Posts Tagged Santa Rosa Interior Design
Why We Celebrate Labor Day
Posted by Irene Turner in Holidays on September 6, 2010
I don’t know if I’m like every one else or not, but I seriously look forward to the Labor day week end as another American Tradition and a reason for celebration…this time for the end of summer and beginning of back to school. Of course I knew there was more to it…something to do with labor of course…but was never exactly sure what it was originally. So, I did a little research and this is what I came up with.
Labor Day is an annual celebration of workers and their achievements. It originated during one of American labor history’s most dismal chapters. In the late 1800s, at the height of the Industrial Revolution in the United States, the average American worked 12-hour days and seven-day weeks in order to eke out a basic living. Despite restrictions in some states, children as young as 5 or 6 toiled in mills, factories and mines across the country, earning a fraction of their adult counterparts’ wages. People of all ages, particularly the very poor and recent immigrants, often faced extremely unsafe working conditions, with insufficient access to fresh air, sanitary facilities and breaks. Labor unions, which had first appeared in the late 18th century, grew more prominent as our agricultural society turned industrial. They began organizing strikes and rallies to protest poor conditions and compel employers to renegotiate hours and pay.
The first Labor Day parade occurred Sept. 5, 1882, in New York City. The workers’ unions chose the first Monday in September because it was halfway between Independence Day and Thanksgiving. The idea spread across the country, and some states designated Labor Day as a holiday before the federal holiday was created in 1894.
The form for the celebration of Labor Day was outlined in the first proposal of the holiday: A street parade to exhibit to the public “the strength and esprit de corps of the trade and labor organizations,” followed by a festival for the workers and their families. This became the pattern for Labor Day celebrations. Later, by a resolution of the American Federation of Labor convention of 1909, the Sunday preceding Labor Day was adopted as Labor Sunday and dedicated to the spiritual and educational aspects of the labor movement.
Traditionally, (for people like me) Labor Day is celebrated by most Americans as the symbolic end of the summer. The holiday is often regarded as a day of rest and parties and often extends to a three or four day celebration. People go camping or hiking, spending time in nature and enjoying good food and the company of good people.
In the spirit of living a Slow Life and being aware, I heartedly endorse taking the day off and enjoying friends and family and celebrating our labor force…and the voice we have to effect change. How will you spend labor day?
Sand Mandalas as Art-via Santa Rosa Interior Design
Posted by Irene Turner in Art on September 3, 2010
In keeping with the SLOW trend I recently saw a facebook post on Joe Mangrum, a New York artist and alumnus of the Art Institute of Chicago. He has created a Kick Start program to raise money to bring his temporary street installations of sand mandalas (a slow and patient art form ) to a wider audience through large scale photography. Since his mandala installations are large, this seems only logical to me. With his kickstart program he hopes to raise $8,450 to purchase a wide angle lens and printer that will allow him to blow his images up in fine detail to the size of a bill board! I say, go Joe. His sand art is stunningly beautiful and while I appreciate the “impermanence” reference to life in sand art, I would love to be able to study these intricate, colorful and simply beautiful shapes over a period of time. Being able to take photographs of his work would allow this to happen.
Because of my yoga background and meditation practice I have always had a fascination with mandalas, and the sand mandalas often found at the entry of sacred places around the world, in particular. The word “mandala” is from the classical Indian language of Sanskrit. Loosely translated to mean “circle,” a mandala is far more than a simple shape. It represents wholeness, and can be seen as a model for the organizational structure of life itself–a cosmic diagram that reminds us of our relation to the infinite, the world that extends both beyond and within our bodies and minds.
The mandala pattern is used in many religious traditions. Hildegard von Bingen, a Christian nun in the 12th century, created many beautiful mandalas to express her visions and beliefs. In the Americas, Indians have created medicine wheels and sand mandalas. Tibetan Monks often create mandalas that are highly intricate illustrations of religious significance, and that are used for meditation. Both Navajo Indians and Tibetan monks create sand mandalas to demonstrate the impermanence of life.
In ancient Tibet, as part of a spiritual practice, monks created their mandalas with colored sand made of crushed semiprecious stones. The tradition continues to this day as the monks travel to different cultures around the world to create sand mandalas and educate people about the culture of Tibet.
The creation of a sand mandala requires many hours and days to complete. Each mandala contains many symbols that must be perfectly reproduced each time the mandala is created. When finished, the monks gather in a colorful ceremony, chanting in deep tones as they sweep their mandala into a jar and empty it into a nearby body of water as a blessing. This action also symbolizes the cycle of life. Joe’s sand art mandalas are both spiritual and psychedelic at the same time. I invite you to take a look at a speed film of just one of his installations. The patience, time and artistry that goes into each and every one is mind blowing. They are definitely Little Bits of Beauty™
…check out his kickstarter program and perhaps help him to bring his art to a new form!
The video below is short and definitely worth the watch…go Joe!
Preserving Napa Valley’s Barns-via Santa Rosa Interior Design
Posted by Irene Turner in Architecture on August 31, 2010
The Beauty of Wood in the state of pleasing decay is one of Natures special masterpieces. Often a plain board from a barn is so remarkable in it’s composition-grains and knots and shades of weathered gray–That it could be framed and hung just as any modern painting is. And the old barn, growing moss and lichens, crumbling into decay, can be more a work of art than a new building. It is all in ones manner of thinking. Eric Sloane, An Age of Barns
What a fabulous week end we had here in Northern California’s wine country…and as an extra special event the Preservation Napa Valley Organization held their yearly Barn tour to raise money to help preserve these beautiful barns. It was a great way to spend a slow Sunday relaxing. The sun was out, the sky was blue, the food was delicious, the people were enjoying themselves and the barns were fabulous! Thanks to Napa Valley Life Magazine for informing me of this great event.
