Debbie A. Cunningham

35 decorative rugs that will turn any outdoor space into an oasis

Debbie A. Cunningham 3 days ago

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Summer is around the corner, and if you plan on spending lots of time at home, now is the perfect time to invest in your outdoor space.

From an outdoor fire pit to inflatable kiddie pools (or even a fun pool float!), there are plenty of ways to turn your backyard into an oasis. And let’s not forget about revamping that outdoor living area or a patio.

One way to add texture or color to any outdoor living space is with an outdoor rug. It offers comfort, helps reduce mold or mildew in moisture-prone areas and is an easy way to upgrade

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Without End-of-Year School Fashion Shows, How Are Design Graduates Showcasing Their Work?

Debbie A. Cunningham 3 days ago

Finishing thesis collections and showcasing them from quarantine has created both challenges and opportunities for fashion school grads.

Michelle Hill, a B.F.A. Accessory Design graduate at SCAD, presents her final collection digitally.
Michelle Hill, a B.F.A. Accessory Design graduate at SCAD, presents her final collection digitally.

While marquee-name designers are still trying figure out if and how they’ll approach Spring 2021 fashion shows come September, a different group of designers has already been forced to navigate this challenge, and without much time to prepare.

Typically, May is when prominent design schools hold runway events — sometimes doubling as fundraisers — where at least a selection of graduating students get to showcase their work. They might also get their garments judged in-person by faculty and/or a jury of industry professionals. Potential employers can be among the audience members. 

For many graduating students, these runway shows represent everything they’ve been working toward throughout their undergraduate and graduate careers. They enter fashion school as freshmen or first-year

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10 things you need to design a stylish outdoor oasis for summer

Debbie A. Cunningham 3 days ago
<span class="copyright">(Ross May / Los Angeles Times; Getty Images)</span>
(Ross May / Los Angeles Times; Getty Images)

Summer will look different this year as we continue to shelter in place. Now, when warmer weather hits, many of our favorite places to cool off won’t be open. Outdoor living, whether a balcony or patio or backyard, will have new meaning as we seek solace in the outdoors. So if you are lucky enough to have some outdoor space, we have some ideas for making it special, and we’ve included some images from our photo archives for inspiration.

A Hollywood front porch is transformed into a stylish outdoor room with a recycled plastic rug from Mad Mats. <span class="copyright">(Bethany Mollenkof / Los Angeles Times)</span>
A Hollywood front porch is transformed into a stylish outdoor room with a recycled plastic rug from Mad Mats. (Bethany Mollenkof / Los Angeles Times)

1. Recycled rugs

Outdoor rugs are a great way to add style while helping to define your “outdoor room.” Sustainable rugs made from recycled plastic work well outdoors because they are colorful, pet-friendly and washable. Available in

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Lighting and Outdoor Space Were Key to Transforming This New Construction Home

Debbie A. Cunningham 3 days ago

When Shanty Wijaya of Allprace Properties decided to take on her latest project—a modern farmhouse in L.A.’s historic Jefferson Park neighborhood—she wanted to create a calming atmosphere with an intrinsic outdoor-indoor living situation inspired by the California-cool neighborhood it was built in.

“This neighborhood is known for its Craftsman-style homes, filled with character and history,” says Shanty. “The layout was very closed off and the finishes were uninspiring. The landscaping was completely bare, unappealing, and empty. Our goal was to transform this standard new build into a character-filled Craftsman-style home that blended nicely into the charming neighborhood.” Working with a theme of modern farmhouse and Craftsman style, she completely restored the newly built 2,000-square-foot home, which includes four bedrooms and three bathrooms on a 5,076-square-foot lot.

<div class="caption"> <strong>BEFORE:</strong> Shanty says that landscaping was one of the most difficult tasks of the transformation. “When we designed and landscaped the project, it was winter and most of the plants were still dormant. It was difficult to find tall, mature plants that had a full appearance, which is the look we were going for. We wanted to make sure that the homeowner could enjoy an outdoor, private <a href="https://www.architecturaldigest.com/story/creating-your-own-edible-garden?mbid=synd_yahoo_rss" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank" data-ylk="slk:oasis" class="link rapid-noclick-resp">oasis</a>, and we were able to get the desired look for the landscaping, which I am very proud of.” </div>
BEFORE: Shanty says that landscaping was one of the most difficult tasks of the transformation. “When we designed and landscaped the project, it was
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