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By candace kramer, August 4, 2011 11:03 am

Hello! Hope your summer is going well. Mine has been very busy – working, gardening, planning my remodel and visiting with family and friends! Finally had some time to check out the internet for some inspiration and I had to share this with you…

Found this amazing design contest  via Jovoto, that has closed but the plans submitted are just fabulous! The assignment was to design a “Jewel Box” studio apartment within 420 sq. ft. Here are a few shots from the 1st place winner…

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Some really ingenious ideas here. Go check out more of the design entries…I could have spent all day going thru them! So inventive!

Have a great rest of the week!

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By candace kramer, June 1, 2011 2:09 pm

Hello friends! Hope you had a fantastic holiday weekend. We went on my favorite quick getaway and caught the train up to Seattle. I absolutely love the train ride – reading magazines, sipping wine and just relaxing. By the time I arrive, I have unwound and I’m ready to enjoy the city! Traffic and parking can really burst my weekend escape bubble…Speaking of trains, I recently headed over to the Oregon Rail Heritage Foundation site to discover an exciting event coming up on June 30th – The Willamette Bridge groundbreaking – which will bring light rail, cyclists and pedestrians straight by the Engine House & Rail Heritage Center. For more info go here.

Okay…on to Seattle…We stayed at the fabulous Hotel Max. This place is all about art and photography – featuring 39 local artists! Each floor has its own vibe and influence…we stayed on the Rock n’ Roll floor!

Images via here

With its eclectic mix of luxury, art and culture we would definitely stay here again and I love that it’s sister hotel – Hotel Lucia – is right here in Portland.

Okay, now for a couple of my fav restaurants that we hit…and yes, a little I SPY bathroom design to boot!

For a decadent French breakfast complete with a cocktail happy hour, you can’t miss Toulouse Petit Kitchen. I had to have a French mimosa with my crispy beignets and pork cheeks confit with eggs! I told you it was decadent!

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Think of funky-bistro with a bayou twist (so fun) and the bathrooms didn’t disappoint either…

Honey hued with a mix of tile, stone and bronze the bathrooms were very elegant. I love the little detail of the fleur de lis in the flooring. So très French…

For dinner we headed to Barolo Ristorante…Glamorous and sexy with a good dose of modern Italian flair…this place is a must!

Images via here

The food was impeccable, with an impressive wine list. It’s a hot spot for sure…just look for the flashy cars pulling up to the front!

On to the gorgeous bathrooms…dripping with glitter and shine…I just love the beaded curtain below the counter top! Genius.

Image via here

It was such a wonderful weekend and by taking the train we avoided all the hassles (and pollution) of driving the car. Consider taking the train for your next weekend getaway.

Now all we need is one of these…

Image via here

Meet China’s amazing new bullet train…I’m dying to ride this one! This would get me to Seattle in about an hour! Get with the program Amtrak! Seriously!

Where have you traveled by train? Did you enjoy it?

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By candace kramer, May 5, 2011 3:40 pm

It’s almost Friday and maybe you’re making some extravagant plans for your weekend…a spontaneous getaway, a day at the spa or maybe even jet setting off to a fabulous destination? Sounds lovely doesn’t it?

Well, if luxury is your middle name, I have found the toilet for you! I had to share Kohler’s latest commode. I giggled while watching the You Tube video and I thought you might get a kick out of it too!

With a toilet like this…maybe you’d make plans to just stay in!

Would you consider buying a luxury toilet?

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By candace kramer, April 25, 2011 1:03 pm

In many downsized homes, bathrooms inevitably get smaller too…so how can you make them appear more spacious? The answer : get that vanity up off the floor. Wall mounted sinks and storage not only make the bathroom easier to clean they visually trick the eye by revealing more floor space – instantly the room feels more open! The vanities at our 555 townhouses are all like this and people always wonder why…it’s smart design!

For more inspiration, check out this fabulous round-up of “floating” vanities…

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By candace kramer, February 10, 2011 1:31 pm

Last week I had coffee with Rhonda Knoche, a fabulous designer for Neil Kelly Remodelers.

The Neil Kelly Company just won 11 regional CotY (contractor of the Year) awards from the Nationals Association of the Remodeling Industry (NARI). Rhonda won an award for Whole House Remodel under $250k! Kudos to Rhonda and Neil Kelly! As many of you know, I was a designer for NK  for 10 years and still think they have some of the best talent out there!

Some of their beautiful work…

Gorgeous right?

Anyway, I wanted to pick Rhonda’s brain about Universal Design , Aging in Place and local information about these issues.

Like Jane Austen says ” There is nothing like staying at home for real comfort!”

Rhonda is a CAPS designer, Certified Aging in Place Specialist or as Rhonda puts it,

“Universal Design is subtle design and appeals to those that value sustainability.”

Music to my ears!

In her last seminar, she shared with the audience her recent accident, breaking her leg and how she dealt with the physical limitations and mobility issues in her own home.

The big three items she covered in the seminar were;

1. Enter and Exiting home

2. Stairs and Ramps

3. Kitchen & Bath modifications.

Be sure to click here for all their up coming seminars.

Patrick Roden RN,PhD, has a website and blog, aginginplace.com – where he address all the issues of how to continue to live in your home throughout your maturing years, safely, independently and comfortably. He grew up living with his grandma in a multi-generational home and his impressions are truly inspiring.

Thank you Rhonda for some great ideas on living & aging gracefully in the comfort of our homes! Glad to see that your leg looks better too!

p.s. Right now in 2011 we have 70,000 centurions in 2040 there will 700,000 in the U.S.