The Barns on the tour
- Raven Barn at Adastra Vineyards is a beautiful steel grey-blue, and is surrounded by gardens, an old water tank house, a farmhouse, a granary and a variety of other neat, old farm buildings. This barn was the hub of the event highlighting music by the Cobb Stompers, fabulous Slow Food, and info tables. Adastra is known for its outstanding small production, organic wine.
- Henry Ranch, a very special place, was long ago a fully functioning dairy ranch, replete with roaming pigs, calves, working horses, stacked loose hay, chickens and more. It is also the long time home of Herbie Henry, the last family member of the Henrys who originally purchased this property in 1850. The ranch was purchased by V. Sattui Winery in 1993 and is now their vineyard management base.
- Peters Barn at Vine Village is but one part of Napa’s best kept secret: Vine Village. In 1972 George and Grace Kerson purchased this property to create a non-profit organization who’s goal is to ‘provide people with special needs the same quality of life through innovative vocational, residential and creative arts opportunities. It is a happy, beautiful and inspiring place to visit!
- Sciligo Barn is the largest barn in the Carneros region. The Sciligo Barn was once home to a dairy farm housing a large herd of milk cows. The property was once part of Salvador Vallejo’s 3000 acre Rancho de Napa (one of 10+ Mexican land grants in Napa) before Italian Antone Joseph Sciligo bought it. The 1880 Napa census lists Sciligo’s profession as “dairyman.” A sturdy redwood barn and the fire-scorched, stone remnants of two 135 year old house foundations are the remainders of the pioneers who first settled this property in northern Carneros.
All in all it was a great day. And…part of my program to take beauty breaks and slow down long enough to enjoy them!
What do you do to slow down and enjoy the beauty around you? I invite you to share your secrets in the comment section below!
It’s definitely a Little Bit of Beauty™, both that a community would come together to preserve these barns, and the barns themselves…enjoy the tour!
A Beautiful Bodega Bay Beach Break!-via Santa Rosa Design
Posted by Irene Turner in Inspiration, Nature, Personal Style & Well being on August 26, 2010
Running, running, running. It’s what I’ve been doing lately. So Monday, when I was out in Bodega Bay for a couple of meetings I found myself thinking…I need a break. Sitting in my car I thought, go home and write, or seize the moment and take that break. Break it was.
We finally got our summer on the Sonoma coastline…it was 80 degrees, the sun was out, the water was blue, as was the sky. It was one of those miraculous days. I drove slowly along the coast, stopping at some of my favorite haunts and simply sitting or walking along for a bit. There were birds everywhere. It’s no accident that Hitchcock filmed the movie “The Birds” here. The sea lions were basking in the sun on their favorite rock, their incessant barking sounding like a group of harpy women at a coffee clutch. And best of all, the whales came close to shore to dance and play with us mere mortals! There were at least 10 of them. Two of which looked like babies, swimming and cavorting up and back again. Birds and Sea Lions and Whales…Oh My!
I was in 7th heaven. I moved here to slow down and get off that fast pace treadmill. Sometimes I forget and get caught up in the speed of daily life. But living where I do, I am quickly reminded that I can choose to stop…and smell the roses. Beauty does that for me. I need my Beauty Breaks!
Taking the time to savor the simple beauty within our own environment, the nature around us…beauty that we often no longer see in the repetitiveness of everyday life is refreshing, uplifting and helps us to slow down and savor simple pleasures. It is a well-known fact that beauty uplifts people. If we surround ourselves with beauty…Nature, good food, good wine, friends and family, gratitude, music, and other various expressions of the sweetness of life, we ennoble ourselves as well as our environment.
What do you do to slow down? What beauty is around you that can uplift your day and your spirit? Leave a comment and let me know.
In the meantime, come take a walk with me along our beautiful coastline, here in Bodega Bay.
Anusara Yoga-a movie review
Posted by Irene Turner in Inspiration, Personal Style & Well being on August 23, 2010
Anusara (a-nu-sar-a), means “flowing with Grace,” “flowing with Nature,” “following your heart.”
I recently experienced a movie at the Sausalito Film Festival. I say experienced because that’s what it was for me…A true experience. It began with a jam packed 1 1/2 hour Anusara Yoga class lead by the divine Ms. Laura Christensen who brought an additional excitement and awareness to the event with a practical application first. Then…the launch of the film which brought in even more people. All this was held in the magnificent setting of the BEAUTIFUL Mission Bay Church at Fort Baker and Cavallo Point and was filled with so many wonderful people and great energy that it was truly a wonderful and complete experience.
Written, directed and produced by Saraswati Clere, Anusara Yoga, the Heart of Transformation is an uplifting look at real transformation…that which happens in the heart. Ms. Clere knows what she speaks of…she is a life long yoga student and the owner of YogaKula, a studio in Berkeley and San Francisco. I call it a studio as it is much more then what we traditionally think of as yoga class. Yogakula is dedicated to helping people live healthier and more fulfilling lives. Believing in an integrated approach to overall well being, YogaKula offers yoga, pilates, holistic health treatments and workshops. And, of course they offer classes and trainings in the Anusara Yoga style. YogaKula is definitely a holistic approach to health and exercise, appealing to the mind, body and spirit all at once.
