Guest Post By JoAnn Locktov

Garden at Night (Dimensions: 24.8” x 31.8” )
Mosaics by Ilana Shafir, integrated with Inspiration Pieces by Leah Shafir Zahavi

Leah Shafir Zahavi grew up in Ashkalon, Israel. As a child exploring this 4,000-year-old city on the Mediterranean, she breathed deeply the aroma of almond trees, listened to the receding echo in the rhythmic arches of ancient aqueducts, and discovered the Milky Way in vast desert skies.

Inner Piece Tile Collection: Milky Way (Dimensions: 4” x 4”)

Zahavi’s mother, world renowned mosaic artist Ilana Shafir taught her daughter the beauty in fragments, that singular pieces of chipped, forlorn ceramic held history and mystery that when pieced together could transform themselves into beguiling dreamscapes.

Zahavi’s path to tile artist was not immediate. Her first medium of expression was fiber, which gave her the basis for manipulating texture and understanding pattern.

Inner Piece Tile Collection: Song Bird Eating Red Berries (Dimensions: 6” x 6”)

Working in the humble material of clay, the Inner Piece tile collection is produced entirely by hand in porcelain, stoneware and terracotta, with lead free glazes. The designs, she feels, are cumulative. “They are created through layers of imagery that I build up starting from the green ware and continuing through various techniques of surface decoration between the two firings.” Textured objects are imprinted onto the soft clay, after which Zahavi uses drawing, carving, fluting, and slip inlay to build the final image.

Inner Piece Tile Collection:Secret Life of Raindrops (Dimensions: 6” x 6” )

The metamorphosis of clay to tile also relies on vivid color, memories of the heaping mounds of brilliant orange spices in the marketplace, the atavistic blue waves of the sea, the salty green grass that stubbornly adorns acres of sand dunes. Zahavi also utilizes Sgraffitto, a technique of ornamentation in which surface layers are incised to reveal a ground of contrasting color.

In addition to tiles in three, four and six inch squares, Zahavi has developed a collection of hand glazed free form ceramic tesseraecalled Inspiration Pieces, intended to be used as embedded elements in mosaics.

Inspiration Pieces-Mosaic Tesserae: Green leaves (Dimensions: each leaf 2” x 1”)

Her mother was the first to integrate these pieces into her archeological landscapes. Zahavi abstracts forms from the natural world, the pivotal inspiration for all her work.

Wishing Tree (Dimensions: 41.7” x 49.6” ) Mosaics by Ilana Shafir, integrated with Inspiration Pieces by Leah Shafir Zahavi

Zahavi believes that her tiles “can be the gateway for daydream travel, evoking memories of far away places.” Now living in the United States, the tiles and mosaic tesserae are the richly textured celebration of her former life in Israel. The sumptuous Medeterrain colors are balanced intuitively with abundant organic shapes to create a decorative surface cradled in warmth.

Resources: Inner Piece and Shafir Art

“Tileista” is a monthly column that explores the beauty of artisan tile. JoAnn Locktov is the author of two books and numerous articles on contemporary mosaics. Her public relations firm Bella Figura Communications represents individuals and businesses in the visual and literary arts. Follow her musings on design, tile and Italy on Twitter: @JoLocktov.

More by JoAnn:

Tile as Textile

Original Article

Learn how to decorate in this two-day decorating workshop led by the divinely talented designer, Kimberley Seldon.  http://thedecoratingdiva.com/how-to-decorate-workshop-with-designer-kimberley-seldon/

Spectacular Glass Sculpture courtesy of glass artist Jamie Harris. Jamie’s artwork is amazing, colorful and moving.

DESIGN IS IN THE DETAILS

Kitchen Designer Jamie Goldberg (@jtgoldberg) shows you how to use decor, accessories and small appliances to give your bathroom and kitchen a new look.

Bathroom shown above designed by Jamie Goldberg, AKBD, CAPS.

Paint color inspiration from nature: Jacaranda tree purple and green color scheme.

Renown mosaic arts author and expert, JoAnn Locktov shares some of her favorite tiles - including these gorgeous leather tiles from the Priante Pachamama Collection.

Kitchen cabinet hardware from Topix Italian Design collection proves that small touches can create a huge impact. Kitchen design expert, Jamie Goldberg shows you how to give your kitchen a face-lift using a variety of cabinet pulls and knobs.

Guest writer Sherri Blum, Certified Interior Designer, Children’s Artist and celebrity nursery designer, shares nursery decorating and design advice in her article “10 Tips for Designing a Unique and Whimsical Nursery” .

{Image: Nursery Design by Sherri Blum.}

Baby is on her way and everyone is preparing for her arrival. But none, of course, has as much preparation ahead as the expectant parents. Creating a warm, safe environment is one of the greatest joys and responsibilities of parents-to-be.

In the past, children’s rooms were often an afterthought. Whatever hand-me-downs were available sufficed. But trends have changed. Terms like Feng Shui are household words as we realize the effects that our surroundings have on our well-being. Now, more than ever, parents are creating exceptional nurseries. So enjoy the process of preparing this nursery for your baby. Everyone is expecting to see the typical pink or blue. Instead, follow a few simple suggestions to create a chic nursery that will break the mold and have others talking!

