Secretly Shed those Extra Thanksgiving Calories at Home!

No, I’m not going to harp about the hottest new detox, the best love handle workout, or the latest diet trend- you get enough of that hogwash waiting to check out at the grocery store. Instead, I’d like to remind you how versatile and personal your home truly is and truly can be! As a self-proclaimed fitness aficionado, I can attest to how beneficial a designated exercise area is in a home. Though having an entire room dedicated to sculpting your guns or buns is ideal, it’s not always realistic if you consider your home to be ‘spatially challenged.’ However, here are some simple ways you can integrate a workout space into your home. That way, you don’t have to go to the gym or run around the neighborhood more than usual as penance for your holiday overindulgence: just shed those Thanksgiving calories secretly in the comfort of your own home! Enjoy!

 Though we may not all have the luxury of dedicating an entire room to exercise, this modern workout space has a few of the key elements to an exercise area. Three machines and light shelving provide for your equipment needs, while the bright walls and windows provide for ample lighting sure to get you pumped up or calmed down for any workout!

 Exercise got you up against a wall? Install a rock climbing wall in your home! Perhaps the outdoor adventure is the best part of climbing, but this way you can get the practice in your home. The space is already provided; just a bit of assembly and this fun, unique exercise will be in the comfort of your own home.

Sometimes all you need is a mat and a little floor space. For all you yogis, practicing in a clean, open feeling space is essential to a positive yoga practice. Storage is simple and doesn't disrupt the flow in your home.

A Modern Thanksgiving

What are you most thankful for? If you’re not a complete Scrooge, you graciously ponder this question no matter how many times you’ve been asked in a day. Many of us answer this question around the Thanksgiving table and express gratitude for our families, friends, and of course, the massive feast soon to commence. But how often do we really appreciate and express thankfulness for our home? True, in this day in age, shelter is nearly a given; a basic necessity. However, our homes do much more than just shelter us: they comfort us, unite us, inspire us, and give us space to express ourselves. This Thanksgiving season let’s give our homes some credit by showing how much they do for us! Whether you’re providing food for your army of an extended family or just intimately dining with a few loved ones, you can provide the perfect setting to create an ambiance abundant in love, peace, warmth, and all the joyous sentiments brought by this season of Thanksgiving. Enjoy!

 Fall leaves, a beautiful site to see outside why not bring them inside! Glass vases are simple and can be used for other occasions. Give you a pop of color and brings the outside in!

 Such a great idea! Take real pumpkins and tape off certain areas and paint them. A modern twist on decorating for Thanksgiving!

 Modern version of a Thanksgiving Cornucopia Horn.  Instead use square vases and fill will grapes and other items that typically are in a horn. Gives you warm Thanksgiving feeling without being too over the top!

 Candles set the mood for any great occasion, so why not here with your closest family and friends. Add handmade menus to each place-setting for a more formal, restaurant like table.

Hurricanes wrapped in different color craft paper. This is a great mantle decoration or a table-scape. Just make sure the paper is not too close to the candle. Or better yet, use flame-less candles then you don't have to worry!

Please, not the turtle figurine.

You know, the one you saw for just two dollars in that cute little market in Key West or Belize or New Zealand? Don’t get me wrong, I love turtles as much as the next human, but if you’re of the traveling breed of human, something’s got to give. Maybe you’re an international businessman, a bohemian traveler, a world-wide partier, a global missionary, or just a tourist. No matter your reason to travel, you always have the same reason to come home:  simply, it’s your home! So, bring your travels home with you- just not in little nick-knacks. Please, no more turtle figurines, stuffed bears in sweaters, or key-chain license plates. Display your travels throughout your home in a meaningful way that truly represents the beauty of your journey or destination. Here are some souvenir suggestions for your next trip and ways you can integrate them into your home. Enjoy!

 Are you a fan of travel? Countless countries around the globe have their own version of this convenient commodity: the fan. Luckily, fans make beautiful art pieces that you can hang on a wall or display on a shelf (since they probably won’t get much use in your air conditioned home!). Fans come in various sizes and styles from various countries, but this one in particular is an Oriental-styled fan in a living room.

 A country represents its individuality in its artwork, so why not bring some home? And no, I don’t mean display a printed copy of the Mona Lisa from the Louvre in your living room. Consider folk or indigenous art that is unique to your destination, such as this living space adorned with Aboriginal Australian art.

 Combine your world-wide adventures with the comforts of your own home! Using linens from around the world to decorate your space brings a cultured aspect to the coziness of your home. Embroidered pillow covers, drapes, woven blankets, or rugs provide an easy way to incorporate your travels into your interior. This bedroom has Indian cushion covers as well as a blanket that allows you to reminisce (or dream!) about a voyage to a distant land.

 One never travels without taking photos; that is a given. Keep the memories of the places you went and the sights that you saw by displaying photographs creatively in your home.

