If you’re looking for luxury architectural features that are truly unique you will be impressed and inspired by AOI Home, formerly Art of Old India. This company travels throughout India reclaiming architectural elements from historic Indian buildings and structures. This ranges from antique doors, to ceiling tiles, to mirrors and furniture. I had the pleasure of touring their Dallas store, filled with one of a kind treasures of both large scale proportions and small.

While touring AOI Home I learned that they also sell beautiful rugs, ikat pillows (shown below) and other modern day designs with the traditional Indian aesthetic in mind. I loved their intricate bone inlay furniture (shown above) and their large selection of oversized antique, carved doors. Most importantly, you do not have to live in Dallas to take advantage of their selection of Indian architectural elements. They ship across the United States. Get in contact with AOI Home to learn how your can purchase antique architectural elements for your next remodeling project.

Which architectural element would you want most in your home? Visit AOI Home to browse their collection.

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Check out these inspiring gifts for yourself or a friend – All handmade and found on Etsy!

• 1. Sculptural Hammered Metal & Pearl Earrings
• 2. Moroccan Wedding Blanket Lumbar Pillow with Fringe
• 3. Chunky polymer clay & textile necklace

• 4. Custom House Number Plaque
• 5. Handmade Leather Belt Bag
• 6. Embroidered “Fiesta” pillow in 20×20 or 16×24 (2 color options!)

• 7. Trans Peco Quilt
• 8. Shibori Table Runner – multiple sizes available!
• 9. Terrazzo Wall Decals – great removable option!

Which Etsy find from our roundup is your favorite?

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^{‘Latin Lover” by Shayema Rahim}

Creating art is a wonderful way to express one’s emotions and artist Shayema Rahim has truly mastered self-expression through painting. There is a depth and soul to her painting style that will capture you at first glance. Take a look at my recent interview with artist Shayema Rahim.

How did you get started creating abstract artwork?

I started with basic sketches, watercolor, oil pastel etc. I initially painted landscape and floral studies, later moving to Abstract Expressionism, which I simply explain as capturing real life situations in an abstract manner. I feel that it’s more powerful because I can speak from deep within through the work of my Art. I try to explore a wide range of subjects. I never try to leave any room for half-truth. I am always willing to challenge myself. This wide and constantly evolving curiosity makes me search for more inner happiness through my Art.

What has been your favorite artistic creation thus far? Why?

It’s hard to mention one piece of work, as most of my works are close to my heart, but if I have to mention one it would be “Ukiyo”. Ukiyo is a Japanese word that means detached from the bothers of life. (shown below)

^{“Ukiyo” by Shayema Rahim}

Tell us about your process for creating your artwork.

I do work with Oil and Acrylic. However, for the last few years my  main media is Encaustic. It’s an ancient 3000 years old Egyptian technique that is done with wax and resin. 

^{“I am Alive” by Shayema Rahim}

Tell us a fun fact about yourself!

Well, I had to double check with my son Arbaaz what is a fun fact about me, he very confidently said, Ma you cry when you see lizards”.

Who is your favorite artist right now and why?

It is very hard to mention “ a name” as I have several fellow favorite  artists. I would say, Brad Ellis (Brad Ellis Abstract Artist) as well as Tamara White, Bonny Leibowitz, and Rick Griggs.

What would be your dream project to work on?

My dream project should be painting next to a ocean without any time or mental pressure with some good music on. My other dream project is to paint with Alzheimer’s patients.

^{“Fire in the Ice” by Shayema Rahim}

How has being an artist brightened your life?

My Art is my Savior. I can’t imagine my life without my art. It’s very therapeutic to me. It helps me to talk with myself, my soul  within my own little world. The other very rewarding matter about Art is that I feel very content when I can make others happy through my work. I think art is as natural as sunshine. My art is my adventure and I never want this adventure to end.

Learn more about artist Shayema Rahim here.

