Interior Design, Design News and Architecture Trends

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  • Some Current Interior Design Trends…

    Some Current Interior Design Trends…

    The interior design world is constantly changing to keep up with the latest trends. I have hand selected some of the more elegant and bold trends Here are some of the most notable that I have had the pleasure of seeing recently.

    1. Statement lighting

    A room’s lighting is an essential component to its overall aesthetic. Recently I have seen a frenzy for statement lighting fixtures and lamps. Out with the drab and dull ‘classics’ and in with the modern and stylish.

    A relatively inexpensive option, adding the right statement lamp can have an impactful effect on your home. Everything from brass art-deco hanging lamps to neo-renaissance chandeliers can be reworked into a contemporary interior that dazzles.

    LampCommerce is a great resource for lamps, stocking some of the most daring lighting on the market. The point of a statement lighting piece is to draw the eye’s attention, there are some excellent models, especially those by Artemide, that have the ability to bring the entire room together into one coherent vision. 

    1. Potted Plants

    With fears about the environment at the forefront of many peoples’ minds, I’ve noticed a real push for plants as natural decoration rather than some lifeless trinkets. This dash of green can really do wonders when incorporated into the right setting.

    This trend has brought potted plants that you wouldn’t have often seen used before, my favourite is the Aloe Vera.

    Nowadays Aloe Vera isn’t just a helpful ingredient in skincare creams. The thick waxy leaves create an exciting look, showing off a look that resembles the expansive canopy of a palm tree and the sharpness of a cactus.

    They come in many shapes and sizes, making them a versatile choice from a plant you could keep as an ornament on your dining table to something the size of a small bush in the corner of a room.

    1. Marble and Brass

    Marble is one of those things that never goes out of style. A trend that keeps resurfacing with added details, marble is once again making a comeback. However this year marble is being paired with brass accents to generate a luxurious guise, unequalled by current materials.

    In small quantities, such as marble accessories twinned with brass fittings, this trend can raise your room from standard family home to whispered luxe.

    The clue here is less is more, too much can give off a cold, unwelcoming vibe that is definitely not the feel you want when welcoming guests.

    1. Geometric Designs

    The goal of “interior design” is usually to give of the appearance that your living space has been curated, whether that be carefully or in a more mercurial style, being ‘put-together’ is the aim.

    One way of doing this is by adding some geometric patterns via floor tiles or wallpaper to a space. The right pattern will help tie in the room’s decoration but help the room stand out, and that’s what you need in a space, visual excitement with harmony.

    1. Upholstered Headboards

    The final trend I can really get behind is one that has been common place in hotels for many years. Out with that hardwood backboard and in with something softer and more elegant. Obviously, it is all dependant on the look of your bedroom and the colours you’ve gone for, but when done well a fabric headboard provides a great finishing touch to the room. The overall effect is one of luxury, but the fabric manages to soften the aesthetic, giving the room a warm atmosphere.

  • How To Successfully Design The Interior Of Your Home According To Your Surroundings

    How To Successfully Design The Interior Of Your Home According To Your Surroundings

    Are you ready to finally say, “Out with the old and in with the new”? If so, then you are going to want to give the interior of your home the makeover of your dreams.

    You can really do a lot with just any type of space that you have to work with. The thing is though, you might find that some spaces will do well with certain types of designs over others. You might have a few favorite interior design styles that you like, but you might be saddened to find that not all of them will work well in your home.

    Consider The Windows

    If you are wanting a look that resembles a resort villa that you would find on a cozy beach somewhere, you might be able to successfully create this look if you have a lot of large windows in the room.

     

    If you only have small windows, or a limited number of them, the look you are going for might be harder to create. This is because you will be lacking in the natural sunlight that you would expect with Calabasas real estate or vacation homes. You could always hire a contractor to install newer and bigger windows in your home, but only if your budget allows.

