Valentina

Interview With A Young Inventor | Valentina Cirasola | Interior Designer

19 Aug 2016 Leave a comment

by Valentina in Home Designs Master Tags: #ColoredLight, #ColoredLightStreaming, #DivaLights, #FedericoCardana, #InteractiveLights, #ItalianDivaLights

I am excited to be part of a new invention from a lad, Federico Cardana, Italian born, designer of DIVA Light, an interactive system of lights streaming in colors. I had the pleasure to interview him through Skype, learn from him and share ideas. Enjoy our conversation. (Click on each photo to view it larger).

DIVA Interactive Light

Valentina – Did you go to a special school to learn about lighting and lights effects?
Federico – I never went to a special school, but lights and colored lights attracted me ever since I was a kid, because I think people feel good around colors and lights versus shades or lack of light.

Valentina – How did you get involved in lighting? Was it always a passion, was it a hobby that at some point turned into something serious, or you just tried something new and got hooked on?
Federico – I think my passion for colored light came from the Lego constructions I plaid with since I was a toddler. All those little pieces force a kid to build an imaginative world and to create something magical based on colors. That attraction for colors remained in my life.

Valentina – Did your parents encourage you to pursue your dream to build and develop this light product?
Federico – Yes, my parents are aware of what I am doing and support me in full. They helped me going to USA to present my product in the Silicon Valley and care that this project succeeds well.

Valentina – You seem to be a very ambitious lad. Who inspired you to create a colorful product such as DIVA Light? If you had a mentor what value did he/she bring to your life?
Federico – My long time passion has been to create a useful something that have the power to make people’s life better or even change it. There are many entrepreneurs or companies who have created a physical product such as Bang & Olufsen, a Dutch Company that creates high-end electronics for homes and cars. Their products create emotions to the touch, transform a home in a world of connected and automated convenience. As a person, I looked up without a doubt to Steve Jobs. I think he is the person who was able to create “something” that revolutionized the way the world lives today. His cared for details and how beautiful the lines-shapes of his products look, but especially he cared to create emotions and feelings when people touch his product.

Valentina – What do you like the most about working with light and colors?
Federico – Light is life, anything luminous will attract people. Colors have their own meanings. Human brain perceives colors before words are spoken, before eyes can see and before ears can hear. Colors are a powerful way to communicate, to say something, to sell a product, to show a presentation, to convey an information and more. Think of street lights at any cross-road and how the device tells us to go, to stop or to be cautious. Nothing is left to a chance when a book cover is produced or a package of a product is made. Marketing is about using the right color for the right target. The value of my DIVA lights is to communicate feelings, to enhance with colors an environment and to create atmospheres.

Valentina – Is your DIVA Light competing with many products of the same type? If yes, what makes your DIVA Light better than other products and why should people buy your product?
Federico – There are similar systems on the market, mine it is a bit different. I have not created DIVA Light as a static element of décor only.
I wanted DIVA light to be an intelligent device, which when attached to other devices can interact with people and spaces with colors. Users will be able to change to certain colors based on their needs to indicate something is happening, a change of mood or situation, the arrival of a special person and so on. For instance:
1. DIVA Light can be used in a wedding ceremony to tell the guests the bride is coming, or in the reception room to inform the next course is coming to the table.
2. In schools DIVA light can be used to enhance the attention of students, or calm them down in moments of excitement or disruption and agitation.
3. In restaurants, the changing colors of DIVA Light can indicate a change of food flavor, from meat to fish or dessert.

My product offers an experience, it is interactive with people and spaces through colors, a simple software with an app downloadable on any smartphone manages the color changes according to the needs of a person. DIVA Light is also sound reactive, meaning the light reacts the nature sounds and weather conditions. Installed in the landscape of a beach house DIVA Light can change colors with the movement of waves, thus create a magical atmosphere when entertaining outdoor.
Since the scope of this device it to make people feel good, it also creates an element of bonding between guests.

DIVA Light

(photo courtesy of DIVA Interactive Lights)

Valentina – What is DIVA Light philosophy, is there one?
Federico – Diva Light is an experience because the device is interactive. Another good example is when the device is installed in a restaurant: let’s say outside has been raining for three hours, DIVA Light senses the gray weather, changes colors to sunny yellow, or pastel colors to emulate the sun or spring, thus changes people’s feelings and mood, entice customers to enter that restaurant, stay there for a while and spending while lingering.

