Install Ceiling Fans for Energy Efficiency
Summers in Madrid are brutal; relentlessly hot, dry, and polluted! And electricity is expensive. It is imperative to keep that in mind when planning a renovation. When it is over 40º C (105º F) outside, you need a way to keep cool without spending too much money. The...
Movement and Harmony- Keys to Good Design
"A room should never allow the eye to settle in one place. It should smile at you and create fantasy." Juan Montoya Good design is like music. Your eye should constantly move through space, flowing from one room into the other. Details create rhythm and balance, each...
Jatoba (Brazilian Cherry) Flooring – Pros and Cons
Jatoba / Brazilian Cherry flooring is one of the most beautiful and vibrant choices in wood floors. The color is a rich red unique to Jatoba that can be the centerpiece of your home design. However, it is difficult to maintain. When it is first laid down its color is...
Cast Iron Radiators – Renovate or Replace
For me, renovating not replacing the original cast iron radiators was an easy decision. I like the look of cast iron radiators, and I believe maintaining original details is important to the overall aesthetic of an apartment. The look of cast iron radiators worked...
Tempered Glass – A Worthwhile Investment
Our apartment has a lot of glass, tons of glass; specifically 12 multipaned windows, and 11 glass doors. It is one of the wonderful things about the apartment. Because of so much glass, every room, including the hall is filled with light. However, all that glass has a...
Say No to “Gotele” – Resurfacing Walls
Gotele, a textured wall finish common in Spain, is hideous, outdated and impossible to clean. I personally dislike wall textures in general. Most wall textures can be imitated by decorative painting, without the commitment to something which will likely be out of...
Me!
I am an artist, and mom.... lover of books, building things, dirty hands, and power tools.