In the 40s, society was recovering from the Great Depression and the second World War, and fashion and style came back with a bang. People finally had enough money to renovate and go shopping and they all wanted a taste of the American dream. Here in 2011, what better way to celebrate surviving our country's most recent recession than by renovating with a 1940s theme in mind!
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A gliste...
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You can capture the beauty of Aix-en-Provence in a single room, feel connected to nature and civility all at once, and sense the nostalgia for the past that still lingers in France. But how can you really know where to begin when remodeling a kitchen to be French Country? I will aim to answer the question with pictures and examples, what is the essence of French Country?
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There are two kinds of people in this world: people who wash, and people who bathe. If you're the latter, you probably know what I mean. Whether you're taking a hot shower or a luxurious bubble bath, it isn't just about getting in, getting out, and getting clean. For bathers, the journey (the long soak, the relaxation) trumps the destination (merely getting clean). Now, as a huge fan and advocate of opulent bathrooms and home spas, I'm absolutely in love with the growing popularity of freestanding tubs - especially the trend of putting them in the middle of the room instead of sticking them against a wall.
Advantages of Freestanding Tubs
Small spaces are sometimes the hardest to design. The smaller your room, the more thought required to deal with all the little necessities - like finding the right balance of storage, floor space, and style. But in a powder room, all that goes out the window. Since you don't need a place to store your toothbrush or curling iron, a powder room is the perfect place for that beautiful-but-impractical vanity. No cabinets? No drawers? No problem! Designer powder room vanities are an ideal way to really showcase your smaller space, and give your guests a little wow factor, no matter what size your bathroom.
I'm a strong believer that lighting should always always do double duty in your home. Light is a necessity, but filling your home with no-nonsense, forgettable task lighting is doing your dec0r a real disservice. While some generic, bargain bin table lamps or floor lamps, for example, might blend in to the background, that's exactly the problem. A good table lamp isn't one that falls short of being an eyesore, it's one that enhances the look and feel of your room, and can even act as a focal point or signature piece ...
Sleek, modern kitchens are the big "it" thing right now - stainless steel appliances, granite or concrete counters, and modular MDF cabinetry. But if you like something a little homier, or if you live in an older home where a modern decor just wouldn't jive, it might be time for you to consider investing in vintage kitchen appliances. Done right, a retro kitchen is warm, inviting, and looks and feels just like old fashioned home cooking. The Classic Collection from Heartland Appliance offers a whole range of vintage kitchen appliances designed to do exactly that: to take you back to home cooked meals and Sunday dinner with the family.
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It's hard to find good TV trays. Many are made of cheap plastic, cheap metal, or a generic-finished wood, which makes it difficult to find one that looks like real furniture. Especially if you have a sophisticated modern decor, even an otherwise nice light oak folding table looks out of place. But never fear - your search isn't in vain. These seven TV trays are both attractive and functional, and will work great with a modern decor.
Keep It Classic
whirlpool tub, a custom shower, heated floors, steam bath, and sauna - not to mention a new bathroom vanity and tiling - can quickly get pretty expensive. But just because you're on a budget doesn't mean you can't add a luxury touch to your bathroom. One of my favorite lit...
If there's one thing that European furniture designers do incredibly well, it's designing pieces that are small in size but big on style, and Iotti is no exception. An Italian company that specializes in designer bathroom vanities, Iotti has a whole collection of sophisticated modern bathroom furnishings ideally suited for a smaller, urban space. From stylish designs that open up a small bathroom floorplan to whole collections of flexible storage options, Iotti offers a variety of small bathroom solutions that allow you to have a...
When new water conservation laws went into effect in the US in the early 90s, manufacturers had to rush to comply, dramatically slashing the amount of water toilets used per flush, often by more than half. Now, at the time, and for a good while after, most people weren't exactly eager to jump on the low-flow bandwagon for the simple reason that these new low flow toilets just didn't work. The technology hadn't had time to catch up with the new regulations, and people often ended up using more water, having to flush multiple times to get the job done. Unfortunately, that stigma has stuck, despite the fact that jacuzzi tub or that steam bath and so on. But unless you have some personal experience on the subject, some of the practical decisions can be harder to make. Take a clawfoot freestanding tubs. But historically accurate bathroom design can be a lot trickier. You need to think about color schemes and specific furniture types, materials, and even the historical context. So if you're thinking about designing an Edwardian bathroom, here are a few historical details you should know before you start!
First, A History Lesson
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I have a pretty eclectic design taste, but when it comes to a modern design, I strongly prefer styles that are more elegant than angular, eschewing geometric, utilitarian designs in favor of more artistic minimal lines. You can only imagine how happy I am to discover that one of the most famous modern bathroom designers in Europe has finally started to become available in the US. Laufen is a Swiss-bas...
In the last two hundred years, the concept of the indoor bathroom has evolved from not existing at all, to being one of the most popular places in the home to do a luxury remodel. With that in mind, many homeowners are looking back to the opulence of the past to help create a relaxing, decadent getaway. The Victorian Era is one that most people think fondly of, and the one that people most often turn to for design inspiration. After all, the Victorian Era lasted the better part of a hundred years, from the beginning of Queen Victoria's reign in 1837 to her death in 1901. But what, exactly, goes into making an authentic Victorian bathroom design?
First, A History Lesson
The Victorian era marked a period of great prosperity for the middle class. Their new-found wealth, largely fa...
In the last two hundred years, the concept of the indoor bathroom has evolved from not existing at all to being one of the most popular places in the home to do a luxury remodel. These days, many homeowners are looking back to the opulence of the past to help create a relaxing, decadent getaway. The Victorian Era is one that most people think fondly of, and the one that people most often turn to for design inspiration. After all, the Victorian Era lasted the better part of a hundred years, from the beginning of Queen Victoria's reign in 1837 to her death in 1901. But what, exactly, goes into making an authentic Victorian bathroom design?
First, A History Lesson
[caption id="attachment_4359" align="aligncenter" width="493"]bathroom vanity takes hard work, time, searching, and a little bit of a natural eye. So if you aren't super confident in your own design skills, or if you just want to skip some of the heartache and hassle of trying to mix and match vanities, counter tops, sinks, and faucets from different companies, you might want to consider bathroom vanity combos, like those from Cole+Co's Bathroom In A Box Collection.
What Is Bathroom In A Box?
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If you're looking for a bold, colorful statement piece for your modern living space, you've come to the right place. I'm always on the lookout for unique, unusual new takes on modern furniture. Regular readers of the blog will know that some of my absolute favorite modern furniture picks are ones that riff on antique designs. PolArt, a specialty furniture designer from Mexico, offers modern furniture and accent pieces that are all this and more, with breathtaking takes on classical furnishings made with brightly colored polyresin, perfect for a statement piece that will really wow.
Turquoise is back in a big way this year, from jewelery and fashion to all areas of home design. In contrast to the majority of home decor, which is trending toward natural, earthy neutrals, turquoise is a bright, bold, color that, along with other shades of aqua or peacock blue, offer a little more spunk and personality. I love this trend in a vintage kitchen (those retro turquoise refrigerators are to die for), but I think where it really shines is in a turquoise bathroom design.
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A gliste...
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You can capture the beauty of Aix-en-Provence in a single room, feel connected to nature and civility all at once, and sense the nostalgia for the past that still lingers in France. But how can you really know where to begin when remodeling a kitchen to be French Country? I will aim to answer the question with pictures and examples, what is the essence of French Country?
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