By Shelagh Duncan Outdoor kitchens in many old Mediterranean farmhouses and homes have pizza ovens, fireplaces, grills, sinks and work counters, set in covered terraces, courtyards and gardens. Today, this trend is growing wherever the climate allows – especially so here in Costa Rica. In this part of the world
Read MoreBy Shelagh Duncan That old joke: “My house is so small, you have to go outside to change your mind” is not so funny if you are struggling with a small space that needs to function well enough to entertain friends and family – and still be comfortable. Small spaces
Read MoreBy Shelagh Duncan The hardworking kitchen island can be a very functional, and beautiful centerpiece of a kitchen design. It is one of the most popular features in a modern kitchen. However, in some spaces a built-in island can feel more cumbersome than useful, or becomes cluttered with ‘stuff’ so
Read MoreBy Shelagh Duncan Apparently yellow is going to rule the decor scene for the next while. It is a cheerful, happy color that has many moods, and works with lots of other colours. Yellow will dominate they say, but there is a trend to the pastels, as well as more
Read MoreBy Shelagh Duncan Bathroom Lighting When it comes to lighting, an often ignored area of our homes is the bathroom. We’ll choose great tiles and faucets, but lighting usually plays a supporting role. Whether we opt for that minimalist Spa look, luxurious opulence, or just a serene place of refuge,
Read MoreBy Shelagh Duncan Fact # 1 Humans need to sleep about 30% of their lives – cats almost 50% and giraffes less than 10%! Fact #2 Humans are the only species who purposely delay sleep. Fact #3 More than 60% of North Americans do not experience a good night`s
Read MoreBy Shelagh Duncan Last month we helped you find your own signature colour, and I hope you have your paint colour picked out by now. This time we are offering some thoughts on where certain colours work best. Remember, you do not have to repaint the whole house, or even
Read MoreBy Shelagh Duncan What is Mold? Molds (and mildew) are fungi. Fungi are not plant, animal or bacteria, they are microbial. They are responsible for such wonderful organisms as the delicious edible mushrooms, they are the makers of the “miracle drug” penicillin and the yeast that makes our bread rise,
Read MoreBy Shelagh Duncan This month we’ll explore how to find your signature colour, and next time we’ll look at what to do with it once you’ve got it. We are fortunate enough to live in one of the most beautiful places on earth! Wonderful colours surround us each and every
Read MoreDelve into paint’s storied past — what you learn about its history and modern incarnations may surprise you. I credit Victoria Finlay for the contents of this article. She is the author of “Colour – A Natural History of the Palette”. She lives near Bath, England, and is writing a
Read MoreBy Shelagh Duncan My passion is design and I love problem-solving! Here are some easy and inexpensive solutions to a few of the most commonly asked decorating questions: Q: What color should I paint my walls? Orange. Okay I’m kidding. But only you will know what colors work best for
Read MoreBy Shelagh Duncan The dream of having a vacation property in Costa Rica is something many of us are living, and many others would love. However owning a second home that remains vacant most of the year can be a financial burden if you are still working, or have long-term
Read MoreBy Shelagh Duncan We love our homes, we want them to be stylish and comfortable, chic and cosy. We love our pets too and as they are very much a part of our lives we incorporate things into our homes to make them more comfortable as well with pet doors,
Read MoreBy Shelagh Duncan Tropical chic is a perfect style for those of us who have chosen Costa Rica for their home, or home-away-from-home. It is a casual, comfortable style that adds a touch of the exotic, using jungle themes, restful colors, and natural textural elements. This is not the multi-colored jungle-book
Read MoreBy Shelagh Duncan Outdoor kitchens in many old Mediterranean farmhouses and homes have pizza ovens, fireplaces, grills, sinks and work counters, set in covered terraces, courtyards and gardens. Today, this trend is growing wherever the climate allows – especially so here in Costa Rica. In this part of the world
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