Pacific Heights Penthouse Studio

 

San Francisco-primarily based studio De Meza Architecture completed the Pacific Heights Penthouse venture in collaboration with interior designer Jenn Kesteloot.

The architects completely remodeled the interior decor of this huge 2,500 square foot top floor (penthouse) apartment unit found in a 1925 built development in Pacific Heights, which is an affluent community in San Francisco, California.

Pacific Heights Penthouse by De Meza Architecture as quoted:

“A total interior remodel of a prime floor unit in a stately Pacific Heights building originally constructed back in 1925.

The remodel integrated the building of a new elevated roof deck with a customized spiral staircase and “penthouse” connecting the unit to the outdoor room.

The unit has 2 bedrooms, a den, 2 baths, a powder room, an updated residing and dining spot and a new open kitchen.

The style highlights the dramatic views to the San Francisco Bay and the Golden Gate Bridge to the north, the views west to the Pacific Ocean and the City to the south.

Finishes include custom stained wood paneling and doors during, engineered mahogany flooring with matching mahogany spiral stair treads.

The roof deck is completed with a lava stone and ipe deck and paneling, with frameless glass guardrails, a sizzling gasoline fire pit, irrigated plant containers, and  even an artificial turf puppy park.  Oh, and don’t forget the solar heated cedar hot tub for lots of fun in the sun!”

Bunk bed built for kids in attic of home!

Kids enjoy having unique areas to play in or even a small area to call “home”.  A modified bunk bed custom-built in the attic/loft of this contemporary home would be the envy of any child, while still serving a functional secondary purpose via storage space for books, games, and other items.

In lieu of a bottom bed of the bunk, a play area instead occupies this space and gives the child offers plenty of open space for creative fun.

The bunk bed’s ladder splits the open space into two separate areas. One side is meant for fun while the other is meant for doing homework and keeping up with his or her studies.

Even myself, as an adult, find myself envious of this uniquely built attic bunk bed. I imagine children would have a blast sleeping, playing, and studying in this attic or loft  creation!

Floating bathtub is also a hammock; A great way to relax!

A bathtub that is actually a hammock? This sounds far-fetched, yet very relaxing if it were to actually exist. Great news! It does exist! “Vessel” is a bath that is developed from strong, yet lightweight carbon fiber and hangs like a hammock. It was developed by Splinter Functions. Later in this article, we tell you what the co-founder of Splinter Functions had to say about this unique and fun mix of hammock and bath.

base into a drain on the tiled fl 

Made for use in a room that has tiled floor with a drain that has no trouble with things getting moist, Vessel is actually suspended from the walls and does not touch the floor, just like a hammock. It attaches to the walls with stainless steel brackets that can be covered or just left exposed, depending on your decor or design style. The bath is filled with water and uses a standing floor tap. The water after bathing is released via the


oor. A down-pipe drain can also be installed, if necessary, if a wet space setting is not possible or available.
The co-founder of the Vessel’s parent company had this to say about their product: “Struck by the synergistic qualities amongst the shapes of 2 quite compelling items that have come known to symbolize rest, (a bathtub and a hammock) we were inspired to create a piece that would offer the best of both worlds that allow for pure and total bliss.”
Peaceful fun of meditating or relaxing in a hammock has been enhanced by combining it with the immense comfort of soaking in warm bathwater. Elevating the experience of bathing into a sculpture suspended above the bathroom floor has been reinvented as a contemplative sanctuary for artful relaxation, while still maintaining its secondary function as being a bathtub.
Vessel, designed from carbon fiber (utilized for its inherent power and capacity to be formed into complicated curves as well as being very lig


htweight), mimics the weave of the cloth/rope of a common hammock. Below multiple layers of carbon fiber lies a foam based core layer, which is there as insulation for the tub. This means the bath stays at just the right warmth you prefer for a substantially longer period than your old style, run-of-the-mill bathtub!
At eight foot and ten inches in length when fully extended, Vessel is not just a typical bathtub, but much more. There is an abundance of space to share the experience of this fun bath with a significant other, if you so choose. Custom built sizes are also available through the manufacturer, but it is also developed so that it you can trim up to almost a foot of length from the hammock bathtub Vessel, allowing for the most flexible set up arrangements that are possible. Pictured on this page is the Vessel hammock tub in black, but it also offered in red, blue, yellow, pink, bronze and pure silver, just to name a few of the many color options.
Here are a few more pictures below:

Relaxing Window Sill Cushioned Seats

Windows are typically thought of as just something that a house has, that goes unnoticed in our everyday lives. However, with a little bit of creativity, you can turn your window sill into a fashionable yet functional piece of furniture via some simple interior decorating!