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Image via MyDomaine – designed by Coco Republic

Spaces that consist mainly of dark colors are becoming more and more popular and provide a different feeling than the usual white or neutral spaces. But what if you were able to achieve both with a discerning blend of dark and light? With a few tips you can cleverly use dark accents while still being able to enjoy a bright space, and it’s mostly done by pairing well-selected home décor. Your darker space doesn’t have to be dreary. Here are six ways to still achieve a bright space while decorating with dark colors! 

1. Try to plan your space around natural light

If you’re able to, place your dark colors and furniture in a space with a good amount of natural light. This will cause a natural contrast, especially when it is bright out. The natural light will also have a similar effect as greenery or foliage by opening and warming up the space. 

2. Focus on your wall color

You should use your wall color to bring out the contrast in the room if you’re looking to use dark furniture. The color white will always work on walls. It’s important to play around with different shades of white however, to find what fits best in your space. A completely different approach that will also be successful is darkly colored walls with light furniture, like the fabulous deep green kitchen!

3. Add greenery and foliage 

Placing greenery and foliage, even if it’s fake, is one of the easiest ways to still achieve a bright space while using dark colors. The greenery helps to make the space appear more open and welcoming. The green will add a nice pop of color as well if there is not a lot of color in your space.

via The Girl with the Green Sofa

4. Let accessories brighten up the space 

Accessories can help a lot in a space that is more dark than light. Adding accessories that contrast with the darker furniture can help brighten the space by providing small pops of color and uniqueness throughout the space.

5. Utilize lamps versus overhead lighting

You should place lamps around darker pieces of furniture. Lamps will add a warmer feeling than overhead lighting can provide, and will also be able to spotlight your key pieces of furniture.

6. Use contrasting rugs and textiles around dark furniture 

By placing a rug in front of a dark piece of furniture, it will add texture and color to the whole space. Adding textiles or throw blankets to a sofa or chair will help break up the dark colors. Both can add additional contrast to the space. Alternatively, try a dark colored rug to bring dimension into a space.

via Contemporary Rugs EU

Dark colors give a sense of mystery in a space and can be used successfully, but they do best if you can still achieve a bright and welcoming space. The tips laid out above are simple fixes to a space that just feels a bit too dark. Now decorating with dark colors can be a game changing asset to enhance your space with style.

Article by Lydia Berge – Interiors by Jacquin intern

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Artist Sue Yu Petty is a vibrant painter with a love of color and texture. I met Sue last summer where I learned about her dynamic artwork and I knew that I had to share her creative passion with my readers. Her path to becoming an artist was quite unique in that she transitioned from working as a chiropractor with her own practice. However, Sue always had a passion for art since childhood. She ultimately sold her chiropractic business and devoted her attention to painting and homeschooling her children full time. I was especially interested to learn that Sue created her own backyard art studio utilizing a shed. I asked Sue for some guidance on how to best create a safe artist space out of a shed, and she gladly shared a few details and resources for our artist readers out there, which you’ll find later in this article.

“Abundance” 18×24, Oil Painting, Sue Yu Petty

Sue’s preferred painting technique is 3-D oil sculpting for a textured, dynamic look. I love that she paints subjects that bring joy to the viewer like butterflies, hearts, flowers, colorful birds, sunsets, or bold abstract works; perfect for brightening a home. It is important to Sue that her paintings are created with purpose and that they evoke a special meaning and feeling in each individual viewer. Observing and owning a painting is experiential in nature, and I agree that the best paintings evoke feelings and emotions.

Sue Yu Petty’s Home Decor

Sue’s home is decorated in a serene natural palette, ideal for showcasing her colorful artwork. She has given us a look at some of her favorite spaces in her home.

Now onward to the details on Sue’s backyard artist’s studio shed. As a mom who homeschools her children, it was important for Sue to have an adequate work space at home for painting and creating. Building a backyard shed was a perfect solution. I was curious about what it took to customize her shed for oil painting. Sue has been kind enough to share 7 great tips for building your own artist’s shed at home.

