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 really like these vintage looking, Chinoiserie style paintings by Kathe Fraga. You can check out her artist statment here and purchase art prints here!
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.
Check out the movement in this Calla Lilly sculptural arrangement by Koldo Esparza for Gunni & Trentino, the most famous interior design store in Madrid.
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!
Check out these beautiful interiors from designer Jose Natori's New York home via Elle Decor Magazine. Apparently, the renovation took 7 years! Wow! I love the Asian details and refined style!
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 was looking for some modern rugs with flair for my soon to be master bedroom/nursery for my first baby and was directed to a wonderful selection of literally thousands of contemporary rugs at CSN Rugs! The styles shown here are from the Chandra Avalisa Collection and the Surya Dharma Collection. Other noteworthy designer rugs that I found at CSN are from Calvin Klein, Thomas Paul, Karim Rashid, and Koko Company (for funky outdoor rugs). What a great decorator resource!
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 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.
I saw this lovely bedroom inspiration at Living Etc! You can find the geisha pillow at Teo Jasmin!
Check out these amazing photographic prints and home decor options at Teo Jasmin from France! Teo Jasmin is an interior design company based in Paris and they specialize in digital printings on canvas, cushions and furniture.
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.
I saw this lovely bedroom photo over at An Indian Summer. I love the calm neutral colors, the stone like walls, the carved lantern, and the framed Asian advertisement art/poster. You can find a smaller version of a lotus teak panel like this one at Viva Terra.
Check out this really unique and well designed flower shop in Greece! The name of the shop is Aktipis and it was designed by Point Supreme Architects. Discovered via Laissezfaire and Dezeen.
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...
Today I went to the Pacific Market Center and attended a seminar by Leatrice Easeman, the Executive Director of the Pantone Color Institute.
It just so happens that Leatrice lives near Seattle, on Bainbridge
Island, which is just a short ferry ride from the Seattle waterfront. During
her talk, Leatrice said the color brown will not be going away (yay!)
and that yellow is the new "it" color for this year. She also mentioned purple and orange as being important.
The Home forecast she presented had several themes but the "Wanderings" theme captured my heart. You can watch an abbreviated version of the Color Forecast here.
"The acquisition of intriguing artifacts, crafts, imagery and artwork spur the imagination and re-tells the tale of a wonderful journey. Dusky tones of rose, dijon-like yellows and deepened taupe mix with both mineral Mediterranean blues and misted gray. All shades are dramatically embellished by rich gold and scarlet red."
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.
If I can ever get to Seoul, Korea, I would love to attend the Lotus Festival of Lanterns, which happens every year in honor of Buddha's birth on the 8th day of the 4th month of the Lunar calendar. This magnificent installation of lotus shaped lanterns shown above carries the same spirit as the Lotus Festival...
The "Lotus Zone of Zero" was created by Kim Sooja, a Korean born New York based artist, and is on view at Galerie Ravenstein in Brussels. It consists of a steel structure and cables and 2000 lotus shaped lanterns suspended in a circular pattern. "The installation is accompanied by sounds of Gregorian, Tibetan and Islamic chants. Utilizing space and time, Sooja's installation is a call for peace, love and understanding amongst human beings."
Having worked at Glenn Richards, an Asian Antiques store in Seattle, I saw many kitchen, bath and TV console projects using Japanese Mizuya Tansu and Chinese Elm cabinets ...but this one featuring Greentea Design really takes the cake! I have been following Kim's Kitchen Remodel (Kim's from Desire to Inspire) and I'm totally head over heels for the final reveal! I love the fulfilling combination of global design and modern classics! I can't wait to redo my kitchen...
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!
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...
I was recently invited to a wonderful launch party by my friend Liana at Modern Seattle Weddings. Her brother has just opened the first BoConcept store in Washington! Located on Western Avenue admist other fine modern furnishing stores like Inform, Ligne Roset and Roche Bobois, BoConcept brings us global modern design from Denmark. The store is amazing and spacious and I love the warm modernism and custom fabric choices. The "Don't Blame Us" marketing is fun and quirky, and reminds us to live a little, and not take life so seriously! But seriously, though, you need to head down to BoConcept and get inspired...but don't blame me if you decide to completely redo your home decor!
