Interior Design, Design News and Architecture Trends

Author: ION

  • The Best Styles Of Winter Rugs

    The Best Styles Of Winter Rugs

    As the temperature drops and the nights roll in it’s a good idea to warm up those cold floorboards with a luxury deep pile winter rug. A nice thick luxuriant rug not only feels great underfoot but adds a nice cosy feel to any room. The question is, with so many different types of rug available, which one do you choose? To help you out, we’ve compiled a list of this season’s in-style luxury winter rugs for you to create the perfect look for your home.

    Shaggy Rugs

    No compilation of winter rugs would be complete without mentioning the good ol’ shaggy rug. This erstwhile favourite continues to be popular today due to its beautiful soft fibres and luxuriant feel. Shaggy rugs have come a long way from their heyday in the 1970s. Today you can choose from a choice of colours, patterns, styles and finishes.

    It is the shaggy rug’s sheer adaptability that makes it so popular. Shaggy rugs are just at home in a crisp modern interior as they are in a more traditional one. And unlike other types of rug, the shaggy rug can take bold colours which are perfect for brightening up any room on a cold winter’s day.

    Animal Skin Rugs

    Animal furs and hides have been used as floor coverings since before recorded time. The ancient Egyptians, Romans and Byzantines all used animal hides as floor coverings to keep them warm in winter. In ancient times home owners were limited to the types of hides they could use, to what was available in their local area. But today’s homeowner can choose from a diverse range of animal hides, including Springbok and Reindeer along with more traditional coverings such as cowhide and sheepskin.

    This type of rug looks best on a naked wooden floor in a contemporary interior. They come in a range of shapes and sizes, depending on the animal you choose. But perhaps the best reason to choose an animal skin rug is because ethically sourced animal hides are the most environmentally friendly floor covering available. By being a by-product of the food industry very little manufacturing needs to take place and no artificial fibres are used in the process.

    Machine Washable Rugs

    One thing that puts people off buying a nice warm winter rug is the fact that they are difficult to keep clean. But today’s homeowner can choose from a wide range of machine washable winter rugs which are perfect for high footfall areas such as the hall or even the kitchen and bathroom. Available in a range of styles and colours, with both plain and patterned options available, it is easy to choose a design to suit your interior.

    Machine washable rugs are made from a mix of polyester and cotton which retains the soft luxuriant feel of a pure natural fibre rug but doesn’t shrink in the wash. They are also manufactured using state of the art processes which reduces the need for glues and other materials that are often affected by heat. This ensures your rug will last for many years without losing its shape or colour.

    Traditional

    There is nothing like a traditional rug to add a little sophistication to your interior. Traditional rugs are available in a range of styles including Oriental, Persian and Moroccan. They make a great centrepiece to any room with many styles also available with matching hall runners, providing the perfect welcome to your home.

    Traditional quality rugs are available in a variety of weaves, including Hand Knotted Wool, Kilims and Woven Wilton. Each weave has its own style and character ranging from the classically understated to wonderfully ornate, but no matter which style you choose they all add a touch of warmth, elegance and glamour to your home.

    Kids’ Rugs

    It’s not just adults that can benefit from a nice warm rug, children can too. Children’s rugs are available in a range of themes, styles, colours and fabrics, perfect for brightening up a child’s bedroom. You can even choose one with an education theme to help inspire your child’s mind while they play. There really is no better way of finishing off a child’s bedroom than with a nice, warm, colourful and soft play rug.

    As you can see there is a wide choice of rugs available to suit all budgets. So no matter if you have a contemporary interior or a traditional interior, you can be sure to find a suitable rug to help keep you warm and cosy this winter.

  • 5 Great Office Design Ideas

    5 Great Office Design Ideas

    When it comes to the all-important redesign of your office environment it can be difficult to even know where to start. Should you, for instance, go all out ‘open plan’ and abandon your imposing board room altogether? Or maybe the best idea is to compromise and have a huddle of small meeting pods in the centre of the room?

