Upgrades in your home 2013

Today I am writing about possible ways of upgrading your home in 2013. I will be discussing kitchens, bedrooms, and a few other ideas for your modern home..

Enjoy the pics and post..

turn a small bedroom into a sanctuary

A small bedroom can easily become cramped and untidy, making it impossible to relax. Ideally, your bedroom should be a calm, personal space to escape to, so we’ve put together some of our top tips for bringing it back to life, giving you somewhere to unwind and enjoy!

Reclaim floor space. Decide what the largest things in your room are – for most of us, the wardrobe and the bed take up the most space. Combine these two with a storage bed, which can hold your clothes and linen underneath, and ditch the bulky wardrobe to open the room out more. If you have the budget, consider investing in a memory-foam mattress – they’re incredibly comfortable and will ensure you get a good night’s sleep. Replace bedside cabinets with wall-mounted shelving, and keep other items on high-up shelves so that you still have room to move around.

Decorate. Brighter colours will instantly make your room appear airier and more inviting. You can contrast this with deeply coloured fabrics for curtains and bedding, to create a touch of luxury and an element of texture to the room. If the room is particularly plain, take a look at some wall decals - these give you the opportunity to personalise without sticking pins into the wall or making any permanent changes. For a real sanctuary-like feel, add some fairy lights to make the room seem warm and cosy in the evening.

Get comfy. Make your room more cosy and pleasant to spend time in by loading up on soft, comfortable bedding and furnishings. Throws and fleece blankets will make your bed nicer to relax on for reading and watching TV, while if you have the floor space a dedicated reading nook can be thrown together in no time with just a soft chair, a lamp and a small area to keep a pile of books!

updating your kitchen: keeping it on trend for 2013

Kitchens have taken on a whole new social life recently, changing from a designated “behind the scenes” work area to a room often more lived in than our lounges or dining rooms. Modern styles have come to reflect that, using contemporary designs and appliance integration to create a clutter-free living space that’s suitable for dining and entertaining as well as cooking. While there are a number of practical ways in which we can achieve this new trend, we’re going to focus on some of the easier design aspects, giving you the opportunity to give your kitchen a refresher without having to spend a fortune.

Changing the colour scheme of the walls and floor is one of the fastest and most effective ways to update your kitchen. Modern designs tend to go for minimalist look, so pale hues with bold contrasting features are definitely the way forward. White or off-white with a border of black tiles definitely gives this effect, creating a bright yet stylised design.

Backsplashes over the counters are traditionally created with tiles, but the grouting can sometimes be difficult to keep clean. Glass backsplashes are the latest trend, reducing workload by only requiring a quick wipe-down once in a while. The extra bonus is that you can place an intricate design or tile pattern behind the glass front, keeping your creation clean and beautiful!

Updating the flooring in your kitchen can take a little more work, but makes a huge difference to the look and feel of the room. Your choices are almost endless, but make sure you go for something that matches the rest of the room. Wood or bamboo looks impressive and is bang on trend right now, but if the rest of your kitchen is already very bright or is particularly large, it can give it a washed-out look. If this is the case, large dark tiles create a heavier base to the room, and as a bonus they’re also incredibly durable.

the bigger bed the better sleep

Is your other half relentlessly tossing and turning over in the middle of the bed at night? This might sound familiar to every couple who shares a bed together as our darling partners’ bad sleeping habits are the number one bedroom complaint that leads to poor sleep.

Getting a larger blanket could certainly solve the problem of your partner holding the edge of the duvet and rolling away to the other side, but for everything else, considering a bigger bed might be a better solution. Below we have listed 5 interesting facts that show many reasons why you should increase the size of your bed:

1. The British Sleep Council have shown in a recent study that the size of the bed has a significant effect on the quality of your sleep. Obviously, if you have more space to sleep and rest it is less likely that you will be disturbed by your partner’s midnight shufflings.
2. A standard double bed which is 135cm wide only gives each sleeper about 67cm of sleeping space. When you think about this number the individual space given by a double mattress is way less than the total width of small single bed (small single beds are 75cm wide)
3. Americans notoriously like to super size things and this is true of their beds as well. Even our more conservative European neighbours are more clued up on this and a prevalence of kingsize beds over double beds on the continent proves they are ahead of us when it comes it bed space.
4. Contrary to the common belief, a superking bed or king size bed doesn’t cost a lot more than a double bed. Adding a few pounds is a small compromise considering the fact that you will be sleeping in a big bed for many years to come.
5. The last reason, but far from the least, is that you will spend almost one third of your life in bed sleeping and who knows how many years more you will spend reading, watching TV and doing other activities.