Art Studio Shed Tips – From Sue Yu Petty

(1) I would hire a local smaller builder if I could do this again. I used a larger company called Urlich. There was an online company called Studio that really impressed meif you have the budget. Searching for local independent builders through community Facebook Groups is what I would recommend.
(2) Go bigger than what you think you need…As an artist working on several pieces you will quickly run out of space and wish you had more.
(3) DIY for the interior finish out! Save money and use it for your art supplies…the inside material is going to get paint all over and messy spills…panels for walls and peel and stick floors will be just fine. 🙂
(4) Use heavy wire to string up high and create drying racks that keep the space open and have plenty of space to work.
(5) You will need electricity for this…a simple window AC/HEAT unit to keep your shed comfortable temperature wise throughout the year.
(6) Get a commercial grade air filter to help keep your workspace more breathable and safe.
(7) Lastly, I highly recommend a fan placed in one of the windows to push any chemicals in the air out, plus a ceiling fan, especially if you are working with oil paints.

Inside Sue Yu Petty’s artist studio shed.

Sue Yu Petty’s wall of inspiration.

Sue Yu Petty using her signature palette knife painting technique.

Sue’s signature style involves creating her bold artwork using a palette knife versus a paint brush, as photographed above. Her painting style was inspired and influenced by renowned Reflectionist Artist, JD Miller, who is known for his 3-D application of oil paint. After many years of painting Sue has mastered her own style of 3-D oil sculpting, crafting artwork created with warmth, purpose and love.

“Eternal Flame” 48×60, Oil Painting, Sue Yu Petty

Contact Sue Yu Petty regarding a commissioned piece for your space.

Eggersmann’s custom kitchens and home living solutions are a contemporary design lovers dream. I stopped by their showroom to get a better idea of their offerings and I received a friendly and informative tour from Eggersmann team member, Kegan Wilson. Eggersmann offers custom kitchens, custom closets, and custom built-in solutions for spaces like your living room and office. I was impressed and inspired by their unique, luxury designs. Read on to see just why Eggersmann is so impressive.

Eggersmann offers four distinct collections for their custom kitchens, and I must say that I appreciated all of them. The collections are called “Modern”, “Unique”, “Classic”, and “The Works”, each of which showcases a completely different style. Above is an example of one of their Classic collection kitchens and below is an example of their showstopping kitchen from The Works collection. One of the key elements of The Works kitchens is the ability to have everything in your cabinets at your fingertips and on display all at once, and then able to disappear fully for clean and minimalist look. The Works also showcases a sliding counter top system, which you can see in action in our video feature.

Custom closets are another Eggersmann specialty. They go above and beyond in creating stylish, luxurious closets that will exceed your expectations. From the rich wood options, to the bronze tinted glass, custom jewelry storage, and the surprise addition of an espresso machine, Eggersmann achieves a complete luxury experience in your dressing room.

Home living solutions are another territory covered by Eggersmann and it’s all about the built-ins! Everything is customized for your personal preferences. I loved that they offer built-in lighted cubbies for displaying artwork and they also have compartments to hide your television or store a tucked away bar area. Finishing materials range from various woods to leather upholstered wall units, so you can be as creative as you like with your own custom unit. Eggersmann products are incredibly thoughtful and crafted with care, making this German company my top recommendation for custom home solutions.

Eggersmann offers a unique showroom that is absolutely worth visiting for better determining which of their collections is best for you. You can find Eggersmann’s showroom locations in Dallas, New York, Los Angeles, Houston, Florida, and Toronto. Their quality products will enhance your next home renovation project and help you to create a luxury sanctuary at home. Eggersmann receives five stars all around!

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Attention textile lovers! KUFRI, the impressive handwoven textile company based in Dallas has opened its flagship showroom and weaving studio. KUFRI textiles is owned by Mili Suleman, a friend and design industry creative who was featured on the blog last year. If you missed her previous home tour and Designer Spotlight segment, you can check it out here. When you visit the KUFRI showroom you’ll get to see and feel her fabulous handwoven textiles, in addition to browsing their new wallpaper collection and more.

