Posts Tagged ‘contained beauty’

Combining Nostalgic Charm with Modern Amenities in Your Bathroom

Thursday, April 4, 2024
Debbi DiMaggio

Combining Nostalgic Charm with Modern Amenities in Your Bathroom

Embark on a delightful journey where the past and present converge in interior design. In this comprehensive guide, we delve into the art of blending nostalgic charm with modern amenities in your bathroom.

This design philosophy unites the timeless allure of yesteryears with the streamlined efficiency of today’s world. Imagine stepping into a bathroom that radiates the classic elegance of a bygone era while boasting the latest technological advancements. It is a space where every element harmonizes to create an evocatively vintage and luxuriously modern sanctuary. This concept isn’t just about aesthetics; it’s a reflection of a lifestyle that appreciates the beauty of the past while embracing future innovations.

Understanding Nostalgic Charm with Modern Amenities in Your Bathroom
Nostalgic charm in bathroom design brings back the elegance of past eras through design elements that echo history. This style is marked by vintage fixtures, classic color schemes, and retro designs that transport you to a different time. Imagine ornate mirrors, intricate tile work, and freestanding bathtubs that tell a story of craftsmanship and artistry. It is about recreating traditional homes’ warm, comforting ambiance while ensuring the space remains functional. Companies like theculturedpalatedesigns.com, an interior design firm, often incorporate these vintage elements, offering designs that beautifully encapsulate the essence of bygone eras while ensuring modern comfort.

Overview of Modern Amenities
Modern amenities in bathroom designs combine style with advanced functionality. That includes using cutting-edge fixtures, eco-friendly technologies, and smart systems that elevate the user experience. These features represent the pinnacle of bathroom innovation, from digital showers that allow temperature control to automated lighting systems that create the perfect ambiance. They are designed for convenience and efficiency, bringing a level of sophistication and comfort that was unimaginable in the past.

View of the water coming out of the showerhead

Combining Nostalgic Charm with Modern Amenities in Your Bathroom

 

Seeking Professional Assistance
When embarking on a journey to blend nostalgic charm with modern amenities in your bathroom, seeking professional guidance can be invaluable. An expert eye can help balance the vintage with the new, ensuring that each element complements the other perfectly. Interior design firms, like theculturedpalatedesigns.com, specialize in bringing such visions to life. They offer the expertise to navigate the many choices of fixtures, colors, and layouts while honoring your style. Their experience sourcing unique vintage pieces and integrating modern technologies can transform a good design into a great one.

 

Various color samples

Professional designers can help you combine nostalgic charm with modern amenities in your bathroom by choosing appropriate color palettes, fixtures, layouts, etc.

 

Planning Your Bathroom Design, Balancing Old and New
Striking the perfect balance between the old and the new is the cornerstone of this design philosophy. It begins with a clear vision and an understanding of how vintage charm can synergistically blend with contemporary flair. That involves picking elements from each era that complement rather than clash. One might pair a classic claw-foot tub with sleek, modern faucets. Or perhaps mix retro-inspired tiles with a state-of-the-art underfloor heating system. The aim is to create a space where these elements do not just coexist but enhance each other, resulting in a bathroom that is functional, comfortable, aesthetically cohesive, and deeply personal.

Considering the Bigger Picture in Renovations
While focusing on the intricate details of blending nostalgic charm with modern amenities, it’s also essential to consider the broader aspects of your bathroom renovation project. For instance, if you are planning a major overhaul or moving to a new home in Oakland, CA, the logistics of such a move can impact your design plans. In these cases, local movers can help out, ensuring a smooth transition of your old and new bathroom elements to their new location. This consideration is especially important if incorporating large vintage pieces or delicate fixtures requiring careful handling. Efficient planning with professional movers ensures that every aspect of your bathroom’s transformation is accounted for, making the process as seamless as your design. This approach allows you to focus more on the creative side of your renovation, knowing the practicalities are in capable hands.

Elements of Nostalgic Charm, Vintage Fixtures and Fittings
The heart of nostalgic charm lies in its fixtures and fittings. These pieces, like claw-foot tubs, pedestal sinks, and brass taps, are not merely functional; they are the cornerstone of the bathroom’s aesthetic. Their intricate designs and timeless appeal evoke a sense of nostalgia, adding character and depth to the space. When combined with modern amenities, these vintage elements stand out, creating a striking contrast that is visually appealing and emotionally resonant.

