Punchy Pink and Blue - Tween Girl's Bedroom

I've been designing a bedroom for a darling eight year old girl and wanted to share my presentation boards with you.

She loves the color blue and wanted her walls in that tranquil color. Another prerequisite was to use the existing wooden furniture - bed, sidetable and dresser - all painted in a soft ivory. She also has a fun, modern hot pink fury chair she enjoys reading in that will be incorporated in the room's design. The room's window has classic white wooden plantation shutters that will also remain.

Here are the paint colors suggested for the room. All have zero VOC options which is great.

Because the little girl is eight, we wanted to design a the room that will grow with her. The bedding selected is from Serena & Lily and it's perfect for a tween room. The sophisticated Aqua Trellis and Aqua Melon Mosaic Sheet Sets will be mixed & matched and established the split complementary color scheme of blues, pinks and melon. The sweet Pink Diamond Quilt will help break up all the blue elements and add texture.

We haven't determined which of the lovely Serena & Lily decorative pillows will go on the bed, but are leaning toward this hand-appliqued floral design Bloom Punch pillow.

The wooden floors will be covered with a beautiful cut and looped wool Trellis Rug in blue from Pottery Barn Kids. The trellis pattern will repeat the pattern on the bed's quilt.

Most of the artwork in the room will be the little girl's own creations. Several of her favorite works will be framed and we'll create an art-wall. Another option for wall art, is this beautiful Cherry Blossom Birdies Canvas Reproduction available at Posh Tots. It pulls the color palette together nicely and the adds a bit of nature to the room.

I like chandeliers in little girls' rooms and fell in love with this striking Gabrielle Pendant ceiling light fixture - the silk flower shade is feminine and sophisticated. The sweet Early Bird antiqued table lamp by Land of Nod is also being considered for her bedside table. Aren't those perched feathered friends just too cute!

It warmed my heart to see the little girl's giant smile when I showed her the images of her new room. She loved it - and I love that!

*images from Serena & Lily, Pottery Barn Kids, Posh Tots and Land of Nod

Save the Bees - The Great Sunflower Project

It should come as no surprise - I'm a bee lover. I love their beautifully organized beehive homes, team focus and sweet honey creations. I even love honey bee art. So of course, I was very troubled to learned a few years ago that bee populations were declining.

Recently, I read a hopeful article in Sunset Magazine (August 2009) called Hive Minds promoting a grassroot effort aimed at learning more about this problem and finding solutions to restore the numbers of pollinators. Founded in 2008 by San Francisco State University associate of biology professor, Gretchen LeBuhn, The Great Sunflower Project distributes free 'Lemon Queen' sunflower seeds for people to plant in their yards. After the sunflowers have bloomed, participants are asked to track and report any bee activity. LeBuhn says, "Sunflowers are easy to grow and wildly attractive to bees."

Why is this important to us all? LeBuhn says it best and puts the problem into perspective -

"Economists and ecologists have started working together to find a way to place a financial value the contribution of natural ecosystems to human existence. The estimates are eye-opening. For example, the value of pollination services from wild pollinators in the U.S. alone is estimated at four to six billion dollars per year. While these ecosystem services are currently produced for “free”, replacing the natural ecosystem would cost many trillions of dollars. Unless human activities are carefully planned and managed, valuable ecosystems will continue to be impaired or destroyed."

The project has been wildly successful and now has approximately 55,000 participants. The data these volunteers collect will provide valuable insight on determining the root of the problem and how to help reverse it. To "hunt for bees" and join this worthwhile project, visit The Great Sunflower Project.

Also, if you are interested in making your yard more bee-friendly, here are three easy ways from Sunset Magazine -

1. Plant diverse bee-friendly flowers and edibles like asters, lavender, strawberries and of course sunflowers.
2. Avoid using too much mulch or pesticides - it discourages native ground-nesting bees and approximately 70% of native bees are ground nesters.
3. Don't pick those weeds! Weeds such as dandelions and clover provide quality pollen and nectar. Simply pull them after their blossoms are spent. This last one is tough for me! Guess I shouldn't worry too much about the the clover that has popped up in my yard.

