Month: August 2019

Great Cover-Ups: 8 Outdoor Canopies and Shades

When spring arrives it is time to dream about the perfect outdoor area, one that can host both barbecues and silent afternoons with your favorite summer read. No matter what purpose you want your outdoor space to serve, consider topping some of it off with a canopy.

Whether you’re looking for something framed in wood, draped like a sail or ribbed and rippled in a fake of a natural occurrence, the assortment of today’s designs implies you can definitely find a canopy that’s prepared to soar over your own backyard.

UBER Interiors

Eden Canopy – GBP 2,454

A beautiful modern canopy such as this creates a separate outdoor space. The sheer panels help keep wind, sound and bugs at bay without completely blocking out your environment.

umbrosa.shadescapesamericas.com

Rimbou Icarus Shade Leaf

Color your terrace with something inspired by nature, like this modern “shade leaf.” Place a number of around a backyard or a few over your oudoor dining room for colour that’s easy to move and adjust throughout the day.

Go to the Shade Scapes Americas site for buying options.

Overstock.com

Medium Triangle Sail Sun Shade – $49.99

The modern shape of this shade sail doesn’t just look slick — you can tie the sail into some three points in your yard. It could even offer shelter for those shade-loving plants in your garden.

Wicked Shade, Inc..

Shade sails can serve as a great outdoor focal point too. A distinctive sculptural shade helps draw up the eyes and off, visually expanding a deck’s footprint.

Royal Botania

Kokoon Hammock

This nest-like hammock and canopy could be the only piece of furniture you’d need to create a calm deck oasis. The hot tones will fit in effortlessly using a more conventional area, while the basic forms keep it fresh and modern.

Royal Botania

Wave Hammock

On the lookout for a small-space alternative? Think about a hammock and canopy all in one with this gorgeous floating lounger. It is the perfect answer for a treeless area — no tie-ups are needed for this particular hammock.

Tuuci

Crescent Pavilion

The curving contours of this pavilion add exotic allure into an outdoor landscape. The draped drapes are not just for appearances — shut them up when you need some privacy from the neighbors.

Paula Ables Interiors

On the lookout for a simpler program that may save a couple bucks? Drape a lightweight outdoor fabric underneath an outdoor arbor for subtle shading.

If you don’t possess an arbor, you may add rings into the fabric and place it on wires, which means that you may open and close it as a curtain.

Inform us How do you prepare for spring and summer outside?

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Traditional and Modern Tango at a Spanish-Style Ranch

Shaw Coates and her husband, John, loved living in their four-level downtown San Diego house. Shaw, specifically, loved little spaces, having lived in Paris apartments. But when the couple — she is a promotion manager; he’s a hardware engineer for Qualcomm — unexpectedly learned that Shaw was pregnant, they went into overdrive to find a more habitable space in which to raise their family. The concept of owning a nursery on the floor level and their master bedroom all the way in the top has been far from perfect.

Rancho Santa Fe, a neighborhood north of San Diego with 1-acre a lot, a state vibe, proximity to the city and shore, a horse culture and amazing schools, seemed like the best fit. But the traditional style of these houses worried Shaw, who was hoping to get something more modern. A late-1970s house and its clean lines quickly grabbed her attention, however, offering the chance to bring some midcentury classic flair to a timeless design. John was less enthused. The ranch-style Spanish house had not been lived in for 2 and a half years; there were escapes and it was falling apart. A massive revamp has been in order.

Shaw championed the high ceilings, open floor plan and special views of the valley because a good base packed with potential, finally winning John over. Greenline Construction plus landscape designers Kendra Berger of Revive Landscape Design and Steven Letz of Letz Design stepped in to carry out the vision.

in a Glance
Who lives here: Shaw and John Coates, 2-year-old daughter Charlotte and poodle Monte
Location: Rancho Santa Fe, California
Size: 2,710 square feet on 1 1/2 acres; 4 bedrooms, 2 1/2 baths
Budget: About $250,000
Year constructed: Late 1970s

Shaw Coates

The Coates family was quite cost-conscious throughout the revamp. Among the few splurges has been replastering the walls to make them simpler. Shaw added Benjamin Moore’s Vanilla Milkshake paint into the walls, fireplace and ceiling.

Looking for a statement piece which would complement the Spanish design, Shaw added an outside lamp from Restoration Hardware into the living area. Black and chartreuse accents upgrade the predominantly white and gray interior. She picked the color scheme since she wanted something serene and restful for the busy family; plus the greens work with the exterior plants.

Sofa, rug: Room & Board; tables: CB2; floors: French white walnut

Before Photo

Shaw Coates

BEFORE: Shaw had this initial brick inlay fireplace coated in Santa Barbara smooth stucco to get a more modern feel. French white oak replaced the original tiled flooring.

All of the original windows have been replaced with more effective low-E dual-pane ones.

Shaw Coates

More chartreuse — Shaw’s favorite color — and black adorn the minimalist dining area.

Table: Design Within Reach; chairs: Room & Board; chandelier: Restoration Hardware; lamp: mix

Shaw Coates

Shaw loves the spacious kitchen and household room, where she can easily observe her daughter.

Sofa, coffee table, side chairs: Room & Board

Shaw Coates

Before Photo

Shaw Coates

BEFORE: The Coates family doesn’t cook much, so that they left the kitchen layout pretty much intact, moving a few appliances around. Sustainably harvested wood cabinets now stained espresso provide the kitchen a warm and sophisticated look.