Classic Color Palettes and Patterns
Color plays a pivotal role in establishing nostalgic charm. Classic color schemes, such as soft pastels or bold, Art Deco-inspired hues, set the tone for the entire space. Complementing these with traditional patterns like herringbone or checkerboard tiling can transport you back in time. These colors and patterns create a visual connection to the past and add warmth and personality to the space. When
juxtaposed with modern elements, they provide a delightful contrast, bridging the gap between the old and the new.

Decorative Touches
Adding decorative elements is the finishing touch that ties the nostalgic theme together. Think framed vintage mirrors, period-style lighting fixtures, and antique accessories that add layers of texture and history. These pieces are the jewels of the bathroom, providing an authentic feel to the space. When sourcing these items, consider visiting antique markets or specialty stores that offer unique pieces. The aim is to create a space that looks timeless but also feels rich with history and personal stories.

Decorative elements like framed mirrors can add a nice touch of nostalgic charm. Alt text: Bathroom with white tiles, cupboards, golden faucets and framed mirrors

Decorative elements like framed mirrors can add a nice touch of nostalgic charm.

 

Integrating Modern Amenities, State-of-the-Art Plumbing

Integrating state-of-the-art plumbing is crucial in a modern bathroom. Today’s plumbing solutions offer an unparalleled level of efficiency and convenience. Think about thermostatic shower systems that maintain the perfect temperature or touchless faucets that combine hygiene with high-tech design. These modern features can be designed to blend seamlessly with the nostalgic elements, ensuring that the bathroom is not just a nod to the past but also a testament to the present innovations.

Smart Features
Modern technology is redefining bathroom design. Smart mirrors that offer weather updates or news briefings, digital showers with programmable settings, and automated lighting and heating systems that can be controlled via smartphone are just a few examples. These features bring a level of convenience and luxury that complements the nostalgic charm, creating a historically inspired and technologically advanced space. The key is to choose smart features that enhance the user experience without overpowering the vintage element.

Eco-friendly Solutions
Eco-friendly solutions are a critical component of modern bathrooms. Incorporating sustainable features like low-flow toilets, water-saving shower heads, and LED lighting is not just a trend; it’s a responsibility. Sustainable design firms like curatedbyjuliette.com specialize in integrating these eco-friendly solutions to maintain style and functionality. These technologies reduce your environmental footprint and offer long-term cost savings.

In conclusion, blending nostalgic charm with modern amenities in your bathroom creates a functional space that truly reflects your unique taste and history. It is a celebration of the best of both worlds, where the pasts warmth and coziness meet the present’s convenience and luxury. We encourage you to embark on this journey with an open mind and a creative spirit. Embrace the challenge of marrying different eras and styles to create a bathroom that is a personal sanctuary.

 

Best Housewarming Ideas for Your Friends and Clients

Wednesday, August 18, 2021
Debbi DiMaggio

Quentin Bacon

Your beloved friends have recently moved into their dream home. Now that they have finally settled, they’ve decided to host a housewarming party. And guess what? You’re invited! It’s customary for attendees of such an event to bring with them a present. The only problem being, you’ve got absolutely no idea what that should be! But don’t worry! I’ve made it my business to hunt down the best housewarming gift ideas for your friends. Stay here for a wee bit longer to find out what they are!

Best Housewarming Gift Ideas for Your Friends Hosting One

Before we dive deeper into housewarming party gift suggestions, let’s make it clear that no present is essentially good nor bad. They don’t say that one man’s trash is another man’s treasure for nothing. What you consider useless, others may very well consider extremely useful. The following are just ideas of what you could bestow on your friends. Of course, as you know them best, I’ll leave it up to you to decide which one of these they may like or need.

A Bottle of Quality Wine and a Corkscrew

There’s hardly an adult who doesn’t enjoy sipping on a glass of quality wine every now and then. Chances are your friends enjoy drinking it too, so how about gifting them a bottle of their favorite one? Pair it up with a corkscrew because they may want to give that bad boy a try straight away! Choosing the right wine can be a bit tricky, though. Especially if you aren’t sure of what kind they prefer. Try learning of their preference by asking their family members or mutual friends. If you fail to get an answer, skip the wine altogether and opt for a set of glasses instead. Better that than buying something they won’t enjoy even remotely.

