Cabin Fever
Cozy rentable cabins to explore
5 dreamy rentable cabins to inspire you
Casa del Árbol Pinochueco
This incredible cabin/treehouse is located in Mexico and sleeps, four people! For only $74 per night, all of your Swiss Family Robinson dreams can come true (without being stranded on a deserted island!). Check out more pictures and details here.
The cobb Haus
This stunning cabin is located in Cobb, California. Its charming rustic exterior opens into a clean minimal one bed one bath oasis! Check out more details about the Cobb Haus here.
Tiny house by off grid inn
Although it can’t be a winter wonderland all-year-round, this pretty little Wisconsin tiny cabin is the perfect place for a peaceful vacation. This looks like the kind of place you could turn off your phone and finally learn to meditate. See more.
Magical Bamboo House
You’d have to travel all the way to Indonesia for this one, but from the looks of it, it would totally be worth it! Maybe this falls more in the cabana category than a cabin, but we couldn’t help but share this gem!
The Nature House
Okay, when you hear the word “cabin,” Florida is probably not the first place that comes to mind, but the nature house is all the cabin you could want right in our neck of the woods! The Nature House has floor to ceiling windows and is located on a canal that leads to the Withlacoochee River. See more.
Which one is your favorite? leave a comment :)
Solar Sculpture Creation!
Solar Sculpture creation for the Orlando City Soccer stadium!
Engineering Meets Design
This sculpture project is one of our most exciting pieces of the year! We partnered up with JCosta Group to create a sculpture for the Orlando City Soccer Stadium! The base was created by us, and the sculpture top is being developed by UCF students in collaboration with OUC.
We set out to create five different base pieces that would fit together like a puzzle. The pieces needed to be pretty big in order to support the sculpture top and make the kind of statement the Exploria Stadium deserves.
In addition to the main base pieces, we created three corner pieces that would fit around the sculpture to keep the base secure and add even more dimension to the piece.
We decided to assemble the pieces in our shop yard to see how everything looked, and work out any kinks if needed! (luckily there weren’t any!) We got is assembled and then couldn’t resist taking some drone footage to document this exciting event. We can’t wait to see the sculpture fully complete and lighting up the Exploria Stadium!
What do you think??
Anatomy of A Cozy Living Room
4 ways to cozy up your living room for fall!
Basket full of cozy blankets
Pretty much the first thing that comes to mind when I hear the word “cozy” is a nice assortment of soft, fuzzy blankets. Adding A big ole’ basket full of blankets is a super-easy way to warm up your living room and get it fall-ready! You can never have too many fuzzy blankets, so go wild with it!
2. Oversized Rug
A rug is another easy way to bring a little warmth in! A nice soft rug basically begs you to kick your shoes off and get comfy.
3. Plants, plants, plants!
Plants instantly bring so much life and coziness into a room. Mix it up with a variety of hanging, floor, and table plants for some dimension. If you don’t have a green thumb, there are some super realistic looking fake plants these days. If it were up to me, every room would have 10-15 plants, but allergies and I don’t always see eye-to-eye on this one. Get as many plants as your allergies allow, and watch your room instantly transform into a movie watching paradise.
4. Warm Soft Lighting
Think string lights, Edison bulbs, cozy lamps, candles, fireplace, fake fireplace. Anything that provides a little light and ambiance without having your overhead lights on! What could be more relaxing than a blanket-filled, plant-filled, candle scented, dreamy living room? This set up will also be perfect for those cold winter months, so you’re basically building yourself a hibernation den that even bears would be jealous of! (but don’t show off your space to any bears)
5. Bring on the pumpkins!
This is probably a no-brainer, but you know we had to say it! Fall decor! There’s nothing like a few pumpkins and fall scented candles to get you in the cozy state of mind. Add up all the above elements, and you’ve got the perfect place to curl up with a book and live out the colder months. What’s your favorite way to get your space cozy for fall?
Sculpture Bench Creation
We may have a new favorite piece!
We got the chance to work on an awesome sculpture bench design with Redmon design! When we saw the rendering of the designer's vision, we knew this was going to be a fun one. The bench was to be 9' and supported on one end by a decorative concrete sphere. Big pieces always present their own challenges, but luckily, we really enjoy the job's problem-solving aspect!
After casting the pieces, it was time to polish, grout, and seal!
One giant orb at your service!
Once both pieces were finished, it was time to combine and admire.
Jeanie, the designer, came by to check out the bench and take some photos. We decided to hop in one together to model our handy work. It was an excellent collaboration, and we’re honestly a little sad to part with the piece! What do you think?
Our Fall Gin & Tonic
Delicious fall drink recipe just for you!
Is it too soon for a fall inspired cocktail? We think not!
