CRUISE!!

Only 12 days until I head out on this amazing cruise! :) Check out some pictures

The Disney Dream

A stateroom - the virtual portal will have characters from "Finding Nemo" come by and talk to you!!

These large portals have room to sit and look out at the ocean. How fun!! 

Detail, Details, Details. Notice the Mickey hand from the ship telling you which floor?  LOVE IT!

 

 

Obviously, I am a bit more than excited!! :)

Walt Disney's Swan and Dolphin

 I am a very big fan of Disney as you all have come to know so well.
They say a picture is worth a thousand words and I hope this is true as we look at this resort!
There are many people who think Disney is all for kids, but check out this resort -
Walt Disney World Swan and Dolphin

The Swan and Dolphin

Standard Room

Lobby

Lobby, again :)

2 Bedroom Suite

If you think Disney is just for kids...this should change your mind! :)

Disney's Contemporary Resort & Bay Lake Tower

 Disney's Contemporary Resort is one of the first resorts to be built on Disney property in Orlando, Flordia. 
The A-frame building was constructed in 1971; designed by Welton Becket with collaborative efforts by Walt Disney and the United States Steel Corporation.
At the time it was built and opened, it was the definition of a "contemporary" building.

Disney's Contemporary Resort - Lobby

Standard room decor

The monorail runs through the building!

Artist rendition of the proposed Bay Lake Tower

To keep up with the changing views of "modern" and "contemporary" as well as the growing amount of guest that wish to stay on the property, Disney constructed Disney's Bay Lake Tower. It is a 15-story building, home to 295 units for Disney Vacation Club members.

Disney's Bay Lake Tower

Disney's Bay Lake Tower - Lobby

All of the art in the rooms were designed specifically for the Bay Lake Tower.
I love the modern Disney art!

Yes, that the the Magic Kingdom!
Half of all of the rooms in the tower have views to the Castle in Disney Magic Kingdom!

Bay Lake Tower was designed by Charles Gwathmey who died one day before Bay Lake Tower was to open to the public, August 4th 2009. Although reviews of the hotel itself have been quite positive there has been a lot of controversy about the design of the tower. Some critics have called it a "major overshadowing" of the iconic A-frame tower which is Disney's Contemporary Resort. Other have called it a disapointing last work of Gwathmey. I believe the building is spectacular!

Here are some images of Gwathmeys other works for your reference.

Flash Flood of 2011

Yesterday was quite a day to remember. After hours and hours of rain, I walked out of my apartment to find that my complex was flooding...and I don't mean just a little bit. Here are some images from around my complex.

Beyond the trees is skull creek...and where the water is now, that's one of our parking lots as you can see in the next image.

Due to all the crazy weather we have been having in Northwest Arkansas this year 40/29 news did a comparison to the snow received earlier and stated that the amount of rain that we had yesterday would be equal to 12' of snow if it were 40 degrees colder. Thank goodness it was warm out!
The weather is crazy --- be safe out there!!

Designer or Decorator

The Interior Design program at the University of Arkansas, Fay Jones School of Architecture, is an amazing program. Those who graduate from this program have a great understand of design all around, but this is not to say that we are perfect.

Our motto this year is:
"Design is not just what it looks like and feels like. Design is how it works."
-Steve Jobs

It seems to me that in recent years there seems to be a lot of talk about the difference between "interior decorators" and "interior designers." The most simple way I have ever heard it explained is, "A decorator does not design but a designer does decorate..." It is not that Interior Designers feel that they are "better" then others, it is simply that they are more educated on products which will increase the health, safety, and welfare of those who use the space.

In my schools program, it might be over emphasized that we are not "decorators" and thus we focus  more on the planning and organizing of the space and not so much on the "decorating." This is an important part of making a beautiful and functional space (and something that I personally need to work on.)

Here are some images in which art, or "decoration" have really brought the space to life.

The accessories used in this space give a  feeling of comfort.

I love the use of plants on the interior. 

This increases the indoor air quality as well as giving a sense of comfort to the user subconsciously.

This kids clothing store has very few  accessories but the table displays are great!

Okay, just a few more...

Look at all the dots on the shades...maybe too much.

I love this room, the combination of orange, brown, black
white, and red is quite interesting.

 

 

Looks like red, black, and white are popular colors right now!

"Good design is obvious, Great design is transparent"
-Anonymous

T REX

Themed design seems to be the highlight of my life.
This great restaurant, T REX is downtown Disney.

This is outside of the restaurant. Obviously, its a very popular place!

This room is symbolic of the Ice Age. It is even a few degrees colder then the rest of the restaurant.

This is a view into the seating. To the left you can see the bar area and to the right is the ice age room.

This is my favorite place in the building. It is symbolic of the ocean. There are fish and coral everywhere!  


The link below is an amateur video of the restaurant.  As you watch you can see the walls change colors and a view into each room and their relation to each other!
T Rex Video


Enjoy!

Landscape

This is beautiful...lots of maintenance but so worth the time spent.