Anusara Yoga was founded by John Friend in 1997. While only 13 years old it is one of the most highly respected and fastest growing schools of hatha yoga in North America with an expanding presence in the UK, Europe, Japan, and Australia. It has three basic tenents:
- Tantric Vision-with it’s philosophy of auspiciousness and goodness…a yogic approach to daily life in the world
- Universal Principles of Alignment-a guide to channeling our energy to be more life enhancing and life affirming
- Community-with the feeling of family and support that extends way beyond the mat
I’ve been practicing yoga since 1989, and while I and my body know that I thrive when my practice is strong I could never tell you why. Anusara Yoga, the Heart of Transformation, was not only a visually beautiful movie, but incredibly informative as to the benefits of yoga on all levels, and…inspiring to all of us who saw it, even those who do not currently practice yoga. I’ve had the great good fortune to have taken Anusara yoga classes taught by John Friend and can personally tell you, that for me it:
- helps me to slow down
- strengthens my body
- focuses my mind
- makes me more flexible
- more balanced
- increases my feeling of inner peace
- expands my understanding of a yogic approach to life
- and it’s beautiful
Personally, yoga is the core of my exercise program, and also my meditative practice. It is what carries me through life. It is what helps me to be in harmony and slow down. In fact, I’d say it teaches me how to be comfortable with slowness. Yoga retrains my body and mind and helps me shift into a lower gear. It cultivates an inner calm that I take with me into the more hectic moments of the day . One of the key benefits of decelerating is that it gives me the time and tranquility to look inside myself, to listen to my heart, and to get in touch with my soul.
For those of you who want to know more about yoga, whether you practice or not…or want to find a way to explain to your friends and family why you love it so…I highly recommend this movie! You can purchase it through the YogaKula website.
Since the release of this moving film, Ms. Clere is working on another movie, one that talks about women from all walks of life and their experience of transformation through or with yoga. I can’t wait to see it…Kudos and cheers to Ms. Clere and her dedication to helping people transform!
It’s definitely a Little Bit of Beauty™!
What do you do to help you slow down? I’d love to know…
Slow Home: a Conversation via Irene Turner at Home & Napa Valley Life Magazine
Posted by Irene Turner in Architecture, Home, Personal Style & Well being, Sustainability on August 17, 2010
Today I had a great time speaking with Kari Ruel, publisher of Napa Valley Life Magazine and Kellie Fuller from Kellie In The Morning at 99.3 The Vine and 1440 KVON, on their Sustainable Life segment. The subject…Slow Home! You can listen to the show (only about 10 minutes) down at the bottom of the blog…in the meantime, this post includes all the information…and more! I’d love your comments on what YOU do in your home to sustain and balance your life…Enjoy!
Sloooooowwwww Hooooommme…think about it.
Don’t you just want to stop a minute, close your eyes and breath? That’s the essence of a Slow Home.
Slow Home is about
- Simplifying
- Slowing down
- And Sustaining your life
What better place to do that then at home? As our lives continue to speed up… communication zipping around the world in a matter of seconds and an overload of information coming at us from all directions…we have lost track of a way of life that connects us to ourselves, each other, our community and our world at large. The speed at which we live is fact…it is not going away, if anything it will continue to increase.
A Slow Home (also an architecture firm in Calgary Canada who is studying housing plans to help define and design a well thought out home….they have defined this movement best to date)…it’s the opposite of our cultures fast pace mindset. It’s what we call a house that is simple to live in, light on the environment and of course…BEAUTIFUL. A Slow Home is designed to support and reflect the personal lives of all the people who live there. It is a landing pad, a place to unplug from the world at large, re-charge your batteries physically, mentally, emotionally…and surround yourself with beauty that uplifts your spirit…all in a way that’s personal to you!
This Slow Home movement is a springboard off of Slow Food, which arose as a reaction to the processed food industry. Whether it’s in food, travel, parenting or urban/residential design, slowing down is much needed to help maintain balance in our lives. Living in the Slow Food Capital of the USA, and being an interior designer, I’ve taken it on as a personal mission to find out and consolidate information on this cutting edge trend that is taking the design world by storm!
Slow Home is a reaction to the sprawl of cookie cutter housing that surrounds us, and like fast food is to fresh, organic and sustainable food…a standardized, homogenous house is to a simpler, sustainable and more intimate home.
The difference between our urban sprawl and a Slow Home is not defined by style, size, age, type or cost but by the quality and intent of the underlying design. It is not formulaic, but rather very personal. It’s about:
- The space as a whole, seamlessly supporting the daily lives of the people living in it
- How efficiently the space is organized and flows
- How effectively each individual room functions.
- The overall simplicity of beauty and design
- A sustainable and healthy environment
- Supporting community through the use of local materials and product wherever possible
The idea is to reduce, re-use, re-purpose and recycle. This isn’t a new concept; it’s just that in our new economy we’ve become more aware of this…again. People downsizing, rightsizing, and simplifying.
What can you do to begin to create a Slow Home right now, right where you are?
- Re-Purpose-donate, give away, have a garage sale for all the things you no longer use or need.
- Re-Cycle: declutter and get rid of all the old paperwork and broken objects , turning them into something productive.
- Re-Fresh: paint your home…color as paint is the least expensive way to re-fresh the look and feel of a space.
- Re-Energize: move your furniture around. Things that never move are stagnant and create stagnant energy. By simply moving things and cleaning out, energy will be able to move freely again.
