Cuprit: Villa Sirocco + Tons of Stuff!

Hi everyone!  I knew that my posts were going to get skimpy while I worked on preparations for the SL Home & Garden Expo but I never knew how much time it actually takes (sometimes 16 hrs/day).  I have a whole new level of respect for the folks that do this regularly and while I was exhausted by opening day, I also knew that I was hooked.  I loved the challenge and am looking forward to the next adrenaline high!

SL's Home & Garden Expo 7 opened this week and has 9 sims devoted to some of the best new products on the grid.  The Expo is one of several mega-events operated by Relay For Life of Second Life, which donates funds for cancer research.   I've long been a fan of eku Zhong's work for Culprit. In addition to be a Gold Sponsor at this year's Expo, Culprit has released a fabulous house, the Villa Sirocco, which is a lovely mix of Moorish and Spanish architecture.  The home features a large U-shaped room on the main floor.  There is enough division between the rooms so that they can include a kitchen or a main bedroom; there are really no restrictions.  All rooms open directly into an inner courtyard that features a reflecting pool.  

The stairway is on the exterior of the house, adding to the openness of the interior and also another spot to decorate :).

This is actually just a small corner on the lower level.  Because the house has so much area it can handle heavy furniture looks.  The ceiling is lower on the main floor but the upper level has soaring ceilings.

This photo of the study area is tan from the courtyard.  The room entries are truly fantastic.

Eku has made a few new extras for the house, like the sconces shown above and the lanterns on the stairway that really add a sweet touch to the house.

The upper rooms feature tall beamed ceilings and large windows to let in natural light. These are also very large rooms and can easily be multipurpose.

The two upper rooms are separated by a darling open patio.

/Hangs head in shame for leaving out the toilet!  I had a lot of fun making the other upper room into a bathroom, Trompe Loeil has a lovely set at FaMESHed this month so thanks to Cory Edo for all her hard work on it!

Almost all of the items I've shown in the rooms are available right now at several of the current rounds of several fantastic events.  They include the Home & Garden Expo, The Liaison Collaborative, The Men's Dept., Collabor88, FaMESHEd and The Arcade, all mesh and with amazingly low impact so that you can fill up this grand house and still have room for a garden.

Credits: There are a ton of new items in the post and the SLURL to each event is in the paragraph above so as to keep the credits as clean as I possibly can make them.

Exterior:
Home: Culprit: Villa Sirocco - LI 90: New Release: currently available exclusively at The 7th Annual Home & Garden Expo  (url is direct tp to the exhibit)
Trees: Studio Skye: left: Four Season Oak Tree: 100% donation to RFL;  right: Ancient Olive Tree: 100% donation to RFL   Both trees exclusively available at The 7th Annual Home & Garden Expo  (url is direct tp to the exhibit).
Walkway: +Half-Deer+ : Lighted Pathway - Planks - Tex. Change
Pagoda: KIDD: Japan Lantern -Single Lamp
Lantern: Thistle - Lantern with Arm & Glow
Lounge: Sway's:  [Dreamer] Garden Lounger . lavender (from I<3 Ulaa event)
Cart: Roawenwood: Fantastical Cider Cart

Courtyard:
Bench: POST: Nisswa Pine Bench (blanket)
Cat: Fashionably Dead:  Cat - 07 Sitting Down: currently available to win at The Arcade

Stairway:
Lanterns: Culprit - Moorish Lanterns: New Release: currently available exclusively at The 7th Annual Home & Garden Expo
Cat: Fashionably Dead: Cat - 10 Scared: currently available to win at The Arcade