    Then again, what about hot desking and colour-coordinated areas? And really, who needs a conference table when walking meetings are all clients seem to insist on these days?

    One of the factors that makes coming up with ideas for a new office redesign so overwhelming at times is that there are so many personalities to take into account. There is also the knowledge that the design of your office can have a profound effect on the office culture and, as a result, the future of your business.

    For inspiration, here are exemplary office designs that do exactly what the client’s brief outlined from the start:

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    The Flexible Office

    Moving from a cubicle-based and segmented workforce into a more open-plan and fluid office environment was what Californian internet security company Malwarebytes had in mind when they had their new 50,900 square feet of office space designed. Versatile modular furniture which could be doubled up, separated, stacked or used to form a giant conference table added to the new feeling of ‘openness’ management were after, while it also added a sense of ‘adaptability’ and ‘dynamism’ for staff.

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    The super-sociable office

    Creating a relaxed environment for staff so that they socialised in the office as well as worked there, was the intention of online survey company Typeform’s office design team. As a result they built a bar – complete with beer taps – in the reception of the 21,000 square foot office. It means that staff at the Barcelona based start-up can relax together and have a drink in the office once they’ve finished work and even have breakfast as a team in the morning.

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    The adaptable office

    The walls really do speak at the former four storey bank in Malmo Sweden and whose top floor is now furniture retail king IKEA’s Creative Hub. In what is known as the Creative Meeting Room, the walls are covered in washable whiteboard paint. This is to allow designers to instantly sketch out an idea whenever it hits them so that they don’t forget it while foraging for pen and paper. Let’s hope no-one else absent-mindedly rubs it off…

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    The chilled office

    If there was one place where meditation pods were going to be installed – and, indeed, become a feature of the office design – it was at Headspace, the company who designed the successful mindfulness app. The US and UK offices also boast a Group Meditation Room and another for sole meditation should staff feel a pressing need to chill.

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    The ‘green’ office

    Most millennials have had the need to be vigilant about the planet drummed into them from a young age, and since these are the workers of the future it makes sense for companies to be more eco-minded. Plants are a good way to introduce a more environmentally-friendly feel into your office space. Washington law company Dixon Peabody took the whole concept a step further when they started growing herbs in the company canteen which staff could trim and add to their meals.

    Reading the above it’s clear that an office redesign requires imagination, knowledge about current trends and a ‘feel’ for what your staff need and want. And the best way to achieve this is to turn to the office design experts. Put it this way, it’s far too important to leave to chance.

    This article was supplied by Opus-4; experts in office redesign.

  • 5 Tips to Help You Keep Your Home Safe

    5 Tips to Help You Keep Your Home Safe

    Buying a home for the first time is a big investment to make. You need to be sure that you do everything in your power to ensure that the house is as safe as it can be at all times. The following guide provides you with a few tips to ensure that your house is ready for any event that could arise in the future.

    Install a Home Security System

    While a home security system can protect your home from a potential burglary, it can also alert authorities when a fire breaks out in your home. It is important to work with a locally based professional company that specializes in home security in Shreveport or other specific areas of the country. This ensures that you can get the best practical protection that you possibly can, rather than settling for a one-size-fits-all approach.

    It is important to be consistent when you have a security system in your home. It needs to be active in order to be as useful as it can possibly be. There are many people who disengage the system when they are at home, but this is not a good idea. People can still come into your home without your knowledge when you are taking a nap on the couch or while you are in the shower. Just because you are home it doesn’t mean people will stay out of your house.

    Have the Roof Inspected

    It is important to make sure that you have hurricane insurance if you live in an area that is prone to inclement weather. Also you must have a roof with a watertight seal. You do not want the roof to leak because it can lead to your home becoming flooded, the growth of mold and mildew, and your home becoming dilapidated over time. It is best to have the home inspected by a professional roofer as soon as you buy it to ensure that no repairs need to be made.

