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One of my favourite client requests is: "make my home perfect"!"No problem!", I always respond. But what does that really mean? My design philosophy is that a home has to be gorgeous and functional at the same time.  Gone are the days of ‘museum rooms’ with plastic over the sofa! Instead, lets create beautiful spaces that the whole family can use – adults and children alike- without compromising style. With that in mind, here are my foolproof tips on creating a home that incorporates functionality in its décor. Use appropriate materials –High traffic areas, such as the kitchen or family room...

Establishing Roots 2012 Shimon Finkelstein travels with a group of friends to an all-inclusive resort in Montego Bay, Jamaica.    2014 A family vacation leads to finding Jake’s at Treasure Beach. Shimon is drawn to this spot “one of nature’s jewels” in Southern Jamaica. It possesses natural beauty and a rich history. Sally Henzell the wife of Perry Henzell, the co-writer and director of “The Harder they Come”, Jamaica’s first motion picture staring Jimmy Cliff, developed the area into what is now 30 cottages, villas and suites. Journey May 2015  Shimon and his wife, Ellie, visit the original house, located...

Sometimes we fall in love with things because of their imperfections.  We bring them home and we recycle them by loving their flaws the way you might love the tiny scar above your husband’s eye, or on your child’s knee. Some of our most treasured possessions may not look like much to others. In Indonesia we saw past the cracking paint of old fishing boats that were no longer in use, and in India, we saw past the rough, torn up pieces of old wooden railway lines that could no longer bear the weight of heavy trains. That explains how...

‘Tis the season of transformation. Snow is melting, making way for green grass to emerge; trees are budding; the mornings are brighter and the days are longer. As the outdoor world is going through its metamorphosis, I have the urge to change things up indoors. I’m not referring to a major makeover. What I’m in the mood for is the inclusion of accessories and of small pieces of furniture that can inject a breath of fresh air into my home. So today I share with you my top five Artemano picks that are not only my favourite for the season,...

LEONARD COHEN. "Ring the bells that still can ring  Forget your perfect offering  There is a crack, a crack in everything  That's how the light gets in." -from Anthem, by Leonard Cohen In the beginning, we sought perfection. We tried to flatten curves, sand away knots, conceal any grain that dared to stand out. Natural meant imperfect: wood had to be disciplined and nature had to be restrained. Don’t-stand-out-ness was our goal, because we sought the perfect offering. And the wood fought back. We spent a lot of time trying to turn what was unique in our wood into something...