Homedit.com Interior Design & Architecture Inspiration Newsletter

The historic Borgo Santo Pietro retreat in Italy
The beautiful Laguna Beach oceanfront villa in California
The Animal – Vegetable – Mineral collection by Yaron Hirsch
Creative and inviting casual common spaces
Florida coastal home with turquoise accents
DIY rainbow clock
Creative ways of using the attic space
Construction Zone Bedding for Boys
Compact white residence in Kobe by Tato Architects
Stylish Hamptons cottage remodeled by ASH NYC

The historic Borgo Santo Pietro retreat in Italy

Posted: 18 Jul 2012 10:50 AM PDT

Borgo Santo Pietro is a luxurious private retreat that dates back to the 13th century. It has a rich history behind it and there are many elements that are reminiscent of its past. The retreat is located in the Siena Area, in Tuscany, Italy. It includes a beautiful villa set within 13 acres of wonderful gardens.

The villa has 11 bedrooms and 11 bathrooms and it can rented for EUR €10685 (USD $ 13134) per night. It used to be a resting place for pilgrims that were traveling to Rome and it's an ancient property that was beautifully restored. The rooms of the villa are designed in an authentic Italian style. They have luxurious interior decors and they offer unique views. The property also includes an orchard, a garden with organic fruits and vegetable, serene lawns and a pool. There's also a tennis court, a basketball court and a bocce pitch as well as a playground.

The villa offers world class cuisine created with ingredients from the private organic gardens. The guests are also offered a range of fine international and Italian wines and they can also enjoy spa treatments. The bedrooms have en-suite bathrooms with tub and shower, air conditioning, safes, TVs, DED players, iPod docks, Wi-Fi access and some even have private balconies. There are 11 bedrooms with the possibility of also adding 4 rollaway beds if necessary.

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The beautiful Laguna Beach oceanfront villa in California

Posted: 18 Jul 2012 10:00 AM PDT

This wonderful villa is located in Laguna Beach, California, United States. It's a very beautiful vacation destination for those who seek privacy and comfort. It offers 3 bedrooms and 3.5 en-suite bathrooms and it can rented for prices between USD $2500 and $3000 per night.

The property features a beachfront residence with a stylish design and a very convenient location. Close to the beach, the villa offers access to the fine sands from Wood Cove. The design of the residence makes it naturally integrate into the surroundings. It features bright colors similar to those found in nature in that area and this creates a seamless connection from indoor to outdoor. The barrier between the house and the private beach is almost invisible.

The property also offers wonderful views of the ocean and the beach and coastline. The villa has been completely refurnished and transformed into a luxury beach property. Inside, two of the bedrooms have king size beds while the third one features a queen size bed. One bedroom has a private terrace and walk-in closet and they all have air conditioning, flat screen TVs and en-suite bathrooms.

The living room has access to a large balcony with ocean views. The property also offers outdoor sitting areas, a garage and a plunge pool. The area is quiet, serene and very relaxing. It's also a private location, perfect for romantic getaways or family vacations.

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The Animal – Vegetable – Mineral collection by Yaron Hirsch

Posted: 18 Jul 2012 08:45 AM PDT

Not a long time ago there was this conception that furniture needed to be perfect and anything that made it stand out, any natural feature was considered an imperfection. At one point people started to appreciate all these natural details and they found them to be very interesting and unique. After that the designers started to seek ways to come up with new and ingenious ideas that would make these elements the stars of their creations. We reached a moment when the tunnels created by the caterpillar in tree branches are brought to the level of art.

Animal – Vegetable – Mineral is an innovative furniture collection that was created by Israeli designer Yaron Hirsch. The collection only has three pieces. It includes a clock, a lamp and a stool. The thing they all have in common is the texture of the wood. They feature what seem to be a caterpillar's paths through Eucalyptus branches. What most people consider to be damage brought to the trees was turned into a unique feature for this collection.

What was originally perceives as something negative was turned into something not only positive but beautiful and aesthetic. The name of the collection refers to the beetle, the tree and the plaster that the designer has poured into the tunnels. The result was a unique and highly original furniture collection with minimalist designs and with unusual details. The natural touches are indeed ingenious.

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Creative and inviting casual common spaces

Posted: 18 Jul 2012 08:00 AM PDT

All the spaces in the picture are located in the Northern Hemisphere and have in common the same friendly, fun and inviting atmosphere, perfect for the homes that are hosting guests for playdates, sleepovers and family visits. All of them prove such an impeccable style that makes you reflect to the dressed-down needs of summer.

The loft in Barcelona with its furnishings and eclectic decor reveals a relaxed vibe and everything encourages a deep breath, a long exhale and a smile. The plush cushions invite guests to hug them and this says it all!{picture source}.