    Have Storm Shutters Installed

    When a hurricane or tornado occur, they can cause debris to fly through the air and it can come through the windows in your home. Having storm shutters installed on the exterior of your home will ensure that your windows are as protected as they can possibly be during a hurricane or tornado.

    The shutters are attached to the exterior of your home and can easily be shut and secured into place when a storm comes. Once the storm passes, you can open them up and let the natural light come into your home again.

    Have the Foundation Inspected

    It is essential to have the fountain for your home inspected right away when you buy a home. You need to be sure that it is not cracked or crumbling because that could cause major damage to occur to your home. When it is inspected, the inspector will also make sure that it is watertight so that moisture does not collect under the house and weaken the integrity of the foundation.

    Purchase the Right Homeowner’s Insurance

    When you purchase homeowner’s insurance, there are numerous options that will be available to you. Depending on where your home is located and the type of weather that occurs, the type of insurance you need may vary. Areas that are prone to flooding require flood insurance. Areas that are prone to hurricanes or tornados may need hurricane or tornado insurance and possibly flood insurance, as well. Having the right homeowner’s insurance could save you a lot of money, time and hassle in the long run.

    Taking the time to make sure that your new home is as safe as it can be will ensure that your family can live in it securely and comfortably. You will be able to have peace of mind that you have done everything that you can to protect your family and your home.

  • 5 Perfect Gifts For New Homeowners

    5 Perfect Gifts For New Homeowners

    Buying a new home calls for happiness. While the family members are happy for the obvious reasons, friends and work colleagues also love to extend their good wishes in the form of gifts.

    It is common for people to throw housewarming parties when they shift to a new house, and this calls for gifts. If you’re invited to such a party or if someone close to you has recently bought a new house, you should make it a point to present them with a nice gift.

    The gift should ideally be for ‘the house’. Now what do we mean by this? Let’s find out and have a look at 5 perfect gifts for new homeowners:

    • Stackable Food Containers

     

    Food storage can become a hassle if there are storage issues. A fully stacked fridge with lots of plates and eatables makes it look bad and is also hard to organize.

    You can help out new homeowners by giving them a food storage box set which is stackable. They are budget friendly and come in a variety of designs and colors. They keep the food inside well protected from germs and bacteria, and hence are a perfect gift for new homeowners.

    The best part about them is their ability into stack in one another.

    • Cover an Expense

    This may sound like a strange idea to some of you, but offering to cover one of the expenses as a gift can be a great deal. For example, if you deal in Calgary paintings, you can offer to paint their new home at a discount.

    This gift will not only cost you a lot, but also show that you really care for your friends. You will just have to talk about them about your intention to cover a certain expense so that they do not end up booking it on their own.  

    • Wall Clocks

    A wall clock as a gift is both practical and thoughtful.

    A new home will always have room for a wall clock. There is a diverse range of wall clocks that you can give as a gift.

    There are pendulum clocks, vintage clocks, visually appealing clocks and more that you can choose from.

    Wall clocks are economical and will definitely cherish new homeowners when you greet them with this gift.

    • Kitchen Tools

    Kitchen tools are needed in every home, especially in the newer ones.

    If you’re wanting to help a friend who recently moved into a new home then gifting a set of kitchen tools can be a good idea.

    A set of spoons, jars, glasses or trays can be counted as useful gifts as they are used on an everyday basis.

    You can also kick in creativity and get custom mugs or accessories to be used in the kitchen to serve as a memorable gift.

    • Doormat

    A doormat is the first thing that a guest notices. Hence, gifting a doormat is a wise choice.

    You can go for doormats that have cool sayings on them or simply choose ones that have a good design. It’s a budget friendly option.

    Verdict

    These 5 gifts are ideal to give to a new homeowner, however, make sure you choose the one that comes in your budget.

  • How to Prepare Your House for Cleaning

    How to Prepare Your House for Cleaning

    Hiring a professional cleaning service to clean your home and make everything seem spotless is definitely a great thing.

