Monday, June 15, 2009

Contemporary Bedroom Furniture Photo's Ideas






I thin contemporary bedroom furniture is beaautiful bedroom. I find myself liking contemporary furniture lately. I don't think I am ever going to find myself putting some of these square plain looking things in my home. I think I'm to much in love with ornate carvings found on replica antique furniture but I do like this contemporary bedroom furniture. This one is pretty awesome. I still don't think I would want to put it in my bedroom, but i do like the look of it.

Design of the Green House Plans and Home Interiors

In this years, more people can be get the house design. If you follow design trends, and then that would certainly have heard the term "green design". Green Design (also called sustainable design) is the art of designing physical objects and the built environment to comply with the principles of economic, social, and environmental sustainability. It's about making good choices when it comes to protecting our world and the preservation of its resources through sustainable use of renewable materials such as flooring or bamboo easily, instead of depleting resources, such as granite which has hundreds of thousands years to replace.Many consumers have heard of what you can do to help your health and the environment, while others think it is a pure concept, but can not know whether you can implement in their homes. Despite a new house built to be "green" certification through the LEED guidelines will give the best results for indoor air quality and energy savings, does not mean you should abandon your green interior design decoration in a house. For consumers who are looking to build green homes, find an architect who specializes in LEED certification of green buildings and residences. One of these is the architect of Santa Monica, CA-based David Hertz, founder of the Environmental Study of Architecture. Here is one of my favorite designs, Lehrer:
This beautiful 7500 square foot home is absolutely inconceivable that the idea of sustainable design a building sacrifice aesthetics. A staircase and elevator passage creation of an open pit as a solar chimney to exhaust and heat again, which is at the high ceilings of the living room and bedroom. It also uses solar energy to the home, pool heat, and radiant heating. Another project, as I have to show is a commercial building, the Gwinnett Environmental & Heritage Center in Georgia, the Lord, fields, and Sargent. It shows an example that the above picture is not, it shows a building with a piece of nature and Incorporated into the design.

The gorge can be seen in the crosswalk performance was once again dry, but by bringing in non-potable water from a nearby treatment plant, has become an integral part of air-conditioning system and a beautiful water feature. Using a dry gully, they eliminated the need for a dredge and an excellent source of water to be used for the AC system, irrigation, and for a supply of water for cleaning toilets.

Friday, June 12, 2009

Porthole!

Nothing like a porthole to add some nautical industrial flair to your space...







Embarrassingly enough, I collected these pictures so long ago I no longer have any recollection of where they came from. (Some are obviously from redcover, a stock photography service for interior images.)

Friday, June 5, 2009

Home Tips : How to Make Any Room Look Bigger


How to Make Any Room Look Bigger
In this economy, few people can afford to knock down walls or put an addition on their homes. However, for considerably less money, any room can appear larger and look better with one or two strategically placed sconces.

“As consumers move from buying new houses to remodeling their existing homes, wall sconces can be an attractive answer to consumers’ lighting needs,” explains Simone Raclin, creative director of Justice Design Group, a California-based lighting manufacturer.

Sconces are lighting fixtures that are mounted to a wall and provide subtle illumination and a warm ambiance. “Sconces bring human scale to a room and finish the space,” notes Joe Rey-Barreau AIA, IES, CSI, architect, educational consultant for the American Lighting Association (ALA) and professor of interior design at the University of Kentucky.

When many people think of this type of lighting, the first image that may come to mind is a hotel hallway, yet sconces are gaining popularity in sophisticated residences all over the country. Brad Kleinberg, president of Crystorama Lighting Group, a New York-based lighting manufacturer, believes young admirers of the category are drawn to styles inspired by their favorite luxury resorts, hotels and restaurants. “They want what they’ve seen in Vegas, but scaled down to a residential size,” he remarks, noting that styles run the gamut from ornate, splashy looks to cleaner lines with a contemporary feel.

“An upstairs hallway is an excellent application for wall sconces,” Rey-Barreau states. “In fact, ADA-compliant models, which are required for commercial installations, are a great choice for homes because they do not extend out from the wall very much. They create a nice, repetitive pattern down a hallway.” He advises putting the lighting on a dimmer control where one can use a lower light level to create ambiance, and placing fixtures every eight feet for balanced illumination.