Valentina – Who are your ideal clients, or where do you see DIVA Light being installed?
Federico – The fields of usage and application of this device are vast: restaurants, lounge bars, educational establishment, hospitals, home entertainment and anywhere one wants to create atmospheres.

Valentina – What made you decide to come to the US and live here for a few months? What goal did you want to achieve in the Silicon Valley?
Federico – Silicon Valley is a fertile ground for people who want to create and want to make a difference in the world. There is a particular echo-system non equal to others I have known. In the Silicon Valley and California in general people get excited about new ideas, are willing to meet and greet new things, give you 10 minutes of their time to hear you out, give out free suggestions and are willing to pay for a new finished product. All those suggestions and visions have been very valuable to me, I put them all together and created a product they want.

Valentina – What lesson did you learn from your stay in the Silicon Valley ?
Federico – In the Silicon Valley I learned not to stop at the first door that closes in your face. One must be tenacious in pursuing new endeavors, one must listen to all the suggestions, be focused and be willing to keep going regardless of difficulties. This is the only way to succeed.

Valentina – What advice will you give to another ambitious young person who wants to get out there in the market with any kind of new idea?
Federico – First, get in front of the mirror and be honest with yourself. Ask yourself if you are really ready to take on the project of the new idea. The road to success is long, uphill and hard. You must have courage to go on even when nobody shows a trace of trust and be willing to face difficulties. In addition, I think those who want to embark on the journey of inventions must believe in the product, must have a desire and determination to succeed, as I said the road is difficult, it needs discipline, diligence, cohesiveness and long hours of work. A young inventor who has the chance to travel must get to know other worlds. Travel cost money, it is better to use that precious time for constructive learning travel instead of just travelling for fun.

Valentina – If someone wants to contact you, do you have a website or a place where people can visit your products?
Federico – They can visit www.divahome.co
or my Facebook page https://www.facebook.com/diva.light.home
Email – federico@divahome.co

I hope soon I will be able to place DIVA Lights in my client’s homes or entertainment moments and I wish you all the success in the world, Federico, you deserve it. Ciao,
Valentina
http://www.valentinadesigns.com

As a designer in business since 1990, I am interested in helping people designing their interior and exterior spaces with an overall feeling of peace, relaxation and harmony that will draw them home eagerly. I am always looking to add that special touch with original findings to the spaces I design. Colors are the main focus of my business today, changing people’s energy and life force just by introducing them to colors they would have never imagined. Vogue Italia magazine, Gentry and many prominent magazines in California featured my work, I appeared on RAI, National Italian T.V. and nonetheless my stories continue.
Find copies of my book on colors ©RED – A Voyage Into Colors – and the rest of my books
Amazon: http://goo.gl/qNxXrB
Barnes&Nobles: http://goo.gl/q7dQ3w

Friday Fun | Valentina Cirasola | Author and Designer

13 Aug 2016 Leave a comment

by Valentina in The Good Life Tags: #Aperitif, #AppetizersFood, #FridayTapas, #https://dailypost.wordpress.com/photo-challenges/fun/, #ItalianCharcuterie, #WordPressPhotoChallengeFun

Do you have a ritual in your life, something you do that makes you feel good? I do. Two rituals set me in place. The first and most important is a spiritual ritual to start the day: my salutation to the sun in the morning.

The other is Friday Fun – Tapas Chez Moi at 7:00 pm to celebrate a week of work. I prepare morsels of a variety of food cold and warm, finger food, cheese, breads and charcuterie board, all to accompany wines, bubbles, conversation and music. Some of my friends discover new food, some enjoy food their palates already know and the night evolves in a convivial gathering. (Click on each photo to view it larger).

Aperitif is not a modern invention, I am only continuing the ancient Roman tradition to appreciate working brakes during the day and spend them with a fun activity: food, wines and company.
Today we have the bad habit of meeting people for lunch to talk about business, it is actually scheduled on purpose to save time and to pack as many possible appointments or activities in one day. Romans disliked talking business during apéritif time. They conducted business either in patricians’ office-home, or while swimming in spring water and even in the sauna.