    Remember The Detailed Cleaning

    If you are looking at an interior design that is going to require a lot of new fabrics and various small details such as statues and pictures everywhere, this is going to be more that you have to clean and maintain. Even adding the larger windows means that you are going to have more to clean, which is something you’d want to consider before you spend the money on windows and a contractor to put them in.

    Be Careful With The Furniture Selection

    When you redesign the interior of your home, you might find that a lot of the furniture that you have is just simply not going to work. Therefore, you will have to purchase new furniture.

    But before you head out to the stores and get ahead of yourself, you will want to make sure that you know just what will and will not fit into your rooms. It is a good idea to know the total square footage of your home, and then the individual square footage of each of the rooms in your home that you’ll be remodeling.

    Having another list of measurements of the individual walls can be rather helpful as well. All of that information will help make sure that you are getting the best possible furniture for your new design and you won’t have to worry about regretting your purchase because the furniture is too big or too small for the rooms you intend for them to go into.

    As you can see, there is a lot for you to consider and plan. In order to make sure that you are getting the best possible interior design look, like the designs you have seen in the magazines and on television, you might want to consider getting in touch with an interior design expert.

    Of course, not just any interior designer will do. You will want to find one that has a lot of experience creating wonderful spaces with the design theme that you have in mind.

  • Save Money and Time When Owning a Business by Working from Your Home Rather Than a Brick and Mortar Store

    Save Money and Time When Owning a Business by Working from Your Home Rather Than a Brick and Mortar Store

    Owning your own business can be quite expensive and time-consuming. There are many business owners who have decided to move their business into their homes to save money, time, and stress.

    If you feel that moving your business to your home is the best option for you, use the following guide to learn how to make the transition as easy as it can possibly be.

    Dedicate Space in Your Home to Your Business

    The first thing you need to do is dedicate a specific area of your home for business use. You do not want to have things scattered all over your home because it will make it difficult for you to keep up with orders, inventory, and shipping. Having a room dedicated solely to your business will allow you to keep everything organized.

    Invest in a Great Internet Service

    When you have a home business, you need to be able to easily look things up online, contact supplies, and contact customers. Be sure to choose an internet service that offers unlimited streaming data so that you can have video conferences with clients and suppliers whenever it is needed. Consider a few of the options available by Optimum to get the service you need for your business.

    Ensure Safe Storage of Your Merchandise

    When you sell merchandise online, you will need to have a place to store the items securely. If you do not want your home to be filled with the items that you sell, consider renting a storage pod to keep behind your home. The pods can be secured with a lock and will allow you to have the merchandise close at hand without taking up a bunch of room in your home.

    Establish Dedicated Shipping Arrangements

    Having to travel to the post office every time you need to ship something can be quite a hassle. Consider investing in a shipping scale and making arrangements online to have items picked up from your home when they need to be shipped out. This will save you a lot of time and money because you will not have to make special trips to mail something to your customers.

    You can print shipping labels at home and weigh everything so that you know exactly what it will cost to ship the items without leaving your home. Make sure to leave the packages where the carrier can easily find them when they come to pick them up to ensure everything ships on time.

    Set Aside Time Specifically for Work

    Working from home requires you to be dedicated and responsible. You need to force yourself to set aside time to get work done on a regular basis. While your schedule will be more flexible than when you owned a brick and mortar business because you will not have scheduled hours the business has to be opened, you have to be willing to dedicate some of your days to the business on a regular basis.

    Transitioning a brick and mortar business into a business at home will take time and patience. Be sure to prepare your home for the transition before making any changes so that you can get your business back up and running as soon as possible.

     

  • Here’s Why Architecture is the Greatest Show on Earth

    Here’s Why Architecture is the Greatest Show on Earth

    If you want to live forever, be the next person to build something like this. There is a reason why 100 of the most famous landmarks in the world are buildings. Even descriptions of great buildings that we have never seen live on for the ages. No one has seen Solomon’s temple as described in the Bible. Yet it is one of the most iconic buildings in the world. That’s a neat trick.

