Architecure and Design, #3

House #1:

This white modern house uses its surroundings to make it a home and sell its features. It's white and square at first sight with few windows; but when you look around, you see the ocean views a hundred feet away. This is very similar to a home we saw in Cabo San Lucas in April.

 

The inside, is just as simple and white.

The idea behind homes like this, is allowing the clean lines and minimalistic design to further showcase the ocean surroundings. This office space uses black furniture to stand out and create the room, rather than a coat of paint or fancy décor. Notice how the light seems triple to that of a normal room and it appears quite large.

Would you expect the closet to be anything less? Homeowners who like minimal design, tend to carry over those "less is more" feelings toward stuff in general, including wardrobe.

This is where the house stands out and turns into a home. The tropical surroundings and outdoor space are what make this home so incredible and allow you to appreciate what it's architecture and design are all about.

House #2

Are you a multimillionaire? Great! This is the home for you.

This $2.35 million home has three levels, a huge pool in the back as shown above, tropical landscaping all around, and plenty of colored rock to add to its pizazz.

Fancy homes have several fancy living rooms, many never used, that add to its splendor; think the Grayson Manor, from Revenge.

Over the top people buy over the top homes and furnish it with over the top things, like Louis Vuitton bedding. Why not, right?

House #3

 

Not everyone can appreciate country living, but when the home and lot is as beautiful as this one, many would reconsider. The back porch wraps around half the house, looking out into the greenery all around. The landscape in the front yard consists of just a few small shrubs. When your yard is the forest, what else do you need?

 

 

On the inside, there is a little more luxury to be had in this updated kitchen with a nice chandelier, painted cabinetry, and spacious floor plan. The dark wood floors have been restored but the home still retains its original charm.

The only thing that might make this yard of forestry a little more charming and beautiful, is a nice garden guest cottage for your guests to have their own small abode to sit out and enjoy nature all around during their visit.

Architecture Week continues...

House 1:

This house is a beautiful blend of modern design and country living. The home isn't on a plain, square concrete slab with pretentious deck furniture or featuring a gleaming pool deck. It's a clean structure with excellent natural color appeal and lovely greenery all around. This is why I chose the interior shot to match with it because the Earth tones continue through the interior, with clean lines and natural elements, but again there is nothing pretentious here. This home has less of city feel to me, and more of a cozy abode outside the loud traffic and obtrusive skyscrapers.

I chose this pool to add for the backyard because it is still simple and elegant without a flashy deck structure or fancy pool chairs everywhere. This to me adds to the calm ambiance of relaxation and gorgeous living without needing to brag. I think I would add some dark rock around the perimeter to better match the color scheme of the home, but that's it. This place does not need any fancy landscaping, tall palm trees, or anything else.

House #2

This house has obvious charm as does the immaculate lot. Look at the lush landscaping all around, and the pathway up to the front door! Walking up those steps everyday would transform any bad day into a good one and my down time would be reading a book on a bench amongst the flowers and sunshine.

A lovely home and garden need a lovely interior and kitchen to match so why not this one? The windows look right onto the wonderful landscape all around for a view worth cooking for. The lanterns just add character to the home and there is nothing in this home that is trying to prove anything. It's fabulous the way it is. You don't need elaborate counter stones or dark cabinetry; plain white cabinets and ivory tops make it feel even more spacious and accent the charm of the exterior.

That's why this pool fits in so perfectly. The landscape welcomes the natural stone and still water. This is an elegant pond in an elegant garden with nothing ostentatious to take away from it. That's the way a home should be.
House #3

For the last home of the day, I threw in a fancy New York City high rise with out of this world views.

This huge condo has the upscale amenities and city views with a multimillion dollar price tag attached. You can't deny what's right outside your window though.

It's a dream penthouse for most people and so it's expected to have huge rooms like this one and a terrace just as nice. If you have the money and desire for a view from the top, this is perfect. I would change the flooring to a different wood, but still keep it light. I could not be unhappy walking through this home of natural light, sunny color scheme, and terrace to walk out onto. Could you?

When you are 30 stories up above the New York City streets, you certainly do not expect to have a yard but you do anticipate a walk in closet much like this one. A stunning penthouse condo wouldn't be complete without one. I don't personally own a thousand pieces of Chanel, but someone who owns this home, most likely would and keep it like this.