Let’s travel back in the Roman’s time and their taste, we might find some affinity to our fun apéritif of today. Apéritif in ancient Rome started around 4:00 pm with a “gustatio” a tasting of various small bites, as we do today, then a “cenula” dinner followed ending in a “comissatio” a type of debauchery, where one person was in charge of the guests drinking shifts, in other words, that person decided who was going to drink and who wasn’t. Sympathy or antipathy for a person guided his decisions, which invariably caused heated discussions among those guests who didn’t get the chance to have many rounds of drinks during the night. This “comissatio” fun drinking party went on until the small hours of the night in company of wines and complacent women.

One of the most favorite apéritif food was chicken in Salsa Apiciana with cumin and cilantro, all spices brought to Rome from the Middle East, a sign that Rome Empire was expanding in the Mediterranean Basin. Romans liked to drink spicy wines such as Paradoxum a wine flavored with ginger and laurel leaf and the Mulsum a wine flavored with honey. Romans concocted their own fun cocktails by mixing white wines with red wines, it’s almost as we mix our cocktails today.

Bread has been one of the staple food in every culture. Romans too had their own specialty bread the Libum, a type of sacred bread also used in wedding ceremony as a symbol and a good wish for the newlywed to break bread together forever.
It was a privilege to break bread with someone sitting at the dining table with the Romans. Today, breaking bread together has the same meaning. We would not dare to sit and eat with people we don’t like.

Catinus (bowls) and Patella (flat plate), crocks and clay for eating and drinking embellished the table of Romans.

More modern tableware embellish my Friday Fun table, my food is tied to my traditions and these in my gallery are some of the most popular food among my guests. Enjoy.

Caviar and prosecco

Roasted baby octopi

Roasted onions, arrugula and olives

Italian charcuterie

Savory closed tart with broccoli rabe

Citrus salad

Baked avocado, eggs and kipper

Sweet peppers from garden

Frittatine mozzarella and prosciutto

Ciao,
Valentina
http://www.valentinadesigns.com

Valentina Cirasola is the designer who cooks. She has a deep interest in food that led her as an autodidact in the studies of food in history, natural remedies, nutrition, well-being and learning food of the world. She wrote two books on Italian regional cuisine and one book on color theory, in which she included one recipe for each color.
Robert Taitano, a friend and business associate of http://www.wine-fi.com says:
“Valentina – an International Professional Interior Designer is now giving you an opportunity to redesign your palate”.
Get your copy of Valentina’s books on
Amazon: http://goo.gl/xUZfk0
Barnes&Nobles: http://goo.gl/q7dQ3w

Your Fire Is An Element | Valentina Cirasola | Interior Designer

09 Aug 2016 Leave a comment

by Valentina in Home Designs Master Tags: #AmantiFireplace, #FireplaceDesign, #LivingRoomColors, #LivingRoomDesign, #ModernFireplace, #REDColor, #RedVoyageIntoColors, #WallMountedFireplace

We have the same fascination today with fireplaces as our ancestors did when central heating had not been invented yet and fireplaces were the only source of heat. The difference is that today we are heavily submersed under city rules and regulations to save the earth and cannot use the fireplace as we would like.

In a few years, the sound of crackling fire and the smell of wood burning will be only a memory for those who have experienced it. I remember my grandmother’s large mouth fireplace where, as a girl, I stood inside just for fun, it was used for heating, to cook in, to dry clothes and when the fire wasn’t on, occasionally I played inside with my brothers. (Click on each photo to view it larger).

(fireplace in the design phase)

At this time, I am dismantling a fireplace in a client’s home (photo above) and we must abide to the city regulations. We are looking at a very contemporary style electric wall mounted fireplace controlled with a remote device.

(Ikea Ideas For Small Living Room Living Room With Fireplace Modern Stone Fireplaces)

A lush meadow with tall trees surrounds the house, the exterior environment feels very mountainous and even a train that goes by every so often contributes to the romance of the view. For this, I want to evoke nature by adding in the interior décor some elements of leather, animal prints, weaved fabric, baskets, wines and wine décor. I want to create also an enveloping feeling with a good ambience light, which communicates with the vitality of fire in the wall.

