Luxury for the Home

Sustainable Living: Tree-rific Finds for the Holidays

Leslie — Wed, 30 Nov 2011 06:00:53 +0000

by Lauren Ballas – LEED AP

Tomorrow starts the wonderful, magical and joyful holiday season! What a better way than to start with the tree. Don’t want to do the traditional cut tree or fake tree? There are many alternative trees for you to choose from. This would be the perfect time to start a new tradition and make it an eco-luxurious holiday. Check out my favorites…

100 Percent Recycled Trees - Each Comes with LED Lights - Featured on Inhabitat

A Kids Dream - Craft Time - Featured on Inhabitat

Herbal Holiday Trees that you can Eat - Featured on Inhabitat

The Perfect Holiday Table Centerpiece - Featured on Inhabitat

Want someone to put up YOUR holiday decorations?

Let LUXURY for the Home introduce SUSTAINABLE HOLIDAY DECOR to your home!!

Call for an appointment 281-701-2461.

Sustainable Living: An Eco-Friendly Nursery

Leslie — Wed, 23 Nov 2011 06:00:53 +0000

by Lauren Ballas – LEED AP

Before you start reading this blog about what an eco-friendly nursery consists of please watch this video…wake-up-story

An Eco-Friendly Nursery Collage

1. Organic Cotton – The Collection – O Ecotextiles

2. Natural Clay Plaster – Color Palette – American Clay

3. Organic Wool Rugs – Shabahang Carpets

4. No VOC Foot Stools – Featured on Ron Fisher

5. Oeuf Crib with Changing Station – Featured on Vivavi

Have you ever thought about a natural clay plaster to color the walls in your little ones room? American Clay offers an array of colors made up of No VOC’s and recycled content from stone quarries. It is as simple as applying it with a trowel or roller and once up on the wall will not emit any harmful gases for your little one to breathe.

Now to fill the room with sustainable treasures! There are many eco-friendly fabric options that will keep your little one from breathing in the harmful chemicals that were put in place during manufacturing. O Ecotextiles is just one of many that are offering luxurious fabrics that are non-toxic for you to enjoy on any upholstery item, drapery, bedding or decorative pillow. Using organic cotton, which is softened with beeswax, aloe vera and vitamin E, is a great way to make your little one comfortable and breathe easy!

Organic wool rugs are the perfect solution to a nursery that has wood floors. They not only provide cushion for when your little one takes a tumble but it also softens the sound barrier for playtime! Another little treasure…Ron Fisher sells one of a kind, hand made furniture that will make any play room or nursery an enchanted no VOC place! Small stools are a great way to add some color and personality to a room. One way to personalize the stool is to have your little ones name wood burned or painted with no VOC paint on top! What about the crib you ask? Vivavi offers modern sustainable furniture for little ones and one of my favorites is the Oeuf! Why? It is treated with a non-toxic lacquered finish and converts to a toddler’s bed when your little one starts to grow up!

One baby step at a time we can all do our part in supporting companies like the ones above to create an ethical and sustainable world.

Let Luxury for the Home design a sustainable nursery for your little one!

Call for an appointment 281-701-2461.

Sustainable Living: Improve Your Indoor Air Quality

Leslie — Wed, 16 Nov 2011 16:00:11 +0000

by Lauren Ballas – LEED AP

Next week is Thanksgiving then before you know we are all knee high in Holiday decorations. Luxury for the Home has some great ideas to not only to improve upon your indoor air quality but to give as take home gifts for those gathering around your Thanksgiving table. Here are some fun tips you can share with family and friends to improve indoor air quality for the Holidays!

Easy & Simple. Put a plant called a tillandsia on every Thanksgiving plate! They are very hardy plants that don’t need much watering and will naturally filter the air in your home.

Tillandsia - Thanksgiving Table - Photo by Lauren Ballas

Terrarium Centerpieces. With a low maintenance garden as your Holiday Centerpiece you can enjoy everything going on around you. You can go from one event to the next with minimally watering these little pieces of Joy that will last for a very long time!

Make your own Terrarium - Featured on Inhabitat

Holiday Tree. Instead of going to the nearest store and buying a fake tree or even picking out a large cut tree, why not go small this year. Purchase a potted tree, decorate for the holidays and then plant in the backyard and give it a good home.

Potted Fraser Fir Tree - Featured on Pines and Needles

Your kids will not only have fun helping you with these easy Eco Holiday tips, you will also be able to breath easy with quality air!

Want some more Eco Holiday Tips?

Call for an appointment 281-701-2461.