It's Architectual Design Week!

*All comments have been disabled on all posts for maturity and integrity reasons and will be from now on as well. Thank you.

WELCOME!

In celebration of beautiful architectural and interior design, I have decided to dedicate this week's blogging to coincide with Palms Springs Modernism Week. #PSModSquad has taken over the California desert and Instagram with user shots inside fabulous homes from modern home tours for the event showcased in Palm Springs until Feb. 22.

Modern homes with vibrant colors aren't my desired style in a home but some designers know how to make it work. I have compiled some gorgeous homes from Instagram and Pinterest, along with different backyards and interiors to spotlight stunning home combinations. I take great homes and mashed various details together to create visual alternatives of home and interior design. The combinations aren't actual components of the rest of the home, but they would certainly work. It's all about custom fitting a home your way.

Up first: Casa Equis, Peru

This is a stunning modern home with natural elements, like the wood siding and patio flooring, leading to a direct ocean view. A home like this brings in natural light all around and of course is surrounded by nature itself. With modern architecture design homes, you don't need a plethora of potted plants and patio furniture all over the deck; less is more. The clean, squared lines and the design of the home itself, are the décor. 

This isn't the actual bathroom inside the home but it is a compatible design if you were designing a similar home for yourself or remodeling after some of its details.

It's small, minimalistic, yet elegant, and also takes advantage of the ocean views and bright sunlight common at the beach.

For the back deck, obviously the wood must be darker to match but a similar design of wood, unobtrusive railing, and possibly a small hot tub on the rear deck, finish out the structure of the house. Beachfront properties are homes with two faces. The back is the rear from the street but the front to the beach and also where occupants will spend a lot of time, so the back porch view needs to be equally amazing as the front. Implement the two tone wood and bigger, non-sided windows, you'll have a uniformed look of awe, from front to back, tying in the three images together. I like the Jacuzzi idea for cold, winter nights under the stars, listening to the waves crashing the shore.

House #2:

 Private Villa, Dubai

This Giuseppe Colosimo modern home boasts stunning architectural style. The two story chocolate brown squared arch frame in the back of the home adds beautiful color and sophistication to the home. Notice the pool area color design as well as the pool tile itself. It's a touch of class and smoother surface than basic concrete that most middle class homes use.

This is one spacious master bath! The predominately white room adds the illusion of space and minimalistic flair. The basic color allows the marble tub and stainless steel attributes to stand out. The straight edges and minimal décor make it modern and showcase true design.

This back patio lounge area complements the brown square archway coming out to the pool, and it's perfect for the cooler nights or after a swim. Off to the side of the pool lounge, this area brings in color and ambiance. I love the glass balcony on the second level to keep in tone with the architecture of the home to tie in this sophisticated lounge to the rest of the property; and it's divine for entertaining.

House #3

Karl Beath© Archdaily.com

This home has a modern pool has you can see and the large stepping platforms to it are amazing. I love the pool within a pool idea. I love the iron trellis doors on the balcony upper level. Their stylish, functional attribution to the home is unique and so essential to the home's design. When open, they provide ample open space and great access to the outside. Without them, the house is very plain and quite ugly, to be honest.

Step inside to the elegant staircase to match the beautiful sliding doors on the wraparound balcony. This staircase is elegant. Again, it makes the home on the inside as well. Without it, the interior is simple and boring.

The home clearly has a pool already but this pool deck and surrounding landscape would finish off the look for the back of the home. This picture is from a home in Malibu, hence the palm trees in the distance; but a little landscaping anywhere brings a touch of beauty and separation from the world. Palm trees always bring a smile to my face because they remind me of the beach while I lounge around, even if I'm not at the beach.

Fitness Round Up brought to you by Pinterest!!

