a photo from Raffy's first Halloween! He was a baby yoda with light saber and all!
Here's sneak peak at the look I've created for the party. Can you tell I love the cartoon Pucca??? I just had to create my own little Raffy version!
Illustration by me, Joanna Dyckhoff =)
Are you ready for some global fusion inspiration? Here it is! Go to Wedding Nouveau's new Image Gallery and click and drool to your heart's content!
If you had the loot to throw a party for your quirky modern man, these Domsai Terrariums would definitely be the focal point! At $150 each you might want to chop up some action figures and try to make some on your own (make sure you don't reach for the ones on his shelf, though!).
I saw these colorful cotton ball string lights at Graham and Green and thought these would be great for parties and for Christmas! I like that they have a different look and texture versus plastic or even paper lantern string lighting I ordered some from a Thai ebay shop called LaiThai Lighting!
via flowersoftheworldnyc.blogspot.com
My heart always beats fast when I see images of modern floral design! Today I just discovered Flowers of the World in New York. Check out their blog to see some gorgeous modern arrangements and wow factor window displays!
Ooh, the floral designer in me is loving this modern square glass beverage dispenser... just imagine the cool decor you could design in the bottom container...
How about these amazing floral designs for a grand entrance to your ceremony! See more lovely photos at Yvonne Design!
Wow! Do you have a empty lot or large grassy field? If so, have a sustainable party by checking out these solar powered pop up mobile venues disguised as shipping containers. Like a transformer, the container opens up to reveal a super hip bar, bamboo dancefloor and a modern option to having a tent.
I'm smitten with another fantastic Asian inspired wedding blog called Smitten by Weddings created by Carmen Weddings, a wedding planner in the UK that specializes in Chinese Weddings! This find was brought to my attention by Wedding Nouveau, thanks Fri!
As you know, I love event design and wedding style that is culturally inspired! Today I discovered Kim Liu and her gorgeous new blog about Asian Inspired Weddings! Check it out for some modern and chic ideas for weddings with Asian flair. Also, for more cultural flavor, be sure to visit my other favorite Wedding Nouveau.
So fresh and so clean! I'm loving these mod floral creations by Modern Day Floral Design for an ArtPrize event in Michigan! It gives me some fresh ideas for another Thanksgiving...
Related Post: White Tablescapes
I enjoy the crispness and freshness of these Fall floral treatments by Tweeny of The Flower Lab in Santa Monica, CA! Mixing dried botanicals like lotus pods, curly willow and money tree stems with fresh local flowers and bright orchids creates a varied texture and a bounty for the eyes! See the full details at The Flower Lab blog for Wedding Aces and see more floral bounty at The Flower Lab Blog.
Making sweet mochi is super easy and tasty! Via the awesome bento blog JustBento and a guest post by The Tiny Urban Kitchen, I discovered a way to make "sushi" using mochi and fruit! So delicious! Wouldn't this be great for a baby shower or bridal shower! Pair this with some "floral sushi" styling for a sweet sushi inspired party!
I'm so excited for Issue #005 of Utterly Engaged, the hippest new Wedding E-Zine! The theme for this issue was "Back to Basics." So for my second column of "Worldwide Wedding Style", I have highlighted some ideas for a wabi sabi inspired wedding. Have a look and let me know what you think!
I'm so excited for Issue #003 of Utterly Engaged, the hippest new Wedding E-Zine! Why? Because the super savvy style crew has asked me to be a contributor! Yay! My column is called "Worldwide Wedding Style" and will highlight style elements and cultural nuances that couples can incorporate into their wedding or wedding related events (bridal shower, wedding rehearsal, etc). For the first feature, you know I had to set it off with a lotus inspired theme! I just love how it turned out! I hope you do too =) Stay tuned for more!
I really would love a mini vacation to NYC! If I were there, I would check out the new eco-luxe restaurant Rouge Tomate. The food and decor are all sustainable and the venue boasts an impressive mult-level design... The Cranberry Pool is my favorite (pictured below) and this would be where I would have wanted my bachelorette party or bridal shower! At the Rouge Tomate site, click on the Event button to check out the very cool floor plans.
If you are in NYC, check out the Eco-Luxe / Go Green Expo on Sept. 22 to be held at Rouge Tomate. More info here.
I love these designs by Bree of Kuga Designs! Check out Bree's Daniel Ost inspired post to learn more about the influence and mechanics behind her works of art!
