As Nature Intended interiors

Happy Hour!

2011-06-07T22:22:00.002-04:00

Sometimes I just don't want my bar to scream, BAR! So in the theme of discreetness I placed two vintage silver overlay decanters on a large brass tray with a lantern and a couple of candles. One decanter is filled with our favorite bourbon and the other with scotch.

Light the candles and you have Happy Hour!

Cheers!

Not my Grand's British fish & chips

2011-04-09T09:30:00.013-04:00

My heritage is British and one of my favorite things in the world was my Grand making me traditional British fish & chips. I was lucky enough for her to share her recipe with me before she passed. This is one of my most treasured possessions.

But of course with my new way of eating I had to try and make her recipe fit my new lifestyle and this is the results. Made with oven baked sweet potato fries that have been specially seasoned. Pan fried Triple Tail in canola oil, cornbread and whole wheat breading. The tartar sauce is made without dairy and has a spicy kick to it. I also must serve this with British malt vinegar. All wrapped in collard leafs and tied with raffia, a nod to the traditional newspaper wrapping.

Because the fish is fried I only prepare this dish once in a great while as a huge treat. I hope my Grandmother would approve and enjoy that her recipe inspired me.

I will be sharing all the details to create this for your family in my upcoming EBook cookbook, FOOD ~ just As Nature Intended interiors. All recipes will be "no dairy, no sugar, less meat and lots more greens". Please "Like" our Facebook fan page to hear the announcement of the book release first.

Cheers!

Cranberry Apple Ice Green Tea

2011-03-18T16:56:00.001-04:00

In my new found quest to eat and drink healthier just As Nature Intended interiors I created a healthy ice tea for my hubby. He likes to drink ice tea all day long and his favorite is a store bought brand that is loaded with unhealthy sugars and God knows what else. I have tried everything to get him to switch to water and lemon but every time I look around he is back to his unhealthy ice tea.

So I made it my mission today to create something healthier that I thought he would drink...and whalla! Cranberry Apple Ice Green Tea was created. The ingredients are; organic green tea, organic cranberry juice (unsweetened), organic maple agave nectar, garnished with sliced apples & cranberries.

Success, he loves it!

Cheers!

Natural Chocolate Goodness, Just As Nature Intended

2011-02-26T16:48:00.005-05:00

Roxanne Brillante-Justice, décor consultant and chocolate maker ;). If you are a follower of As Nature Intended interiors blogs then you are aware from my last posting that I have had a recent life changing diet experience. If not please read my previous posting.

As I am in this process of removing dairy products and adding more greens to my diet I am also learning to prepare my foods more raw and truer to their natural and more nutritious form. Of course the interior designer in me must also create a eye pleasing plate with color and balance. It is always interesting to me that while creating a more decorated plate usually means adding more colorful natural nutrition, just as nature intended. As I discover my most favorite healthy creations I will share them with you so we can together not only create healthy natural surroundings with décor but also for our body and soul.

In removing dairy from my diet I was missing one of my most favorite foods, chocolate. So I of course went on a quest to create a healthy delicious chocolate. So I began researching chocolate and found that in its purest form it is the single most healthy food. Chocolate is made from the Cocoa bean and the Cocoa bean in its raw form has the highest form of anti oxidants of any other food. Most chocolate as we know it does not have the same nutritional value because it has been either heated or other non health value ingredients have been added to it or both. My "Natural Chocolate Goodness" does not contain sugar or dairy and has not had the nutritional value cooked out. It is still in its raw form. I have used organic ingredients; cocoa powder, cocoa butter, vanilla bean, agave nectar, sea salt, almond butter and lot's of love.

"Natural Chocolate Goodness" taste like one of my favorite foods, dark chocolate and peanut butter. So good tasting and with all this nutritional value I believe you should have at least one piece daily. Imagine a chocolate that you must eat everyday because it is that good for you. "Natural Chocolate Goodness", chocolate just as nature intended.

Off to make another batch,

Organic Greens

2011-02-20T14:59:00.014-05:00

I have had a change of life experience lately and just like everything I find exciting and inspiring I want to share with my As Nature Intended interiors fans. I recently learned from Kate Gurecki, owner of Blue Morpho Organic Skinspa all about how eating more organic raw greens is not only good for you but also great for your skin. The more she talked the more I listened and began to read about this subject of eating more raw based green foods and less dairy. So I decided to try adding more organic greens and remove most dairy products from my diet. In this processes I learned that I was not only addicted to cheese but probably allergic to dairy products. As I have removed dairy products from my diet, I have felt better. Adding the greens was a challenge in the beginning, until Kate introduced me to Jason Santini, owner of the Happy Healthy Human. Jason showed me how to make raw greens taste great and fun. So now I am a mean green eating machine, I have green smoothies for breakfast, green salads for lunch and creating green dinners and deserts with greens. I hope I don't turn green while eating all these greens? LOL
To quote my friend Kate "when you eat bright and pretty you are bright and pretty".

