Dive In

Cool off with one of the most popular trends in exterior design: salt water pools. These manmade ponds offer both health and financial benefits. Because they have a generator that breaks down salt and produces chlorine, the pools are easy to maintain and don’t require purchasing a lot of expensive, harsh chemicals. “The pH of the water in a salt water pool is very close to the pH of our eyes,” explains Frank Fotia, president of Year Round Pool.

Yearroundpool.com 912.236.6261

Paver Lights

Pavers have been a hot trend in exterior design for some time due to their durability and clean aesthetic. Now, paver lights are adding another attractive element: the ability to highlight a back patio, walkway, or driveway with solar-charged lights. “They look really great at night and add to the ambiance if you like to entertain,” says owner of Quality Hardscapes, Fabio Santos. And since they’re self-powered, these lights don’t emit any harmful carbon dioxide, a perfect addition to the already eco-friendly benefits of pavers.

HIP NEW TRENDS IN HOME AND INTERIOR DESIGN FROM AN INDUSTRY INSIDER.

WRITTEN BY MICHAEL BUNN

1 SAVANNAH HARDSCAPES Dining al fresco has led to cooking al fresco. The moveable feast has moved to the great outdoors, and Savannah Hardscapes leads the way with a full range of outdoor appliances to make your outdoor entertaining sizzle. Whether you intend to grill it, smoke it, wok it, cook it on a rotisserie or in an oven, there’s an outdoor kitchen appliance for the job. There are warming drawers to keep your food fresh after it comes off the fire and outdoor hoods to keep the fresh air fresh. There’s a full line of refrigerated storage and dispensers to make sure your favorite brew or nicely aged Chardonnay stays at the perfect temperature. All you need for a perfect backyard outing are some wonderful guests and a day of sunshine. SAVANNAHHARDSCAPES.COM

Power Pumps

These days, women can get away with a slightly sexier heel at the office. The rules have changed and the fashion savvy professional can certainly find wiggle room within office dress codes. Pumps can look ultra-chic in the workplace when paired with fitted slacks and can add a slight sexiness to a high waist pencil skirt. But how do you know which pumps are office appropriate?

1. Eco-friendly framing- Using a line of moldings made from reclaimed lumber, as well as a collection of mouldings and mats that uses wood from well-managed sustainable forests, Maldoror’s Frameshop creates a custom design that complements any style of art all while being environmentally responsible. The eco-friendly mouldings include: a traditional collection of ornate and gilded moldings; a line of painted salvaged woods, for casual, rustic decor; and an exclusive line of warm, rich, salvaged hardwoods that are customized to accentuate specific pieces of art. Customers can pair any of these frames with fillets, decorative mats and custom glazing (including restoration hand-blown glass) that create a one-of-a-kind design.

2. Frameless Framing- Plexi face mounting is a crisp, sleek, contemporary way to display photos. Art lovers may not recognize it by name, but its been used for signs and graphics for years and has recently gained popularity in the world of fine art photography.

Hip new trends in home and interior designs from an industry insider.

Turquoise desk and stool with zebra fabric. A bright color on an otherwise simple piece of furniture can bring instant zest to a space. An old metal desk painted turquoise with black zebra fabric on the seat adds pop to a neutral room. Mix the old with the new for a fabulous style.

Buy Locally: Habersham Antiques, 2502 Habersham Street, 912.238.5908

Hip new trends in home and interior designs from an industry insider.

Primitive sconce. With bands of brushed steel over frosted glass, these sconces would make any wall look cool. The contrasting materials are retro-deco-futuristic without being kitsch, and will transform a space with gleaming beauty. Keep an eye out for the desktop version.
Buy locally: Circa Lighting, 405 Whitaker Street, 912.447.1008

Undoing fashion’s “Don’ts”

These days, the old laws of fashion that kept your mother agonizing over the right shade of shoes to match her new purse are being revised and rewritten to create the hottest new styles of the 21st century. Mitchell Hall, creative director for BleuBelle Boutique, shows The South how to adapt the fashion faux pas of yesteryear into this summer’s freshest looks. After all, some laws really were made to be broken.

Check out some hip new trends in home and interior design from an industry insider.

Refined and Recycled
Recycled Quartz Countertops in Smoky Ash and Chocolate Truffle. CaesarStone’s unique ingenuity and ability to influence trends is captured in a new lineup of surfaces that push the boundaries of creativity combining the durability of quartz with high fashion colors, all covered by a lifetime warranty.
Buy locally: Multistone USA, 1022 Lynes Avenue, Savannah, 912.231.8401,

Spring is here and for many people that can only mean one thing: time to light up the grill. Should you be a grilling greenhorn or the master of mesquite, here are three grills to get anyone’s fire going.

Gas:

Gas grills may be pricier than your standard cookout gear, but the longevity, versatility and appearance is worth the extra penny. General Electric gas grills offer a wide variety of features, including side burners or even a rotisserie for that perfect chicken. A tank of fuel can last a long time, but Robert Harrison of Livingood’s in Savannah suggests you keep a spare on hand so that you and your steak don’t get left out in the cold. $3500–$7000, depending on ordered features. Check out this grill at Livingood’s, 912.330.5505, www.livingoodsonline.com.