Or you can do what Martha Stewart does and have your own beehives. In June of this year, she blogged about having nearly 12,000 honeybees and one queen delivered to her farm. The incredible photo above is of her lovely queen bee - the large bee with the blue dot. She hired Guy Hodges of Bee Guy Apiaries LLC in South Salem, New York to handle the buzzing project.

Now let's go help save our favorite pollinating friends. Buzz, buzz, buzz...

*honey bee artwork from Candice H. McDonald on Etsy, Jennifer Lambein on Etsy, and ronniegunn on Etsy, photo by Martha Stewart Blog.

Light it Up - Tonic Home Ceiling Fixtures and Discount

The new addiction is right! Offering home decor merchandise from designers such as Oly Studio, Worlds Away and Bungalow 5 - what's not to love at Tonic Home!

Linda Hayes - pictured above - created Tonic Home out of her passion of home decorating. She says, "Tonic Home represents the next generation of luxury: the combination of traditional techniques and quality craftsmanship to a fashionable and modern sensibility." And I completely agree!

Lighting design always makes or breaks the success of a room. Consider adding a lovely ceiling fixture in your dining room, entry, bath or bedroom to add character and more light. Here are some of my favorite ceiling light fixtures currently available at Tonic Home.

This gorgeous Floral Glass Sphere Chandelier caught my eye immediately. The darling glass fixture would work well in so many spaces including a bathroom, girl's bedroom or dining room. When illuminated, the 25 "Christmas-type" bulbs stream light elegantly through delicate glass flowers.

This stunning Lily Chandelier features iron, rust-finished leaves trimmed with delicate glass pearls. I love the jexaposition between heavy and lite elements here. I image this rustic element in a chic mountain or beachside home.

This Rittenhouse Pendant by Arteriors Home mixes elegant traditional style with clean modern lines. The curved antique silver base is beautifully paired with a cloverleaf fabric shade in a golden taupe hue. Lovely for a dining room.

Love, love, love this Meri Drum Chandelier by Oly. It's a spectacular light fixture made of pierced white resin. In addition to light, this modern element would add style, texture and a bit of whimsy to any room - I would add a pair above a kitchen island.

Having you been eyeing a light fixture at Tonic Home? If so, this is the time to buy it - from now until August 31, 2009, Tonic Home is offering Simplified Bee readers 15% off all purchases - simply use the discount code, "simplified bee" (lower case) when checking out. Now go light it up!

*images from Tonic Home

The King of Color - Jamie Drake NY Upper East Side Design

New York-based designer, Jamie Drake has been creating high-end interiors since his firm, Drake Design Associates launched in 1978. His A-list clients include Madonna and NYC mayor Michael Bloomberg. Drake is the king of color.

Drake's designs are world renowned for use of sophisticated color schemes and eclectic furnishings. To achieve harmony and balance in a room, he uses at least three colors.

Here's a tour of a luxurious skyrise home in New York on the Upper East Side designed by Drake. The living room and adjoining dining room's vivid color palette of orange, hot pink and blues is stunning.

The multi-color animal print rug grounds the room and pulls the color scheme together brilliantly. I love those throw pillow - orange & hot pink - yum!

Wow, orange walls. Orange is a "hot" color and promotes energy in a room. You typically see orange or red & yellow combinations in fast food restaurants because they want high turn-over rates and it encourages patrons to dine quickly. Here Drake boldly paints the dining room walls a bright orange. He adds blue and white to bring balance and promote a calming feeling.

An office fit for a queen. The color purple is associated with royalty. This intriguing color is the combination of opposites hot red and cool blue. In this room, Drake adds splashes of warm coral, neutral white and playful gold to the myriad of purples for a more feminine appeal. And my heart is racing - that glamorous white lacquer and lucite desk is a dream!

Drake uses a tetrad complementary color scheme - four colors that are equidistant on the color wheel - in this very playful child's room. This design is stylish and above all highly functional. Storage above and below the bed. I love it!!! The rainbow of colors painted in back of the shelves and in the "number" throw pillows are the best.