So this organic green eating leads me to my new project, raised planter organic green gardening. So I asked my hubby to build me a raised planter. So this very smart and handsome man I am married to used an old picnic table as the base of the planter. Next, a trip to Sun Harbor Nursery located in Indian Harbour Beach to select my veggie plants, organic soil and organic fertilizer in just one weekend, Walla, I have a organic green garden. In true As Nature Intended fashion my green veggie garden must have some flowers so I can sprinkle them in my salad for pretty, "As Nature Intended" of course.

In the theme of being more organic and healthy I will also be cleaning my earthy hands after a day of gardening with Yummy Suds organic soap of course ;).

I can hardly wait for my new plants to be harvested and used in my healthy cooking creations. My challenge now is to create some healthy green based meals that not only taste great but also will look fabulous just "As Nature Intended".

Happy gardening,

Tropical Casa Bella Christmas Tree

2010-12-04T13:16:00.002-05:00

Every holiday season I try to do something a little different with my décor from the previous year. That must be the designer in me. So this does not become an expensive habit to get into, I am also looking to make it frugal especially in these challenging economic times. To quote a good friend "frugal is the new black"...I love that!

This year I decided to not do my traditional indoor Christmas tree. I put a fresh cut 6' Frasier Fur tree in my "Casa Bella Courtyard". I used natural ornaments such as my favorite blooming bromeliad plants (which I can use after the holidays) and petals that had fallen from my existing living courtyard wall of bright fuchsia colored Bouganvilla. I also made sure I could enjoy my tree from indoors by placing it in front of my glass double french doors. This has turned out to be a great idea since my family spends most of our time in our courtyard this time of year here in Florida. I added some outdoor little white lights and now I have a "Tropical Casa Bella Christmas Tree".

Hopefully I have inspired you to put on your favorite Holiday music and decorate your Christmas tree a little different this year.

Happy Holiday Décor,

Happy Thanksgiving From Florida!

2010-11-21T17:36:00.001-05:00

Many of my clients ask me what my Florida Thanksgiving table looks like so I thought I would share. Of course I always use our native natural surroundings as a center piece. My favorite is the bromeliad plant and of course since I live in a beautiful beach community I included a piece of driftwood, seashells and starfish. I always like to include fruit, vegetables and mini pumpkins for that feeling of abundance. It is fun to look for something unexpected for a place card holder so I used an artichoke.

So when you are setting your table this week be sure to look outside in your own garden and your local grocery for inspiration to dress your table. You do not have to buy an expensive decorative centerpiece just see what nature can lend you for free, just "As Nature Intended".

This photo of a Thanksgiving table setting designed by me was featured on the cover of Spacecoast Living magazine's November 2004 issue and is still stylish today because using nature in any décor is timeless. My table on Thursday will look very similar.

Happy Thanksgiving to you all,

Girlie Closet Décor

2010-07-23T12:41:00.001-04:00

Doesn't everyone decorate their closet? I believe even your closet deserves décor. I have been helping my As Nature Intended Interiors clients with their closet décor for years and now finally putting my advice to practice in my own home.

I started by editing and organizing my wardrobe by color and season using some kind of closet system. I also made sure all my hangers were the same style and the clothes all faced the same direction. Once I was organized it was time to have fun with my new space.

This is my closet so it is very girlie, this means crystals, beads, feathers and a splash of animal print.... ;). I displayed all of my "pretty" purses and shoes on shelves like you would see in a boutique store. I selected my favorite pair of shoes and favorite piece of jewelry (of course this is RBJewels) to be front and center. I also love to personalize every space with a family photo. Of course every girlie girl deserves a chandelier in her closet; just saying!

Add a chair and walla!! I now have a girlie closet décor and a lovely place to escape the stresses of life.

Next, his closet.

"Fantasy Sunset Picnic"

2010-07-03T13:41:00.001-04:00

I was honored when asked by Space's Magazine to style a sunset picnic for their July/August 2010 issue. I immediately started planning the ultimate romantic fantasy picnic. So when I thought about planning a romantic picnic a "Fantasy Sunset Picnic" came to mind. Of course, in true "As Nature Intended interiors" form I could not wait to hang a candelabra from a huge oak tree and fill it with bougainvillea, just in time for sunset in the park.

