Yearly 50% Off Sale at The Magic of Design

Our yearly sale is now on us. 50% off the prices listed throughout the store. We also have the inventory listed on our Facebook page. But remember, I cannot go in every time we sell something. So there may be items sol listed here. Just check with us.

We have many more pieces from the groups shown, and also we have mattresses, box springs, import riser foundations and more. We are already out of sleepers and sofas, which always sell first! Link to the Facebook page inventory is here. Remember take 50% off and prices are for Cozumel only. The include all sales tax, delivery and set up.

Tropical Paradise: French Caribbean Design Part 1

Cozumel is not a big place, especially when you take into account the ex-pat community. Those of us that speak English (hate to say it) but we tend to stick together a bit. There is nothing like having a conversation in English after speaking Spanish all day with my employees. 


My husband is Mexican and we obviously have many Mexican friends and family, but due to the size of the community and the warmth of the island, often my American and Canadian clients become not just clients, but also friends. Sometimes the friendship lasts only the length of the job. With others, it lingers and grows. My relationship with my clients, Karen and Howard, is one that has grown in the years we have known each other - through various condo projects. 

Moises and I consider them good friends. They stayed with us in our house during Hurricane Emily, a bit of a nonevent but that is always best with hurricanes. We have helped them and they have helped us. 


This is a glimpse of their beautiful condo that we designed together - Karen was the one with the vision. I worked to help her accomplish it. In the next post, I will explain more of the design process that transpired.

Upholstered headboard and bedding made in our shop.

Sofas upholstered in our shop in a cleanable suede cream microfiber fabric.

Notice that we used accents in blue and green on a pale cream background. Walls are painted in a pale blue-green tone, even the hand blown glass lamp is in the aqua tone.

Karen wanted the living area to be a place where her children and her grandchildren could visit. She wanted elegant but we searched for durable fabrics that are washable. The suede on the living room sofas is light in color but cleans up great.

Painted chest with silver mirror from Uttermost.

Drapes and sheers made of imported Robert Allen fabrics.

Glenmary chairs from Hillsdale Furniture.

Karen taught kindergarten and still retains an innocent and childlike wonder of the beautiful things and people around her. Working with Karen was a breeze as she worked with interior designers in the past and welcomes new ideas, but she also had a vision of what their new home was to be, a second home for the entire family as it grew. I met their daughter early on and have watched as she got married, have her son and watched him become a big boy!

Entertainment unit opens up to reveal hidden TV and stereo equipment.



 

Tropical Paradise: French Caribbean Design Part 2

Part 2 in a case study in French Caribbean design

Karen had a vision from day one of what she wanted her new condo to look like and she cut out dozens of photos of designs she liked - from cabinetry to door hardware, paint selections, chairs, tables, sofas and more. We pulled out catalogs and further defined the look she wanted. As new items came in to The Magic of Design, she chose pieces that reflected her style. When the sofas did not have the fabric she wanted, we changed it to a soft cream suede that has stood the test of baby formula and red wine. We also redefined the sofa back to something more comfortable for her petite frame. We worked together on the custom draperies, duvet covers, pillows and shams. Everything was fabricated in our shop.

Blinds and drapes from our shop

Roman shade and cornice from our shop

Office with leather pull-out sofa

Desk with tropical chair & ottoman

After working with Karen on her first condo, I knew she loves curves. Kitchen counters that undulate like waves and curvy door fronts, so we searched for unique and unusual pieces like the curved door front cabinet in the master bedroom. 

Master bedroom painted curved chest

Howard loves scuba diving. Now that he gets to enjoy more time in Cozumel, he spends at least three days a week in the ocean observing all that Cozumel has to offer under the water. So Karen, Howard and I sought objects that were reminiscent of the sea. Like the blues and greens in the living room drapes and the little table that Karen placed in the master bath, decorated with shells and other sea creatures. The love of nature can also be seen in the art that Howard lovingly picked out for the condo.

