Archive for the ‘Cool Stuff’ Category
Interior Design Tips on Creating Your Own Massage Room
Saturday, August 20th, 2011
Is there a remodel in your future? Or do you have a spare room and aren’t sure what to do with it? For the ultimate in relaxation and personal indulgence, consider creating your own massage room. Color, scent, sound and amenities combine to create a relaxing environment. What a great way to invest your design dollars!
| Get the Latest On Hot Design Trends, Trade Secrets, DIY Tips & Design Advice |
Tags: Bathroom, Colors, Flooring, green, massage room, massage table, remodel, soaking tub, spa, stone tile, towels, wood
Posted in Bathroom, Colors, Cool Ideas, Cool Stuff, DIY, Design Tips, Furniture, Interior Design, Lighting | No Comments »
Interior Design Trends at Las Vegas Design Market Winter 2011
Thursday, February 10th, 2011
Thought I would share this video highlighting the interior design trends at the Las Vegas Design Market. I particularly noticed so many natural materials such as live edge wood pieces and bleached wood in furniture. Enjoy the video!
Tags: color, color palette, design trends, honeysuckle, Interior Design, Las Vegas Design Market, Lighting, Living Room, modern design, pantone, portland interior design
Posted in Colors, Cool Stuff, Furniture, Interior Design, Lighting, Living Room, Shopping, Trends, Uncategorized | No Comments »
Industrial Style Bathroom Design – Perfect For Lofts
Friday, June 18th, 2010
I love decorating lofts and especially like it when there are great industrial elements to the space. If you are going to decorate your loft in industrial style, carry that look right through to the bathroom. I’ve pulled together a collection of items that would create that look and a couple of industrial style bathrooms I particularly like.
This first bathroom is a spectacularly high end space with a decidedly industrial style. The large concrete tub and steel walls work beautifully with the warm colors of glass in the chandelier. I am drooling!
This bath is on the opposite end of the budget spectrum. The vanity was made by a fabricator who welded the steel frame to which ash wood shelving was added. Matching baskets take the place of drawers and keep items looking tidy. My favorite detail is the mirror mounted on a bar in the middle of the window. I love the idea of putting on my make-up with natural light coming in directly on my face. Can’t beat that! And when the day isn’t sunny, they’ve mounted long narrow light fixtures vertically in between and on either side of each window. Best direction for light to shine on your for your daily beauty regimen (although I wouldn’t choose fluorescent).
source
So, how can you pull together an industrial look? It takes the right accessories and materials. Raw steel and concrete figure prominently. But adding natural elements like wood and natural sea sponges gives it warmth.
The bathroom faucet and shower fittings below are the Waterbridge collection from Sonoma Forge. They are perfect with custom concrete sink & shower surround, or even solid surface materials with recycled glass.
Lighting fixtures found at industrial house continue the look.
The toilet roll holder is from Wire & Twine — but I just can’t imagine even the most basic do-it-yourselfer not being able to whip this up in one quick trip to a big box store. Can you?
So, what do you think? Are you ready to create an industrial style bathroom?
Are you a loft dweller? Then you might also like:
Defining Space, Not Dividing Space – Interior Design Tips for Lofts & Open Plan Homes
Window Treatments for Floor to Ceiling Windows
Soaring Ceilings and What On Earth To Do With Them
| Get the Latest On Hot Design Trends, Trade Secrets, DIY Tips & Design Advice |
Tags: Bathroom, bathtub, chandelier, concrete, industrial style, Lighting, loft, sonoma forge, steel, wire & twine
Posted in Bathroom, Cool Stuff, DIY, Design Tips, Interior Design, Lighting, Lofts, Uncategorized | 1 Comment »
Interior Design: Simplicity – Leonardo da Vinci – and Light Switches
Monday, June 14th, 2010
Why – oh WHY – would you spend time & money picking out the perfect sleek & modern furniture for your home and STILL have light switches that look like THIS??!
It’s a little like getting a slinky new dress and an up-to-date hair-do – then wearing those with your old sneakers. Not very sophisticated.