“Customers have discovered how useful and beautiful wall sconces can be in almost any room,” says Raymond Christensen, an ALA-certified Lighting Specialist, designer, and owner of Ray Lighting + Design Studios LLC in Hartford, Conn. Another unique quality is their ability to expand the look of a space. “Instead of dark corners, which occur when you only have a center light, sconces can illuminate those areas,” Christensen explains.

“I also find that many of my customers do not like a lot of recessed lighting. They want softer lighting that can create a mood — and sconces are much more effective at that than recessed, even if they are dimmed,” Christensen says.

Recessed fixtures send light in only one direction, generating strong shadows. Sconces send illumination in many directions, using the wall as a reflector to project light into the room and create warm shadows.

At Vermont-based lighting manufacturer Hubbardton Forge, “We try to create something that looks as good off as when it is lit,” notes George Chandler, chief executive officer and chief designer. The result is functional artwork. “You can create a point of interest with a decorative sconce; it can fill a wall.” He recalls one homeowner who installed three sconces in a row, vertically, alongside a tall foyer staircase. These sconces served as sculptural accents for the blank surface.

Sconces are also ideal in media rooms, bedrooms, dining rooms, living rooms and bathrooms. “Even though sconces have always been the best choice (for master baths), I am amazed by the number of customers and even professionals — such as electricians and architects — who want to use only one or two recessed lights over the sink,” Christensen says. Instead of the harsh shadows generated from recessed fixtures, a sconce on either side of the mirror provides direct light on the face, making grooming tasks easier.

What’s the best bulb type for a sconce? The answer depends on how you’ll be using the fixture. Rey-Barreau points out that only incandescent can be easily and reliably dimmed. If the sconce will be in an area where changing the bulb is difficult, it’s best to opt for fluorescent.
visit to www.helenahomegallery.com for more information

Thursday, June 4, 2009

Home Tips : How To Give Your Home a Makeover


8 Easy SteHow To Give Your Home a Makeover

You don't have to be an expert to spruce up your place. But let's face it, giving your home a makeover doesn't come cheap. So we'll show you tips and tricks that'll set you in motion.

You'll be surprised how small changes can add flavor to your lifestyle.
All it takes is creative thinking — about the colors, placement, and the mood you want to set. We hope these 8 simple steps will inspire you to take the plunge. You'll be delighted with the results when you're done.

Let's get started.
1. Simplicity is Bliss
Less means more in terms of style and overall look. Clutter-free spaces make your house appear larger in size. So the first step of any makeover should be to tidy up.

Just like tiny ants, we must store our goods during the winter. But when summer arrives, your home gets cluttered with heavy blankets and clothing. Put them away in storage.

2. Add Flavor To Walls
Painting is economical and easy to do, so why not experiment? The trick is to get out of your comfort zone. While picking a color, pick one that is a shade bolder than what you felt is "safe".
Color, shelves, and art.
One elegant style is to paint three sides of a room white and the fourth a royal red color. Put up black shelves on the red wall for your artwork. Contrast is what you're looking for here.

3. Get an Area Rug
Area rugs do two jobs — they make your room cozier and add a touch of sophistication. We suggest you only buy the best rug you can afford. Save up until you can.

Area rugs make from wool and silk are best in terms of quality. Jute, grass and sisal rugs cost less, but are tough to clean. If you spill something on them, that rug is lost.

Your rug should fit with the placement of your furniture. In your living room for example, the area rug should cover the "conversation area" — that includes the coffee table and sofa set.

4. Cover Your Furniture
Slipcovers give any room a fresh new makeover. Not only do they conceal old upholstery, but changing the entire color palette of the room becomes a snap. Plus they're inexpensive.

Dark colored furniture creates a warm, cozy feeling in the winter but might be a bit too much for summer. Simply toss a white slipcover to create a cool atmosphere for those humid days.

The trick with slipcovers is to use them to match furniture pieces — both in color and style. Change the hues in your room to transform the mood. Turn an old couch into a beautiful new sofa. The possibilities are endless.

5. Lighting is Everything
Lighting is the most important aspect of a home makeover — and the most ignored. If you've given your home a complete makeover and it still doesn't feel right, the problem is probably lighting.

The right mix of lights can bring a room to life. There are three basic steps to achieve the perfect lighting...

