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  • A More Pleasant Way to Wake Up: The Good Up Amplifier

    A More Pleasant Way to Wake Up: The Good Up Amplifier

    Italian designer Dario Martone envisioned the Good Up amplifier, a very interesting and eco-friendly alternative to those annoying alarms that wake us every morning when going to work or school. We’re sure that there were many times when your sleep was interrupted by those shrill sounds, very unpleasant coming from your alarm clocks, because let’s face it: how many of us can wake up in the morning without the help of somebody or something? Actually, sometimes we are so tired that even that irritating sounds have no effect, but when they have, the experience is always traumatic and we end up waking up sick and nervous.

    Why should always be like that and we cannot enjoy a more pleasant way to start a new day? Well, the good news is that nowadays if you search, you’ll certainly find other alternatives that meet your needs. The Good Up amplifier is one example that we’ve found searching on the Internet that promises to solve this problem, ensuring a calm and peaceful awakening. It works in conjunction with any kind of mobile phone, so you just need to choose your favourite song or sound from your mobile phone according to your personality and your mood, and place it in the cone.

    Thus the high tones will be absorbed by the polyethylene low density cone and only after that will be transmitted to you so that you will not have a heart attack, while the chirping of birds ambient songs will be heard even better. In this way, you’ll wakes up softly, relaxed rather than abruptly and it gives you the chance to start your day totally different. Which makes it an even more attractive choice, despite its larger size, is that it respects also the environment because is not an electronic device, having no batteries and does not consume energy of another kind.

     

     Photos © Dario Martone

  • 18 Great Design Ideas and Colour Schemes for Boys’ Rooms

    18 Great Design Ideas and Colour Schemes for Boys’ Rooms

    Show us one child or teenage who wouldn’t love to have their own space that reflects his personal style and personality, a space that stimulates his creativity, allows for a good sleep and even give him the opportunity to entertain his friends. Maybe boys aren’t generally too concerned about the design of their room as girls are or too enthusiastic, once they have such a great place instead of a dull and unviting bedroom, they will surely appreciate it. As we write in a previous article about designing a kid’s room, the most important thing when starting such a project is to include them in the process and talk about how they imagine their new bedroom, what their tastes and interests are.

    Whether you choose a specific adventurous theme or on the contrary, something more soft but attractive, all the other details such as color scheme, furniture items, lighting and decorative accesories are largely dependent on their age first of all, their preferences and why not on your budget. Bold and bright primary colors are usually used for teen boy’s spaces, but it doesn’t have necessarily to be so. You can go anytime for unexpected colors and patterns, and you shouldn’t be afraid to mix and match, and throw in a surprising piece of furniture. You’ll be amazed by the result, believe us. Our selection of pictures proves that there are endless possibilities in creating the desire room design for your boy.

    So, let them know that they are truly special to you by creating them colorful, modern and stylish spaces. Cherry, yet masculine, these clever room designs work for all ages. They are tasteful and  full of comfort, with a youthful feel, which we hope they will afford some inspiration. Check out the following fresh, full of ingenuity and originality examples and share your thoughts with us.

     Photo © Shirley Meisels

     

    Photo © Matthew Millman; Jute Interior Design

    Photo © Susan Gilmore; Martha O’Hara Interiors

    Photo © Alan Design Studio

    Photo © Carlos Perez; ALVAREZ-DIAZ & VILLALON

    Photo © Carolyn Porter

    Photo © Création Maryse Crôteau

    Photo © Lisa Rubenstein

    Photo © Perceptions Interiors by J. Allen

    Photo © Imagine Living

    Photo © Imagine Living

    Photo © Imagine Living

     

    Photo © Leone Design Studio

    Photo © GRADE

    Photo ©  Erika Ward Interiors

    Photo © Shelley Gardea

     Photo © Matthew Millman; Jeffers Design Group

     Photo © Marrokal Design & Remodeling

  • Exceptional Contemporary Rugs Bursting with Vibrancy

    Exceptional Contemporary Rugs Bursting with Vibrancy

    Renown for creating vibrant contemporary rugs, London-based Sonya Winner has a great portofolio of 16 fantastic rug designs which is complemented by a limited edition series of 25 unique rugs and bespoke commissions, especially created for those looking to own something rare and elusive.  Her talent for colour blending to create something unique is already highly appreciated by its fans ans clients who consider her rugs true works of art and we have to recognize that they stole our hearts too from the very begining. Some of her gorgeous pieces and latest designs could be seen last month during the sixth edition of the Tent London design event, part of the London Design Festival.

    No wonder that Sonya Winner’s rugs causes sensation amongst the press right from the begining when she launched the first design intitled  “The Kaleidoscope”, being also short-listed for an Elle Decoration Award shortly after the launch. Graphic, injected with colour and higly original, they certainly reflect the energy and well-being in Sonya, turning to be a striking centre piece in any home.

    The effect of creative juxtaposing colour and shape is just amazing and have the ability to instantly transform a room. “After Matisse”, her latest rug design shown here in the first picture, is pure evidence to the quantity of colours involved in the final product- there has been used a subtle combinations of 26 colours, angular shapes and varying tuft heights. Ambitious colour mix experiment, isn’t it? These contemporary rugs with three-dimensional pattern and hand knotted in 100% pure New Zealand wool are indeed spectacular floor statements to any space.

    Photos © Sonya Winner.

     

  • Modern Cabinets with Character and Colourful Identity

    Modern Cabinets with Character and Colourful Identity

    Eye-catching dynamic design, functionality and carefully chosen materials are cleverly combined by Swedish design studio A2 designers to create such good looking modern cabinets perfect for many types of interiors. They try to come up with new and revolutionizing ideas, thus designing creative and distinct furniture items with a heritage from the Scandinavian furniture tradition, genuinely produced by their own  furniture brand A2.