If you are going for simplicity of design in your furnishings, then carrying that theme through on everything else in your home will add to the harmonious feel. Details matter! When you are putting in your lighting – don’t forget the switches and dimmers. Light switches are something that you look at and touch every single day. Here are my very favorite contemporary and minimal light switches. They are made by Basalte and called Sentido. Left to right they are gray, brushed aluminum and bronze. Click on the gray one to see a short video of one of these being operated. Very slick!
In checking out their website I came across a great quote:
“Simplicity is the ultimate sophistication.” – Leonardo da Vinci
It fits their product perfectly! They blend seamlessly with modern, minimal interiors. Just the way I like it!
You may also like:
Where to Shop in The Pearl: Lux Lighting
Pangaea’s Picks: Modern & Minimal Hidden Kitchen Design
| Get the Latest On Hot Design Trends, Trade Secrets, DIY Tips & Design Advice |
Tags: Basalte, contemporary design, light switch, Lighting, minimal, Sentido
Posted in Cool Stuff, Interior Design, Lighting, Uncategorized | 1 Comment »
Portland Interior Designer’s Picks: Top Ten Sexy Chairs
Tuesday, June 1st, 2010
Are you tired of your furniture? Is it boring?
Ho-hum?
Vanilla?
White bread?
Do you see the same styles at Costco?
When you shop for new pieces do you end up with safe, predictable and brown or beige?
Then maybe what you need are Pangaea’s Picks to add some sizzle!
These chairs have as many voluptuous curves and shapely legs as a Victoria’s Secret catalog. But if lean, strong, masculine lines are what you want, there are a couple chairs in here that would look right at home with Kellen Lutz – Calvin Klein’s new male underwear model.
Here are Pangaea’s Picks: Top Ten Sexy Chairs
1. Cherner Chair Barstool in Red Gum Wood
2. Maison Ventury Paris – Divine Collection Millesime 2010
3. Perillo Lounge Chair for Zuco
5. Ziliani Furniture Collection
8. Christopher Guy “Chris – X” Dining Chair
A little ho-hum in plain ivory, but it sizzles in hot pink!
Related Posts:
A Rainbow of Cutting Edge Seating Options
Baby It’s Cold Outside: Pangaea’s Picks – Top Ten Fireplaces
| Get the Latest On Hot Design Trends, Trade Secrets, DIY Tips & Design Advice |
Tags: Ad Hoc Chair, barstool, Bernhardt design, chair, Cherner, Chris X, Christopher Guy, Dania, dining chair, Divine Lounge, Jamie McClellan, Jean-Marie Massaud, Kravet, loft chair, Maison Ventury Paris, Odin chair, Perillo Lounge, pink, Seating, sexy, sleek, Turin chair, Viccarbe, Ziliani, Zuco
Posted in Cool Stuff, Dining Room, Furniture, Interior Design, Living Room, Seating, Top Ten, Uncategorized | 1 Comment »
Space Saving Furniture Designs – Perfect for Lofts, Small Spaces & Live/Work Spaces
Thursday, May 27th, 2010
I am always looking for beautifully designed multi-purpose pieces of furniture that work for lofts, small spaces and live/work spaces. In my relentless searching on the internet for these space saving furniture ideas, I’ve come across almost all of these. But I just found this great demonstration video from Resource Furniture in New York, showing how these pieces work. I’m including photos of just one of their designs – but you’ve really got to watch the video to get the full awesomeness of these pieces!
Watch the video here: Space Saving & Multi-Purpose Furniture
The sofa below is beautiful! It SO does not look like your parents’ over-stuffed sofa-sleeper.
If you need extra space for overnight guests and don’t have a guest room, this sofa would be fabulous in the living room. So many sofa sleepers either look big and clunky or they look very skimpy and cheap. I’d put this one in any high-end loft without batting an eye.
If you have a live/work space or a home office set up in your guest room, the desks on the video that can be converted to beds are a great multi-purpose option. It’s all about wise use of space.With the advances in technology making it possible for more and more people to work from home, it’s nice to know that advances in furniture design are making it possible to have more flexible use of your space.