Doesn't everyone hang a candelabra in a tree when they picnic?

"About Nature"

2010-05-21T08:52:00.001-04:00

Biophilia is the exciting new psychological theory championed by Pulitzer Prize-winning conservation biologist Edward O. Wilson, who believes our biophilial urges- the “love of living things”- plants, wildlife and the great outdoors is genetic, encoded in human beings to ensure balance, harmony, and preservation. “Attraction to natural environments is not simply a cultural phenomenon,” Dr. Wilson explains, “There is evidence it is a deeper, biological urge.”

If we are to thrive today, becoming one with nature is just as essential as it was millions of years ago. In fact, many therapists who specialize in “ecopsychology” believe that deepening our emotional ties to nature is as vital to our well-being as the close personal bonds we pursue with family and friends. When we honor this holy hunger by getting in tune with nature, we experience personal harmony.

This is from the book "Simple Abundance".
Always add a little Nature to your Décor,

"Not Your Traditional Décor"

2010-04-22T11:30:00.001-04:00

Décor is not always for the inside of your home. It can also be outside, such as your outdoor living space. This can be your front porch, back deck or in my case what I refer to as my "Casa Bella Courtyard". In the front of my home I have created a pergola covered with blooming bougainvillea. This space creates privacy and a natural view to extend my living area to the outdoors. This time of year we all live more outdoors then indoors to of course enjoy the fabulous springtime weather and blooms.

In an outdoor living space, a chandelier does not have to be a traditional chandelier. Why not have an "As Nature Intended" chandelier? I have mounted a staghorn fern to a piece of driftwood and hung it over my outdoor dinning table for this just "not your traditional décor".

Happy springtime!

Outdoor Living, Gardening

2010-04-02T13:57:00.001-04:00

Roxanne’s Inspiration Décor Moment Blog

“No Time/Low Cost
Outdoor Living, Gardening”

If you are like me there is not a lot of time or money in my days for gardening but of course I love having an outdoor living space. So I thought I would share how I solved this dilemma. First, think big in a small space. This cuts the work and amount of plants down and makes a big impact. For me this is a courtyard. I call “Our Casa Bella Courtyard”. This could also be your front entry area or back porch.

Next I always have left over pots from plants that are no longer with us. So I pull them out from my plant hospital, this is where the plants go to recover when they are not looking so good. Then I start walking around my property looking at all the foliage that is planted in the ground. I start looking at it differently; more like what would this plant look like in a pot. I love no fuss plants for this so I look for sturdy plants that have survived the neglect of my busy life and are still with us. A good example of this is Aloe plants. I will fill as many of these pots as I can with these and other surviving foliage from my property. These will be my fillers or backdrop. Then I will take note of the number of pots left over and head to the local garden center with my list. I will only buy flower because now I need color for my outdoor living space garden. I will not have to buy as much because I have already filled in with the no cost plants.

I also don’t just think ground level when planning this outdoor living space. I think low (ground), mid height (table or pedestal) and high (hanging). Then don’t forget to bring the ‘indoors outside”. I realize you always hear me say “bring the outdoors in” when decorating but this works in reverse when decorating your outdoor living space. This can be a sofa or chair with colorful accent pillows, a coral table, mirror or a wrought iron shelving unit. I also like to sprinkle some drift wood and seashells around. All that is left to do is pour a cup of tea with your Sunday paper and enjoy your outdoor living space. Another inspiring décor moment just As Nature Intended.

I pray my “Inspiration Décor Moment Blogs” always inspire you to be creative and express your passions. I believe we all have this inside of us. Some of us just need a nudge. Please share with me and comment below if you have been inspired. I would love to hear your décor moments. Also don't forget to become a "Follower" at the top side bar.

Happy Easter, Blessings!

Eco Friendly & Cost Conscious Gift Wrap

2009-12-17T14:49:00.001-05:00

I always have a theme for my Christmas gift wrap. Ever since I can remember I have been using eco friendly ideas and not even knowing I was being so earth conscious in the beginning. I was just looking for unique ideas and now it is all the rage. I used paper grocery bags with beautiful ribbons for year’s. This year I thought I would try something different and use the left over newspapers. Since the newspaper wrap is so different I balanced it out with very traditional red plaid ribbon and jingle bells. I use the comic pages for the children and the sports section for the sporty men in my life and so on.