The cottage in Ontario,Canada is an example of a casual sitting room that transcends seasonality with its classic and refined line, teaches that classic and neutral colors extend the life of the furnishings and decor, and opens the door to endless color possibilities.{picturesource}.

The nest prototype in Israeli reveals once again that nature has the best design solutions and inspiration. Oversize pillows and poufs create a comfortable nest where conversation and laughter start flowing.{picture source}.

The backyard tepees in California prove that there is no need to reinvent the wheel, that tepees are always a hit, perfectly combining camping and the outdoors.

The nest house in Japan provides a casual sensibility thanks to the absence of the walls. Pets, kids and guests gathering with ease are the best way of telling if the space is accessible and comfortable. Chicago upper-level living room reveals an atmosphere situated outside the kids’ bedroom and teaches that varying the seat options with ottomans, floor pillows and everything in between tells people that they can sit back and relax.{picture found on site}.

The traditional living room in Vancouver and the eclectic contemporary playroom in San Francisco is an ideal gathering space that can please kids. Plush furnishings, beanbags, ottomans and chairs for the little people in the house go the distance in making everyone comfortable; children’s art, accessories and decor add that perfect punch of color that turn the place into a friendly, creative, fun and inviting environment, just as all the already-mentioned common spaces are.{picture 1 and 2}.

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Florida coastal home with turquoise accents

Posted: 18 Jul 2012 07:26 AM PDT

Having a house and not an apartment automatically changes your perspective towards decoration. Because a house offers more space and therefore a lot of "white canvases" for your ideas people tend to make each space unique, containing one idea or more. From my point of view this is a wrong concept because not all the time you get a final unified interior and in most cases some things won't go hand in hand.

To show you a successful project that combined a few different ideas in a great simple house I chose this home. It is located in Naples, Florida and it was designed by Alison Caccoma. I bet you will love the bright colors and the various textures inside. Let's take a closer look. This chic interior uses contrast to highlight the true value of space. Beside a large scheme of neutral colors there are a few "splashes" that pop-up and instantly catch your eye. The fact that this place is located near water influenced some of the interior and exterior choices.

The pool and the terrace nearby complement the surrounding landscape making the transition between the river and the house. Managing to keep the place casual increases the comfort standards. With this natural scenery and all the natural elements that surrounds it this place combines the functionality of a day by day home with the flavor of a holiday location.

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DIY rainbow clock

Posted: 18 Jul 2012 06:50 AM PDT

The outdoor spaces need colorful decorations just as much as the rest of the house does. Now that it's summer and we spend most of our time outdoor, it would be a great opportunity to start a DIY project and make something nice for your patio, deck or terrace. This is a colorful clock that you make by yourself. All you need is plant stand with a round shape and a design similar to this one and lots of paint.

You'll need all the colors of the rainbow if you want to recreate this design but you can also come up with something different and opt for a different pattern and a different combination of colors. First remove the caster wheels from the bottom of the plant stand if there are any and then sand the whole piece. This step is necessary in order to remove the finish and make the paint adhere better to the surface of the future clock.

To make a color wheel similar to this one you'll need to paint one section at a time and use tape to delimitate them. It will take a while to complete all the sections but they will look beautiful at the end. Since the clock is designed for outdoor use you can also add a glossy outdoor spray varnish for protection. Now it's just a beautiful and colorful piece of wood. To turn it into an actual clock you would have to install the hands and gear box. You can take these from another clock that you no longer need or use. Hang it on a wall and it's done.{found on mom}.

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Creative ways of using the attic space

Posted: 18 Jul 2012 05:03 AM PDT

Not a lot of people see the attic as a very functional space. It's a space usually used to store old things and it's often left unused. However, it's a very nice and cozy space that, with some imagination, creativity and time, could be turned into a lovely extra bedroom, office, art studio or anything else. Let's take a look at some inspiring ideas.

1. Bedroom retreat.

The attic could be repurposed into lovely bedroom such as this one. This is the new bedroom of two teenage boys. It's cozy, quite spacious and it has the advantage of being on its own floor. To make the attic seem bigger, the walls and floor were painted white and minimalist furniture was chosen in warm shades of brown that also create a nice contrast.{pictutre from site}.

2. Practical office.

The attic could be turned into an office. The idea is quite clever since the home office needs to be quiet and away from all the noise from the rest of the house. In the attic it would a separate space only to be sued for work purposes. Also, it would be a spacious office with lots of space for storage. You can even add a small social space in a corner or in the middle where you could place a coffee table and some chairs in case a team project needs to be discussed.{found on site}.

3. Recreation area.

Another great idea would be to turn the attic into a recreation area. You could make a games room and you could place a pool table in the middle with two long benches on the sides. If you have a pitched roof then it's perfect because the space above the pool table would be higher and it would allow you to hang a series of pendant lamps.{found on site}.