    A grand structure captures the imagination. When we look at one of these works of art in person, we are transported from the reality right before us, to some place magical where our greatest aspirations find expression. One would think that when you’ve seen one tall building, you’ve seen them all. Yet we never get enough of familiar skylines.

    Take a walk in mid-town Manhattan and you will find yourself looking up at buildings you have seen a thousand times. You are not really seeing that building, though. You are seeing everything it does and might represent. Here is a little of what you are seeing, and why architecture is the greatest show on earth:
    The Intersection of Technology and Liberal Arts

    The late Steve Jobs, co-founder of Apple Inc., was fond of talking about the intersection of technology and liberal arts. In his world, the competition was so focused on the technology, they often overlooked the art. In an architect’s world, far too many are focused on the art, and forget about the technology.

    Architecture is both art and science. The great ones specialize in both. Construction management schools are an important part of the process of producing the greatest show on earth. A painter can paint without ever learning the chemistry behind the art. A musician can thrill without knowing a thing about the underlying physics of sound. But a great architect cannot build without knowing both the art and science, as well as the management requirements for building a timeless temple of dreams.

    One of the reasons we stare in awe at the great structures is because our hearts understand what our brains have not quite worked out. On the corner of 5th and Main, what we are really seeing is the intersection of technology and art. And when done right, it is always worth stopping for another look.

    Time Travel

    Would you like to travel back in time? All you have to do is take a visit to the Tumulus of Bougon in France. One look will transport you back to 4800 BCE. That’s approaching 7,000 years ago. Or how about the Great Pyramid of Giza, which reigned as the tallest man-made structure for nearly 4000 years?

    Gazing at the stars is a form of time travel. You don’t even have to look that far off into the distance. Glance at the sun and you are not seeing it as it is at that moment. You are seeing it as it was 8 minutes ago. That’s how long it takes for its light to reach earth. If you were unlucky enough to be stranded on Pluto, it would take 5.3 hours. If you want to see the Ming Dynasty, just go to China. Become a great architect, and they will be seeing our present 1,000 years in the future. With great architecture, we don’t need time machines.

    Invisible

    Some of the greatest architecture is invisible. It is so transparent to our lives, we hardly notice it had anything to do with architecture. Why do we stay dry when it rains? That is an architectural advancement that we take for granted, as is the fact that we can stay cool when it is 100 degrees outside.

    We have buildings that can withstand fire and earthquakes. They can sway in the wind, bend but not break. Books could be written about the advances in roofing and foundations. It is the invisible magic that lets you sleep at night in the face of the storm.

    It is the trip through time. And it is the perfect blend of technology and art. There are no announcers. Nor is there the roar of a crowd. But when done right, architecture is the greatest show on earth.

     

  • Contemporary Home Decor Ideas

    Contemporary Home Decor Ideas

    The main tenants of a contemporary home are simplicity and modern designs. If you choose to live in the moment and enjoy modern aesthetics, then this is the style for you! A truly contemporary design will include essential items like a basic color scheme and new high-quality furniture. The most important item in a contemporary home is a quality bedroom. For those of you who enjoy simplicity, your bedroom should include a mattress like the My Green Mattress Natural Escape, a dresser, and maybe a chair. These essential items are the cornerstone of a contemporary bedroom. These are the other essential items that will tie in the rest of your home.

    Color Scheme

    Someone who enjoys the simple things in life will not want an exotic color scheme inside their home. A contemporary home will typically revolve around three colors: black, white, and grey.

    This will give your home a uniform aesthetic that many people fall in love with. Remember that having a white room is begging for a mess, so you may want to consider black or grey if you have small children.

    Shapes

    The key aspect to having a contemporary home design is neat and orderly rooms. Each piece of art will be hung in the perfect location equidistant from other furniture and artwork. Your furniture should also follow a typical pattern and not have too many contrasting shapes. Contemporary homes have smooth rounded geometrical shapes that look like a magazine cover.  