Although these pieces run more than your average sofa, desk or bed – when you think about the fact that you are buying only one piece of furniture to take the place of two, and you save all that space, they are a pretty smart use of your design dollars too.
Related posts:
Ten Great Tips to Make Your Small Space Look B-I-G-G-E-R! part 1
Ten Great Tips to Make Your Small Space Look B-I-G-G-E-R! part 2
Designing a Home Office That Works for YOU!
| Get the Latest On Hot Design Trends, Trade Secrets, DIY Tips & Design Advice |
Tags: bed, desk, Home Office, live-work, Lofts, multi-purpose, open plan homes, Resource Furniture, small spaces, sofa
Posted in Bedroom, Cool Ideas, Cool Stuff, Design Dollars, Furniture, Home Office, Interior Design, Live/Work Spaces, Living Room, Lofts, Seating, Space Planning, Storage Solutions, Trends, Uncategorized | No Comments »
Perk Up Your Place – The Power of Throw Pillows
Friday, May 21st, 2010
Has your decor been feeling a little ho-hum? Bored to tears with your brown and beige? No big budget available for a total re-do?
Then it’s time to perk up your place with pillows! Now, I’ll tell you straight up that I’ve never been the kind of person to have 17 throw pillows sitting on my bed. I’m definitely a minimalist at heart. But the pillows below are so unique and make such an impact that just a few will go a long way toward adding some pizzazz to tired looking rooms.
These may cost more than the average throw pillow, but I think you get a lot of bang for your buck with these. They’ll rev up your room in a way that no $8 red pillow from Ross ever will.
So, which ones do you like?
These butterfly pillows by FJS are two sides of the same pillow. Amazingly rich colors and such a strong graphic!
If bugs aren’t your thing, check out these beautiful abstract pillows. Again, by FJS and two sides of the same pillow.
Who could possibly resist these little doggy queen pillows?
These cityscape pillows would be perfect for an urban loft.
If these don’t wake up your decor I don’t know what will?! Found all of these via www.pillowsandthrows.com and www.teojasmine.com. I’m always on the lookout for unique accessories that will add drama to your decor. If you could use help finding just the right accessories to bring your room to life, give me a call for rates and to schedule an appointment. 503.816.4394
Related Posts:
The Warmth of Cool – adding visual warmth with accessories
Mixing the High With the Low: A Strategy for Maximizing Your Design Dollars
Tags: color, pillowsandthrows.com, teojasmine.com, throw pillows, tips
Posted in Colors, Cool Stuff, Design Tips, Interior Design, Shopping, Uncategorized | No Comments »
Kitchen Design: Modern & Minimal, “Hidden” Kitchen
Thursday, March 18th, 2010
Just a minimal post today about minimal kitchen design. Saw this modern “hidden” kitchen today by Allmilmo, via 3rings (read their full post here). I absolutely love the clean, contemporary lines warmed by the use of book-ended teak veneer. When I get to remodel my own kitchen this is what I want to do! It brings the idea of closed storage solutions to a whole new level! Waaaaay better than an appliance garage! People who have lofts, open plan homes or live-work spaces would benefit by being able to hide the kitchen anytime they want. And it’s still a beauty wide open!
Tags: 3rings, Allmilmo, contemporary kitchen, Kitchen, kitchen design, live-work, Lofts, minimal, storage, Storage Solutions, teak
Posted in Cool Ideas, Cool Stuff, Design Tips, Interior Design, Kitchen, Live/Work Spaces, Lofts, Storage Solutions, Trends, Uncategorized | No Comments »
Serving Up Sustainable Style: Eco-Friendly Serving Trays
Thursday, December 3rd, 2009
During the holidays, if you are the type who loves to entertain, serve up your refreshments on sustainable and stylish serving trays. Whether you use serving trays to place on an ottoman in your living room in lieu of a coffee table, or you want a convenient way to get your hors d’oeuvres (yes, I had to look up the spelling) from the kitchen to your dining table or buffet, these trays will make a design statement while being kind to the environment. I hope you see one that will work with your decor. I’m a fanatic about detail and color coordination, so I have different trays to complement my color palette and design style for the living room, family room, dining room and my bedroom. One of my personal indulgences is to have coffee in bed every morning. It’s enticing to have a beautifully set tray and an inexpensive way to add a little elegance and style to your entertaining.