Guest bedroom with rattan furniture

Grandchildren's bedroom

The overall design theme is French Caribbean but with whimsical touches of shells and turtles and other creatures. The space now exemplifies all the things that Howard and Karen love - good quality furniture and soft, vibrant fabrics, with wonderful splashes of color on the walls - that demonstrate their love of all creatures and a love of nature.

Shell and sea creature theme

It's a true tropical paradise - as comfortable for large family gatherings as it is for serene and quiet contemplation.

A Pet Peeve & A Praise for Cozumel

I think that if you are going to have a pet peeve, it must be followed by a praise. And for Cozumel, that is not a tough thing. Praises come easily. I have to say though one of my biggest pet peeves is what I call the Cozumel right turn. It doesn't matter if a person has a stop sign or not, the moped driver or bicycle pedaler just jumps out in to the street and makes a really tight right turn as I am driving along in my lane. Now they see me, so they make sure they are far enough towards the curb so my car doesn't hit them. Then they kind of wiggle in to traffic just so, and eventually pass me. Happens every day. 

So the praise, where else could you get so many smiles from strangers? When I go to Miami, I get these horrible stares or people look away when I smile at them. Not here, everybody smiles back.

This video is actually just of a normal Cozumel street. I need to find one of the Cozumel right turn.

Facebook Updates from The Magic of Design

Chair we now have 3 in stock at 30% off

The last thing I want to make this blog is an advertisement for our business. But sometimes I think people really do want to know if there is an easier way to shop. I have found over the last few years that most clients prefer to look at stuff online. In fact, many would like to order online. Truthfully though, most or our clients really want to sit in and see the upholstery, feel the fabrics and see the wood finishes.

A beautiful oak cabinet in stock now 50% off

But it is great to get to see what we are stocking. Now we have our inventory on our Facebook page each month. I will be updating the December inventory over the next few days. We have sold so much the last week, that I have to go back and do it again. Here is a link to The Magic of Design photo albums. Just look for the current month and locate what we have in inventory. Things change fast, so once in a while something might be sold. I do my best to keep it current.

So please stop by our Facebook page and give us a like! Happy holidays Cozumel!

Happy Thanksgiving

Well here we are again. Another year goes by. Another Thanksgiving. It is my favorite holiday of the year, or I guess I should say it was my favorite holiday growing up.

I miss the gathering of my mom's family. Grandma made the turkey and stuffing. She also made her famous spaghetti and cheese, like a macaroni and cheese but with thin vermicelli. My mom usually made a pork roast, as my dad didn't like turkey much. Sitting around the table of my grandmother's house with family and always a few strangers that my grandmother invited for the holiday.

They are all gone now. My grandma, my mom and dad, my brother Bobby moved away thirty years ago and never came back. My Aunt Peggy died two years ago now. The ones who are left are scattered between Ohio, Florida, England and California. 

Liz and me

Here are a few photos of when our family was together in August of 2013. Miss you guys!

my cousin Julie's family

So tonight my husband and I will celebrate with my friend DeLea. We have lots to be thankful for. But I still do miss those big affairs each year, with the steamy kitchen and loud chatter and all that love. Most of all, I miss you mom!

Luh's Line: Our New Mayan Accessories & Furniture

B'ALAM WAY spirit jaguar accessory

Our trip to the Yucatan Peninsula and the beaches proved to be super successful. We also had fun with our family. It had been a long time since I spent any time in Merida. The beach was a bust! The house we rented had no water, no hot water, ants and lots of mosquitoes. We only stayed two nights and moved on to the Hyatt.

Prototype of a new root table style

But we got to do what we set out to do, which was find new suppliers of furniture and accesorries. I wanted to start a line of more eco-friendly, green furniture that can stand the heat and humidity we have here. Where better to find it than in the jungles of the Mayan world?

Another prototype of an outdoor chair

Along with finding some wonderful things, we also got to meet some wonderful people. The small pueblos around the Yucatan Peninsula have the warmest and kindest people I have ever met. It is quite amusing for us to converse, as Spanish is a second language for me and also for them. Their first language is Maya.