Berlin Designs, Inc. Blog: Design Rituals

... a passionate revelation of my design rituals ...
a passionate account from a South Florida award-wining interior designer who is blessed to celebrate her 20th year anniversary of designing "interiors that lift your spirit™"
Welcome! The search is finally over. That perfect marriage of understanding without words:one look, one image, a breathtaking view... Someone who will know how to interpret her client's wishes by listening to all the unsaid words, seeing the cues, perceiving the feelings with a simple gaze.
I am the lucky designer who will get to go into the personal spaces in your life, your office or home. That place you call your own, where you can be you. Your surroundings matter to me, my passion is to let the best of you shine through the space you occupy. No antiseptic rooms, catalog photo-shoot ready, rather the elegant comfort of a back porch at sunset is the feeling I want in the interior of your private spaces. The sink-down comfort of being in your OWN space.
Let your smile shine as you enjoy learning about my passion for design. Then, you will see why we say: experience Interiors that lift your spirit™.

Wednesday, August 20, 2008

A hallway's 'natural' transformation

A bare 35 foot long hall gets a makeover and comes through with a warm and appealing personality. Custom-designed open columns and ledge serve as the break in the lengthy unending feeling this hallway suffered from. The double bridge-like columns were strategically placed as to break up the linear feel. The distressed mirror adds light and further enhances the papyrus on the river rock filled bud vases, which are two elements that help bring nature to a space without natural light. The dark espresso finish on the woodwork offer a contrast with the light colored walls and act as the balancing point for the home-owner's own artwork, which was relocated to the hallway.

This transitional space which serves as the main circulation space between the public and private spaces of this residential condominium in Aventura was a key element to the design of the entire home, as it is the main axis and sits right off the main entry doors. The palm leaf motif screening on canvas and the bamboo stalk rug add further natural elements to the space.

Monday, August 18, 2008

A time for prayer

We pray for a fast and full recovery for "aunt" Joan Hyler, who was severely injured las Friday evening when she was struck by a car as she was walking.
Joan is the one people lean on, count on and call on, the one who is always there, a great friend. A great sister to (my sister-in-law) Nancy and a the greatest aunt to all my nieces and nephews. R'fuah Shlemah for Joan bat Jane v' Jehoshua. Keep up the spirit of healing, you are in our prayers!

Saturday, August 9, 2008

CHINA | 2008 BEIJING OLYMPIC GAMES

Commune hotel offers luxurious stay near Beijing

The Commune by the Great Wall is communal living in a lush, historic setting complete with spa and other amenities.

The Commune by the Great Wall is a hotel with award-winning architecture, a luxurious spa and, perhaps most valuable of all, a private path to a stretch of the Great Wall, one of the world's best-known landmarks.

Despite some communal aspects -- shared kitchens and living rooms in its huge villas -- the Commune by the Great Wall hardly calls to mind the money-saving, ruling class-disdaining life. Instead, it is an unforgettable weekend escape just an hour from the crowds, traffic and polluted skies of Beijing.

The Commune, now managed by the Kempinksi hotel group, calls itself a "collection of living contemporary Chinese and Asian architecture," and it won a prize at the 2002 Venice Biennale. It sits on almost 5 miles of mountain land; the 11 original villas each have four to six bedrooms and butler service. From hotels to the stadium, China wears it's finest. For this Olympic Games attention to design details shows even in the mundane objects like the lamps that light the path to the Birds Nest which echo the design of the stadium itself.

Thursday, August 7, 2008

Sympathy for the devil

Not to be missed: JEAN-LUC GODARD'S -
"SYMPATHY FOR THE DEVIL"

See Jean-Luc Godard's documentary of the making of The Rolling Stones' hit "Sympathy for the Devil" at the Museum of Contemporary Art (MOCA). The film captures the Rolling Stones during their 1968 studio recording sessions for the album "Beggars Banquet" with interspersed scenes that probe the revolutionary and social politics of the time. The exhibition, Sympathy for the Devil: Art and Rock and Roll Since 1967, is on view at MOCA through September 7th with over 100 works by 56 artists and artist collectives. The film screening is free with museum admission. Art & music is alive and well in North Miami.

Sunday, August 3, 2008

Daring to look (& step) beyond

Located in between Milan and Bergamo, in the city of Cavenago, is The Devero Hotel – a modern and chic four-star resort.



Shown here in the hotel’s restaurant is an interruption in the natural flow of flooring and ceiling: a glass skylight of sorts that allows for a peek beyond the restaurant to above the bar. Just the same as you are seated in the lounge you are lured to the floor below and intrigued by the sight of a MEDUSA chandelier in opaque white – the perfect spark of whimsy for this sleek, contemporary space.