- Re-Integrate: move into your space as if it was brand new. Look at it without putting traditional names to the space. Perhaps you could re-purpose a room. For example could the formal dining room you never use better serve you and your family as a library, office or craft room?
- Re-do: it is more sustainable to renovate your existing home, making it more user friendly for you and your family then to sell and buy new. Even in the current housing market there are certain trends that are emerging that will add value to your home plus beauty and emotional satisfaction to your everyday life!
What will you do to create your Slow Home?
You can listen to the show through the link below…Cheers!
SustainableLife081710IreneTurner
Is it Technology, Energy or our Mind?-via Energetics of Space™
Posted by Irene Turner in Inspiration, Product on August 12, 2010
I have always been fascinated by the unseen and the interaction between our mind, our body and our physical world. It’s why I’ve created a system I call Energetics of Space™ (or ESp), my theory that everything is interconnected and interacts through energy, even design.
Recently I read about two technological designs that seem to verify my thoughts…one is coming out soon, and the second one is currently on the market. These completely captivate me and seem to be further evidence of the interaction between all energy, whether physical or not.
The first one is a 3-D sensing device called the PrimeSensor™ which will be available this November via the X-box 360. I first read about this in Fast Company a couple of weeks ago…This technology will soon be found everywhere from hospitals to cars.
The PrimeSensor™ Reference Design is a box that is able to perceive the world in three dimensions and to translate these perceptions into commands that can control TV’s, computers, cars etc. The solution includes a sensor component, which observes the scene ( us users and our surroundings), and a perception component, or brain, which comprehends the user interaction within these surroundings. Imagine this scene, as described by Giovanni Calabro in his article for Fast Company Design entitled “Gesture-Sensing Tech Will Soon Change Our Everyday Lives”.
After a long day at work I walk out to my car; it recognizes me and opens without a key. After I sit in my car, my height and weight are registered and the airbags adjust accordingly for safe deployment. After driving a while I start to nod off. The movement of my head is registered and Michael McDonald’s “What a Fool Believes” plays full blast to wake me. When I arrive at home, I stand in front of my entertainment system and gesture to initiate interaction. It recognizes my face and pulls up my contacts rather than my wife’s. Using just my hands, I flip through my contacts, select one, and begin video conferencing with him.
Take a look!…
The second product which is currently on the market is called the mind lamp™, a new ambient LED lamp that looks a bit like a re-designed lava lamp and moves between deep hues of white, red, orange, yellow, green, cyan, blue, purple, and magenta. Being a color addict you can imagine that this just gets my YaYa’s going! AND…perhaps the most interesting feature of the Mind Lamp™, is that several research bodies have found significant evidence that the human mind can have an organizing effect on random systems. In other words, evidence suggests that the Mind Lamp™ can be influenced by consciousness – our subjective thoughts, moods, and intention. The ultimate mood ring…YES [fist pump]!
Take a look at this…
So, what do you think? Like? Not Like? Do you believe that energy can interact this way? I’d love to hear your thoughts in the comment section below…
Home Altars-via Santa Rosa Interior Design
Posted by Irene Turner in Home, Inspiration, Spirit on August 6, 2010
If you were to ask people if they have altars in their homes or gardens, most of them, at least here in the United States, would automatically say no. The word “altar” makes many people feel uncomfortable. Most people equate the term altar with religious or spiritual meaning. And with the exception of Roman Catholicism, most Western religions, Judaism, Islam, and many sects of Protestant Christianity, have equated religious imagery with idolatry.
And yet most of us have altars, as I think of them, in our homes. If you rephrase the question and ask: “Do you have a place, or several places, in your home where you put family photos and other mementos, like shells, a favorite rock, flowers, or well loved collections?” most people would answer yes.
An altar can simply be a display of meaningful things or a place where you come to reflect on the things you truly value, that you set up in tribute to some cherished feeling. The objects on an altar are often symbols of larger ideas. Even family photographs are not just about the people themselves but also about your feelings toward that family, community, love, and friendship. It’s also a statement to those visiting your home as to what is important to you. To me it is a display that is set up with intention and full consciousness. Just a few example of altars or displays you could set up are:
- Family
- Fertility
- Abundance
- Nature
- Seasonal
- Health
- Love
- Beauty
- Spiritual or Religious
I realize that in my home we have “altars” everywhere. As a meditator I actually do have a meditation altar I visit every morning to start off my day. I have a visualization board in my office which I would call a manifestation altar. We have family photos in our main hallway and on our living room bookshelves. My husband, being a long time musician, has his collection of guitars lovingly displayed on the wall in his office and on stands around the house. I have fresh herbs and nature goodies displayed on my kitchen window sill. We have statues in our garden surrounded by flowers and other offerings, and I am surrounded by pictures of my family and friends here in my office as I write this.
I think it’s less important how you set your altar up, and more about how it makes you feel. For me my “altars” are an expression of our life individually and together, the things we are grateful for and a place for me to pause and reflect. All of which is important to me to help keep me balanced and with my eye on what is important in my life.
Do you have altars in your home? What are they? Share your ideas and thoughts here by leaving your comment below. I look forward to hearing from you.
Check out these altars…
Slow Food Movement
Posted by Irene Turner in Sustainability, Taste on August 3, 2010
As our lives continue to speed up… communication zipping around the world in a matter of seconds and an overload of information coming at us from all directions…we have lost track of a way of life that connects us to each other and our communities. The Slow Movement is a global and cultural shift toward slowing down life’s pace at a personal and local level.
