Examples: More on Accent Walls
On our last blog talked about why we like accent walls. We wanted to follow up with a few more inspiring examples of creative ways to think outside the designers' box. Colour, texture, paneling, wallpapers, and large murals are all great ways to create an accent wall and focal point in your rooms. [caption id="" align="alignnone" width="911"] Although two dimensional, the yellow articulates an office area in this living room. Almost tongue in cheek, a fun way to create an office....
What’s Wrong With This Room? An Analysis
Welcome to another episode of ‘What’s Wrong with This Room?’. When we look through magazines or online we see images that draw us in, and some that don’t seem quite right. Have a good look at this room from an apartment in the West Village, New York that we found in the New York Times magazine. How does it make you feel?
Design Lesson: Yes or No to Accent Walls?
Design Lesson: Accent Walls
There is a lot of resistance of late to accent or highlight walls. While they seem to be out of favour these days, I personally think they are the one of the best ways to transform a room with minimal effort, but with one proviso; they must be done properly. Accent walls can give rooms personality, they can ground a room, they can highlight artwork, and define space while creating dynamism and drama.
Women and the Making of the Modern House: The Schroder House
The second innovative modern house project, involving female clients and well-known architects, is the Schroder House, in Utrecht, Netherlands. The house was designed by Gerrit Rietveld for Truus Schroder in 1923-1924.This house is of particular interest to me because as an architecture student I made the pilgrimage to The Netherlands specifically to see it. I was studying in London when I made the trip to see this fine example of the De Stijl (aka Neoplasticisim) movement and icon of modern...
SUMMER FRESH IN A JAR: DIY BUG REPELLENT LUMINARIES
Summer Fresh In A Jar: DIY Bug Repellent LuminariesSummer time is bug time. Instead of using citronella oil, this all natural recipe, from A Little Claireification, uses fresh rosemary and citrus in a mason jar with essential oils. No chemicals in these luminaries! Thanks Claire for this recipe!We love that these can help to ward off the bugs and they are just so beautiful as well!So here is what you need to do to make these gorgeous, beautiful smelling designer table luminaries.Supplies you will need:3 or 4 Mason Jars (you...
Women and the Making of the Modern House
Today's blog, introduces the idea that women played a big role in the origins of the modern house. We will explore a few modern houses and look at why were the clients, independent females, such powerful catalysts for innovation in the modern house?Women and the Making of the Modern House, written by Alice T. Friedman, is a thoughtful book that explores two seemingly unrelated topics: gender roles, and architecture.Specifically, the book discusses 6 innovative projects, involving female clients and well-known architects. ...
Architectural Open House Tour in the Silver Lake Hills
The design highlight of our recent trip to Los Angeles was a self-discovery architectural tour of Silver Lake. I had no idea Silver Lake was such a hot bed of architectural activity. So many of the houses, mid century modern in style, were designed by very well known architects, including Rudolf Schindler, Richard Neutra, John Lautner, and Frank Lloyd Wright to name a few.The icing on the cake was a stop at an open house perched in the hills overlooking...
Tina’s Guide to Winter Travel: 3 Weeks in the EU
This wasn't our first EU trip and certainly won't be our last-- but after years of travelling you think you would have it all down to a science...
Our Designer ‘Eat Pray Love’ Moment
Our Designer 'Eat Pray Love' Moment [caption id="attachment_6592" align="alignleft" width="865"] Meet April Tidey[/caption]Every once in a while you meet someone who shakes up your preconceptions and makes you see possibilities you had not even considered. So was my meeting with Vancouver Interior Designer, April Tidey. I have never met anyone like her before, and feel so grateful for the introduction by our friend Heather Ross.Brooke and I, along with Heather Ross of Natural Eclectic, went on a reconnaissance trip to Los...