This rural contemporary home was designed for a couple with two grown children not living with them. The couple wanted a clean contemporary plan with attention to nice materials and practical for their relaxing lifestyle with them, their visiting children and large dog. The designer was involved in the process from the beginning by drawing the house plans. The couple had some requests to fit their lifestyle. Central location for the former music teacher's grand piano Tall windows to take advantage of the views Bioethanol ventless fireplace feature instead of traditional fireplace Casual kitchen island seating instead of dining table Vinyl plank floors throughout add warmth and are pet friendly Clay Bostian

We utilized Ikea Expedit storage cubes, assigning each child a set of 2 cubes to store their current workbooks and reading materials. The "teacher workstation" resides in the far corner.

Lake Highland Preparatory School is the largest private school in Orlando, FL. The school chose Playground Grass Extreme for their two large playgrounds, which are shaded by beautiful mature trees and are set on a hill overlooking Lake Highland. The Playground Grass provides a soft, springy surface that gives parents and teachers peace of mind that the children are safe when playing on the playground.

This was a complete gut renovation of the 30,000 sf interior of the Landmark American Bank Note Building in lower Manhattan. The building was carefully selected and the design executed to comply with the principles of Maharishi Vastu Architecture. The client was a non-profit who wanted to create a live / work environment for their frequently traveling executives and teachers, with three bedroom apartments on the upper three floors and public spaces on the bottom two floors and basement. Fred Charles

ABOUT THIS PROJECT: On a tight timeline from the sale of their beachfront home, the Owner's purchased this premium 4000 sqft penthouse condo on the ocean at Jacksonville Beach with the need to update quickly. FINISH WORK: The couple appreciated the pre-construction planning, drawings and construction which ended on time as promised for their move in date. Good projects are well thought out and reflected in the finished results. THE UPDATE: The flooring is a mix of blond oak engineered planks and Italian travertine in the hallways along with new millwork/baseboards and trims. . As avid readers, new custom cabinetry entertainment/ media and bookcases were added and a full house paint-out was made with specialty finishes to the vestibule foyer. They valued their old home's pantry system, so we made a custom version to fit their new space and added lighting, a wine "cellar" with a eurocave and added an exercise room with additional soundproofing for those in residence below. CONTRACTOR'S Note: This couple - a healthcare CEO and his wife, a retired teacher and college admissions director for Bolles- were such a delight to work with and know. You can't help but be refreshed and uplifted by their bright and joyful taste. - Matthew Winchenbach, CGC

Honey I'm "Honed".... beautiful honed black absolute granite countertops with slab natural maple cabinetry and sleek stainless steel appliances, new usb outlet at desk with fun "Teacher's" Apple Green Accented backsplash

This rural contemporary home was designed for a couple with two grown children not living with them. The couple wanted a clean contemporary plan with attention to nice materials and practical for their relaxing lifestyle with them, their visiting children and large dog. The designer was involved in the process from the beginning by drawing the house plans. The couple had some requests to fit their lifestyle. Central location for the former music teacher's grand piano Tall windows to take advantage of the views Bioethanol ventless fireplace feature instead of traditional fireplace Casual kitchen island seating instead of dining table Vinyl plank floors throughout add warmth and are pet friendly Clay Bostian

Honey I'm "Honed".... beautiful honed black absolute granite countertops with slab natural maple cabinetry and sleek stainless steel appliances, new usb outlet at desk with fun "Teacher's" Apple Green Accented backsplash

ABOUT THIS PROJECT: On a tight timeline from the sale of their beachfront home, the Owner's purchased this premium 4000 sqft penthouse condo on the ocean at Jacksonville Beach with the need to update quickly. FINISH WORK: The couple appreciated the pre-construction planning, drawings and construction which ended on time as promised for their move in date. Good projects are well thought out and reflected in the finished results. THE UPDATE: The flooring is a mix of blond oak engineered planks and Italian travertine in the hallways along with new millwork/baseboards and trims. . As avid readers, new custom cabinetry entertainment/ media and bookcases were added and a full house paint-out was made with specialty finishes to the vestibule foyer. They valued their old home's pantry system, so we made a custom version to fit their new space and added lighting, a wine "cellar" with a eurocave and added an exercise room with additional soundproofing for those in residence below. CONTRACTOR'S Note: This couple - a healthcare CEO and his wife, a retired teacher and college admissions director for Bolles- were such a delight to work with and know. You can't help but be refreshed and uplifted by their bright and joyful taste. - Matthew Winchenbach, CGC

Retired school teacher and firefighter empty nesters; now was their time. They gave to their community and put their kids first. Gut the old kitchen and removed the wall to the dining room for an open concept. This created a more spacious, functional and brighter kitchen that the two of them could enjoy together. Per owner my old kitchen was a “one butt kitchen” that was in the middle of the thoroughfare of the home. Rearranging and combining the kitchen and dining room eliminated the bottleneck and “one butt kitchen”. Classic Kraftmaid full overlay maple cabinets and luxury vinyl plank flooring with a rustic hardwood look and feel. Mexican Talavera tile back splash and dale tiffany ceiling lights adds bright colors and class to this homeowner's Kitchen Remodel.