Living Room: (left to rightish)
Lantern: Barnesworth Anubis: moroccan filigree pendant lantern
Birdcage: +Half-Deer+ : The Mad Scientist's Birdcage - New Release: currently available at The Liaison Collaborative
Sofa: Stockholm&Lima: The Spellbound Settee: New Release: currently available at The Men's Dept.
Chair: [Fetch]:  Vega Chair -  New Release: currently available at The Liaison Collaborative
Rug: Max Marine - ancient!
Table: Trompe Loeil - Octopus Table Marble - Black: currently available to win at The Arcade
Cigars (on table): Zigana: cigars: New Release: currently available at The Men's Dept.
Leather Pouffe: Zigana:  leather pouffe . chestnut: New Release: currently available at The Men's Dept.
Lillies: Dutchie: lilies
Big Lamp: Soy. Floor lamp [Gourd tree]
Lounge: Culprit: Sleek Lounger Brown Leather: 100% donation to RFL. Exclusively available at The 7th Annual Home & Garden Expo
Radiator: ARIA: Parma short radiator: New Release: currently available at The Men's Dept.

Sconce Photo:
Sconces: Culprit: Wall Candle:  New Release: currently available exclusively at The 7th Annual Home & Garden Expo
Table: POST: Latour Antique Telephone Stand
Dispenser: POST: Neuchatel Absinthe Fountain

Study:
Desk and Computer: [Fetch] Vega Desk / Vega Computer & Snacks: New Release: currently available at The Liaison Collaborative
Lounge: Culprit: Sleek Lounger Black Leather: 100% donation to RFL. Exclusively available at The 7th Annual Home & Garden Expo
Chair: Consignment:  Travelers Desk - Chair (gacha item)
Wall Display: 22769 ~ [bauwerk] Wall Display: New Release: currently available at The Liaison Collaborative
Rug: junk.: bartlet rug. one.
Coffee Table: EliBaily: Nar Coffee Table_Black: New Release: currently available at The Men's Dept.
Plant: EliBaily: Potted Nep Plant: New Release: currently available at The Men's Dept.
Ceiling Light: ARIA: Parma pendant  light: New Release: currently available at The Men's Dept.

Bedroom: (left to right)
Drafting Table: Aria: Parma drafting table, includes stool & cactus - both PG/A available: New Release: currently available at The Men's Dept.
Wall Light: Pixel Mode - Manchester - Wall Light: New Release: currently available at The Liaison Collaborative
Trompe Loeil - Monserrat Chair With Blanket: New Release: currently available at Collabor88
Bedside Lamp: EliBaily: Pipe Lamp_Black: New Release: currently available at The Men's Dept.
Horsie: 7 Emporium: Giddy Up (rare): currently available to win at The Arcade
Bed: Pixel Mode: Manchester Bed - PG/A: New Release: currently available at The Liaison Collaborative
Cats: Fashionably Dead:  Cat - 19 Cuddling Pair (rare): currently available to win at The Arcade
Table: Thistle: abc Animal coffee table: 100% donation to RFL. Exclusively available at The 7th Annual Home & Garden Expo
Sofa: EliBaily: Chester Leather Sofa brown PG/A: New Release: currently available at The Men's Dept.
Rug: LISP - Lolo Rug Green-Beige

Upper Patio:
Fountain: Kaerri: Expo Planter Fountain: 100% donation to RFL. Exclusively available at The 7th Annual Home & Garden Expo
Lamps: Shabby Tabby : Chalky Lights: New Release: Exclusively available at The 7th Annual Home & Garden Expo (part of the Chalky Dining Set)

Bathroom:
Lounge: Prime 1:1: StyleWise No.3 By PRIME
Table: Trompe Loeil - Octopus Table Copper: currently available to win at The Arcade
Lilies: POST: Haarlem Deco Vase with Calla Lilies

Tub, Shower Curtain, Towels, Hamper and Vanity: Trompe Loeil - Classic Bathroom pieces PG/A: New Release: currently available at FaMESHED: these items are absolutely full of features and superbly done

Sink: Dutchie:  toilet sink with towel: 100% donation to RFL. Exclusively available at The 7th Annual Home & Garden Expo

Rug: Cheeky Pea: Fish! Rug

Cabinet: Dutchie: distressed cupboard empty

Greetings from Charlevoix

I live in Michigan, which gets a really bad rap because our economy, which has been over-reliant on the auto industry, has really suffered.  However, I grew up on the west side of the state, i.e. not Detroit, less than a mile from Lake Michigan.  It is idyllic most of the year though the weather can be harsh.  There are so many great decor items and some can be had for a song.  The Nest has 18 items to be found as well as a few new dollarbies from floorplan.  All you need to add is imagination.