*images from Drake Design Associates

Blog Lovin' Award

I’ve been given the Blog Lovin' Award by the very stylish and refreshing Four Walls and a Roof. This thoughtful blog by a Brit in San Francisco is a delightful read. I particularly enjoy the posts regarding her decor trepidations and dilemmas. If you haven't stopped by yet, this blog warrants your visit.

I’m honored that she selected Simplified Bee and now I have the task of passing the award on. It was very difficult, but I’ve narrowed it down to blogs that have inspired me the most -

Laura Casey Interiors - for great design tips from a fabulous interior designer

Colour me Happy - for valuable color expertise and fantastic decor advice

Things That Inspire - for incredible images of art, architecture and design

The Skirted Roundtable - for thought provoking and educational discussions about interior design and blogging from Beach Bungalow 8's Megan, ::Surroundings::'s Linda and Cote de Texas' Joni

Marley & Lockyer - for endless inspiration and beautiful images

Velvet & Linen - for her incredible sense of style and breathtaking designs

Trina Turk for Home and New NoCal Store

I am a huge fan of Trina Turk clothing. So, I was over the moon to hear that she launched a printed fabric collection for the home with furnishings manufacturer Schumacher and a residential line of pillows, towels and rugs.

Like her fashion line, Turk's indoor/outdoor fabric collection draws inspiration from diverse cultures, architecture and landscape that represent Southern California. This gorgeous fabric trio - left to right: Santorini in marine, Zebra in bamboo and Peacock in pool - are some of my favorites. Perfect for a party poolside. Also, because the fabrics are made for indoor or outdoor use, they are more rugged and would be great for interiors with small children.

Here is an exterior view of the new Trina Turk store in Burlingame, California - just 30 miles south of San Francisco. These are some of my personal photos from a recent shopping outing.

The store's interior design is clean, modern and L.A. chic. The geometric floor is designed in white & brown round mosaic tiles with a dark brown grout. Lots of mirrors open up the space nicely and reflect the great lighting design. The back wall's vertical brown & orange knotty yarn adds texture and an earthy touch. It's a gorgeous space.

Trina's new pillow collection is beautiful. The lime green embroidered pillow shown in the cane rocking chair is my favorite!

Trina's swimwear line is the best! She always uses colorful prints and incorporates a fun element like the gilded hardware in the blue & white suit shown above. I had to hold back on buying one from her latest line because I purchased two last year!

If you are in the Northern California area, be sure to drop by this beautiful new Trina Turk Store in Burlingame. And if you print out and bring this Simplified Bee blog article, you'll receive 10% off your purchase - hurry, the discount is good through August 31, 2009.

*images from Trina Turk and Simplified Bee

Do What You Love - Designer Philip Gorrivan's NYC Home

Life is too short; do what you love. New York City self-taught designer, Philip Gorrivan does just that. Before designing, Gorrivan worked at Hearst Magazines, an Internet start-up and a venture capital of sorts. The tragedy of 9/11 made a profound impact on him and he then decided to do what he loved - interior design. And aren't we glad he did! 

Here's a tour of his beautiful NYC home as seen in an interview with Gorrivan in New York Social Diary last year. The first photo (above) is of Gorrivan's living room with a rich color palette of chocolate browns and golden yellows. I want that gorgeous glass top and gilded base coffee table!

The beautiful Duncan Phyfe sofa is upholstered in a Clarence House striped silk - it's a family antique from Maine and looks stunning in front of the staircase original to the apartment.

This colorful and eclectic room serves multiple purposes - it's a dining room when the family is entertaining and a family room when not. The Hexagon Dining Table is one of Gorrivan's designs and it expands into an octagon when open, seating ten. I love the color and texture variation on the Jansen Dining Chairs - upholstered in Kidd Leather from Edelman and leaf motif embroidery by Elitis.

The sweet banquette is covered in Bergamo multi-striped velvet and the lovely wallcoverings are custom tinted by China Seas.