Shaw Coates

Shaw also included a single-sink basin big enough to hold big pots and pans. The countertops are Caeserstone blended with recycled glass to sparkle.

Shaw Coates

The art is lean but well chosen. This Andy Warhol”Dual Elvis” print adds a snap of hipness.

Chairs: Room & Board

Shaw Coates

The Coates family utilizes this space, technically a fourth bedroom, as an office and library. They mostly use laptops to work, meaning no more unsightly cords dangle, and they put the desk at the”power place,” Shaw says. Four bookcases out of Room & Board fit perfectly on the back wall, giving the look of built-ins.

A hidden cupboard houses a video surveillance program.

Bookcases, chair, rug: Room & Board; desk: West Elm; prints: antiques

Shaw Coates

Referred to as the Gold Room, this guest bedroom is splashed with all the color. A cupboard previously spanned the back wall, but Shaw had it chopped in half. “I would not want guests to stay that long where they would want all that cupboard room anyhow,” she states.

The carpeting has a plastic-wrapped pad underneath, making the floor kidproof and petproof.

Headboard: Ikea; bed frame: Design Within Reach; comforter, side tables: West Elm; lamps: mix; sea urchins wall installation: SoLo

Shaw Coates

John’s mother hand tinted the photos of Midwest landscapes which hang above this workstation in the guest area. The gold eyeglasses made them a perfect addition to the Gold Room.

Desk: West Elm; seat: Room & Board; side table: classic

Shaw Coates

Often confronted with more guests than there was room for, Shaw put a full-size bed in their kid’s room.

Crib, lamp, drapes: Ikea; dresser: Room & Baord; decals: Etsy; side table: mix

Before Photo

Shaw Coates

BEFORE: The master bedroom came with a nook that was tough.

Shaw Coates

Among the questions: how high to hang the drapes? Shaw chose to hang them on the exterior ceiling of the corner to match the ones covering a window opposite.

The headroom throughout the house was a big selling point. “I always feel as though high ceilings are somewhat less oppressive,” Shaw says. “So that has been our wish list when house hunting, for sure.”

Bed, stools: Crate & Barrel; rug: West Elm; dresser: Room & Board; sleeper couch: Design Within Reach

Shaw Coates

The household uses the corner as a reading area which looks out to a courtyard terrace.

Shaw Coates

There was extensive water damage in the master bath, so the Coateses took that as an chance to knock down superfluous walls and interior doorways to open the area. They included classic subway tiles and a soaking tub.

Shaw Coates

The washer and drier area was at the garage. Shaw transformed a storage room and purchased the smallest units she could detect. She then used a leftover slab of rosemary Caesarstone to create a workstation to conceal soaps in and to lay clothes on.

Shaw Coates

To help the outside mix in with the surroundings, she had it redone with smooth Santa Barbara stucco to get a more natural color.

Before Photo

Shaw Coates

BEFORE: So much work has been needed on the outside, Shaw notes. From the heavy lace-white stucco caused the house to pop out.

Before Photo

Shaw Coates

BEFORE: The pergola deserved some particular attention.

Shaw Coates

Adding a modern customized iron gate, hammering the pergola’s beams and wrap it into a grapevine helped spruce this up.

Shaw Coates

The entryway now features Spanish tile, a fountain and lush ornamental grasses.

Shaw Coates

The family didn’t want a massive lawn such as the previous homeowners needed and a lot of their neighbors have; water bills for those, Shaw states, can run around $1,000 per month. The family included decomposed granite and succulents, including gold barrel cactus and gloomy fire agave.

The low-maintenance, minimal-water approach was a success. “I interviewed landscapers and basically told them I didn’t wish to do anything,” says Shaw, adding that the water bill is between $70 and $150 a month.

Shaw Coates

An orchard is teeming with grapefruit, lemon, orange, peach, apple and apricot trees.

Before Photo

Shaw Coates

BEFORE: The pool area was a massive mess, Shaw states.

Shaw Coates

AFTER: The equipment was ruined, so that they switched the pool from contamination to saltwater and added an azure stone into the interior to make it sparkle. They also enlarged the entertainment area.

Before Photo

Shaw Coates

BEFORE: On the older outdoor terrace, a large wall would block the view of the valley if you sat down.

Shaw Coates

AFTER: A simple, affordable Home Depot fence now lets the view take over.

Sofa: Room & Board; pillows, coffee table: Restoration Hardware; dining room table: Pottery Barn

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The Appeal of Discover Modern Architecture

The term “modern” provokes such strong reactions in the world of residential architecture. Some people might envision wonderful homes of steel and glass with flowing floor plans; others may imagine houses that feel like woods.

Strong opinions abound about modern structure, as they do regarding the wide variety of other architectural styles.

The construction zone, ltd..

Merriam-Webster’s dictionary defines the term “modern” as “Of, relating to, or characteristic of the present or the immediate past.” Additional dictionaries include, “as opposed to the distant past” into the end of this definition.

What exactly represents present and immediate past (within the scope of modern) or distant past (beyond the scope of modern)? The answer is not measured in years but in advancements of technology and building methods that create lifestyle changes. For example, Native Americans constructed with rock and adobe since that was the technology that was available. Yet, because the industrial revolution, continuous technological advances have led to constant lifestyle changes, impacting modern design.