(Above: elitetile porcelana 12.2″ x 12.2″ porcelain field tile in pebblestone)

Triangles are the ideal symbolic shapes to create harmony with fire. I thought of treating the fireplace wall with stone cladding installed in triangles. These are pieces of veneer stones, pebbles or wood already set in a 12”x12” mesh easy to install. An alternative and less expensive solution would be to paint the new fireplace wall in a two-tone diamond shape or metallic faux finish.

Each of these treatments will turn the fireplace wall in the focal point of the room, thus a contrasting color and texture from the rest of the room are a must.

(Above wall finish from http://www.gspaintingpaloalto.com)

I see red somewhere in the new living room. Fire is red with all the warm colors of the spectrum: yellow, orange and even purple. Repeating the same red of the adjacent dining room either on the new fireplace wall or in one piece of furniture will make this living room socially happy.

I will need my client’s fire to complete the room and to play the game of textures with colors. Creativity craves passion and courage, this is what’s all about when creating a space. Ciao,
Valentina
http://www.valentinadesigns.com

It’s my hope that through my writing and my stories I am enriching your aesthetic sensibility towards design, style and inspiring you to live in beauty. I have loved my profession as an interior-fashion designer since 1990. I am here ready to offer consultations on-line if you need.
Check out my latest book on colors ©RED-A Voyage Into Colors, available on
Amazon: http://goo.gl/qNxXrB
Barnes&Nobles: http://goo.gl/q7dQ3w

Velvet and Suede | Valentina Cirasola | Designer

06 Aug 2016 Leave a comment

by Valentina in Friday Fashion Tags: #2016FallColors, #2016Velvet, #FashionFall2016, #JewelColorVelvet, #RedVoyageIntoColors, #VelvetShoes

Welcome to a new Friday Fashion episode.
Be prepared to be draped in opulent velvet this coming fall 2016, but not the kind of velvet royals upholster their chairs or we find in aristocratic houses. Most designers went liberally over boards with velvet in their new collections, a new fluid material that will emphasize femininity and body shapes. In a modern way, it will still look luxurious due to the sheen and light of the fabric. What’s beautiful about the new velvet fabrics are the vibrant colors ranging from indigo blue to deep red, parakeet green to orange, saffron and blush hues, in addition to the new languid cuts and styles.
Keep your velvet sharp and ironed. If you don’t know how, let professionals iron it for you, they won’t crush the pile.

What kind of velvet garments can we wear this Fall 2016? Short tuxedo jacket-dress, jumpsuits, midi skirts, blazers to work and even evening gowns, but please don’t wear velvets from head to toes and don’t try to match velvet accessories to a velvet outfit.
A few more things to look for this Fall: plaid with a new twist and asymmetrical lines, colorful furs, eclectic styles are always in, bell sleeves, frills and ruffles, velvet or suede shoes. It’s all in the details.

In my last trip to Europe I found a beautiful hand-embroidered floral Renaissance fabric. I knew exactly where to use it. My military jacket, plum color, now has a new soft look with that floral fabric. I will wear it with red suede boots. Ciao,
Valentina
https://valentinadesigns.com/services#fashion-services

Valentina Cirasola is a trained Fashion and Interior Designer, born in Italy in a family of artists. Style surrounded her since the beginning of her life. Her many years of experience led her to offer consultations in both specializations and now she can remodel homes as well as personal images. To better help people in the world she offers consultations online. She is the author of three books. Get your copy of Valentina’s book on colors: ©RED-A Voyage Into Colors on
Amazon: http://goo.gl/qNxXrB

Trending This Week | Valentina Cirasola | Designer

30 Jul 2016 2 Comments

by Valentina in Friday Fashion Tags: #2016SummerFashion, #BallonSkirt, #FunkyBags, #LowHeelsSandals, #MikitaGlasses, #SummerFashion

Welcome to a new episode of Friday Fashion.