Camille is a home furniture enthusiast and writes on behalf of Wedo Beds

why you deserve a comfortable bed

Everyone deserves a good night’s sleep in a comfortable bed. We spend approximately a third of our lives in bed, so whether you’re looking for a single bed for young ones or a double bed or king-size bed for you and your partner, it’s important to choose the right bed and mattress for your needs.

Choosing a mattress

With mattresses, you tend to get what you pay for and scrimping on price is almost always a false economy. For example, if you think $1,000 is a lot to pay for a mattress, bear in mind that if you change your mattress every seven years as advised by The Sleep Council, it will cost you and your partner less than 40 cents a night for a good night’s sleep. Considering all the benefits that sleep brings, it’s a small price to invest in your health and well-being.

Different types of mattresses

The main types of mattresses available are:

• Open-coil mattresses/sprung mattresses
• Pocket-sprung mattresses
• Memory foam mattresses
• Latex mattresses
• Foam mattresses

Each type of mattress will suit different people. For example, if you suffer from allergies you may prefer a memory foam mattress or a latex mattress, whereas if your partner is significantly heavier or lighter than you, you may choose a pocket-sprung king size mattress with a high number of supportive springs over a cheaper open-coil mattress.

Mattress fillings

When buying a new bed, what you can’t see is as important as what you can see. A good-quality mattress filling will allow air to circulate and wick away moisture, which will stop you from getting hot and bothered in the night. Whether you choose pocket springs or memory foam, the key issue is getting great support from your mattress.

Back to bed

Many of us suffer from back problems at some point in our lives and an orthopaedic bed can offer the solution to a good night’s sleep. The best orthopaedic beds will give good all-round support. Don’t presume that you need the firmest bed available: it’s usually better to have a mattress that will support you rather than one that is too firm to mould to your body shape and size.

Sleep in style

Another consideration when you’re selecting a double or king-size bed is how it will fit in with the style of your bedroom. You may want to choose a bed frame or headboard to complement the surrounding décor, whether it’s smart traditional, cosy country cottage or contemporary chic. Match the fabrics or colours of your curtains and bed covers for striking effect. Or you could bring a touch of luxury into your bedroom with a leather bedframe, Egyptian cotton sheets and cushions with matching soft throws to keep you warm in winter.

Easy decorating secrets for 2013

Alexander Calzadilla

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All about lighting:

All about lighting:

Today I am writing about lighting and its many forms and shapes and the uniqueness each piece carries.. Lighting is perhaps the most important piece to any room, it can make or break any design and its possible its exclusion in discussions can make a great design seem only passable. The use of wrong lighting can make any thousand dollar room seem like a flea market buy.. Lighting can either match the decor or serve as an accent room piece.. one very common room design has modern contemporary furniture with traditional glass chandeliers or pendant amps, the end result usually being stunning, that is if the match was made ahead of time and by designers who know just how much is enough or not enough... 

Enjoy the pics and post...

Vederlicht Lamp by Daniel Hulsbergen

A childhood fascination with model glider planes led Daniel Hulsbergen to create the Vederlicht (featherlight) pendant lamp.

(Click the images below for full sized images)

Says Hulsbergen, "Back then these planes cost too much for me to buy and I only could look at them in the shop. The small kid in me is still there so I took the technique and material for making a glider and used it to design a light."

The Vederlicht is made of Balsawood and Oracover, the same material used to cover the wings of a glider, which "gives the lamp it's ultra light weight."

Circles and Countercircles Chandeliers by Troika

Studio Troika have created two lights for the newly refurbished London home of The Royal Society of Arts.

(Click the images below for full sized images)

Chandelier with 12 lenses

Inspired by the work of early Enlightenment scientists and the manipulation of the very substance of the light itself, Troika's chandeliers act as key components of the architectural refurbishment scheme designed by Matthew Lloyd Architects.

Says Troika, "The principles at work in both chandeliers, namely the diffraction and controlled scattering of the light, is reminiscent of the early experiments of Sir Isaac Newton and the later Augustin Fresnel, while signifying a quest for deeper understanding which found a natural resonance with the values and legacy of the Royal Society of Arts, founded in 1754."

The chandeliers use large fresnel lenses to shape the light generated by high power LEDs on the outer edge into geometrical patterns projected onto the ceiling, "thus contributing compelling decorative elements to the surrounding spaces while providing the necessary illumination levels."

