Luxe Architectural ~ Blog Page

New! Custom Milled Poplar Mouldings!

August 26, 2021

I'm excited to announce that we now have stain grade hardwood Poplar mouldings available!

For all of us, the pandemic has been challenging in one way or another, to say the least. When the lumber industry hit bumps in the road this year, we pivoted! And I'm super excited about the new addition to our moulding family…

Our premium clear (no knots) Poplar hardwood moulding is domestically grown and custom milled for us in Southern California. Since it's custom-milled to our specifications, the profile matches the profile of our other finish options, so if you're placing a re-order; no problem!

Poplar is not only beautiful, but it's renewable and environmentally friendly. It's fast-growing and provides solutions for both energy and cleaner air!

Poplar stains beautifully! I've been so excited to experiment with various stains in light grey, medium grey, espresso, and black. Staining allows a light natural graining to show through, adding beautiful dimension and texture to a room. Not to mention how easy it is to stain; no paintbrush required! Simply wipe it on with a sponge or rag! (more tips and recommendations in future blog posts). I've loved experimenting with General Finishes water-based low odor, low VOC wood stain, and Old Masters wipe on stain gel.

Poplar paints beautifully! Prime the mouldings with a good quality primer. I like Kilz Brand, which is available in low VOC in both an oil-base and water-base. After the primer has completely dried, lightly sand with fine-grit sandpaper or a sanding block such as the 3M Pro Grade Sanding Block Sponge. Use painters tack cloth to remove any sanding dust. Your mouldings are now ready for paint! (Side Note: I've received feedback from customers that they have used a good quality 2-in-1 paint + primer and only had to do one coat of paint and then minor touch-up sanding and touch-up paint.)

Since it's unfinished hardwood, it has less off-gassing than finger-joint products, which is important if you have environmental sensitivities.

Fun Facts About Poplar Trees:

AIR

Like any other fast-growing species, Poplar can purify the air, taking 70 to 140 liters of carbonic anhydrase from the atmosphere every hour and giving back the same quantity of oxygen to the atmosphere. The storage function of carbon (Carbon sink) is also performed after the transformation of the wood into a finished product.

Water

Poplar can distill the water it absorbs from the soil and, thanks to transpiration, it can give water back to the atmosphere completely purified.

As I mentioned at the outset, I am excited about our new Poplar mouldings, and I hope you are too! Feel free to reach out with any questions you might have about our new moulding option! 😊

The Snack Foods I'm Loving Right Now! (Yes, you're reading that correctly!)

November 20, 2020

Well, this has been a crazy year, to say the least! Usually, I do a blog post of my favorite things for each season, that went completely out the window! The last one I did was, wow, Winter 2019! As I began compiling my list, I realized . . . it’s mostly food! 🤣 Food + some beauty products, so I’m dividing this into two blog posts, one now and one (hopefully) in December. Here we go . . . I’m starting with food . . . I hope you discover some new favs!

My whole family is in LOVE with these yummy Sea Salt Corn Dippers by Pipcorn. There are only three ingredients: 100% whole grain heirloom corn (sustainably grown), sunflower oil and sea salt. It’s a “treat” you don’t need to feel guilty about! They taste amazingly buttery (but there’s no butter), light and crispy! Available online at and at Whole Foods for about $3

I know this seems random, but hey, I’m going with it . . This is *THE BEST* vegan cheese. I have an intolerance to a lot of foods (which is a big pain in the butt, by the way), so when I heard about this cheese by Chao, I pretty much immediately bee-lined over to Whole Foods. This cheese is so good; I even eat it right out of the packaging. It’s creamy and melts perfectly, unlike most faux cheese. Even if you aren’t vegan, I’m pretty sure you’ll like this cheese. Available online, at Target and Whole Foods for about $6

If you love chocolate as I do, but sugar is an issue, this might be a solution. These chocolate “Gems” by Hu are made with organic coconut sugar, organic cacao, and organic cocoa butter; that’s it. I like mixing them in my version of trail mix with pecans and dried cherries or, ya know, just eat them straight out of the bag 😉 Available online and at Whole Foods for about $7

I found out about Rao’s marinara sauce from an Ina Garten article, so I had to try it when I saw it at Costco. Oh my goodness! This is the best marinara sauce! Ina never disappoints! Available online and in most grocery stores, including Costco and Target, for about $5-$7.

