Homedit.com Interior Design & Architecture Inspiration Newsletter

Extend your living space this summer
Tips and ideas for a successful striped-ceiling design
Make your body feel the highest level of softness with Copla sofa
5 tips to help you remodel your home
The highly-comfortable Grand Repos armchair
The creative interior of the Nevv @ Syntagma Athens hotel
Kentfield residence with spectacular views
Colorful store renovation by A-cero
Remodeled and extended Edwardian home in Australia
15 Modern kitchen island designs we love

Posted: 24 Jul 2012 07:50 AM PDT

It's summer and it's the season when we all want to take as much advantage of the nice weather as we can. Each year we face the same challenges: trying to find the time and space to help us enjoy the outdoors. Here are a few suggestions for how you can extend your living space for the summer.

1. Sheltered backyard patio.

If you have a backyard, then use it. You can divide the space into several areas since it would be too much to have a single space. You can create a series of sheltered spaces and make a sitting area with chair or benches and maybe a coffee table in the middle and you can also organize a lounge space with a couple of lounge chairs where you can relax in the sunny days. Opt for simple and sustainable outdoor furniture.{found on site}.

2. Covered outdoor living area.

This is a more complex project and it involves creating a sort of outdoor living room. It would need to have a roof but the walls are optional and could be replaced by simple columns. Inside you can create a cozy lounge area with a sofa or a couple of armchairs and even a fireplace and a TV. It would the ideal space to spend your time in in a nice summer evening. You would have to use durable materials and it would also be useful to have a simple strategy to cover the space when it's raining so you don't have to bring all the furniture inside or risk damaging the anything.{picture from here}.

3. Outdoor patio for dining and chatting.

A nice patio is a wonderful addition to any house. It's a space that you can use all summer and where you can enjoy dinner with family and friends but where you can also relax, chat, enjoy a cold drink and simply feel lucky to be there. If your house doesn't already have a patio then it's quite difficult to add one. You could use an already existing space and make some changes or you could simply build a separate structure on your property.{picture source}.

4. Outdoor lounge area with fireplace.

A fireplace is one of the best elements to include in an outdoor sitting or living space. It creates a very cozy, casual and pleasant atmosphere and it's ideal for those moments when you gather with some friends and remember the good times, have a drink and chat. This particular area in unsheltered and it allows you to also admire the sky and the weather and fully enjoy summer.{found on site}.

5. Comfortable outdoor living area.

In this case the idea would be to create an outdoor living area that would offer the same comfort as the actual home. It would have to be a covered area so that the furniture can be safe. You can add a sofa or sectional, some matching armchairs and a coffee table. If you also have the same you can also add a bar. Some beautiful chandeliers or pendant lamps would really make the atmosphere cozy and pleasant.

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Tips and ideas for a successful striped-ceiling design

Posted: 24 Jul 2012 06:34 AM PDT

Stripes are very common in interior design. However, most often they are used for the walls, furniture or accessories. A striped ceiling is not that common mostly because it's difficult to create. Before starting a project that involved painting stripes on your ceiling you should first know the basics.

First you need to decide whether or not your room is suitable for such a design. Ceiling stripes are not something you can paint anywhere. Also, make sure the rest of your décor will match the ceiling because you don't want to create a negative impression by badly mixing styles and colors. It would be best to let a professional take care of your ceiling but you could also paint it yourself if you're careful.

A striped ceiling would look good in rooms such as the bedroom, the bathroom or the nursery. They might be a little too casual or too colorful for the living room and too much work for the kitchen. The hallway could benefit from such a spectacular design detail. If the room is small then the ceiling instantly seems higher so stripes are a good idea. If, one the other hand, the room is large and spacious, a striped ceiling would only make it seem smaller and it's why it's not indicated to use this method for the living room.

There is an exception in the case of attic living rooms.

Before starting to do anything else you also need to decide on which colors you're going to choose. The most common combinations are black and white or white and pastel shades. Then decide where you want the stripes to start from. For example, you can also paint a few stripes on the side of the walls and then continue on the ceiling or you can strictly paint them on the ceiling only. The transition stripes tend to reduce the height of the room so make sure you know that too.

The width of the stripes is variable. It all depends on the effect you are trying to create. Thin stripes have a bigger impact on the eye while thick stripes are more suitable for the nursery because they are more relaxing. Make sure they all have the same dimensions and use tape to delimitate the areas. Remember to be creative and feel free to improvise and play with the design. It's important to choose colors that you like and to also make the rest of the décor match the ceiling.

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Make your body feel the highest level of softness with Copla sofa

Posted: 24 Jul 2012 04:00 AM PDT

Sometimes the joy of being a parent may be shadowed by exhaust. You become to behave like a robot due to the fixed schedule made by the child. You need to feed him, change the diapers, go to walk him, play with him, make him a bath and make him fall asleep. Then you start to do the same things but meanwhile you need to take care of you, of your family, home and so on. Breaks or rest become inexistent. Still you need to find a way to get rest sometime.

