Interior Design Sense

Since I’ve started this website I’ve never said a word about who is behind this website, but today I’ve decided to reveal a few details and pictures with the people behind this website. So let’s begin …

Michael or Micle Mihai-Cristian is a 22 years guy that is also the founder and owner of Freshome. In the begining Freshome was just a place where I wanted to get ideas and be more clear on how my future house or apartment will look like. With time more and more people discovered the website, and I’ve become someway addicted to this website especially when a lot of those people told me that they love the website. Right now I’m living in Timisoara – Romania.

Living in Eastern Europe ( Bucharest – Romania ), Alex has been a journalist/blogger and a business man for more than three years now. When not writing about travel places, gadgets or cars, he’s traveling Europe. Whether it be by subway, tram or bus, Alex is keen to visit every little street, shop or bar he can find.

Specialized in writing about those places of natural beauty or significance, recently he found a great interest in covering amazing architectural designs, furniture or style in general. He’s been with us on Freshome for more than 6 months now, and loves it all the way.

Pearl is a Canadian scientist with a long-standing interest in design. Pearl is also a jewelry artisan, instructor and author of her own jewelry blog, The Beading Gem’s Journal. She enjoys writing about innovative design and appreciates the creative process. She keeps a keen look-out for great designs as well as unusual and novel products to share with readers. Pearl joined Freshome in the summer of 2008.

P.S – Would you like to be a member of the Freshome team ?

This is a post from the Freshome Magazine, who bring you the latest news in Interior Design, Decorating, Furniture and Architecture.

The People Behind Freshome.com

Starting off with a new home or office space. But deciding on what you’re buying requires more opinion. Most of the time you go about asking your friends what they think or how would they do it. But have you considered a professional interior designer? If so where do you find one? Here’s our take …

Image Source : Live Bohemian

#1 Decide whether you need a decorator or a designer

The first and most important part of your search for a designer is to actually understand your own needs. You may only need to move a few things around and re-decorate. That’s where an interior decorator is just enough. But if you need to revamp space and/or move your walls to  recreate the whole dimensions, then going for a designer is a must. Do not rush in before completely understanding your needs as it would be complete waste of time and of course, money.

#2 Inquire friends and neighbors and look for references:

A very safe way of finding a reliable designer is by asking your friends and contacts, who they know or who worked for them. Most of them would have hired a certain designer at some point. It’s a first step.

#3 Online portfolios and previous work make for a fair idea

Checking out portfolios and previous work of the designer – either on his personal website or in his office, will give you a fair idea of what you can expect from his work. Most modern designers with repute have an extensive personal site dedicated to their previous work. Since most of the stuff here will be a glorification of what has been done, be neutral in observation. You are out there to check out his style. Don’t be lured in with false promises.

Image Source : xJavierx

#4 Look for variety

If you are looking for something of very high quality or unable to find the designer to suit your taste and budget, websites like ASID.org and IIDA.org will help you check out more about the latest designer companies in your area.

#5 Ensure that the designer you pick falls within your budget

When you go shopping it is not granted that you always fall in love with the most expensive stuff and bring it home. Similarly, money does not guarantee great taste when it comes to designing. If your designer falls beyond your budget, then go for others as there are many options available. Do not be tempted to pick a designer who charges you way above what you can afford.

#6 Up and coming designers

If you know, like and trust the work of an up and coming designer, then do not hesitate to go with them. He will devote more time, effort and thought to your project trying to build his experience and adding work to his portfolio. This way, you would also be encouraging young and budding talents.

Finding a designer is not as tough as it was before the age of the internet. It is just a matter of selecting patiently for those things that you need.

This is a post from the Freshome Magazine, who bring you the latest news in Interior Design, Decorating, Furniture and Architecture.

Designer Quest: How to find an interior designer to suit your need

When the time comes to renovate the kitchen, it is often difficult to find an affordable design that both the husband and wife can agree upon. By nature, they generally have different visions for both style and budget. One particular couple wanted a high-end, stylish and affordable look that they both would enjoy, so they consulted interior designer Eli Mechlovitz from GlassTileStore.com. After consultation, Mechlovitz suggested they decorate with dark-shaded glass tile and mosaics, one of the hottest trends in the interior design industry.