    Lighting

    Installing track lighting or can light is a great simple way to lighten your home. An extravagant chandelier is not typically seen in a contemporary home, but it can be appropriate in the right home. Natural light is the absolute best way to light your home.

    You should open all windows during the day, and use elegant curtains to shut out the light when necessary. Avoid using cheap plastic blinds at all costs!

    Flowers

    Just because your home follows a basic color scheme does not mean you can’t use flowers to add natural beauty to your rooms. Contemporary homes tend to have plants that bloom with large beautiful flowers. You should plant them in simple pots that don’t distract from the beauty of the flower.

    If you insist on following a color scheme you can find an endless supply of white flowers that will add to the character of your home.

    Dining Room

    Dining rooms are important in contemporary homes. This is a great location to have bold color combinations and geometric shapes. You must stick with contemporary dishware and cutlery as well. You can use white dishes, placed on a black place mat, with silver cutlery. This creates a beautiful dining room when guests arrive.

    Simplicity

    The message throughout this article is: keep it simple! Don’t clutter your rooms with too many distracting pieces of artwork or furniture. If you want to accentuate a piece of furniture it should the focal point of the room. Having too many beautiful things in one room will take away the beauty of each item.

  • Your Complete Guide to Choose a Pressure Washer System

    Your Complete Guide to Choose a Pressure Washer System

    A pressure washer provides you with an environmentally friendly solution to a number of difficult cleaning tasks. There are two types of pressure washers. The domestic electric models that populate mostly garden sheds and the heavy duty models that are normally operated with the help of petrol or diesel.

     

    • How does a pressure washer work?

     

    All pressure washers work making use of the same basic principles. Water is taken into the machine and then pumped and forced through a small nozzle at the end of a handheld lance. The nozzle offers resistance, and that leads to a buildup of pressure. The pump is so designed that it continues delivering the water at a high pressure and that offers you an effective cleaning tool.

     

    • Choosing a pressure washer

     

    The basic step is to decide exactly what you need the pressure washer for and to identify the cleaning tasks you are likely to have. If you need a machine just for washing your car, then you won’t be needing the same performance as a machine designed for cleaning large areas of paving.

    There are two important factors when it comes to considering the performance of a particular model, pressure and flow rate:

    • The pressure determines the force at which the water leaves the nozzle. It is measured in PSI or pounds per square inch
    • The flow rate determines the quantity of water leaving the nozzle. It is measured in LPM or liters per minute

    Compare a pebble hitting a fence at 50 mph and a brick hitting the same fence at the same speed. Which would cause the most damage? The same principle applies to the cleaning performance of pressure washers. High pressure is of no use without adequate quantity or weight of water. For the best results, you need a good flow rate combined with adequate pressure.

     

    • Electric pressure washers

     

    If you want a pressure washer for a range of household tasks, for example, cleaning the patio, driveway, walls, garden furniture, bins, etc., and you also want it to last, you should look for a machine with a flow rate of minimum 8 litres per minute or 500 litres per hour, combined with a pressure of around 120-140 bar (1740-2000 PSI). Anything less than this will make bigger cleaning tasks slow and frustrating.

    A majority of the cheap domestic models are specially designed for using occasionally. The typical lifespan of these machines is usually less than 50 hours use, and the cost of any major repair will most probably be more than the initial cost of the machine. They are throw-away machines.

    However, if your main priority is cleaning your car, then power and prolonged use are not big considerations. You can easily go for one of the cheaper models, but don’t expect it to clean your driveway and patio each spring and last very long.

     

    • Petrol powered pressure washers

     

    For the contractor or the property owner who needs something a little more robust, then the most appropriate option is a petrol or diesel powered pressure washer. They are designed for more regular use than most of the electric models, and they even offer far more in the way of cleaning efficiency. Pressure washers that use petrol have got the advantage of not being connected to the electrical mains and that means one can make use of them in all weather conditions and the working range is limited only by the length of the water supply hose.

