If your actions inspire others to dream more, learn more, do more and become more, you are a leader." - John Quincy AdamsPatricia Gray writes about 'WHAT'S HOT 'in the world of Interior Design, new and emerging trends, modern design,
architecture, and travel, as well as how your surroundings can influence the world around you.
© 2007-2009 Patricia Gray Interior Design Blog
This year, Earth Hour 2009 has been transformed into the world’s first global election, between Earth and global warming.
For the first time in history, people of all ages, nationalities, race and background have the opportunity to use their light switch as their vote – Switching off your lights is a vote for Earth Hour 2009 or leaving them on is a vote for global warming. WWF are urging the world to VOTE EARTH HOUR 2009 and reach the target of 1 billion votes, which will be presented to world leaders at the Global Climate Change Conference in Copenhagen 2009.
This meeting will determine official government policies to take action against global warming, which will replace the Kyoto Protocol. It is the chance for the people of the world to make their voice heard.
Earth Hour 2009 is aiming to reach more than one billion people in 1000 cities around the world
VOTE EARTH Hour 2009 by simply switching off your lights for one hour, and join the world for Earth Hour 2009
8:30PM local time, wherever you live on planet earth. Saturday 28 March 2009
Sign-up to for Earth Hour 2009!!!
Earth Hour 2009 in Canada
Earth Hour 2009 YouTube
Earth Hour 2009 USA
Earth Hour 2009 India
All Art by Belgium Artist Patrick Desmet used with Artist's permission
Bottom Photo Titled: THE LAST FOREST
Patricia Gray writes about 'WHAT'S HOT 'in the world of Interior Design, new and emerging trends, modern design,
architecture, and travel, as well as how your surroundings can influence the world around you.
© 2007-2009 Patricia Gray Interior Design Blog
The Ice-Bag Wine Chiller is a new product that has just hit the North American Market. It is a clear plastic wine tote and chiller that is reusable. It is completely water tight and portable. With it's sleek design and trend-setting appeal the Ice Bag Wine Chiller is an alternative to the ice bucket. And talking about trend setting, this Ice-Bag Wine Cooler has been used at venues such as the Ascot Racetrack, to high profile concerts (Madonna, Elton John, George Michael). How fun to display your wine or champagne in this Ice Bag Wine Chiller. I think that it would be great to use for weddings, special events, or your next party. It is even customizable with your own logo.
For the coolest drinks in town, re-usable Ice-Bag Wine Chiller. My friend Joyce is distributing these. Please contact Joyce for ordering information for Canada, South America, and the Americas here.
Patricia Gray writes about 'WHAT'S HOT 'in the world of Interior Design, new and emerging trends, modern design,
architecture, and travel, as well as how your surroundings can influence the world around you.
© 2007-2009 Patricia Gray | Interior Design Blog
Ibiza. Even the word has magic. One thinks of beautiful Interior Design and Architecture; of nightclubs that open at dawn; of a night life and a daytime so tightly integrated, one can’t see where the one ends and the other begins. One thinks of royal high-jinks and celebrities avoiding the pesky paparazzi and people so beautiful, when the rest of us look at them, it hurts the eyes. Ibiza is an island and town located in the Mediterranean Sea about 80 km off the coast of Spain. A reader of my blog, recently sent me photos of a house in Ibiza that I fell in love with as soon as I set my eyes on it. I posted the picture of the living room painted a beautiful pink in my post: Benjamin Moore Virtual Fan Deck. This house is designed by the German architect ERWIEN WACHTER in the architectural style of Mies van der Rohe. It is a 'secret place' not on the public market and is available for rental for 'friends and friends from friends'. If you are interested Contact MONIKA BORCHERT. Enjoy the pictures.
Ibiza Interior Design and Architecture
I think that this is an amazing design for a front door...and look at the view you have when you enter this home.
Ibiza Interior Design and Architecture
The picture on the right is looking towards the staircase with the front door to the left.
Ibiza Interior Design and Architecture
Ibiza Interior Design and Architecture
Ibiza Interior Design and Architecture
You might be interested in these books on Ibiza Interior Design and Architecture
Related Post: Benjamin Moore Virtual Fan Deck
Patricia Gray writes about 'WHAT'S HOT 'in the world of Interior Design, new and emerging trends, modern design,
architecture, and travel, as well as how your surroundings can influence the world around you.