Modern is about today — what’s current — not the past. Contemporary structure is a picture, like a photograph, that timelessly represents the gift.

How can modern structure represent its time?

Spry Architecture

Spatially

Our lives today are considerably different than the lives of 50 years ago, let alone the lives from 100 or 200 years ago. Architecture must represent the way we live today, not the way we lived hundreds of years ago. Recall parlors? Not many would. All these were sitting rooms common a hundred years ago where guests were greeted. Our lifestyle changed, and parlors were weeded out.

The picture shown here is a modern floor plan. Note the excellent room — kitchen, dining room and living room all in one area. No formal dining room, no excess fat. Trim. Lean.

Materials and Technologies

Five hundred years ago, Native Americans constructed with adobe and Europeans constructed with rock. Homes had thick walls, small and deep-set windows, and little interior rooms. Technologies like steel later allowed substantial expanses of space and massive expanses of glass.

This photograph shows Mies van der Rohe’s Farnsworth House. Finished 62 years ago, the Farnsworth House is a terrific example of how modern materials in the 1950s, for example steel, influenced modern design. The Farnsworth home is characteristic of its present, our immediate past, and is still considered modern for today.

Aluminum permitted for large expanses of cheap operable glass. The Case Study House was created while we figured out the way to execute postwar technology.

This photograph shows a Case Study Home made by Charles and Ray Eames: spacious interior spaces; spacious expanses of glass.

Sutton Suzuki Architects

Using steel permitted a link to the outdoors in the interior that wasn’t previously possible.

Ainslie-Davis Construction

Engineered lumber and structural steel enable massive expanses of unencumbered space.

Arkin Tilt Architects

Nowadays, with energy-efficiency concerns, substances like structural insulated panels (SIPs) are significant together with new procedures of prefabricated construction. Homes can be constructed in factories, decreasing waste and the various inefficiencies of additional building practices.

This job employs many modern energy-efficient solutions, such as solar panels, SIPs and straw bale to weave together a modern home.

Prentiss Balance Wickline Architects

Preventing Trends

a couple of years before, a magazine dedicated an whole issue to Tuscan architecture. The difficulty was, the style supposed to be Tuscan was only a normal home wrapped in a skin that was weathered. For six months my telephone rang with potential customers asking for Tuscan architecture.

True architecture from Tuscany represents its place and environment. Tuscany has an ecology and easily available materials and stones. Tuscany has a history and a context. It makes sense to look a house in the Sonoran Desert.

Here is a modern courtyard similar to the wonderful courtyards of authentic Tuscan architecture, demonstrating that one can apply principles of good design, irrespective of how ancient the structure might be, in a modern context.

Authenticity

Avoiding trends gives modern structure an authenticity which other fashions lack. Like I mentioned earlier, it makes sense to design even a home that is pueblo, or a Tuscan home in the Sonoran Desert given that our technology is so different than what was available.

Ayn Rand’s most important character in The Fountainhead, architect Howard Roark, said it well: “A house can have integrity, exactly like a man; and as rarely.” Because they lack authenticity homes lack integrity.

This entrance is simple, clean and genuine. Nothing is unnecessary.

Pllc, Beley Design

This endeavor expresses its construction in a fair and rhythmic way.

Steinbomer, Bramwell & Vrazel Architects

A modern home should represent the way we live. It should reflect current construction techniques and materials. It should have integrity by preventing tendencies. Contemporary architecture provides an opportunity for an beauty, not by copying another fashion from place or another time, but by contemplating the present and, with creativity, developing a fresh aesthetic.

That is modern.

Connected: Are Your Way : What Makes Architecture Successful

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Toilet Layout: Renew Body and Mind With Colorful Light

After we’re blessed with great weather, we view that the sun’s warm rays as bright white. On winter mornings, the sky is almost pink, and in the summer, warmer colours like orange and red could be viewed at sunset. The spectrum of white light is made up of orange, red, yellow, green, blue, indigo and purple — and those seven colours have an unbelievable impact on our physical and psychological wellness.

Chromotheraphy has been researched and practiced for more than 4,000 decades. Once reserved for the pharaohs of Egypt, this therapeutic technique is currently possible in our own houses to help improve our health and everyday outlook. Many times, the shower may be the best spot to receive a dose of recovery light without breaking a daily routine. A large number of colors could be made with the assistance of non invasive LEDs (light-emitting diodes). This little bit of extra lighting does wonders for a small shower or bathroom — the ability to layer the lighting to suit morning patterns or idle weekend soaks is essential to enjoying the bathroom at several times of day. Add a tiny colored light, and you have a whole new space.

Let us take a look at coloured light for baths and cover a few pointers for successful installation.

Holger hoos layout

Blue lighting has several documented health benefits. It helps decrease blood pressure and calm breathing, making relaxing easier. Blue light has also been proven to be an anti-inflammatory and improve circulation — all great things as we age.

Arijit

Look how this gloomy light brings the walls to life — initially you see the blue, then you observe the stone and the light reflecting off the water from the bathtub.

When you are choosing a bathtub with a chromotherapy bundle, get one with four lighting. Sometimes two lights just does not cut it.

Susan Diana Harris Interior Design

Red lightenergizes and arouses. The effects of red light may improve your heartbeat and get you charged up for a large match, pumped for a major meeting or in the mood for a bit of love.