    While you consider petrol powered models or petrol water blasters, you should pay close attention to the flow rate of the machine. You will need to test the flow rate of your mains water supply in order to make sure it can keep pace with the flow rate of the machine. Simply run the outside tap into a container for 60 seconds and measure the quantity of water delivered. This will tell you the flow rate of your mains supply.

    This was your complete guide on choosing a pressure washer system. Hope you find this read informative and helpful.

  • Guest Rooms to Rival Any Luxury Hotel, with Help from Isselle and Other High-End Brands  

    Guest Rooms to Rival Any Luxury Hotel, with Help from Isselle and Other High-End Brands  

    With the right bedding, you can transform your guest room into a relaxing,space perfect for everyday and special occasions, cultivating a sense of luxury typically reserved for the finest hotels.

    Spending a night on limp pillows and rough sheets that scratch at your skin will not only leave you uncomfortable, but affect the quality of your sleep too. When you invite friends or relatives to stay the night or for a short break, you want to ensure they enjoy the best experience you can possibly provide – and few things can taint this like a poor night’s sleep.

    Investing in the best bedding is essential to creating the most luxurious guest room, but how do you know where to begin? In the following guide, we’ll explore the most important factors to consider when searching for exceptional bedding, from bed sheets to bed scarfs.

     Gentle to the Touch: Sheets

     Luxurious sheets are the cornerstone of an exquisite night’s rest.

    Investing in the cheapest, mass-produced sheets you can find is unlikely to leave your guests enjoying a blissful eight-hour slumber – instead, pay attention to sheets made for a more high-end experience.

    One incredibly high-quality material to choose for bed sheets? Microfiber.

    Bed sheets made with 100% brushed microfiber – such as Isselle’s Avery Sheet Set – are soft on your skin, with minimal wrinkling. This is a tremendous aid to your guest’s comfort: feeling sheets crease and bunch beneath you can be frustrating, especially when you have to reposition yourself to smooth them out.

    While microfiber is very thin, it’s also impressively strong and smooth, reducing the risk of your sheets tearing. This material boasts exceptional absorbency too, able to wick moisture from your body on warmer nights.

    Microfiber is also fantastic if your guests suffer with allergies, as they block dust mites and help to provide a more comfortable rest.

    With microfiber bed sheets, you can guarantee guests true high-end comfort.

     A Supportive Sleep: Pillows

    Everyone has their own opinion about the perfect pillow. Some of us prefer to pile three or four on top of each other, while others swear by only one or two.

    The best option with your guest room is to provide several pillows, so he or she can make their own decision. As with your sheets, it’s vital to invest in high-end creations to provide real luxury for every guest: choose pillows that are made with quality materials and cutting-edge techniques.

    For example, the Pine Cone Hill King Chrysalis Spring-Weight Down Insert features a 230-thread-count and 600 fill power. With a pillow like this, your guests will be supported, comfortable, and cool throughout the night.

    Setting a Tone: Color

    You’ll have your own color options in mind when buying bedding, but certain tones are known to have a different effect on sleepers.

    For example, those with blue bedrooms tend to enjoy more sleep than those with different schemes, as cells informing the brain’s everyday rhythms are particularly sensitive to blue; it’s also believed to slow your heartbeat and ease blood pressure.

    Yellow, on the other hand, provides stimulation to the nervous system, helping the body and mind to relax. Avoid purples and grays, which do little to help you sleep comfortably .

    Choosing luxury bedding with accents of blue and / or yellow, provided they complement the room’s décor, can have an impact on how well your guests sleep.

    Finishing the Effect: Bed Scarfs

    A beautiful bed scarf has the power to add real elegance and sophistication to your guest bedroom. These help to make beds more inviting, add extra texture, and diversify your color scheme – they can completely transform your bed’s aesthetic.