Via the Bellissima Vita Weddings Blog, I was blown away by this elegant cake captured by photographer Jennifer Skog and created by I Dream of Cake in San Francisco. I Dream of Cake was established by artist Shinmin Li who creates innovative cake concepts and is continuously inspired by current fashion trends. The cake studio is a one of a kind, beautifully designed boutique that looks like a high end retail store! So gorgeous!
Below are some of my favorite Asian inspired cake designs that I found at the I Dream of Cake gallery...
Featured Event Designer: Love and Splendor
Featured Floral Designer: Irvine Village Flowers
Featured Photographer: Travis Hoehne
Featured Venue: Seven Degrees
Here's a vibrant and creative wedding by Love and Splendor! I just love the colors and the modern touches! I especially love the lighting and handmade details. See more photos here and here!
Thanks to Ready to Spark, sparks are flying with dreams of churros and éclairs instead of cupcakes for special events! I'm loving the unique churro flavors by Xooro (pronounced Sure-ohs) and the many possibilites for dressing up the éclair like those found at Patisseries like Fauchon. If you have a Mexican or Spanish theme to your event, Churros are a fantastic dessert option. If you're after that "An American in Paris" vibe, go with the Eclair! Either way, you and your guests will enjoy a dessert that is out of this world! *Update 11-10-09 - for Filipino flair try the classic treat of Mini Coconut Macaroons in Bella Cupcake Couture wrappers (you can now get them in a custom design of your own)... I forgot about these tasty treats until just recently when I had a craving for my grandmother's version!
Related Post:
Bem Cassados - Brazilian Wedding Cake Favors
Featured Event Designer: Kendal Brown of Eclatante Design
Featured Floral Designer: Donna O'Brien of Beautiful Blooms
Featured Photographer: Marie Labbancz of Art of Love
Via The Bride's Cafe, an awesome wedding blog, I discovered these fabulous internationally inspired centerpieces that were created for a Bat Mitzvah party. The theme was "Cities of the World" and each table represented a different city. Guests were given boarding passes to their tables. What a great idea for a global party or wedding!
For lifestyle stationary that is modern, fun and eco-friendly look no further! Jayda is a fantastic source for invitations for weddings, baby showers and parties! The founders, Johanna Reyes and Yadira
Chevere are the sisters and designing women behind this beautiful event planner's resource (The company name is a sweet combination of their first names). Check out their impressive environmental commitment here. Jayda also has awesome blogs! For wedding inspiration check out Down the Aisle and for some baby love check out Blue, Pink and Green. In addition, to being eco-savvy and hip, the MOST IMPRESSIVE thing about Jayda's offerings is that when you purchase invitations for a wedding or baby shower, you get your own coordinating blog site!
For Father's Day, my husband decided that instead of our usual BBQ and Hamburgers we would make Carne Asada and virgin pina coladas! So of course we had to make it a fiesta! Plus the weather was so dreary I definitely needed some color therapy! We learned how to make Carne Asada (thin marinated skirt steak) from our Mexican friends who also showed us how to eat it with "agua-mole" which is a more liquid version of guacamole (lots of limes, avocados, water, liquified in the blender). We bought corn tortillas and Spanish Rice from our local restaurant and filled up our bellies! Here are some recipes you can try for the Carne Asada and virgin pina coladas. Sorry, I forgot to take pictures of the food and drinks! But it was sure tasty!!! (I made the arrangements from grocery store flowers and found red linens and an orange rattan runner at Ross all for under $45.)
Ok seriously, do you want to be utterly inspired? Check out Utterly Engaged, a stylish new online wedding magazine from my friends D*LSH Design and their partners! It's a gorgeous read and quite a luxury for the price...ahem, it's free! The zine features real wedding couples and their real budgets, plenty of swoon worthy DIY tips and lots of fresh ideas and fresh wedding vendors! I especially love the diversity in their features!!! I think it totally fills a void in the wedding market right now! Thanks for the link mention on the floral resources page! You ladies rock!
I saw this wire momentum bowl in the Crate and Barrel catalog and just love the idea of an organic style wedding centerpiece using orchids, spongy moss and a see-through basket (that you could give away to guests). For a rustic look you could make your own basket out of chicken wire. For a modern look, scout your home improvement center for mesh you could spray paint and mold into your own shape. You can purchase the orchid potted plants in bulk at Aloha Orchid and the reindeer moss at Save-On-Crafts.