KUFRI offers a collection of brightly colored textiles in addition to a range of more neutral textile designs to accommodate all of your design needs. You can take a look at her collection of neutral colored textiles further in this blog post. KUFRI also sells stunning ceramic vases, which is one of her newest showroom additions. I really love the flow of the showroom layout and how nicely everything is curated. Definitely a lot of design inspiration here!

It was exciting to see the weaving process live during the showroom opening! Fiber artist and KUFRI team member Casey Johnson gave me a quick explanation on how this huge handloom works. The process is quite extensive and an art form on its on. Seeing the process really proves just why handwoven textiles are so coveted. Each piece is one of a kind.

The KUFRI wallpaper collection was equally impressive. The designs are so creative! All of KUFRI’s products are available throughout the United States, so you don’t have to be in Dallas to get your hands on these stunning textiles or wallpaper.

I appreciate Mili showing me around the new showroom. I am looking forward to creating something great with her textiles in the near future. Be sure to follow KUFRI on Instagram or visit the website to stay up to date on new additions. You can stop by the showroom for a visit to see KUFRI’s offerings in person.

The KUFRI showroom & studio is located at 1152 Mississippi Ave., Dallas, TX 75207.

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A drab and out-dated bathroom can impact your overall mood. If you are ready to try something that better reflects your style and taste, why not start with your upgrading your bathroom? Your bathroom is the most important room in the house. With the average person spending over a year and a half of their life in their bathroom, it’s worth turning it into something you’ll enjoy for a long time. Our previous article on A Bathroom to Suit Every Style illustrates several luxurious styles which you can incorporate into your own home. So, with that in mind, here are a few more tips and ideas for when you’re ready to upgrade your bathroom.

1. Create a Spa-Like Atmosphere

Turn your bathroom into a relaxing Zen retreat, with luxurious high-end fixtures, calming subdued colors, a soaker tub, steam shower, and soft-lighting. For this design style, look no further than Japanese bathroom designs. Lushhome states that bathing is an art and spiritual activity in Japan, and a soaking tub is often the focal point in a traditional Japanese bathroom. For your own design, look to incorporate a free-standing, luxurious Japanese style soaking tub, made from natural materials, and simple functional design. In this sense, wood is the ideal material for creating a spa-like, peaceful atmosphere, with mahogany and teak having unique textures and beautiful, natural shades. Couple this with earthy color shades to add natural energy and lighting that incorporates dimmers to enhance your design with a pleasant, soothing effect and soft glow.

2. Ensure Your Pipes and Plumbing are Checked

To make sure your existing plumbing system can support the latest in luxury plumbing fixtures, it should be inspected prior to any major fixture installation. New smart products for bathrooms are trending and are creating luxuriously tailored experiences for homeowners. Grohe UK’s Paul Bailey explains that smart installations like Bluetooth controlled showers and toilets are helping create the perfect home spas. So, before you start, you should have the plumbing and pipes checked to see if they meet the recommended standards and can cope with the new connected luxury fixtures. Plumbing experts at HomeServe note how it is best to be prepared for the unexpected, especially when it comes to burst pipes and blocked drains. When making big changes to your bathroom it pays to get your water systems checked by a professional.

3. Use Natural Stone Tile

Every natural stone is unique and is perfect in creating a timeless look and calming energy. Stone is perfect for insulating heat that will help keep your home warm in winter and cool in the summer. Natural stone like granite and marble are great conductors of heat and can be easily adaptable to a variety of below-surface radiant heating systems. Marble, in particular, has a beautiful, elegant and unique look.

The latest trends in bathroom tile design in the U.S. highlight new styles like walk-in-showers that feature a luxurious floor surface full of large marble slabs that hide the linear drainage lines beneath. Elle Decor notes how full marble flooring is a bespoke detail that will feel extra luxe with matching marble walls.

However, it’s important to keep in mind that marble is a high maintenance option requiring frequent cleaning and sealing. On the other hand, granite is much more durable, requires less maintenance and still retains the high aesthetic qualities that will complement your luxury bathroom. Both granite and marble can be difficult to install and will require professional installation services.