Do you have a theme for your gift wrapping; I would love to hear your ideas.

Merry Christmas!

"How we do Christmas in Florida"

2009-11-29T14:13:00.001-05:00

Central Florida today is 74 degrees and sunny. This might sound great to you northerners but we are craving some sweater weather here in Florida, especially while we are decorating for the Christmas season. I thought I would share how we cope without a fire in our fireplaces this time of year. I keep candles and seashells in my fireplace all year long and this time of year it still works. Imagine Christmas carols playing and decorating the mantel for the Blessed Christmas season…if you try really hard you might think there was snow outside and it was 40 degrees…ok, I know it is a stretch but work with me…lol.

Merry Christmas!

GO BIG OR GO HOME!

2009-10-16T11:07:00.001-04:00

So many of my clients with new construction homes have large two story walls to go with there two story ceilings. This is a great look but sometimes challenging when it comes to what to do for art work. I call this massive wall syndrome. Of course, I love to suggest a large oversized piece of art by a local artist. In some cases this is not in the budget or there are more walls then the art budget. In this case I have a budget conscious solution.

I have taken photography and turned it into “Impact Art”. Let me explain; I take a digital image blown up to a very large size and applied to canvas. Before this step I have taken the photo of my favorite flowers, wild life or family. Then I will photo shop the image I want to use in my space by cropping or possibly changing it to a black and white image. Now my image is ready to be applied to a canvas any size I need to fill the massive wall. Now I have “Impact Art”.

Here I am showing two pieces of “Impact Art” I have in my home. The black and white orchid print was originally a color image. Both of these images I took in my Casa Bella Courtyard and have been enlarged to 60” x 48”.

I have selected some of my digital images and offer them at no additional charge to this applying to canvas technique. You only pay for the applying to canvas technique and no charge for the actual image. You can also have us apply your own photos to canvas as long as you have a high enough resolution of your image. To view more of my images to choose from scroll down to the bottom of this blog to see my images in a slide show or visit our photography page at www.asnatureintended.com .

Now you can also “Go Big”!

Eclectic Décor with a pinch of Nature

2009-08-22T16:08:00.001-04:00

My favorite décor style and what I am mostly known for is what I call eclectic with a pinch of nature. There fore as you know, the name of my décor business is, “As Nature Intended interiors”. I of course have many examples of this style thru out my home and one of my favorites is in the master bedroom. On either side of the bed I have chosen to use a chest instead of a more typical choice of shorter night tables. Both of these chest vignettes are perfect examples of eclectic with a pinch of nature. Let me explain.

One of the chest vignettes is a whitewashed chest of drawers that I have removed the hardware and put in its place driftwood handles. This of course added nature and uniqueness to a somewhat ordinary chest of draws. This piece also has a vintage Indian bowl filled with more driftwood and seashells. To balance out the nature and add a different texture I have used a vintage crystal box and lamp. The vintage lamp is balanced with a contemporary white linen shade and a crystal beaded tassel. This vignette is topped off with a vintage inspired mirror.

The second vignette is similar but different as not to be redundant. It includes a vintage chest of draws with its original hardware and stain. This piece is topped with a set of three whitewashed iron candle holders, a whitewashed iron urn, a driftwood photo frame and the same vintage crystal lamp with white linen shade as the other vignette. Both vignettes have the same vintage inspired mirrors to add sparkle and continuity.

What make them both work individually are the contrast of old with new and a pinch of nature. Notice, the vintage lamp has a contemporary shade. Also notice that because one chest is whitewashed I balanced this with the whitewashed candle holders and urn on the other. What makes both vignettes work in the same room is that they are different yet similar. Both have the same mirror and lamp which is what helps tie the whole look together in one room without being what I call, “too matchie poo”.

So don’t be afraid to mix old vintage with new contemporary and always remember to add a pinch of nature….this is a recipe for transforming your environment into a peaceful and healthy sanctuary….

Blessings!