We wouldn't typically start up all the fall fanfare this early, but this summer has been unusual, to say the least, and we thought maybe a little fall spirit would help with the pandemic summer blues. We experimented a little and came up with this delightful little fall g&t. We hope you enjoy it as much as we do!
The Ingredients
Okay so the ingredients may seem a little out there, but trust us on this one!
The recipe
Once you’ve gathered the ingredients (some are a little uncommon, so we’ve added some links to the ingredient images) the recipe is pretty simple. Just mix the ingredients into a shaker with ice, shake, serve in a chilled glass, and garnish!
We had Hendrick's Orbium on hand, but feel free to use your preferred gin for this drink! The Orbium version of Hendrick's is "instilled with additional extracts of Quinine, Wormwood and Lotus Blossom," giving it a few extra flavor profiles. We love the way this unlikely combination mixed with the drink!
There you have it! One fall inspired G&T coming right up! What do you think?
5 Details That Can Make Or Break A Kitchen Design
5 design details to pay attention to in the kitchen
We shared 5 details that can make or break a bathroom design, but now it’s the kitchen’s turn!
The cabinets!
A quick paint job can change your entire kitchen without breaking the bank. A couple coats of paint, some new drawer hardware, and wallah, you’ve got a brand new kitchen. It can be a little time consuming and tedious to take the cabinet doors off and everything out of them and find a good time to render your kitchen unusable for a few days, but all-in-all a pretty worthwhile result from a weekend project
2. The Lighting
Bad lighting or ugly fixtures can put a damper on your kitchen design. Excellent light fixtures don’t have to be expensive, and they can easily elevate your space. Lighting is one of those things you really notice if it’s terrible, and when it’s good, it blends in creating a kitchen dreamscape.
3. The countertops
You already know we have to mention countertops. Of course, we’re big fans of the concrete countertop, but even if you don’t go the concrete route (GASP), countertops should not be overlooked. A beautiful countertop can make a kitchen design. If you can only change one thing in your kitchen and want to get the most bang for your buck, countertops are where you should put that dough.
4. Flooring
Anyone who has had the distinct pleasure of renting a place with linoleum floors, or even better fake sticky wood flooring in your kitchen that begins to peel up when your elderly dog loses bladder control and decides it’s her personal bathroom, knows how crucial good flooring is. Hey, we get it, re-flooring can be pricey and kind of pain, but if you’re in a position to renovate, spend a little time on the flooring. It’s one of those things that’s easy to overlook but is definitely worth paying a little extra attention to.
5. storage
Open shelving in the kitchen is super popular right now, and it makes total sense. I mean, look at it! The left photo is practically begging to be Instagrammed, blogged, pinned, and admired. But, to have that dreamy open shelf, “all our things are super cute and always very tidy and did we mention our plants never die” kind of look, you have to have storage somewhere for the kitchen items that aren’t so cute.
Hopefully, we’ve helped get the kitchen design juices flowing a little bit! If you need new countertops, don’t hesitate to drop a line! Any color, any style, and day of the week, we’ve got you covered.
Need Weekend Plans?
A few fun things to make & try this weekend!
A few fun things to make & try this weekend!
Something to drink
This fun cocktail recipe from Craft & Cocktails!
Something to make
Something to eat
Sometimes a crockpot full of queso and a movie in is just what the doctor ordered! This low-key cheesy recipe is the perfect late-night snack for a relaxing night on the couch. (You can also simplify it and save a little time and effort by forgoing the ground hamburger.)
Something to watch
Season two of The Umbrella Academy just hit Netflix and let me tell you; it is awesome. I get that not everyone is into "superhero" shows and movies, but I feel compelled to make a case for why The Umbrella Academy might steal your heart even if you're not a comic book fan. Yes, it has cooky characters, a talking animal, people with special powers, time travel, and an impending apocalypse, but it also has heart, humor, and a cast that will make you feel so invested in their interpersonal lives that none of the earlier things seem even remotely silly. This show turns a long-term relationship between a man trapped in a 13-year-old's body and a thrift store mannequin into a heartbreaking look at loss and humankind's deep need for connection. I won't spoil anything for you, but you'll be entertained, you'll be moved, and you'll be hitting the "watch next episode" button as soon as the credits begin to roll.
Concrete Trophies? You Bet!
Concrete might not be the first thing you think of when you hear the word “trophy,” but that’s about to change!
Ridgecrest Partnership
If you know us, you know we love doing the unexpected with concrete. Three years ago, we were approached by Ridgecrest Summer Camps to create trophies for their staff awards. Ridgecrest holds a special place in our hearts, and it’s been so cool for us to be a part of their summer in this way! After attending camp and being on staff, we’ve kept connected to the Ridgecrest community and have used our concrete work to lend a hand from time to time.
Ridgecrest’s camp director Phil trusted us with the design of their five-year staff award! What better inspiration for the trophy than the camp itself? We designed the award based on Ridgecrest’s sign that reads, “God give us hills to climb and the strength to climb them.”
