Four local restaurants blend excellent cuisine and design

Eating out is not just about food. Music and service - especially - the atmosphere can or break a meal.

These new smart restaurants prove that the little things mean a lot in creating an atmosphere that enhances the menu and makes the dining experience unforgettable.

Friends know that if Mark Carragiolo is not designing restaurants, he will be a designer for a movie set. Hollywood's loss is Sarasota's gain and this is evident in its new establishment, Shore, a modern American dinner that floats above a retail clothing store in St. Armands Circle. Shore is a tribute to the Sarasota School of Architecture and the glory days of American design in the mid-century.

The most noticeable feature is the seamless integration of indoor and outdoor spaces. At night, the ceiling recedes into the main dining area and the floor-to-ceiling glass walls open to the natural breezes and the feeling that guests are quietly floating over the hustle and bustle of the circle below. Chairs for recycled rice tables are Hans Wegner designs. B Harryia wire chairs are located in low banquets. Notice the George Nelson bowl and the bubble pendants, the stone piled on some walls, the concrete blocks on the others, and the linear polished wood panels polished on the rest.

The floor is a Caragiulo version of terrazzo - concrete with small stone and color-coated glass flakes. Above the heads of restaurants is the Caragiulo slope on the atomic metal pole floor lamps of the 1950s. "I designed it with Calder phones in mind and built them in Italy," Caragiulo said. "They float around and match candlesticks in another really old room. The two lamps on the bar are also vintage and their price is ridiculous. But they are so right for the place so it was worth it." Obsessed with getting the correct appearance of the restaurant owner, but he skilfully avoided Kitch. "I never wanted this space to be valuable. The goal is to rest with the true feeling of the place.

"It evokes Sarasota's architectural heritage and has much in common with some of the remaining homes on Lido Shores from that era." Shore's name comes from the retail store downstairs and the owner of that organization, Tom Leonard, is Caragiulo's partner. The menu is Florida friendly where the majority of ingredients are obtained locally. We expect fried oyster sliders, fish sandwiches, shrimp and lobster tacos, fried blue crab, local yellow-tail snapper, burgers, organic chicken, tuna kona, oysters and pasta.

"When people leave here, I want them to clearly remember the food and preparation as a unified experience they want again," said Carragiolo.

Walk in Half Shell Oyster House on Main Street in downtown Sarasota and it will appear in a frame of mind in New Orleans, from Oysters Bienville in the list (Jean Baptiste Le Moyne, Sieur de Bienville founded New Orleans in 1718) to the shellfish - a shell wall in the bar. Gas lanterns are installed on brick walls, and black wrought iron is used to define the different seating areas, decorated with gilded mirrors and twenty or so Belle Epoque chandeliers that interior designer Kurt Lucas bought from antique stores and rescue yards throughout the south.

An experienced hospitality designer with 39 restaurants to date and three on the job, Kurt Lucas undoubtedly obtains the concept of mood and menu marriage to create a complete dining experience. ... smart interior designers know that the elements that are fashionable and practical are highly sought after. One of the best examples of elegant and diligent home fixtures is also one of the most overlooked: a ceiling fan. In 2014, more homeowners are realizing the potential of this classic technology not only on their comfort levels, but also on the aesthetic of interior design.

Not surprisingly, nearly 82 percent of American single-family homes have at least one ceiling fan to help keep cool in summer. Ceiling Fans, created by the Memphis based Hunter Fan Company in 1886, are a versatile and aesthetically pleasing addition to any space. But many homeowners don't realize how ceiling fan installation can save money while improving comfort and home design.

In addition to the customizable features and finishes available on ceiling fans today, homeowners who install ceiling fans enjoy:

* Energy saving by 45 percent. A typical home uses a form of cooling system with a density for about 125 days of the year. In eight hours a day for 125 days, central air in these homes costs about $ 207 per year. Using a ceiling fan under the same cooling conditions only costs $ 111. On average, you'll feel eight degrees cooler using a ceiling fan instead of just the air conditioner. Many fans now come with several LED light options as well. To get a better idea of ​​your energy savings, visit www.hunterfan.com/ energysavings.

* Variety of designs. With a little research, it is possible to find a design that fits every room and decoration

Since the first inhabitant of the caves marked a wall of his home with a small charcoal, art is a key element of the decoration that withstood the test of time. Whether it's the vibrant colors of Van Gogh, the almost mysterious perfection of Da Vinci or the dream-filled light of Monet, great art speaks to the soul.

