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!
I'm super excited to be a contributing writer for the amazing magazine and website Wedding Nouveau! Check out my first post about adding decor elements from Indonesia to your home environment!
{CREDITS: (Top Left) West Elm catalog Spring 2006, (Top Right) Balam Bali Villa, (Bottom Left) Indonesian batik baskets, (Bottom Middle) Pan Pacific Bali, (Bottom Right) Crate and Barrel catalog, (Bottom Row L to R), Reclaimed Teak Dip Dyed Stool, Batik Pillows found on Etsy, Ceremic Balinese female statue, Ikat bean bag/pouf, Indonesian parasols}
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!
Hello LotusHaus readers! So sorry for the hiatus. Life is hectic with running a successful DJ service, chasing around a 2 year old and keeping up with the everchanging world of music, art and design! Anyways, I came across some inspiring images of the work of Jiun Ho Interiors and just had to share. Enjoy!
Revel Spa - San Francisco
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.
Do you love the Helvetica font? Are you a color fanatic and can spout this year's Pantone color of the year? Or are you just in need of some color therapy? If so, book your flight to Brussels, Belgium and stay at the first ever Pantone Hotel. Wowsers! I want to stay there and have a meeting there too! Although I probably wouldn't be able to turn my brain off and end up reciting pantone numbers in my sleep. Brings back memories of when I was heavily involved in apparel design.
I'm loving these Buzzilight lanterns available at Bouf! The Buzzilight is a large round light fixture with a different
colour of felt on either side that can be switched around to suit your mood.
These look stunning and durable to me! Available in 4 duo colours: ecogrey/orange, ecogrey/lime, ecogrey/pink, ecogrey/off-white.
Etsy has some amazing options for wall stickers and decals... look for designs that are modern and globally inspired! Check out my favorites from Elly Nelly!
And the following are from Single Stone Studios:
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.
Via the beautiful blog An Indian Summer, I'm "washed away" by the modern global styling of these lovely bathrooms inspired by India!
Via Designboom, I discovered the 'Tablecloth Series' by landscape designer Tina Sudell. This outdoor table and bench series has a hot dose of modern design with powder coated steel, rounded edges and laser cut Arabic Geometric "tablecloth" pattern! It's a perfect punch of color and style for your patio!
This image is courtesy of Rooted in Style a most amazing design and style blog! I just love the look of this room! I don't know the source of the image however, I will check back when I find out.
I think this pink and green scheme for indoor/outdoor living is simply divine... add a stone Buddha, a ceramic Kuan Yin figurine or a Thai Temple house and some carved teak wood panels and I'm all set!!! Check out more stunning photos by Pierre-jean Verger. Via Desire to Inspire.
I'm liking the Yoshino Collection of Fabrics by Villa Nova from the UK. For a closer look at their many inspiring textile collections, download the catalog 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.
These metal light panels are gorgeous inside or outside! I really love the chrysanthemum designs. Learn more about these beautiful works of art at Napa Home.
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.
Holy Hollywood! This was TV Guide's idea of a Zen Lounge Emmy party last year... What you are looking at is a 150,000 square foot parking lot with a silk covered tent and huge red gateway structure behind the sensational Kress Night Club on Hollywood Blvd. 1000 cranes were imported from Thailand and floated above a garden-like haven dotted with cherry blossoms, Japanese maple trees,
more than 75 bonsai trees, and some 50 bamboo stalks. Furthering the
theme were 20 alternating images measuring 55-feet tall and 140-feet
wide that featured scenes such as snow-covered volcanoes or lines of
Japanese calligraphy. I really love the lighting and the seating! Below are images from the inside of the club that really impressed me:
Read the full story here.
Edgewater, an artisan tile company based in Vancouver, British Columbia, has just launched Connectables, a new line of gorgeous glass tiles. The Connectables line offers classic, seamless patterns, that can be back-painted to match any paint swatch, in clear gloss or matte finishes! I love this Moroccan style design! I want mine in dark pink! What extraordinary texture and detail these glass tiles will convey in person! I'm definitely keeping this in mind for my next re-decor project. Below are a few other styles of tiles that Edgewater offers...
While poking around my desktop I found this photo taken last year...I can't remember the artist's name (so if you know please comment!)...but I just love this artwork that I saw in a local Starbucks...I wish this was available as wallpaper! wouldn't that be cool?