1. Functional lights — recessed and track lights fall in this category.

2. Task lights — table and floor lamps are best.

3. Accent lights — spotlight your artwork and sculptures in the room. Halogen bulbs give the best effect, but incandescent bulbs will save more energy.

Hot tip: Pay attention to your kitchen since it's the gathering spot in most homes. Recessed lights are most functional here. Spotlights under and above cabinets give an elegant effect and sets a soft mood.

6. Get Indoor Plants
Not only do plants add grace to your look, but research shows they also improve your health. Plants work hard to clean your air of toxins and reduce stress.

Plants are great in the office too. Studies have shown people to be a lot more productive when plants are added to their surroundings.
Experts recommend you have at least 8 plants in your home.

7. Window Treatments & Blinds
Window treatments can radically change the mood of your room. That's why you have to think creatively when settling on a style. The treatment should match the overall look of the room.

Either accent your color palette or be consistent with it.

A formal floor length window treatment emits sophistication. The style is often layered with a sheer underneath, and refined with a top treatment.


Hang your drapes higher and wider than the window. You'll create the impression of a larger window. Your room will also appear more majestic.

8. Change Your Hardware
An inexpensive way to give a room a makeover. New cabinet and door knobs make a radical difference in the look of your home. Even changing curtain rods can add personality to a room.

If you rent your place, you can take your new hardware when you move (just be sure to screw back the old ones :)

Hot tip: Add pizzazz to your entrance — a shimmering new doorknob and a new knocker does wonders. Finish off with a fresh coat of paint.

article source : http://www.boostle.com/

Home Lighting Photo Ideas





Most of us don't put a lot of thought into our home lighting. We flick the switch and it comes on, flick it again it's off. Not rocket science.It can be better home security, or it can help to set the mood for romance or even providing the perfect amount of light to read by. Lighting can create the desired ambiance for any occasion.Elegant looking keypads or touch screens make it easy, and take away all the wall clutter of traditional banks of light swiches.

Tuesday, June 2, 2009

Dar color a la cocina

Si estás pensando en darle un nuevo look a tu cocina, aquí tienes algunas opciones para dar un efecto único a tus armarios con tu color favorito.

Amarillo

El color amarillo en una cocina da calidez. Es un color perfecto para iluminar cualquier habitación que podría ser oscura. Una ventaja añadida: el amarillo combina bien con muchos otros colores y tonos de madera.

armario de cocina

Azul

Armarios de color azul son una elección inusual, pero el efecto es puro encanto para quien le guste ese color. Coloridos azulejos de color azul inspirado en el de los gabinetes, así como el amarillo en las paredes es una buena manera de construir un esquema de colores.

Azul

Azul grisáceo

Los armarios en tono azul grisáceo tienen un efecto suavizante en una cocina. Los techos y las paredes dan más luz, mientras que el suelo de madera aporta calidez al ambiente.

azul grisaceo

Amarillo - miel

Los gabinetes de color amarillo parecen ir con todo. Trata de combinarlos con el crema y el rojo, o verde y negro, o azul y blanco. Los antiguos armarios tendrán un resultado sorprendente.

armario de cocina

Verde

En este caso, los armarios de color verde-amarillo se enfrentan a una gran carga de blanco (paredes y accesorios), así como al acero inoxidable, presente en los electrodomésticos y encimera, creando de esta manera un efecto único.

armarios de cocina

Verde oscuro

El color verde oscuro combina bien con la madera de tono miel y el blanco. Esta combinación tiene efecto relajante y es apropiada para una cocina de casa de campo.

armario de cocina

Verde suave

Una casa de planta abierta necesita mezclar estilos y colores de varias áreas para crear un conjunto completo. Estos gabinetes de color verde pálido trabajan bien con el mobiliario en la habitación adyacente y crea un look armonioso.

armario de cocina

Rojo vibrante

El rojo y el oro crean un efecto muy llamativo en esta colorida cocina. A pesar de que el rojo es una elección dramática, ofrece calidez y emoción.

armario de cocina

Estos armarios color rojo han sido rebajados de intensidad por la presencia de paredes blancas y encimera de color negro. Una isla de madera y complementos de madera natural también desvían la atención del rojo.

armarios de oolor