Downtown Orlando Partnership
Its award season here at the shop! In addition to Ridgecrest’s staff awards, we’ve had the pleasure of teaming up with Downtown Orlando Partnership to design two pieces for their Golden Brick Awards. Downtown Orlando Partnership works to enhance downtown Orlando’s business community through collaboration and connection. We love being a part of the local business community here, and contributing to DOP’s mission in this way is an excellent way for us to express that!
All three of this year’s award designs together before going onto to fulfill their purpose! Which award is your favorite?
All About Hypertufa
Four benefits of hypertufa, and our experience creating with it!
What is it?
Hypertufa is made from concrete, peat moss, and perlite. It has many uses, but the most common is as an outdoor plant holder. The unique mixture can be formed in any shape you want and the finished result lightweight and has an “already antique” sort of vibe to it.
what are the benefits?
Lightweight
Can withstand extreme weather
Gives the illusion of ancient stone
Long-lasting
our experience: Process & result
One of the cool things about using hypertufa is that you can mold it into any shape you want! The possibilities are endless. For this project, we were brought on to create an outdoor water feature. Our client liked the idea of using this type of material because of how it’s appearance changes over time. Since hypertufa is porous and soft, it allows moss and vegetation to grow on the surface as it ages. It’s a great material to use if you want to add some outside furniture that still feels very close to nature!
We got to work building a mold and mixing up the material just right. It was very different from concrete to work with! You have to use a ratio of 50/50 of moss to cement- we used about 20 pounds of peat moss for this project! The moss makes it very spongy and fluffy, so it takes A LOT of mixing to get it to behave. Once we got it mixed, we hand packed it into the shape we wanted and let it dry! We sealed the inside so that the fountain water would be secure, and then it was time to install.
Working with hypertufa was a fun change of pace for us! The water feature was the perfect addition to the client’s courtyard and we loved bringing this vision to life!
Have you ever had a hypertufa planter?
5 Details That Can Make Or Break A Bathroom Design
A few design details to pay attention to when designing (or sprucing up) a bathroom!
It’s all in the details!
Bathroom design can sometimes be an afterthought, especially if you're in the middle of a big remodel. You've poured time and energy into the rest of the house, and you want to be done! We get it, so here is a little design checklist of sorts to help you out. Chances are if you pay attention to these details, your bathroom will look fantastic with minimal effort!
Lighting Tip: Stay away from fluorescent lighting at all costs. Look for the warmest LED bulbs you can find. High levels of warm light give you the accuracy you need to get ready for the day but without all the creepy green glow of fluorescent bulbs. Get a dimmer for your bathroom so that the lighting can be super accurate when you need it to be (applying makeup, etc.) and more subtle when you have guests over!
If you aren’t redoing your entire bathroom but want to make some decor changes that will really pop, update your vanity! The vanity you have makes a huge difference in the overall appearance. It’s what you see when you’re getting ready, it’s what you see when you wash your hands. It’s what your guests see when they use your bathroom. Vessel sinks are sleep looking and they don’t ha’t have to break the bank!
Photo by Warmly Decor
Photo by Homebunch.com
As always if you have any pieces in mind, please don’t hesitate to contact us! We’d love to help make your bathroom design dreams come true.
Terrazzo: Trend or Timeless?
The craze that won’t quit! Explore the Terrazzo trend in all it’s glory with us, and see some of our favorite pieces.
The Craze That Won’t Quit
It’s no secret that terrazzo has made a huge come back in the last few years. Terrazzo has been around for over 500 years, and since it’s origination, it has seen its share of ups and downs. Every time the terrazzo craze starts to fade, it finds a new way to wow us. We couldn’t have predicted the big way it would hit the design scene this year, but we’re glad to be a part of its journey through the decades. Here are a few of our favorite ways we’ve seen it used and styled recently.
As a bold staircase design!
This Mexico City bar design is absolutely stunning. I can only imagine how many drinks have been instagrammed on it’s surface.
This family used terrazzo tiles to bring their bathroom design dreams to life.
Of course, if we’re talking terrazzo, we have to bring up Mandy Moore’s Pasadena home. There are quite a few terrazzo elements in her mid-century dream house, but we absolutely love this particular piece! Mandy, we like your style!
This sink design is a show-stopper. The bright colors, the clean lines, we love it all!
Oh my, how did this get in here? Well, since it is, we might as well talk about it! We recently created a fantastic terrazzo bar top for a local restaurant (if you want to see more pictures of it, click here!) It was so much fun to make, and the end product had us doing a happy dance! If you’ve got terrazzo fever, we’d love to help you out! Sinks, countertops, coffee tables, unique custom furniture, outdoor kitchens, we do it all!
What do you think? Trend or timeless? (leave your thoughts in the comment section!)