Framed Artwork

Are your friends into art? If so, the housewarming party may be the perfect time to gift them a beautiful piece of wall art. If you are close, you probably know what kind of style they lean towards. Try matching that style, if possible, or wing it. Maybe you’ve also got a picture of all of you lying somewhere. Get it framed, pack it nicely, and bring that instead!

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Tool Kit

In an ideal world, homes require no upgrades and no repairs. And while your friends’ house is probably new or at least patched up, that doesn’t mean it won’t ever require work. Should that happen, they’ll definitely need a set of tools as first aid. Be a good pal and give them one! And if they haven’t dealt with fixing up the home yet, offer your assistance as well. Perhaps you’ve got more experience dealing with touch-ups than your friends do. Once you finish that project, help them make everything spotless. The importance of cleaning and disinfecting in today’s age is not to be neglected.

Potted Plants

Flowers are surely lovely, but potted plants are a much better choice when deciding on the best housewarming gift ideas for your friends. Why? Well, for starters, they don’t die as easily. Flowers have a short life span, while regular plants can last for years depending on the species! Not only that, but they’ll drastically improve the air within your friends’ home and liven the whole area up. As a bonus, a bit of greenery can serve as great decor, too, and also brings one’s feng-shui game to the next level.

Pet Toys & Treats

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For many of us, furry friends are considered family, and that’s the way it should be. If your friends have got one or a few pets, they are probably having a hard time adjusting. Remember, even people need time to get used to a new environment. But for pets, that adjustment period is drastically more complex. Most animals are dependent on routine, and when that routine gets disrupted, anxiety kicks in. Show that you care not only about your friends’ well-being but about the well-being of their pet(s) by purchasing some yummy treats and toys. This is sure to bring their mood up and thus, help them forget about the new living arrangement. The one they didn’t sign up for!

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Gifts Intended for Couples

Having recently moved in, your friends have undoubtedly lost plenty of nerves and energy during the process. Now that all of that is over, they deserve a break. So, how about you treat them to one? A visit to the cinema, for example, could relax them enough to get their mind off things, even for just the time being. Of course, you would be the one responsible for arranging the tickets. If they don’t like movies, there’s also an option to get them theater tickets or organize a spa day to relax them further. Truth to be told, a couple’s massage does sound like one of the best housewarming gift ideas for your friends!

Smart Home Features

Thanks to technological advances, our lives are constantly becoming easier. Let’s simplify your friends’ lives by gifting them a smart home device. There’s a vast pool of these to choose from, ranging from smart locks, thermostats, lights, surveillance systems all the way to home hubs. Whatever the choice, I bet they’ll appreciate the added convenience these remotely controlled features bring.

A Gift Basket

Perhaps a bit cliche, but a gift basket is always a good housewarming present. You can put one together by including some or all of the following items:

  • Scented candles
  • A diffuser
  • Essential oils
  • Bath salts
  • Body scrubs and lotions
  • Soap
  • Towels
  • Candy

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The sky is your limit, so feel free to incorporate anything you deem necessary into the gift basket. You can also take to the Internet for inspiration. It is precisely on it that some of the additional best housewarming gift ideas for your friends might pop up.

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An Accidentally Beautiful Afternoon with Myself

Friday, January 4, 2019
Debbi DiMaggio

Ghiradelli Sq

Accidentally with purpose. Law of attraction. Think it, will it. If you build it they will come.

I write as I think, so bare with me.

New Year’s Resolutions & Bucket List Things To Try and Do.  ( But you won’t see Skydiving or Scuba on the list! ) I tried Scuba… OMG! I thought I was going to suffocate. And Skydiving… definitely DO NOT want to try.  I did, however, when I was younger and had the guts.

Finding Your Purpose.

I think a lot. I don’t give myself much down time. Although, I am trying.

Mindfulness and Meditation is my focus this year. Seeking to tame the “Monkey Mind”. I will say, I have been trying for the last few years, however, unsuccessfully. I even read an entire book from one reporters  journey as he tried to sit in meditation and mindfulness. Not just using an app, but through first hand experience. He attended a retreat in Marin, CA. And he is from New York! You can only imagine how difficult it was for a New Yorker and a Reporter to slow his mind! I know. I read his book. And the very thought of sitting for a week in absolute silence seems virtually impossible, even a bit scary, even lonely. If you’re wondering, no, he did not stay quiet the entire time. But you’ll have to read the book if you’re intrigued, if only 10%.*

I stumbled upon his book at an airport. Or was it, really … by accident? My life seems to be a jumble of things that have happened to me, for me.. “Accidentally with Purpose”, created by the “Law of Attraction” and something I needed then, now and tomorrow? That thing or tool always seems to come at the exact time I needed it or was calling it. You know those times? They are always amazing, oftentimes inspiring but can even be a bit unnerving, like a horoscope reading that is dead on.