If you’re looking for a grain-free, nut-free crackers that taste pretty darn good, check out this new addition to the Trader Joe’s line up. These Cauliflower Crisps are amazing and pairs well with Chao vegan cheese. If you don’t have a Trader Joe’s near you, I think these are made by Hippie Snacks, available in grocery stores and online for about $4

Would you like some wine to go with your cheese, crackers, pasta and/or chocolate? How about a bio-dynamic, organic, vegan wine from Italy? I literally just found this wine company, Querciabella, and I’m a happy girl! I pretty much stopped drinking wine because I didn't feel well the next day, even if I only had one four-ounce glass, and sometimes even if it was low sugar and organic. I couldn’t figure out why. I recently discovered that it’s common to use egg white or casein (principal protein in milk) for fining in the wine-making process. (Who knew?) That’s when the light bulb went off. (Pesky dairy and egg intolerance, sigh) Probably TMI for most of you, but if this little tidbit of info helps someone out there enjoy wine again, I’m happy. 😊 Available at Bevmo and online from Wine.com

Last but not least, the perfect popcorn for movie night! Lesser Evil is one of the best tasting, healthy popcorn I’ve had. Made with organic corn, coconut oil, and Himalayan pink salt; simple ingredients, but super tasty! Available online and in stores for about $3.

I hope you've found some new favorites too! Happy Snacking! :)

My go-to's for creating an organized and inspiring home office!

May 11, 2020

Our environment has a huge impact, positive or negative, on our productivity and emotions; the right aesthetics can help to keep us motivated and inspired! For me, my first order of business is to remove the clutter and get organized. Having organizational products that are functional and beautiful makes all the difference!

File in Style

Give your documents a happy home! From eye-catching cabinets to sleek file boxes and file folders, staying organized has never looked so good.

Poppin Office Products Stow 3-Drawer File Cabinet I love this file cabinet! It’s powder-coated steel, locks, and is available in different drawer configurations, with or without casters. Plus, there are many colors/color combinations to choose from! (yes, I am excited about a file cabinet!) Choose white and other select colors at the Container Store, or find more colors at Poppin.com.

If you're looking for an acrylic file box, this is very stylish, and the handles make it easy to tote around. I use this beautiful acrylic file box to display all of my moulding samples! Russell+Hazel.

These are my go-to white file folders and they’re super high-quality! I’ve had mine for a few years now, and I haven’t had any tearing or signs of wear. Made by Russell+Hazel and available from Amazon.com.

I love the more modern, straight-cut tabs of these interior file folders. They’re almost the same shade of white as the Russell+Hazel hanging folders. Made by Smead and available on Amazon.com.

Deck Out Your Desk

This is a functional piece of art! Beautifully crafted, it can serve as a decorative piece of art, bookend, or collator. It’s a beautiful and functional addition to any desk! Acrylic Desk Organizer, Russell+Hazel $28.00

Label Love

A label maker is a must-have for any home or office! Tidy up like a pro and take the guesswork out of organization with labels. I use the Brother P-touch, available at Staples.com.

Stick to It

A magnetic board is like a mood board, calendar, and art piece all in one. Years ago, I purchased a stainless steel magnetic board and hadn’t regretted that purchase for a second! I love the look of a clean, contemporary aesthetic mixed with traditional wall mouldings. This one looks really similar to the one I have, available from the Container Store.

Scented Sanctuary

Set the scene with scents that bring a touch of tranquility and focus to your daily routine.

Vase of Fresh Flowers

Fresh flowers or a beautiful plant make a big difference! Lately, I've been getting bright, fresh flowers from Trader Joe's, but my usual go-to is a Trader Joe's Orchid, Cyclamen in the colder months, or a large Hydrangea plant during the summer months.

I’ve always loved beautifully scented candles. I often have one on my desk; there is just something so calming and soothing about the soft glow of a burning candle. If you’ve followed my blog posts over the last couple of years, you know that I’m a big fan of Illume candles. Nest and Trader Joe’s have been upping their candle game the last year or so with high-quality candles that rival the much more expensive ones.

I hope I've been able to provide some inspiration! Oh, and don’t forget the soft background music! (We’ve been using Pandora to listen to soft jazz or a little Diana Krall during the workday.)

Please take good care of yourself and stay safe and well!

Esther

Our Self-Adhering Individual Wall Moulding Panels Aren't Just for Wainscotting!

April 24, 2020

Our Self-Adhering Individual Wall Moulding Panels Aren't Just for Waincotting!

Products I'm Loving Right Now! ~ Winter 2019

December 21, 2019

Winter is officially here! I've recently discovered some amazing products that bring a little indulgence and comfort to these shorter, colder days. Hey, whatever it takes to get through winter! ;)

Let's start with wine . . .

My Favorite Things for Fall 2019 + Minimum Order Give Away!

September 26, 2019

Fall is my favorite time of year! I love the crisp, cool mornings, warm glow of the autumn sun, the majestic Harvest Moon, and all things pumpkin spice!

August is National Curb Appeal Month! + Free Shipping on our Six Piece Door Moulding Kits!

July 25, 2019

If you're thinking of giving the exterior of your home a little freshening, I've put together some ideas and resources to send a little inspiration your way! : )