Homedit.com Interior Design & Architecture Inspiration Newsletter

Top 3 Dining Room Designs We Love
Sapporo Shelving with Cable Management
Ship’s Wheel Wall Clock
Arden Pedestal Fan by Fanimation
The Wall Saver shelves by Frederic Julian Rätsch
Shopping Paris Throw Pillows
Stylish and glamorous interiors by Marianne Cotterill
Ous Hanging Candleholder
The modular and flexible Verbandkammer container by Nilsson Pflugfelder
5 characteristics of contemporary kitchens

Posted: 05 Aug 2012 10:24 AM PDT

Dining rooms are special rooms that have a certain flavour and a certain nostalgia because they imply family reunions and warm cozy atmosphere over the dinner table. That is why their design must be carefully chosen so as to reflect this atmosphere exactly. Here are three beautiful dining rooms that we love and that we saw presented on House to home.

1. The red and blue classic dining room

This is a traditional dining room, sumptuous and elegant, showing class and style. It is decorated in blue and red and the materials used are expensive and have rich textures like the blue velvet of the chairs and the rich embroidery. The round table in the middle is also classic and the blinds in red and blue come to complement the chairs and the same hue of blue of the walls.

2. The country living room

The second choice for the dining room has a nice pastoral design and is all decorated in pastel colours, with small flowers and country elements. There’s the wooden floors with the natural wood table combined with the white chairs and cabinet, the flowery pattern on the white table cloth and also the nice garden flowers in a simple vase in the middle of the table. All these are very much defining for the country style as is the transparent curtain, the white wall clock and the nice hanging lamps over the dinner table. Everything is serene and nice and peace flows in the air.

3. Black-and-white dining room

This combination of colours is both modern and classic and it goes very well with the minimalistic style chosen by the designer of this room. The walls and the doors and the windows are immaculate and the furniture is black. The chairs are a combination of black and white in order not to bring a too gloomy atmosphere. Even the details and accessories are carefully chosen to fit the general pattern of the room, so they are all black or white: the lamp is fixed on the white wall, so it is white; the nice candle holder and the simple vase are placed on the black table, so they are black, too. The overall tone is made a bit gentle by the wooden floor that kepts its natural colour of the wood.

The point is that every design is beautiful in its own way and you just need to choose the one that fits you.

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Sapporo Shelving with Cable Management

Posted: 05 Aug 2012 09:12 AM PDT

I like technology and usually my electronic appliances are located in the living room. But I try to combine them with books and shelves so as to get an interesting design. So i integrate the TV set, DVD player and the other gadgets in and among the bookshelves. I surround them with books and accessories in order to make the best of it. The only problem about this combination is the fact that sometimes I can get a clutter of cables and I do not know how to manage them because they keep getting in the way and getting pressed by shelves and stuck in doors. That is why I am so happy I found this Sapporo Shelving with Cable Management.

First of all this is not a fixed shelving system that you purchase and make sure is fit for your living room. It is available in many sizes and combinations and this way you can find the best one for you. Then it’s the cable management system – those useful holes that are made in the right place, allowing cables to get out and get into the plug without annoying anyone. You also have the possibility to choose the number of shelves and whether to have transparent doors or not. Jesús Gasca, the designer of this furniture set, chose the best materials for this: powder-coated steel base; white lacquer over white laminated MDF; optional doors in tempered glass, plexiglass or walnut and oak veneer. Prices vary depending on size and choice between $646 and $2,444 on Design within reach.

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Ship’s Wheel Wall Clock

Posted: 05 Aug 2012 07:03 AM PDT

Water is part of our body and our system and we couldn’t live without it. That is why we always live near the water, whether it is a river, the sea, the ocean or just a big water pipeline. And even if we live in big cities with millions of inhabitants we can’t wait for summer to come so that we can run to our favourite retreat near the water. Many people have a cabin near the lake or on the seashore and today I want to show them a very nice piece of work that is perfect for your seaside retreat: the Ship’s Wheel Wall Clock .

This clock is very natural and has a simple design, looking like a clock made of salvaged wood. So this is basically a clock that is placed in the middle of a ship’s wheel. Of course the wheel is not real or functional, but the picture is great. Any way, if you ever dreamed about being a pirate or at least a ship’s captain, this item is for you. It has a silver metal trim that gives it resistance and is pretty worn our at the edges, but this gives it authenticity and style. The item is now available for $109 on Shades of Light.