Single lens chandelier

The Grand Staircase chandelier (above) is comprised of a large 1.2m diameter fresnel lens, rimmed by a white Corian ring, and suspended in front of a rose-gold plated cradle housing 9 high power LEDs.

"As the white light generated by the LEDs passes through the lens, a pattern of 9 overlapping rings is created, adorning the ceiling with a unique crystalline rose."

 

Valerie, My Crystal Sister Chandelier by Lucas Maassen

Lucas Maassen has created a crystal chandelier using DNA as the starting point for the design.

(Click the images below for full sized images)

Valerie, My Crystal Sister is a crystal chandelier that will be presented by Dutch designer Lucas Maassen, in collaboration with global healthcare company Roche, for the new Confrontations: Contemporary Dutch Design exhibition at the Vitra Design Museum.

Says Maassen, he began the project by raising a question: "is it possible to use the biological process that created me as a design process to create an object?"

After several months together with Roche, he successfully crystallized synthetic DNA fragments (which are present in Maassen's parents). A magnified glass version of the resulting crystal, only visible under the microscope, was then produced by Vienna-based crystal manufacturer Lobmeyr. 1000 such pieces then formed a crystal chandelier.

Maassen continues, "Ultimately, this project is about the visualization of life. DNA is the basic code of life, an essential part of every organism."

The chandelier was named for the sister Maassen never had because his parents' marriage ended too soon.

Thinking of her, he called the project Valerie, my Crystal Sister, giving the chandelier the name his parents would have chosen for him had he been a girl. The chandelier, and thus, their 'crystal daughter', was assembled by Maassen's parents in a performance on June 12th at the Vitra Design Museum.

Naturoscopie

 

Naturoscopie III mirror

Each of the Naturoscopie III objects functions like a photographic black box, a developer of images and emotions (see also the tables below). "The perception of a landscape, of a changing sky, a sunset or an aurora borealis is supported by the partial, moving and coloured vision of a photograph printed on aluminium and concealed inside."

Naturoscopie III coffee table

"What is important here is not the image itself, but the impressions contained in a past moment, in a souvenir kept alive thanks to the object which houses it and the lighting system implemented."

"The LED spots alternately dance across the printed surface. The photograph is never totally visible. The experience of the object thus becomes progressive, leaving the spectator free to project himself into his own sensory memory."

Naturoscopie IV light

A cloud appears to have been captured within Naturoscopie IV, above. "This image is created by the activity of the alveoli and their differential depth inside the object. The cellular framework thus creates progressive shadow effects, imitating the shape of a moving cloud through optical and kinetic effects."

Naturoscopie will be shown at the Galerie BSL stand (G12) at Design Miami/Basel, in Basel, Switzerland from June 12 to 17, 2012.

 

8

LightDrive Table Lamp by Raj Singh, David Lee, and Steven Peltier

Radast Design has turned lamp design on its head with a light source in the base.




A high output LED module is housed in the base of the lamp. Using a specially designed optical waveguide, which works the same way as fiber optics, light is transferred to the top of the lamp where it's diffused into the room.

(Click the images below for full sized images)



The heat from the LEDs is safely and effectively dissipated within the base of the lamp. Steven Peltier, Radast Design co-founder explains, "we literally turned the design of the lamp on its head. By placing the light source in the base, we not only solved how to safely control heat, we also opened up a whole new world of possibilities in lighting design."

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Modern spaces...

Modern spaces...

Today I am talking about modern spaces and the items that make them the space we feel cozy and at home with... We have all seen minimalist design and its dry and not cozy feel.. Well here are some modern contemporary designs that add flare and make us feel more at home in the traditional setting.. I love the way they look and we will all love the way they feel to us..


Enjoy the pics and post

A Mixed Modern Space

Last week we talked about mixing modern, and this beautiful space does just that. The exposed wood ceiling and the unique wall designs create the perfect canvas for an influx of modern furniture.

The modern living room has a bright white tufted sofa that is paired with a tulip side table and white lounge chair and it leads to a modern dining table surrounded by modern classic chairs. The kitchen has the same bones that are accentuated by modern cabinets, appliances and furniture.

What do you think of this modern space? Is this a place you can see yourself living in?

The Wave Chair In Action

Sometimes when you see an item in a different setting than on a website, you see the true beauty of the product. This is exemplified with the Wave Chair, and is especially helpful for those that may be skeptical about acrylic furniture. Because seeing the Wave Chair in this setting helps you envision how gorgeous it will look in your modern home!