    It will save you both time and effort, and in turn allow your relax completely knowing that professionals are taking care of everything for you.

    However, before you start browsing though Cleanify and looking for cleaning services in your area, you need to learn how to prepare your home and yourself for a proper cleaning.

    Leave the Proper Information

    When you’re using a cleaning service, you always need to schedule their visits in advance. Remember to leave your contact information so the company can confirm each visit, or possibly inform you if they ran into some trouble and had to reschedule.

    Be Present during the Cleaning

    If you’re using a company’s services for the first time, you should “keep them company” during the first visit. This will allow you to check their capabilities, see if they’ve missed anything and even give them valuable feedback for future visits.

    De-Clutter a Little before They Come

    In reality, these companies usually focus on the cleaning part, and you don’t want to make their job any more difficult than it already is. Therefore, take some time to put away any personal belongings and de-clutter some of the rooms in your house before they arrive. By doing this, you’ll surely get the best possible results from your cleaning company.

    Tell Them What You Expect

    If you have any specific instructions or wishes, you need to phone the service ahead of time and notify them. The service will notify the cleaning crew about your instructions on the day of the service. And If you start explaining what you want once the crew arrives, you’ll only end up wasting their valuable time and leaving a bad impression.

    Keep the Same Team Coming

    If you’re completely satisfied with their job, you will probably want the same cleaning team to work for you again. And now, you’re probably wondering is it possible to have the same crew come and visit your every time? It actually is, but it varies from company to company. So you should call the cleaning service and check with them if they offer it. If you have a flexible schedule, this shouldn’t be a problem.

    Last But Not Least: How to save some money

    Who doesn’t like to save some money? Some companies out there will clean the house using the cleaning supplies you’ve provided to them and will naturally charge less. Of course, you still have to check with the company if they will do this, because some companies only work with their own supplies.

    Lastly, if you feel like the company you’ve hired didn’t do a great job, you shouldn’t give up on hiring cleaning services completely. Instead, go back online, look up a few more companies and read some online reviews to see whether or not their customers are satisfied with their work.

    With a little bit of work, you’ll manage to find just the right service for your needs.

  • Exploring Architectural Trends That Will Continue Through 2018

    Exploring Architectural Trends That Will Continue Through 2018

    The great architects are continuously competing to see who can build the most memorable structure. With some many of these exceptional professionals in the competition, it is difficult to determine who will come out on top. What most architects look at and think about when they are in the creation mode is the future.

    They will ask themselves what does the future have in store for humans and what will it be like to live in the 22nd, 23rd and 24th centuries. However, the future is a lot closure than you might think.

     

    Breathtaking Bridges

    The unimpressive concrete or metal bridge will be replaced with marvelous hypnotic bridges. China has already taken the step to create some of the most impressive bridges in the world. The glass bridge, over Zhangjiajie Grand Canyon, is just one example. While the bridge had its downsides, thousands of people got the opportunity to walk across it at least once. The 200-foot bridge joins the west cliff at the Yunmeng Fairy Summit, Zhang Jiajie and the summit of the Tianmen Mountain.

    Extraordinary Hyperloop Tunnels

    Just about everyone finds tunnels extremely exciting and a little eerie. With this said, tunnels have definitely undergone a lot of transformations over the past five decades. In the past, man had to carve tunnels out of rocks with hand tools. Today, companies utilize large machinery to do the work for them. Manmade tunnels are amazing, but the hyperloop tunnel will be much more extraordinary. Elon Musk has already starting digging a hyperloop tunnel between New York and Washington.

    If you think America’s infrastructure is going to change, you will not believe how furniture designs will change. In fact, furniture stores Los Angeles are already in preparation to create furniture with state-of-the-art technology and design.

    Dynamic Skyscrapers

    Several cities around the world already house some of the most extraordinary skyscrapers. While these skyscrapers are already breathtaking, the future skyscraper will be much more. In fact, developers are already gearing up to create to compete with Dubai’s 80-story, rotating skyscraper. Singapore; Shenzhen, China; Guangzhou, China and New York City already boast their power and wealth in their amazing skyscrapers.

