Interior Design Sense

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Post tags: “sustainable architecture”, australia, eco design, eco home, green architecture, Green Building, green design, rainwater collection, richard cole architecture, site sensitive, site sensitive home, spotted gum forest, Sustainable Building, sustainable design

French product designer Philippe Starck draws a lot of criticism from certain sections of the A&D community for lending his design prowess to mass produced consumer goods. While some may accuse him of commercialization, personally I feel it is a good way for the average consumer to own a Starck without breaking the bank! He has designed the Walter Wayle 11 Clock for Alessi and it is definitely one of the most evolved wall clocks I have come across. The veritable effort by Starck to design something that assuages the monotonous is palpable and so his signature style. The Walter Wayle 11 Clock can be ordered online from Nest Living where it is selling for $78.00 and the price includes shipping charges.

Post from Philippe Starck Designs Walter Wayle 11 Clock For Alessi

Beach Road 2 is a fresh and surprising architecture project designed by Hughes Umbanhowar Architects and located in Jupiter Island, Florida, USA. The white facade of the residence makes an astonishing contrast with the colors of the beach. Here is more from the architect’s description: “Like driftwood collecting in courses on the beach, the house comfortably nestles in the interstices between waterfront and road along a narrow site on the northern coast of Jupiter Island. Spare in its 3,600 square feet, the house and its materials manifest the surprise of a beachcomber’s serendipitous and precious finds—of worn beach glass, an abandoned marine vessel, or an ephemeral pattern in the sand—and a riff on spontaneity and permanence. At once modern and timeless, the house is both a quaint coastal cottage and a chic isle villa. The cerebral geometries of the house are complemented by the pitched nautical dynamism of a structure perched on piers and railings, ready to set sail at a moment’s notice.” (Photographs by Ken Hayden)

Ready for more amazing design ideas? Check below !

Modern White Beach House by Richard Meier in South California	Peaceful White & Blue Residence in Florida	Lavish Three-storey House in Manhattan Beach	Beautiful White Beach Home in California
North Bay Road Residence by Touzet Studio	Simply Genius: Letto Zip, the Bed That Almost Makes Itself

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Decorative light switches are becoming quite a trend these days and with good reason. One reason for their success is that they enhance the aesthetical aspect of a home and highlight a new design perspective. Aly Power is a company that lets one customize your light switches with any image form their comprehensive library. What sets them apart from the competition is that they let the client even choose from their own personal photo albums and there is a uber cool graffiti section as well. Those who have a penchant for everything shiny and sparkling can also embellish the light switches with Swarovski crystals. The light switches are the ideal blend of fantasy and functionality and a treat to the eyes don’t you think?

Post from Graffiti And Swarovski light Switches From Aly Power

Your dining room may be the perfect size for your immediate family, but what happens at the holidays when you need to accommodate larger groups of people? Depending on your family size you can figure out temporary and permanent solutions. If you are small family then renting chairs and tables may be an option. While if you have a large family that continues to grow, you will need a long term solution. Here are tips for helping your dining room accommodate more people.

• Assess your current dining needs: How large your family is, how often you entertain, and if you have more than one dining area will help you assess how much seating you actually need. For those that don’t entertain often, renting chairs/tables or buying inexpensive folding ones may be a solution. If you have a formal and informal dining room, your problem may be solved by using both dining areas when large parties come to your home. Assess if you have other areas to use as well: outdoors, adjacent spaces, etc..

• Group seating: One solution to fitting more people at the table is to use group seating. Benches whether they are fixed or movable are good way of maximizing space as opposed to individual seats. Benches are especially good for children who are smaller and can sit closer together without feeling uncomfortable.
• Share seating from adjacent rooms: If you have an open floor plan, sharing seating with and adjacent room like a kitchen island or living room can be a viable option. This concept works well when entertaining a large group of people that are all involved in different activities, such as mingling, eating, and small conversation areas. If you do entertain a lot, consider buying sectional seating that can accommodate more people as opposed to only single chairs.

• Consider moving outdoors: Often times the solution may be to move your dining party outside. Depending on the season and your outdoor area, porches, patios and outdoor lawns are a perfect backdrop for dining and entertaining. Outdoor areas will give you more room to stretch out and will give the interior of your home a rest from being over populated. Outdoor entertaining is also ideal for children to have area to run around until it is time to eat!

• Get creative: For some homes the reality of having permanent furniture on hand for large party entertaining isn’t feasible. Whether it is because of limited space to house more furniture, or the finances to afford it.  Get creative and pull chairs from desks in other rooms, and use small movable ottomans for kids. Sometimes the art of entertaining is being able to make do with what you have. After all your guests just want a seat, it doesn’t have to always have to be a five star dinner! Make the most of what you have and enjoy having your large party of guests.

Large group seating can be accomplished through many ways. Determine what your dining and entertaining lifestyle consists of and then make your dining seating marry to it. If you are remodeling your kitchen or dining area, consider building a built in bench seating area in a bay window nook. You will gain extra seating and you will love the way your dining space looks afterward!

Freshome reader’s do you have a dining room that fits a large amount of people? What are your solutions for fitting everyone in? Leave us your comments below.

Ready for more amazing design ideas? Check below !