By constructing a boxed in area (that will serve as the frame) beneath a window sill that has enough space, you can then add molding and paint it to match the color of your decor. Next, you can buy a cushion that fits the top of this frame, or if you are even more creative, you can create the cushion yourself!

Not only can you turn the window sill area into a comfortable sofa-type seat, you can even add additional utility by having a storage space underneath it, or even use it as a toy chest for children!

Here are some photo examples of custom window sill cushioned seats that our readers have submitted to us to give you inspiration:

Cloth Pyramid-Style Book-ends

We have an insatiable appreciation for fabric. A highly-designed textile is a bit of art that can bring a great deal depth and mood with a room. Sometimes I feel as though there just arent enough uses of fabrics in any given room. Combine by purchasing my husbands (cliche, I would argue) disdain for accent pillows, plus it signifies that Im always looking for creative and non-traditional solutions to put fabric to make use of during my home. Todays project has a great balance. A little fabric, some beginner-level sewing, along with a kitchen staple make for a couple of book-ends which are both unique and sculptural.
Continue through below for that full how-to after the jump!


MATERIALS:
-two 13&Prime x 9&Prime cuts of fabric (We used Anne Kelles Remix Triangles in Black by Robert Kaufman)
-rice or beans
-pillow stuffing
-thread
TOOLS:
-machine
Directions:
1. With right sides facing, fold the rectangle in two lengthwise to align the 2 9&Prime edges, and stitch them together.

2. Turn the material tube right-side out.

3. Fold the edges of one of the openings within 1/2&Prime, and stitch shut.

4. Fill the material pouch about 1/three of the way full with rice or beans or perhaps something to weigh it down. Fill the remaining with pillow stuffing.

5. Fold the sides of the remaining opening inside 1/2&Prime shut, pin in position, and stitch shut, such that the seam is perpendicular to the previous one.


Finished product:


source link: http://www.interiordecoratingarticle.com/cloth-pyramid-style-book-ends/

Exotic Tropical Island Home – Paradise Beneath the Palm Trees

This exotic, yet contemporary home is located on an  in island an exclusive locale near the Philippines. This home was specifically developed by Mrs. Faria who worked in collaboration with others. The home breathes openness and a sense of freedom and heightens the sense of pure serenity.

Originally envisioned as a resort where couples could spend their honey-moons for a hefty fee, the owner of the island property loved it so much that he made it his own home to live in permanently. It features an amazing pool and scenery. Living beneath the palm trees is a luxury that many of us can only dream of.

The only way for the owner of this home to go to and from his residence is by boat or via helicopter and there is a personal helipad on the residence, hidden just behind the pool area and disguised amongst the palm trees and fauna. One would never even assume that this was a helicopter landing area unless you were told.

As we examine the indoor , you can see how the  matches the general  scheme and even the coloring of the wooden tables matches the general “feel” of the jungle-type environment that the home’s  is similar to.

Home Interior

An interior is all about improving the indoor and outdoor surroundings of a living or workplace to make their lives better. Decorating your home interiors not only gives you an aesthetic feel however amends the whole atmosphere of the home. Interior ways influences the experience of our daily life. It maintains to create pragmatic and beautiful environments ameliorating the lives of people at home and work.

Interiors combine the basic fundamentals in which people lives and interact. It makes use of every corner in a living place so as to maximize its usage. Making interiors is not a tedious task, unless you work with your brains. Every bit space of a room is been targeted to pared down with a proper way of designing.

You can either hire a professional or do it on your own; this work needs a sensible way of thinking which could result in aesthetic look. With the summation to the basic fundamentals of the good design, consideration is given to the complexities of today’s modern society including safety, health, and performance and achieving barrier-free comfort environment.

While adding some colors to your interiors, it is mandatory to keep your eyes and ear open so as to get the maximum out of whatever you put around in your house. There are many simple ways to add a glimpse and spark in your rooms. Few things have to be kept in mind in order to get personal touch.

Observe the surroundings

To get personal feel at your home, try to discover ideas from nature. Nature give rise to endless things, thus we can take number of ideas from natural resources. The soothing colors suiting to your rooms and accessories embellished in your room should manifest a style of your own. Sometimes simpler versions may give a lot of joy and satisfaction of personal feel.