Well, a few of my goals & bucket list desires this year are …

  1. Write my Blog without feeling I need to write a novel. (Debbi DiMaggio A Grateful Life, www.DebbiDiMaggioBlog.com ) Keep it simple until the next one. I’ve missed so many opportunities to jot down my thoughts or teachings because I didn’t take the time to write out my experiences which would be as good for my growth as for some others who might relate.
  2. Bucket List: I have been overwhelmed with the fact that I don’t have traditional hobbies. I don’t golf or play tennis, knit or crochet. My hobby is working with my clients, meeting new people, learning new things, and of course traveling, but you can’t do that nonstop.  That was a long way of stating this year’s Fun & Inspiring Activity I have on my New Year’s List, which is to visit more museums and galleries. TJOxklxiT0CsFShiV9QD0w

I’m happy to report I started out the New Year with two of my favorite people who agreed to go with me on New Year’s Day… SFMOMA. And thanks to my friend Pam who has a membership got Bianca and I in with her passes. I used to have a  membership but like many things, I subscribe and don’t go. I am going to work on that too.

And today, after I was dropping off gratitude gifts to a few San Francisco Realtors who refer us business (note the Blog title, Debbi DiMaggio A Grateful Life, grateful for their referrals, and to the beautiful afternoon.) I noticed a few art galleries so I stopped in.

I am super inspired and excited to have found a new activity I can do in any city I visit including my own. Repeats are A OKAY! I have many more goals and items to add and check off my Bucket List but I’ll save that for another glass of Rose.

rose

(Written from The Cheese School of San Francisco while looking out to the San Francisco Aquatic Center from the top of Ghirardelli Square one a beautiful chilly but mesmerizing day.)

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I had no idea the simple errand would turn out to be such a wonderful afternoon enjoying some Me Time after the hectic holidays.

XOXO!

Gratefully Yours,

Debbi

PS It’s been years since I’ve been to Ghirardelli Square.

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As a native we tend not to revisit places we have been a million times, figuratively speaking. But I forgot how beautiful it is. And so much had changed as had stayed the same. I didn’t get a chance to take it all in as there was so much to see, but look forward to going back again to explore the rest. Including the cannery and the other nooks and crannies and of course, the galleries.

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The book I referred to above is called 10% Happier by Dan Harris

Summary: Dan Harris’ 10% Happier: How I Tamed the Voice in My Head, Reduced Stress Without Losing My Edge, and Found Self-Help That Actually Works: A True Story.

Two of my favorites of the day:

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and

the girlbut there were so many more 🙂

dreams

Tuesday, June 18, 2013
Debbi DiMaggio

remembering your dreams

wake up

take note

identify

research

discover

I am on a fact finding trip in LA and found myself dreaming, once again.  Away from the cluttered life of home, work and just the day to day stuff that keeps us so uber occupied, mind, body and soul.  I found myself waking up every now and again throughout the night.  My mind filled with dreams.  Dreams that woke me enough that I had to get up and start penning my thoughts so I could share them with you.  I rolled over and felt for the hotel note paper and pen that laid on the bedside table.  It was dark.  I did not turn the light on but began to jot down short phrases and words so that I could remember.

The most vivid of the various snapshots, which were my dreams, was of a baby.  I was holding a baby in a hospital.  He was asleep.  He woke up and smiled at me.  He was frail and I knew instinctively he was hungry.  Although frail and unsure who I was he was smiling.  We connected.  I was looking down at him with pure joy.  I knew I had to feed him and that he nor I could wait for the doctor or nurses to arrive.  Adam sat calmly in the corner waiting, not phased, as he is used to the craziness of the situations to which I find myself.  I drew the baby closer to me and began to nurse him.  He continued to smile and I even produced milk for him to drink.  My parents came in and my mom quickly responded as I asked for assistance with his diaper.  It was too big and falling off.  He needed to be cared for and I suppose, I needed to be needed.*

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I’ve been wanting a third child for sometime.  After 40 I knew it wouldn’t happen.  Now I find myself old enough to be a grandma!  But my daughter is no where near ready nor should she be at 20.  I now understand how women get so excited and antsy for their children to have babies.

