summer home – Design Your Lifestyle.

Your Beach House Bathroom Can Be Sleek + Stylish

June 2020June 2020Peter Salerno Inc.

Your Beach House Bathroom Can Be Sleek + Stylish

The phrase “beach house bathroom” has conjured up the wrong images for far too long. Ratty throws, sandy floors, and outdated showers and tubs once dominated the bathrooms of summer homes, as homeowners were preoccupied with all the things that could go wrong with its design.

Instead, why not focus on what can go right? The start of summer is the perfect opportunity to update your beach home’s bathroom to a sleek, stylish appearance that reflects the pride and presentation that you’ve built into the rest of your space.

Update your beach house bathroom to be sleek, stylish and inviting. (Credit Peter Rymwid)

Many of the questions that beach house owners have about updating their bathroom designs seem logical.

“Why should I invest in the bathroom; it’s just going to get dirty!” “What happens when family and guests track sand all over?” “Shouldn’t I just consider my beach home’s bathroom as a glorified mud room?”

The answer to all these concerns is a simple one. Your family, friends and guests will inherently assign the same value to any room in your home that you do – bathroom included. If you invest the time, focus and proper design elements towards making your beach house bathroom sleek, stylish and beautiful, its users will treat it with the same care and respect.

Great views and open floor plans can maximize your beach house bathroom's space. — Great views and open floor plans can maximize your beach house bathroom’s space. (Credit Peter Rymwid)

Great views and open floor plans can maximize the space in your beach house bathroom. As Ren Miller, editor-in-chief of Design New Jersey magazine, stated in our Summer interview, “Views are important – get some big windows in your vacation home!” Make sure the designer handling your bathroom space values clean, functional design.

Also, don’t be afraid to trade in those ratty rugs and throws for tile floors. They’re much easier to clean and maintain, and once again – if you present a beautiful space, it is bound to be respected by your guests.

Finally, if you are dealing with an interior or narrow bathroom space, and space is at a premium, there are still creative design solutions! In our photo example at the top of the article, note the use of floor-to-ceiling mirrors to present the illusion of a larger space. Also, our design team was sure to stack as much functional storage as possible within the beautiful vanity and mirror combination on the far wall.

A great designer or design firm can make the most of any beach house bathroom, large or small. For more information on how Peter Salerno and his team can be of service, please visit their website.

Beautiful Independence Day Beach Home Photos

June 2017June 2017Peter Salerno Inc.

Gorgeous 4th of July Summer Home Design Photos

From all of us at Design Your Lifestyle (and our parent company Peter Salerno Inc.) to all of you, we wish you a happy, safe, and memorable 4th of July weekend! Whether you can get away to the beach or shore for July 4th or not, Peter Salerno proudly brings the “beach house” life to you with these photos of his award-winning beach house design on the Jersey Shore.

Your Spacious Summer Kitchen Design Tips for 2017

June 2017June 2017Peter Salerno Inc.

Summer Home Kitchen Design Tips To Maximize Your Space

So you’re thinking about creating the perfect summer kitchen. That’s fantastic! What better way to share one of the most intimate rooms of your home with friends, family and guests than by creating an inviting, warm summer kitchen in which to share meals and memories?

Updating your kitchen, of course, can seem daunting. Where do you start? What should you value? And what special design elements can you implement to add the warmth and joy of summer into your kitchen – whether it’s for a vacation home, or all year round?

Create an inviting summer kitchen with open floor plans and a splash of color. (Credit Peter Rymwid)

Our expert design friends at Peter Salerno Inc. are here to help with a few design tips (and some great photography, courtesy of Peter Rymwid). With our help, you can transform your kitchen into an inviting space sure to please your loved ones and guests for years to come.

Tip #1: Utilize an open floor plan.

Make sure your kitchen has enough space to accommodate as many guests as you may have. This doesn’t just include comfortable seating – there needs to be space in which to maneuver. Also, it’s important that the person utilizing the kitchen feels just as much a part of your gathering as anyone else, so make sure he or she can easily see and be seen by your guests!

