Homedit.com Interior Design & Architecture Inspiration Newsletter

Eye-catching contemporary facade residence in Argentina
Caroline Tabet’s artistic apartment
Refreshing residence designed for a couple and their 3 young kids
Beautiful pink rug with flowers for the kids room
5 Fun Ideas For Sponge Painting Walls
Modern white loft in London
The King of Frogs tree house
A work of art by Anastasia Faiella
The house from Lethal Weapon 2 is now renovated
How To Pick A Home Designer

Eye-catching contemporary facade residence in Argentina

Posted: 07 Jun 2012 10:58 AM PDT

Casa Besares is a contemporary residence located in Mendoza, Argentina. It was a project by Arquinoma and the design is quite interesting. The front façade is particularly eye-catching. Notice how tall and narrow is the entrance. It's a very unusual feature but it's something that is in perfect harmony with the rest of the residence. The building itself has a geometrical shape. Moreover, all the other features such as the windows and the door have similar shapes and create a beautiful mix.

The exterior of the house is completely white. It's a color that has a modern look and goes really well with simple and clean structures such as this one. Since the house is tall and has a relatively narrow façade, the white exterior makes it seem a little bigger than it actually is and thus create a compact image. The windows of this residence don't follow a pattern. They all have different sizes and shapes. The front façade features a large glass surface on the lower level. It's a strategic choice that allows light to go inside and illuminate the social areas. It's also an element that brings the interior and exterior spaces closer together.

The size of the windows varies from very large to very small and they are placed on different levels. It was a personal choice influences by multiple reasons among which the design played an important role. Inside the colors maintain the same simple and clean image from the exterior. The walls and ceilings are white, the wooden floors have a beautiful natural color and the furniture is simple and mostly neutral. Accessories and details such as the artwork from the walls and decorative elements scattered all over the place add a touch of boldness and some pattern into the décor.

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Caroline Tabet’s artistic apartment

Posted: 07 Jun 2012 08:31 AM PDT

Caroline Tabet is a photographer and she currently lives in this lovely apartment located in the Achrafieh district of Beirut. She has been living here since 2007 and she was drowned by this location particularly because it's very quiet. She also likes the views and the brightness of this area. The apartment has a very dynamic interior design. It's very colorful and seems almost chaotic. It's an artist's apartment and this fact becomes obvious from the entrance.

The walls of the apartments are filled with beautiful artwork, some of them being photographs made by the owners while others are part of a collaborative project. Caroline's career began in Paris and you can see many Parisian influences in her work. She decided to return to Lebanon to discover her origins and she really likes the challenges there. Everything is always changing and this is really inspiring, especially for a photographer.

Both Caroline and her husband are working from home most of the time. However, the apartment is really big and they each have their own space. They sometimes work together and they even have a common project. There are many unique elements in this apartment but the thing that the artist treasures most are her negatives and slides. There's also a great library in there and lots of knick-knacks that make it personal. Even though they really like this apartment, Caroline and her husband plan to move in a smaller place that would allow them to be more flexible.Read an interview with Caroline and see more pictures on Freunde von freunden.

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Refreshing residence designed for a couple and their 3 young kids

Posted: 07 Jun 2012 06:10 AM PDT

The House in Go Vap, as it is called, is a modern residence located in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietmam. It was designed by MM++ Architects and completed in 2012. The house covers a total area of 255 square meters. It was built on a 8m wide and 22m deep plot and it was designed for a couple and their three young children. The residence was designed with two distinct volumes.

One block includes the entrance, the living area and the kitchen that together form one large social area. This volume is situated in the front. It's a space for interaction and socialization. As you pass this area you reach a small interior garden with a large roof opening. It's an unusual element, especially for compact homes such as this one. On the other side of the garden is the second block that includes the two bedrooms belonging to the kids, located on the ground floor, and the master suite or the parent's bedroom plus another bedroom on the first floor.

The internal structure is very functionally designed. It's also an element very common for contemporary homes such as this one. The client's didn't have a big budget for this project but the architects managed to turn everything in their favor. The result was this beautiful family home with a modern and stylish interior.{found on archdaily and pics by Nam Bui}.

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Beautiful pink rug with flowers for the kids room

Posted: 07 Jun 2012 05:01 AM PDT

Kids are always happy and cheerful, so adults try to design their room in colours that are suited for them. That means that a kid’s room will always be painted in pink, red, blue or any other vivid colour that makes you feel happy like they, kids, are all the time. That is why I chose this Beautiful pink rug with flowers for the kids room. First of all it is perfect if you have a girl or two because it is mostly pink. It is simple in design, yet very effective, making you jump with joy even if you can see nothing more than a pink frame and some colourful butterflies and flowers spread on the rug. Then it is very colourful and also very comfortable. It is made of pure tufted cotton.

