Designing Home

If you don’t live on your own then you are likely to hear the phrase “I just need my own space” on more than one occasion. As much as you love the person or people that you live with, sharing a home is never easy.

 There are times when you just want to get away from it all and enjoy some much needed peace, yet it seems somewhat impossible. Well, that’s until the architects at Brachard de Tourdonnet found the ideal solution…


 This 81 m2 (87 ft. 2 inches) apartment is situated in France. When the residents of the apartment requested Brachard de Tourdonnet’s services they had a simple yet albeit difficult request. They wanted their apartment to become somewhere that they could enjoy together yet they wanted it to present them with the opportunity to isolate themselves when they wanted some peace and quiet.





 That was the main request, but it was not the only one. The owners also wanted the theme of the apartment to be ‘caravan life’. What does this mean? Well, if you cast your imagination to a caravan, how would you describe the surroundings? Everything is based on functionality because of the small space and thus a lot of things are integrated as well.

Central heating systems are pretty much essential to most modern homes. Only a very few buildings, that have been specifically designed to retain heat, can do without some form of heating system. Whether your home is centrally heated or has individual heating for each room, it is likely that the warmth will be delivered by a radiator.Sometimes these radiators can be a great addition to a room, even creating a feature.
 In others, however, they just look like pipes that have been bent back and forth on one another and have little to add to the décor of a room. To get the most out of your home’s radiators consider them as an integral part of each room’s design. Treat them as the important part of the room that they are, if not a focal point like a fireplace.




 Because radiator covers have this old-fashioned association, they work well in traditionally styled rooms. Use a three sided cover with a slatted front and sides and paint it in a color that compliments the room.
 Get prepared for winter by installing some banquette seating over a low radiator. Painted cabinets that act as a radiator cover, with some fitted cushions over the top is a relatively simple job to do which will give your room a pleasant seat that warms you through in winter. This look is great in a living room, a kitchen or a home office area. You probably won’t want to sit any where else on a chilly day!

 Remove your bathroom’s old white radiator and go for a stylish chrome one that matches your faucets instead. Indeed, modern radiator designs are often a lot more flexible than the old fashioned panel system and could work well in a teenager’s room as much as a bathroom, where modern ones tend to be used.
 Mesh, placed over the front, is a good look which allows the heat to flow freely outwards. To hide away your radiator more completely, go for wooden fronted cover with some air holes. And for a cover which will suit a more modern room try cutting notches and slats into the cover in a parallel line formation.
 Alternatively, create a window sill with a shelf over a radiator that has been fitted beneath a bow window. By extending a radiator cover to one side, making an integrated book case, you can achieve a highly contemporary look, ideal in apartments. With a shelf sitting over a radiator which holds objet d’art and houseplants, you can easily draw attention away from the radiator itself.
 If you want to give your radiator a funky paint makeover, then remove it in summer so that you can easily access all its sides with your brush.

 Some people don’t like radiators because they extend from the wall into the room, stealing floor space. Even low-profile radiators do this but if you use the space above the radiator to make a shelf the impact of the heating system is lessened. A marble shelf over a bathroom radiator will look great.

 Changing your radiators look is a job best done in summer since the heating system won’t be working. Remove a conventional panel-style radiator and fit a new one, which perhaps sits in an upright position, high on the wall, for an alternative look.

 If there’s no space for a cover or a shelf unit to disguise your radiator, go for the chameleon look and paint it to blend in with the background. The simplest way is to paint both the wall and radiator white. However, also try a color that does not match the wall, but other element in the room, such as the stairs. In rooms with dark brown stained wood on show, paint your radiator so that it blends in even if it appears to make it stand out against the wall treatment.
 Radiator covers prevent you from touching the device when it is on and potentially getting a burn. This is not an issue for modern systems but for vintage radiators, which sometimes got too hot, it can be.-Via

The most creative homes usually belong to designers or artists because they know what they want and how to express it in the best way. I can say that about this home of fashion designer David Delfín and architect-turned-photographer Gorka Postigo in Madrid, Spain. This unique loft with breathtaking high ceilings has been filled with contrasts, provocation and tons of creativity. The space is an eclectic mix that blends a mid-century modern style with a soft industrial backdrop. White painted wooden floors, walls, ceilings and beams douse the entire space in a Scandinavian look and feel, while clusters of art and framed photographs add a sense of modernity. What an incredible job!