Headhunt for your own tone

There are people who are fanatics for designs and in finding their own style in different books, magazines and even on TV and hoardings etc. so you should take advantage of each and every aspect of life which is as colorful and wonderful as the nature. You can find various inspirations from TV serials, magazines and interior books to design and create your own personal mode.

Tint your world

Choose your own way of coloring. Colors can exhilarate your mood and senses, so pick those colors which go with your personality. They bring vitality and interest at your place instantly.

You can try all your favorite colors, do not hesitate choosing odd colors only if you like. No matter what others say, you must think for you own self. Discovering and following ideas is a matter of fact and a good way of experimenting. Your draperies and other fabric should always go with the color of your wall this point must be taken care of.

Furnish your interior by furniture

Furniture should be ascetic and stylistic which should express your own style. A comfy sofa is one which gives you ultimate sound rest. Any kind of furniture whether it is sofa set, bed or table it must suggest your way of living and style statement. Furniture should be comfortable enough to attract your colleagues and guest whosoever sits on it.

Some more do’s to improve your home interiors are: 

 

• Try out your own plan for flooring. Flooring of home takes a lot of time, but you need to be determined so as to take this tedious task. Before you shop take a proper dimension of your floor, room, walls and windows etc.
• Do inspection of other areas such as fireplace and bed which are focal point of your rooms.
• Design your room with unique antique piece which could be central to the location and highlight your place.
• Coordinate your draperies and fabric such as bed sheet and pillow covers etc with room wall color and art.
• Repetition is good for wall color, as every room should not be color in different shade. Some repetition should be there in all the things like fabric and color patterns. 

Source Link: http://www.sereneinteriors.com/home-interior.html

Find Out How to Organize as You Decorate

Organize While You Decorate

 View the rooms in your home from the point of view of a guest. For example, look at the room that one sees first when entering the home. How do you feel when you look at the room? If you feel overwhelmed with the amount of items in the room, then chances are your guests feel the same. When displaying items in a collection give thought to the arrangement and placement of the items. You can either choose to rotate pieces of a collection between storage and display or you can create one area to choose as a showcase for the collection. The goal here is to prevent the room from looking like a store. When displaying books in a room do so decoratively. A small stack of books can be laid down on a shelf and a picture frame placed on top. In addition, consider that the books that you display will represent your interests. You might not want to share all of those interests with guests. Keep books that you have read if they have great sentimental value, will be passed along to a child or will be used for reference. All other books should be passed on to others. I suggest keeping the current issue and one back issue of a magazine. If you need a magazine for reference, file either the entire magazine or just the article that you need. The rule of thumb is that if you can find catalog or magazine information online, do it. It's a great way to reduce the amount of paper laying around the house or taking up space in files. When filing items put the most recent papers upfront. That way when you clean out the files, you will know that the most dated information is toward the back. You may even want to scan papers onto your computer and then save them to a CD. Children's toys are quite an issue. Work to corral the toys and keep them in an easily accessible container with like items together and within easy reach. It is very worthwhile to occasionally review the toys and donate those that are not being played with regularly. Go ahead and discard toys with broken or missing pieces. When a room needs to serve a dual purpose — work and entertaining, for instance — think of how you can make the room accommodate both activities. Find decorative storage solutions so that you can quickly store work materials with a minimal amount of disruption. Keep in mind seating comfort and arrangement so that the space is inviting to you and your quests. Lastly, consider the room's lighting. You will probably need good task lighting for work and good ambient lighting for entertaining. Dimmers can control the overall room lighting, or you can use individual lamps. Painting a room is a quick and inexpensive way to bring life to a room. Buy a quart of the paint that you want to use in the room and paint a small area to see if the paint sample is true to what you will have on the wall. When choosing paint keep in mind the activities that will occur in the room. High-traffic areas need paint that can easily be wiped to remove fingers prints, scuffmarks and crayons.

The 3 Principles of Interior Design

1.Account for function

2. Mood and 

3.Personality in any decorating project with these pointers.

 

A beautifully decorated interior not only functions well but it creates a mood or a feeling and shows off the personality of the family that lives there. It's attention to these three important ingredients — function, mood and personality — that ensures decorating success.