We are in the middle of summer enjoying gardens, beaches, vacation, or backyard fun, but the fashion industries wants us to think of fall and winter. Collections for the next seasons are in stores already, ready for us. I have already seen Halloween and Christmas decorations. Living a year in advance is really awful and I want to linger on lightweight and breezy clothes, light colors, sandals and bikini for a little while longer.

I found a few curious things this week that will make the rest of the summer really fun.

(AliExpress.com)
I am crazy for crazy bags. The lipstick and the mushroom bags are great to start a conversation. They are not the usual bags, take them to a party and watch the effect on others.

Polka dots purse from DressLily

The Paris street scenes, balloon ‘50s style skirt is perfect for the office and the city daily life, especially with a soft breeze…. (From: Chicwish.com)

Sunglasses: either use them as side table or wear them. Rounded frame sun glasses this summer are the novelty.

(Above photo: francesscholz Designer, SculptorOwner – Backyard Spectacles – Optical Sculptures & Tables)

Mikita makes them in silver white python. They are $899, just a snip!

Nicholas Kirkwood’s ‘Casati’ sandals have been crafted in Italy from rose gold patent-leather. Let’s not call them “slavery sandals” as Dolce & Gabbana did and offended the entire world. These are low heel T-bar sandals embellished with a row of gleaming faux pearls. $695. Another snip!

Nicholas Kirkwood's Casati Dolce & Gabbana shoes

I choose low and high-priced items for every taste. I am sure out there plenty store carry similar items at a more affordable price. Let’s’ enjoy another month or two of summer before we can think of warmer clothes, rain, gray days and hibernating for the winter. Ciao,
Valentina
https://valentinadesigns.com/services#fashion-services

Copyright © 2016 Valentina Cirasola, All Rights Reserved
Valentina Cirasola is a trained Fashion and Interior Designer, born in Italy in a family of artists. Style surrounded her since the beginning of her life. Her many years of experience led her to offer consultations in both specializations and now she can remodel homes as well as personal images. To better help people in the world she offers consultations online. She is the author of three books. Get your copy of Valentina’s book on colors: ©RED-A Voyage Into Colors on
Amazon: http://goo.gl/qNxXrB
Barnes&Nobles: http://goo.gl/q7dQ3w

Let Pictures Out Of Darkness | Valentina Cirasola | Interior Designer

29 Jul 2016 Leave a comment

by Valentina in Home Designs Master Tags: #GalleryWalls, #HowToDisplayPictures, #IlluminatedPictures, #LuminaeCrystalPanel, #PictureFrames

One of the many items that dress the house with class and elegance is the selection of picture frames, the particular way pictures are positioned on the walls, and how they are illuminated. It’s very common for me to see chaotic arrangements of pictures on people’s walls. They are either too high to look at the subject, or scattered all over without symmetry and meaningful effect.

Generally, picture frames must follow the style of the décor, antique frames with antique furniture, modern frames with modern furniture. However, this is not a rule set in stones and I like to break rules. It takes skills to break this rule and a good eye for scale and proportions, then walls will become attractive galleries of memories, subjects, and themes, just as perfect as a museum. One can choose very expensive or elaborated frames, floating frames, digital frames, shadow box frames, gallery wraps (painting spills over all sides of the canvas and needs no frame) and various style frames all on the same wall, but what about a device that illuminates the artwork all the way around. (Click on each photo to view it larger).

I was arranging pictures in a corridor of a clients’ home. The corridor was dark and all her family pictures made a confused composition on the walls. While rearranging, I thought of a better illumination to enhance the beauty of the people in the frame and the corridor too. The budget was a bit restrictive and I opted for a simple LED flexible cable light. The corridor looks better and the pictures are very symmetric and orderly. I asked myself what I could have done if the budget had been more generous.

(photo credit http://www.soophotography.com/blog/)

I roamed online and found this attractive light device. It is a real beauty called Luminae Crystal Panel, on the market already since a few years ago.
Luminae Crystal Panel uses 7-12 watts LED light, it is a long-lasting, most efficient light panel in the world and it is so thin only ½” of thickness that the only thing the viewer sees is the photograph inside. The panel illuminates the subject evenly without color cast. It sort of captivates in a modern way. It complements any photograph and illuminates as well the area where is positioned. Don’t let the modern look fool you, Luminae Crystal Panel will look good even in a traditional décor. This will make an amazing gallery wall. I can’t wait to try it in my next project.

