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Reviewing the Interior Design Colors and Shapes

Bob and architect Michael Pierce review the elements of DD Allen's interior design for the Miami condo. While the dominant colors throughout are calm whites and blue grays, Pierce stresses that he and Allen choose to punctuate their designs with punches of furniture and color. The magenta Morrison three couch, which is a recumbant three draws the eye as does the purple velvet chair from the 1940s. These strong punches of color are offset by a series of black and white photos by Miami photographer Iran Itzakhan, the Kagan white kidney couch, and the white art deco-style table made by project supervisor David Southard through his furniture-making business, DS Woodworks.

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Chapters from this episode

Patio Furniture on the Miami Condo Now Playing

Patio Furniture on the Miami Condo

Kitchen Design and Appliances in the Miami Condo Now Playing

Kitchen Design and Appliances in the Miami Condo

Completing the Miami Master Bedroom Now Playing

Completing the Miami Master Bedroom

Discussing Small Space Solutions for the Miami Condo Now Playing

Discussing Small Space Solutions for the Miami Condo

Window Treatments and Custom Bedding Now Playing

Window Treatments and Custom Bedding

Reviewing the Interior Design Colors and Shapes Now Playing

Reviewing the Interior Design Colors and Shapes

Interior Design of the Miami Condo Now Playing

Interior Design of the Miami Condo

Glass Shower Doors, Tracks, and Handles Now Playing

Glass Shower Doors, Tracks, and Handles

Clip Transcript For:

Reviewing the Interior Design Colors and Shapes

computer-generated transcript - may not be 100% accurate

" Now the white and the great blue gray are. You know very important parts of the overall look. The walls have been kept also kind of to a bluish gray very very light tones. Yeah we created this very even and cool. Com Miami Beach but then it. These are color punches. As you know about you were in the design district my partner DD and I would -- ever. God for this -- DD hadn't said get back. It's magenta -- it it's great that we like to anchor our plans with. Punches of furniture and color but it's also an iconic design from the sixties. Morrison. Correct number three sofa right and if you look at it in profile it's a three recombinant it's a three on its side right it appears to be symmetrical but it's actually symmetrical and I've tried it two people can sit there very comfortably right and has its organic. Quality and in a way these. Purple chairs. Our. Inorganic. Element as well because of the asymmetry of the back it's -- forties design. And purple belt it's purple. And I would never gone for that either but boy do these colors work together and even this lamp that we found at the same place that had the us."

" Miami's actually a great place to find vintage fifties and sixties furnishings because of the large population of people who have retired or relocated here bringing interesting things from all over. And we're complementing all of these furnishings with these black and white photographs by a local artist Iran is -- These tropical plants and seashells that she's doing now are our real departure for someone who's got a prominent international reputation as a portrait photographer. Our project manager David Southard actually has his own furniture making business and he's made this art Deco style coffee table for us. And finally we have this white kidney shaped sofa designed by Vladimir -- it's a famous mid century design and it's perfect for the fun curvy theme we've got going here."

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Here's another great tip from BobVila.com. It s a great idea to shop for green products. Fortunately, they re becoming easier to find. But don t forget to factor transport into the true cost of what you re buying. Every time a product has to be loaded onto a ship, truck, airplane or train to get to you, fuel is consumed and its carbon footprint gets bigger. If it has to go to Italy to be cut and polished, that stone countertop suddenly gets a lot more expensive for you and the environment even if it was quarried in the next county. Reclaimed wood siding is a great idea, especially if it was taken from a barn down the road. If it had to be shipped across the continent, though, you re better off using lumber that was harvested near you. Look for the stamp of the Forest Stewardship Council to be sure it was sustainably harvested. When it comes to cabinets, doors, hardware and decorative details, never underestimate the power of your local salvage yard. Invest a little paint stripper or brass polish, and you ve got an authentic piece of history that hasn t had to travel far to find a home. By the same token, before you junk that tattered old sofa, find out what your local upholsterer would charge to revive it. Most likely, it ll cost less than buying, packaging and transporting a new one. By employing services and retailers in your community, you re keeping money and jobs local and encouraging wise use of nearby natural resources. Find out more at BobVila.com: The ultimate home improvement web site! BobVila.com 2008

A Healthy Room for Baby

Moving to the baby's room, Bob continues to talk with Bernadette Upton of Eco-Decor about the materials used in an ideal room for baby. Although the room is designed for infants, Upton reviews safety procedures to put in place when the baby becomes a toddler, such as removing tablecloths, anchoring furniture, removing climbable furniture, and safeguarding electrical outlets. Upton reviews Treatment-free fabrics used in the window treatments, including washable cotton and solid wood to avoid the glues and formaldehyde found in pressed woods and particle board. The exposed edges and surfaces of particle board and pressboard should be completely sealed with a non-toxic sealer to stop off-gassing. The sofa is an eight-way hand-tie, which can only be constructed using solid, formaldehyde-free, wood. Upton recommends using wallpaper over vinyl, using a minimal amount of it, and airing it befor hanging. When selecting a crib, Upton recommends selecting one from after 1991 because the crib bars are a safe distance apart from one another and harmful chemicals were banned from the manufacture of children's furniture after that date. The baby's mattress is an organic, chemical-free mattress. The house has natural wood floors with throw rugs. The Baby's Breath brochure is available from the American Lung Association.

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Bob goes furniture shopping at Sears with the homeowners and a designer in New Hampshire.

Decorating the Family Room

Bob visits the home's airy, light-filled basement family room. The house, which is built on a sloping lot, allows the basement level to open directly to the backyard. Leslie Curtis brings in touches of color in all her rooms and the basement is no exception. On the walls a soft, sunny yellow, "Evening Primrose" from Bob Vila's Signature Series paints was chosen. The floor covering, a Dupont Stain Master carpet in a neutral color, features Miracle Fibre technology, a process that puts color into the chemical blend of the carpet's yarn so that it maintains its hue throughout the lifespan of the rug. The denim khaki-clad sofa and chairs are from the Eddie Bauer Home Collection. Bob shows off the family room's entertainment system that features a Panasonic 42-inch flat screen TV with a DVD player/recorder with Replay TV.