We are inspired by the color turquoise. Also referred to as aquamarine, this color reminds us of warm tropical waters and relaxed days. Perhaps that’s why it looks so beautiful when paired with the colors of the sunset ~ reds, pinks, and oranges. Use a little bit of turquoise for a wonderful pop of color.

We have selected some of our favorite aquamarine accessories that you can add to your home or garden.  You’ll see candle holders, dinnerware, lamps, lanterns, tables, and even tile.  Spend a little time looking through our picks and you’ll see where they are available for purchase.

If you’re in Los Angeles, there’s a fun event open to the public this week at the La Cienega Design Quarter.    Windows To The World begins Thursday, May 10, 2012.  It’s sponsored by Elle Decor, House Beautiful, Traditional Home, Veranda, California Homes and others.  

You’ll have a chance to see a rare exhibit of antique Fortuny designed dresses and cloaks from private collections, attend open houses with new product launches and book signings, and participate in panel discussions about design.

The La Cienega Design Quarter is home to many fabulous textile, furniture, rug, art, and antique shops.  Designers frequent this shopping area.  This event offers the public a glimpse at some of the best design shops in Los Angeles.

Click here if you’d like the schedule of events with free parking and valet information.

Who says you have to have a stone encased cellar to create the perfect wine tasting area?   Not so!  Be clever and create this wonderful entertainment area where it works best in your home.

The space does not need to be large but remember to include special details that will make the room come alive.  Pay special attention to all the surfaces.  We’re showing a photo from Houzz.com and Venetian Homes that illustrates this point beautifully.  Look at the interesting surfaces with nail head trim and faux metallic finish on the walls, faux copper barrel vaulted ceiling, and rough wood floors.

It’s the mix of different materials that makes this room interesting.  Instead of wood floors, try scored and polished concrete inlaid with vintage tiles.  Get the look of copper, stone, or steel walls with wallpapers like those from Vahallan or Jeffrey Phillips.  Don’t have a barrel vaulted ceiling?  No problem.  Make yours a stand out with faux wallpaper, tin ceiling tiles, or a mural on the ceiling.

Wine storage is a focal point for any wine tasting room.  We love the double X detail on the custom storage unit shown in the photo above and the mix of dark wood and blond interior.

While this room shows plush seating inside the temperature controlled zone with glass doors separating the refrigerated zone from the hallway,  consider how chilly you want to be while tasting wines.  Many rooms are designed with a table and bar stools outside the refrigeration zone.

Lighting is always important.  Wall sconces, pendants, and chandeliers provide softer lighting.  Recessed ceiling lights can cast harsh shadows.  Make sure all your lighting is on dimmer switches so you can create the perfect mood for a night of entertaining.

We found some great new items to update your table for Spring. Kim Seybert’s Entertaining Line for Neiman Marcus will add a pop of color to any room. Her Caviar Collection is shown below.

Check out all of our picks for accessories, wallpaper,furniture, and more.

This is the time of year when people think about installing a new ceiling fan. Figure out if it’s right for you in 3 easy steps.

1. Think about how many months of the year you’ll use this fan. Write it down.

2. How high are the ceilings in the room where you might install a ceiling fan? Measure and write it down.

3. Do you need a ceiling light as well as a ceiling fan? Write down yes or no.

Now let’s calculate the points.

If you’ll use the fan 3 months or less, you get 1 point. If your answer is 4-6 months, give yourself 2 points. Over 6 months gets 3 points.

If your ceiling height is less than 8′, give yourself one point. 8′-10′ ceilings get 2 points. Over 10′ ceilings get 3 points.

If you need a ceiling light, give yourself 1 point. No ceiling light gets 2 points.

Now add your points up. If you have over 7 points, a ceiling fan should be in your future.

If you have 5 points or less, you should strongly consider a table top or free standing fan.

If you are between 6 – 7 points, you are in the grey zone and could go either way.

Why shouldn’t every room have a ceiling fan if you’ll use it part of the year? The biggest reason is that low hanging objects make a room appear smaller.   Ceiling fans brings down the height of the ceiling.  If your ceilings are quite high, this can actually be a positive benefit. However, if your ceilings are average height, your rooms will feel smaller and somewhat claustrophobic.

A light kit on a ceiling fan amplifies this visual dilemma.

You’ll notice in many newer homes, the ceilings are very high even though the rooms are quite small. When you first walk into these spaces, they feel larger than they actually are because of the high ceilings.

Today, there are so many great table top and free standing fans on the market. These are a great alternative a ceiling fan. Take advantage of sales and special promotion offers but get the right product for your space.