Décor Consultant...from concept to completion

2009-07-16T11:48:00.001-04:00

An advertising tag line I use for my business is “Décor consultant…from concept to completion.” For those of you who might not be aware of what my interpretation of “concept” décor services encompass let me explain. The “concept” of a décor project can start with the preliminary architectural drawing of your new home, addition to your existing home or new business space. This is the conceptual drawings that have not been finalized by your architect. This is where I come in, and the first step in the process. I will review the conceptual drawing and make suggestions based on furniture placement, décor concept and function of the over all space. The next and crucial step in the process, to meet with you and your architect and together we will implement these suggestions before the final plans are drawn. Bringing me in at this stage will save you (the client) and the architect time and money during the construction, and it brings the original “concept” much closer to your vision and much more cohesive upon completion. Let me explain…with this process, you have more professional eyes with different perspectives looking at your project with the capabilities of both marrying form with function. Most importantly, make sure you have a fabulous team that you agree with creatively and can count on…consisting of an architect, a builder and a décor consultant. The three professionals with very different and complementary backgrounds brought together at the “concept” stage is the best way to achieve the amazing results of your dreams. By bringing in the décor consultant into the concept stage, it’s like having a dress or suit selected and constructed by a wardrobe stylist, a designer and seamstress, tailored just for your body.

With this process comes creative décor services, such as space planning, furniture placement and selecting anything from roof tile, exterior & interior finishes, electrical fixtures, flooring, pluming fixtures, customized cabinetry, millwork (baseboards, crown molding, etc.), paint color and all finishing touches including furniture, window treatments and much more that truly defines the environment. All of these services are important to the overall success of the project, and why you need a Décor consultant from concept to completion. This is a proven process that consistently achieves amazing results.

Another “Inspiration Décor Moment” just “As Nature Intended.”

Enjoy!

Tray Décor

2009-06-27T18:50:00.001-04:00

Do you use trays as much as I do in your décor? I love trays. I use them all through my house. Some of my favorites are vintage trays I have picked up at estate sales. As my family, friends and clients know I am not married to a particular style, my design is very eclectic. That is carried though in my choice of trays. I use silver, brass and copper trays through out my house. Trays not only keep me organized but I decorate them like mini vignettes. In my kitchen alone I have four trays, one for the soaps next to the sink, one for the oil, vinegar, salt and pepper for cooking, one tray is for my tea time and one is for a collection of candles and fruit.

Another “Inspiration Décor Moment” just as Nature Intended.

I pray my “Inspiration Décor Moment Blogs” always inspire you to be creative and express your passions. I believe we all have this inside of us. Some of us just need a nudge. Please share with me below by leaving a comment if you have been inspired. I would love to hear your décor moments.

Blessings!

P. S. I have selected some trays I love in my Amazon store to the right.

Space Saving Décor

2009-06-09T09:08:00.001-04:00

If you are like me you are always looking for extra storage in your home. I thought I would share my little weekend project with you that did just that for me. I needed more storage in my pantry and one whole shelve was full of cookbooks. So I started looking around the house for a different place to store them without creating another clutter problem. Just as I always ask my clients to do, I started thinking outside the box. It dawned on me that there is unused space up high above the doorways. So I decided to put a simple shelve above an interior door frame. This is a pass through hallway next to my kitchen and pantry. This created a perfect space saving place for displaying my cookbooks. I also put a wine rack above the same door frame on the opposite side. This concept could also work for other items such as collectibles, books, photo frames and so on. This turned out so well that I think I will see where else I can use this concept in other parts of my home. Another “Inspiration Décor Moment” just as Nature Intended.

I pray my “Inspiration Décor Moment Blogs” always inspire you to be creative and express your passions. I believe we all have this inside of us. Some of us just need a nudge. Please share with me below by leaving a comment if you have been inspired. I would love to hear your décor moments.

Blessings!

Outdoor Living, Gardening

2009-05-19T18:36:00.001-04:00

Master bath no cost makeover

2009-05-01T09:41:00.001-04:00

I just wanted to share how I relax on Sunday afternoon. Most people read or go for a walk but I of course decorate….go figure. I did a no cost mini makeover on my master bathroom. I brought in an antique table, ok I did spend $35 at an estate sale this weekend for this piece but the rest was items I already had. I put all of my favorite perfumes, bath products, lotions and candles on this table. What made is even more special is I used old silver and crystal plates, bowls and jars for containers. I put my cotton balls in an antique cut crystal jaw and my Q-tips in a cute little blue porcelain jar I also used some antique tea cups & saucers for votive candles. Most of us have some beautiful items such as this tucked way back in the cabinets and they never get used. I say lets pull them out and enjoy them everyday. All that is left is to poor a glass of wine and take a bath in my new no cost bathroom surrounded by my favorite things. An inspiring décor moment As Nature Intended.

I pray my “Inspiration Décor Moment Blogs” always inspire you to be creative and express your passions. I believe we all have this inside of us. Some of us just need a nudge. Please share with me and comment below if you have been inspired. I would love to hear your décor moments. Also don't forget to become a "Follower" at the top side bar.

Blessings!