Homedit.com Interior Design & Architecture Inspiration Newsletter

3 Tips To Help You Find the Right Kitchen Table
5 stylish writing desks for a new school year
DIY flowerpot makeover
A curious-looking residence in Ponce
Cool Book Clock
A chic turquoise interior by Tammy Connor
Pantone 2013 trends in interior design and furniture color palettes
Boo! Mirror with Coat Rack
How to make your own chalkboard paint
The Splendid Riad Farnatchi Hotel in Marrakech

3 Tips To Help You Find the Right Kitchen Table

Posted: 17 Aug 2012 06:06 AM PDT

The kitchen is a central social area where family and friends gather and spend time together. Most often, the kitchen is part of an open plan that also includes the living room and the dining area. If you want your kitchen to have a table then there are several aspects to take into consideration before going shopping for one.

First of all, decide what the table will be used for. In other words, you need to know the function it will have in the kitchen. If you're planning to only use it for meals, then you'll most likely need a simple and practical design. If you also need to use it when preparing the means then it should provide you with a functional work surface that can't be damaged or scratched easily. There's also the possibility that the table will be used for a variety of different activities, from dining to crafts and homework, playing games and more. In this case you'll need a table with a protective coat that can also be cleaned easily.

Another aspect to take into consideration before buying the table is the kitchen layout. The table needs to fit properly in the kitchen and deciding on a design also depends on the size and layout of the kitchen. For example, in an open plan space the kitchen table could work as a delimitation element between the cooking and the dining area. But if you have an U-shaped or L-shaped kitchen, the table could look nice in the center, in which case a round table would be more practical.

Then there's also the material and the actual design of the table. Here things get complicated as this part also depends on your personal preferences. However, some materials and designs work better in certain interiors. For example, wooden tables are practical and elegant but they are tend to be robust and they can get scratched easily. They are great for rustic or vintage interiors. Plastic tables are suitable for more modern interiors and they have the advantage of allowing you to clean then easily. Glass tables or great for small kitchens because of their transparent design and they are also suitable for formal decors.

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5 stylish writing desks for a new school year

Posted: 17 Aug 2012 04:21 AM PDT

A new school year is about to begin and this means you'll have to make your home ready for that as well. Your children will need a place where they can do their homework and other school-related activities. They will need a desk. We know that choosing the right design is not easy so we have prepared 5 beautiful desks to inspire you.

1. The Flat-bar storage desk.

Sleek and simple, this desk is great for working, doing homework, arts and crafts, etc. it wasn't designed specifically for kids but it provides plenty of storage space and this makes it particularly suitable for that purpose. It costs EUR 473.91, it's made of engineered wood and powder-coated metal and it measures 52″w x 22″d x 30″h.

2. The WGS rectangular table by Monica Armani.

WGS is not actually a desk. It's a table but it's perfect for writing and doing homework. It doesn't have any built-in storage but a small storage cabinet with a matching design could easily solve that problem. The table features a 12 mm tempered transparent glass top and painted glass in bright or mat colors is also available on request.

3. The Lui writing desk by Paolo Maria Fumagalli.

Lui is a modern, sleek desk that also features a 12 mm transparent tempered glass top. It's made of natural ash and features a wenge finish. It also has incorporated bottom shelf and drawers in wither white or black lacquered finishes. The same design is also available without drawers. The frame is made of stainless steel.

4. The Parsons mirror desk.

This desk features a glamorous look with lean and clean lines and a simple and modern design. It has two hidden drawers, perfect for storing writing tools and supplies. The Parsons desk is chic and versatile and it's suitable for both small and large spaces. Its overall dimensions are 48″w x 24″d x 30″h and it's made of engineered wood with mirror-panel cladding.Available for 568 euros.

5. The Swing writing desk by Jan Armgardt.

With its clever design, the Swing desk would fit any space, no matter how small. This means you'll be able to fit in in the corner of your children's room or any other free space you have around the house. Swing is a tall cupboard with plenty of storage and an extendable desk. When not used, it has a compact design. It provides enough space for items such as the printer and scanner and the interior can be configured as you wish. The extendable worktop is optional and the same goes for the cable sockets.

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DIY flowerpot makeover

Posted: 17 Aug 2012 03:43 AM PDT

Flowerpots, even though beautiful in essence, will inevitably lose their charm over time. The flowers they hold will always look fresh so the pots should maintain the same look. So don't allow them to ruin your lovely balcony décor with their old appearance. Give them a makeover. It's easy and fun and your flowers will appreciate it too.

