The neutral color palette is perfect for relaxing and unwinding.

We were captivated by the clean lines and organic materials at the Spa Cidade Jardim, a spa hidden on the fifth floor of the Shopping Cidade Jardim mall in Brazil’s bustling São Paulo. We’re not suggesting you get an entire spa installed into your home, nor jump on a plane to Brazil tomorrow to visit this delectable sanctum of relaxation, but we can help you take some of these beautiful ideas and incorporate them into your master bath at home.

The similarities we find between the hectic energy of Orange County life (busy parents with active, social kids to ferry around, the highest concentration of entrepreneurs in the country, great dining and lounging venues, stunning natural beauty) with the busting, expanding city of São Paulo is the need to escape once in a while. And not necessarily get out of town, but escape in your OWN town. Did you know that the traffic is so bad in Såo Paulo that the wealthy commute by helicopter? Doesn’t that make your crosstown journey sound a lot easier?

One thing we’d love to see Orange County take from the Cidade Jardim building is the combination of retail, residences and relaxation all in one place. It’s a cosmopolitan idea to provide community for city life, and it would be great to mix up the OC’s urban and suburban areas to create a more European feel to our Southern California enclave.

This VIP bathing area's tub would be a wonderful addition to a master bath.

But—on to the design. We love the neutral palette chosen by Studio Arthur Casas for the spa, especially tying the copious amount of blond wood into the color scheme. Creating a soothing effect should always be paramount when designing any kind of relaxation area, whether it’s a 10,700-square-foot spa or your own bathtime escape.

Showerheads are mounted on the ceiling, echoing the country’s infamous rainforests, and plenty of custom beds and benches are placed throughout the space to provide places for lounging or conversing.The private VIP bathing areas at the Spa Cidade Jardim could double as a master bath; imagine your calm-inducing view of the Pacific ocean from your window as you soak in this extra-deep oval jacuzzi tub with freestanding faucets.

Read the full article from Interior Design magazine here, and peruse the fantastic details, fabrics and design by Studio Arthur Casas. We know of so many ways to bring these touches into your master bath to create your own relaxing sanctuary. If you are ready to change your tired master bath into your own personal spa, call LRM Interior Design today for a consultation: (949) 497-6806.

We loved this photo from the Hinkley website, since it could be our own Lisa McDennon modeling!

Remember earlier this year when we announced Lisa McDennon’s inclusion in Hinkley Lighting’s website and nationwide catalog? Lisa was extremely flattered to be chosen as one of their top picks for giving “Lighting Style Tips and Ideas from Fabulous Designers“, and was even quoted in the blog as saying she looked forward to a long relationship with the distinguished brand.

And that turns out to have been quite the prediction—we don’t want to spill the beans, but keep your eye out for some exciting news here on the LRM Interior Design blog about that very thing! In the meantime, we wanted to talk a little bit about why Lisa felt so privileged to be included in Hinkley’s cadre of favorite designers.

Hinkley Lighting has been in existence for almost 90 years, and still holds a strong reputation for quality in construction, superb functionality and beauty in design. Phil R. Hinkley founded the company in Cleveland, Ohio in 1922, and the first catalog did not feature any designer style tips, only fourteen copper light fixtures made for both indoor and outdoor use.

In the 1930s, the Hinkley company started moving from copper fixtures into specially treated steel and copper plating. They also started to include crystal moss, amber cathedral and amber opal glass into their pieces. During the 40s, like many manufacturers, Hinkley Lighting’s new owner Stanley Wiedemer shipped his sons off to the war and started making airplane parts for the government. They reverted to lighting after the war, when the need for residential housing skyrocketed.

The 50s and 60s were great times for innovation both in technology and design, and in the 80s launched their landscape lighting division, which is going strong today. We’re happy that it’s still a family business after all these years, and continues to succeed based on those same values the company was founded on. We also love Hinkley Lighting’s dedication to reducing their eco-impact, with teams dedicated to creating lighting that are more efficient and less harmful to the environment, while still embodying the styling we expect. Their outdoor lighting conforms to almost every Dark Sky requirement that exists, and they continue to provide LED conversions and fixtures for fluorescent bulbs.

At LRM Interior Design, we know how a single lamp can not only transform a room, but anchor the entire design. Lighting should be something that complements, that wows, that delights—but always provides the right quality of lighting for the room’s purpose. Interior designers like the LRM team are experts at lighting, and would love to talk to you about a lighting makeover. Call (949) 497-6806 for a consultation today!

Lisa McDennon, principal of LRM Interior Design, has plenty to smile about!

Lisa McDennon‘s stellar reputation keeps on a sky-high trajectory as she makes another “Top 20” list in less than six months.

Pick up the March issue of OC Metro to read about how and why Lisa McDennon made their list of top 20 women in business in the Orange County area.

Only two designers were named in the list—does that mean that Lisa is one of the top two interior designers in Orange County? Her fans certainly think so!

Congratulations to Lisa and her team at LRM Interior Design! We’re all waiting to see what she does next.