Island Dreams

It's wonderful to see people's dreams come true, especially when it comes to a remarkable home in the island of Ibiza called Never Never Land. Its lucky owner always had the idea of building his dream vacation home in this Spanish paradise without causing major effects on the terrain. Architect Andrés Jacque made his dream a reality by designing a web of stilts to support the multi-modular home in order to minimize any distress on the landscape. But if that wasn't enough, he also decided to preserve the trees in the plot by incorporating them into the design and have them cut across the floor and ceiling — literally bringing the outside in. I'm loving the wonderful mix of bright colors, specifically the yellow green used throughout the house (the same color I used as accent an my pad). How about that gorgeous soft aqua? I would have never thought of painting the whole place that color, but I think it works beautifully. It gives the house an air of serenity and freshness. This is definitely a home to escape to, relax and be one with the environment. If I left you craving more details about this amazing project, you can read this article recently published here.

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Coolness At Work

Skype's spirit of innovation has spread to their new and improved U.S. headquarters in Palo Alto, California — a world-class office designed by architecture and interior design firm Blitz. The über cool 54,000 square feet space is a highly functional yet creative workplace designed to encourage interaction and spontaneity among Skype's 250 employees. A simple palette and restrained use of finishes unifies the open-plan workspace. The unique design of the different areas is meant to motivate people to collaborate, contemplate and concentrate — resulting in a workplace they want to inhabit and enjoy using. This also gives Skype and edge for recruitment and retention. Not a bad place to go to work everyday. Right?

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Literary Timepieces

I'm always on the lookout for cool and talented individuals in the blogosphere whose work inspires others (including myself). The other day I came across the fabulous blog of Swedish freelance photographer and graphic design student Hilda Grahnat. I instantly fell in love with the freshness and originality of her posts, particularly the gorgeous photographs she takes herself. While exploring her blog, I found her shop where she sells these nifty clocks she makes out of vintage books. Aren't they neat? I thought you would get a kick out of them. Actually all the wonderful goodies in her store are made by her very talented hands. So make sure you pay her blog a visit to treat yourself. Keep up the good work Hilda!

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Living In 500 Sq. Feet • The Bathroom

I know, it has taken me a while to post more juicy details about our pad's renovation. But don't worry. Today I'm giving you all the fun background on our itty-bitty (4’6” x 7’8”) bathroom facelift. For me, the bathroom is one of the most important spaces in a home. I remember when we went to see the apartment for the first time and took a glance at the bathroom , I almost fainted. It was sooooo 70's. The bathtub and toilet were olive green and the vanity white Formica. But wait, the best part: the toilet seat was black, yeap, BLACK! I knew right away everything had to go.

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Furniture Transformers

Change the decoration in your home in no time, and without breaking the bank, with these fun vinyl furniture stickers by French company Domestic. They will immediately transform basic tables, chairs and other storage units into groovy accents that will gussy up any room. You can also steal this idea and use any other vinyl contact paper to embellish any piece of furniture in need of a little excitement. Take a look at these other cool sticker solutions in this post.

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Authentic Gardening

If you have a green thumb and you're always in search of original ways of displaying your greenery, these plant bags may do the trick. The innovative Urban Garden Series, designed by Patrick Nadeau for Authentics, is a fun alternative to the conventional ceramic and plastic pots found in your local nursery. The inventive Plant Sack is made of coated textile fabric giving it a casual look and making it quite practical. The sacks are filled with water-storing clay marbles for easy drainage. This new and versatile plant system allows you to place or hang your flowers, plants or herbs practically anywhere in your pad without the use of additional saucers. They're ideal for those plant lovers in need of unconventional and chic indoor gardens. Enjoy your weekend!

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A Fairytale Retreat

During my recent trip to Miami, I was lucky to stay at the Mondrian in South Beach. I had heard wonders about the place, especially its far-out interiors. Located on a very quiet street far away from all hustle and bustle, the Mondrian Hotel offers spectacular views of Miami's downtown skyline and gorgeous sunsets. Its magical design is the work of none other than one of my favorite designers Marcel Wanders, who envisioned it as “Sleeping Beauty’s Castle.” As soon as you drive into the porte-cochere, you're transported to Wanders' wonderful world. You're greeted by four of his signature silent bell light fixtures, which are also showcased in the hotel's Sunset Lounge and restaurant Asia de Cuba. (BTW, their mojitos are a must).

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A Jewel From the 50's

This magnificent and spacious flat in the center of Barcelona is a classic example of the great architecture from the 50's. Such style was the inspiration for the team of interior designers Patrizia Casarini and Mónica Colominas, who decided to keep most of the apartment's features intact. The only drastic change was made in the kitchen, where they combined three different areas and transformed them into a modern and more efficient area. The mix of styles, furniture and colors is splendid — they flow harmoniously throughout the many rooms. The designers also chose to use curtains in the same tone of the walls and trims in order to visually expand the space. I love how they showcased a variety of textures and fabrics: from plain canvas, rich damask and velvets to unexpected furs. But for me, the highlight of this pad is the oversized artwork, behind the orange Louis XV settee, depicting the back of a matador. It's to die for.

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