Made of high-quality acrylic, the Wave Chair is a modern lounge chair that adds high style and drama to a modern living room. Use the chair as an accent piece to a contemporary sofa and coffee table and the Wave Chair will undoubtedly be the star of the show. Plus, the materials of the Wave Chair are completely recyclable and environmentally conscious!

What do you think of the Wave Chair?

See It In Action: The Soho Stool

On Monday, we blogged about mixing modern with other styles, such as traditional and rustic, and there were some modern classic stools that were used as an example. To wrap the week up over here at the Inmod blog, we’ve got those chairs in stool form – and we’ve got them in action in a stylish modern-transitional kitchen.

The modern stool is the Soho Stool, which is a highly accurate reproduction of the Navy Emeco Stool. Made of aluminum with a brushed finish, these modern classic stools are stylish and timeless. They work well in any modern setting, including this kitchen above.

What do you think of these stools?

Xert Yourself

You won’t overexert yourself by creating the perfect modern dining room with the Xert Buffet Console and the Xert Narrow Shelf.

These sleek storage pieces have durable stainless steel frames, available in the finish of your choice. The shelves are made of frosted glass for a chic, dramatic look. What’s great about the Xert Series is that they add optimum style while providing storage and display options.

In addition to the two items shown here, there are so many other items in the Xert Series, made by Zuo. There is a bart cart, a chair, an entertainment center – so many pieces that you could essentially Xert your whole house out, if you love the styles that much!!

Which Xert piece is your favorite?

Modern spaces and some modern pieces,

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Modern contemporary random items...

Modern contemporary random items... 

Today I am featuring random items I happen to see in blogs, magazines, etc that I think simply pop out and are memorable.. And if I think they are memorable, I guarantee all of you will as well... 

Enjoy the pics and post...

A new nightlight.. or accent light

In conjunction with award winning designer Derrick Hurst, Ghost Nest is pleased to be announcing their bold new lighting product, Geode. It’s not a simple picture frame, or a simple accent light – it’s a dynamic way to light your space while showcasing and illuminating your image.  Help us bring our project to life on Kickstarter: http://kck.st/Vh7dLn

There are three features that make Geode unlike anything else.  Each frame is interchangeable and so is the image contained within, Geode unplugs and glows for 6 hours (and recharges once plugged back in) and due to its angular nature, Geode has seven unique resting positions. Geode is 5”x5”x4.5” and is constructed of plastic and aluminum.  The removable frame is a soft, matte finish silicon, while the body is a white opaque, glossy polycarbonate.

Pablo Lighting: 

Yo! Only a few days left to get an awesome-looking light for your awesome house from those awesome folks: Pablo Lighting! Until October 15th enjoy 15% off their light fixtures that are modern but sport a ton of personality.  This a is a sign from  a site I fully recommend great lighting ideas here.. Amazing

6 Amazing Vases

There’s no denying the freshness that flowers bring to a space — modern or not. The problem with flowers is they need a place to stay in! Don’t just let flowers dry up and wither outside of vases — grab a few modern ones that will bring as much pattern and color into your home as the flowers themselves. Here are six awesome ones:

1. Alex Marshall Studios Cylinder Vase
2. iittala Aalto Vase 6.25
3. Areaware Brush Vase
4. Alex Marshall Studios Sphere Vase
5. notNeutral Flora Vase Set
6. Ferm Living Wonderful Vase 1

Amazing vases that are great accent pieces for any home... 

8 Interior designs that just bring out color...

No matter your own personal tastes or style, there’s something arresting about a bold, pop of modern color in an interior. Have you ever wanted to add some to your space? We see gorgeous looks all the time through the blog, and plenty of these gorgeous architectural spaces have interiors with killer pops of color. We’ve rounded up eight recent great looks:

Specht Harpman’s West Lake Hills Residence

Stuart Sampley’s Newton Remodel

NOVA architect gallery: Mon Cheri Urban Life

Banging & Bold Modern Kitchen Inspiration

Hatch Works’ Dan Cave

Swedish Design For Sale

Birdseye Design Architecture’s Dwell-Ing

Modern contemporary ideas..

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How it hurts to loose a dog...

This past week I thought I was going to die.. While taking a trip to northern Florida I left my friend in charge of my place. When I got back and I dont know who it was; weather it was my friend watching the place or the two I got back with when I returned from my trip of one day to Northern Florida but my 8 year old beautiful dog MIA, had vanished. 