If you have a mismatched gallery wall in your home or office, give me a call, we can organize it together. Ciao,
Valentina
http://www.valentinadesigns.com

Valentina Cirasola transforms and creates spaces realizing people’s dreams in homes, offices, interiors and exteriors. She infuses your everyday living with a certain luxury without taking away a comfortable living. She offers design consultations on-line through Skype and the traditional in-house consultations, helping people with their design challenge anywhere in the world. She is the author of three books, all available on
Amazon: http://goo.gl/xUZfk0
Barnes&Nobles: http://goo.gl/q7dQ3w

Don’t let limited bathroom space cramp your style! | Valentina Cirasola | Interior Designer

12 Jul 2016 Leave a comment

by Valentina in Home Designs Master Tags: #BathroomColors, #BathroomDesigns, #BathroomLayOut, #CustomBathVanity, #CustomDesignedFurniture, #ValentinaInteriorsDesigns

The aim was to pamper a teenage girl by creating a modern bath that was comfortable, dramatic, elegant and functional. The space did not exist in the previous floor plan, it was created ex-novo from one of the rooms. My challenge was to use all the hard surfaces left over from previews projects my client had done on his properties. I had to work with what was made available to me and I still managed to play with my fantasy. I have designed many pieces of furniture for this home, this bathroom was one of the many challenges. As I progressed in the project, I realized I wasn’t designing for the 17 old daughter, I was designing more for the mother, two very sophisticated women, who knew exactly what they wanted. No time is ever wasted with people who have clear ideas of what the style of the home should be. The girl knew that in a year time she would be gone to college, she trusted her mom’s taste and let her have fun in choosing nothing but the best for the only girl in the family.
(Click on each photo to view it larger).

(Valentina happy at the cabinet maker’s shop)

An Italian master ebonist built the vanity cabinet in Mahogany with inserts of Lace Maple. Its door handles and pull are real silver 925. The area for counter top was minimal, therefore purchasing an expensive stone, a beautiful Opera Fantastico marble was not a big expense at all. Flooring and the shower enclosure were the two areas where leftover stones from previous remodeling projects were used. A combination of Italian marbles and stones created the contrasting colors. Italian made wall lighting and a delicate seafoam wall faux finish set the tone for this small bathroom.

One day, the client sat with me on the freshly installed hardwood floor to shoot the breeze. In a rare moment of confession, she showed me her collection of original jewelry made of precious, semi-precious gems and told the story of each piece . They were beautiful examples of lapislazzuli, quarts, corals, African copal and much more. All of those eccentric pieces led me to my inspiration for the bathroom and the bedroom of the girl.

A small bathroom is one place a designer can propose expensive material without breaking the budget and almost have the license to do it. It is the right place a designer can show off abilities to make everything fit in a reduced space, still produce a functional bathroom with all the amenities and do it with style. Furthermore, using material from previous projects and know how to put them together in a new space is a magic only the expert with clinical eye can pull off. The results exceeded even my own expectations. Many designer magazines published this home and it was on designer tours many times. Ciao,
Valentina
http://www.valentinadesigns.com

Valentina Cirasola transforms and creates spaces realizing people’s dreams in homes, offices, interiors and exteriors. She infuses your everyday living with a certain luxury without taking away a comfortable living. She offers design consultations on-line through Skype and the traditional in-house consultations, helping people with their design challenge anywhere in the world. She is the author of three books, all-available on
Amazon: http://goo.gl/xUZfk0
Barnes&Nobles: http://goo.gl/q7dQ3w

Arrow To The Front Door | Valentina Cirasola | Interior Designer

08 Jul 2016 Leave a comment

by Valentina in Home Designs Master Tags: #CurbAppeal, #DrivewayRemodel, #GardenDesign, #GardenFengShui, #GardenIllumination, #LandscapeDesign, #OutdoorRooms, #OutdoorSpace

