Vertical Gardens as Interior Scape

We firmly believe that spaces build  for human habitation must incorporate some samples or manifestation of nature and doing so, allow us not only to enjoy nature's beauty but the countless benefits of the cohabitation and living in harmony with nature.

One of the many ways that we can integrate a magnificent  expression of nature into our living spaces is the VERTICAL GARDEN

At the time of planning a design for our building and renovation projects I always give our clients a document under the heading of  " Focal Points For Every Room " , this is nothing more than a sheet of paper with a list of different  things that we could build in every room, things that will turn a normal room formed by four walls, a ceiling and a floor into an unique an exclusive space . It is up to our client to decide if they want it or not and even if they would like to build the necessaries rough ins to add this particular fixture in the future.

One of the suggestions in that list is a VERTICAL GARDEN.

I like Vertical Gardens a lot, I built my first years ago, under my wife's suggestion ( or should I said, pressure ) I did the proper research in materials and procedures but I always had the premonition that our creation  would have a short life and all those colorful plants would never make it to the next summer, Five years later, including two moves, and they are healthier and more beautiful than ever. 

Vertical Gardens are a super nice detail to integrate to any space, residential or commercial, can be customize to any size and shape and it always will brighten the room, but also bring all kind of benefits as a reduction of noise levels,  balancing humidity and of course the most important, making the space peaceful and relaxing.

Acuarium Kitchen Island

This Ocean Kitchen is a massive aquarium topped with an L shape slab of corian that lifts up at the touch of a button.

Designed by Robert Kolenik is a good example of how to bring nature into human spaces and how to blend natural materials with a timeless design.

While the ocean kitchen might not be for every kitchen or budget, its hard to beat as a jaw-dropping statement piece                                                                                                                                                                                                               

  our credits to Inhabitat

The importance of surrounding yourself with good trade people

As a Building Contractor with the obligation of delivering a high quality work every time as the only way to safeguard my company reputation and well being I learnt a long time ago of the importance of surrounding yourself with good trade people.

A good trade person is not only the one that does his job better and faster and not for sure cheaper, in my personal opinion a good trade person is the one that recognize how important his work really is as a part of a whole project. Positive attitude, honesty and decency are all qualities I need in the people I share my work with.  

It can take sometime to develop these relationships but once you find them its very important to make them grow and keep them. 

Its our company policy to pass information to our clients about the trades ( electrician, plumber, tapers ) that we will be subcontracting work to on each specific project, they become representatives of our company abilities to hire and manage good trade people and its my responsibility to stock in the best people to be found.

Sometime ago, in need of a drywaller for a project, a company we used to work with send us someone with a nasty attitude and very poor workmanship, this episode was a deal breaker  as we had to rush and fix and clean before anyone including our client could see such a disaster. Not before taking some pictures to defend our case and have a memorandum of how not to do a job. Luckily having good employees on site helped to catch this situation on time  and minimize the compromising repercussions.                                                                                         I proud myself of being very selective whenever I have to hire either employees or trades to work with but obviously once in a while we will be indirectly expose to this type of workmanship, its our obligation to catch it on time, fix it and do all we can to avoid it again.                                                                                                                      In scenarios like that I always remember what a painter finishing ( painting ) my trim work in a project once told me : he said " a labor works with his back, a trade person with his hands and a craftsman with his heart .... and you will always know looking at his work "