Just an hour outside of bustling Panama City is a haven surrounded by 360 degrees of nature. A small luxury boutique hotel, El Otro Lado is just that: the other side of traffic, the other side of concrete jungle, the other side of stress. It is embraced by the National Park of Portobelo and sits on the bay in all its colorful glory.

Pools with infinite views aside, this place stands out for its various attractive design qualities. As its website boasts, it includes:

• integrated landscape design in an unchanged space
• eclectic tropical design
• indigenous decorative elements
• work of local workshop artists like molas (decorative fabrics painted by Kuna Indians
• collection of African masks made by plastic waste material in the most genuine representation of Arte Povera
• evocative photographs of Sandra Eleta, one of Panama’s most recognized contemporary creators
• European art, such as the sculptures by Juan de Mata

  

Oh, and there are exteriors too!

 A little slice of heaven, don’t you think?

Remember learning the color wheel and primary colors?  In pure form, red, blue, and yellow can work well in a children’s play room or classroom setting. For more subtlety in living rooms or bedrooms, apply variations of shades, tints, and tones.

Refresher here:

SHADE= any color + black

TINT= any color + white

TONE= any color + black & white (yep, gray)

Here are a few fresh palettes.

Primary tips:

• work with a neutral palette where the hues are welcomed pops of color, rather than overpowering
• divert from traditional hues; have fun with your palette
• pick up your colors from a piece you already have such as a rug, throw pillow, or painting

With so many options, searching for a color palette can be an overwhelming task. If you want one that has a great track record,  consider going primary.

{credit images: nursery, living/dining room, living room, bedroom, dining room}

So, here we are, folks, a new year. Undoubtedly, fresh trends have made their announcements, their debuts, none more prominent than color. For 2013, color corporation Pantone has bestowed the distinction of Color of the Year on the shade its database identifies as 17-5641: Emerald Green.

That makes me smile. I adore green. (More on that inspiration later).

Additional fresh hues for the year offer a wide range of creative pallets as illustrated on Country Living. A  mix of tranquility and playfulness, these color schemes work well with neutral influences. Have a look.

Jaclyn Nicholson, from eLocal, relates information through visual projects called infographics. One of her latest works shares how to design by the season. As fall peers around the corner, here are some fun, practical ways to prepare your interiors for it.

With the change of seasons, comes a handful of more! The weather dictates a lot more than you may realize – including design. As we say ‘goodbye to summer’ and ‘hello to fall’, we welcome warm colors, aroma, artwork and textures. Summer was the time for beach prints, silk and light tones while fall transitions to warm colors, pumpkin scents and suede. The change of seasons does not mean a home makeover, rather a few minor adjustments. Replace your lavender candles for cinnamon or transform the white throw pillows on your couch to a berry tone. These little changes can make all the difference to make your home correlate to the season. Take a look at this mini guide to designing for the season!

Source: eLocal.com

What are some ways your home reflects the season of autumn?