Choosing a design for an interior space, a garden or outdoor space for some people is an overwhelming task. To get ideas a long process of collecting things starts: photos from magazines, roll millions of Pinterest and Instagram images, color chips, textures and hard material. Some people put those pictures in folders, some create visual boards, some other scatter them all over tables, on the floors, stick them on the walls, fill up their computer, get confused and make the task more difficult than anticipated. If all the ideas are there, why is it so difficult to choose colors, style, appearance of a room, or create a nice corner in the garden? The reason is simple. Each design has its distinctive style, if the designer’s work has been done correctly, each room we see in magazines and online reflects the customers’ personality. Trying to compose a puzzle with a color from one picture, a detail from another picture and a style of furniture from one more picture will never work. Designing to follow own personality and lifestyle is the way to go to assure a successful design. (Click on each photo to view it larger).

(Before)

This project was developed online, I knew nothing about the virtual client, but soon everything became clear during our conversations online. She mentioned the existing driveway was too straight and long, too gray, too much concrete, too much grass and no harmony or colors in the vegetation. To her eyes the driveway seemed more like a spear shooting straight to her front door. I also kept hearing themes of mysticism and Feng Shui in her conversation with me. Right there I had her answer. I thought of adding games of lights between plants, running water and create a moon garden with plants that would shimmer silver highlights under the moonlight.
(Before)

Her house is a contemporary Mediterranean style, in fact the area where she lives is called “Tuscan Hills”. It is located in a newly built development area, clinging to the hill where weeds grew freely and now huge houses propped in clusters take over the hill. All the houses resemble large cubes missing the true elements of Tuscan Hills and especially missing the Tuscan personality.

First, I tackled the small courtyard at the entry by adding flag stone on the pavement, travertine quoin stones around the door, round travertine landing steps with step lights, window sills and a colorful mosaic fountain with lights. A gazing globe and two larger planters with tall plants would close the vignette. I got rid of the dolphins jumping in the air without water in sight. In a beach house dolphins would have been perfect in a running fountain.

For the driveway I choose an “S” shape designs to avoid that feeling of a straight arrow going directly into to the entry door. Nice colorful pavers would substitute the grey concrete with inserts of medallions in contrasting color pavers forming designs of the sun, moon and star. If she wanted to keep the driveway in a straight line, the view of the second concept offers a harmonious vignette to look at while driving on the long driveway.

The two design concepts I submitted to the client are self-explanatory. I played with colors and architectural balance. As the eyes follow the “S” shaped driveway, they will also go the up and down the tall and short plants, stop at the roundness of the rocks and feel joyous looking at the variety of colors. At night the moon will illuminate the silvery plants and in the daytime the sun will touch all the other colorful plants making them even more cheerful.
At this time all flowers and plants are in bloom, this is the time to redo a front yard, landscape, or your outdoor rooms. Ciao,
Valentina
http://www.valentinadesigns.com

As a designer in business since 1990, I am interested in helping people designing their interior and exterior spaces with an overall feeling of peace, relaxation and harmony that will draw them home eagerly. I am always looking to add that special touch with original findings to the spaces I design. Featured on Vogue Italia magazine, Gentry and many prominent magazines in California, appeared on RAI, National Italian T.V., my story as a designer continues. Find copies of my three books on
Amazon: http://goo.gl/xUZfk0
Barnes&Nobles: http://goo.gl/q7dQ3w

I Rather Be The Good Wine In The Small Barrel | Valentina Cirasola | Designer

01 Jul 2016 Leave a comment

by Valentina in Friday Fashion Tags: #HighWaistPants, #HighWaistSkirts, #RulesOfDressing, #ShortPersonDressingRules, #ShortPersonFashion, HighHeelsForShortPerson

Welcome to a new episode of Friday Fashion.

I know many women who are not as tall as they would like to be. The mirror test in the shopping hours is the moment of complain: “If I were a little taller I could wear this and that….” Well, we are what we are. We can alter our exterior look with colors, with the right shapes, or with plastic surgery, but we cannot alter the height, matter as well accept our body without hesitation, regret or envy and make the best of it.

There are tricks to adopt to make us appear taller, as there are tricks to make bags under the eye disappear or make teeth whiter. It is easy when it comes to fashion to lapse into the ridiculous. Ridiculous for me are violent prints and overlapping fashion in elements which lead to great confusion; excess of vulgarity, inconsistencies of certain combinations; wearing shoes that makes the ankle coarse or a skirt that cannot be wore due to physical conformation.

