BLOG

I must confess. I didn't always love plywood. When my husband and I were building our house, plywood was a readily available and relatively inexpensive material. Living in the tropics, we didn't need insulation, so we created purely functional plywood and exposed stud walls. For many years, I reluctantly tolerated their unfinished, rustic look until a trip to Abbot Kinney in LA a couple of summers ago. Walking into Gelina Take Away Cafe, I immediately recognized my open stud and plywood living room walls! They had become a defining design element!  My love affair with plywood began in that moment. Not only is plywood...

Last weekend we had the honor of hosting our beautiful niece's baby shower--in our backyard! Kaya (@kayacapella) and her husband Ben wanted a woodland/forest vibe so our jungle landscape proved to be an ideal backdrop. Several of us set out early in the morning with clippers and baskets and walked around our farm harvesting wild tropical flowers, leaves and branches for decor. A few of our go-to favorites growing in abundance here are monstera leaf, plumeria and macadamia nut branches. We created a bohemian style outdoor seating area using an assortment of lauhala mats, cotton poufs and drop cloth covered cushions. We...

          Is it just me or does it seem that Australians have taken the design world by storm? They have trademarked an aesthetic of contrasts that just work: modern, rustic, bright, moody, bohemian and polished. In addition, they know how to bring the outdoors in, seamlessly. Every time I go to Bali, I love to check out the latest Aussie designed boutique hotels, beach clubs, surf shacks and cafes...

This post was inspired by a product we fell in love with on a recent trip to the Bay Area. After coffee at the Depot in Mill Valley, we popped into Summer House where we were intrigued by a mysterious  dark metal container housing lava stones. Beside it was a small bottle of perfume....

Aloha and welcome to our blog! We are excited to use this as an interactive platform to share our latest ideas, design projects, DIY’s, and inspirations with you. We welcome your questions, comments and feedback. Thanks for following along! Luis and Ana Castillo...