© 2007-2009 Patricia Gray Interior Design Blog
, I have two favourite Benjamin Moore Paint colors to share with you that are season appropriate: 1. Benjamin Moore Spring Azalea & 2. Benjamin Moore Springtime Bloom. The color Spring Azalea has a little more of a purple cast to it than the Springtime Bloom and is a closer match to the color on the wall of this beautiful room. Benjamin Moore has a neat product on their web-site that you can see color samples on line. This living room is in a house is located on the island of IBIZA and has been designed by the German architect ERWIEN WACHTER in the style of Mies van der Rohe. It is available for rental. If you are interested Contact MONIKA BORCHERT for information. I will be posting more photos of this house, but for now this is just a little teaser. Be sure to check out Benjamin Moore Virtual Fan Deck
Patricia Gray writes about 'WHAT'S HOT 'in the world of Interior Design, new and emerging trends, modern design and travel,
as well as how your surroundings can influence the world around you.
©Patricia Gray | Interior Design Blog
A few weeks ago a package arrived in the mail, and to my surprise when I opened it, there was a box of chocolates in shiny brown wrapping tied with a red satin ribbon accompanied by this photo of the new Miele Limited Edition Chocolate Laundry. 
This new "Limited Edition" Chocolate Laundry claims a patented honeycomb drum, which is engineered not only to clean clothes better, but also to make clothes last longer by reducing fabric strain and wear. The dryer uses moisture sensors rather than timers.
What a nice way to make a statement. Thank-you Miele for the chocolates and for the Chocolate Laundry.
Patricia Gray writes about 'WHAT'S HOT 'in the world of Interior Design, new and emerging trends, modern design and travel,
as well as how our surroundings can influence the world around us.
© Patricia Gray | Interior Design Blog
Lucite and acrylic (which is the generic name for this plastic), have become popular materials for
furniture,tables, lamps, hardware, trays etc. It is important to clean and care for lucite properly from
the start as it is a somewhat delicate material. Proper steps should be exercised in cleaning lucite.
Lucite Phillip Starck Ghost Chairs - Photo Patricia Gray Inc
Lucite Vanity Legs Elle Decor
Lucite cabinet handles / Lucite Tray
Clean lucite with hot soapy water using a soft cloth. The type of polishing cloth you use will make a difference. The ideal cloth is nonabrasive, absorbent, and lint free.
To eliminate any chance of scratching lucite , use only disposable cloths. Reusable cloths can retain abrasive particles, but you won't know for sure until the damage is done.
Do not use sprays such as Windex or Fantastic on lucite.
This kit from from Novus Polish is great to have on hand.
1. Cleans all plastics(lucite) without scratching. Leaves a lustrous shine that resists fogging, repels dust, and eliminates static.
2. Removes fine scratches, haziness and abrasions from most plastics(lucite). Repeated use restores faded and discolored plastics.
3. Removes heavy scratches and abrasions from most acrylic(lucite) surfaces.
The talented Aaron R Thomas designs custom Lucite furniture in Orange County CA, and recommends this Acrylic Furniture Lucite Cleaning and Polishing Kit.
Also check out Maison 21 for other tips. i ♥ lucite- maison21 explains the care and feeding of one of his favorite materials
Patricia Gray writes about 'WHAT'S HOT' in the world of Interior Design, new and emerging trends, the ins' and outs' of Interior Design,
as well as how our surroundings can shape the world around us.
© Patricia Gray | Interior Design Blog
I have been tagged by the marvelous Maria.... soooo the rules of the game are to divulge 6 facts/habits and trivia about myself.....
and try not to embarrass myself in the process.
So here goes:
1. My favourite color is yellow and always has been ever since I can remember.
2. I like cotton candy and ballerina flats. I prefer wearing ballerina flats to heels.
3. I I love the Ocean and always thought I couldn't live away from it, that is until I visited Palm Springs.
4. I always carry my passport and 50 Euros in my change purse. That way I'm sure I'm going back.
5. I love dogs - all dogs and especially mine. She is a 4 1/2 pound Yorkshire Terrier named Nicole.
6. I love ironing. Yes strange as it seems I find it relaxing.
I pass this on to: Meade Design, Qerat, Domain Design, Brillante Home Decor, Nest Home
The Rules: Tag 6 people after you have been tagged.
Let 5 people know that you have tagged them.
Let the 6th person wander blindly in the wilderness for 40 years, then tell them they have been tagged.
Patricia Gray Inc is an award winning Interior Designer firm in Vancouver, Canada who blogs about WHAT'S HOT in the world of Interior Design.