(Photo: DressLily)

To rejuvenate is very important, it will affect soul and spirit. Anyone wants to feel younger in a younger style and lines, however to rejuvenate with an aggressive look is not a winning move. Who cares what everybody wears, be different from others, find your personal style and learn not to blend in. With the right proportions, the right outfit, and the right colors, the goal is to feel good in the interior and exterior with what nature has gifted us.

I am a short person too. I should have suffered the missing inches as most of my friends are taller, but I didn’t, I have learned to hide my small defects and to exalt my virtues.

(Below photo unknown – Credit given to the author or maker).

To look taller follow these basic rules and go on with life:

Avoid long skirts with a lot of fabric flapping between the legs. If you must wear something long wear a pencil long skirt or dress. However short skirts on a short person are a better choice.
Avoid bell bottom pants and low-cut waist pants or shirt. Pencil bottom pants are better and high waist pants and skirts are also a better choice.
Avoid long oversize jackets. It will swallow a short person.
Avoid a ton of print, use vertical stripes or monochrome color scheme.
Avoid hats with large brims and large bags.
Avoid flat shoes and high heel above 5” including wedges, but never give up the right heels. In addition to the height, a short woman in high heels will gain a more feminine sexier walking style.
Whenever possible wear shoes of the same color of the pants. It will help elongate the figure at least visually.
Avoid long hair unless they are collected and tied above. A short dynamic cut is better for a short woman.
Avoid long nails.

Dynamite comes in small packages and I rather be the good wine in the small barrels.

I am here to help if you need to rejuvenate your look. Ciao,
Valentina
https://valentinadesigns.com/services#fashion-services

Valentina Cirasola is a trained Fashion and Interior Designer, born in Italy in a family of artists. Style surrounded her since the beginning of her life. Her many years of experience led her to offer consultations in both specializations and now she can remodel homes as well as personal images. To better help people in the world she offers consultations online. She is the author of three books. Get your copy of Valentina’s book on colors: ©RED-A Voyage Into Colors on
Amazon: http://goo.gl/qNxXrB
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Curve | Valentina Cirasola | Interior Designer

21 Jun 2016 2 Comments

by Valentina in Home Designs Master Tags: #BuiltInDesign, #HomeDecor, #HomeRemodeling, #OldWorldDecor, #PommeleSapeleWood, #RoomAddition, #StoneFloorDesigns

“If it doesn’t exist in the market, I will design and build it”. It has been my mantra and my way to resolve the challenge of filling up spaces with container furniture that are functional and beautiful as well. I will add some pleasant curves to increase the beauty. Built-ins today are very straight and boxy with a lot of opens shelves. If you ask me, I will tell you they are unattractive and whenever possible I will suggest to build your own. If you do have that opportunity, make it a masterpiece.
(Click on each photo to view it larger).

The inspiration for this curvy built-in media unit came from the conversation between my clients, a young couple in their 30s, a couple who is into DIY. The room was an addition to the house, an empty box waiting to be beautified.

While I was designing the interior of this family room, I was designing also the landscape outside the window. The wife’s desire was to have an old world European room, with an antique flooring, droopy window treatment with a rich puddle and a faux finish on the wall. They had a very traditional taste, nothing I could not handle. I brought a Renaissance pattern to a tile maker and he reproduced it beautifully on the tiles that now surround the fireplace.

While all the workers looked busy bees, I was searching for the right furniture-accessories and overseeing all the workers. I love when everybody is working in unison and I hear the painter singing at the walls creating his faux finish (painters usually sing while they paint), tile setter creating the floor pattern, the fireplace was in construction mode and the man of the house followed my design to the teeth to produce the built-in with curves. That wood is Pommele Sapele, not extinct, only a precious species. It makes waves and ripples of water pattern, very pretty to look at. Three months later everyone reached the goal and the room came alive.

Curtains were the only thing not done. With the curvy landscape wrapping around the front of the house and framing the family room window so well, there was no need for the curtains anymore. Let the nature in. Ciao, Valentina
http://www.valentinadesigns.com