    The Aoki Azure bed Scarf by Niche combines soft texture and elegant design with bright, dynamic colors. Be sure your bed scarf features patterns or colors that offset those already on the bedding, to avoid repetition or a clash.

    With the right bedding, you will give your guests the luxurious night’s rest they expect to enjoy in only the most refined five-star hotels. Take the time to find the perfect pieces, and your guests will thank you for it.

  • WHEN SHOULD YOU CALL A PLUMBER?

    WHEN SHOULD YOU CALL A PLUMBER?

    Unless you’re a qualified plumber yourself, there are a number of jobs around the home that’ll you need to call a plumber in for, even if it seems like an easy or quick job.  This is because there are many rules and regulations that govern everything to do with plumbing and gas waste on a property –from waste and stormwater drains, backflow prevention and gas outlets.  

    It’s a good idea to find a reliable and professional plumber that you can call on a regular basis, especially if you’ve just moved into a new property or need renovation work done.  

    We asked expert Steve Neale, who is a professional plumber Perth who owns Superior Plumbing Drainage & Gas what he would recommend when it comes to plumbing, and when it might be best to call a plumber.

    A plumbing emergency

    So what constitutes an emergency?  Generally speaking, if the problem you’re experiencing is causing damage to your plumbing or gas systems or to the surrounding area, or poses a danger to people in the vicinity, then it’s an emergency and you should call your local plumber as soon as possible. 

    Typical examples of these in the home include suspected gas leaks from bayonets or gas appliances, overflowing waste or stormwater drains, blocked pipes and seized taps that won’t shut off.  

    Other emergencies may involve failures in critical systems such as the hot water system failing or a toilet not working.  These can completely disrupt your normal schedule and require the fast services of a plumber to get you back on track.  

    Don’t forget that if you’re not sure if it’s an emergency or not, you can always call your plumber to make sure.  Many offer around the clock emergency support so you can contact them any time of the day or night.  

    Renovations

    If you’re planning on a bathroom, laundry or kitchen renovation.  The sheer number of shows on renovating properties on tv these days shows how popular it’s become to give your home a makeover.  What they don’t generally show you is the behind the scenes planning and activity that happens between the professionals – the plumbers, electricians and other tradies.  

    Essentially, it may seem easy to run a renovation project by yourself, but it’s not.  Having a qualified plumber come in and help you with planning your bathroom, laundry or kitchen design can save you money and stress down the track.  

    They’ll be able to help you design a room that makes best use of the existing plumbing, so you won’t have the expense of moving pipe work and drains.  They’ll also be able to help you choose the appliances that will best suit your needs, as well as save you money on running costs.  

    Outdoor projects

    Outdoor plumbing can cover a wide range of activities, and generally it’s the little projects that you think you won’t need a professional for that you probably will need the most. For example, pools, water features, ponds and other outdoor landscaping may require a plumber to ensure the connections are correct and that there is no risk of backflow (where water can be unintentionally reversed in a pipe due to water pressure changes).  

    Backflow can mean that contaminated water, such as that from a pond or fountain, can be mixed together with the water from the drinking water supply, posing a serious risk to health.  By law, all properties need to have adequate backflow prevention measures to prevent this from happening.  This also means that any outdoor plumbing you undertake on your own should at least be checked by a qualified plumber.  

    Always call a professional plumber

    One of the main reasons people try to fix things themselves is cost. People are trying to save themselves a few dollars by attempting DIY plumbing which is always more expensive in the long run – especially if you don’t have the right tools, equipment and expertise.

    Thinking you can handle plumbing or gas issues on your own can lead to the job being time consuming, frustrating and even dangerous.  Most plumbers will tell you that they’re often called in by DIY’ers who have attempted to solve a problem on their own, only to have it cause even more issues or end up damaging the areas around it.  Don’t second guess yourself – if you feel like you need the help from a professional, don’t hesitate to call in a plumber.