Vikki Smith has a really great collection of acrylic presentation ware! The first photo is called Sushi-Ushi and it's her most popular item! Below are photos that show her cheery presentation ware in use at high end hotels and special events.
Signoria di Firenze makes divine bedding! These neutral suites make me feel warm and relaxed.
If you're like me and love watching martial arts movies and cultural films for their depictions of food, lifestyle, costume and shelter, you can envision how this 200 year merchant courtyard house (above) must have looked in its prime. If you're also like me and love modern architecture, global culture and design, you will really appreciate how Studio Pei-Zhu, a husband and wife architect firm, renovated this house so that it "belongs to old beijing and to the modern city." Studio Pei-Zhu describes the house (below) as, "Simple, free of ornament. The houses, although narrow, are deep, you enter into high-walled entrance courtyards and then into inner courtyards that are double-height living rooms. Behind the kitchens are gardens to courtyards and on top of the bedrooms, there are roof terraces...courtyards within courtyards, offering privacy, daylight and space." I'm in love with this courtyard house! Via Designboom.
I'm savoring these images of Good Earth's flagship store in New Delhi! Big hugs go out to ArtnLight and India by Design for sharing this loveliness with us!
Shanghai Passementerie is a lovely place setting featuring sophisticated Chinese knot work. The placemat and napkin ring are available at Algabar Home & Life and would be absolutely stunning at a dinner party or rehearsal dinner or as a wedding gift.
If you love mid-century-modern pieces but don't love the never-in-a-million-years prices, check out the e-tailer Regency Shop based in California for some fantastic reproduction pieces that may be worth the splurge! My favorites are (clockwise) : The Womb Chair and Ottoman, Noguchi Coffee Table, Butterfly Stool, and the Egg Chair.
How can I possibly describe in words the true beauty of Rikka's floral design work... "Rikka" means standing flowers in Japanese and all I can say is, "standing ovation!" Combining modern east west floral decor with the art of giving and celebrating, Rikka Floral in Utah is an innovative floral studio and intimate event space (my dream business!). Check out the beautiful event center in the photos below. Just my style...I'm lovin' it!
Via the new eco-modern lifestyle site FeelMoreHuman.com, I was able to surf to Shanghai and check out URBN Hotels, the first super-hip, carbon neutral boutique hotel in Shanghai! It looks absolutely stunning with its modern designed suites with wrap around seating, sunken lounge areas and eco-friendly interiors. I definitely want to stay here if ever I get a chance to visit Shanghai! Visit the website at www.urbnhotels.com
Hotel Murano is a chic, modern, art-inspired hotel located just south of Seattle, in the city of Tacoma. A few weekends ago we had the pleasure of DJ-ing a wedding in the ballroom. The minute I walked through the lobby door I was in love! Check out the modern floral stylings and decor below. (real foliage, nothing faux)
I love the freshness of the entry table and floral arrangement below! Steel grass and lime green anthuriums in a glass goblet style vase really make a statement. And look at the colorful seating and back lit front desk!
Here are some photos of the banquet room...a friend of the bride's did the flowers (beautiful!) and I love the glass bubble chandeliers and modern carpet flooring design...
Get emotional with your decor...Pick Your Mood at Stylkist, a naturally modern online decor boutique based in Mumbai, India. I love the calming colors and natural materials found at this easy to use website. Today, I'm seeking inner peace via An India Summer, one of my favorite blogs.
I'm loving the texture, the hexagonal style and the muted brown colors of Ferrer, a new fashion store in Nieuwpoort-Bad, Belgium. Designed by Studio Arne Quinze the retail vibe is clean, modern and tactile. The wallpaper has linear texture and I absolutely love the fringe beaded curtains. Great ideas for party or wedding decor! via Dezeen.
With joy I discovered that we have some Crocosmia in the backyard...Also known as Coppertip or Falling Star, Crocosmia is a member of the Iris family and is native to South Africa. They must really enjoy summer in the Northwest, because I am seeing them in everyone's gardens! I love the red orange color and the shape of the blooms and stems. They add flair and texture to floral arrangements and remind me of the way orchids sprays look. The photos shown here are of an incredible garden design using crocosmia, the color red, and some really cool geometric walls and cut-outs - from the 2007 Royal Horticulture Society Flower Show in the UK. Check out the panorama of the garden here.
