All posts filed under: Design

House Tour: An A-Frame House Obsession

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A-frame vacation houses from the 1950’s to the 1970’s are making a strong comeback, especially with current owners upping their Instagram game. These deceptively simple structures resemble an equilateral triangle. The first floor has an open layout for all the typical living spaces. The roof covers the rafters and goes all the way to the ground forming the “A”. The second floor is comprised of horizontal collar beams creating a sleeping loft. What makes these A-frame houses magical are the minimalist aesthetics and the harmonization with the natural surroundings. We discovered the A-Frame Haus located in Utah recently on AirBnB and fell in love with this delightful vacation home. This cabin was built 30 years ago by the grandparents of the current owners. They spent a few years renovating this house and have now listed it as a vacation rental. There are three bedrooms and three bathrooms that comfortably fit 6 guests. It also has a panoramic view of Utah’s mountains for those seeking to escape from everyday stresses. The styling of this house is …

Nils Holger Moormann’s Micro Cube Living

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I recently discovered Nils Holger Moormann, a German design company named after its founder that offers amazing modern interior ideas and furniture. In order to address the rising cost and decreasing size of living space for the new generation, Moorman created Kammerspiel. This is a cube with a room-within-a-room concept. The cube is meant to fit in a middle of a square studio size dwelling where each side of the cube represents a living area. This prototype can be the model for the next generation of micro living. The lofted bed takes advantage of the high ceiling and the stairs double as storage space. Side 1 contains the storage staircase to the loft and also an additional closet. Side 2 houses a bike in this version. This can easily be converted into additional storage or a mini office space. Side 3 of the cube acts as a living space with a built-in sofa.There is additional storage underneath the seat. You can simply add two folding chairs and a coffee table to create a living room when you have guests. Side …

Tiny Homes Trends

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Tiny homes, which are defined loosely as a dwellings that are approximately less than 900 square feet, have been increasingly common over the last few years. This movement is driven by concerns for the environment and a desire for financial security and greater freedom. The size of a tiny home contrasts with the average American house at approximately 2,000 square feet or more. Tiny homes also come in various shapes and sizes but are generally less than $100,000. The price tag depends on whether the structure is built by the owner or by another builder and by the quality of the materials and finishes. The movement has been so popular that there are endless YouTube videos and TV shows that showcase these small spaces. Some key trends have emerged over the past few years. There is usually a lofted bed area but most have eschewed the ladder system for smart built-in stairs with storage solutions. The second trend has been to have multi-functional furniture or transforming furniture. This allows for the resident to maximize the …

Inspiration: Airstream Makeovers

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Airstream is an iconic American brand of luxury campers. The shape of an Airstream dates back to the 1930’s and was immensely popular in the 1970’s. It has been recently popular to see Airstream converted into permanent second homes in the country. In today’s post, I will share two amazing makeovers to inspire everyone to rethink the old Airstream’s potential. I first saw this video on this Airstream makeover in 2015 at House & Home website and was amazed by how this 210-feet trailer transformed into an enviable weekend getaway. The owners bought an old Airstream and gutted it down to the frame. After they proceeded to paint everything white and streamlined the decor in a modern aesthetic. They used this camper as a sleeping quarter and built a huge deck to house their outdoor living and entertaining space. There was even a shed that served as a guest bedroom. I did more research on this topic and found Auto Camp, a boutique hotel made of renovated 1960’s and 1970’s Airstreams by Hoffman Architecture. The …

Inspiration: White Office

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Office is a place that many people spend majority of their day. However, most offices lack personality. I am constantly looking for inspiration and came upon a few of these black and white office interiors. There is something clean and modern about these interiors that beckons for someone to pull up and chair and start working right away. In this post, we will explore underlying furniture that makes up a black and white office. These interiors are very simple but has personality such as witty quotes/art and personal knick knacks. It is easy and cost effective to create a white and modern office with key pieces from IKEA combined with other moderately priced furniture. Inspiration 1 A nicer option for a white desk similiar to the inspiration is this one from West Elm though it is significantly more expensive. Inspiration 2 The inspiration above uses 2 of the IKEA Besta Bur desk and Ekby Alex shelves to create additional storage. The look is punctuated with the graphic black and white rug. Inspiration 3: You can create …

