It’s been a while since we last took a trip on our World Tour of Design where we last traveled to the beautiful country of
Russia. In this week’s World Tour, I’d like to head somewhere a little… warmer. After all, spring is well on its way to the States, and with it comes fresh weather and the start of vacation season. The warm, tropical island country of
Cuba is full of refreshing design inspiration to welcome spring and summer into your home. Let’s take a look at the common design features of Cuban architecture and interior design.
Prerevolutionary Cuba was known for a distinctive architecture heightened by the tastes and expenses of a rich entrepreneurial class. They maintained large sugar and tobacco plantations and mansions, and they sought interior design inspiration from the Art Deco and mid-century 1950s styles. These styles embraced luxury and comfort, integrated with a beautiful backdrop of tropical, earthy landscapes.
Many of the mansions in Cuba have been restored to their original architectural splendor, providing plenty of interior design inspiration for your home. Parisian-inspired accents like the matching torchères sculptures and blackamoor table of the marble hall of the
Museo de Artes Decorativas, once a 1920’s mansion, can be easily incorporated in your own home. The mid-50s mahogany spiral staircase at a Guatao chapel and the Cuban
butacas and woven cane chairs gracing the original decor of
Ernest Hemingway’s living room at Finca La Vigia are also elements that can easily be implemented into your home.
Beyond the historical influence, it goes without saying that tropical plants and palm trees are essential to
Cuba’s island flavor. Open interior spaces evoke the spacious and relaxing experience of watching the sparkling ocean washing over sandy beaches.
Great colors to use in a Cuban-inspired design are lush shades of green, sunny yellows, orange, coral and expansive palettes of blue for tropical flavors. Light linens give expression to the easy flow of island winds, enhanced with light-colored floors and draperies.
Terra cotta also has a pronounced presence on the island. It is found not only in the architecture but also in the floor tiles and vases which helps promote an earthy feel that is natural to the island. Large, exposed windows are another important design element which connects the interior to the exterior environment that is another signature of Cuban interiors.
For more design inspiration, contact me at
Interior Makeovers Inc. or by calling 310-788-0990. I’d love to hear about your design visions for your home.
Stay Inspired!
Photo Credits:
1.) Architectural Digest
2.) Architectural Digest
3.) Houzz
I’ll be on my way to New York City next week to start Modenus’s Blog Tour and I just can’t wait! There are so many fabulous sponsors that help make this tour possible. One in particular that I have worked with several times in the past: Mr. Steam. Mr. Steam is a luxurious steam shower and accessory manufacturer – always on the cutting edge of technology and offers the finest in spa-like products for the home.
Imagine having a shower system that plays music and releases relaxing scents and therapeutic colors with the warm, encompassing steam, and then stepping out to a warm, fresh towel from a towel warmer….Sound like heaven? We all know the benefits of steam bathing – from clearing respiratory congestion to moisturizing and softening dry skin – Mr. Steam’s state-of -the-art technology and innovation creates a spa-like”experience” that is second to none. This is exactly why we’ve specified and installed many Mr. Steam products for our clients over the years in both new construction and Master Bath renovations – and our clients could not be happier!
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Now, Mr. Steam is once again pushing the boundaries of luxury steam shower technology with the new iSteam, a touch panel control system that greatly enhances the experience of the steam shower. The iSteam panel is simple in its design, recesses flush into the wall and is available in both black and white finishes. It provides a user-friendly interface that allows you ultimate control over every aspect of your shower, from music to aromatherapy. As an extra option you could include the iGenie which will preheat your steam shower from up to 100 feet away!
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This new technology is an incredible indicator of Mr. Steam’s ability to stay ahead of the game in the changing face of the world. Our homes, phones, and lifestyles are becoming “smarter” and more automated and convenient as time passes, and by integrating both smart phone and home automation technology into one easy-to-use panel, Mr. Steam shows initiative in driving this trend. There’s a reason they’ve been around for more than 50 years, after all.