2009 © Patricia Gray | Interior Design Blog™
These are a few of my favourite pictures from my visit to Palm Springs. The weather was dry and warm. The Moroccan-inspired Colony Palms Hotel is an old landmark in Palm Springs that is a favourite spot for those who 'don't necessarily want to be seen'. It has been on the Condé Nast Traveller Hot List 2008 — 2009. The pool side bar-restaurant Purple Palm is the discrete meeting spot for locals and Hollywood's music and movie-industry elite. 
This is the lucky Buddha at the Colony Palms. Legend has it that if you make a wish while rubbing his tummy your wish will be granted. My friends Sara and Paul from Vancouver were staying at the Colony Palms Hotel, which just happened to coincide with my visit. (PS.....I have gotten my wish!!!!!)
A view through the palm to the discreet and trendy poolside Purple Palm bar.
Shadow cast by cactus on the desert sand
View towards Palm Springs from the lookout point on Highway 74
Palm Springs Wind Energy - Increasingly popular as alternative sources of energy, wind turbine generators are a type of windmill that produces electricity by harnessing the wind. Wind turbine generators are much less harmful to the environment than burning fossil fuels, but they do require average wind speeds of at least 21 km/h (13 mph). The largest of these windmills stands 150 feet tall with blades half the legend of a football field. Windmill farms on the San Gorgonio Mountain Pass in the San Bernadino Mountains contains more than 4000 separate windmills and provides enough electricity to power Palm Springs and the entire Coachella Valley.
Other travel posts you might like:
Travel Blog: Drinks at the Viceroy Palm Springs
Sunday in Milan
VENICE - Bauer Palladio Hotel & Spa, Giudecca Island, Redentore
ROME - Hotel Mascagni, Trevi Fountain, Spanish Steps, Piazza Barberini
FLORENCE - Hotel Santa Maria Novella, Uffizi, Accademia Gallery
Patricia Gray writes about 'WHAT'S HOT 'in the world of Interior Design, new and emerging trends, modern design, architecture,
and travel, as well as how your surroundings can influence the world around you.
© Patricia Gray Interior Design Blog, 2009
Palm Springs is ground zero for mid-century modern architecture Get Ready to Embrace your Inner Modernist
Palm Springs Modern Architecture Photo Julius Shulman
Every February for the past 9 years the big event to attend is the Palm Springs Modernism Show, which I missed by one week. Was I disappointed when I found out. I would have planned my trip differently. More than eighty of the foremost decorative and fine arts dealers convene to offer the very best of mid 20th-century furniture, paintings, sculpture, lighting, books and jewelry to eager collectors. Concurrently, Modernism Week surrounds the Modernism show with an events lineup offered during nine days that includes an always-memorable Saturday night gala, retro films, lectures, architectural tours around town (some on a double-decker bus), a classic car show, gallery openings and no shortage of martini soirees to rival the Rat Pack’s. A “don’t-miss” party (that I missed) this year was held at Frank Sinatra’s Palm Springs home, a sumptuous 1947 Mid-Century marvel with period décor, that rents out for $2,600 / night.
Palm Springs Modern Architecture Twin Palms: The Frank Sinatra Estate
But all was not lost because I did a self guided driving tour of "Screen Block" houses. The tour was headed by my Dad in the drivers' seat and two really good back-seat drivers (Joyce & me) with the map, shouting out directions: turn left here! no maybe try turning right!...stop now!....back up! The tour was written up as: Palm Springs' Hidden Architectural Treasures and some of these treasures were really well hidden off the main track. Unless a visitor is fortunate enough to spend an extended time in Palm Springs they are unlikely to notice or appreciate the extensive use of a quirky building material known as "screen block", a pierced decorative concrete block most commonly produced in 12" squares. It had it's heyday from the late 1950s through the 1960s especially in climates where the challenges of sun protection spawned a host of architectural solutions including metal grilles and wood louvers. During this brief "golden era" more than 250 different screen block patterns were produced around the country. Palm Springs is remarkable for having at least 54 of those patterns documented within its city limits. Along with this popularity screen block inherited a cascade of synonyms including "breeze block", "grille block", "solar block", "veil block", perforated block", "vented block", and "pierced block". Manufacturers claimed that buildings using screen block were 10 degrees cooler. Screen block has its origins and is a close cousin of the wooden grilles found in Moorish and Hindu architecture. But despite these exotic connections, history shows us that screen block's functional versatility and design appeal was embraced as a uniquely American product, forever linked to the space-age optimism of the late 50s and 60s and to the Sunbelt lifestyle.