This shower has a wonderful iridescent tile that sparkles. With routine lighting, this room itself needs to be an actual energizer both in the morning and during the night. To emphasize iridescent particles from the tile, multiple sources of lighting needs to be used. Three or five small halogens would do the job flawlessly.

A tiled wall washed light like this ought to be put perfectly so the wall is smooth and flat. The nearer the light would be to hitting the wall, the more it will show defects in the setup. Also, make sure that the LED lighting, task lighting and fixtures are set up during the tiling process for complete precision.

If you are not brave enough for bright red tile, choose a tile that is lighter and stick using LED lighting for color. When the mood strikes, you can choose any color you prefer.

You always have the option to change out routine light bulbs for LED versions in your standard fixture or build a custom lighting attribute from LED strip lighting for a similar strategy. When working with a specialist, make sure that your installer does not underestimate the lighting needs of a space and put in too little lighting for a huge impact.

If you are planning your lighting strategy, make sure it may be dimmed and build it brighter than you believe you need it to be. The ThermaSol light featured here has six high-intensity light generators per color for intense and flexible lighting.

By Any Design Ltd..

This steam shower has a chromotherapy setting that allows all the colours to change gradually. This is really a treat when you are taking a very long steam shower. Many of my customers stretch in their own showers before and after exercising, or to relax before bedtime. Clearing your head and detoxifying at day’s end can generate a deeper sleep and help keep your nerves in check. Shade can help improve this experience.

Clayton&Little Architects

Hundreds of years back, stained glass was often employed for chromotherapy purposes. Leonardo da Vinci believed that the power of meditation increased tenfold under the rays of violet light shining through a church’s stained glass windows. Green light has been proven to decrease irritability and sleeplessness, and may be employed to help someone recover from a nervous breakdown. Yellow lighting can aid with digestion and simply make us feel happy.

Stained glass, if filtering natural or man-made lighting, produces amazing results. If the glass is beveled and utilized in conjunction with diamonds, diamonds or distinct kinds of glass, the result is even more amazing.

Kelly & Stone Architects

Should you use your master bath every day to prepare for shower, work after football, bathe the children and wash the dog, how do you make it feel like a spa whenever you have enough time to relax?

When overall lighting or task lighting is switched off (the downlights, or pot lights, in the photo), ambient lighting may take over. Pendants and accent coloured lighting (here, on the vanity toe kick and shower ceiling) could be put to a slow scroll to completely transform the mood.

If you are on the fence about whether or not to put in a few chromotheraphy lights, just do it. It’s easy to leave them off most of the time, and the benefit they offer when they’re turned on is invaluable.

Tracy Stone AIA

How can you not feel great carrying a sunshine-filled shower? Harvesting the sun’s light is easier with a massive skylight like this one. We’ve started working more with 4- by 4-foot skylights, and the extra light is always welcome.

Consider finding your master en suite on the east elevation of a new residence if you would like to shower early in the day, or around the west side if you would like to shower at day’s end and grab the sunset’s closing beams.

Downing Designs.com

It doesn’t matter which form of chromotheraphy you decide on for your next bathroom renovation; any and all are wonderful ways to bring your favourite color into your everyday routine.

For centuries, people have utilized colored lighting for curing — determine if it improves the quality of your life.

More:
The Low-Down on LED LightingGet the Lighting Right for a Healthier House

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Get to a Composting Kick (Hello, Free Fertilizer!)

Let us begin by stating the obvious: Composting can appear daunting. So far as garden tasks proceed, it will get a bad rap. It’s related to yucky smells, out-of-control heaps, rats, gardens full of mushy soil and bits of eggshells. However, in reality, it’s the very best natural ingredient with which to amend your soil. It is high in nutrient content than any store-bought fertilizer, bagged soil or synthetic product. Best of all, it’s totally free, made right from your garden and kitchen waste. Normally, 30 percent of household garbage sent to the landfill is green waste. Home composting helps you lessen the effect on the surroundings.

Matt Kilburn

The term “composting” describes the aerobic decomposition of nitrogen-richgreen waste and carbon-rich organic matter (like leaves). The key is to get the ideal balance of green waste into organic matter.

Depending upon the size and variety of bin method you use, the parameters will vary slightly, however as a rule of thumb that you want to add a handful of organic matter for every couple of waste. Note your composter’s specific requirements, however.

Matt Kilburn

Generally, these products may be used with a conventional composting method:

Green material (nitrogen loaded):
Kitchen scraps (fruit and vegetable) Coffee grounds and tea leavesPlant trimmings: leaves, foliage and flowersGrass clippings: fresh mulch from mowing (yards without pesticides) Organic material (carbon rich):
Leaves: dry fall leaves (oak leaves decompose gradually; use those sparingly)Newsprint, cardboard and brown paper, shredded or cut into little bits (use sparingly)Dry grass clippingsStraw — an Superb source of carbon

Matt Kilburn

Composting is a great way to get the entire family involved with garden activities. Everybody can participate and feel good about making a difference. And it’s a great tool for kids to learn the essentials of recycling things into the earth.