Monday’s Inspiration: Lake Front Retreats

Leslie — Mon, 14 Nov 2011 07:22:52 +0000

Thanksgiving seems to be coming awful fast this year, it seems that I barely had a chance to enjoy Halloween and its frivolities. But nonetheless, here we are. As we try to make it through the last week before we are in the height of holiday season, I found myself thinking of the views I’ll be enjoying shortly.

Montana Compound by Andersson - Wise/Interior Design by Mimi London, as seen in Architectural Digest.

I had the opportunity to enjoy the 20 mile views at the Cub Scout Family Campout this weekend, truly only a moment. I look forward to enjoying more time in a space just like this.

Lake Michigan Home by Architecture by Marvin Herman & Associates/Interior Design by Mariette Himes Gomez, ASID. As featured in Architectural Digest.

Even though it is technically off-season, our family still seems to make time to shiver in the early morning hours trying to catch some fish. The reward, a delicious breakfast and hot coffee & cocoa!

Lake Maxinkuckee by Susan Kasler, as featured in Traditional Home.

Now to be honest, I don’t mind the trip around the bay or an afternoon sailing, but the constant rocking of being on water on cruises isn’t quite my thing. But even in this house boat on Lake Union, a moment on tranquility can be found.

Lake Union House Boat designed by architect Tim Carlander.

What views will be blessing your Thanksgiving gathering? Call Luxury For The Home, at 281-701-2461 to make sure each one is stunning.

Living Life Well: Neiman Marcus Fantasy Gifts

Leslie — Thu, 10 Nov 2011 15:03:43 +0000

At times, we work exceedingly hard for our goals and family. But as with everything in our lives, there must be a balance to working hard – playing hard. Now while some of these items are already sold out, Neiman Marcus has made it easy with their fantasy gifts. Here is some of our favorites!

Neiman Marcus - Dream Fantasy - Dream Folly

What girl that grew up watching “I Dream of Jeannie”, didn’t try to blink her way to dream fulfillment? Wonder if I could bring this to the Cub Scouts Family Campout this weekend?

Neiman Marcus- Luxury Weekend for Two - Stone Barns Fantasy Gift.

This is a perfect gift for my husband and I. Novice gardeners ourselves, it would be great to get away from it all for a little while and pick up a few tips to improve our own garden as well!

Neiman Marcus - Ferrari FF

I am a car girl after all. I’d love to practice my 0 to 60 & cornering in this one, but may have to be on the Autobahn to truly enjoy.

What is your fantasy gift for your home this season? Make it a reality with Luxury For The Home. Call 281-701-2461 to schedule a complimentary consultation.

Sustainable Living: Earth Friendly Furniture

Leslie — Wed, 09 Nov 2011 04:29:21 +0000

by Lauren Ballas – LEED AP

Whether you are in need of a whole house of furniture or just a couple replacement pieces you have lots of sustainable options. If you have a specific store you like shopping at don’t hesitate to ask them about how the furniture is made, where the materials come from and what to do when you will get rid of the furniture. The more you ask the more widely available sustainable products will be to you and others. You would be surprised at what you might find and the amount of information they will have for you. Here are a few places that carry furniture made with sustainable practices and materials!

LEE INDUSTRIES

- Standard Bio-Based Upholstery on all Lee Products

- Soy Based Cushions

- FSC Certified Wood Frames

Yaupon Outdoor Slipcovered Sofa - Featured on Lee Industries

Lee Chair with Small Nail Head - Featured on Lee Industries

EDWIN BLUE

- Made in the USA

- 304 Type Stainless Steel Frames

- American Sinker Cypress or FSC Certified Machiche

Rise Side Tables - Featured on Edwin Blue

Rise Bars - Featured on Edwin Blue

RESTORATION HARDWARE

- Handcrafted of antique reclaimed elm doors and cast metal

- “Form meets Function”

Flatiron Desk - Featured on Restoration Hardware

IN STYLE – IN DESIGN: DAZZLING DOOR HARDWARE

Leslie — Tue, 08 Nov 2011 12:30:38 +0000

We have guests come over often, but have we really paid attention to how our front door looks on the outside? More importantly, I am talking about the door hardware on your entry door. We touch it every day walking in and out of the house, but how closely do we pay attention, and are we not paying attention because it doesn’t dazzle us? I came across some truly beautiful entry door hardware that will create a statement upon entering your home, that your home is IN STYLE and IN DESIGN!

1. Italian leather and art-grade bronze adorn this amazing entry set, it creates such a sleek and sophisticated look.

Designer Leather Entry Set - Rocky Mountain Hardware

2. The weave texture adds a visual texture that adds to the uniqueness of your home.

Designer Texture Entry set - Rocky Mountain Hardware

3. A contemporary corrugated entry set that it is simple, yet creates a statement.

Corrugated Entry Hardware - Sun Valley Bronze

4. The refined curves and beveled edges lend to the traditional design of this hardware and will add beauty to the entrance point of any home.