One of my creative visions for an upcoming baby shower was the use of temporary or removable wall murals and artwork... Here's an awesome example of this idea by Anika, using Blik Wall Decals by Mel Lim and incorporating nursery decor with the baby shower. The amazing cake design was done by A Little Bit of Heaven. Luckily, I discovered all of this joyfulness by subscribing to BACE, the new Business and Creative Exchange blog by Mel Lim and her husband...check it out if you are an entrepreneur and looking for tips to make your creative business more joyful and more prosperous! Speaking of prosperous, I'd better feed my Koi fish! You can help me feed them too (see my Koi Pond in the left sidebar)
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.
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.
Today I am inspired by these Zen design principles adapted from The Wabi-Sabi House book via Care2.com.
Zen’s seven ruling principles are guiding lights of design. Once you read them they make real sense for an authentic design plan for your home.
Asymmetry (Fukinsei): Stiff, formal symmetry, suggesting frozen finality and artificial perfection, can be fatal to the imagination. Asymmetry lets us be loose and spontaneous—more human than godlike. It means we can get by with one—or three—candlesticks, and all the china doesn’t have to match.
Simplicity (Kanos): Zen eschews gaudy, ornate, and over embellished in favor of sparse, fresh, and neat. It’s the triumph of craftsman style over the cluttered Victorian parlor.
Austerity (Koko): Zen asks us to reduce everything to “the pith of essence.” Don’t love it? Can’t find a use for it? Let it go.
Naturalness (Shizen): Zen is artless, without pretense or self-consciousness. It’s bare wood, unpolished stone, and flowers from the backyard.
Subtle Profundity (Yugen): Within Zen lies a deep reserve, a mysterious, shadowy darkness. The hint of soft moonlight thorugh a skylight would be yugen.
Freedom from Worldly Attachments (Datsuzoku): The Buddha taught us not to be bound to life, things, or rules. “It is not a strong bond, say the wise, that is made of iron, wood, or hemp,” he said. “Far greater an attachment than that is the longing for jewels and ornaments, children and wives.” It’s the simplicity movement, not keeping up with the Joneses.
Silence (Sejaku): Inwardly oriented, Zen embraces the quiet calm of dawn, dusk, late autumn, and early spring.
Look what I put together on Polyvore, a cool site for collecting and collaging fashion and accessories from around the web! Register and download the bookmarklet, then when you surf you can "clip" images and add them to your "scrapbook". With simple drag and drop functions, you can create your own trend board in minutes (or hours if you get hooked)! I call this one Asian Gold Lacquer - inspired by the Japanese Gold Leaf painting in the background. (I added my own border in another program). You can see a few other of my collages here.
I have long been inspired by Aviva Stanoff and her amazing body of work since I discovered her Brooklyn design studio many years ago. (Check out my eco-luxe color & trend board). Aviva embodies the union of her Japanese heritage and the modern metropolis lifestyle.
"From her North Hollywood roots in 1970’s bohemian California to tending to the flowers surrounding her grandfather’s Buddhist temple in Okayama, Japan, Aviva Stanoff represents a cultural tapestry...She finds inspiration in the subtle palette of nature, the deliberate minimalism of tradition, and the city sunset seen every night from her design studio window. She translates these inspirations into pattern, color, and beautiful environments."
With roots in the fashion textiles industry, the Aviva Stanoff collection is known for its high end, heirloom quality pillows and soft goods that are hand-dyed, etched, and painted one at a time in her Brooklyn studio by skilled artisans. Real foliage is used to create the prints you see and with a special technique these elements are embossed into plush velvet leaving the texture and essence of nature for you to enjoy. For more inspiration, check out this video and watch Aviva explain how she creates her work. I guarantee it will awe and inspire!
How about helping your mom refresh her personal space with these gorgeous and eco-friendly elements from Gaiam! Sweet and sentimental, this allium inspired organic cotton bedding set, and embroidered fair trade silk chrysanthemum throw pillow, are sure to set a soothing and blissful mood. Create a corner for tea and reflection with this beautiful and sustainable tea table and cushion set. And lastly, help her create a zen atmosphere with a combination of a natural rock & resin fountain, inner peace sculpture and some enlightening paisely wall sconces.
I realy like the boldness, the color, the modernity and the mix of white, black, and wood elements in this modern ethnic vibe from Vogue Living Australia via Style Files.
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!
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
