It's Showtime!

It's been a fun couple of weeks and we've been on the hunt for the newest, most novel pieces just for you! Last week we were at the L.A. gift show checking out the latest in designs and exploring the current trends. We snapped a few of our favorites and as you can tell most everything is natural, recycled, and earth friendly - definately the theme for the season.

Tis' the season... in the buying world.

It's beginning to look alot like Christmas!

Someone's a little excited for Santa to come! From the looks of things - I think she's on the naughty list. Em - He knows if you've been bad or good, so you might as well drop the sweet act.

Wait!!! - we've still got summer to enjoy...

Two's Company table set with oversized servers and porcelain sea creatures on leaf and coral chargers - very refreshing!

Tamara our Jamie Young rep says, 'no.. no.. no.. - dont take a picture of me!'... sorry sinorita bonita gotcha!

I can't get enough of the deer heads personally - so fun! Imagine a cluster of all shapes and sizes over a fireplace. Love it.

Jamie Young Natural Collection

Jamie Young Hand blown bubble base lamps - cork, hemp, and raw silk shades

Jamie Young vintage shell bottles

Vintage inspired aprons - we love them! One of our top sellers! So fun to shop the new designs and fabrics for the season.

As it gets later and later in the day - things tend to get funnier and funnier.

Our team for the day - Emily... Laguna Beach Manager, Jaymi... Buyer, Kara... Ladera Ranch Design Manager, Laurie... owner (behind the lense)

Project Complete!

This project in Huntington Beach has come to an end and what a beautiful home it has become! We have taken just a few snap shots to share with you...

Sunset's Trip to Visit

Check out what Sara Gaffney of Susnet Magazine had to say about their little jaunt to visit us last week... all I have to say is that it's a good thing we are such great friend's because they are really pushin' it with this timetable!... Actually we've got it all under control, most of the merchandise has already been received thanks to our great vendors who rallied together for this project and are assisting us in a prompt completion.

From our neck of the woods to yours... see ya in Monterey!

Hurray!

After 6 Months of Waiting...

They have finally arrived!!! Just one of the many items that we found after searching high and low for that perfect rustic natural piece of art for Tuvalu back in January. They have arrived after months of anticipation and we couldn't be more pleased! Each tapestry is handmade which is why the long wait, but well worth it. This company has a slue of vintage coastal, beach, and seashell images to select from sure to fit any coastal style. Once you have selected your style you can then pick the size of tapestry that you want to fit any space. You should have seen us picking out our pieces from the different collections! All of us on the floor on our hands and knees, flipping through sample after sample; leaning, pulling, and tabbing for what seemed like hours! Creating an absolute disaster, all to find the perfect complements for our stores. It was quite the sight... when we were finished we apologized for our mess, dried the sweat - and then went on. We had to get it just right for our customer... all in a fun day's work!

From a little wall in a bathroom, to a large space over a sofa, these vinatge inspired tapestries are the perfect choice. Along with the tapestries, they have also designed distressed showbox art pieces with coral, seafans, and seashells in all different sizes and finishes. Stop by either of our two stores to check out our selections, or if you want to create your own custom piece for that perfect spot you are invited to do so! You may have to wait a month or so to receive it as each piece is created to perfection, but you will be enjoying it for a lifetime - so a month is nothing in the grand scheme of things.... right?!

Don't Panic It's Organic

We love this line that is new and fun for us! These pieces are recycled, solid, sturdy, and a great focal point in any space. A must have for anyone looking to update their look with a little natural, washed up from the seashore, type of a feel. The best part is that this line is welcomingly affordable. In addition to the already great prices on these pieces, we are offering an additonal 10% off to our blogging friends. Just cut this coupon and bring it in to enjoy these great savings!

Elm Wood Dining Table .......................................$2300

Elm Wood Coffee Table ........................................$990

Elm Wood Sofa Table .........................................$1100

Elm Wood Bench .................................................$700

Furniture that will make your friends jealous ........Priceless

Look for this sticker...

Look for this sticker in our stores on the tags of our items for what is green and earth friendly. We have searched high and low through hundreds of artisans collecting positively-perfect, eco-friendly finds sure to define any room.