The Mismatched Dining Room : Tips for creating a well-balanced mismatched style	How to Choose Seating for your Kitchen Island	11 Inspiring Dining Room Designs From Hulsta	Interesting Expansible Coffee Tables
Kitchen and Living-Room Combined. A Few Fun Solutions	Japanese Dining Room Furniture for a Minimalist Japanese Style

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An old mansion in Belgium, in the city of Ghent, shelters an astonishing apartment. The first thing you see is that there are no doors in the apartment. The owner does not like doors, so the space remained open and the interior design concentrates on the placement of the furniture. Exquisite furniture was carefully chosen to compliment the interiors of the apartment. The basic colours used as background are black and white. Coloured details like the yellow fridge or the light brown of the couch look ravishing against the white walls. Black storage cabinets run along the wall in the living room from one end to another. Large windows spread sunlight across the room and make this space an open field of dreams. The living room is centered around a distressed leather B&B Bambole vintage that lies on top of a beautiful vintage area rug. Everything in this home seems to remind us of a simple space filled with personality – home to many beloved items. Photos: Vercruysse Frederik

Ready for more amazing design ideas? Check below !

Black, White an Wood: How is That For An Apartment Design?	Enticing Apartment Combining Vintage and Contemporary Elements	Vintage Shelf	Modern Interior Design- Apartment in Stockholm
East Village Apartment, Renovating With a Vintage Feel	Gemma Ahern Apartment Renovation – Cost Effective Designing

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This next apartment has beautifully designed interiors that showcase some pretty amazing furniture, decorations and interior design ideas. Every corner of the Yaletown loft has something special. Take, for example, the kitchen: a contemporary mix of modern furniture and brick walls, high-tech appliances and an unusual place to store cold beverages in plain sight. The project area has 93 square meters and every space was carefully chosen to fit a modern lifestyle. The place used to be a warehouse, but it was tastefully transformed into lofts. Interior designer Kelly Reynolds successfully restored the beauty of the old warehouse and complemented it with modern design so that the final result is a balanced mix of old and new. The apartment received a stylish makeover and some walls were demolished to create a bedroom and two bathrooms, a living space and an open kitchen. The original warehouse brick wall became the background on which modern furniture comes to life. All the mix and match created the perfect bachelor pad.

Ready for more amazing design ideas? Check below !

3602 Apollo Bachelor Pad in Salt Lake City	Interior Design Ideas for Men (Bachelors in General)	The 3 seater Jonque Sofa	Luxurious Residence With Stunning Views Over Los Angeles
Mind-Blowing Apartment in Australia, the Ultimate Bachelor’s Retreat	Chest of Drawers

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Out of all the materials out there, glass is already used in most of our homes. The use of glass in home decor is rarely thought of as decorative and is thought to be more utilitarian. Glass can come in several forms from glazing, to counter tops and decorative walls. Whether you enjoy using glass to bring in the morning sun, or a hundred other purposes, glass can be overlooked when customizing home interiors. Here are some ways to let glass brighten your home.

• Reflectivity and light: What’s the number one interior design trick of all times? The presence of light. Light makes a room feel larger, more comfortable, and more natural. Glass brings in light naturally to your home and it can be used to obscure, brighten, and enhance views. Windows that have mullions or expansive glass that takes advantage of picturesque views, glass is a miracle worker for reflecting light and illuminating surfaces.

• Glass furniture: Tables, chairs, mirrors… the list goes on and on of glass furnishings that we use daily that we love. Glass table tops in dining rooms and home offices give a sophisticated and executive styling to your interiors. Pair glass with wood, leather, and metals for an urban industrial aesthetic or use traditional and ornate lines to bring the materials together beautifully in your furniture.

• Unique applications: Ever thought of installing a glass counter top in your kitchen, or a glass wall in your bathroom? Modern home interiors are starting to use glass in unique ways, than they used to. If you want to add sleek and modern details, add glass to your wet areas such as kitchens and bathrooms. Consider glass as a divider walls between a master bedroom area and a master bathroom. Glass block can let light through, and keep ample privacy at the same time. Try using different glass materials for all rooms in your home.

• Use glass as your exterior material: In early architecture and interiors, glass was solely used as punched openings in walls to let in light, and to have a visual connection to the outdoor world. Today, the use of glass in exterior sheathing is popular, especially in high rise commercial buildings. In your home if you like to be connected with your exterior, use wide expansive glass and glass furniture interiors to transform the outdoors inside.

• Be creative: There are very few limits with glass. Heat and cold variations are the most notable features that need to be thought of when using glass in your interiors. There is always a solution; a thicker pane of glass may need to be used in colder climates, etc… Glass has been used in minimalist areas to bring a sense of light and airiness to a space. See where it can brighten up a space in your interiors.

If you want to use glass in small or large quantities, your space will benefit either way. From reflective glass mosaic tiles in the kitchen backsplash, to glass block stepping stones in your front entry, glass is here to stay. Depending on your style, grab inspiration from modern architecture and interior magazines that love to feature homes with expansive glass. Brighten your home with these tips, and see how glass can give you a whole new way to enjoy your home.

Freshome reader’s how do you like to see glass in home interiors? Do you have a unique way you’ve utilized it in your home? Leave us comments below.

Ready for more amazing design ideas? Check below !

Becoming Drunk Glass	Cute Spying Doorknob: Room in the Glass Globe by Hideyuki Nakayama	How Do You Feel About Living in a Glass Home?	Glass Shelf & Towel Bar
Glass Shelves by Tonelli	Glass Furniture by Santambrogio Milano : Could this be a new trend ?

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Lounging on Le Bambole by Mario Bellini for B&B Italia. This has to be my favourite room of the year. I love this apartment photographed by Frederik Vercruysse. (More of this fabulous home here.) I have a daydream where I stumble upon a vintage leather Le Bambole in a secondhand shop where the owner thinks it is just a beaten up oversized beanbag. Every bone in my body is aching today from planting out the garden in the rain and finishing painting my fireplace in the room that the painters ruined. It is my last day before I go back to work and so I’m taking the blog day off to daydream about a couch …. my daydream might just include some special accessories. Stick around. Kim has a drool worthy post coming up later.

P.S. So are you a vintage leather le Bambole or does the re-release in white cotton do it for you?