Homes on the rocks, Canary Islands

Dwell Magazine
(Photographer, Gunnar Knechtel)
I was struck by the absolute beauty of the above home while reading "Dwell Magazine" today. 
This home is built into volcanic rock in the Canary Islands. 
Here are a few more similar homes that have literally been built into the coastal rock or are volcanic caves made into humble cottages.

This home is near a town of Las Caletillas and built painstakingly by hand by its owners.  Imagine sitting on these rocks to relax and read.  Perfect for a couple but scary for little kids, don't you think?

How about waking up to this view!

Surfboards become benches on this cute little cottage patio. 

The natural shelter afforded by the volcanic cave not only keeps the homeowners cool during the summer, but makes for a striking whitewashed ceiling. 
 Tiny cottage near El Chorrillo.  Definitely cave like.  As long as their were no bats I would be okay living here, especially with such beautiful views of the ocean.

No frills kitchen but a view is what they are in this home for!
Hope you enjoyed a quick tour of unique homes on a Sunday afternoon!
Visit my website at DecRenew Interiors to see before and after pictures of my work.
Set up your design consultation today!

Painted Ceilings

I'm a true believer in dressing up your crown molding and ceilings.  You can really make a statement like in the above picture.
(Bryanne Pritchett)
Stencils can be bought at any of your local craft stores.
This summer, think about the ceilings that you have that could be enhanced.  It is a project that can be tackled in a weekend and makes a tremendous difference to a space. 
I am in LOVE with this room!  The ceiling treatment is what makes this room so incredibly gorgeous.   See how the warmth of the ceiling coordinates with the rug tones?  It makes the room come together so beautifully and took it from fantastic to breathtaking.
The crown molding painted with the same color & technique is so elegant!
(Zuniga Interiors)
The copper tin ceiling is a compliment to the sink and the tile and makes the room look SO SO much more dressed up!
Isn't this glam?  If I had a dress boutique, this is what it would look like.
Continuing a paint color and technique onto the ceiling really opens up a space!  I often have clients tell me that they don't want the room to feel closed up with a painted ceiling.  Once they have trusted me with my suggestion to add color to the ceiling and the job is complete, they admit that the room actually looks bigger when all the walls AND ceiling is painted. 
The color on this bathroom ceiling makes the mirror look so much happier!  The light fixture doesn't look so lonely either because it has a backdrop to rest on!  We are getting ready to do this above copper finish in a clients living room and I can't wait to see the end results.
(Fabulous Finishes)
A little accent on this ceiling, that is a replica of the design on the wallpaper, bring this room into the WOW league.
(Cristi Holcombe)
What child wouldn't want this playful ceiling?  Make it fun!
(Erika Ward Interiors)
These high ceiling has such great architectural interest but the color is what makes it all showcased.  See how the rug and the ceiling pull the whole room together?
Take on a small project over the summer and paint, wallpaper or faux finish one of your ceilings to create an accent in a room.  You may need to hire a professional if it's a large space.  You will be surprised how it can finish up a room and make you thrilled you did it!
(Simply Grove)
Often times small changes make for a HUGE impact.
Ready, set, go!
Need some inspiration?  Schedule your "walk-thru" consultation today!
Visit my website  DecRenew Interiors to see more before and after pictures.

The right accessories can put a skip in your walk!

(Photo by Ruthie Staalsen)
I've had a collection of pottery on top of some of my design books for a while now and I've been waiting to find one more item to make it a grouping of 3. 
Today I finally found this burnt orange and brown blown glass vase and I'm so excited about adding it to the two vases I already had.  Doesn't it look so regal along with the two other pottery pieces?  Next time we have guests over, I'm going to put some fresh white flowers in the vase for all to enjoy.
(Photo by Ruthie Staalsen)
I have this chair in an adjoining room so you can see why I got excited when I found the blown glass vase.  It coordinates beautifully.  It would be a bit too much to have the chair and the vase in the same room together.  They will now compliment each other well being that they are in close proximity to each other.  Rooms in your home need to be married somehow.....this is the kind of touch that makes them united and allows your accessories or furniture to feel important in the room.
I'm so excited I finally got my copy of Inspired Styles and I can't wait to sit and devour every page!  All my friends that attended the Design Bloggers Conference in New York couldn't stop talking about it and I was feeling left out!  Mine isn't signed by the designers like theirs are but I don't feel as left out any more!

(Photo by Ruthie Staalsen)
I've had this clay bowl for some time now and today I found a white rose hair clip that I placed in the bowl.......and now I love the bowl even more.  Nobody has to know it's a hair clip, shhhhh!
Sometimes it's the small treasures we find that we add to our home that put a skip in our walk!
Visit DecRenew Interiors to see my gallery and book your design consultation today!

My long awaited rose garden!

(photo by DecRenew Interiors)
Hope you had a fabulous Memorial Day!  We had great fun with family and friends in Arkansas. 
For a while now I've been wanting to plant knockout roses in my backyard.  I've heard so many wonderful things about these roses and have been watching them bloom over the last few months all around town. 
My husband has been working on a project in our backyard for a long time now and it finally got completed.
When we moved into this house and started excavating the backyard, we found all these wonderful boulders.  Can you believe how many we found?  I think they are beautiful.
My husband, along with my strong teenage nephews, built this rock wall along our side fence.  One scary emergency visit and a seriously crushed finger and the wall finally got completed.  We now have lots of stories to tell and crooked fingers to show off, yikes!
A couple weekends ago, they finally got to plant my roses and finished off the flower bed with mulch.
The roses are now starting to bloom!  What I love about these knockout roses is that they are low maintenance.  They love full sun, don't need regular pruning and don't need to be sprayed regularly for bugs like most roses.  We all live such busy lives and we have to find ways to be able to have beauty around us without having to spend hours and hours maintaining that beauty!  We also live in Texas and it's WAY too hot to spend hours outdoors in the summer.
I also planted a knockout rose bush in one of my large terra cotta pots and placed sweet potato vine all around it.
I LOVE the color of sweet potato vine and it cascades so beautifully!  My angel also feels protected and sheltered!
Our next project starts this Friday with new flowerbeds in the front yard.  My neighbors are going to be happy!
Go to my website  DecRenew Interiors to see more about the design services I offer and book your consultation today!

Bubble Chandeliers

While looking for chandelier ideas today, I came across these pictures and had to share them with you.
I would just love to have a big enough room to be able to do something with such whimsy above a dining room table, a kitchen island or even in a master bedroom above a reading nook.
(Shirry Dolgin, Interior Designer)
Just gorgeous isn't it?

Wouldn't this collection liven up a hallway or game room?  Striking!
There is no reason why a chandelier can't add a "playful" element to a space. 
Don't bubble chandelier's make you feel like being a kid again?
I've never been around any kid that doesn't smile when playing or watching bubbles float away!
Who says these kinds of chandeliers are only for hotels or restaurants?  I find great inspiration at hotels, restaurants, retail stores and spas for my lighting for homes. 
Love the black bubbles on this drum shade. 
How romantic!
I'm all inspired to start hanging some bubbles. 
I'd even be happy just dancing with my man underneath these beautiful bubbles.

If you can't hang a beautiful bubble chandeler, at least go blow a few bubbles, it will brighten your day and make you feel like a kid again!
Visit my website DecRenew Interiors to see my portfolio.