playing with color!

Posted on September 27, 2010 by tranquilspaces

Color is one of the most powerful ways to create emotional impact in an environment. Bright tones engage and arouse, rich natural tones soothe and relax, pale muted tones support moderation and self-restraint. While we see color with our eyes, we also feel it in our bodies; color is a type of emotional food.

I believe it’s best to begin experimenting with color simply by listening to your body and tuning in to your instincts. Find out what your color cravings are, what makes you feel healthier and happier. Once you know what you like, it can be fun to interpret your desires by referencing classical color theory principles. Continue reading →

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CFLs and EMFs

Posted on September 20, 2010 by tranquilspaces

In the past few years, I’ve taken a number of steps to make my home more energy-efficient (improved weather-stripping and insulation, all new windows, Energy Star appliances, etc.), but there’s one area where I’ve really dragged my feet, and that is switching from incandescent bulbs to CFLs. There’s plenty of good data on the energy savings, but for some reason my body gives them a “no.” I don’t respond well to the color of the light; but more importantly, they make me feel spacey and weird. For a brief period I switched the light bulbs in my living room to CFLs and I could not stand it and switched them back. When I ran across this video today, it validated something I felt intuitively: if you are sensitive to electromagnetic fields, fluorescent lamping may not be good for you! Check out this video and see what you think. Health Effects of CFLs

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creative tabletops

Posted on September 18, 2010 by tranquilspaces

Most people consider renting plates and glasses only when they are planning a large event; but this can be a wonderfully inexpensive way to create a lavish tabletop design for a smaller gathering. If you enjoy the luxury of a beautiful table, pay a visit Classic Party Rental before your next event. By far the best source for specialty party rentals in the Bay Area, Classic has an extensive collection of art glass chargers, contemporary dinnerware, colorful napkins, etc., in styles ranging from the very whimsical to very elegant. Renting these types of items allows you to be more creative, because there is no commitment to use any of them again, no pressure to store them afterwards and hardly any environmental impact – all for a small fraction of the cost of purchasing everything new! If you bring a photo of your dining room, their in-house designers will help you create something fun or sophisticated that is uniquely suited to your space.

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recycled leather

Posted on September 16, 2010 by tranquilspaces

Did you know that leather can be recycled? It’s a relatively new process, but I expect to see this product category explode in the next few years. The beauty of recycled leather might surprise you; often it is impossible to tell that it has been recycled at all! Recycled leather has a soft hand and a handsome finish, comes in a variety of colors, and tends to be more durable than new leather. Old leather can be reborn as upholstery fabrics, leather rugs, even these leather tiles from EcoDomo – which are durable, beautiful and suitable for use as floor coverings – even in high traffic areas.

Recycled leather is manufactured in a similar process to paper. Currently, most of the raw comes from scraps that would otherwise go to waste on factory floors, but hopefully as the industry expands it will be possible to salvage more raw materials from used leather goods. The scraps are ground into shreds (or “pulped,” just like paper), then mixed with water and binders such as natural rubber. This leather “mixture” is then rolled into sheets, is dyed and finished and made into fabrics. The pricing of recycled leather is extremely competitive, on par with many of the mid-priced new leathers on the market.

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deep and peaceful sleep

Posted on September 11, 2010 by tranquilspaces

Harvard Health recently reported that one in five Americans are sleeping less than six hours per night, and that a large majority of us report having sleep difficulties at least a few nights a week. I was somewhat startled (and saddened) by these statistics, because I know for myself that deep and restorative sleep is one of the top five “most important ingredients” for overall happiness. Obviously insomnia is a complicated issue, but here are some of my own tried-and-true design techniques for sleeping deeply and peacefully (almost) every night…

Continue reading →

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insulated servers

Posted on September 11, 2010 by tranquilspaces

‘Tis the season for outdoor entertaining and I am loving these sleek insulated servers from Frontgate! Simply place the dishes in a freezer the day before your event and they will keep food chilled for up to eight hours – without the hassle and mess of serving food on ice. Crafted of sculptural stainless steel with slim gel ice packs permanently sealed into the base. Hand wash.

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an inspiring hearth

Posted on September 11, 2010 by tranquilspaces

A fireplace provides a sense of warmth that is both tangible and emotional. Gathering around the hearth in the wintertime evokes a primal feeling of safety and security; and in most American homes, the hearth area functions as a dominant architectural feature of our primary gathering spaces.

San Francisco codes do not permit wood-burning fireplaces for both environmental and safety reasons, but a gas, electric or bio-ethanol fireplace can provide you with almost all of the traditional benefits, as well as some modern conveniences! If you feel nostalgic for the crackle and pop of a wood-burning fire… Continue reading →

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selecting an area rug

Posted on September 9, 2010 by tranquilspaces

The number of options in this product category can bit a bit dizzying, but never fear! The guide below will help you determine what makes the most sense for your space, enabling you to make a decision you’ll feel good about for years to come.

STEP ONE: DIMENSIONS

Before you start looking at rugs, it’s very helpful to know what size and shape you are looking for. I recommend getting out a roll of blue painter’s tape and taping out the general shape you are thinking about directly on the ground. While room sketches can be helpful, they are not nearly as helpful as seeing the outline of the rug in 3D. If you are purchasing a rug for a conversation area, keep in mind that it tends to create a more intimate feeling in the space when… Continue reading →

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reclaimed designer fabrics

Posted on September 7, 2010 by tranquilspaces

I just discovered a fabric source that is so exciting I’m not even able to type straight right now! It is called Modern Fabrics and their concept is to salvage the remnants of designer fabrics that normally would go to waste on the cutting floors of manufacturing plants and showrooms. You know the remnant bins that they have at places like Joann’s Fabrics? That’s the general idea, but this is a more luxurious, stylish and searchable version.

If there is something in particular that you want to make or reupholster, I recommend heading straight for the “yardage” link to select the quantity range you need. Otherwise, it’s all too easy to find a fabric you love only to discover there’s only 1 yard available! If you don’t have a particular project in mind, then of course you can just have fun browsing the beautiful patterns. Enjoy!

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blessing your home

Posted on September 7, 2010 by tranquilspaces

The essence of a blessing ceremony in feng shui is to open your heart and cast your loving awareness into the environment around you. Moving slowly and patiently, greet each object with gratitude, compassion, acceptance and reverence. It’s amazing how the energy of real love can transform the way an environment feels.

The loving awareness used in this type of ceremony doesn’t need to be separate from everyday life. For example, right in this moment you could direct your gratitude toward your computer or whatever other device you are using to read this. You could touch it gently, saying, “Thank you for giving me access to people and information all over the world.”

It’s often said that we Americans love material things. But do we really? Certainly we are quite driven to possess things and use them for our own comfort and status. But love is different; it involves seeing the divinity in something, recognizing even the humblest object inanimate object as part of God.

“Never was anything in this world loved too much, although many things have been loved in false ways, and in all too short a measure.”

~ Thomas Traherne

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