Credits:
From The Nest's Halloween Hunt:
Piano: +sanctuaire+ : Reclaimed Piano Bookcase - Gypsy
Hand Chair: [ Organica ]: Caress Hand Chair (red) - one of 3 colors
Cabinet: [Noble]: Harvest Time Cabinet
Chair: Cleo Design: Mystery Chair
Owl: Thistle: Owl Ceramic Biggie (cm)
Lanterns: Sway's: Paper Lantern [lampion] candy corn / string
Bowl: (on top of piano): Cleo Design: Halloween Candy Apples
Crate of Pumpkins: 11th Hour: Pumpkin Storage Crate

Other: 
Wine Bottles: floorplan: pumpklin bottles and ghost bottles - 1 L each
Plate: floorplan: nevermore plate - 1 L each
Shed: POST: Toimi Pole Shed
Star Light: POST: Ely Roadside Star
Wagon: artilleri : Old wagon (with pumpkins)
Tall bucket of Apples: artilleri
Spigot / small bucket of apples: POST: Old Spigot with Apple Bucket
Hay Bales: Botanical: Rectangle Hay Bale
Crates: 7: Lab Crates
Pumpkin Planter: 11th Hour: @ The Fantasy Gacha Carnival
Sign: 7: Portable Marquee @ The Men's Department
Bench: POST: Nisswa Pine Bench
Table: Lark: Dessert Table
Tins: vespertine: cookie tin/butter cookies
Apple Juice: vespertine- apple juice basket
Birch Trees: Deco
Conifers: Tree House Designs

Home Expo Highlights

Tomorrow is the last day for Home Expo 2012.  I just want to show you some of my favorites from the event. I am going to keep my comments to a minimum and let the credits do most of the explaining.

Barnesworth Anubis Catalina Cabana and Furniture Pack (does not include basket or bonsai) 150 each - 100% donation to RFL

Thistle Coastal Cottage - 142 prims, 17x27 footprint, rezzer, scripted windows and paints

Piddler's Perch Lil Red Wagon Flower Bed - cute!

FD Decor - Mudroom Cabinet

The Pink Room - upper floor - all details in Credits

UrbanizeD Candles &Ivy Mannequin...hundreds of texture change options and poses by Glitterati!

Sway's "Peace" Lawn Chair - many animations incl. guitar

Funky*Junk Deck

For information about Home Expo including maps and store locations please visit the blog.

Credits:

Photo and Collage 1:

Barnesworth Anubis: Catalina Cabana and Furniture Set

Buddha Beats: Ginko Bonsai

AtiXx Designs: Basket Half Open

Photo 2:

Thistle Homes: Coastal Cottage

Photo 3: Piddler's Perch Lil Red Wagon Flower Bed

Photo 4: FD Decor: Mudroom Cabinet: 100 % donation item.  Also, everything has been permanently discounted by 50% at the expo and the store. 

Collage 2 (left to right)

Artilleri: Elisabeth Chaise - green : 100 % donation item

What Next: Keep Calm Print

What Next: Loungin Chair & a Half : pink/green

fucifino: Verona out on a limb lamp

Urbanize: Garden on a StringA: Candy Pop

Prime: Expo Coffee Table

LeeZu: Studio Ring Table Lamp

Urbanize: Deco Sparkle Paintings - RFL

Dutchie: Old Radio

Thistle: RFL Memories Loveseat

Photo 5:

Urbanize: Candle & Ivy Mannequin -- so many options and the poses by Katey Copolla from Glitterati are fantastic.

Photo 6:

Sway's: Peace Lawn Chair - Guitar included

Photo 7: 

Funky Junk: Summertime Dock: RFL item

Park Place: Chill Out set

Sway's: Vacation Deck Chair and accessories (and then Sway's again!)