The Slow Movement began in Italy with Carlo Petrini’s protest against the opening of a McDonald’s restaurant in Piazza di Spagna, Rome that sparked the creation of Slow Food and the Slow Food organization. Over time, this developed into a subculture in other areas, such as Slow Money, Slow Travel, Slow Shopping, Slow Parenting and now Slow Home which is creating the Slow Movement. And it all began with…Slow Food.
Slow Food is an idea, a way of living and a way of eating. It is a global, grassroots movement with thousands of members around the world that links the pleasure of food with a commitment to community and the environment. It’s goal, to counteract fast food and fast life, the disappearance of local food traditions and people’s dwindling interest in the food they eat, where it comes from, how it tastes and how our food choices affect the rest of the world. To do that, Slow Food brings together pleasure and responsibility, and makes them inseparable.
Technological advances have meant that the way we work and live is different from the way we used to. We often spend time isolated in our own world and are less involved with others, therefore less connected in general. Slow Food aims to address the issue of ‘time poverty’ through making connections with:
- our community
- our family
- our food
- our food source
- our selves
The video below is a great look into Slow Food from Southwest Florida
I am lucky enough to live in the Slow Food Capital of the US…San Francisco’s Bay area, thanks to Alice Waters, well know food activist, pioneer of California cuisine and owner of Chez Panisse restaurant in Berkeley (listed as one of the 50 best restaurants world wide)! The closest Slow Food chapter to me is Russian River …One of the best things about living here is the appreciation for, the recognition of and the abundance of fresh local produce. It is my pleasure to be able to go to our local farmers market on Sunday mornings…wander the stalls for yummy treats for our meals, run into friends and spend a leisurely morning slowing down. This Slow Movement is what keeps my life in balance, and is a nice break from my daily instant access to the world at large through my computer and the daily juggle of my to do list!
Catch a glimpse and enjoy the view of a slow Sunday spent enjoying the beautiful and delicious treats from my local community.
In what way do you slow down in your life? I’d love to know. Share it with me here by leaving a comment.
Cheers!
Yurts Can Be Beautiful!-via Santa Rosa Interior Design
Posted by Irene Turner in Architecture, Sustainability on July 28, 2010
What is a Yurt?
A yurt is a portable, felt covered, wood lattice-framed dwelling structure used by nomads and others in the steppes and cities of Central Asia. The very word yurt is originally from the Turkic word that means “dwelling place” in the sense of “homeland”. Yurts are centuries old and they are thought to have originated in Mongolia and what is now Turkey, Northern Iran and Afghanistan, by nomadic tribes.
Yurt Info speaks of the origins of the yurt, otherwise known as the ger:
Trees were scarce, so the herders drew from their animals to create shelter. They layered sheep’s wool, sprinkled it with water and worked it into felted mats.Roof struts made from saplings were slipped into a central wooden ring, then tied to the top of circular lattice walls and covered with the felted mats. The herders tied the felt to the roof and walls with ropes and belts made from animal hair. In the winter extra mats were added for warmth; in the summer fewer layers were used. Sections could be raised or even completely removed in hot weather to allow for airflow through the shelter.
The original word for “nomad” came from a word for felt, making the nomads “felt people”. These felt people called their circular, lattice-walled shelters “home. It was a shelter that enabled them to live sustainably in the harshest of climates, to move with their herds, to live in tribal communities and raise their families century upon century in a manner that was simple yet comfortable and in balance with the world around them.
For Mongolians, the ger is more than their traveling shelter on the Asian steppes; it is their centering point in a moving universe. The internal floor plan of the ger is based on the four directions, much like the Native American Medicine Wheel or the Navajo hogan. The door always opens to the south. Opposite the door, sacred space is to the North. If the family is Buddhist, this is where the altar sits. It is also the place of the seat of honor for guests.
The circularity of the yurt is perfect for nomadic uses. The circle encompasses the greatest space possible internally for the amount of materials used. At the same time, the circular shape leaves the least amount of exterior surface exposed to the elements (thus making it more efficient to heat) and leaves fewer surfaces exposed to wind, which very naturally moves around it since there are no corners.
When North Americans use the term “yurt”, they are referring, not to the Central Asian ger, but to a version made from modern materials, including steel aircraft cable and architectural fabrics. Behind the development of this new form of shelter lies a story of visionary designers and a movement committed to principles of simplicity and sustainability. And I’ve found that many of them can be very beautiful.
One of my favorite companies is a yurt to go company. They are literally making “tent” yurts that can be set up by two people in about an hour…a great idea for:
- a private home office space
- a guest room
- a pool room
- a play room
- a meditation space
- a yoga studio
- a art studio
Check out these yurt images and tell me that you don’t think they are a Little Bit of Beauty™! Now tell me…could you see yourself in one? And how?
For more information on Yurts to vacation in or to buy, check these out:
shelter systems
Colorado Yurts
Rainier Yurts
Scottish Storytelling Yurts
Treebones Resort-Big Sur
One Of Places-Europe
The Chapel at Sea Ranch-via Santa Rosa Interior Design
Posted by Irene Turner in Architecture on July 15, 2010
Have you ever been to a space that is truly spiritual in feel and nature? When I first moved to California in 2001, I did a lot of trekking along the coast to acclimate myself to my new home. Having always loved design I had heard of Sea Ranch, a planned community known for it’s distinctive architecture, and decided to visit. What I didn’t expect to find and was completely delighted with was the Sea Ranch Chapel.