Before painting and rearranging, spend some time thinking about your family and how you live. Look through magazines for inspiration and pull out ideas or rooms that appeal to you. Gather things from around the house that make you feel good and study them carefully for color cues and perhaps a clue to the mood you're looking for in your home. This is the beginning of a well-planned and decorated living area.

As for the rest, let's start with function.

Function

Decorating is more than just eye appeal — it's making a room really work for you. Here's how to do it, element by element:

1. The focal point: Sometimes rooms have natural focal points (places the eyes travel to immediately upon entering a room) — a fireplace, a bay window with a view, maybe even a built-in bookcase. If the room doesn't have a natural focal point, create one with a dynamic piece of art or a colorful area rug. 

 2. The furniture: Determine whether the furniture satisfies the functions you've planned for the room. If a piece isn't working or if it's too large or too small for the size of the room, get rid of it or trade it for something else around the house that may be more appropriate. 

3. The lighting: Lighting should be selected for the functions of the room as well as for visual appeal. Every task will require either direct lighting from a lamp or indirect lights that simply brighten the room for conversation or TV-watching. Accent lighting — floor spots, track lighting or recessed spotlights — enhance texture, color and room details.  

4. The furniture arrangement: Draw your room on graph paper. Measure and mark electrical outlets and switches, vents, windows and doors. Measure your furniture and place it in your floor plan. Generally, the main furniture pieces are directed toward the focal point, keeping the major traffic patterns open. Fill in with pieces you'd like to have that may or may not be available now. Be sure to balance high and low pieces as well as heavy and light ones around the room.

  

Mood

The mood or feeling of a room is created by your choice of colors, the style of furnishings, the amount of texture and pattern you choose and your accessories. Since there's so much to think about when creating a mood, establishing a theme through the selection of an inspiration piece can make this portion of a decorating project much more fun and interesting. Here are the factors you need to address when setting a mood:

1. The inspiration piece: The easiest way by far to decorate is to start with some source of inspiration. A decorative pillow, a favorite scarf and even a magazine photo are good places to begin. Select your inspiration piece wisely, and be sure it makes you feel good when you look at it. It's the basis for selecting your theme, colors, patterns and textures. 

2. Theme: Analyze your inspiration piece and develop a theme name for it. For instance, a needlepoint pillow with a botanical design on a black background may inspire a title like "formal botanical garden." Be descriptive with your theme name and all sorts of supporting ideas will come to mind. Botanical prints, striped walls, greens and floral colors, formal fabrics and furniture, dark woods and black accents all fit this particular theme. 

3. Color cues: Color should always support the theme. Many times, the colors that are most appropriate are found in the patterns and design of your inspiration piece. Generally, it's best to choose three colors in a room: a dominant color, used for walls, carpeting and fabric backgrounds; a secondary color, found throughout the room in fabrics and accessories; and an accent color, used sparingly to give energy and excitement to the room. 

4. Patterns: Stripes, checks, florals and plaids are just a few of the patterns to consider as you continue supporting your theme. It's all right to mix patterns as long as you do three things:

1. Keep the background color the same.
2. Make sure all patterns share the same colors.
3. Vary the scale or sizes of the patterns. 

5. Texture: Too many smooth, shiny objects or too much nubby, rustic texture becomes tiresome. Use variety to keep the room interesting. Even a pattern can be used as texture. Many prints look dimensional and therefore add depth to a decorating scheme. 

6.Furniture: Aside from being functional, your furniture plays an important role in supporting your theme. Some pieces may function well but their style or color may stick out like a sore thumb. Try to salvage it with slipcovers, tablecloths or paint. If it's a lost cause, remove it from the room.  

                                                

Personality

Here's your chance to put your personal stamp on a well-planned room. Here are some strategies:

1. Accessorizing: Pictures, vases, pillows and area rugs are all integral parts of a great decorating plan. Generally, they should support your theme, but allow more flexibility here; an antique picture frame could add wonderful variety to a contemporary room. Accessories are located on walls, mantels, furniture, tabletops and floors; they can be paintings and photos or pillows. 

2.Whimsy: This is optional in your decorating scheme, but it can counteract any sterile quality that may have been created by strictly following all the guidelines. A beautiful country sitting room may get some relief from a playful quilt placed over the fireplace. 

3. The unexpected: Interest doesn't have to be whimsical; it can simply be something unexpected in a room, like a brightly-painted ceiling. 

 source link: http://www.hgtv.com/design/decorating/design-101/the-3-principles-of-interior-design