by Mary Margaret Vasquez | Sep 18, 2018 | Country home
Warm wood, human-scaled spaces, and ethnic charm fight back against plain shiny multi-purpose spaces. Orlando is full of houses with large open interiors, often white, with slick finishes, little detail, and minimal texture. White drywall with taupe/grey basic...
by Mary Margaret Vasquez | Sep 10, 2018 | Fashion
The Vampire’s Wife, a line of unconventionally sexy clothing, casts a spell on the wearer transforming her into a witch goddess. The Vampire’s Wife originated when Susie Bick Cave made a few dresses for friends. Susie, once a muse to many, is now the...
by Mary Margaret Vasquez | Aug 12, 2018 | Vintage México
Arte de la Vida is a treasure trove of vintage Mexican finds perfect for those in search of handmade beauty. My mother made a wonderful discovery. She stumbled upon Arte de la Vida in Tucson where she lives. Walking inside feels like 1970’s Tijuana. Shopping in...
by Mary Margaret Vasquez | Aug 3, 2018 | Travel
Tucson is a city dramatic in its mountainous sometimes prickly beauty but subtle in its unpretentious charm. Driving through El Encanto, a wonderful residential neighborhood, is a favorite activity and a personal requirement. My parent’s friends own the stately...
by Mary Margaret Vasquez | Jul 23, 2018 | Local Treasure
Bok Tower Gardens is home to various birds, butterflies, reptiles, as well as the Singing Tower, making it a local treasure to Central Florida. When visiting El Retiro one gets the added bonus of the adjacent Bok Tower Gardens. This National Historic Landmark was the...
by Mary Margaret Vasquez | Jul 9, 2018 | Local Treasure
El Retiro, now known as Pinewood Estate, provides a window to a time when detailed craftsmanship was a part of one’s home just as strolling in one’s garden was a regular pastime. In the unlikely location of Lake Whales, Florida lies the most beautiful...
by Mary Margaret Vasquez | Jun 26, 2018 | Interior details
Those who dare to step away from the ordinary can add zest to a room with the use of over scaled lamps or unexpected shade styles. Placing enormous lamps in a room shakes things up immediately. The room above, in Barcelona’s The Cotton Hotel, would still be...
by Mary Margaret Vasquez | Jun 20, 2018 | Creative pursuits
Many accomplished artists live a disciplined life full of routine liberating their minds to focus on creative pursuits. Artists are free spirits and create when inspiration strikes, or so I used to think. Most artists that I know or read about are by contrast very...
by Mary Margaret Vasquez | Jun 10, 2018 | Inspiring design
Living in a beautiful home provides rejuvenation from stressful pursuits and comfort from attractive personal objects that are carefully put into order. After graduating from design school, I pondered the significance of being an interior designer. At times it felt...
by Mary Margaret Vasquez | May 15, 2018 | Tile
Using unexpected color combinations of cement tiles elevates this long-used material from trendy status to classic standard. Despite its current popularity, I am devoted to cement tile. The patterned versions are currently en vogue, however; the solid varieties...