Review: Framebridge

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When I moved into my new office this spring, I decided that I needed to make this space less sterile. The easiest way to make an office warm and personal is to hang up art pieces. The process of framing art has always been expensive and tedious. I did some research on framing options and found Framebridge. This is a review of my experience after having four pieces framed at this e-commerce site. Framebridge.com launched in 2014 by Susan Tynan, CEO, to “to make it easy for everyone to frame the things they love.” Background The process to get your art framed is as followed: The pricing is based on certain size and includes free delivery. There are currently 37 frame options available. Instead of glass, Framebridge uses high quality acrylic. Timeline: Experience My experience overall have been very positive. I started with a small poster (9” x 12”). I uploaded the art and chose the Irvine Slim with no mat. The item came promptly. I paid $69 ($79 standard price with $10 off coupon for new …

Best of Target: Nate Berkus Affordable Office Decor

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We spend so much of our lives at the office so why not infuse it with some glamour and personality. Lucky for us, there is a way to jazz up the workplace with affordable finds from Target. Target came out with the spring collection from Nate Berkus and we want it all. These are our picks for the best items to revitalize your work space today.             You can find these items at Target online store. For related posts, visit our DESIGN page. Author: Chau Hoang

Inspiration: Basement

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Basement can be seen as a dark and dingy area of a home where the potential is often forgotten. I recently scrolled through House & Home website and found a few videos that will inspire you to rethink your basement potential. My favorite was Suzanne Dimma’s basement renovation where she converted her basement into an office, a common area and a wonderful new laundry room in a Scandinavian aesthetic. One can spend a whole day down in her basement and not feel claustrophobic. Here is a video from House & Home with a tour of the basement. Barbara Bundy renovated her 900 sf basement into a traditional and cosy family space that anyone would want to hang out in. Similar to Suzanne Dimma’s basement, the decor in this basement can easily be above ground. You can see a video of this wonderful renovation at this link at House & Home. For the 2012 Princess Margaret Hospital show home, Lynda Reeves designed this spacious basement filled with IKEA products. The catch is that it does not look …

IKEA: Wireless Charging

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IKEA is usually known for their inexpensive furniture with Scandinavian aesthetic but that is slowly changing. It is not a complete surprise to find out that IKEA is a step ahead of the curve with the introduction of the wireless charging furniture and accessories. The company created a collection to make charging more available, yet a lot less obvious. IKEA integrated charging components into their current offerings from charging pads to furniture with built-in-charging stations. It is a step into the future for furniture and technology. There are a few caveats to this technology. The main one is that your phone needs to be equipped with Qi-certified wireless charging technology. If not, IKEA offers a special case that adds this wireless charging capability to your phone. The cases that are available are bulky and looks unattractive especially if you have a nice phone or a case already. The current list of Qi-compatible smart devices includes the Samsung Galaxy S6, the Google Nexus 4 through 7, some Nokia and Motorola phones. Unfortunately, the iPhone is not part of …

Inside the Designer’s Studio: Jasmine Alexander

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As one of the world’s most established hubs for style and design, London is a city teaming with creatives who have made an undeniable mark on the world of fashion. I have been lucky enough to get to know one of the most exciting of these designers, making trail blazing contributions to the world of jewelry design: Jasmine Alexander. In top jewelry circles Jasmine is known for being a rebel. Similar to art icons like: Warhol, Dali and Picasso, she has thrown off traditional approaches to her craft, with amazing results. Taking a unique view of the natural world, she has created beautiful and innovative works employing techniques that have never been used. Her unique dedication to innovation is visible in her critically acclaimed piece, “Word to the Wise”: a ring commissioned by Gemfields (owner of the iconic Fabergé brand) featuring a never before seen ring setting, allowing the 3.85ct emerald to seemingly float between the wings, cradled by a platinum collet base that isn’t a collet at all but a smooth claw form giving …