I haven't brought you guys a fitness round up. I have been scouring Pinterest a lot over the weeks to find some great new routines and see what's hot now. First I have to say tershat I am not into the blogilates, POP pilates craze with Cassie. I think most of her moves do not actually count as Pilates nor do they follow the same basic practices that Joesph Pilates followed. They are not slow and controlled movements to tone muscle, they are more odd movements and I find many to increase the chance of injury in the wrists and ankles. Her moves require a lot of strain and twisting on those joints and they certainly can cause pain. I also don't feel or see any benefits from her routines. However, I did find one exception and this routine did work for me and I repined it:

Instead of fad workouts, basic pilates routines like Winsor Pilates and many pinned by Women's Health Magazine I have found are very well explained, focus on safety, and making the moves as effective as possible for us and they also give examples for effective modified moves for various fitness levels or areas we feel more strain. This link is one of my favorites for the full explanation and selection of moves.
http://www.womenshealthmag.com/fitness/pilates-abs

Another routine I found is also from Women's Health Magazine and it was fun too!

 

http://www.womenshealthmag.com/fitness/flatten-your-belly?cm_mmc=Newsletter-_-952568-_-06202012-_-FlattenYourBellywithThisKillerAbWorkout-MainImage

I have gone back to good old fashioned moves that are easy but effective on the body with less possibility of strain on the body and joints. My favorite routines are still Kickboxing; you get so much bang for your buck and they are very fun. Pinterest pinners have compiled thousands of routines that we can all do at home, even as beginners. For those exercises, I use pre-written routines to follow easily. If you don't know the move, just type the name of it into a search engine and several YouTube videos will pull up to show you how it's done! Here are some of my favorites:

 

Mountain Climbers and Wall Sits are my new favorite exercises and they work! I do a lot of these routines similar to this with planks, push ups, bicycle crunches, and kickboxing routines in front of the TV. I am a huge NFL fan so on Sundays I work out through all of the games doing these moves and I love them! Here are a couple more I loved so much:

 

To see and pin all of the excellent workouts I have found on pinterst, you can add me on Pinterest. My screen profile name is jlarsonm on Pinterest! See you there!

Vegan Fish? Review of Sophie's Kitchen Vegan Fish Patties from Whole Foods Stores

Last week I was in our new Whole Foods and came across a section of Sophie's Kitchen products. I looked at the freezer and thought "vegan fish, could it be!" I told my husband I had to try these so I took a box home and tried them for dinner. I did the bake version of the instructions because I am not a pan fried girl.

According to the printed instructions, they take approximately 35 minutes to bake after you pull the four patties apart and place them on a baking sheet. They were so frozen together, even after thawing ten minutes I decided to bake them anyway. They had a light breading on them so I should have ran the package under hot water but usually that makes vegetarian products soggy in texture even after baking. I baked them in my oven which usually cooks faster than recommended cooking times; but it didn't. They were still frozen hard in the middle and of course getting soggy from being frozen and still stuck together after half an hour.

They took a total of 45 minutes to bake and they had a slight lemon batter scent to them. Texture wise, they crumbled and did not flake or come out close to a filet but I tried them anyway. The taste was alright but not even close to fish. The box advertises they taste great and are a great substitute for those with fish allergies or who love fish but are trying to eat more animal-friendly. I recommend the pan fried version so you can flavor them more and get a better texture.

On the back of the box, they also stated a breaded shrimp and calamari version which I may try. I don't completely pan this company but I do recommend extra flavoring yourself in a pan and as a side instead of the main entrée for flavor and substance. Nice try though Sophie.

New Books for Young Readers

Do you have young children under 10 looking for great books to read for bedtime or exploration? Here are a couple of titles to download from Amazon right now! Also visit the author at facebook.com/jmvantes to click "Like" and get all of the links to her amazing stories.

Down Under: The Adventures of Prince Robbie is a magical book series that takes you around the world from Australia and to America. Book 2 will be released soon.

Oh the difference a tree makes. Beauty in life is fleeting but nature is a beauty we can preserve forever. A Tree for a Meadow is available now to inspire all kids to love their world.

Men's Fashion

Be honest, if you're reading this your man is not the best dresser or maybe he is the worst. Dressing well doesn't take as much effort or time in the stores as men seem to think. Whether you are 25 or 65, putting together a great look can be simple, painless, and even comfortable.

When you are trying to help someone dress better and they are reluctant with the change or particular about every piece you bring forward, start with the basics; a nice shirt, sweater, and a pair of pants go a long way. Once you get the easy stuff out of the way, men usually ease up their concerns and take more help when they know you're not going to make them look like a crazy bum on the street or circus model.