A comfortable sofa may be one of the solutions you may take into account. Although you may not have time for a nap, a few moments spent on a soft sofa like Copla may count a lot for your tired feet. The design of this upholstered sofa was created by Rafa Garcia and was inspired by old café theatres, like its name says.

Copla has some extremely soft cushions which are joined together at its ash tree wooden legs and thus it is created a light inner structure. Due to its casual aspect, the modular sofa can be used for different types of areas: entrance hall, bedroom, living room, reception areas, and hallways. Copla sofa belongs to Copla collection which consists of sofas and armchairs which look almost the same. Its visible legs can be stained in different wood nuances and in new vivid nuances too. Thus you may have the opportunity to choose the one that suites your space best. The important thing is to enjoy the softness it offers you and the way it can make you forget about your hard day.

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5 tips to help you remodel your home

Posted: 24 Jul 2012 03:25 AM PDT

Remodeling a home is a complex and difficult process that takes a lot of time and requires strong financial resources. There are many things to take into consideration even before starting the project but also during the remodel. Finding a good contractor is just of the things you have to do. You also need to pay attention to a lot of details that most people don't usually take into consideration and that then turn out to be more important than they thought. It's why they need to change their plans and expectations. We're only going to focus on five major aspects of a remodel that can be applied to all such projects.

The first thing anyone is concerned about is the budget. You can't start a remodeling project without knowing your budget. You need to have a strict list and to know exactly how much everything will cost before even starting. Otherwise you will probably have to stop in the middle of the remodel or you will have to cut costs and end up with something average that you'll have to live with for a long time. First decide how much you can afford without making many approximations. You need to be very realistic about this part. Also make sure to take into consideration unplanned expenses and to also put something aside for those as well.

After deciding on a budget it's time to start planning. You can either do this part by yourself or ask for help from a designer or architect. It would also be useful to have pictures of all the rooms in your house and to make a 3D representation. Also, create a record with all the things that need to be replaced, with numbers and everything. It's important to be organized.

When searching for a contractor you need to check their recommendations and arrange interviews. Base your final decision on their professional skills but also on the level of compatibility between you two. The contractor needs to be on the same page as you and your schedules need to sink. He also needs to be easily reachable, opened to suggestions and to all your questions and concerns.

When negotiating the terms of the contract you need to understand all the point so it would be best to have a casual discussion on a level that you both understand it. Sometimes contractors burry you in specialized terms and you end up signing things that you later realize you don't agree with.

The last thing to take into consideration is the fact that, after the remodel project begins you and your family will have to find another place to live. It's best not to be there because you will only incommode everyone else. Everything will be done a lot easier if there are no interferences.

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The highly-comfortable Grand Repos armchair

Posted: 24 Jul 2012 02:55 AM PDT

Grand Repos is an elegant armchair that was designed by Antonio Citterio. It's a chair that has a very versatile design. Its overall shape integrates it in the office category. However, because of the elegance of the lines and the highly comfortable shape, Grand Repos is a wonderful lounge chair that would also be perfect for reading, watching TV or simply relaxing.

The armchair has a design and a structure that allow it to adapt to every seating position and to be a very versatile piece of furniture. The user can change and adapt the angle of the seat and backrest. The internal mechanism was designed to offer biomechanical optimized movement. The chair also has wide armrests for even more comfort and well as a lumbar-region-integrated body-adapter backrest for a more pleasant seating experience.

The Grand Repos armchair is a classical piece made from high0quality materials. It features polished or powder-coated aluminum feet and comfortable upholstery covered in either leather or fabric. Several colors are available. The chair features a perfect balance between elegance and comfort and it has a timeless design that makes it versatile and easy to adapt to any décor. It's a great chair for offices but also for personal libraries or reading corners, even for living rooms. It was designed for indoor use only and its overall dimensions are H: 110 cm, D: 81 cm, L: 74 cm.Available for 3500$.

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The creative interior of the Nevv @ Syntagma Athens hotel

Posted: 24 Jul 2012 02:20 AM PDT

This is the New @ Syntagma Athens hotel. It's part of the boutique hotels line Yes! Hotels. This one has a particularly interesting interior. It was designed by Fernando and Humberto Campana and it's a splendid example of what an ingenious and creative mind can do with recycled materials.The hotel is a huge work of art.

The Nevv hotel is situated in the center of the Greek capital, in the Olympic Palace building. Originally built in 1958, the building was drastically remodeled. It has a modern and chic look and it offers a total of 79 rooms. All the rooms have high windows and private balconies. They also all feature bamboo flooring and copper washbasins in the bathrooms. The suites have a specific décor influenced by mythological figures of ancient Greece. It's a way of making history a part of the design, even though architecturally there are no traces of the building's past.

The hotel's restaurant is very beautifully decorated. It features a sort of pillars that support the ceiling and that are made from wooden planks of various colors and textures. The furniture is a combination of classic and sophisticated. Some pieces have very original designs that support the hotel's overall contemporary look. The designers had many original and creative ideas and they managed to beautifully include them in their project.