So you will not have to be worried that your little girl’s feet will be hurt, but on the contrary, they will rest comfortably in the soft and thick rug. The cotton used is very good quality and it is very important as material for the rug in the kids room because it is anti-allergenic, so it will not be the cause for your kids allergies. The rug is called Papillon rug and that comes from the French word “papillon”, meaning “butterfly”. As you can see this is the center theme of the rug design. Any way, the rug can be bought for £55.00.

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5 Fun Ideas For Sponge Painting Walls

Posted: 07 Jun 2012 02:39 AM PDT

Sponge painting is a super easy way to add texture and pop to your walls. It’s nothing over-the-top and doesn’t take a lot of talent or experience to get done right.

Great in almost any room or any nook or cranny, sponging is a great DIY project for those of us who need a little jazz and pizazz in our homes. It can be fun, dramatic, eclectic or allow for some vintage vibes … just remember that you must buy a natural sponge to have it done correctly! This is IMPORTANT.

The most fun part of using the sponging technique is that you can incorporate colors that you wouldn’t choose on a regular basis. You can use that bright oranges, deep reds, girly blush pinks, creamy purples or pearly blues and blend with other colors so it’s never overpowering, very stylish and always homey!

Now check out these 5 fun ideas as you sponge around your home! Use the tips, tricks and inspiration to create something amazing. And don’t worry, sponging isn’t necessarily a “trend.” In fact, it’s rarely used anymore. So you’ll not only stand out from the crowd, but you may even introduce your friends and family to something completely new and never seen before!

1. Sponge Using Two Colors.

Using two colors will create an illusion, blend easier and have an overall more mellow look to the wall. Rather than choosing a color and sponging it on a stark white wall, using two colors that compliment each other, adds texture without being too harsh on the eyes.

2. Sponge One Wall.

To really jazz up a space, in a more subtle way, add the sponging technique to just one wall! It’ll be a little surprise without making the space feel overwhelmed with the new colors.

3. Sponge Just The Borders.

I’ve actually done this in my bathroom before. Take the sponge and paint and outline your room! The woodwork and lines of the walls will have a little pop without having to sponge the entire room.

4. Go all out and sponge the entire room!

If you’re ready to commit, go all out and sponge the entire room! All four walls covered in this technique could make for something pretty incredible.

5. Design a little.

Create something fun! A line here, a border there, or even some shapes! It doesn’t matter. It’s hard to go wrong with sponge painting! You may even want to add this technique to any mural creation!

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Modern white loft in London

Posted: 07 Jun 2012 01:50 AM PDT

This minimalist apartment is located in London and it's currently the home of Sean Ramsden, a London executive and a bachelor. He used to live in a traditional home for many years before deciding to leave the place to his ex-wife and change the atmosphere. He then opted for this minimalist, white flat. It's a modern home, quite different from the one he used to live in.

The flat measures 2,700 square feet and includes three levels. On the first floor are the bedrooms as well as a guest room with a double bed. The master bedroom and bathroom even have their own entryway. The master suite features clear glass walls. It might not seem like a very good choice for such a private space. However, the glass turns opaque at the flip of a switch. The glass walls can either make the suite a part of the whole and connect to the rest of the apartment or provide privacy, depending on what its owner wants.

On the second floor are the living areas. The living room is spacious and features white walls and vaulted ceilings with wooden beams. It has been furnished with a modular sofa, a glass coffee table and colorful accent pillows. The second level also includes a contemporary kitchen. On the third floor there's a very beautiful dining room with windows on three sides. All the room follow basically the same pattern. They have a simple and neutral décor with just a touch of color.{found on wsj}.

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The King of Frogs tree house

Posted: 07 Jun 2012 12:10 AM PDT

Tree houses aren't just for kids. There are many innovative and interesting reinterpretations of this very simple and classical concept and take this structure to a whole different level. Some designs stick with the classics while others are absolutely impressive. The King of Frogs tree house falls into the second category. It's intriguing not only by its name but by its actual design and reinterpretation of the classic model.

The King of Frogs tree house was created by German brand Baumraum. It's not actually a tree house per se because it doesn't rely on actual trees for support. It's an innovative interpretation of the original concept. This structure is elevated on slits and it's overlooking a reflecting pond. It's a lovely structure and a wonderful private retreat. The King of frogs is a 92 square foot tree house with a contemporary design. The main element is a curved volume with a wooden structure and a metal exterior.

The King of Frogs tree house is a sophisticated structure that impresses with its innovative design. It consists of a minimalist curved volume and a 100 square foot terrace. The reflecting pond sitting underneath the whole structure is a very interesting touch and the element that gave the name of this project.

The whole structure is sitting in a private backyard in Münster, Germany. The interior of the actual tree house is minimalist and very inviting and comfortable. It includes a very cozy bed surrounded by windows on three sides and a cozy nook with storage space underneath sitting on the other side of the tree house. It's a very beautiful and ingenious private retreat, like a sophisticated oasis in the middle of an urban desert.