Lake Highland Preparatory School is the largest private school in Orlando, FL. The school chose Playground Grass Extreme for their two large playgrounds, which are shaded by beautiful mature trees and are set on a hill overlooking Lake Highland. The Playground Grass provides a soft, springy surface that gives parents and teachers peace of mind that the children are safe when playing on the playground.

Honey I'm "Honed".... beautiful honed black absolute granite countertops with slab natural maple cabinetry and sleek stainless steel appliances, new usb outlet at desk with fun "Teacher's" Apple Green Accented backsplash

Displayed is a locker-type system built for kids in elementary school. Each cubby has our signature chrome double hooks for coats and backpacks along with storage for small items above and below that space and cabinet doors up high for teacher's items.

When the school garden teacher at my kid’s school asked if I would volunteer to design the schools learning garden I was excited by the prospect. I drew up some plans with hopes of inspiring the next generation to getting involved with stewardship of the land. The goal was to create a space were children all abilities could have access to the process of growing food, tending to soils and recognizing the human connection with the natural world. With an emphasis on edible plants, the garden also incorporates native plants, plants that attract pollinators and plants that build soil. The garden includes a composting system, and a log circle to use as and out door classroom space. Unfortunately, half way through the installation of this garden the school was closed due to covid and no one was allowed on campus for 6 months. The garden fell into disrepair. As we slowly emerge from the pandemic the school is coming back to life and parent volunteers are allowed back on to campus. With that the garden is coming back as well. The rain harvesting nets and outdoor kitchen did not end up coming into reality. But through the pandemic we learned an even grater importance of outdoor class room space and the power of engaging with the outdoor world.

Custom Office Built-in in Ashburn, VA, in High Gloss Alabaster with Contrasting Rustic Flat Slab Doors and Countertop in Venice, Textured Woodgrain Finish. Complete Wall-to-wall, Floor-to-Ceiling Built-in. Clean, Simple Lines.