We have commited ourselves to soy based inks, recycled paper for printing, the concept of "bag or no bag" upon checkout, and incentify reusable shopping bags for our customers. We have chosen to design our homes using sustainable sofas - water based finishes, recycled fiber filling, and soy based cushions. As part of our commitment toward a better future, one tree will be donated to American Forests® for every natural Lee Industries sofa sold. We hope that the steps we have taken will help reduce our overall environmental footprint on the Earth.

Reduce. Reuse. Recycle.

Sunset Idea House 2005

In case you were wondering exactly what we are up against for this Sunset deadline, here are a few pics from the last house in Ladera Ranch... Enjoy!

Music Room

Master Retreat

Guest Room

Boy's Room

Girl's Room

Movie Room

Game Room

Arte Italica Tabletop

Dining Room

Dining Room

Kitchen Table

Sunset Magazine Take 2

It may look chaotic - but really there is a method to our madness. We promise.

Every year Sunset Magazine has a featured "idea house" that Sunset designs and furnishes so that people can peruse and admire, while also getting ideas for their own homes. They publish a 15 page spread on this home and give readers an inside peak into the latest and greatest in home design and archetecture. We did the Sunset Idea House in 2005 and it was Craftsman inspired, located in Covenant Hills in Ladera Ranch California. We were fortunate enough to have a store right around the corner which made for easy shopping for all the visitors that came to tour the home, to then drop into our store to take home a few Sunset House items of their own. When we did this project we had a couple months to finalize the designing and buying, having time to revise those last minute gliches, dotting our 'i's' and crossing our 't's'...

That was then - This is now.

Sara Gaffney Homes Program Manager and Joseph Hittinger Head Designer on the project flew in yesterday morning to meet with us to discuss the project. This 2008 idea house is on the verge of completion in Monterey California and now it's crunch time. The feel of this home is contemporary farmhouse which is exciting for us, as we have recently introduced a rough hewn Elm furniture line to Tuvalu which just happened to suit this project perfectly. We went through the schematics of the home and the story of each room, and were able to design and put together a plan that is sure to be beautiful, different, and most exciting for us! Lots of burlap natural fibers, woven materials, and reclaimed furnishings. The catch... (going back to the 'that was then - this is now' part) - they are photographing the home complete and installed on July 25th!!!

Needless to say, we've got our work cut out for us. Let the countdown begin. Wish us luck!

Beauty Surrounds...

Santa Barbara

We are excited to share with you what we have been up to in the last little bit. Not only do we have our retail stores for your everyday shopping needs, but our design division has been experiencing immense growth recently - keeping us very busy and constantly reinventing our Tuvalu style in beach home after beach home, cottage after cottage, and estate after estate. Our state of the art design centers in both of our locations are chocked full of the latest fabrics, designs, and furniture; along with an experienced design team eager to assist in your every design need. No job is too small or too large, we are up for the challenge, and we invite you to stop on by and check out what we've got instore for your humble abode.

Stay tuned for a sneak peak into our current projects that are on the brink of completion!

Coastal Living Vintage Shell Bottles

Vinatge Shell Bottles featured in Coastal Living

As a special treat and in celebration of Coastal Living, we bring you these unique artisan interpretations of vintage glass bottles. Utilizing the ocean’s bounty or bejeweled with whimsical abandon, these timeless one-of-a-kind creations will add a Tuvalu touch to your own decorating style. Colors may vary. Bottle is for decor only, non-functional.

Designed by our local Laguna Beach artisan, we can barely keep these bottles in stock so hurry and snatch these up while you can!

Tuvalu Tides Tips 1, 2, and 3...

Well we've got to catch you up to speed with our current and previous Tides Tips. Our Tides Tip #1 encouraged you to mix and match your accessories in your home creating an ecclectic and warm feel. Our Tides Tip #2 showed you how to 'Hang a Chandelier Just About Anywhere', giving you ideas of clever places to hang a chandelier delivering that unsuspecting element of coastal ambiance and romance to just about any space... Whether it is hung in your living room, kitchen, powder room, laundry room, or in an outdoor living area - a good chandelier is sure be seen as a perfectly sculpted art form. Shop our wide selection of chandeliers now. Our Tides Tip #3 is our most recent tip and can be seen currently on our website. As summer approches we think of long afternoons on the sand and fun family gatherings into the night. Our Tip #3 is to nourish those relationships closest to you and engage in family gatherings often. We have hand selected some our our favorite entertaining must haves, including our favorite melamine sealife picnicware as featured in this June 2008 issue of Coastal Living. Shop now to receive 15% of these and other entertaining must haves!

