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Author Archives: tranquilspaces
2012 Kitchen Design Trends
Reinventing the hood One of the most striking visual changes we’re seeing in next-generation kitchens is that ventilation hoods are turning into works of art. That’s not a crystal chandelier in the photo above – it’s a stove hood! Now, … Continue reading
shop local on Etsy for holiday gifts
Do you love the idea of buying local, but find it hard to forgo the convenience of shopping online? Me too. Which is why I’m super-excited about my latest discovery: shopping local on Etsy.Here’s a quick sampler of holiday gift … Continue reading
living walls
Living walls are cropping up all over the Bay Area! Vertical expanses of greenery provide a restful connection to nature without taking up too much space. They also require less water than horizontal gardens. The living wall at left serves … Continue reading
Bay Area nature photographers
This post is a follow-up to my last post about Bay Area nature art. Here I’ve featured work by photographers who have interpreted local nature scenes in a particularly artistic way. The photo montage to the left, by Cris Benton, … Continue reading
Posted in art, San Francisco Bay Area
Tagged Cris Benton, John Harrison, John Wall, nature photography, nature photos Bay Area, Stephen Joseph, Terry Way
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nature art of the Bay Area
The San Francisco Bay Area is a nature-lover’s paradise, and landscape artists often come here to paint the beautiful scenery. In this post, I’ve highlighted a few artists who I believe are doing a great job of capturing our region’s … Continue reading
don’t just organize – containerize!
Several years ago, I asked my friend Jeri Dansky (a professional organizer) to come and help me with my kitchen cabinets, which were driving me insane. They were messy and disorganized and overflowing with things I frequently needed and couldn’t … Continue reading
tips for selecting exterior paint colors
#1 Honor the neighborhood. While interior colors are primarily for you and your family to enjoy, exterior colors are a contribution to your entire neighborhood! Take a walk along your street and consider what kind of palette would blend most … Continue reading
Tamarian’s questionable “no child labor” certification
Last week, one of my clients and I were looking at rugs online, and we found one we really liked, manufactured by Tamarian, a leading importer of rugs from Nepal. Knowing that Nepal has been plagued with child labor problems, … Continue reading
Posted in rugs and carpets
Tagged Goodweave, Steve Cibor, Steve Cibor Tamarian, Tamarian Carpets, Tamarian carpets child labor, Tamarian child labor, Tamarian child labor certification, Tamarian ethical business practices, Tamarian Goodweave, Tamarian rugs, Tamarian rugs child labor, Tamarian social responsibility, Tamarian Steve Cibor, Tamarian TLC, The Tibetan Rug Labor Certification Company, Tibetan Rug Labor Certification Company
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designing spaces that support innovation
What type of environment supports creative thinking? The Bay Area’s most innovative companies have been asking – and answering – this question for years. Touring their offices brings us a great set of “best practices” that can be applied to … Continue reading
Posted in design ideas, health & wellness, San Francisco Bay Area
Tagged Brainstorm, California Academy of Sciences, Collaboration, Creativity, designing for innovation, Facebook, Genentech, Golden Gate Park, Google, Googleplex, Health, IDEO, Innovation, interior design and creativity, interior design and innovation, interior design ideas to support creative thinking, offices that support innovation, Play, Playfulness, Twitter, Wellness
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come and breathe for Japan with me
Japanese culture has had a profound impact on my life. Raised as an outspoken and independent American woman, I got quite a dose of culture shock when I first moved to the rural outskirts of Hamamatsu in my early 20s. … Continue reading