    Amongst many original and fresh ideas of furniture that steal your heart found on their website, we admired their splendid collection of cabinets which seem to have nothing in common with any anonymous storage systems. Although each one of these modern cabinets is unique in its way, they have a common purpose:  to store your favourite things and to encourage creative spaces, turning an ordinary, cold and univiting room into a beautiful contemporary setting where everything you do becomes more pleasant than before.

    They are so versatile and useful; they can hold you china, your books, even display your favourite art or even flowers. A push mechanism easily opens the doors, making the cabinets conveniently practical to interact with. Clean and classic with only different parts available in various colours, all white, black and white or bold, vividly colored, they are all characterized by striking geometric patterns on doors, some of them even in different levels and no matter your choice is, such models would definitely become a topic of conversation and the change will be great. We think they would be charming both in offices and private homes.

    Photos © A2/ A2 designers, Patrik Svedberg and Adam Danielsson.

     

  • Relax with a Smile: Modern Rocking Chair Design by Montis

    Relax with a Smile: Modern Rocking Chair Design by Montis

    No matter what rocking chair design do you prefer, this type of chair may be all you need for your relaxing moments. If you take into account that some studies shows that the simple act of rocking releases endorphins in the body that produce a calming and relaxing effect and also  improves the ability to focus and concentrate, then investing in a rocking chair that suits your home proves even more useful.

    It’s said that the best rocking chairs soothe, entertain and serve as sculpture as well and here you have an example that fits very well in this kind of definition: “Dim Sum” designed by Simon Pengelly for Netherlands company Montis. Available from Summer 2012, it’s a surprising and innovative model of a rocking chair which distinguishes by a beautiful modern design, bright colour combination for cushions and an extremely comfortable appearance. The nice wooden addition make you think about the traditional notion of a rocking chair and this aspect enhances even more its charm and would become a forever piece in the home.

    Photos © Montis.

     

  • Playful and Unique Tealight Holders by LEBORED

    Playful and Unique Tealight Holders by LEBORED

    Looking for some original ideas of tealight holders, we found these sweet ones and we couldn’t help not sharing with you their playful and creative designs made by two young designers Alex Shilin and Jennifer Eshelman from LEBORED, a craft + design studio in Austin, TX. Inspired by the beauty, whimsy, oddity and ingenuity of the world which surround us, they create limited collections of unique pieces, one-of-a kind home decorations not found anywhere else that reveal a little something new every time you look at them.

    These tealight holders are indeed very original and  attractive with their amusing woodern silhouettes suggesting different pair of characters. Besides the fact that they come in such wonderful, bright colors, their charm lies also in the fact that they litterally need each other.

    Each one is designed to compliment the other aesthetically, emotionally and physically and for this reason they are held together by two tiny magnets that give them stability to stand. If the pair is pulled apart, one character can’t stand on its own. They will certainly light up your day and are perfectfor exaample for any party you have. They’re adorable, don’t you think?

    Photos © LEBORED.

  • Inviting Holiday Retreat in Norway: Twisted House by JVA

    Inviting Holiday Retreat in Norway: Twisted House by JVA

    Either on a sunny weather or on wintertime, when snow is everywhere, Twisted House is a beautiful and warm cabin getaway perfect for a large family on holiday. Nestled high in mountains of Norway, to 1000m above the ocean and very close to the ski slopes, the property takes full advantage of all peacefulness the surrounding landscape offers, ensuring comfortable and relaxing days. Finished in 2011 by Norwegian architecture studio JVA, the 3900 sq. ft cabin displays a clean, larch wood-cladded architecture style which  makes it very much part of the surroundings.

    Architects designed it on seven floor levels, being connected differently, but harmoniously to the sloping terrain. Inside, the Twisted House impresses by its spacious wooden interiors which compliment the exterior design. Almost everything in the house’s interior design from floors, to walls, stairs, ceiling and table is made of oak wood to give a warm feeling especially in the wintertime.

    Photos © Nils Petter Dale via archdaily.com

    Project details:

    Location : Kvitfjell, Norway
    Building type : Cabin
    Client : Withheld at the owners request
    Size : 360m²
    Schedule : Finished 2011
    Consultants : AS Fredriksen
    Primary architects : Einar Jarmund, Håkon Vigsnæs, Alessandra Kosberg, Claes Cho Heske Ekornaas

     

  • Beautiful Lamp Series by Vim and Vigor Design

    Beautiful Lamp Series by Vim and Vigor Design

    Their true passion of crafts and skills usually made by hand influenced their latest design project consisting in a wonderful stylish lamp series, a perfect lighting choice for your home if you want to achieve that interesting industrial look.  SF (Spin and Fold) Lamps are a creation of talented designers Aaron Tsui and Irina Kozlovskaya from New York based firm Vim&Vigor Design and appeared for the first time at the International Contemporary Furniture Fair in New York. Obtuse, acute, or intermediate with black/bronze or white/silver finish, each one of these pendant metal lamps is unique in its own way.

    Their design approach is paying homage to the vanishing art of hand-spinning metal and is a result of  a unique fabrication method: an ingenious combination of  the traditional hand spinning with a cutting tool that perforated the flattened pattern and created a “key hole” in order to bend and secure the lampshade. This technique gives this pendant lamp series a fresh perspective from each angle they’re viewed from, appearing to change forms right before the eye as you walk around them, according to designers. Their appealing look will bring a modern twist to any dining room or kitchen.

    Photos © Vim& Vigor Design.