Arched Entry Set - Rocky Mountain Hardware

Would you like the entrance of your home to make a statement?

Let Luxury for the Home create that space for you!

Call for an appointment

281-701-2461

LIVING LIFE WELL: VERMONT SCENERY

Leslie — Thu, 03 Nov 2011 12:30:12 +0000

With Halloween out of the way, and Thanksgiving coming up in a few weeks, decorating your home for Thanksgiving often includes leaves,
pumpkins, and gourds. One of the most beautiful places in the fall is Vermont. When the mountains are covered in all of the various colored leaves, it is a breathtaking view that everyone should see in their lifetime. While the outdoor view is amazing, there are many houses in Vermont where the interiors are just as beautiful. We are going to show you a few pictures from the wonderful state of Vermont that will be sure to get you into the spirit of the Thanksgiving holiday. Having the grandeur of nature, such as in Vermont help anyone live life well!

1. Natural materials such as stone and wood add to the rustic feel of a home.

Cozy Vermont Home by Bosworth Hoedemaker - Houzz

2. With the messy fall and winter days that Vermont has, this mudroom is a perfect place to unload all of your bags and extra layers without dirtying the rest of the house.

Mud room by Peregrine Design - Houzz

3. The outside of this home is inviting and makes you want to go inside to see what the rest of the home looks like.

Vermont Organic Farm by Birdseye Design - Houzz

4. I would love to curl up on a couch, in this living room, and watch the leaves and the snowfall it would be so perfect.

Vermont Organic Farm Living Room by Birdseye Design - Houzz

Are you inspired by the beauty of Vermont?

Let Luxury for the Home create that space for you.

Call for an appointment

281-701-2461

Sustainable Living: Dining Tables Suitable for an Eco-Thanksgiving

Leslie — Wed, 02 Nov 2011 06:00:25 +0000

by Lauren Ballas – LEED AP

Are you going to give it another life to live?

1. If you have a tree that has fallen down Meyer Wells, a Seattle Furniture Company, will take the tree and make custom furniture pieces. For example, this beautiful dining room table made out of Maple would bring the perfect warmth to your Thanksgiving Table!

Meyer Wells Maple Dining Table - Featured on Tree Hugger

2. You don’t have to go custom to get a reclaimed dining room table. Restoration Hardware has a salvaged wood collection. This table is handmade out of solid reclaimed pine timbers from 100-year old buildings in Great Britain!

Trestle Salvaged Wood Collection - Featured on Restoration Hardware

3. For a more modern approach you might want to think about mixing and matching sustainable materials. Like this metal and reclaimed hardwood lumber Low VOC dining table. It’s a great excuse to stray away from some typical Thanksgiving traditions and create some of your own innovative contemporary traditions!

Metro Dining Table and Bench - Low VOC - Featured on Etsy

4. If you like the idea of having a reclaimed or recycled dining room table but aren’t keen on the rustic look you do have the option to paint, with Low or No VOC paint of course. Here is a perfect example of that! Just imagine how all your colorful side dishes would look on that table…stunning.

Barnwood Mission Style Table Shown Painted - Featured on Woodland Creek Furniture

Like what you see?

Let Luxury for the Home guide you to the perfect Sustainable Dining Room Table for Thanksgiving!

Call for an appointment 281-701-2461.

IN STYLE – IN DESIGN: HOLIDAY DINNER PARTY

Leslie — Tue, 01 Nov 2011 12:30:10 +0000

Welcome to November! Now that Halloween is over, we can start thinking about Thanksgiving and Christmas. There is one thing we all can relate to with these holidays is hosting a dinner party. While hosting these parties we often want to leave a lasting impression on our guests, why not make that impression with the dinnerware setting on your table. As we saw a glimpse of some dinnerware from Neiman Marcus yesterday, we are going to continue that trend today. We have found some dinnerware that will make your dinner party the talk of the town, along with leaving an impression on your guests as to how your dining room was IN STYLE and IN DESIGN!

1. Gorgeous dinnerware, such as these, can create a lasting impression on your guests making you the talk of the town.

L'Object "Perlee Gold" - Saks Fifth Avenue

2. Patterns and colors on your dinnerware add the perfect amount of flair to your table.

Medichi Dinnerware - Neiman Marcus

3. Fun and colorful dinnerware help contribute to the fun atmosphere of your party.

Mercato Dinnerware - Neiman Marcus

4. Gold is one of the colors that are associated with Thanksgiving and Christmas, why not include this fabulous color on your plates.

Jaune de Chrome - Neiman Marcus

Would you like your Dining Room to wow your guests?

Let Luxury For The Home help you with that space.

Call for an appointment

281-701-2461