First, let's see what you'll need: some pieces of fabric, scissors, glossy spray paint, mod podge, a paintbrush and, of course, flowerpots. Start by taking some old flowerpots and putting them on a piece of paper. The paper will protect the floor while you spray paint the flowerpots. Choose whatever color you want. You can also alternate the colors or come up with interesting patterns. Let the flowerpots dry. After that, cut out a piece of fabric after you have measured the pot. You'll use the fabric to decorate the exterior.

Apply mod podge onto the area where you want the fabric to be and then apply the fabric onto the flowerpot. You can either cover the entire exterior or just portions. Make sure there are no bubbles underneath the fabric before letting it dry. After that, apply two more coats of mod podge. Let each one dry before applying another. Now your flowerpots are restored and more beautiful than ever. Put some nice flowers in there and redecorate your balcony.{found on lanared}.

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A curious-looking residence in Ponce

Posted: 17 Aug 2012 02:59 AM PDT

It looks like a spaceship but it's not. This is the house of Roberto Sanchez Rivera. He is a retired teacher of industrial arts who lives in the city of Ponce and who decided to make his house a one-of-a-kind structure, one that everyone would stop to admire. His house resembles a flying saucer because of the shape but mostly because of all the lights.

When he first started the lighting, Mr. Rivera was as passionate as he is now. He would always walk all the way down to the corner to see how it looked and he would hear people whisper their admiration. When the lights are off, the house is nothing but an intriguing building. But when Mr. Rivera turns on the lights it all changes.

Another odd thing about this house, besides all the colorful lights, is the five-toned sound that the house makes. It's actually from "Close Encounters of the Third Kind". Movies or aliens are not something that Mr. Rivera is passionate about. He is simply a very creative man who chose to occupy his time with this ingenious project. It was his dream from when he was in high school to someday build a house that was unlike any other. We can now say that he managed to make his dream come true. It was something that he did because he enjoyed it not because he had to or because he wanted to impress someone. This is true passion.{found on nytimes}.

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Cool Book Clock

Posted: 17 Aug 2012 02:12 AM PDT

Old things are not necessarily things you have to throw away in the garbage. They can very well be considered cool and vintage and, with a bit of imagination, they can be turned into something else, a totally unexpected result and an object that will be used as something else. This Cool Book Clock is the perfect example that you should take a closer look at the hings you want to throw and keep the ones that are really beautiful. This clock is actually a normal clock mechanism that is afterwards placed inside a vintage hardbook cover.

Instead of the interior pages that had been removed, the designer called Hilda Grahnat used an ingenious solution and used some bits of wood that look very similar to the original look. Only if you come closer and look at the clock really attentively you will realize the absence of paper sheets and will notice the wood. There are many models and covers used and this particular one with a blue background and stylized white and green leaves is called “The teahouse of the August Monn”, after the name of the book written by Vern Steiner. This clock runs on a LR6/AA battery and sells for $45.

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A chic turquoise interior by Tammy Connor

Posted: 17 Aug 2012 01:07 AM PDT

Interior designer Tammy Connor is known for her timeless decors and inclination towards classical and vintage elements. Her style is elegant and chic and she impresses with her attention to every little detail. This interior is one of her latest creations. It was designed for this year’s Hampton Design Showhouse and it features a very soothing and beautiful color palette.The colors sued throughout the house are mostly pastels. They include shades of blue, turquoise and white combined with warm tones of beige and brown. It's a very nice balance between warm and cold tones.

The overall interior décor is elegant but also somewhat casual and the predominant style is vintage. Each room is captivating. For the bedrooms, the designer chose striped wallpaper. It's a classical choice that goes well with all the vintage details. But what interesting is the original twist consisting in the way she switched the direction of the striped on the walls. This breaks the monotony but maintains the whole serene and calm atmosphere.

As for the accessories and decorations, the most impressive is the incredible collection of butterflies. It's unique and adds a touch of antique to the décor. The cozy linens and rustic accessories are also beautifully combined. Overall, the designer managed to impress once again with her ability to combine styles and to use unique details.

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Pantone 2013 trends in interior design and furniture color palettes

Posted: 16 Aug 2012 10:48 PM PDT

If you want your home to be modern and always decorated according to the newest trends, then you should pay attention to what the specialists are predicting for the upcoming year. According to the Pantone View home + interiors 2013 book there are nine color palettes that will dominate the trends in 2013. Let's take a look at each one of them.

The first palette is called Connoisseur and includes a series of cool neutrals in combination with warm tones. Some examples would be white, beechnut green, violet, orchid, liquid pink and deep mahogany. Of course, there are also some intermediate tones such as champagne beige and silver.

The second one is the Glamour palette and has an art décor feel. It includes colors such as Rio red, Monaco blue, tap shoe black, chinchilla, ethereal gray or jasper teal. It's a very nicely balanced combination.

The New Old School palette is very similar to the Glamour palette, the only difference being that here we have more saturated versions of the same colors. We can distinguish colors such as ribbon re, bright white, nautical blue or ultramarine green.