For those unfamiliar with the glass tile trend, it can be described as a more stylish, luxurious decorating option as compared to ceramic tiles. One of the greatest characteristics in glass tile is the uniqueness – it is available in a wide range of colors, textures, shapes, blends and designs. Attempting to meet both their style needs, Mechlovitz recommended brown glass tile, specifically Zen Espresso, an affordable option from GlassTileStore. The earthy brown blend of Zen Espresso would create a modern and chic space in this kitchen, one masculine and traditional enough for the husband, and one eclectic, trendy and unique enough for the wife.

After installation, the dark glass tile, surrounded by the airy light cabinetry, provided a warm and luxurious feel for the kitchen. The different shades of brown transformed the previously dull kitchen, and offered an aesthetically pleasing pattern that perfectly united the upper white cabinetry with the lower dark cabinetry. The couple never realized there was a style that could accommodate both their needs so well. Extremely pleased with the results, they asked Mechlovitz back later this month, this time for consultation on their bathroom.

This is a post from the Freshome Magazine, who bring you the latest news in Interior Design, Decorating, Furniture and Architecture.

Decorating with Brown Glass Tile: High-End Style for Both Husband and Wife

There is something about Greece that makes you fall in love with it. Be it the excessive stone, the amazing sun, the clear blue sky, the calm waters or the exciting life, there’s a lot of inspiration to be drawn. And to prove my point, check out the luxurious Orfos Villas in Zakynthos in the Agios Nikolas village. Captivated by the magnificent views of the infinite blue Ionian Sea and the charming local craftsmen skills and artistry, that’s the perfect place if you’ve been looking for the Mamma Mia-style feelgood factor. Amazing use of stone, charming pool and stupendous views of the turquoise sea. Isn’t it?

This is a post from the Freshome Magazine, who bring you the latest news in Interior Design, Decorating, Furniture and Architecture.

Orfos Villas in Zakynthos, Spellbinding Greek Architecture

Created by Swiss designer Carlo Borer, OTTO is more than a fan – it’s a piece of furniture with a purpose. As the weather gets warmer, replacing your air conditioner with a more cost-effective and energy-saving solution like a fan may be a reasonable choice. Unfortunately, fans in the past have typically been bulky, unsightly items. Now there is the new OTTO adjustable industrial fan by Swizz Style which lets you have a unique and stylish piece of furniture that also provides the functions of a three-speed fan. OTTO is the first piece of furniture to incorporate a twice-oiled, wood-framed fan that you can leave out all summer long.

The wood ring frame is made of quartered sapele, which has been oiled twice for a high quality, matte finish. Three fan speeds and height-adjustable feet make it versatile for any space. While an air conditioner is typically 100 Watts, OTTO is only 45 Watts, helping you save money on energy without cluttering space with the eyesore of the typical box fan.

This is a post from the Freshome Magazine, who bring you the latest news in Interior Design, Decorating, Furniture and Architecture.

OTTO, First Wood-Formed Fan for Style and Function

Sometimes sustainable style has nothing at do with organic cotton, hemp, or vegetable-dyed leather. Case in point: Preloved, the aptly-named Canadian clothier, takes a novel approach to eco-fashion by collecting orphaned vintage garments and whipping them into one-of-a-kind pieces that are more than just the sum of their parts. From structured skirts made out of vintage blazers to breezy tanks fashioned out of sweater scraps, Preloved’s Spring ‘09 collection is no exception. With pieces so obviously born out of creativity and eco-resourcefulness, we knew it was love at first sight.

We first met Preloved at the Designers & Agents Green Room in NY last year, and wrote about them last year on Inhabitat here. This year we were lucky enough to bump into them again in February at D&A in NYC. The eclectic collection was unmistakable – colorful stripes paired with delicate fair isle and brocade. Fabrics with old-school written all over them rebuilt into modern, wearable shapes.

Preloved was founded by entrepreneur and former model, Julia Grieve in 1995, and focuses on making clothes that feel good and fit well. In 2008 alone, Preloved’s fabric frankensteins saved 60,000 wool sweaters, 12,000 t-shirts, 5,000 dress shirts and 6,000 trench coats from the trash! Under creative director, Peter Friesen’s guide, the company’s design ethos and distinctive pieces are sure to make anyone a devotee.

Preloved is currently only sold in Canada, Australia, Europe, and Japan. Which is why we hope they will open an online shop soon! What will we see next from this ever-growing company? A home collection, accessories line, and new clothing lines including a recently launched children’s line, me*me, are in the works.

