I love to travel! Don't get me wrong, I don't always love it at the time - especially not with four hungry and tired kids. But I love getting a glimpse of how people live outside of foggy San Francisco. As a designer, I come home from trips with my head bursting with inspiration. For me, travel keeps life interesting.
This summer we packed up our swim suits and flip flops and headed south to the Caribbean. We spent time in the Bahamas (visiting the islands where I grew up) Cuba, and Mexico. It took us a bit to get used to the heat and humidity, to remember to put on sunscreen every few hours, and to plan siesta time into our busy days- but as you can imagine, it was pretty easy to adapt to the slower pace of life that inevitably goes along with life in the tropics. And non-stop swimming is pretty much required....
Life in the tropics is so vibrant. Bright colors are pervasive - incredible turquoise water, brightly colored fish, birds and insects, lush vegetation, and colorful sunsets. Even buildings are painted playful colors. The sun is intense, humidity thick, music lively, colors vibrant - so interiors in tropical climates are naturally a respite from the intensity of the exterior world. Think lots of whites and warm woods, tropical plants, hammocks, lots of cane and wicker, cement tiles, high ceilings, and most importantly the blending of indoor/outdoor living. In the next few blog posts, I want to unpack some of my favorite aspects of tropical design - and what I think we can try to incorporate into our own homes---whether in tropical climates or not! Stay tuned....