Tip #2: Multiple seating areas.

The same summer kitchen design, from another angle. Notice the added seating! (Credit Peter Rymwid)

Take a look at this second photo. Surprise – it’s the same kitchen as above! Adding a center island with bar-style seating is a fantastic way to provide your guests with more areas to relax and enjoy themselves. It also provides the “chef du jour” with the opportunity to interact more intimately with your guests. Creating this island seating space also ensures that you can accommodate more people without detracting from your open floor plan.

Tip #3: Have fun with summer color(s)…

…but don’t go overboard! Pick one or two bright, friendly summer tones to accent your kitchen (notice our combination of clean white and light nautical blue). You can easily add color to your space by setting out fresh fruit and vegetables, bringing in fresh flowers, and/or setting out enticing foods and drinks (like a great bottle of red wine or a tall pitcher of rosemary lemonade – you can find the recipe for that here!).

Of course, when it comes to designing your dream summer kitchen, there’s no better place to start than a visit to your trusted design experts. With 30 years of custom, award-winning kitchen and cabinetry design experience, turn to Peter Salerno and our top-notch team to create your ideal summer kitchen with love and care.

For more information on Peter Salerno Inc. and their award-winning summer kitchen designs, please visit their website.

Pantone Spring 2017 Color Trends: Island Paradise, Pale Dogwood [Part 3 of 5]

February 2017February 2017Peter Salerno Inc.

Pantone Spring 2017 Colors: Island Paradise, Pale Dogwood

If you like your spring design colors a bit more relaxed and airy than the bold Lapis Blue and Flame we featured in Part 2 of our Pantone Spring 2017 Color Trends piece, then Part 3 is for you!

As we’ve stated throughout this Pantone Spring 2017 color design series, the selected colors of Spring 2017 reflect natural beauty, bright optimism, and fresh beginnings. From the fantastic blue anchor color Niagara to the nutty neutral Hazelnut, Pantone’s colors for this spring signal a return to the great (and beautiful) outdoors.

Pantone Spring 2017 color trends: Island Paradise and Pale Dogwood are delicate and arresting.

In Part 3 of our 5-part series on this season’s Pantone color palette, we’ve paired off the two most understated, delicate and light-hearted colors of the spring – Island Paradise (14-4620 TCX) and Pale Dogwood (13-1404 TCX). The combination of fresh aqua and shy, gentle pink is at once charming and soothing.

From the Spring 2017 runway collections at New York Fashion Week to trends in interior design and home decor, these two beautiful hues might not demand your focus – but they certainly deserve your attention.

If this is your first look at our 5-part Pantone Spring 2017 series, here is the full list of Spring 2017 Pantone colors, along with their TCX designations and the order in which we will feature them:

Niagara (17-4123 TCX) – Part 1 of 5
Primrose Yellow (13-0755 TCX) – Part 1 of 5
Lapis Blue (19-4045 TCX) – Part 2 of 5
Flame (17-1462 TCX)– Part 2 of 5
Island Paradise (14-4620 TCX)
Pale Dogwood (13-1404 TCX)
Greenery (15-0343 TCX) – Part 4 of 5
Pink Yarrow (17-2034 TCX) – Part 4 of 5
Kale (18-0107 TCX) – Part 5 of 5
Hazelnut (14-1315 TCX) – Part 5 of 5

Let’s take a closer look at 2 more shades in the Spring 2017 Pantone color design palette – Island Paradise and Pale Dogwood.

Island Paradise: A Refreshing Aqua Blue

Perhaps the most inherently “spring” of the Pantone Spring 2017 color selections, Island Paradise immediately evokes images of clear, Caribbean water and bright blue skies.

Pantone Spring 2017 color trends: Island Paradise is a cool, refreshing aqua.