4. Friendly children's room.

I'm sure any kid would love to have his/her own space. At some point they all need to be more independent so moving their bedroom in the attic would give them more privacy and would allow give them a sense of freedom. You can paint the walls in a vibrant color, put some decorations on the walls, add a cozy bed and a desk the room is done.

5. Spacious playroom.

To avoid having objects scattered all over the house, you could organize a playroom in the attic. It would be specifically designed for this purpose and it would be easy to decorate. Make sure you have plenty of storage space with both drawers and open shelves as well as a cozy seating area. A small desk would also be useful for arts and crafts. The rest of the space needs to free and open and the attic needs to be as lightly furnished as possible.{found on site}.

6. Cozy media room.

If you don't have a separate space you can use as a lounge and media room, then the attic would be a very clever idea. Add built-in storage units on the sides, a comfy sofa or sectional in the middle and a TV, maybe even a fireplace on a wall. You could make this a cozy retreat for friends and you can relax and have fun thee without incommoding anyone else.{found on site}.

7. Another type of play area.

Adults need to play as well. Whether you enjoy playing pool, ping pong or anything else, you can find the space to do it in your own home. Since it hard to devote a room just for that, the attic would be a nice compromise. If it's large enough you could have both a lounge area and a space devoted for playing games such as pool, pink pong or board games. It would a fun hangout space for when friends come over and when you just need to relax.{found on site}.

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Construction Zone Bedding for Boys

Posted: 18 Jul 2012 04:01 AM PDT

If you ask a girl about what she wishes to become she will say a princess, a doctor, a dancer or something similar. But boys want to be either super heroes or strong men like firefighters, policemen, astronauts or … constructors. My 4 year old son wanted a tool kit for his birthday with everything in it: a hammer, a screwdriver, a saw and also a hard hat. I guess it’s in their genes. SO all boys love building things. Then I think it would be a great idea to give them what they want, including a Construction Zone Bedding for Boys. It will be perfect for every boy and they will play on it before falling asleep.

This bedding is entirely made of organic cotton – 200-thread count, which is great for children, as it is hypo-allergenic and also absorbs their sweat when they sleep. You will see heavy machinery like bulldozers, diggers and cranes printed on a reversible filled duvet, all coloured in nice shades of red, blue and orange – perfect colours for the boys’ bedding. Some stripes are coloured in stripes of red, orange, grey and aqua and this gives the design a boyish look. The bedding includes a duvet cover, a sheet set and fitted sheet. The modern design is perfect and the bedding set can be bought for $109.00 – $129.00from Land of Nod.

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Compact white residence in Kobe by Tato Architects

Posted: 18 Jul 2012 02:29 AM PDT

Located in Kobe, Hyogo Prefecture, Japan, this residence has a contemporary design and a compact shape. It was designed by Tato Architects and it was completed in 2008. The house sits on a site measuring 139.87 square meters.The site is located in a very beautiful area with views of the mountains and the city. The views are wonderful but they always come with a price.

It's the shape and conditions on the site. This made the project very challenging.The particular site conditions made things more difficult than usual but the architects eventually found a solution for each difficulty. The shape of the building was dictated by the shape and orientation of the land. The parallelogram-shaped structure was designed vertically so that the client would be able to admire and enjoy the views.

The interior of the house is divided into two volumes. The east side and the west side have similar structures and shapes with slight differences. They are separated by a stairwell. This created a semi-opened space in between the two volumes, like a private courtyard. Both volumes have a total of nine rooms. Both volumes have small windows of various dimensions complemented by large glass walls that create a nice connection with the outdoors. The interior is mostly white, just like the exterior. It features accent features in bright colors and an overall minimalist and modern appearance.{found on archdaily}.

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Stylish Hamptons cottage remodeled by ASH NYC

Posted: 18 Jul 2012 01:33 AM PDT

As expected, any property from the Hamptons is something that deserves to be shared with the rest of the world. This one is a charming cottage located in Sag Harbor, New York and it's currently on the market at the price of $1,150,000. Finding a new owner will probably be easy since it's so beautiful and stylish.

The cottage is actually more like a small villa. It's definitely not the type of country cottage with cozy interior and tiny rooms. This one is a more elevated property and it has been recently remodeled by New York-based firm ASH NYC. They redesigned this residence and updated it, making it seem more modern and appealing than ever. The cottage has three bedrooms and two bathrooms and it's actually a historic home. It's why the character and original charm of the property had to be preserved.

During the renovations, some of the original features have been preserved as well. The rest has been replaced but not with contemporary elements but with mid-century pieces. Even so, the cottage has a very fresh and modern look. The exposed beams in the ceiling create a warm and cozy atmosphere and they create a nice contrast with the rest of the elements. The property lacks a swimming pool but one could be added if the deck would be removed. One of the bedrooms is quite small but it could be sued as an office or guest room.

House Design News

Wednesday, July 18, 2012