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Kentfield residence with spectacular views

Posted: 24 Jul 2012 12:49 AM PDT

When planning a new home, whether it's a holiday retreat or a permanent residence, the views are critical. If you're lucky enough to find a spot that allows panoramic views then the design and orientation of the house will definitely be influenced by this element. This residence is located in Kentfield, California, USA. It benefits from a location that allows it to capture unique views of the undulating hillside, Mount Tamalpais and the San Francisco Bay.

The house was designed by Turnbull Griffin Haesloop Architects and it occupies a surface of 5,900 square feet. The construction was completed in 2010. It has a design that not only provides beautiful views of the surrounding landscape but is also a reflection of it. It has a curved retaining wall that follows the contours of the hillside while also serving as an anchor for the house, given the conditions on the site. The house seems to be a part of the hillside, a natural prominence that beautifully integrates into the landscape.

The interior design was the creation of TGH and Margaret Simon and the landscape was designed by GLS Landscape Architecture and Rana Creek. The residence was organized in three volumes. They include the living room, the kitchen and dining area and the master bedroom. Moreover, the residence is not only beautiful but also sustainable. It features passive and active heating and cooling systems, battery storage, a cistern for water management and a living roof.{pictures by David Wakely and found on archdaily}.

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Colorful store renovation by A-cero

Posted: 23 Jul 2012 11:48 PM PDT

Spanish leading brand Camper is known for the trendy shoes it sells all over the world. As the company expands, more stores are created. One of them has been recently designed by A-cero. It's located in Calle de los Mesones, 51, 18001 Granada, Spain. The store sits on Mesores street, one of the most important commercial areas in Granada.

The new store is small and measures 50 square meters. It was designed in 2011 by A-cero and it features a very dynamic and colorful interior. Each store has its own style and it each has a design inspired by an important event or something else that the designer chooses for that particular project. As usually, this new Camper store is innovative and fresh. The space used to be a clothing shop and it became partially abandoned. It has been drastically remodeled and renovated.

The designers chose only two colors for this project: white and red. The store features an open space with lacquered wood structures and shelves. They are lit by LEDs. Overall, the store has a very sculptural design, with lots of curves and abstract shapes. Since it was a small space, the designers used mirrors to create more depth. This store is a colorful addition to the street and makes everything seem blend compared to it. It's a very bold and dynamic space.

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Remodeled and extended Edwardian home in Australia

Posted: 23 Jul 2012 11:10 PM PDT

This building is a century old and it was originally an Edwardian home. It was then converted into an apartment building in the 1930s. In the 1980s it was turned into a family home. The latest project, in 2012, was to restore the art deco façade and to add a third level. It was a project by Kerry Phelan Design Office & Chamberlain Javens Architects.

The house is located in Beaconsfield Parade, Melbourne VIC, Australia. The site is directly opposite to the beach and has a beautiful garden sunken with natural light. Also, the whole house is filled with light. Given the atmosphere and the conditions on the site, the architects were inspired to create a series of calm and serene spaces. They used the light in their favor and designed a series of rooms. They opted for several distinct spaces rather than for a large open plan. This way there's a sense of privacy and intimacy in all areas.

The color palette for both the exterior and interior of the residence includes neutral tones and beautiful combinations of light and dark shades that create a nice effect. It's also a nice balance between the cozyness and intimacy inside all the rooms and the vast and complex views of the sea, the sky and the garden. The atmosphere is warm and inviting and the overall design is elegant and simple.{found on archdaily and pics by Derek Swalwell}.

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15 Modern kitchen island designs we love

Posted: 23 Jul 2012 10:00 PM PDT

A kitchen island is a very clever and functional addition that comes with many advantages. For example, the kitchen island is a very versatile piece that can be also used as a bar or breakfast area. It's very practical and functional for preparing meals and it's a very great addition to small and compact kitchens. There are many different types and designs for kitchen islands just like there are options for any other piece of furniture. We're only going to focus on modern designs and see what advantages they offer.

First of all, a modern kitchen island is usually compact. Still, it offers plenty or space for cooking, working and storing. It has a clever design with built-in storage spaces and fixtures and it offers a flexible work space. They also have creative shapes and designs that can help you create a unique and original look for your kitchen.

Kitchen islands are a relatively modern creation and they are always introducing new and innovative ideas. The main advantage of having a kitchen island is that you have access to the stove from all sides, you have more freedom of movement in the kitchen and two or more people have the possibility of working at the same time without making the other ones feel uncomfortable.

These modern designs feature minimalist shapes and compact structures. They focus on functionality and practicality but they don't ignore style and elegance. They are a perfect combination between all these elements. Modern kitchen islands are also more versatile than other types and they also always offer innovative elements meant to make your time spent in the kitchen more pleasant and your work easier. They come in a variety of shapes and sizes and they also introduce vibrant colors and dynamic designs. They are all unique and they all have in common simplicity and functionality.

House Design News

Tuesday, July 24, 2012