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A work of art by Anastasia Faiella

Posted: 06 Jun 2012 10:48 PM PDT

In order to make an apartment or house look like in the photos, you definitely must be an artist, as only an artist can achieve perfection in such a variety of styles, from sophisticated and elegant to playful and creative. In this case, the artist is the interior designer Anastasia Faiella. Just as everything related to Faiella Design, her work means casual sophistication, color and texture, a relaxed classic/modern vibe that you also want to have at home.

The wide windows and the perfectly chosen white elegant curtains give the air of the room. What you can admire in the pictures is a relaxed living area of black and white with strokes of green and fuchsia, but not only. The shade of purple of the pillow cushions add a plus of color and match perfectly with the grey armchairs and the purple flowers in front of the window, just like the black and white pattern of the curtains matches with the black and white curtains.

The ideal mixture of sophisticated, elegant, but also playful and creative styles provides a harmonious atmosphere. Every room has a vase of flowers that gives life and animates everything around, just like the colorful pillows on the sofas or the paintings on the wall that bring a personal tone. Color and texture are the key words used by Anastasia Faiella for this attractive universe, full of life, style and personality with its classic and modern shades. The artist created a real work of art and it is obvious everywhere you look.

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The house from Lethal Weapon 2 is now renovated

Posted: 06 Jun 2012 10:00 PM PDT

Some of you might remember that in the action movie "Lethal Weapon 2" from 1989, the character played by Mel Gibson was dragging a home from Hollywood Hills with his pick-up truck. That was in fact a real home and it's now owned by John McIlwee and Bill Damaschke who decided to renovate and update this structure. The house was originally built in 1962 and it sits 60 feet above the canyon ground.The couple bought the place for $1.3 million

The house covers an area of 2,300 square feet. Its new owners decided to renovate it and they ended up spending an additional $1 million. It's an unusual home both in terms of design and history. It was designed by John Lautner and it's considered one of the 10 most important residences from the mid-century period in Los Angeles. Not only that the house is visually striking and has a unique design, but it also benefits from a wonderful location.

The exterior of the house is definitely unique. As for the interior, it gets close to a regular home. The interior is divided into two volumes by a spiral staircase. On one side is a bedroom and an office while on the other side are the kitchen, dining area and a spacious living room. The living and dining rooms feature glass walls against lava rock walls and gray floors. The décor is eclectic with lots of elements from the 60s and 70s.{found on wsj}.

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How To Pick A Home Designer

Posted: 06 Jun 2012 07:00 PM PDT

Building a house is a huge adventure with the first step being the design. You have three options—buy an existing plan, hire an architect, hire a house designer.If you can find a plan in a book or online that you love—go for it. Your work is finished and you get a set of blueprints for around $1,000 or less. But the odds are low that you find exactly the right house for you with no modification.

The other end of the spectrum is hiring an architect. You will get personalized service from a highly trained specialist. And you will pay for it. There are no set rules for how much an architect will charge because each house and architect is different but let's make a simplifying assumption and pick $4 a square foot. That's $16,000 for a 4,000 square foot house. And remember you have to live in the final result which means you have a lot of work to do along with the architect in the area of design.

Or you can hire a house designer which is what we did—twice. And it worked both times.This is what a house designer is NOT. He or she is usually not a college graduate, is not an architect and is probably not certified by some governing body.

Here is what a house designer IS. The house designer is skilled at using computer programs to turn out complete and ready to build designs and blueprints. The house designer will have references—real live people and completed houses you can go look at and quiz the owners. The designer will also have a style, a way of doing things artistically. Finally, the house designer is more expensive than plans in a book or off the Internet but a lot cheaper than an architect. Again, exact numbers are hard to pin down but a house planner should come in at about 30 to 40 percent of the cost of an architect.

If you decide to use a home designer, do your homework.

Step One—find them. A Google search of home designers in our mid size metro area generated a list of about thirty. Study their web pages.

Step Two—select at least ten and call. Ask for addresses of their projects and go look at them. If you don't like what you see, call more designers.

Step Three—narrow it down to three and arrange face-to-face meetings. Let each planner know you are talking to other planners and this is a preliminary meeting. Be prepared– have the approximate size of the house, style, features, what you want to pay for the house and location.

Step Five—come up with a time line. You are not the only customer the planner is working with so he may be backed up or he may want to start right away.

Step Four—Make a decision, pick your planner.

Picking a planner is not easy. You are embarking on one of the most expensive, time consuming and potentially frustrating projects of your life. And the one with the most potential for making your life worthwhile—living in the dream house you have always wanted.

Doing a thorough job of vetting your house designer will make the process a lot easier and lot more rewarding.{picture sources:1,2,3}.

House Design News

Thursday, June 7, 2012