From School Project to Therapeutic Garden

June 25, 2019

Sometimes, we’re reminded about how meaningful our work can be in the least expected ways – like our kids and the things that inspire them. Every year at my daughter’s school throughout elementary, she was required to work on an independent “enrichment project.” A couple of years ago, when she was in 5th grade, she and a classmate decided to work together to create a vegetable garden for an underprivileged community. They were in charge of locating the place where they could execute their garden, reaching out to the mandatory people, receiving the permission, raising the funds, and implementing the labor needed to complete this project….

Before and After: Ft. Lauderdale Serene Pool

June 18, 2019

As summer is here, this Fort Lauderdale project reminds us that we don’t have to leave our home to experience a resort style oasis. By injecting unique elements, we can achieve the relaxation level that we experience at hotels, no matter the size of your backyard: it’s all about channeling your imagination and creativity. This home has gone from an ordinary backyard into an extraordinary oasis by creating a unique wall using statues and lighting to incorporating a handmade daybed which has allowed the homeowners to feel as if they were entering their own personal retreat. Check out our before and after video….

Revisiting Downtown Miami’s Biscayne Green Pop-Up Park

May 28, 2019

Today, for Turnback Tuesday, we are remembering the incredible opportunity we had taking on the project of Biscayne Green in 2016 (implemented in January 2017), where we were able to help bring the community of Downtown Miami together for an activity-filled 3 weeks. Thank you Miami Downtown Development Authority for allowing us this opportunity, we are happy we were able to bring your vision to life.

What is a pop-up park?

From eyesore to vibrant. When the term ‘pop-up’ comes to mind, what do you picture? Do you picture ads that you want to block from your computer? Well, if you’ve lived in a city or are familiar with urban design, then your image of a pop-up is different, and shall we say correct in this case. Pop-up parks have been around for quite some time. However, in the most recent decade they have become extremely popular. Pop-up parks usually are found within urban areas and are temporary parks that are established to create a sense of activity, social interaction and community engagement….

4 Remarkable Zoo Designs

May 14, 2019

Congrats to Zoo Miami for the birth of a baby Rhino! Akuti gave birth on April 23rd at approximately 12:30am! This is the second successful birth of this rare species and is the first successful birth of this species anywhere in recorded history to be the result of the induced ovulation and artificial insemination. Amazing! There are less than 3,000 Indian Rhinos left in the wild in small protected areas and we commend Zoo Miami for being an active leader in many global wildlife and environmental conservation initiatives.

Now that the baby Rhino is here and summer is nearing, a trip to the zoo is in order. When you think of zoos, typically an array of animals come to mind. However, have you ever thought about the habitats and who designed the animal's exhibit? Well Landscape Architects are a part of the team that design the zoos! Kudos to some of the amazing Zoo Design and Architecture firms out there! Here are some of our favorites….

A "Down to Earth" Bench to Benefit Breast Cancer Awareness and Treatment

October 13, 2016

I was recently honored to take part in "Take a Seat" by the Florida chapter of IFDA (International Furnishings and Design Association). Essentially, they have hand-picked designers to create five seats (whether it be a chair, bench or what have you) to then auction at a charitable fun event (Glam-a-THON), benefiting the Broward Health Foundation and "be used to provide funding for women battling breast cancer, mammograms, diagnostic testing and special assistance for medication, wigs and other ancillary items at the Lillian S. Wells Women's Health Center at Broward Medical Center and the Lisa Boccard Fund at Broward Health Coral Springs….

Design Inspiration From Travel

February 24, 2016

When you design for a living, inspiration and creativity must be renewed. And if there’s one question that keeps coming up whenever I either get interviewed by a design magazine or clients, or even during informal social situations, it’s where I get my design inspiration from. Design inspiration can come from anywhere – but travel is a HUGE source of inspiration for me. Not in a “I-like-this-bathroom-at-the-Aria-so-I’m-going-to-copy-it-exactly” kind of way. I don’t necessarily frown on homeowners doing that. But I strongly feel that my clients don’t pay me to copy something. They pay me to come up with something they couldn’t have come up with on their own. So how does the magic happen and how can you apply it when designing your home?….