Easy measures for composting using a standard system or bin:
Choose a flat, partially sunny spot with good drainage that is convenient to get to.Create a 12-inch foundation layer in your bin using straw, leaves or woody brush material to advertise air circulation.Alternate layers of organic and green materials.Whenever you add a food scrap coating, top it off with an organic material layer.Every two weeks blend the contents at the bin. This aerates the stuff and receives the bin heated up again for decomposing matter.The pile will shrink over time. Continue to add layers until the bin is almost full.Harvest the mulch each six months. The bottom and centre should be completely decomposed and full of healthy, moist areas for worms.If your soil gets large chunks, you are able to sift it through a mesh screen.

Matt Kilburn

Choosing a bin. Composters come in many shapes and dimensions. They may be purchased at most garden stores and nurseries as well as city disposal channels.

This particular bin permits you to place compostable materials from very best and harvest compost from the ground.

Matt Kilburn

This rotating bin is the easiest one to handle. The only disadvantage is that the soil needs to be harvested all at once.

Matt Kilburn

This system is geared toward serious compost aficionados. When it’s up and running, you are able to process huge amounts of compost with staggered accessibility — meaning you always have a steady source of compost ready to go.

An active compost pile (one which you continually add green waste to) requires additional time to decompose. This system permits you to quit adding green waste to a single pile so it can finish composting. When it’s finished, use it in your garden and begin refilling the bin while another pile finishes. The next bin inside this system is left empty to allow for simple mixing.

Matt Kilburn

A worm bin is just another option which works particularly well in small spaces. Worm composting, or vermicomposting, is quite much like standard composting but works on a smaller scale and is based primarily on worms for decomposition. The worms used in these compost systems are called red wigglers; they may often be purchased along with a bin (or you can get them from a friend’s system).

Worm bins may generate great liquid and solid fertilizer for your plants. Most commonly, people purchase especially designed worm composting bins which are comparatively shallow and wide.

What’s been your experience with composting? Do you love it, or would you rather leave the scraps behind? Share your thoughts and composting hints below.

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Moiré Patterns Ripple Through Elegant Homes

The moiré pattern is a timeless, elegant addition to any decor. It can be produced with any ribbed or corded fabric, which can be moistened and machine wrapped in a high temperature, which makes a gentle cascading watermark. This ancient process has survived the test of time, changing to suit every age without losing its allure. The subtle elegance of the delicate design functions on furniture, fabric and background — moiré never goes out of fashion for long.

DKOR Interiors Inc.- Interior Designers Miami

A brief history. Moiré is a blueprint, not a cloth. The term derives from the Arabic word “mukhayyar,” literally translated as “goat hair fabric.” It was a fine, woven fabric produced by angora goats in Turkish villages, particularly Ankara.

Historical references as far back as the 14th century mention Ankara’s rising fiber industry. Mukhayyar came to be called mohair and then moiré. This wool was judged to be even finer than silk. It took washers, dyers and pressers in addition to weavers to produce it. Although versions of the titles moiré and mouarie changed between England and France for centuries, the literal interpretation of “moiré” is “watered mohair.”

From the 18th century, some cloth with a natural flat rib can be folded lengthwise and pressed through heated rollers. The ribs that didn’t align were flattened, resulting in the watermark on both sides of the cloth.

Cotton and taffeta were the hottest and complex materials during the 18th century, and ball gowns made from moiré proved highly desired by queens and the gentry. By 1600 to 1750, during the baroque age, moiré cloth became the go-to selection for drapery and cushions.

This white high-gloss room delights in the strong color of the moiré cushion sitting gently on the old-Hollywood-inspired seat.

Nicole Benveniste Interior Design

Historical moiré. Writings in the 1600s reveal that moiré watermarking (also called waving) began from the dyeing process. A large pot was set over a piping-hot fire. The coloured dyes were added, then the bud was half filled with water. A layer of fabric was added, then a layer of wood planks, with layers added until the top was reached.

The impression and weight of the wood would render gentle waves of color that filtered through the fabric. It was believed that the pieces of fabric that got the biggest waves in constant, perfect lines were the best pick, and Turkish elders received these as a indication of respect. Ankara was the exclusive exporter of mohair fabric to Europe before the 1800s.

DKOR Interiors Inc.- Interior Designers Miami, FL

Modern moiré. The machines that produce moiré finishes now use a technique called calendering. The woven cloth is brushed and moistened, and pliers with engraving or ribs are conducted across the fabric. This is accomplished at a very high temperature.

The pressure from the rollers generates the waves by beating the fabric threads or setting the color. The same tried and true techniques in the 18th century still employ but now use 21st-century automation.

The background in this toilet is a professionally crafted illustration of the moiré pattern and provides the space a gorgeous silvery glamour.

Harte Brownlee & Associates Interior Design

Maintenance of moiré. Moiré is considered mainly as a silk cloth, but these days cotton, rayon and wool are just as popular. Provided that the fabric is ribbed or corded, it may take the moiré therapy.

Moiré fabrics require particular attention. Silk or rayon ought to be dry cleaned. Water can cause your product to loose its luster, therefore check the label or manufacturer’s directions before cleaning it. Ironing or steaming moiré is generally not recommended; folding can retain the creases.

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13 New Ways to Make a Splash With a Hot Tub

When the weather is cold and the snow has been decreasing, there are few better places to be than in a toasty hot tub. Although they’ve always had their fans, spas have come a long way and can now accommodate virtually every particular request. Looking to target a particular ache or pain? Some hot tubs have programmable seats that are dedicated to individual muscle groups. Want to get a workout? Swim spas will be the new thing, plus they are just the right size for high-resistance exercise.