The works of major artists have inspired interior design for centuries, and technological advances have made it easier than ever to integrate their genius into your home. It is no longer necessary to visit the Louvre in Paris to see the "Mona Lisa" or go to the Museum of Modern Art in New York to savor the "Night of the Stars" by Van Gogh.

You can easily incorporate beautiful illustrations into your interior design.

Copying is the clearest "and most accessible" way to appreciate great masterpieces in your home. Fortunately, you have a variety of options when looking for high-quality reproduction. From simple prints on paper purchased from your home décor store to digitally reproduced paintings using a computer program, you can find copies for almost any price.

You can use your own reproduction to improve your interior décor in several ways. A small print hidden away from a wall, can add a nice and surprising touch of color to the room. Or, larger reproduction can be a focal point of room decor, and even provide color inspiration for the rest of the room, from walls to upholstery and accessories.

Another versatile option that can be bold and startling is a mural. When you think of inspiring murals, does Michelangelo's famous work in Sistine Chapel come to mind? ... pictures can draw a thousand words, but sometimes it is good to go ahead and say what you feel, rather than hoping for someone to notice. I say this as a notorious mobilizer - in every way!

If there's a showdown, I'm the pilot and I'm not saying what I really want. If there are strong feelings that can be felt, I will also store them without saying what I really want to say.

Fear of offense, fear of confrontation, all of these things prevent me from taking out words, so I prefer to put them on paper. Walls, or even anywhere in the house instead of saying damn things out loud!

My house is full of words, all are loving and cheerful, and I hope it conveys the feelings I want for my family.

There is a sign of love hanging on the handrail and shown in the lights when landing. In my kitchen there is a wooden board currently on the floor against the wall because I can't think of where I want to put it (it has been around for months now). He simply says that "happiness is a journey, not a destination."

This is something I really believe in - I think we spend a lot of time thinking that we will be happy once we get to another place, or that we will have something different when the trick is really happy while on the go wherever you go. ...

(Family Features) Whether you're working on a budget or just wanting to instill some handmade love, DIY projects can add a special touch to a child's nursery.

The nursery themes go away: bold patterns and shapes of animals and things that are my favorite hobbies. You can do handcraft and craft items like baby cot skirt and bedding and curtains manually, or you can develop pieces that you buy with innovative accessories like this wall or mobile art, both created by craft experts at Jo-Ann Fabric. And craft stores. Each of them can be fully customized to match the color palette and theme you have selected to accommodate your little one.

Airship

Manufacturing time: 1-2 hours

Skill level: required experience

Supplies and tools:

* Hot air balloon models

* 1 liter of each of the three models (a model that uses a gray straw hat, blue Twitter and blue bed Tweet by Cloud 9 Fabrics)

* 1 Pellon Perfect Loft Cluster Fill Fill Fiber Pack

* 1 carton of Pellon 987F fusible wool

* Pellon SF101 Shape-Flex Package

* 1 Pellon 72F Peltex II Tray

* 1 Pellon Nature's Touch size white cotton package

* Embroidery thread

* Hook, embroidery collar or stick for hanging

Print and cut forms on joann.com (search by project name). Trace 2 balloon patterns on the back of each patterned and cut fabric. Draw 6 balloon patterns on wool and cut 1/4 inch smaller than the drawn line. Merge a piece of wool on the wrong side of each balloon cutout.

Determine the order of fabrics. Place the first two straight sides together (RST) and sew the 1/8 inch seam along one edge. Continue until all the pieces are tied, and make sure to leave a distance of 3 inches along the seam of the turn.

Turn the right side across the gap. … If you’re like most people, you’ll probably blow up on traditional holiday decorations - but why not do it this year? Here are some easy ideas to instantly rejuvenate your youth, dazzle your guests and create a welcoming environment:

Redesign your shelves

If the shelves in your living room or dining room are full of books and baskets for the rest of the year, take a moment to disintegrate. Put these everyday items away and replace them with elegant holiday decor such as pretty dishes, serving pieces or porcelain that you don't really recommend at dinner table. You can also sneak into color spots with pine motifs and branches.

Dazzle your guests with new window treatments

Decorating windows is an easy way to give the room a fresh look, just in time for the company to arrive. Consider window covers for added comfort and convenience, as well as energy savings. You will estimate your vacation budget year after year. Besides timers and sensors, blinds and stores will be adjusted automatically while you enjoy your work. With Somfy myLink (tm) app, you can use your tablet or smartphone to control window treatments at home or on the go. Create the perfect landscape for hiking or sunset with a built-in clock that is set daily, improving the natural lighting in your home. For more information about the engine, visit somfysystems. ...