Light blue is generally recognized as a color that promotes daydreaming and pleasant thought. As such, utilize Island Paradise in areas of your home where you want to relax! A perfect, pleasant shade for any beach home, sun room or any “R&R” space, Island Paradise is a fine color selection for a room design meant to induce relaxation.

When it comes to wardrobe and fashion design, Island Paradise has found its way into airy sleeveless tops, cotton shorts, and sheer dresses. If you’re looking for jewel tones and/or accessories to accentuate your Island Paradise wardrobe, try silver, aquamarine, rose gold and lighter shades of leather.

Pale Dogwood: One Of Our Favorite Shades of Pink

Gosh, we love Pale Dogwood. A “relative” of 2016’s Pantone co-color of the year, Rose Quartz, this soft pink is becoming quite the commodity in bridesmaids’ dresses, sofas, and bedroom accessories such as pillows and throws. In other words, Pale Dogwood has become a Pantone shade instantly synonymous with softness and comfort.

Pantone Spring 2017 color trends: The light, airy Pale Dogwood is an amazing shade of pink.

The delicate floral nature of Pale Dogwood lends itself brilliantly to accessories in home decor and design. The “baby pink” will naturally be attached to baby’s rooms; don’t be afraid to utilize the shade in modest doses in your kitchen and bath designs as well. We’re also seeing a growing movement on Pinterest of homeowners and home designers using Pale Dogwood as an accent wall color.

Major label designers and clothiers such as Banana Republic and Lacoste adored Pale Dogwood in their Spring 2017 fashion designs and runway exhibits. Pale Dogwood’s inherent airy beauty works well in both men’s and women’s fashion – guys, if you see a Pale Dogwood polo, dress shirt or shorts and are intrigued, go for it! In terms of women’s fashion, Pale Dogwood is a tremendous choice for sundresses, blouses and small accessory pieces for the hair and wrists.

Stay with Design Your Lifestyle over the next several weeks, as we continue to feature the ten beautiful hues that make up the Pantone Spring 2017 Color Design Report!

Design Tips For Beautiful Summer Kitchens

July 2016July 2016Peter Salerno Inc.

Expert Tips For Summer Kitchen Designs

While discussing how to “Design Your Lifestyle” for the Summer of 2016, we’ve already covered some expert design tips for creating a dream summer kitchen for you, your family and your guests. But once you’ve consulted with design experts (like those at Peter Salerno Inc.) and created that beautiful kitchen space, what do you do next?

Adding a bit of your own style, beautiful decor, and “summery” elements to your kitchen will only help make the space more appealing and personal. Utilizing lots of ambient light is important, but you should also find other ways to make your summer kitchen bright. Most importantly, make sure the space is one that you can truly call your own.

Here are a few more design tips (from one of the world’s foremost custom kitchen and bath designers) to help create a beautiful summer kitchen!

Tip #1: Lots of light.

A beautiful summer kitchen in Lavallette designed by Peter Salerno. (Photo: Peter Rymwid)

In the beautiful Lavallette, NJ, summer kitchen above (designed by Peter Salerno), you’ll notice the utilization of several highly unique hanging lamps and lanterns. There’s plenty of ambient light permeating the room, but adding bold, stylish lighting fixtures throughout your kitchen space ensures that it appears sunny at all times.

Think of ways you can include fresh lighting ideas into your summer kitchen. If you don’t have the proper ceiling space to do so, perhaps wall-mounted or floor-based lighting is the answer. Talk to your expert kitchen design consultants for inspiration, and cheer up your cooking space!

Tip #2: A bit of garden freshness.

Add fresh colors to your kitchen design for Summer 2016!

This summer kitchen is constantly adorned by fresh fruits and vegetables, as well as lush plants. Our friends at Houzz explain more in this quote:

“Even if you don’t have the space, time, or energy to have a summer garden, there are still plenty of easy and beautiful ways to incorporate plants into your home. A container garden is a perfect way to benefit from the beautiful flowers and herbs that flourish in the summer…If you’re short on floor space, a few hanging plants can add a brilliant pop of green to a room.”