Entertainment fanatics have something to love, also: Many hot tubs now come equipped with large flat-screen TVs and surround sound — for a pretty penny, of course. And designers are constantly creating new ways to tailor outdoor hot tubs to their clients’ dreams of the perfect backyard escape.

While store-bought hot tubs are well stocked with extra features, true customization may make one even more heavenly. At Red Rock Contractors and Red Rock Pools and Spas, co-owner Rick Chafey says clients are independently measured to make sure appropriately shaped seating and the right jet positioning. Clients may even pinpoint their jet preferences. The personalization doesn’t end there. Having a customized hot tub, you are able to select out your material; organic, neutral materials, like stone or even polished concrete, are all popular alternatives, as is coloured glass tile, in case you’re looking for a more dramatic, high-end appearance.

Chafey often suggests adding some kind of water fountain for added motion and optimum usage all year round. “Since you won’t float into your spa that often, making it a visual and sound feature will turn it into something you could always enjoy,” he says. “You’ll always be benefiting from the investment”

Whether you’re looking for a flashy new toy, a better-designed pool or a serene escape, then there are many ways to dip into new ideas for hot tubs.

Cathy Schwabe Architecture

1. Create an outdoor escape. Outdoor living spaces are all of the rage, so make good use of your garden by producing your own day spa. Pair a one-person tub such as this one from Duravit with chaise longues plus a modern awning for a much-needed escape from real life.

Spas and Stuff

BellaGrande SLT Spa With TV and DVD – $10,845

2. Turn your tub into a movie theatre. Make your picture experience heavenly by splurging on this well-stocked hot tub, which comes equipped with a pop-up TV, built-in speakers along with also a floatable remote. If you’re able to take the heat, it may just be worth the big bucks.

Caldera Spas

Geneva Spa

3. Massage each muscle. With this unique hot tub, you can get a foot massage, leg massage or reduced back massage only by playing a game of musical chairs. Just swap stains to target an completely different muscle group.

Arctic Spas

Arctic Ocean Swim Spa – $22,900

4. Ensure it is a workout. For those looking to get in shape, this is the greatest exercise instrument. Its high-powered jets emit a strong current that can give even the most seasoned swimmers per workout. And best of all, it takes up much less space than a traditional pool.

Jeffrey Gordon Smith Landscape Architecture

5. Choose a material that works with your setting. If you are in the market for a new buy,opt for a modern fabric, such as wood, concrete, tile or stone. This wood tub blends in well with the landscape, particularly with the built-in chairs and noise of falling water.

Hursthouse Landscape Architects and Contractors

6. Enjoy a little water music. A mini waterfall can add motion along with a soothing sound to your area, and your children are going to think of it as free entertainment.

Ike Kligerman Barkley

7. Snuggle up next to the flame. Blend ice and fire (or in this case, water) by adding a fireplace nearby.

Tracy Stone AIA

If you are a bit of a daredevil, deliver the flames to you by adding a cleverly put fire pit.

Balfoort Architecture, Inc..

8. Integrate your hot tub and pool. Easily transition from hot to cold by combining two components in one. The convenient pool stepping stones provide a smart shortcut, making walking from 1 side to another a breeze.

Red Rock Pools and Spas and Red Rock Contractors

9. Add a exceptional element. Test out new waters by getting a bit creative. Elevate your hot tub for more visual interest, and make personalized touches, such as these floating stepping stones and multicolored glass tiles, to make sure that your spa is similar to any other.

The Anderson Studio of Architecture & Design

10. Think vertical. If you have a fantastic view, make the most of it. This elevated spa takes in the surroundings but feels secluded and private over the pool. A spa on a well-placed deck may have the exact same effect.

Falling Water Custom Pools, Inc..

11. Add mood light. Though it may not seem like much, slightly colored lights might help melt your stress away. If you are relaxing with a group, ramp up the color to add some flavor to the celebration.

Outer space Landscape Architecture

12. Create easy access. Be kind to your poor back or shot knee by choosing an inground hot tub. It makes it a lot easier to slip in and out, also it’s a sleek, clean appearance.

Spambient

Luxema 8000 Spa

13. Host the greatest pool party. Throw the mother of all fiestas with this huge double-decker spa from SPAmbient, a Slovenia-based firm. Though this international sensation may be difficult to get a hold of at the U.S., it reveals how a stereo system, TV and built-in pub can be contained in a hot bath tub. Who wants a pool, anyway?

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Banish Gizmo Blemishes on Your Walls

From electrical sockets to air vents, speakers to thermostats, all of the little items that we rely on for modern living are here to remain. As we continue to create new gizmos, such as iPads, and building codes call for new security requirements, such as smoke detectors, the sheer amount of these little things will only increase.

Therefore it really bugs me when I tour a recently finished house renovation or a new home, and the inside ceilings and walls seem to have developed a case of acne. Rather than all of the accoutrements of modern life being considered in the plan, the sockets, switches, air vents, thermostats etc. are haphazardly placed. Just a little thought and coordination can stop this kind of scenario.

Let’s see how the walls of the next project are able to keep a clean complexion.