In My Sister’s Garden-A Wistful Romp through a Drought Resistant Oasis "Spring is the time of the year, when it is summer in the sun and winter in the shade." - Charles Dickens One of the great things about growing up on a farm in the boondocks is that your tribe is your family. We five siblings were as thick as thieves as we climbed trees, worked the fields, pulled fences, drove tractors, branded cattle, and planted the spring garden. We played, we quarreled, and we dug in the dirt together. By the time May arrived, we ached to get our hands grubby in the vegetable patch. Waiting for the vegetables to sprout and be harvested taught us patience and responsibility. Of course, Mom’s beautiful flower gardens would already be abloom by this time of year getting us into constant trouble because we were forever picking bouquets not only for her, but, for teachers, 4-H leaders, and Sunday masses. As we grew into adults, our love of the earth grew as well. Following in the big shoes of my Father, my brother continued the family tradition of being a farmer and has one of the most beautiful vineyards in the county. Our Mother’s love of gardening instructed the gardens of her girls. Recently I walked with my sister Debbie through her eclectic garden. There is a saying that “you can take the girl out of the country, but you can never take the country out of the girl.” With Deb, she’s never left the land where we were born. She is a country cowgirl through and through. She’s always adorned with her cowboy hat, rodeo belt buckle, and boots! She hunts, fishes, grows her food, and would have relished being a pioneer in the 1870’s. Debbie and her husband are the ultimate recyclers and re-purposers. With their barnyard of adopted animals-pigs, goats, donkeys, chickens, even Texas long horns at one time, all the weeds and garden cuttings feed the animals and the manure is then recycled back to the garden. They collect rooftop rain runoff in used wine barrels then pipe it to a storage tank to help with summer watering. It’s never enough, but every drop helps. Their garden art includes rusted plows, wooden swings, a plethora of homemade birdhouses, multiple fountains made from found objects, wagon wheels, antlers, the cutest country chicken coop you ever did see, and a sleeping shed outfitted with a bear hide, antique fishing gear, pinecones, and found treasures of every sort. From their patio they watch the wildlife on their hillside property-deer, bobcats, raccoons, turkeys, skunks, and the occasional mountain lion. It’s a playful, restful garden setting, albeit with a watchful eye for the rattlesnakes that enjoy this oasis as well. What I love about Debbie’s garden is how it reflects her unique personality, her love of the land, and her admiration for the history of the Wild West. As we ambled around the property with her happy dogs in the lead, the songbirds sang, a bevy of butterflies delicately landed on her flowers, and the koi in the pond swam to the surface to greet me. This time together immersed in this sustainable landscape nurtured my soul and brought our childhood memories to vivid life. Although we grow the same plants, shrubs, trees, and succulents in both of our yards, our designs and esthetics are completely different. And that’s the beauty of creating a garden, making it your own special paradise where you can find peace, tranquility, and restoration in tandem with the wild kingdom. TIPS TO CREATING YOUR OWN UNIQUE PLAYGROUND ⎫ Don’t over-think it! Make lists of everything you enjoy in a garden then do it. ⎫ Be conservation conscious as well as considerate of nature. ⎫ Be creative. Think swathes, angles, circles, and flow. There is nothing more boring than a box. ⎫ The hardscape must include natural materials: rocks, gravel, barn wood, shells, or anything meaningful to you. ⎫ Instead of buying art, repurpose childhood toys, old sinks, even a commode overflowing with flowers can be comical. ⎫ Be playful. When you are going to spend time in the outdoors, you want to enjoy yourself. Allow your personality to shine. ⎫ Add surprises, secret gardens, hedged rooms, anything that will enhance the whimsical and magical element to your garden experience. ⎫ Lead to a focal point or view with meandering paths, walkways, and trails. ⎫ Invite the pollinators; bees, butterflies, and birds by providing housing, nectar flowers, protection, fountains, and ponds. ⎫ Mix it up. For a drought resistant garden, consider an array of beautiful succulents, cactus, lavender, bulbs, iris, daylily, geraniums, and other plants that will add color, texture, form, and structure, yet require little maintenance and minimal water. ⎫ A potager, pots, or area designated for edibles and herbs is a must have. There is nothing better than picking your dinner from your own property. ⎫ Benches, swings, lounge chairs, umbrellas, and places to unwind, watch the clouds, savor sunsets, and marvel at the stars make your garden your home. ` What’s so fun about our family gardening experience is the sharing that we all do in giving each other clips, snips, cuttings, bulbs, and volunteers. We grow the same specimens and as we stroll and admire our handiwork, we can’t remember who gave what to whom first. As I said farewell to my sister, she handed me a hand-painted tin filled with blooming echeveria from clippings I had given her a few years before. We shared a laugh. Little did I know this would be the last walk with my sister. She died just a few days before this article was published. She would have loved to have seen her passion in print. Debbie may you garden in the heavens. The circle of life continues. Happy Trails to you, Debbie. Until we meet again... Read more: https://www.lam orindaweekly.com/archive/issue1006/Digging-Deep-with-Cynthia-Brian.html Scribd: https://www.scribd.com/doc/313702488/My-Sister-s-Garden-Digging-Deep-With-Cynthia-Brian Radio Broadcast: http://www.voiceamerica.com/episode/92459/porn-alarm-effective-apologies-in-my-sisters-garden Press Pass: http://vapresspass.com/2016/05/24/in-my-sisters-garden-a-wistful-romp-through-a-drought-resistant-oasis-by-cynthia-brian/ ©2016 Cynthia Brian The Goddess Gardener Starstyle® Productions, llc Cynthia@GoddessGardener.com www.GoddessGardener.com 925-377-STAR Tune into Cynthia’s Radio show at www.StarStyleRadio.com I am available as a speaker, designer, and consultant. Keywords: Debbie’s garden my sister’s garden, a cowboy western garden, drought resistant plants, cynthia brian, lamorinda weekly, starstyle, goddess gardener.

One of our clients is a music teacher and singer. Adding a grand piano and echo-ing the blacks and golds in furniture and lighting ties the elegance throughout the space. Music themed art and soft geometric shapes along with subtle colour tones keeps the space formal but welcoming and creates flow between the den and the living room across the hall. Photography by Kelly Horkoff of KWest Images.

One of our clients is a music teacher and singer. Adding a grand piano and echo-ing the blacks and golds in furniture and lighting ties the elegance throughout the front of the home. Music themed art and soft geometric shapes along with subtle colour tones keeps the space formal but welcoming.