Sea Ranch Chapel is a non-denominational sanctuary for prayer, meditation, and spiritual renewal. The Chapel was a gift from Robert and Betty Buffum, who envisioned this meditative spot and created it from inception through execution with the help of James T. Hubbell, the architect. It was their hope that all who enter will find a measure of peace in the blending of art and purpose amid surroundings of beauty and inspiration.
The roof gives a sense of a sweeping and lifting movement. Its structure is inspired by winged forms, yet can be read in a number of different ways. I’ve heard it describe as evocative of the oceans waves, a bird in flight, a mushroom, a ladies hat and a ladies sweeping skirt!
Panorama of the chapel interior courtesy of Ian Wright Photography
The materials used range from the cedar roof accented with copper and bronze, to teak doors and redwood throughout. Hubbell, who is from San Diego assembled a local team of craftsman, sculptors and landscapers to realize his vision…one that evokes a sense of harmony with its surroundings by echoing elements of the forest, meadow, and sky.
The Chapel is dedicated to the memory of Kirk Ditzler, a young artist, aviator, and zoologist who believed that art is the intermediary between the physical and the spiritual. Ditzler’s drawings influenced the design, and the soaring lines of the structure and are reminiscent of his art.
The Contractor, Bruce Johnson said that “the building is not intended for one community, but for whoever should find their way to the Chapel”. I found my way there in 2001…and, in 2005 I married my husband there, in the eyes of nature and 21 family members. For me, Progressive Architecture Magazine said it best…
“Inspired by drawings of winged forms, the Sea Ranch meditation chapel resembles a fluttering object that has alighted in the meadowland between the ocean and the coastal mountains, a UFO that was summoned here and may one day take off again. For now, it is cradled in a stonework base; a stone path surrounds it and merges with other stone formations that trail off into the earth.”
I invite you to visit the chapel and take a look at the fantastic details of the building itself, the stunning coast line drive to get up there, and a few pictures of the Sea Ranch Community in the video below.
For me it is a work of art and definitely a Little Bit of Beauty™!
What do you think it looks like? I invite you to leave your impressions in the comment section below.
Loving MC Yogi-Inspiration from Santa Rosa Interior Design
Posted by Irene Turner in Inspiration on July 12, 2010
Bear with me as I use music’s influence as a Little Bit of Beauty one more time. Those of you who follow here, know I LOVE an inspiring story! My latest and greatest craze…MC YOGI…formerly known as Nicholas Giacomini.
MC Yogi grew up in the Bay area painting graffiti & listening to hip hop Inspired by artists like The Beastie Boys & Run DMC, he began writing raps and freestyling for friends at house parties. Spending most of high school in a group home for at-risk youth, hip hop culture provided both a soundtrack and a creative outlet. Then at age eighteen, he discovered yoga.
On a whim, he joined his father for a yoga and meditation intensive with a famous spiritual teacher from India. Deeply moved by this powerful experience, MC YOGI devoted himself to learning everything he could about the ancient discipline. He began studying the physical forms of yoga, as well as meditation, philosophy, and devotional chanting.
Today he is a rapper with a spiritual and political consciousness. He is the writer and singer of Grassroots Movements, used by Starbucks as their theme song promoting local volunteerism. He’s wrote a politically inspired song for the last presidential election, Vote For Hope. And recently he came out with a song for Universal Health Care.
Being a yogi and spiritual seeker myself I of course LOVE his Hip Hop Hinduism…where he combines sacred chants and storytelling in rap form. By combining his knowledge of yoga with his love for hip hop music, MC YOGI is creating an exciting new sound that brings the wisdom of yoga to a whole new generation of modern mystics and urban yogis.
My passion for one world music AND a one world, spirituality, hot new trends, and people who care enough to want to make a change, all draw me to MC YOGI. He is a young man who comes from his heart, uses his gift, and makes a difference. You have to admit, there is a whole lot of beauty in that!
I have so many favorites it was hard to edit…but I got it down to three…YEA!
The First is GIVE LOVE, all about giving love to get love
The second one is BE THE CHANGE, about Mahatma Gandhi’s life
the third is GANESH IS FRESH, the story of Lord Ganesh
My question to you is, what are you doing with your gifts to make a difference and to be a change agent?
Be the change that you want to see! Mahatma Gandhi
Namaste
3 R’s-Reduce, ReUse, ReCycle
Posted by Irene Turner in Sustainability on July 7, 2010
If you think that one person can’t have an impact, think again. A couple of weeks ago my cousin from Germany came to visit us with his family. His oldest son has only been studying english for two years and seemed to be fluent. One way he was taught English was an assignment to find something to memorize. He chose Jack Johnson’s song the 3 R’s. He not only learned all the words by heart, but he also did a whole report, in english, about the 3 R’s, with Jack Johnson’s lyrics as the bases, and started a 3R campaign in his school!
What exactly are the 3 R’s? For those of you who don’t know…here from Sheryl Eisenberg and the Natural Resources Defense Council is the simplest explanation I found…
- Reduce: Reduce means using fewer resources in the first place. This is the most effective of the three R’s and the place to begin. It is also, I think, the hardest because it requires letting go of some very American notions, including: the bigger the better, new trumps old and convenience is next to godliness…Reduce is a comparative word. It says:cut back from where you are now….
- Reuse: Before you recycle or dispose of anything, consider whether it has life left in it….Reusing keeps new resources from being used for a while longer, and old resources from entering the waste stream. It’s important as it is unglamorous. Think about how you can do more.