Legendary Luxury Homes

Think about positioning early. It’s always nice when things such as air vents are put in proximity with and to match the architecture. Placement of these things should be looked at before building starts. Either you’ll have to move the framing or be stuck with an unwanted place for the enroll if you wait until after the walls are up.

Signature Designs Kitchen & Bath

Construct in a power strip. We will need to have electrical outlets to plug all of those tiny appliances and as mandated by building codes. Simply because we do, however, they don’t have to mar the beautiful backsplash we’ve just paid a lot for.

Consider installing a plug mold at the base of the wall cabinets or another choices shown here.

Seura

Help it become deliberate. Maintaining the backsplash free of any electrical apparatus really helps to show off the tile and overall cosmetic. However, in the event that you’d like a tv or docking station for an iPad or other tablet device, you can easily recess it into the plan, which makes it a portion of the total appearance. The trick is to ensure it is an intentional decision as opposed to an afterthought.

Exquisite Kitchen Layout

Camouflage it. Odds are that concealing the electrical switches won’t be that readily done. In those situations, particularly where the switch is in a tiled backsplash, then a few camouflage will hide it in plain sight. Take care that the person performing the camouflaging gets the colors and patterns just right.

FORMA Design

Group switches. Where there isn’t the possibility of concealing a switch or bank of buttons, make certain that you set the buttons in an orderly fashion. It’s disconcerting to see buttons randomly positioned about a wall, frequently within close proximity to one another. And while you’re at it, then place the group in a spot that’s carefully chosen and use a switch plate that coordinates with the total layout.

Nest

Make them trendy. Of course, not every one of these objects have to be hidden. Many manufacturers are now producing very fashionable and enjoyable devices, such as the Nest thermostat, that can be displayed as a piece of decoration. The trick is to place these devices in a spot where they can stick out and be noticed.

Rockefeller Partners Architects

Recess them. Let’s not forget the speakers that are a part of the audio visual systems. Recessing these itemswill maintain them less obtrusive and less pimple like.

Richlin Interiors

Integrate them into the Plan. Whenever it’s not always possible to perform a media wall such as this, incorporating the speakers into the general room design really helps.

Applegate Tran Interiors

Work with all the invisible structure. Lighting, particularly recessed can lighting, actually needs to be coordinated with not only what is visible but with what is not. Finding each light centered into each coffer requires no framing, air duct or other item above the ceiling get in the way. So coordinating these components during the design and drawing on stage will pay dividends during construction.

Stuart Cohen & Julie Hacker Architects LLC

Complement the architecture. Many rooms, particularly those who have tall and sloping ceilings, are not easily lit. So it is always a pleasure once the light is coordinated with and complements the architecture. Achieving the precise positioning of fixtures is the result of a coordinated plan, where construction and electrical components are all considered.

LaunchPort – $350

Be prepared for anything. There’s very little possibility that we will see fewer gadgets and gizmos in our houses. While just a couple of years ago, the iPad was not a thing a designer would have considered when planning an inside, today it is almost omnipresent. So things such as wall-mounted charging stations in every room have to be considered. Let’s face it, a beautifully designed inside considers everything that’s part of the space.

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Harbor Views Enrich a Newfoundland Townhouse

A house with a stunning view of St. John’s Harbour, off-street parking plus a double garage is difficult to find in downtown St. John’s, Newfoundland, but Gerrie Nicholas got blessed with her townhouse, one of eight brownstones on a hillside lot. Nicholas remodeled every floor and customized the layout of the main degree, replacing all of the unit’s rear south-facing windows with floor-to-ceiling windows to take advantage of her exquisite ocean view.

in a Glance
Who lives here: Gerrie Nicholas
Location: Downtown St. John’s, Newfoundland, Canada
Size: 2,400 square feet; 3 bedrooms, 2 1/2 baths
That’s interesting: The townhouse sits on the site of the former Bishop Spencer College, a Church of England school for women, which functioned from 1845 to 1972.

Before Photo

BEFORE: By removing one of the walls shown here, Nicholas turned an ineffective kitchen layout into yet another conducive for hosting. The island had protruded from a wall, making it embarrassing to walk around in the area. Nicholas rearranged the space, installed hardwood floors and replaced the cupboards.

Becki Peckham

AFTER: Newfoundland is famous for its kitchen celebrations, and Nicholas loves to entertain, so she wanted the space to make an enduring impression. A massive granite-topped island now takes center stage rather than the formerly misplaced island. The encompassing countertops are topped with a complementary darker granite, whereas fresh cabinets are painted with a creamy off-white. The island drawers and cabinets have been stained a deep brown.

Granite: Diamond Stone Formation; cupboards: Cherry Nook; drum lights: Lighting World; appliances: Sears; chairs: Winners; backsplash, door components: Rona

Before Photo

BEFORE: Nicholas substituted these windows over the sink to capitalize on the view.

Becki Peckham

AFTER: The kitchen now has its very own cozy sitting area for reading, with traditional-style furniture. “I am inspired by many fashions and enjoy when periods can be merged harmoniously,” says Nicholas. The chairs are breeding pieces by Councill Craftsmen in North Carolina, and also the ottoman was made by hand in Houston. The hanging Rashdizadeh silk carpet is from Iran, in which Nicholas dwelt with her late husband for a year at the ’70s.

