Home & Design Luxury Home Magazine

Sarasota's Articles

Jewel On The Bay by Marla J. Ottenstein See Entire Article Not unlike a fairytale where the bedraggled princess has a fairy godmother to watch over her and is then swept off her feet by her knight in shining armor, the historic Sullivan Home had it’s own Prince Charming – builder Scott Bill of Scott Bill Homes, Inc. of Sarasota. The home’s fairy godmothers and godfathers – all members of the local American Society of Interior Designers (ASID) – lovingly dressed the princess for the entire kingdom to admire.
Plantation Style by Christy Maxwell-Clark See Entire Article Today’s baby boomers and empty nesters who are opting to downsize from their previous family home into smaller villas are often faced with a design challenge when dealing with smaller spaces. Siesta Interiors of Sarasota has created a tropical plantation style retreat in the Coventry model at the Villas at Turnberry Trace, a Premier Communities Inc. development in North Port. This beautiful 1,451 square foot villa is the perfect size for the empty nesters or for use as a second home.
Not Just a Furniture Store by Christy Maxwell-Clark See Entire Article When most of us think of imported Asian furniture, we have the misconception that Asian furniture is the stereotypical black lacquer furniture that was so popular in the 1980s. Chris and DeNise Ash, the owners of Asian Imports, have set out to prove that the stereotype is false.
Decking Your Holiday Halls by Marla J. Ottenstein See Entire Article When the holiday season arrives in this sunny paradise we call home, Southwest Floridians, longing for the crisp wintry bliss of the north, embrace the traditions of decorating their homes with such unabashed passion as to create virtual winter wonderlands, sans snow.
House of Holiday Dreams by Kristine Hughes See Entire Article When Alfred Hoffman, American Ambassador to Portugal since 2005 and founder of WCI Communities, Inc., and his wife, Dawn, purchased their home in the Gulf Harbor Golf & Country Club community in Fort Myers, they named their Mediterranean-style residence Casa de Suenos, or House of Dreams.
Art From the Earth by Sam Moser See Entire Article In interior design, two elements move people like no other: striking displays of color and beautiful products of nature. Sky blue, baby blue and midnight blue are examples of shades that catch our attention and possess the innate ability to calm any setting. Natural stone is the perfect material, the ultimate complement to any décor.
Unified Design Focusing on the Big Picture by Kelly McCall Branson See Entire Article Margo Bohaty, owner of Sandcastles Interiors, describes the “Sandcastles Concept” as about more than mere decoration. Her approach to interior design eschews trendy themes and the layeringon of embellishments. She believes that well-designed spaces are about proportion and balance and a true marriage between form and function.
Leather: A Treat for the Senses See Entire Article There’s nothing like the smell or feel of leather. Remember your favorite bomber jacket? How about the seats in that Italian sports car you got for graduation or the big wingchair in Grandpa’s study? Why not treat yourself to something really special? Something your friends will remember and talk about.
Creating Atmosphere and Mood by Susan Hicks See Entire Article Creating the desired atmosphere and mood for any room entails finding and selecting just the right fabric, color, styles, furniture and accessories. From the elegant and sophisticated to the playful and casual, the choices and the options are innumerable. Guiding each client in discovering and selecting the best decorating elements to create a room that matches the client’s wishes is what brings joy to the design team at Decorating Resources Inc.
The Portals of Paradise by Bonnie Brownell See Entire Article A home’s front door has no words to inform visitors about what lies within, but its size and style speak volumes. Entries create the first impression of a home and the homeowner’s personality.
Floored by the Choices by Kristine Hughes See Entire Article Floor coverings are essential to the character and comfort of our homes. Now, in the 21st century, we have a host of flooring options to choose from. Centuries ago, however, the first floors were simply made from dirt, which was strewn with either sand or sawdust and topped with mint leaves.
Trust, Respect, Communication by Marla J. Ottenstein See Entire Article Working with an interior designer is parallel to flying. A designer, just like a pilot, is a highly trained and knowledge-able professional with a level of expertise in their chosen field. Trust and respect your designer and let them fly with the project.
Walls that Glitter by Sam Moser See Entire Article Whether you choose to hang paper or hire artists to create masterpieces, there is no shortage of wall coverings and treatments available to transform even the most ho-hum surface into a sophisticated backdrop.