Don’t know if you want to go “all in” on including plants inside your summer kitchen? That’s fine! You can still achieve the same effect by incorporating freshly cut flowers, leafy vegetables, and vibrantly-colored fruit on your countertops and table space.

Tip #3: Add splashes of color… in your own unique style!

Look at the Lavallette, NJ, kitchen above a bit more closely, and you’ll notice some unique home decor items that add splashes of color to an already sunny room. (For example, how great is that turquoise big-mouthed fish on the shelf above the stainless steel microwave?)

Pick 1 or 2 complementary colors and see what you can do with them. As Ren Miller, editor-in-chief of Design New Jersey magazine said in a past interview with our blog:

“People are trying to make their beach homes more like their regular homes, just with a bit more color…Navy blue and white is a popular combination, but rather traditional; in the past few years we’ve seen combinations of two shades of blue – navy blue and aqua, for example. It provides freshness. Navy and orange is a bold combination as well. Be creative with patterns and colors – area rugs, throw pillows.”

Of course, the design team at Peter Salerno Inc. is always here to help you achieve the ultimate summer kitchen for you, your family and your unique space. Visit their website for even more information, or give them a call at 201.251.6608.

4th of July Weekend: Celebrate Independence Day 2016 in Style!

July 2016July 2016Peter Salerno Inc.

Celebrate The 4th of July in Style!

July 4, 2016 is the 240th anniversary of America’s independence. It’s time to reflect, celebrate, and spend time with the people you love – but most importantly, it’s the best time of year to show off your American national pride!

For those of you looking to make a stylish statement this Fourth of July, we’re here to help. Being an American means the right to fully express yourself – especially when you’re showing your love for the United States!

Take on a “Red, White & Blue” Summer Home Design Project

Invest in your home by hiring a world-class kitchen and bath designer to give your home, summer home or beach house a “red, white and blue” update! Whether it’s one color or a combination of all three, these bright, summery colors don’t go out of style – and they’re part of the Pantone color palette this summer!

Give your summer home a makeover for 2016! (Peter Salerno Inc.)

A custom Peter Salerno summer beach home kitchen design. (Photo credit Peter Rymwid)

Pantone Style Guide for 4th of July Style

Want a way to show off the red, white and blue in a fresh, stylish way? A great starting point is our article about the official Pantone colors of Summer 2016 style. Pantone is the authority on accurate color matching and precision, and their seasonal color palettes are the foundation for great design, style and fashion.

The official colors of Summer 2016, according to Pantone!

There are 2 shades of red and 2 shades of blue in the Summer 2016 Pantone report.

Pantone “Reds”, Summer 2016:
- Rose Quartz (Pantone 13-1520)
- Peach Echo (Pantone 16-1548)
Pantone “Blues”, Summer 2016:
- Snorkel Blue (Pantone 19-4049)
- Serenity (Pantone 15-3919)

Why not blend the official Pantone colors of Summer 2016 into your 4th of July decor, fashion and style? Decorate your picnic table or backyard party with Rose Quartz or Snorkel Blue, and you not only have a fashionable occasion but a great conversation starter!

Celebrate Our Military Heroes This July 4th

There’s nothing more “in fashion” on the 4th of July than celebrating the heroes of the United States Armed Forces. Take it from a man like Peter Salerno, not only a world-renowned designer but a veteran of the United States Navy.

Peter attended The Citadel, The Military College of South Carolina and graduated as an Ensign in the U.S. Navy with a Business Degree. His Naval commitment gave him the ability to travel most of Europe and Western Asia. Studying art and sketching have always been a form of relaxation for Peter; being stationed in Italy was the perfect opportunity to study the masters and old world architecture first hand. After returning from the Navy and working in corporate America, Peter decided to return to his father’s business and began to apply his artistic vision to the growing family business.

This Independence Day, see the world through the eyes of a man like Peter Salerno, who cherishes both service to his country and being an extraordinary kitchen and bath designer. Take a moment to show your gratitude to our military.