Outdoor TV ROCKS!

We are all in the mood to spend more time outdoors right? And since we can't live without the TV (Picture watching the SuperBowl outside) here is a great find. It's a TV made by Sunbrite www.sunbritetv.com. You could hose it down and it wouldn't hurt this thing! Imagine this on your patio! And the great thing is, the pricepoint isn't bad--roughly $2500. Check it out! I especially love how it's not only weatherproof, and resists dirt and scratches, it is a great monitor in terms of outdoor quality picture and resisting glare! In my view the MUST for any outdoor living room!

Fabric For The Ceiling And Beyond

Don’t forget “the fifth wall”- the ceiling and instead of paint, why not try fabric! Amy Devault, a designer at the 2009 Pasadena Showcase House (Pasadena, CA) did in the Library she made over and it looks great! The fabric has a metallic sheen to it and you can find it inexpensively in the downtown Los Angeles Fabric/ Fashion District. Here it was stapled with a staple gun to the ceiling! The designer trick here is by making the ceiling the focal point, it will open up a small space, by diverting the eye! Very clever!

Here Larry Rizkowsky Designer at the Showcase House used outdoor fabric for a tent effect on his Grand Terrace. Notice how he created a palette of black and white which started from the grand piano also on the patio/terrace.

Think Outdoor Sunbrella Fabric for the Indoors as well as outdoors! It’s what top designers are doing at the Pasadena Showcase House. For example, these curtains from Designer David Dalton’s Adult Male/Guest Room space are outdoor fabric. It’s more durable, fade proof and an awesome trendy choice!

Prada Fabric Chair and Great Room Scent

This citron yellow leather chair is featured at the Pasadena Showcase House in the Young Adult Male/Guest room, done by Designer David Dalton. When I saw it, and touched it I said, this reminds me of a Prada bag. Turns out the fabric IS genuine Prada, made from a raincoat and it is so soft! Really a fun use of yellow pop up a room.

Not only do I love this chair but the entire room/space! It’s an excellent example of how and why we need not be afraid of using bold color in our homes. Here David used yellow, with black, white, and some chocolate brown. It has a mod but also optimistic and refreshing feel!

LOVE this candle, a special fragrance of fresh lemon and herb. It smells great before you even light it! It’s a product sold by one of the Showcase Designers and a recent guest, Larry Rizkowsky.

Go to www.lrizdesign.com

Trends at The 2009 Pasadena Showcase House Revealed

The 2009 Pasadena Showcase House (Pasadena, CA) is FABULOUS this year! I got a preview recently and had to share some of my pictures.

This year’s house was built in 1917, by the same architect who created the famous Wrigley Mansion, also known as the headquarters for the Pasadena Tournament of Roses, world renown, G. Lawrence Stimson.

One of the trends you will see is the use of subdued colors, taupes, creams, light blues, blended with the bold purples, yellows and metallic accents. This all works with the original floors that are black and white marble in the entryway.


I especially love this breakfast nook designed by Scott Barr and Suzi Reader of SUZISCOT Design. Look at the detail in the table!

Meet our 5th Fish - "Blue Boy" Already making friends!

I had my eyes on this gorgeous  koi, it's kind of black with some deep blue! I had to bring him home, and I can't believe how all the other koi were so anxious to have a new friend!  When you come home with a new fish you have to acclamate it to the water temperature difference from the tank where you bought it and the pond that the fish will call home.  The minute I had the fish in it's baggy waiting for about 20 minutes to get used to the temperature change, the other fish came over, to say hi and almost encourage this new fish.  How cool is that?

 

I was told at the pond store, that the minute I released the fish it would go to the bottom, or hide in one of its cave for a few days.

Not Blue Boy! Instant celebration and exploration. It was as if the other koi were saying to him, "hey, follow me, let me show you the place!" And by the way the other 4 koi, I have had now for 2 months, recognize my voice and come over to greet me! What a feeling!

Check out the video!

My Koi ARE Coy- And I Need a Chagoi

Hi everyone! I am still loving my koi and my pond and now working to train them to eat out of my hand. So far they are a bit shy or coy. My research tells me it is common and not to worry but look at this video of the Chagoi eating out of a man's hand and you'll see why it's something you want to happen right away~! How cool to be able to pet your Koi!

I'm learning that a Chagoi can calm them down because they are "eating machines" and so the other koi get the idea that people aren't scary afterall.  I need to make the link between me and being a food source for the koi.

Check out this video of a Chagoi sucking on his owner's hand!

Any suggestions? Please email me!

Cindy@cindydole.com

Stay tuned!

Cindy Gets Her Koi and the Pond Loves it!

It was so exciting to bring our four Koi home to our pond! Two of them are about a year old , and two others about a year and a half. They LOVE the cave that was built for them by our pond designers (www.californiawaterscapes.com)  And at night, one of the fish Little Red is the temporary name, seems to love swimming directly under the waterfall into the bubbles. Maybe we'll call that one Bubbles? What do you think?

Here she is, or is it a he?

 

This one loves to hang out with our black, red and white Koi, whose name we haven't figured out yet. He's slightly to the right, of "Bubbles" and nibbling on an urn I put in the pond as an added hideaway.

 

I've also added some water plants (water lettuce, water lily and hyacynth) which are providing more oxygen for the fish, a great snack, and another hiding spot, just in case a racoon or blue herron shows up. Thankfully no signs of either!

It is amazing how easy this pond is to maintain thanks to the revolutionary technology installed by my pond designers, www.californiawaterscapes.com.  And I can't believe how clear it is!

The other thing is the plants in just a few weeks have multiplied. The cannas, the elephant ears are growing like wildfire!

Let me know what kind of landscaping about your pond has been successful! Email me at :

cindy@cindydole.com