- Recycle: Recycling is the R that has caught on the best. Partly, this is because there are so many curbside recycling programs today…What keeps it from being a total piece of cake is the rules. Every municipality has its own, and they are not always as straightforward as they could be.…read more
For those of you who have children, the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences has a great kid’s page to help teach them these habits. Wouldn’t it be great if all our kids learned this at home and in school, by our example and through educational investigation?
The point of this whole matter for me is that Jack Johnson, one man who is environmentally minded created a song (see the video below)… And, established the Johnson Ohana Charitable Foundation, to support environmental, art and music education now and into the future. As part of his 2010 world tour, the Johnson Ohana Charitable Foundation will offer direct and matching donations to All At Once partner non-profits. Jack Johnson will once again donate 100% of his 2010 tour profits (as he did in 2008) to charity. His influence is such that he inspired one child around the world in Munich, Germany to memorize his song, and lead his class in a 3 R campaign.
While we all may not be Jack Johnson, we, each and every one of us, can start practicing the 3 R’s today and teach our children and grandchildren to leave our world a better place then how we found it!
Nature is God made visible. Nature is God known through our senses. When we love and serve nature, we are worshiping the Supreme Being.
~ Amma
Saving our planet is truly a Little Bit of Beauty™!
Stars, Spangles and Banners…Happy 4th!-via Santa Rosa Interior Design
Posted by Irene Turner in Holidays on July 3, 2010
courtesy of Crazy-Frankenstein.com
Have a Happy and Safe 4th!
Once again it’s the 4th and our Independence Day , a national holiday here in the United States. Similar to other summer-themed events here in the states, Independence Day celebrations most often take place outdoors! It’s a day for families and friends to celebrate together by hosting or attending a picnic or barbecue, attending fireworks and generally to just slow down to enjoy a slice of good old Americana.
To all my family and friends who follow me here, I wish you a great 4th of July celebration! Check out the video below for a look into good food, beautiful outdoor settings and time spent with family and friends! Thanks to Country Living for inspiration.
For some great recipes check out Gourmet Patio Outdoor Cooking!
What did you do for the 4th?
A Sonoma Experience-CornerStone
Posted by Irene Turner in Inspiration, Nature on June 30, 2010
One of my favorite places to visit, either by myself or to take guests is CornerStone Sonoma. Located on the outskirts of the town of Sonoma on Rt. 121, it is truly an experience not to be missed.
It all revolves around a series of walk-through gardens showcasing new and innovative designs from the world’s finest landscape architects and designers. When commissioned, these artists were given the freedom to create anything from traditional gardens to modern, conceptual installations. They are inspiring, tranquil and can just plain tickle your fancy!
CornerStone is also a chance to indulge in the best of wine country living. There are unique retail shops and galleries, 3 fabulous wine tasting rooms, and seasonal culinary delights and locally produced specialty foods to eat in or take away.
The shops include Artefact Design and Salvage (One of my favorite for unusual and unique pieces that I incorporate into many of my interior design projects), Zipper (filled with great gifts and unique home products), a couple of terrific garden stores, and a fabulous modern art & sculpture gallery called A New Leaf. If you like more traditional antiques, be sure to head just down the street to Sonoma Country Antiques and check out the great French and English one of a kind pieces and well made reproductions!
CornerStone also offers the opportunity to hold events there, and is a particularly fabulous location for outdoor weddings in a beautiful wine country setting.
If you haven’t been there yet be sure to visit this unique and inspiring place. There are so many Little Bits of Beauty, either things or ideas that you can take home with you! Check it out and let me know what you think.
My OWN TV Show Proposal
Posted by Irene Turner in Projects on June 28, 2010
As many of you know, Oprah announced that she was searching for the next TV star for her new network station OWN. I first heard about it on twitter about a month ago and immediately wanted to put my ideas together.
I’ve been thinking about my own TV show for sometime. I always said I wanted it on Oprah, and always thought of it as happening some time in the future. When Oprah announced that she was ending her career as a talk show host and starting her own channel…well…perfect I thought! That’s where my show will be. And then, I saw the announcement on twitter.
So I buckled down and started to make my vague ideas tangible. Of course, when did I start actually shooting the video to present my ideas? This past Thursday…the deadline was this past Saturday at midnight. Nothing like a little bit of pressure. I have never really worked much in front of the camera, and I definitely have never worked with imovie to help me edit and put together a video. But somehow I seemed to learn quickly under pressure.
And, I did it! The editing is a bit rough, but it is done. The concept is a good one and it was great to actually verbalize, visualize and present the whole idea.
I love when synchronicity plays through my life…I said my own TV show…I spoke Oprah’s name…she announced her own channel…and then announces to the world that she is looking for people who want their own show.
Now…will my show end up being the one on OWN? It’s possible. I’m not focused on how it will look, but rather love that this whole series of events caused me to actually take action on my passion. It caused me to crystalize my ideas, put them down on paper, speak them out loud and present it to the world. THAT is how things manifest in life.
Synchronicity is truly a Little Bit of Beauty™! Do you have a good synchronistic story from your life? Please share it with me here.
Living With Books:Part 2-An eye on Nate Berkus
Posted by Irene Turner in Home, Personal Style & Well being on June 13, 2010
Those of you who read my 8 Display Tips for Living with Books-Part 1 know that I LOVE Books. There are so many ways that books enrich my life…
- Design books inspire me and teach me tricks of the trade
- Fiction transports me to another’s world
- Biographies inform me of an inspiring life
- Historical books educate me and
- Spiritual Books center me
I think books say something about the person who lives with them…it say’s that they are thoughtful, intelligent and love the spoken word. A home filled with books is a place of endless adventure.