Mural Mural on the Wall...

Got an empty wall in your home? Looks like you got yourself a canvas! Express yourself in a way that wallpaper, solid paint, or artwork simply cannot. Murals offer a bland room a brilliant backdrop that is so grand, so magnificent that anything smaller would be unjust.  Though the sheer immensity of a mural may seem intimidating, you need not worry: a mural balances the space and color in the room while uniting all furniture and other accessories in a common theme. A mural is great for nearly any room: a living room, an office, or even a nursery! Mural mural on the wall, what’s the greatest one of all? I’ll let you be the judge of that. Here are some incredible in-home murals that are sure to spark your creativity. Enjoy!

 A mural doesn't have to cover the entire wall from corner to corner. However, this elegant tree's branches even extend onto the ceiling!

 Missing your favorite city? Bring a little 'back home' into your home with this awesome city scene.

 Wall to wall color! This marbled mural is beautiful. All the color you need just on one wall!

 This up-close blade of grass scene offsets the 'office-look' by bringing the outside in... in microscopic detail!

This nursery mural covers the top-half of every wall so as not to be overwhelming. Perfect for baby Mario and Luigi!

Happy Halloween: Decor Edition!

It was the day of Halloween
And all through our home
People were wondering
If the holiday was known.

Spooky decorations were lacking,
and Halloween spirit was scant.
But we can't leave our home empty-
We can't! We just can't.

So what can we do that is quick, simple, and fun?
Let's consult S-Squared design; they're second to none!
We don't want something cheesy,
But we'd appreciate something easy.

Help us create a space (spooky and scary, or festive and cute)
That can return next year without giving it the boot.
Happy Halloween, may your fun be plenty!
Happy Halloween- our thanks are many!
-Andy and Mandy (the Rhymers!)

Not all of us may be gifted with poetry (or have the patience to hash out some rhymes) but I assure you- if you have the desire to be creative, time is no issue in creating a festive theme for your home. My philosophy is that the amount of effort spent decorating a space should be directly proportional to the amount of time that space will stay decorated. For instance, if you are a Halloween fanatic and celebrate the holiday for the full month of October rather than just on the last day, then you probably put a lot of thought and effort to creating a Halloween wonderland. If you could only find clearance-priced candy when you last-minute-shopped for Halloween treats to hand out, then you probably just observe the five hour period of trick-or-treaters. So, to those of you who relate more with the person in the latter description, here are a few simple ways to turn your house from your daily scene to Halloween. Enjoy!

You know that uneasy feeling you get when passing by an abandoned building? You can create this same creepy feeling in your home just by overturning a few pieces of sturdy furniture in your entryway or patio for trick-or-treaters to see. All you need is furniture you have in your home, or old furniture if you prefer, and some store-bought cobwebs that are cheap and easy to display. Mix this display with some dim lights or candles and you are sure to instill fear in every trespasser!

 Not so keen on Halloween? Celebrate autumn! Mother Nature's colors are changing and she has a lot to offer! Leaves fall from their newly-barren limbs and turn from green to little fiery flakes, offering the perfect materials for your quick fall craft project. Out of twigs, leaves, pine cones, and whatever else you may find just outside your home, you can create centerpieces, wreaths, or small accents to give your home a cozy 'fall feel.'

 Perhaps you would rather appeal to the fun and festive side of Halloween rather than the gloom-and-doom side. Years ago, I constructed a five foot black widow spider solely out of wire and glue that is still sturdy enough to suspend from the ceiling in the entryway. Though large, the spider is pretty 'cute,' especially when complimented with small Halloween accents like black vases, carved pumpkins, or stuffed black cats and ghosts.  

HAPPY HALLOWEEN EVERYONE!

The House Is Alive with the Sound of Music!

Whether you have a Steinway or a Stratocaster, an upright bass or a piccolo, you have an instrument that enlivens your home with the sound of music- oh, how wonderful! Unfortunately, these instruments can take up space or be awkwardly positioned- which is not so wonderful. However, with just a bit of creativity and maybe some heavy lifting, you can effectively integrate your instruments into the interior of your home. Let your home sing a new song! Let your house live in harmony! Let your space be filled with sound! Need I say more? Didn’t think so. Here are some suggestions to creating harmony between your instruments and your space. Enjoy!

 A baby grand in your grown-up loft! The sheer size of this elegant instrument can be an issue when space is limited, but when placed strategically it can actually accentuate the space you have. As seen above, the piano is placed facing outward into the center of the room to keep the space feeling open. Also, the large rug beneath the piano helps divide the space while protecting the hardwood floors.