Via Inhabitat, you can check out Xeritown, an amazing new sustainable urban community in the new part of Dubai, which is based on the concept of a xeriscape - "an urban garden area designed to minimize the use of water." The community was designed so that the cool sea breeze is sucked into the town and the hot desert breeze is blocked out. Read more here. I love the artist renderings and the architectural details infusing traditional graphic elements with modern sustainability!
Housemartin reminded me to check out the latest selections from Habitat...I'm so glad I did! These images are inspiring!
Today I'm inspired by the idea of eco-travel in Africa...Here's what I found on my web safari hunt... khaki trouser suit by Stella McCartney | floral sculpture by Junko Miura | mango wood vases by LA-Decor | bamboo cloud chandelier by Roost | lace horses by Viva Terra | sustainable sectional sofa by RC Green | Stockholm leaf chair by Ikea | and pillows by Inhabitat.
If I were a rich girl, I would redo my 1969 bathrooms with some globally inspired and geometrically modern tile mosaics from Ann Sacks tiles! Check out Facet, Pacca, Medina and the Angela Adams collection.
These colorful tiered bento-style lunchboxes and tableware from Graham & Green make me want to party outside! These are from the UK but click here to purchase similar lunchboxes in the US.
Beauty and light is what you get with this really cool Blossom Wall Light by Duffy London. It's a beautiful canvas photo print illuminated with a backlight. This artwork could work well at home or as a store display!
Here's some more global green! Check out Ann Demeulemeester's green boutique in Seoul, Korea. Designed by Minsuk Cho of MassStudies. All I can say is WOW!!!! Click here for a slideshow and click here for more examples of modern greenery in retail environments.
I'm really soothed by this backyard garden with global touches. The colors are refreshing and the details divine. I especially love the tea station for two! Via Sunset Magazine.
Bohemian Rhapsody was the theme for this lovely garden by Vanessa Kuemmerle a landscape designer and the founder of Vee Horticulture. I just love the wooden Balinese doors and the batik cushions!
Here are some of Vanessa's tips for what I would call an eclectic and global garden:
Via Sunset Magazine.
The latest online version of Organic Spa Magazine came out and I saw this great spread on the Lather Spa in New York. I love the punches of color, the plant wall and the beautiful gift card packaging for those special occasions!
Look at these lovely eyelet lace rice paper lanterns at Luna Bazaar! They are intricate and whimsical and come in a variety of shapes and lots of different colors! Hmmm, these would be perfect for my patio..
Beauty. Utility. Spirit. Oh my goodness, I need to get back out to LA...La Brea Avenue to be specific! Check out the Algabar Tea and Lifestyle store inspired by modern Chinoiserie and the art of living and giving. Here you will find a beautifully edited collection of Tea, Home Decor, Fragrance and Gourmet Foods. Algabar also features many unique events like tea and chocolate tastings, global flavor cooking classes, a hot tea bar, MarTEAnis and specialized catering. I love the Algabar philosophy and it's tranquil and modern vibe!
Today, I discovered Ovopur, an environmentally friendly and uber-cool looking water dispenser.
Via MocoLoco, I learned that the Ovopur:
1) Consumes no electricity. Instead it uses gravity to filter and revitalize tapwater, 2) The unit itself is made of porcelain, glass, and metal, and 3) Features a reusable, multilayer filter cartridge whose contents are 100% recyclable. The main reservoir can hold up to 11 liters of fresh water, with the water level indicated by the magnetic gauge. The filter cartridge uses a combination of KDF 55, activated carbon, microporous bioceramics and quartz crystal to remove impurities from the water.
Wowee! This is so global cool! Download the brochure and find out how this ingenious piece of work is inspired by Chinese Tradition.
Via An Indian Summer, one of my favorite blogs, I discovered Parasoleil, a company out of Colorado that produces earth-conscious artistic copper panels for architectural and landscape design. I have a love affair with wood lattice, window grills, carvings and iron works found in places like India and Asia, so this product really gets my blood pumping. Thanks Bhavna!
Soak it up! Via Design Flute I learned of a new technology that allows solar modules to convert sunlight into electricity and can be
integrated in the glass façade of a building. It is possible to produce
it in desired colors, print images or text on the module! Design, technology and sustainability is finally showing us the light!
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