Later that night I reralized that my precious little dog was missing and I was a wreck for the next week. I looked for her everywhere, posted flyers of her all over the neighborhood, would go out everyday, morning, afternoion, and evening around the area she had been spotted. And all my searches seemed to be in vain as I simply could not find her. Everyday for 5 days I returned heartbroken from my search.

Then one afternoon I got a call from a couple claiming they had her and I was so ecstatic that I almost urinated in my pants.. At last I would get my 8 year old small dog, which is like my daughter back. I was shocked to find out that this was not my dog and again went out and looked for her.. Oh my god I was begining to get desperate and just wonder if I ever would see her again..

I continued my search another day and I got a call from a humane society official and she wanted a picture and wanted me to post on Craig list. She was very helpful and within one day I got a call from the humane society that they had what appeared to be my dog so I ran down to the Humane society and to my delight and just emotional reuniting with my dog, I couldn't believe it.. I was in tears and even the paper wrote something on me and took a picture..

Unfortunately she had beet hit by a car, nothing major but she had some bruises and a bruised eye, although she is now ok, has a microchip attached to herself so that she never gets lost again, and has updated tags around her collar, given graciously by the Humane society which I totally have found new love for.

This organization is top notch, the way care for the animals, paid the three dollar operation on  Mia, and got her safely back to me which in the end was a miracle. After countless nights of searching I finally had my dog back home safe and sound. Its amazing how close we become to our pets and how much they become a part of our lives. I also have a Yorkie, which is always happy and they grew up together so the separation must of been hard on him as well..

Oh well all is well that end well.. Both are doing fine and playing as if nothing had happened, this could not have been possible if it were not for the Dade County Humane Society, who took care of my dog, gave her free medical care, and made sure to return her to her rightful owners

If any of you wish to donate to this wonderful organization please get in touch with them, they could use the money and resources to ensure that rescues and reuniting of pets and their rightful owners continue for many years to come. 

http://www.humanesocietymiami.org/

And if you want to donate money to this great organization

http://www.humanesocietymiami.org/donate


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Modern stuff...

Modern Stuff..

Today I am sharing with all of you a bunch of modern stuff I found in the last few weeks since I have been sick and really unable to tend to many of the business functions I previously and again now handle. So this is like my first blog posting in some time.. 

Enjoy the pics and post... 

Banging & Bold Modern Kitchen Inspiration

Urbanspace Interiors is a hip and stylish modern furniture store in Austin, Texas, and they just so happened to build out a perfectly inspiring kitchen in their showroom. Using sleek lines, stunning material and bold, modern accents, they’ve created a kitchen that anyone would want to have in their home.

The kicker of course, is a combo of the thin-profiled white Silestone countertops mixed with that stunner of a vinyl wallpaper back splash from Flavor Paper. Partnered with white accent chairs (we spot Kartell’s Masters Chair in white right there), they’ve really created a powerful but surprisingly simple modern kitchen. If you want to know more about the products and materials used as well as some Sketch-up renderings, check out the blog at Urbanspace Interiors.

Paul Bernier’s Bernier-Thibault Residence

We love a thick, urban environment. Full of concrete and loud noises and fun materials and people. But we also adore the calm, relaxing atmosphere when in nature. The Bernier-Thibault Residence in Montreal, Canada by Paul Bernier Architecte sure seems to meld two seemingly impossible to mix environments into one kick butt architectural structure.

 

“Two boxes made of glass and wood, simple volumes of similar dimensions, were added to the original house. One box was placed on the roof and the other one in the garden under the big maple.”

 

“A vertical slice of the original garden side wall was taken out and replaced by a wood structure wall that allows for openings on the garden and that acts as a formal link between the two boxes. The original house is veneered with brick and all new interventions are made of wood.”

 

A beautiful space and an inspiring home. More information on Architizer.

Pre-Fabulous: Swatt/Miers’ Krubiner Residence

Always astounded by how good-looking pre-fab architecture can be, and the Krubiner Residence by Swatt/Miers Architects is a great example. Made in partnership with Simpatico Homes (the manufacturers), this great home lives in Emeryville California. And hey! Look how accessibly modern it is! Get the look: We spot a Blu Dot Bonnie Sofa, and Blu Dot’s Pi Tables look similar to the coffee table, too.

Love how open the kitchen is, and how dynamic that tile backsplash is, tying the whole space together and mimicking the graphic pop of the concrete brick wall next door.

What an entry way! And you wouldn’t be able to tell at all that this was a prefab home unless someone told you, don’t you think? More on the Swatt/Miers website.

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