+ Preloved

+ Preloved on Inhabitat in 2008

With daylight savings time just around the corner, the temptation to simply turn back time is certainly an alluring one. Who wants to lose an hour of sleep, particularly on a chilly Sunday morning, when there are so many winks to still savor. For all of you sleepyheads and music lovers out there, The Grateful Thread’s recycled vinyl wall clocks will make you feel as if time is in your hands with these very cool, retro albums re-fashioned as custom-designed wall pieces.

We loved The Grateful Thread’s rockin’ Guitar Softies featured on Inhabitots, but their wall clocks really make a statement when it comes to bold and graphic time management. Crafted from old record stock that the UK-based designers customize for interior décor accents, the two versions come in either 7” or 12” vintage label discs. The clock hands are crafted out of plastic, and the minute hand is cut to mimic a record player stylus. These one-of-a-kind clocks are simple to wind and install due to the easily accessible mechanism at the back and the simple loop hook for hanging.

Whether or not you believe that daylight savings time is truly an energy-saver is something that you will have to sort out in your own household, but in the interim, consider recycling some old discs and cast-off vinyl for an ‘oldies turned new’ spin on record bin chic.

+ The Grateful Thread
+ The Grateful Thread blog

Yuken Teryua’s work proves that discarded everyday objects can be re-invented into something elegant and beautiful. The Japanese artist crafts toilet paper rolls with a level of detail so that they adopt a new identity as delicately sculpted pieces — reminiscent of columnar wind chimes intertwined in the branches of a tree. The Japanese artist has also used shopping bags and old pizza boxes in his collection of work that uses recycled materials to defy the defined roles of these objects.

The artist shows a knack for seeing potential in every day objects to become something eye-catching, and believes that while artwork is a reflection of the artist’s beliefs — it is also important that artwork engages its viewers.  Yuken says:
I feel that my work shouldn’t only have the function of conveying the artist’s message. My works have a right to simply be beautiful or offer any kind of attraction.

+ Yuken Teruya

via designboom

Architects: LOHA Architects
Location: West Hollywood, California, USA
Principal in Charge: Lorcan O’Herlihy
Project Team: Katherine Williams (PM), Kevin Tsai, Evan Brinkman, Kevin Southerland
Client: Habitat Group Los Angeles, LLC
Project year: 2008
Constructed Area: 1,486 sqm
Area per unit: 140 sqm aprox.
Photographs: Lawrence Anderson

Located in the heart of West Hollywood, this new eleven unit housing project emphasizes the central importance of shared open space for the residents and the community. Formosa takes what would be the internalized open space of the courtyard and moves it to the exterior of the building to create a park which occupies approximately one third (4,600 sf) of the project site.

As a result of shifting the common open space to the exterior and pushing the building to one side, units are organized linearly allowing for ‘park frontage’ and cross-ventilation for every unit. External circulation is used as a buffer between public and private realms and articulated through layers of perforated metal and small openings.

The careful placement of outer skin panels and inner skin fenestration creates a choreographed effect, both revealing and concealing, while achieving a unique expression of form and materials. The exterior skin also keeps west facing units cooler by acting as a screen and shading device.

The provision of this park space resulted in a series of negotiations between Habitat Group Los Angeles, LLC (Developer), LOHA (Architect) and the City from which a unique, more fluid, model of community planning and development emerged to the benefit of all parties involved. The outcome of these negotiations is the leasing of the park to the City of West Hollywood, to develop as part of a network of pocket parks throughout the City. This effort also helped Habitat Group Los Angeles take advantage of certain incentives and zoning concessions for the proposed building.

This project presents a challenging but influential opportunity in regards to the creation and inclusion of an urban park in a private development. The park is accessible to the public at large, not solely residents with granted permission.

Formosa 1140 contains within its own genetic code the imprint of a larger urban design that will offer some kind of public space back to the city and in so doing, distribute a patchwork of parks across Los Angeles’s formidable grid.

Easily regarded as one of the most adroit architects of 20th century, Le Corbusier was a relentless designer, urban planner and writer dedicated to industrializing almost every city he came across.

This spring The Barbican – London’s colossal multi-arts venue – is hosting an all-encompassing showcase of Le Corbusier’s work, a survey which will include an abundance of original models, interior settings, drawings, furniture, photographs, films, tapestries, paintings, sculpture and books designed and written by the architect himself. More of a celebration than an exhibition, the festivities include concerts, films, guest speakers and a photo competition all in his honor.

Seen at coolhunting.