Palm Springs Modern Architecture
1. The first example was the Resort Realty Building 190 E.Palm Canyon Dr. The exotic three dimensional block (today painted turquoise a colour that works wonderfully in the clear desert air of Palm Springs) was designed by Austrian-American sculptor Erwin Hauer. It was far more expensive and difficult to produce than standard screen block and surviving examples of Hauer's blocks are extremely rare.
Palm Springs Modern Architecture
This building was hard to get close to, as it was at the intersection of 4 busy streets with lots of traffic. But I am glad that I persevered to get close enough to take close up shots of the way the sun cast these interesting shadows.
2. The next location was rather hard to find, Twin Palms Apartments 495 Twin Palms Drive, and I would have driven right by without stopping to take in the beauty of it. A different colour has been used for each of the sections and the screen block is called "Venus" because they create imaginative "Martian-like figures.
Palm Springs Modern Architecture
In the pictures you can see that windows are right behind the screen block.
Palm Springs Modern Architecture
Palm Springs Modern Architecture
Palm Springs Modern Architecture
Palm Springs Modern Architecture
3. Then to my delight we went to Canyon View Estates, an absolutely gorgeous neighborhood of detached condominiums built in the early 60s, designed by architect William Krisel who was commissioned by the developer Alexander. Alexander changed the face of Palm Springs with the construction of more than 2,500 homes in the modernist idiom. Krisel also designed the private home of the Alexanders' - "The Alexander House" which was dubbed The "House of Tomorrow". It was conceived as an experiment in modern living. It gained fame as the honeymoon home of Elvis and Priscilla Presley.
Palm Springs Modern Architecture Alexander Residence1957 Photo: Julius Shulman
William Krisel shaped the look of Palm Springs 50 years ago and now a new generation is resurrecting his classic designs, and it was so apparent upon driving into this subdivision, where you could see that it is becoming the hip and happening area.
Palm Springs Modern Architecture
The screen block on this house (above & below) is called 'Maltese". I love how the tree is growing up and through the architecture.
Palm Springs Modern Architecture
Palm Springs Modern Architecture
How wonderful to have an orange tree in your front yard
Palm Springs Modern Architecture
Palm Springs Modern Architecture
The landscaping for this community of 164 homes was immaculately maintained. The trees were works of art - living sculpture.
Palm Springs Modern Architecture
I think this is called "Mei Ling" pattern pattern (above & below)
Palm Springs Modern Architecture
Palm Springs Modern Architecture
This screen block is fleur-de-lis and was one of my favourites (above & below)
Palm Springs Modern Architecture
Palm Springs Modern Architecture
This house with the Japanese inspired "Starburst" pattern was being renovated and I was able to slip inside and take a few photos. 
The wall between the kitchen & living room was taken out and this interesting glass mosaic tile was put on the backslash
of the all-white kitchen (that's me in the reflection taking the picture).
The shower in the Master Ensuite was sunken about 12"
Double molded sinks in the Ensuite
The tilers at work in the Main Bathroom
Palm Springs Modern Architecture
The view from the back patio
Furniture and the remains of the workers lunch in the dining room. Great Chairs - vintage to match the era of the house.
All the floors throughout the house including the outdoor balcony and the carport were tiled in white Mexican pavers.
Palm Springs Modern Architecture
The living rooms in these homes feature vaulted ceilings and clearstory windows
Picture taken from inside living room. The windows are on all four sides of the living room which is a really effective way of
getting light into the interior of the home without the effects of the heat from the sun.
4. Last stop Parker Hotel 4200 E. Palm Canyon Dr, recently re-designed by Jonathan Adler. This vast wall of is made of "Vista-Vue" pattern screen block. Both beautiful and functional. Don't you love the Bell Hop's pink jacket? It is so Jonathan Adler.
I hope you enjoyed the screen block tour.
We are off to have drinks at the Viceroy.
Other travel posts you might like:
My Visit to Palm Springs
Drinks at the Viceroy Palm Springs
Sunday in Milan
Venice - The Old and the New
VENICE - Bauer Palladio Hotel & Spa, Giudecca Island, Redentore
ROME - Hotel Mascagni, Trevi Fountain, Spanish Steps, Piazza Barberini
FLORENCE - Hotel Santa Maria Novella, Uffizi, Accademia Gallery
Patricia Gray writes about 'WHAT'S HOT 'in the world of Interior Design, new and emerging trends, modern design, architecture,
and travel, as well as how your surroundings can influence the world around you.
© Patricia Gray Interior Design Blog, 2009