 You may have noticed the guitar in the previous picture just lounging in an arm chair: that’s neither safe nor stylish. How about storing your guitar in a way that you can display it, then play it? Hang your guitar on the wall and create a dual-media piece of art. Some assembly is required to ensure that the guitar is secured on the wall, but this clever storage strategy will save you space and the worry that someone may sit on or trip over your guitar.  

How about an upright piano in your uptown loft?! Coordinate the bench with the rest of your room simply by upholstering the top cushion with some durable, yet design-friendly fabric. You can always store smaller instruments or sheet music inside the bench to wisely use the given space. Also, the pair of blue lamps perched like songbirds on either side of the piano brings light and color into your music-filled room.

Bora Bora Honeymoon Bungalow!

For a week, my home was an island. I woke up, walked on water, greeted the sun peeking out over the ocean, and said good morning to the fish beneath my feet. Yes, my home was an island, the sea was my backyard. How was this possible? I stayed in an authentic Tahitian hut as part of the Hilton Nui Bora Bora Resort. Below you’ll find photographs of my unique dwelling that may inspire your own island getaway or maybe even a Tahitian feel in your own home. However, you’ll have to experience the marvelous weather, gorgeous ocean, and Tahitian relaxation for yourself!

 

 A waterfall shower- just like I always wanted! (Check out my Sexy Showers blog post!) Take a trip to Tahiti every time you take a shower. The experience is almost as rejuvenating- the only difference is you’ll walk out into the real world instead of the ocean.

 Welcome to the neighborhood! No need to mow the lawn, trim the shrubs, or sweep the sidewalk. Here, the ocean’s beauty is all you need to take care of, and it’s pretty much self-sufficient!

 Need to get somewhere? Just jump of the deck and swim. Don’t forget to say hi to the fish on your way- there’s much to see under the sea. (Look, that’s me- just swaying in the breeze!)

 Ah, the interior décor of an islander: lots of warm wood paneling, wood carving, and tribal imagery. The hut is equipped with numerous windows to let the sun come in and the breeze pass through. No air conditioning necessary!

The giant king size bed surrounded by a soft white linen made us feel....well like we were on a far away island! Waking up in the morning and looking out into the open ocean is spectacular! Wish we could have stayed more than a week!

No More Vicious Cycle!

All you small-space dwellers and big-time bike riders know the vicious cycle of storing your bike: you either leave it outside to weather the elements or bring it inside to crowd your home element. Neither option seems optimal, but thanks to intelligent design, we can end the vicious cycle! Now bikes can be stored in the safety of our home without sacrificing much space at all! Here are a few clever inventions that allow for safe, streamlined storage. Enjoy!

  Wheels in pairs hidden under the stairs! What a perfect place to hide a bike.

The Cycloc- lock your bicycle in this handy device. Great for kids' rooms, or any room: four colors to choose from!

 Simple design but great shelving for convenience for all those small bike accessories.

Bike storage got you up against a wall? Not anymore ;)

This is more than just a sofa!

Sofas don't have to be big, bulky, boring objects, let them speak for their self! These are a few sofas I found to be pretty interesting and different. People tend to go for only comfort when purchasing a new sofa, but even though these might not be loose cushions it can still be a comfortable sofa to spend an evening cuddled up watching a movie or watching the football game on the edge of your seat. Which ever you chose remember next time to give your sofa a chance to be interesting and loved by all who get to enjoy it. Enjoy! 

 Perfect spot for a date night at home!

 You can rest your head or your feet whichever way you want!

 Want a chase on your sofa but don't have the room for it? This is perfect for a space challenged room!

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Need More Space? Finish Out your Attic!

Most houses have an attic. Some attics are big enough to make it usable square footage and add a room or a rent-able apartment. These are some great ideas for finishing out your attic and gaining more space in your existing home. Enjoy!

Make a private office, somewhere you can concentrate and ideas can come to life.

 How about an extra living space? Or a place for your teenagers to hangout with their friends and not disturb the parents.

 An extra bedroom comes in handy for the holidays or a for a growing family. 

 Make a profit on your extra square footage! If your neighborhood allows you to have a multi-family home then add an attic apartment! 

This attic apartment feels less like an apartment and more like a loft! It is an open concept and lets you be imaginative with how to layout your space. 

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Amazing Indoor Pools!

I have yet to design an indoor pool but one day I will have that chance and I will have such great ideas! So of course I wanted to share some of these great designs with you! Enjoy.

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Seaside Cottage

This seaside cottage shows you do not have to be a millionaire to have a great looking place that functions perfectly. The beach house was completely rebuilt after Hurricane Ike and has been the best improvement these happy clients made to their beach house lot. Using a soft color palette that plays off the natural ocean colors near them, makes this home bring the "outside in" as people say. This seaside cottage is where the family and close friends spend weekends and vacations at. The aqua and white color scheme is throughout the house but shown in different shades to make each space feel a little different. Doesn't this make you want to lay on the beach all day? Enjoy!