I understand that my many ideas, projects and the products I have created, such as my skincare line, my book and my t-shirt line, to name a few, stem from a desire to do more.  I always felt I needed something more or more to do on top of just selling real estate and raising a family.  Not that that isn’t a lot, it is, but I still need something more.  I’m still trying to figure out what that something more is.

I’ve longed to have another baby, at least I think that’s what I have wanted.  Someone to love, to care for and to nurture, just like the baby in my dream.

Having awoken from this vivid dream of loving and caring for and smiling at this darling, frail baby boy I couldn’t remain in bed or have gone back to sleep.  My eyes popped open, this time, around 4:15 AM – it was a restless night and I continued waking up and going back to sleep again.  The first time I just made a few notes in the dark – I haven’t looked to see if my writing is even legible.  I tried to remain in bed with the lights out and even tried to go back to sleep, but I was just so curious about the meaning of this baby that I had to get up and turn on my computer.  It’s still dark outside.  I began my research online.  I turned on the TV which is playing soothing meditation music on the hotel channel and I begin to write.

Here is what I found on line — upon my first Google search.

Baby

To see a baby in your dream signifies innocence, warmth and new beginnings. Babies symbolize something in your own inner nature that is pure, vulnerable, helpless and/or uncorrupted. If you dream that the baby is smiling at you, then it suggests that you are experiencing pure joy. You do not ask for much to make you happy. If you find a baby in your dream, then it suggests that you have acknowledged your hidden potential.

The moral of this story is that I am here in LA – Beverly Hills on a fact finding mission to learn how I can publicize my book and develop my brand.  I am here in search of what’s in store for me this year.  As each year I embark on a new project, and it’s that time once again.  The ideas start to pop up in my dreams while I sleep.  And when I awake I have a new mission.

Stay Tuned for More!

Please email me your comments, thoughts, questions and/or personal stories here or directly to debbi@debbidimaggio.com

As always,

Dream Big and Believe!!

XOXO! Debbi

PS.  Here’s to new beginnings!

I just love change, the journey and the unplanned experiences in life.

*being needed: my children are fast approaching age 17 and 20 and myself, 48!  They are mature and capable kids but I miss not being able to help and do more for them.  Right now our son Chase is in Chicago at a lacrosse tournament.  It’s the first tournament we have not attended.  We know it is important for him to go with his team, on his own.  But as a mom who wants to cheer him on, offer him encouragement and is able to be there, it’s simply difficult not to be there with him.  And our daughter Bianca is almost 20 and is working at Pandora. We are so proud of her!  The other day I cried when she told me that her friend would be taking her to the doctor.  I was stunned. I didn’t mean to cry nor did I think I would cry.  But as I drove down the street headed to my own appointments I was saddened by the fact that she didn’t need me and would go it alone, without me.  In the end both Bianca and Chase are capable and self-sufficient and it is time for me to let them continue to grow and blossom.  Chase and his 5 buddies almost missed the flight to Chicago.  I suppose if my husband Adam and I were there we would have been monitoring the boys and it wouldn’t have happened.  But then what lesson would they have learned?  Life is about many, many small lessons and mistakes.  And so it is. HO!

With Gratitude and Thanks to Our Chic Local Boutiques

Thursday, December 6, 2012
Debbi DiMaggio

Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays to all!

Thank you to LOOT, Maison d’Etre and Rue Atelier on College Avenue, Elegant Clutter in Danville, A Great Good Place for Books and Daisy’s in the Montclair Village and to Printed Affair off of Grand Avenue — Thank you so much for believing in Contained Beauty, Photographs, Reflections and Swimming Pools.  Each of your businesses are so unique and beautiful!

I would like to encourage everyone to shop local and visit these fabulous stores.

Click Here to preview  Photos from my book signing with CYAM at Daisy’s Montclair on December 5th

 

Mom and Friends at the Elegant Clutter book signing in Danville.

Thanks Mom for always being so supportive!!  XOXO!

 

 

Net Proceeds from the Sale of Contained Beauty benefit the George Mark Children’s House

 

Photos by Jennifer Fox

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