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California Dreaming… Beach House

I am ready for summer and warm days at the beach. Having a beach house off the coast of California is a dream of mine and this one featured in Veranda is perfection in my book.

This airy beach house in Santa Barbara was designed by Richard Hallberg and Barbara Wiseley of Los Angeles-based HallbergWiseley. Wall-to-wall windows with sweeping ocean and mountain views allows the home to be one with nature. The designers selected a simple, beach inspired off-white, beige and gray color palette harmonious with the coastal landscape. The home’s earthy and ethnic furnishings include a commissioned rug made of antique linen, an antique Spanish vargueño and a reproduction stalactite side table by Formations {the designers’ furniture company}. For more details regarding the interior design of this home, visit Veranda.

Ahhhh, a girl can dream can’t she?

*images courtesy of Veranda

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Read full story By on April 28, 2010 in interior design

Nesting Newbies – My Favorites

If you haven’t checked out Nesting Newbies yet, its worth a visit. The new online platform blends a traditional magazine format with online videos and blogs. It features content for those who are new to nesting and need help when it comes to cooking, entertaining and decorating. They also offer plenty of inspiration. Here are some images from my favorite articles in the Winter Issue:

Loved the “drab to fab” DIY lampshade makeover. And it looks so easy to do!

Happy reading, happy day!

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Read full story By on April 21, 2010 in Entertaining, interior design

Smart Eat-in Kitchen Remodel by Louise Brooks

I love white kitchens and was naturally drawn to this beauty featured in Traditional Home. Connecticut-based architectural designer Louise Brooks created an open and cheery eat-in kitchen for her sister, Joan Gullans Pluck. The new kitchen renovation beautifully compliments the architecture of the 1930s shingle-style house, provides more storage and work space, and opens up the space to bring in more natural light.

A trio of stunning copper antique ship lights hang above the island. The copper finish inspired the cheery gold color for the walls which was layered and combed by a decorative painter to create a subtle crosshatch pattern. The paint was a custom blend of Benjamin Moore’s Butterscotch 2157-30 and Glowing Apricot 165.

Brooks opens up the kitchen by adding a breakfast nook tucked under a window with classic wood trim and crown molding in step with the style of the 1930’s home. An antique oval table and contrasting white-painted chairs are added to a built-in window seat {which serves double duty too by storing cooking supplies}.

A sunny and cozy sitting area was created just off the kitchen and is a great place for entertaining guests. The custom canary sofa by Tudor House Furniture is the perfect scale for the space.

The homeowner has lovely a view of the sitting area and wood-burning fireplace from the farm sink by Klaff’s located in the middle of the kitchen island topped with Calacatta Marble. Custom cabinets cleverly house paper towels and a space-saving pull-out trash bin below.

For even more storage, Brooks designed a pantry that connects the kitchen to an outdoor terrace. I love the glass-front cabinets and vintage style faucet added to the prep sink.

What is not to love about this gorgeous kitchen?

*images courtesy of Traditional Home

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Read full story By on April 19, 2010 in interior design, kitchens

Top Ten Eco-Friendly Home Decor Finds & LED Lamp Giveaway

To celebrate Earth Day’s 40th birthday {April 22, 2010}, here are ten great eco-friendly home decor finds. Who says our homes can’t be stylishly beautiful, sustainable and responsible all at the same time?Philips is also giving away one of their LivingColor LED lamps to one lucky Simplified Bee reader. Details on how to enter and the bottom of this post.

One – Since 1969 it has been Lee Industries’ mission to create stylish, high quality home furnishings that are eco-friendly. Lee manufactures earth-friendly furniture products, like this sofa using sustainable processes and bio-based upholstery.

Two – Amy Butler’s fresh, bright and modern bedding line and best of all its 100 Organic. Butler’s bedding collections include 400 thread count sheets, elegant embroidery and low-impact dye prints that hold their color.

Three – This chic Cabana Desk and Desk Stool by ducduc are both made from sustainably harvested hardwoods, and water based, non-toxic finishes. I love that the furniture in all manufactured in ducduc’s factory in Connecticut.

Four – Virtually odorless Natura paint by Benjamin Moore is one of the greenest paint available on the market. I love it because it is virtually odorless, zero VOC emissions and best yet is available in any color selection.

The walls is this darling eco-friendly nursery {above} were designed by Shannon Kaye. Using a soft yellow {Opaline OC-33} as the base, Kaye adds visual interest with a modern tree stencil in Carob AF-160, August Morning 2156-40, Fairview Taupe HC-85 and Sundance 2022-50. An old rocking chair and dresser look new again in Sundance. The ceiling in August Morning orange is bright and cheery.

Five – These simple, modern and versatile Wall Tiles are made from 100 bamboo pulp {a renewable resource}. This embossed three-dimensional wallcovering is also free of chemicals and are 100 bio-degradable. Available at Inhabit.

Six – The Cyrilla Daybed by Pure is one of my favorites. Pure’s uses materials that are biodegradable, sustainable and have non-emitting finishes.

Seven – With a trademark design style and eco-friendly printing practices wallpaper by Given Campbell is a cut above the rest. The Divine Collection {sampling above} is based on different patron saints and was designed with the hopes of inspiring you to hang it in unexpected places.

Eight – Luxurious upholstery fabrics by O Ecotextiles are produced in non-toxic, ethical and sustainable ways. Opulent, yet organic – love it!

Nine- Mod Green Pod’s stylish and colorful fabrics are printed on 100 certified organic cotton grown in the United States. By weaving and printing their product line completely in the United States they also reduce energy expenditures on shipping. Mod Green Pod uses non-toxic, low-impact printing pigments and dyes give our fabrics rich, saturated color. In addition their textiles do not contain any dangerous chemicals such as formaldehyde (wrinkle-free agents), PBDEs (flame retardents) or PFOA (i.e. Teflon/Scotchgard) off-gassing into your home.

Ten – LEDs. This LED edison bulb is up to 90 more energy efficient than an incandescent bulb and can last up to 100,000 hours, over ten years, reducing cost and conserving energy. These bulbs do not heat up or emit mercury and offer colorfast, stable decorative lighting for accents and ambience.

Leveraging LED technology, the Philips LivingColor floor lamp is small, chic and modern. With four LEDs, it casts light onto any wall or room creating instant mood, ambience and color. It comes with a really easy to use cute little remote that controls the color and saturation giving you 16 million different choices of color. The folks at Philips sent one to me to test out and now I’m addicted {so are my kids}! Philips would like you to have one too. Here is how to win one for yourself:

*Leave a comment (sorry, US residents only).
*Extra entry – Follow Simplified Bee™ Blog (by adding yourself to the follower group on the sidebar) or follow Simplified Bee on Twitterhttps://twitter.com/simplifiedbee.
* Extra entry – mention this giveaway in a post or tweet and leave a comment letting me know you’ve done so.
* Please post a separate comment for each extra entry.
* Entry period closes at midnight PST, Thursday, April 22, 2010 and the winner will be announced Monday, April 26, 2010.
*The winner will be drawn randomly using Random.org, notified directly via email and listed back at this post using first name only.

“Start by doing what is necessary, then what is possible, and suddenly you are doing the impossible.” – St. Francis of Assisi

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Read full story By on April 15, 2010 in furniture, Giveaways, green design, healthy home, interior design