Wall paint: Revere Pewter, Benjamin Moore; drum lights: Lighting World; granite: Diamond Stone Formation

Becki Peckham

Storage was really important for Nicholas, as she had moved from a 4,000-square-foot house into this townhouse. New built-in closets serve as a pantry and provide storage for serving dishes. The frosted glass door allows light into the basement, in which there are no windows.

Becki Peckham

The kitchen opens into a deck with a barbecue for outdoor dining during the summer. About giving up a garden at the downsizing, Nicholas says, “that I really like to admire it but do not love the job. I have two decks, and container gardening works for me.”

Paint: Sisal, Benjamin Moore; Trim: White Down, Benjamin Moore

Becki Peckham

The townhouse is built on a hill, and the south side of the basement provides a ground level walk-out via an attached garage. Before the renovation, the basement was one open, unfinished area. Nicholas split the space up by creating a closed-off, independent area for storage along with a porch space for shoes and coats.

Before Photo

BEFORE: Here you can view the preceding hallway that led to the kitchen. Nicholas closed this hallway up and added a compact bathroom. She replaced the iron balusters with wood spindles and painted the whole area a hot white to brighten up everything.

Becki Peckham

AFTER: The townhouse is four stories high, with two collections of walnut hardwood stairs. On the main level are the kitchen, living room and dining room. Throughout the renovation, a whirlpool hallway to the left of the staircase was closed off and turned into a small bathroom and a closet on the other side. The stairs was custom made by local staircase expert Dave Carter.

Wall paint: Indian White, Benjamin Moore; staircase: English Chestnut blot, Rona; canvas printing of cove: Bold Creative

Becki Peckham

The new powder room is just 3 feet by two feet. Nicholas recalls that as being her biggest challenge throughout the renovation. “On paper the dimensions functioned, but I wasn’t convinced until I’d the construction crew do the greatest test. They had to input the powder room, pass the vanity/sink easily and sit on the bathroom.”

Nicholas repurposed a chest of drawers into a vanity and inserted a custom-cut fossil marble countertop.

Wall paint: Smoky Green, Benjamin Moore; bathroom, faucet: James Crawford

Becki Peckham

Nicholas chose a clear vessel sink so as not to obstruct the view of all the gorgeous fossil details in the marble.

Sink: Rona; fossil marble: Diamond Stone Formation

Before Photo

BEFORE: The multipurpose second-story living room had a corner propane fireplace which was too small for the space, and smaller windows.

Becki Peckham

AFTER: Larger windows let enormous quantities of light in and optimize the harbor view. Nicholas also eliminated a corner terrace.

Windows: The Window Shop; wall paint: Timid White, Benjamin Moore

Becki Peckham

Nicholas’ daughter is a musician who resides but comes home for the summer and Christmas. While it was hard to maneuver this baby grand piano up the stairs, it fits perfectly at the far corner of their living room.

Becki Peckham

Nicholas transformed one of the bedroom closetsinto a compact workspace. After removing the doors, she added a built-in desk for her computer. Shelving on every side of the desk keeps clutter to a minimum.

Paint: Hazy Skies, Benjamin Moore

Becki Peckham

With three stories at the front and four at the trunk, Nicholas says, “I get my exercise by climbing flights of stairs daily.” Throughout the renovation she replaced the stair treads and refinished all the floors in the house. The dark railing nicely contrasts the medium brown floors and light walls, and ties in with all the kitchen island.

Wall paint: Timid White, Benjamin Moore; staircase, floor blot: English Chestnut, Rona

Before Photo

BEFORE: The bedroom furniture didn’t match the scale of the space, and the window and door positioning needed reconfiguration. Nicholas made better utilization of the wall resulting in the terrace by installing a single large window and a doorway to the left to allow for space past the bed. She replaced the carpet with hardwood floors.

Becki Peckham

AFTER: The master suite plus a small laundry closet are on the top floor, the reward for the stair climb being a spectacular harbour view. High ceilings and white walls keep the space appearing fresh, while dim furniture accents warm it up. Two red chairs in front of the huge window provide a relaxing reading place where to enjoy the view.

Wall paint: Timid White, Benjamin Moore

Before Photo

BEFORE: The toilet might be one of the biggest transformations. Before, dated white and cream ceramic tile covered the floor and the tub surround.

Becki Peckham

AFTER: Nicholas rearranged the whole toilet around the tub and made use of the awkward ceiling. Large mirrors assist reflect window light and make the space seem larger than it is. She picked other reflective surfaces for vanity lights, tile and accessories trim, including a glass shower surround to keep things open and light.

Wall paint: Winds Breath, Benjamin Moore

Becki Peckham

The master bedroom features a small terrace with a downtown view. Nicholas replaced the preceding iron railings with glass panels for a uninterrupted view.

Becki Peckham

This is the gorgeous view that offered Nicholas in the Caribbean house. Historical sites including St. John’s Harbour, the Narrows and Signal Hill, where Marconi received the first wireless transatlantic message in 1901, can be viewed from her upstairs bedroom. “Downtown St. John’s has historic buildings and the colored ‘jelly bean’ houses,” Nicholas says. “The row houses are painted different vivid colours, which help compensate for the gray rain, drizzle and fog we all experience in abundance.”

Becki Peckham

Gerrie Nicholas loves a glass of wine in her kitchen, where she has spent many nights entertaining guests. “That is my center of operation,” she states. “It is where I reside, read, entertain and reflect.”

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