The master bedroom is my favorite room in the apartment and I originally saw it on Erin's blog - House of Turquoise. It's richly sophisticated, but not stuffy. The color palette sets a soothing, tranquil tone. The chocolate brown tufted headboard looks great with the complimenting lavender tufted bench at the foot of the bed. The muted turquoise seagrass wallcovering is extraordinary.

This chaise - in the style of Jean Pascaud - is Gorrivan's favorite reading nook.

The daughter's bedroom is fit for a princess. The soft pink & white stripes in the canopy, bedding and Roman shade look great with the contrasting bold brown & white houndstooth bed-skirt and roll-neck pillow.

The focal point of Gorrivan's young son's room is the gorgeous 18th century French bed framed by a beautiful striped canopy. I've never seen a canopy in a little boy's room, but it looks fabulous here.

*Images from New York Social Diary

Eco-Friendly Green Design - Nandi Yoga

Recently I've had the pleasure of taking beginning yoga classes at Nandi Yoga in the heart of downtown San Mateo, California - just 30 minutes south of San Francisco. It was a little intimidating at first, but now I am really enjoying it. Of course, I have a lot more poses and terminology to learn, but here are some of my current favorites - Adho Mukha Svanasana (downward-facing dog), Utthita Trikonasana (extended triangle pose) and Balasana (child's pose). In case you were wondering, this is not me above, yet.

Not only are the classes fantastic at Nandi, but so is the incredible eco-friendly studio space. In fact, the studio, which just opened last year is one of the greenest in the country. Whenever possible, recycled and sustainable materials as well as state-of-the-art fixtures that minimize consumption of natural resources were used in the 4,000 square-foot space renovation. Nandi Yoga was certified by San Mateo County's Green Business Program in March 2009 and they work closely with the Green Yoga Association to promote their efforts to "practice lightly on the Earth."

The open and airy studio comprises of three yoga practice rooms with the tranquil "blue" room being the largest at over 1,200 square feet. My favorite element in the room is the flood of natural light from the skylights - five in all. This is typically where I take my classes and I love the fact that not one light is turned on during the session. Compact fluorescent light (CFL) fixtures are used as needed and minimize consumption. In addition, roof-top solar panels generate the studio’s electricity and hot water.

The building materials are primarily bamboo and cork. The "green" room has a beautiful cork floor shown above.

The bathroom fixtures keep water usage low, the paint both inside and outside is low VOC (volatile organic compound), and their cleaning supplies are toxic-free. The simple cabinetry is bamboo.

Here is a complete list of suppliers and materials used in this green design. Most products and services are from companies based in the San Francisco Bay Area. This conscious strategy was twofold - support the local economy while reducing the company's carbon footprint:

General Contractor: D.A. Pope: www.dapope.com

Lighting Consultant: Hawtoff Associates, San Anselmo, CA 94960; Tel: 415-458-5444

Fixtures: Iris, Litecontrol, Lithonia Lighting and Alkco

Cabinet Maker: Rick Hogan, Designs Unlimited; 50 S Linden Ave Ste 6, So. San Francisco, CA 94080, 650-583-7075

Material: Plyboo: www.plyboo.com

Flooring: Advantage Flooring; 3330 Arden Rd, Hayward, CA 94545, 510- 856-0505

WE Cork: www.wecork.com

Bamboo: Golden State Flooring - www.goldenstateflooring.com

Bathroom Fixtures: Flushometer - www.sloanvalve.com

Motion Sensor Faucets - www.sloanvalve.com

Toilet Partitions: Sierra Series from Bobrick - www.bobrick.com

Paint: Eco Spec by Benjamin Moore

Solar Panels & Solar Hot Water: PDSolar, 7980 Enterprise Drive, Newark, CA 94560; 510-494-9982 - http://www.pdsolar.com/

Here's an image of my witty, composed and very patient instructor, Clive, in the breathtaking Grand Canyon. If you're interested in yoga, be sure to drop by his website or class at Nandi Yoga.

Namaste - "The light within me honors the light within you."

309 8th Avenue, San Mateo, California
Phone: 650-343-YOGA (9642)

*images from Nandi Yoga, Simplified Bee and Old Moon Yoga