This first tray will complement even the most minimal modern decor. The Enos serving tray produced by Staach is hand made in the USA out of solid maple from domestic wood from certified sources . The bottom is lacquered in clear, white or red and the top is finished with food safe mineral oil. I think it is destined to be a classic design icon. Found at 2modern.com.
The Ibride Tray is made from reclaimed wood and totally rocks in an eclectic decor. Hang this up on your wall as art in between use. Found at Clio-Home.
And for you DIY types, here’s a fun project. Find an old cupboard door and use paint, handles and a little creativity to make your own serving tray in any color or style you like. This one is from Craftynest. It would be very fun to do a collage on one of these if you don’t have painting skills. A great way to recycle and re-purpose. Remember to use zero VOC paints, adhesives and finishes.
| Free Design Tips Sign Up |
Tags: 2modern, Art, color, Dining Room, DIY, do it yourself, entertaining, environmentally friendly, green design, modern design, portland interior design, serving tray, sustainable, sustainable materials, sustainable style
Posted in Art, Bedroom, Cool Ideas, Cool Stuff, DIY, Dining Room, Kitchen, Living Room, Sustainable style, Uncategorized | No Comments »
A Rainbow of Cutting Edge Seating Options
Saturday, November 28th, 2009
Cutting edge design is bringing all the colors of the rainbow to interior spaces in unique ways. The trend in new furniture designs coming our way uses state of the art technology and creative thinking to give us interior options never before seen.
Mood Chair:
The Mood Chair by Aether & Hemera, visual artists in the UK, incorporates sensors that react to the colors in the immediate surroundings. The fusion of light and color creates a dynamic and ever-changing mood.
Here’s what Aether & Hemera have to say about the idea on their website: “Responsive installations can complement the architectural space: the idea is that digital interactive fixtures will contribute to create an innovative and high-quality environment responding to the behaviour of its users by visually expressing the activities surrounding them.”
Personally, I love color so much and change my preferences so often, that I can imagine whole walls that can change color like this. Wouldn’t it be nice if we never had to paint a wall again, but could just walk in wearing our favorite color?
Side Stacking Rainbow Chairs:
Traditionally when you got stacking chairs, they all stacked one atop another until you got a tall pile of chairs which was compact, but not useful while stacked. Danish designer Christian Flindt has a better idea for stackable seating. His Rainbow Side Stacking chairs fit into each other’s sides and when several are stacked together, not only are they compact, but they are still usable as a bench. Made in an array of semi-translucent colors they appear like a rainbow when put together. The molded plastic chairs can be used indoors or outside.
Cappellini Rainbow Chair by Patrick Norguet:
You’ll be sitting pretty in your dining room, but this acrylic dining chair will set you back about $13,000 … yes, that’s per chair. Designed by Patrick Norguet, manufactured by Cappellini and included in the collection of the New York Museum of Modern Art, this deceptively simple looking side chair is made by fusing multiple colored acrylic plates together using ultrasound technology. One can only hope that someday, like most technology, it will eventually become more affordable. If you just can’t wait to have the latest in dining chairs, and you have plenty of discretionary income, you can purchase these through Europe by Net or Unica Home.
For more of the latest design ideas, do it yourself advice, and designer’s trade secrets, subscribe to my monthly email design tips.
| Free Design Tips Sign Up |
Tags: Aether & Hemera, cappellini, Christian Flindt, Colors, dining chair, Dining Room, Europe by Net, furniture design, interior design portland, modern design, MOMA, Museum of Modern Art, Patrick Norguet, Seating, Trends, Unica Home
Posted in Colors, Cool Ideas, Cool Stuff, Dining Room, Interior Design, Outdoor Furniture, Seating, Trends, Uncategorized | No Comments »