Here are simple looks that are also easy to tweak for style, fit, and color:

The first look is Polo Ralph Lauren. The pullover Pima cotton sweater is comfortable, easy fashion, that you can pair with chino pants, denim jeans, slacks, or even shorts and cargos. It is a very effortless look that can easily be dressed with a blazer or overcoat for an evening out or social gathering. Underneath, just pick a basic long sleeve button up sport shirt or dress shirt for the collar and cuffs to be an extra color and statement piece. This is easy too because most men look excellent in a classic white or baby blue shirt; these two colors complement most any man and skin color, whether he has blue eyes, green, or brown. The other benefit is either color is multipurpose so it will for certain be a staple piece for other wardrobe ideas.

Next is a casual male outfit with properly fitting denim jeans, a nice belt, tucked in long sleeve button up again in white or baby blue, and a soft neutral sport jacket. This is another great look for any age because great fits look great on every man; and jeans and a simple, clean shirt are basic must haves for every man's closet. For the jacket, sometimes older men prefer to be a little more dressed up even for casual affairs so swap the tan or taupe for a navy blazer and don't roll the cuffs. The jacket will still look excellent on any skin color or frame size, and it's very easy to put together. There are no crazy colors, silly accessories, and it's multifunctional. Again, sticking with basic staple items means it is easy to convert a man into better style and using those same pieces over again with slight modifications here and there like different pants, shoes, or different color shirts. You don't need to pull out eight copies of Vogue and scare him half to death with the way the young models are being dressed today. These looks are for every man, nearly every occasion, other than formal affairs, and any age.

Here are two great casual looks for everyday wear. The first is another simple pull over V-neck Henley sweater that is a lighter weight cotton and obviously less dressed up. Underneath, all you need is a white t-shirt and some darker khaki pants to pair with. The color of the Henley long sleeve doesn't even matter, but navy is always a good all-around color most men won't disagree with and anyone can pull it off.

Underneath is a look composed of darker wash jeans, rolled at the bottom but still fitting properly in a straight leg cut, a dark corduroy jacket, and a Polo Ralph Lauren shirt from fall 2013. The shirt may not be everyone's style but notice the colors and the contrast they make to the jacket and darker denim. If you don't like stripes or those colors, stick with again navy or blue tones since they do make a nice choice with any coat color. The mix of reds, blues, and yellows, here offers a nice choice of contrast and added substance. Some men, especially a little older, like a pale yellow with brown jackets which will provide a clean look and appropriate contrast as well.

For formal looks, I like these options for most any man of any age because they are very well put together, and with the right fit, would make a terrific suit on anyone:

On top we have an old fashioned yet gorgeous black suit with a light grey vest underneath, black tie, and white dress shirt. Everything is simple, clean cut, fits well, is classic and elegant, and tailored to fit right. Everyone can pull of this look and this ensemble does work well for formal occasions including business dinners and weddings. If it is a black tie affair add some nice cufflinks, a pocket square, and swap for a bowtie if you must, but this look is perfection.

Next, is a suit that is a little more bold for some because of the stripes and separate patterns. Two different prints can go together if you do them right and one does not overbear the other. The grey pinstriped suit complements the colors of the silver and blue spotted tie nicely, and the perfectly folded white handkerchief in the pocket is a nice little break up of pattern as well. Simple things make the biggest differences while also keeping the outfit subtle as to not take away from the dashing appearance from the suit. Add a nice watch in silver or black; you don't need any other accessories other than a tie clip as shown which also is a subtle finish. The suit should stand out on its own with the tie, so adding flashy accessories only takes away from the beauty of the set.

For men willing to open up and be a little more daring, here are a few other outfits you can make your own:

Notice on the white suite the sky blue jacket for nice color and the tan belt for contrast from the white on white shirt and slacks. Also the Burberry scarf above is a simple, handsome accessory for many wardrobe compilations.

If you have a very casual male or younger style to dress, here are some great examples of mixing the right items together:

As you can see, great fashion isn't hard, you just have to start putting some pieces together and find the right core items for your wardrobe that can be used anytime of year with most any other selections. Remember fit is also extremely important so make sure your man finds the right fit for him that is comfortable and feels appropriate for his age and body type.







Jennifer Larson is a Men's Polo Ralph Lauren Specialist in California for Macy's and Ralph Lauren.