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Arden Pedestal Fan by Fanimation

Posted: 05 Aug 2012 06:04 AM PDT

In summer everybody is complaining about how hot it is and they are all trying to do something about it, something that will allow them to feel comfortable and avoid the heat. Many people use air conditioners, but this is not the best solution for families with children. I mean this cooling system is very bad for the kids because they can easily catch a cold and also develop all sorts of lung problems. That is why I prefer the traditional fan that is also fun for my kids when they decide to use it for playing. This Arden Pedestal Fan by Fanimation is great because it is functional, but it is decorative at the same time, thanks to its nice design.

It has walnut legs and an Oil Rubbed Bronze finish which gives it a special look. The name of the fan comes from the pedestal it is attached to and it allows you to move it in the house wherever you might want it to cool the air a bit. The pedestal is actually a tripod with adjustable legs and this way you can control the height of the fan. It also provides the customer with different levels of air blowing thanks to the three speed rotary switch. It is now available on Lightology for just $329.

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The Wall Saver shelves by Frederic Julian Rätsch

Posted: 05 Aug 2012 04:08 AM PDT

Floating shelves are no longer a novelty but they never cease to impress us with their versatility and functionality. Also, there's something about them that will always amaze us. They present several benefits and advantages that can't be ignored. For example, they are great space-savers. It's a concept that was very well illustrated by the Wall Saver collection designed by Frederic Julian Rätsch.

The Wall Saver is nothing but a floating bookshelf. It doesn't have any distinctive characteristics other than its simplicity and functionality. It's a minimalist piece that provides a very practical storage alternative to other units that, not only take precious floor space, but are also less versatile. The Wall Saver, because of its extreme simplicity, can be made a part of any type of interior. More than that, since it comes in several colors, they have the ability to complement a variety of decors and styles.

These minimalist shelves can be attached to any wall in order to become a stylish accent piece. It features very subtle support elements on which the shelf rests on and was designed with a system that allows it to be a very aesthetic floating unit without wall mounts. The shelf is simply dangling from an extremely thin but very strong fishing line attached to the ceiling. It's practically invisible and allows the shelf to be literary floating. Moreover, the shelves can be easily adjusted without the need of removing or replacing the hardware.

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Shopping Paris Throw Pillows

Posted: 05 Aug 2012 12:58 AM PDT

Pillows are usually meant to keep your head in a comfortable position while you sleep. However, many pillows are used for decorative purposes only and they are thrown on the bed and sofa in order to give a special look to your bedroom or living room. These beautiful Shopping Paris Throw Pillows will bring a touch of Paris into your home with their beautiful embroidery that reminds you of the city of lights. These throw pillows are made of 100% cotton twill fabric, so they are very nice to touch and very comfortable and soft.

The pillow covers are treated so as to prevent shrinkage and also mercerized for luster. They have a hidden zipper that allows you to remove and wash them and all without letting the zipper be shown for an ugly look. But the most interesting feature of these pillows if the Parisian design of their embroidery. You will see there the well-known landmarks of Paris for example chic ladies dressed in nice dresses, walking fluffy dogs, beautiful street lamps and funny men wearing striped t-shirts and berets, Moulin Rouge and other interesting and charming models of embroidery. Each of these square pillows is available on Cuddledown for $50.

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Stylish and glamorous interiors by Marianne Cotterill

Posted: 04 Aug 2012 11:34 PM PDT

Every designer has his own style. Some prefer to keep up with the times and adopt a modern/contemporary style, others enjoy to reminisce about the past and prefer something vintage or rustic while others get creative and combine styles to create their own. For photographers it's almost the same thing expect that they get to choose something that someone else already created. For Marianne Cotterill it's difficult to say which is the predominant influence.

If we analyze some of her creations we'll see that there's a tendency for opulence. Some of these interiors are almost overly decorated. They have a unique charm and they feature more accent features than the eye can follow. Antique details and decorations are highly appreciated. Of course, it's all done with measure. It's why the color palettes are restrained to one or maybe two shades.

There are also some more modern examples. But even in these cases it's not the typical contemporary style that we're used with. It's still a mix of old and new and there are still elements that are either traditional or vintage. It's an unusual combination of styles and the result is a unique new direction. Some of these interiors are bold and colorful while others are quite contrasting. But what they all have in common is style, charm and elegance.