Featured Floral Designer: Flower Design, UK
I really love the freshness of these floral arrangements by Flower Design! I especially love the crisp modernity of the martini designs and tall centerpieces using orchids, anthuriums, curly bamboo and calla lilies! See more photos here.
I'm loving the colors and details of the Witt Istanbul Hotel Suites designed by Autoban. Check out the laser cut flowers, the pointellist styling, the organic woods and the blend of warm modernist design. I can see envision these elements as the basis for a great party or wedding theme! Via the Contemporist.
Whoa, how do I contain my excitement? I finally found a career inspiration that closely matches my lifestyle, my experience and my aesthetic! Today I discovered the story of Kate Fujimoto... a fashion designer - turned wife - turned event designer! Kate Fujimoto worked as a fashion designer and product manager for labels such as Trina Turk and Betsey Johnson. She was getting frustrated with the corporate structure and
felt that her aesthetic didn’t necessarily match up to some of the
companies she worked with. After planning her own wedding, Kate began to consider a career in event design. She took on small
events at first, but with a growing client list, the budding designer launched Kate Fujimoto Event Design in November 2007. With an emphasis on color, texture and trim, she treats events as landscapes similar to fashion designs, and applies her expertise to every aspect of presentation. Kate often looks to the venue first— much like she used to look to the human form—to find ways to enhance its features...Kate, you are my she-ro!
Ok, so I was like totally sucked into the Home Shopping Network (HSN) on TV today because entertainment guru Colin Cowie (his accent is South African) was showcasing his summer collection... and let me say that it's off tha hook and if I had extra loot I would buy up all the pieces and use them for events. Here are my favorites:
Beverage Server with Ice Receptacle: This is the most modern and versatile drink dispenser EVER! Watch the video footage and you will be a sucker too! It's genius! First of all, it's made of sturdy glass. The ice receptacle keeps your drinks cold without diluting them. When not in use you can use the ice holder as a glass flower vase (genius). The bottom bowl is a separate piece and you can use it to display the beverage ingredients or create ambiance with flowers or other themed items. When not in use you can use the bowl for salads or layered desserts (genius). The lid fits perfectly on top of the bowl as well (einstein). At the HSN price of $74.95 I was seriously considering picking up the phone. But alas, times are tough and my glass pitcher is just gonna have to do... but isn't it just genius, lol! Here are some other nice items:
From left to right, top to bottom:
Chip and Dip Wood Tray with Porcelain Bowl, Bowl in Rattan Base, 7" Appetizer Plates, 3 part Stackable Storage Jar, Square Rim Dinnerware Set, Square Bowls in Wood Tray, Double Wall Glass Set.
I'm loving these arrangements and overall table top display found over at Head of the Table! The horsetail or equisetum look so fabulous with the black ribbon and rhinestone buckles atop charcoal polished river stones!
Look at these beautiful Brazilian wedding favors from Pezzi d'Amore available in Seattle! I discovered these from the wonderful Bella Signature Design blog. These wedding favors are called "Bem Casados" or "Well-Marrieds" and they are the most traditional sought-after dessert at weddings in Brazil. Each Bem Casado is artfully made and is light, soft, airy and filled with smooth, home-made caramel bathed in a special sweet sauce. Each treat represents two united parts sealed by sweet love, support and mutual respect. According to legend, everyone who tastes them will be blessed with the happiness of newlyweds, so make a wish before you take a bite. Amen to that!
Today I was inspired by Flora Nova Design and their recent blog post letting us know that Plum is a big color for 2009. Check out their recent Plum, Cream and Chartreuse wedding! I have long loved this color combo so here is my Asian inspired version of a plum and chartreuse wedding. As a disclaimer, I usually don't post any images without linking the source, so I sincerely apologize because I don't have sources for all of these photos (boo! I know!). Please email me if you know the source. Thanks and enjoy!
From left to right, top to bottom:
Photo from Organic Style Magazine; Actress Zhang Ziyi; "Origami Crane" invitation by Tiny Prints; "Brilliant Blooms" wedding invitation by WeddingPaperDivas; custom made blooming tea favor; lime bridesmaid dress; chartreuse arrangement in Chinese shallow basket; catalog photo from Smith & Hawken; pink purple arrangement in footed basket; colorful macaroons by Jin Patisserie; and decorative Black Cherry Plum soap bar by MOR Cosmetics.