One of my favorite fellow designers who also likes AND lives with a lot of books is Nate Berkus. He is best known for his regular appearances on Oprah and his easy, budget conscious designs.
He will be premiering with his own show on September 13th and I look forward to following it! I had the pleasure of meeting him once when he was first getting started and I lived in Chicago. Quiet, unassuming and sincere, he is exactly as he appears. My favorite project of his is his own apartment located in Chicago, overlooking Lake Michigan as shown in Elle Decor in 2008. While the whole apartment is fab, his library is what draws me in.
He has said that a library is a room to nestle in with or with out a book! I’d say by the look of his apartment we would all be very comfortable nestling in his home on those cold winter days! Easy and effortless, his shelves in his library are like mine! Books randomly placed, horizontally and vertically! With his TV in the middle I’d say he would never have to leave this room to find entertainment.
Also, on a fabulous oversized yellow velvet ottoman he stacks even more books. I could spend hours and days simply sifting through all the books and reading whatever catches my fancy!
I think what defines a designer more then anything else is his own personal style…and I say that Nate has defined himself well by the casual ease and beauty of how he lives with books.
What’s your favorite way to display books?
Happy #nateday
The Summer of Color! a view from Santa Rosa Interior Design
Posted by Irene Turner in Color, Inspiration on June 10, 2010
Now here is an inspirational project and a colorful one at that. I read about this on the Let’s Colour blog, one of my favorites! It’s called the Summer of Color and is happening right now in Los Angeles, CA. By the end of September the LA County lifeguard towers will all be transformed into a collective work of art, a span that ranges from Zuma Beach to San Pedro.
Summer of Color is run by the organization Portraits of Hope which is the culmination of the efforts of nearly 6,000 children in schools, hospitals, and social service programs – and more than 2,500 adult volunteers – who have participated in the initiative’s program activities, which included the painting of the panels now installed on the walls and roof tops of the towers.
Portraits of Hope was founded by Ed Massey and Bernie Massey in 1995, and continued their utilization of art and poignant visual imagery for large-scale projects of social consequence.
Developed initially for seriously ill and physically disabled children, this program conceives and develops one-of-a-kind motivational art projects that merge the production of dynamic public art works with creative therapy for hospitalized children and civic education for students of all ages.
Today Portraits of Hope includes a core education program that focuses on social issues education, and projects that serve as creative therapy for children and adults coping with serious health and physical conditions. Portraits of Hope has provided children and adults facing cancer, burn trauma, spinal injuries, HIV/AIDS, head and brain injuries, and other serious medical issues with innovative, fun, and therapeutic activities that let them enjoy and take pride in themselves during the course of their medical care and/or rehabilitative treatments.
Some of their public projects to date are: a Garden in Transit that painted the NYC taxicabs and turned them into driving flower gardens; to painting Blimps, race cars, barges, New Orleans Schools and Buildings, and creating vibrant panels which were shipped to rape crisis centers, rehabilitative centers, hospitals, senior care facilities and other human service facilities.
FYI…want a pair of boardshorts as a personal style statement and to reflect these fabulous designs? Visit Shortomatic and buy one of their colorful patterns, or get creative and design your own! Then you can be a part of the Summer of Color for years to come.
Once again, color, art add a little beauty and uplift the world.
Can you support this colorful project by transforming your own space in the color of Hope?
8 Tips for Nursery Decor-via Irene Turner at Home
Posted by Irene Turner in Home on June 8, 2010
These days nursery’s have moved beyond pink and blue…and even beyond lavender and yellow! They are fun, colorful, detailed and filled with art.
- Color-choose bright, stimulating colors that create an unthemed backdrop that can change as the tiny resident grows into his or her own interests. White furniture can unite various furnishings and makes a crisp statement against this fun color.
- These days investing in furniture is a no brainer, especially the crib as many have amazing designs that go from crib to youth bed to double bed.
- Adding art is easy by; painting stencils; wall decals (my favorite are from Romp); framing pictures from your favorite story book; or framing older siblings art to make them a part of the process.
- Two key visual areas are the floor and the windows: add an area rug to finish the room even if the room has wall to wall carpet. Complete the room with pretty window treatments. My favorite are window panels. They can add a bold design presence and make the room look and feel taller…
- Organization is key. Be sure all items you use frequently – diapers, wipes, blankets, first aid essentials, etc. — are accessible. You don’t want to hunt for the thermometer in the middle of the night.
- Watch out for EMF’s-Electrical Overload: Dozens of tech gadgets available today. Keep electro-magnetic fields around your baby’s crib to a minimum. This includes heart monitors, baby monitors, video cameras and multiple plugs within an outlet; decide which devices you really need and choose products that serve multiple purposes. Also, pay attention to what is on the other side of the wall as this can have an impact on the baby’s development and sleep. Computers, cell phones and phone hand sets should be avoided at all costs
- Storage is mandatory as most nursery’s are small. Ikea for Children is great for both ideas as well the storage pieces themselves!
- Parent’s Room: Creating a nursery for the baby is an exciting time. When the baby arrives, the nursery can easily carry over into the parent’s room, especially when a baby co-sleeps. Make an effort to keep your own bedroom for adult relaxation, sleep and rejuvenation without permitting the nursery to take over the room. You’ll be glad!
One of my favorite children’s books is The Twelve Gifts of Birth, by Charlene Costanzo. According to the story, every child is given 12 gifts — including imagination, beauty, joy, and wisdom — by his or her parents.
The first gift of beauty? A fabulous room!
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