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Ous Hanging Candleholder

Posted: 04 Aug 2012 11:10 PM PDT

People have been using electricity for quite some time now and we all use electric light bulbs in our lamps at the office and at home and in the streets. But we still use the candles, too, except that they now they have a rather different purpose: they are used for decorative purposes now instead of practical ones. I mean candles are now used to create a cozy and intimate atmosphere at home and are part of the design, even if we do have electrical lamps, too. This Ous Hanging Candleholder is illustrative for the decorative role it has in designing a beautiful living room.

This beautiful candleholder is meant to be hanging from walls and is designed by Ayush Kasliwal. It is a beautiful piece of art that is made of brass shell and looks great against a white or colourful wall. It has a polished and hammered interior and satin exterior and it is able to hold a candleholder, in this case one made of marble that looks great in the brass interior. The stainless steel cable that is used for hanging it against your wall is included in the package that can be purchased for $79.95. The item is hand made by skillful craftsmen in India, but will look great in any home around the world.

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The modular and flexible Verbandkammer container by Nilsson Pflugfelder

Posted: 04 Aug 2012 10:00 PM PDT

Verbandkammer is an ingenious structure designed by architects Nilsson Pflugfelder. It's hard to describe it because it doesn't have a well-defined function. It's an installation resembling a huge container and it has a modular design that allows to be reconfigured. This allows it to be used as a workspace but also as a meeting area, studio or miniature residence.

Verbandkammer was built using a combination of 40 component types. It's divided into several spaces and inside it features functional storage spaces such as open shelves. During the time presented at the exhibition, these shelves were filed with files and drawings with information related to projects and exhibitions previously hosted by the arts institution. Inside there are also computers and a coffee machine, everyone one needs to get ready for work.

After the exhibition, the container will be moved and taken apart. Its components will be adapted and serve different purposes so it won't completely disappear. It's rather a way of being reborn. Verbandkammer is not just an ingenious way of using space but also a form of encapsulating information.

It allows us to have a glimpse at the future and maybe imagine how everything will evolve but it also gives us an opportunity to reminisce about the past. It's a sort of transition from past to present and future. That's also because it's not a completely new design but a way of reusing existing information and allowing it to shine.

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5 characteristics of contemporary kitchens

Posted: 04 Aug 2012 07:33 PM PDT

A contemporary kitchen is not the same as a modern kitchen, even though some people use these terms interchangeably. A contemporary kitchen can be modern but it can also adopt other styles as well. For example, it can have vintage details and accents without being a vintage kitchen. There are a few elements that are specific to this style and that can help us distinguish a contemporary kitchen from other types and that need to be taken in consideration when adopting this style.

1. Cutting-edge technology.

The first thing anyone thinks about when taking about contemporary kitchens is the cutting-edge technology. Appliances are very important in this case. They need to be sleek, durable, to ensure great performance and to have advanced features. Functionality is an important aspect to take into consideration, as well as style.

2. The variety of materials.

Contemporary kitchens usually feature a multitude of materials, textures and patterns. The contrasts are highly valued and seen as a subtle way of replacing opulent decorations and details. Most often you'll notice variations of the type of wood or stone, combined with countertops that come in several types of materials as well. There's also a mix of shapes and scale that is specific to this style.

3. Eye-catching light fixtures.

The light fixtures are a very important detail for contemporary interiors. Even if they are usually characterized by minimalism and lack of details, they still stand out in other ways. For example, the size or the shape can be an important aspect, as well as the texture and color. They serve as both functional elements and decorations.

4. Patterned backsplashes.

Since most contemporary kitchens usually feature crisp white walls, the backsplash becomes a common way of introducing pattern and color into the décor. You will often see versions that feature glass tiles, mosaics, stone or ceramic. It's an element that represents a way of expressing the personal preferences and personality of the homeowner.

5. Old materials used in new and creative ways.

Styles are being updated and new ones are created but the materials used remain the same. We rarely get to introduce new materials. In most cases we just find new ways of using them. Creativity is very important in this case. You get to use the same basic elements but you also get to be ingenious and to come up with new ways of using them.{picture sources:1 and 2,3,4 and 5}.

House Design News

Sunday, August 5, 2012