Then there's the Rugged palette with colors inspired by the sunset and the sea. We have here tones such as basket apple, goat, prairie sand or chipmunk. It's a combination of colors suited for vintage interiors.

The Extracts palette takes its inspiration from the culinary world and features a combination of spicy colors and fresh hues. It also features some pops od color such as spiced coral, brandied melon, apple cinnamon or dusty pink.

The Footprints collection features vibrant colors with tribal inspiration such as Tangerine tango, peacock blue, fiery pink and oasis green.

Sojourn is a contrasting palette that combines powerful shades with soft tones. It includes colors such as fuchsia and olive combined with foxglove and plum.

The penultimate palette is called Surface Treatments. It's also a contrasting combination of colors featuring brilliant ocean shades tempered by cloudy tones such as tornado gray along with metallic and bronze shades.

The last color palette featured in the book is called Ordinary and features colors such as bonnie blue, pureed pumpkin, chocolate truffle complemented by bright violet and rosebud.

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Boo! Mirror with Coat Rack

Posted: 16 Aug 2012 10:00 PM PDT

I knew mirrors were made of glass, with some silver backing that allows you to see your own reflection there. But apparently modern people have learned a lot from the ancient ones and learned you can use different materials in order to obtain the same thing. So they used stainless steel instead and got a beautiful mirror. If you polish stainless steel properly it will shine and reflect any image, making a nice and resistant mirror for the hallway or bathroom. This Boo! Mirror with Coat Rack is amazing because it combines a wall mirror with a coat hook.

This mirror is perfect for bathrooms or hallways and you can grab your coat that hangs there in the two hooks and take a last look in the mirror before getting out of the house. The mirror has a double sided adhesive tape, screws and rawplugs and then it adds the two hooks that are used for hanging coats. They are also made of stainless steel and make the mirror even more useful. The hooks are pretty wide so as to be resistant enough for holding the coats or jackets and the mirror is high quality. Boo! Mirror is probably the ghost of Christmas present that you see unexpectedly above the coat if you do not know there is also a mirror there. The item can be bought for 18.75 € from Black Blum.

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How to make your own chalkboard paint

Posted: 16 Aug 2012 08:26 PM PDT

Chalkboard paint is very popular because of its versatility and because it has both a practical and a fun side. Kids love it and adults find it great as well. You can paint it on walls, furniture, appliances and anywhere else you want. Chalkboard paint is full of surprises. One of them is the fact that you can make your own and it's not even difficult.

Here's how.

You'll need non-sanded grout, latex paint in any color, a mixing cup or bucket, a brush or a roller and a paint mixer drill attachment. Start by mixing the latex paint with the non-sanded grout in the cup or bucket. It would be best to use a part grout and 8 parts paint. Make sure that all the grout is mixed in to avoid having granules. You can use a paint mixer drill attachment for this part.

After that, just paint the surfaces with the chalkboard paint. You would have to prep the surfaces as you would for any other paint job. You should paint two coats for even coverage. You can create an endless list of colors. For example, use the leftover wall paint to create a seamless transition or use a contrasting color for an eye-catching décor. In the kids' room or playroom you can even paint an entire wall with chalkboard paint. The kids will love to have an entire wall at their disposal and to be able to write and draw on it.{pictures from site}.

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The Splendid Riad Farnatchi Hotel in Marrakech

Posted: 16 Aug 2012 07:50 PM PDT

Riad Farnatchi is a luxurious hotel located in Marrakech, between the Sahara desert and the Atlas Mountains. The location is amazing and the city, one the center of an empire, is filled with mystery and beauty. The hotel is about 15 a minute walk from the Jemaa el-Fnaa square.The exterior of the hotel is actually very simple. The large wooden door has no name on it and behind it hides one of the most luxurious and charming hotels in the world.

It's a 400 year-old building and it has been beautifully preserved. It's why the exterior is so ordinary-looking. It's also why the interior is so surprisingly chic and impressive. The hotel was opened in March 2004 and only offers nine suites. They are all splendid and feature unique layouts and designs.Riad Farnatchi is a family-run business and it impresses with its beauty and amazing historic details. The building has been preserved and partially restored.

The walls are dating back 450 years and the hotel still features the original woodwork and carved plasterwork. The rooms were reorganized. Their interior was redesigned and they are now airy spaces organized around a central courtyard. As for the décor, it's a mixture of traditional Moroccan and modern European elements and influences. The hotel also offers a range of covered outdoor sitting areas arranged around the central courtyards. There's also a beautiful outdoor dining room and a large roof terrace, as well as a spa treatment room and a large swimming pool.

House Design News

Friday, August 17, 2012