Via

Choosing a bedroom wall color can be stressful – there are so many options available, and we’ve all heard the saying that lighter colors make rooms seem bigger. I’m here to tell you, however, that dark walls in the bedroom are an uber sophisticated route. Rich dark tones colors can make your bedroom, whether large or small, simultaneously come alive and calm you down. Still not convinced? Check out these inspirational photos:

 Sometimes a dark wallpapered wall is the only thing the bedroom walls might need. Isn’t this design lovely? There is plenty of visual interest in the pops of fuchsia and turquoise, and the subtle pattern on the dark wallpaper provides an impeccable – and highly romantic – backdrop.

 This bedroom wall color reminds me, in the best way, of freshly laid asphalt. There is depth amid the simplicity. A light floor, paired with even lighter bedding, help to keep this tastefully minimal and clean-lined space balanced and inviting.
 Just in case you were starting to wonder if dark walls in the bedroom required a more somber palette altogether, this Kate Spade guest bedroom comes to the rescue! Rich, vibrant golds bring life and whimsy to the more serious navy walls for an altogether friendly and relaxing space.
 Angled ceilings can be tricky in bedrooms, but painting them entirely a moody color, like this dark peacock, is a fantastic way to go. This strategy not only embraces the inherent coziness factor, but it also fools the eye into thinking there is more space, as the (sloped) ceiling melds into the wall.

Isn’t this the most beautiful greeny-grey? Not overwhelmed by dark color because ceiling is painted white to lighten the mood. Interesting lines everywhere, and touches of brass and gold (in lamps, pendant, frames) add shine.


 Another instance in which dark walls can (should!) go unadorned is when the walls themselves are architecturally detailed, as is the case in this beautiful charcoal bedroom. Moulding all the way around the room stands is subtle yet highlighted when dark walls force textural elements to the forefront.
 If your bedroom has more in common with a closet than with other bedrooms (translation: it’s teensy tiny), a rich dark color like this Bavarian forest green will do wonders! Ceiling, walls, and built-in shelving are painted the same shade so they become the perfectly cozy background to your peaceful retreat.
 In bedrooms where plenty of natural light abounds, going dark on the walls is a good way to keep things chic and sophisticated. This dark chocolate color is both romantic and serene, yet the potentially oppressive factor is kept in check with the windows and their textural curtains.
 I sometimes forget about burgundy, or wine, or whatever you might call this beautiful, rich shade of berry. But the dark color on these walls (and window trim, for seamlessness) absolutely enfolds you in warmth and a sense of home here.
 When you have a lot of lighter furniture and bedding, as is the case in this chic bedroom, a dark wall color will make the shapes absolutely pop. Imagine this curvy headboard against a lighter wall. Although the mental image might be airy, it lacks the sophistication of the contrast shown here. Stunning and soothing.Via

The Ampersand Hotel is a heritage building in London and it recently won the award for the best restaurant in such a building this year at the 2013 Restaurant & Bar Design Awards. In the hotel you can also find the Apero Bar and Restaurant.
 The restaurant was designed by London-based architectural practice Dexter Moren Associates. It’s located in the Victorian cellar of the hotel and it has a design different than in the rest of the building. In here, the atmosphere is intimate and more modern than in the rest of the hotel. The restaurant was designed to stand out and it features an interior with strong industrial features and influences.

 The Mediterranean restaurant features elements such as industrial lighting fixtures, exposed brick walls and traditional furniture with a touch of rustic. Nevertheless, it’s a distinctive approach that makes it stand out. The industrial finishes and highlighted by the casted aluminum wall lamps and the reclaimed timber dining tables.

 The brass-mesh staircase is a new addition that adds to the flair of the restaurant. The staircase leads to the upper level. The bar also has other distinctive features such as the chandelier, which is a statement piece with aluminum rods. The 5-meter tall cabinet filled with curiosities is also an eye-catching piece and a focal point for the space.-Via