All posts tagged: 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 …

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 …

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 …

Best of France NYC Exhibition: Fashion Highlight

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Each year, French Touch Events put on the Best of France exhibition. I was able to check out the exhibition this year that took place in Times Square on September 26 and 27. There were a good selection of French exports such as makeup, food and travel.  I was interested in the three fashion brands that were showcased at this year’s exhibition. Tanya Heath Paris Website: http://www.tanyaheath.com/ Tanya Heath is a luxury shoe brand with a unique story. Their shoes have interchangeable heels that are made for the working woman.  One can adjust the heel height depending on the height preference.  The concept is very innovative and the shoes are comfortable.  However, the price point is high for the target audience: modern working woman. On their e-shop, the shoes price ranges between 360 Euros to 700 Euros. The shoe does not have the brand cache such as Yves Saint Laurent or other comparably priced brands.  The idea is that you can buy a pair of shoes at a high price point and be able to update them with different heels …

Inspirations for Fall Decorating

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The gathering of family and friends starts this season. I want to share some of my favorite Autum decor, from table settings to door wreaths, that can help make your reunions unforgettable. Color When hosting a dinner party, we want our table to look amazing. The key is to pick a color scheme and create contrast around it. For example, if you choose orange as a main color, deep greens and blues will complement it and make the color jump off the plate. If you choose light colors, then dark browns and gold will make the lighter colors shine.  Another color option is purple, which is a great alternative to the red, green and gold for the season. Candles Candles are this season’s favorite as they create a warm ambiance. You can add some spices, various nuts and leaves around them to enhance the cozy vibe. Wreaths Wreaths are another fall decor I see everywhere. They are hung on walls and doors. My suggestion would be to create your own palette with the inspirations above. I love how deep blues …

Big Box Scout: Mad About Plaid

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If you have not noticed lately, plaid has become the pumpkin spice of prints. You can find it on cups, throws, pillows, drapery, upholstery, and everything in between every Autumn. Plaid made a strong comeback since 2009 and has become a mainstay for the foreseeable future.  There are many ways to incorporate plaid into your interiors and I have selected a few inspirations below. Plaid is a popular fabric choice for cabin style interiors.  However, there is a way to make your space glow and be stylish without it looking like a recreation of a log cabin. Check out the  fabulous variation in colors and patterns.  You can mix and match to make the space appear more interesting. Plaid as Drapery Plaid in a Children’s Room Big Box Scout Report I went to my favorite local big box stores and found the coolest options with affordable prices.  The selections are numerous at various price points.  Here are some of the items that caught my attention at Target, West Elm, and CB2. 1. Target      2. West Elm …