    Fabulous Indoor Parks

    Since the invention of indoor parks, people have been able to enjoy the outdoors when the weather is unfavorable. One such park is the Zaryadye Park in Moscow. The park’s design was based on a theory of “Wild Urbanism.” Visitors can enjoy the pleasures of a park in a controlled environment, which is pretty extraordinary when you consider the harshness Russia’s winters. The top furniture stores LA will definitely keep up with this trend.

    Invisible Architecture

    South Korean architects have put their skills, knowledge and ideas into a project that features invisible architecture. The Infinity Tower is extraordinary, as it creates an invisible illusion of a structure, utilizing a high-tech LED façade system. The outline of the doors and windows are barely visible and can be captured on camera. While the structure is not massive, it is quite interesting and impressive. The parallelogram-shaped barn is constructed of wood, with mirror film sheeting. It was determined that the architects created the invisible structure on a $5,000 budget.

  • Simple Steps That’ll Make Your Home Exterior More Attractive

    Simple Steps That’ll Make Your Home Exterior More Attractive

    Your home is your castle, or at least it should be. A good home is one that keeps you warm, dry and helps you to feel safe, insulated from the worries of everyday life. However this doesn’t mean that it can’t look good as well.

    In fact, an attractive exterior to your home will help to make you feel better about life as you arrive home. It will also increase the value of your home which is good for your pocket.

    Here’s some simply steps you can take to make the exterior more attractive:

    Cladding

    Cladding is a very popular and easy to fit option, although you may prefer to get the professionals to do it for you. It is important to be aware your vinyl cladding cost will be higher than some of the other steps in this guide.

    However, it doesn’t just offer a rapid way to improve your home. You will also discover that it weatherproofs it and dramatically reduces the time and cost of maintenance each year!

    Tidy

     

    There are many elements outside your home which need to be kept tidy. These include your fencing, or hedging, the gutters, grass, driveways and any flower beds you have. The better you care for these the more attractive the exterior of your home will look.

    Paint

     

    Painting the outside of your home, where applicable, or your fences and exterior walls can make your home look much more attractive and appealing.

    It can be time consuming to undertake repainting your hole and you may find that you prefer to pay a professional for it. Just remember, it adds value to your home as well as making it look better.

    The Entrance

    They say first impressions count and while a clean and tidy front yard will make your home look good, a stylish entrance will make it look better!

    Your door should be painted to match the style of the house. Add in a few columns and steps if appropriate, you’ll be amazed at how it transforms your home and becomes a focal point.

    Don’t Forget Your Driveway

     

    A driveway is fantastic; it keeps your vehicles off the road. But, it can be so much more! Instead of plain concrete upgrade to tarmac, block paving or even a crazy paving effect.

    You might be surprised at how much it transforms your home! Obviously it is a good idea to keep it swept and weed free as well; take pride in your home.

    Windows

    There is very little which makes a home look more attractive and loved than cleaning all the windows. This is one job which is often overlooked but so easy to do and offers instant results.

    Check the Neighborhood

    It’s always a nice idea to put your own mark on your hole, it can add to the appeal and make it feel more unique and special.

    But you need to verify what other houses in the neighborhood have on their houses. As hard as it may seem the best way to keep you home looking attractive is to make sure it is in keeping with its surroundings.

     

  • 9 Modern Tips On How To Make A Comfy Handmade Habitat For Your Cat

    9 Modern Tips On How To Make A Comfy Handmade Habitat For Your Cat

    Many people will agree with the fact that cats are quite territorial. If you have one as your pet, don’t be surprised to lose your favorite chair forever. Cats are normally possessive and they will not find it hard to strip you of your comfort for their own benefit.