Top 50 Retail Stars in the United States... that's us!

The Best and the Brightest Home Accents Today's 50 Retail Stars for 2008!

Featured in this month's Home Accents Today, Tuvalu Home Environment has been recognized as one of fifty brightest retail stars in the U.S. Those who were awarded and recognized are independent specialty retailers who are creative in their merchandising, making a good living for themselves, contributing to their communities, and most importantly distinguishing themselves from the competition. They excel in innovative marketing and advertising efforts, head turning in-store displays and out of the box business ideas.

Here's what they had to say about us:

" 2 Stores; estimated 2007 sales $3-$4.9 million. Home accent specialists, founded in 2002. Stores operating in Laguna Beach California and Ladera Ranch California, carry mid priced to high-end lines. Has a combined 5,200 square feet of selling space, with 65% devoted to home accents. Also sells online. Has 40 employees, including a sales team of 30. Home accents include furniture, lamps, lighting, wall decor, decorative pillows, throws, permanent botanicals, rugs, tabletop, garden accessories and other decorative accessories. Home accents accounted for 61% of 2007 total sales; accent furniture 9%; furniture 22%; and other merchandise 8%. Showcases more than 800 vendors, including local artists. Other key companies include Palecek, Hickory Chair, Lee Industires, Mc Guire and Grass Roots for accent furniture. Ivy Guild, Edge frames, Ivy Guild, Jamie Young, Currey & Company, By the Sea, and Natural Curiosities for accessories. Offers gift cards. Strives to shop artisans who are new to the market."

Thank you Home Accent's for recognizing our efforts and our passion for coastal accessories and decor. We look forward to many more years of success and growth in the future with great support like yours!

O O O O Oprahhhh....

Oprah Pacifica Solid Perfumes

$9.00

Oprah loves Pacifica Solid Perfumes and we love her! Featured in this month's issue of Oprah magazine is the only perfume line that we carry at Tuvalu (so they must be good) - we love them and apparently Oprah does too! These pocket size pacifica solid perfumes are the perfect fruity flavor mixers sure keep you smelling fresh and flirty all day long.

Grab a few of these fabulous scents and keep them around for that last minute sprucing or give them as that latest and greatest gift for that special girlfriend who has everything!

Hawaiian Ruby Guava ~ Waikiki Pakaki ~ Tahitian Gardenia ~ Brazilian Mango Grapefruit ~ Bali Lime Papaya ~ Malibu Lemon Blossom ~ Tuscan Blood Orange ~ Sandlewood ~ Mediterranian Fig

Pacifica Perfumes represents a return to the designer's original passion. These essences are steeped in tradition while transcending expectations. Fresh, fun, easy to wear and easy to layer, these blends have unlimited possibilities to fit with your personal style. And guess what, Pacifica Perfumes are made with natural grain alcohol.

Tuvalu Tides Tips Tips and More Tips...

We at Tuvalu have decided to keep our friends up to date with the latest and greatest designing ideas, great new coastal accessories, and creative entertaining ideas via our Tuvalu Tides Tips. Please enjoy what we have to share and hopefully you will be inspired to incorporate some of them into your own home and lifestyle. Stay tuned!

Paper or Plastic? No Thank You. It's More Than Just a Fashion Statement...

Although we are well aware these are the cutest darn reusable grocery bags ever - that is not the only reason why we love them so much!

In New York City alone, one less grocery bag per person, per year, would reduce waste by 5 million pounds and save $250,000 on disposable costs.

A sturdy reusable grocery bag needs to be used only 11 times to have a lower environmental impact than using 11 disposal plastic bags. Keep these bags in your trunk for your every day shopping needs.

Purchase your reusable grocery bags now at our online store to receive 5% off all of your future purchases at Tuvalu. Or visit either of our 2 locations in Laguna Beach or Ladera Ranch to receive 5 % off all of your future purchases on all that you can fit in your bag for now and forever!