4. Add Comfortable Seating

Another popular trend in the U.S., and found in nearly every high-end bathroom, is to incorporate comfortable seating. An elegant couch, tufted ottoman or an ornately carved armchair are not only practical, but add an air of luxury. Whether you’re looking to sit down and towel off or just want a place to do your nails and makeup, Better Homes & Gardens states that a cushioned couch or armchair really increase the comfort level. Not only will it make your bathroom more stylish but it will also make it a place where you’ll want to spend more time to unwind and relax.

5. Install Radiant Heating

Let’s face it; cold floors during the winter make waking up in the morning a daunting prospect. This is why radiant heating is popular across the world, especially in regions where the winter months get really cold like in Canada and Japan. So, why not eliminate cold mornings with some under-floor radiant heating? Your bathroom is the ideal place for radiant heating. Apart from the fact that it will warm up your flooring and maintain a cozy temperature, unlike forced-air heating, radiant floor heating slowly drifts up through the bathroom, keeping your space heated for longer. Heated floors are also very energy efficient and the heat distribution will be much more even. Compared to forced-air heating, radiant heating can save you 10-30% on your monthly heating bill.

Meet artist Deepa Koshaley! This vibrant artist creates paintings that are both colorful yet serene. Deepa showcases her unique artwork across various galleries in Dallas and beyond, including showcasing many large scale works of art. Deepa’s approach to painting is mindful and balanced, and her works highlight her perspective on the landscape of humanity. Read on to learn more about Deepa from our recent interview.

Jaquin: How did you get started creating abstract artwork?

Deepa: I started my artistic career as a traditional landscape painter. Since an early age, my favorite thing to do was doodling/ sketching, especially during my classes in the corner of notebooks. These doodles were abstracts.

My first understanding of abstract creation was in my 1st year of architecture during the basic design class. My professor Vasu who is a product designer in India taught principles of basic design, which was the foundation for abstract art education.   

Jacquin: How would you describe your style of painting?

Deepa: My abstract paintings are a close-up and meditative view of nature and humanity. My creative focus is non-representational artworks that evoke inner peace and outer self-expression. 

Jacquin: What has been your favorite artistic creation thus far?

Deepa: “Red Bloom I” and “Human Landscape” (paintings shown below) – The essence of life is to bloom into our full potential. A flower does not think of competing with the flower next to it, it just blooms. “Red Bloom” is a metaphor for a deeper appreciation for the preciousness of life and to recognize our beauty.

The painting “Human Landscape” metaphorically illustrates human evolution and the earth’s transformation since the beginning of time. We are not the body, not the mind. Our souls are ancient, and we are pure consciousness ~ an essence of being. 

Painting Title: Red Bloom I, Media: (High quality) Acrylic on Canvas, Finish: Very Smooth, Size: 48 (h) x 36 (w) x 1.5 (d) inches

Painting Title: Human Landscape, Media: (High quality) Acrylic on Canvas, Finish: Very Smooth, Size: 48 (h) x 36 (w) x 1.5 (d) inches

Jacquin: Who is your favorite artist right now and why?

Deepa: Joan Miro, Cy Trombly, Helen Frankensteiner, Agnes Martin. When I first came across their work, the distinction was instantaneous. I felt alive, and it was evident that I was witnessing beyond just a beautiful painting.  After reading their philosophy towards art and perspectives, it was clear why I felt a connection.    

Jacquin: What would be your dream project to work on?

Deepa: I would love to build a larger than life-size sculpture related to my abstract work with the theme of the human landscape in the heart of the city.   

Jacquin: How has being an artist brightened your life?

Deepa: I feel fortunate to be a catalyst for love, peace, and harmony through art and words. The process of unexpected results I get through washes of colors and marks helps me in letting go even in real life. I learn life lessons while creating my work as they are the meditative conversations; I reflect on the canvas. 

Learn more about Deepa Koshaley by visiting her website: www.DeepaArts.com

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