Last weekend, our DJ Company Bamboo Beats, had the pleasure of celebrating Kelsey & Kyle's stylish and hip wedding at Pravda, an uber cool NY-Loft like space in Capitol Hill. I want to share with you the beautiful decor details put together by the amazing Michelle from Married with Michelle (see her blog post here) and Julie from Bella Rugosa. *4/27/09 Update: Check out the amazing pro photos by the awesome Photo Elan team at this link!
I love the lotus capiz shell votive holders from Bella Rugosa and floral silhouette satin linens by BBJ Linen.
Check out the table placecards and simple unity candle.
Next to the ceremony area there was an awesome lounge area with cocktail tables and modern seating complete with bar area and our DJ setup.
I totally fell in love with the lounge area... these rentals are available from Bella Rugosa!
Capiz lotus pendant chandeliers graced the ceilings... so modern and elegant!
Modern and minimalistic high and low centerpieces with chartreuse table linens created a very dramatic effect in the all white venue.
This is the guest table shown on the left along with a creative way to show table numbers using sparkling water bottles.
And lastly, I was loving the lime green glass hurricane holders on top of acrylic pedestals that lined the ceremony aisles. On the right is a photo of these cool wrought iron candle holders that marked the ceremony alter. All in all, this wedding had all the perfect details and I can't wait for the pro photos from the fabulous Photo Elan team to show you how much fun the dancing was! They kicked it all night long!
I knew there was a reason why I was holding out from doing a bird theme for previous parties... The first weekend in April, my hubby and I had a wonderful mini-vacation on the Oregon Coast. We enjoyed so much untouched nature while walking barefoot on sandy beaches, soaking up the sunshine, drawing in the sand, beach-combing, relaxing with dear friends and eating very well! We spotted a wild herd of elk, many pairs of bald eagles, an osprey nest, a wild bobcat, seals and many other aquatic animals. We even got to kayak a bit. As a souvenir we took home these gorgeous branches from our host's property... they had the most lovely sponge-like moss. These branches became a very economical and sentimental centerpiece for our Easter Dinner...
I placed the branches in various glass cubes with white gravel to support them, and added some lovely feather birds that I picked up at the Dollar Tree store ($8 for 16 pcs!). The aqua blue table runner is just some lightweight dress fabric that I had previously found at a thrift store. Luckily it was long enough to cover the entire set of tables that sat all 15 of us!
I loved how easy and effortless these centerpieces turned out to be! It doesn't take much to make a statement when these little bird friends are smiling at you and your guests!
Chirp, chirp... A little birdy told me to pull out my white vases for
the display shelves! (The pink and purple blooms are Hyacinth from
our garden.)
Here's the view from the other side of the table...
Say hello to my little friends...
For party favors I found these yummy jelly beans (the size of small grapes), that looked like speckled bird eggs. I looked everywhere for small birdnests that would fit my budget but to no avail. Finally, I broke down and made my own. Using wrapped brown wire (found in the floral section at the craft store), I wound it around my hand 4 times, cut a square of brown wax paper, placed the jelly beans in the center, tucked brown tulle around them and scrunched the package into the nest. The brown ribbon held it all together.
We had a lovely dinner and lively conversation... After dinner we were greeted with a full rainbow! It was so big and so close that I couldn't get it all in the photo! Now if only I could find that pot of gold!
Kelly Hoppen: Kelly Hoppen Style: The Golden Rules of Design
Kelly Hoppen: East Meets West: Global Design for Contemporary Interiors
Colin Cowie: Colin Cowie Wedding Chic: 1,001 Ideas for Every Moment of Your Celebration
Cindy Ng: Girligami: A Fresh, Fun, Fashionable Spin on Origami
Robyn Griggs Lawrence: The Wabi-Sabi House: The Japanese Art of Imperfect Beauty
Thich Nhat Hanh: Peace Is Every Step: The Path of Mindfulness in Everyday Life
Maureen Whitehouse: Soul-Full Eating: A (Delicious!) Path to Higher Consciousness
David Kundtz: Quiet Mind: One-Minute Retreats from a Busy World
Michelle Cornell: Ikebana: Japanese Flower Arranging for Today's Interior
Sakul Intakul: Tropical Colors: Art of Living With Tropical Flowers