    This makes it quite a challenge to cohabitate with a cat especially if you don’t know the trick behind it. Simply grant your cat their personal space of perfect happiness within your home. Nowadays, it is not hard to get comfy beds and expensive cat towers for your pet. Many cat owners, however, prefer to come up with their own design of a personalized domestic habitat for their cat and construct them themselves. You can also make affordable and unique additions domestically, specifically amazing DIY furniture that your cat will find cool. A good structure for your kitten should be designed in a way that allows it to climb, play, scratch and sleep in. It is wise to save some accessories such as money, time and space by merging a number of elements to come up with a single piece that will satisfy your kitten’s needs. Cats are very playful and find fun in scratching over surfaces. This explains why you should make furniture with scratching surfaces. Failure to do so puts your smooth piece of furniture at the risk of getting spoilt with time. If you look forward to starting off your cat keeping adventure, here is a handful of tips to get you going. You can try the following elements:

    1) A Magical Hammock

    How about creating a hammock under, say your coffee table? This can be a very good place for your cat to hang out and have fun swinging on it. When the cat needs to get some rest, the hammock will be a very good surface for relaxing and getting some sleep at any time of the day.

    2) A  Cozy Cat Bed

    This idea needs some knowledge on on how to really spoil your cat. You can make your cat a small but adequate hideaway by crocheting or knitting a soft accommodative structure.

    3) Explore The Vertical Space

    Cats are adventurous and ever in the mood to explore new worlds. Think of hanging a set of shelves to resemble a staircase up against a wall. This view gives your furry partner a vertical world to explore in their “missions”. You can spice up the experience by making a cat tree next to a rigid bookcase or over a doorway. The cat will have a place to curl up in after exploring the shelves.

    4) Turn Tray Tables Into Cat Beds

    Potential cat habitats are available all over. As you move around the house in your daily chores, don’t hesitate to take note of new habitats that your cat may find comfortable. Tray tables can serve as very nice cat habitats!

    5) A Sweater Bed

    You can promote your old comfy sweater to be more productive by recycling it into a snug bed for your cat. Even though you do not use the sweater anymore, it can be a source of comfort to your kitten.

    6) Cat Lounger You Said?

    Here is how basic it is to make a beautiful double-decker climber for your cat. Stack a side table covered with sisal on top of a coffee table lined with patches of artificial fur. Like in the Stackable Condo design above, Britney used primary Ikea elements and used sisal to wrap around the legs. A combination of fake fur elements, fun paint and a few added bells with whistles for play pimp the whole structure.

    7) How About Your Very Own Castle

    Cardboard Castles are a cheaper option since they can be used to make full customizable houses at a small cost. Make different sizes of holes and stack them on top of each other leaving some edges raw to provide a nice surface for your pet to scratch and rub on. Of all the ideas, this one not only seems to be the easiest one to do but also offers a vast potential for ornamentation and decoration. Consider the clever royal-looking peacock feathers that embellish the structure in the link above. Be cautious when wielding your Exacto knife to keep yourself free from self-harm.

    8) Scratch friendly apartment

    A little dye and a printed carpet are all you need to reclaim a boring scratching post for your cat. You can transform such a post into a useful and durable scratching post in an easy way. You can use the carpet or any thick upholstery fabric to cover the base of the post before attaching any vertically aligned supports. Cut small notches in the carpet surface on every

    corner to enable it to fold neatly below the base. Also, wrap the supports in the carpet after setting them up in a way that any screws used to join different parts of the post won’t be visible through the carpet. This represents one of the several uses where sisal rope applies on your home-made cat habitat.

    9) Make A Comfy Cat Case

    Purchase a large bookcase on which you will cut square openings in every single shelf to make an enclosed vertical climber for your kitten. On the top of the climber, place a little bed where your pet can cuddle and rest comfortably. This setup offers extreme enjoyment at the expense of a few elements and man power. Any option that you chose from the ideas above will possess the aesthetic value of being handmade and inventful. Your little pet will definitely find it lovable and it will be quite easy to cohabitate with it without having to give up your comfortable spots to the fuzzy creature.