1. Decorate to please yourself. Baby has no opinion on the room’s design and won’t even begin to care about the theme until he is much older. By then, your little independent thinker will have his own ideas for his bedroom and will deserve to have the space reflect his personality and interests. I’m letting you “off the hook” from feeling committed to a traditional, babyish nursery.
2. Rather than a predictable character theme, design a nursery in styles you might have throughout the rest of your home. Create a French nursery with vivid colors, toile fabric and a Louis XVI chair instead of a traditional rocking chair. Try an old world Italian look with golden color-washed walls, a black iron crib, and terra cotta accents. An Asian-inspired room with silk fabrics in deep colors and sleek dark wood-toned furnishings would provide the bold contrast of colors that appeal to infants and parents alike. Add bamboo shades and a few well chosen accessories and you have a serene, very sophisticated room. Citrus colors are hot this year. Pair aqua with orange and add brown accents for a modern twist.
3. Have fun with furniture. Painted furniture is popular and available in a rainbow of unique color choices. An armoire is a dramatic, yet versatile option for a changing station. When no longer necessary, the changing pad can be removed and the armoire can hold a television, computer, or clothes. Consider built-in shelves and window seats for great storage as well as a custom look that will always serve you well.
4. Mix luxurious textures. A baby might not see colors well at first, but his sense of touch is up to adult levels from birth. Babies enjoy a variety of textures such as silk and chenille. Use these throughout the nursery for their tactile and visual appeal.
5. Give the ceiling some attention. A baby spends most of her time on her back looking at the ceiling. A decorative paint finish will last many years and will be interesting for a child. At the very least paint the ceiling something other than white.
6. Add a chandelier for ambiance. Lighting companies are catering to children’s design and are creating chandeliers with whimsical colors and characters to coordinate with bedding. When placed on a dimmer switch this fun light can be very useful for checking on a sleeping baby.
7. Use your closet in a unique way. Most of baby’s tiny clothes can be kept in a dresser. So consider removing closet doors and hanging fabric panels instead. Paint the interior of your closet in an accent color to make it stand out. Transform it to a reading nook or puppet theatre and later to a computer or homework station simply by altering the space within.
8. Window treatments should be functional and beautiful. Accomplish both by using a roman or balloon shade in a fabric that coordinates with your bedding. The shade blocks sunlight when extended, and is a decorative treatment when lifted. Or customize a crown shaped, painted wooden valance to top off a pair of luxurious curtain panels for an opulent look.
9. Accessories are the least expensive element and yet are necessary to complete the room! Choose artwork that touches you. It doesn’t need to be childish, just interesting and well placed. Consider a large wall hanging such as those in my own line, Sherri Blum Designs. Measuring 3’x2’, they make a great substitute for a mural, are large enough to make a grand statement, yet versatile in that they can be moved to another room or stored for future generations to enjoy. Monograms are hot. Paint one on the wall or headboard of a crib. And don’t forget an area rug. A well placed rug makes an inviting spot for story time or playtime and helps to bring some color to the otherwise plain floor space.
10. Most importantly, have fun. Think outside of the box. Parents spend nearly as much time in the nursery as their babies and therefore should be proud of this special place they’ve prepared for their little one.

About The Decorating Diva.com’s Guest Writer:
Sherri Blum, CID is the owner of Jack and Jill Interiors, a nursery design company that focuses on creating unique and functional children’s spaces. Her clients range from those looking to create a nice nursery on a strict budget, to celebrity clients who want something extravagant.
Decorating for children led Sherri to the creation of her own brand of children’s decor, Sherri Blum Designs which offers products such as wall art, rugs, bedding, clocks and more. These products can be found in specialty boutiques both in the US and abroad.

Original Article

Color & Light
Light affects how color appears to us, for instance if you are looking at a block of red color it will change in appearance when exposed to lights of various intensities and types. The same color can appear to transition to another color depending on the light used to view the color. Not enough lighting will further darken a color and too much lighting will wash out a color.
Considering lighting when selecting colors for paint, wallpaper or fabrics for your home is crucial and this section will help you understand how to avoid costly mistakes.

Some color and light tips for those of us living in Florida

Avoid dark colors in rooms that are exposed to lots of sunlight. The effects will be a room that heats up QUICKLY and holds that heat for a while.  Light cool colors work best in rooms that are exposed to large amounts of sun through the day

Color & Natural Light
Natural light is generally the predominate home lighting during the day and depending on which direction your windows or glass doors face that will dictate the color and visible temperature of the natural light that enters your home.
Quick Guide to the Interaction of Natural Light and Color

Typically, most rooms have natural light exposure from several directions; in that case, the light in the room will be a combination. Understanding natural light is imperative when considering colors for you home decor. If you have a warm orange-red paint on your living room wall and that room has a window facing west then the orange-red color will become even more vivid after noon. If in that same room the window faces north, the orange-red wall paint will be subdued and toned down because the light filtering in has a bluish cast.

Color & Artificial Light
Day light is supplemented by artificial light in our homes therefore we need to understand their properties. Most fluorescent lights give off a green tinge and can really dull warm colors. There are now fluorescent lights, which have a pink tinge, are more color friendly, and should enhance warm colors. Incandescent light or halogen lighting may cast a yellowing warm light dulling down cool colors. They however will enhance warmer colors.  If you will be using tinted lights, remember the INTENSITY RULE!!!! You will either increase the colors intensity or dull it if it is a complementary color.

Original Article