The first thing I do as a designer when I start working with a new client is help them decide on a furniture arrangement or “space plan.” It informs the rest of the project and provides a clear plan in terms of what the flow of the room will be, how many pieces of furniture, and what size. There are two basic approaches to space planning your room; you can lean toward a more symmetrical furniture arrangement or an asymmetrical one.
There are basic staples that you need in every space to make it feel collected and not like you bought everything in a ten-piece living room group for $1299 at your local Furniture R Us. My list includes something wood, something painted, something metallic, something fabric. But lately on my Pincapades I have noticed another something. Something industrial.
Finding cool industrial furniture goes beyond spending loads of money. One of my favorite secrets for finding industrial pieces is to watch the yard sale classifieds for “Man Sales” advertised for tools and shop stuff. They will look at you like you have six heads when you tell them you are putting their huge greasy metal shelf in your daughter’s room but just roll with it. (psst. That is exactly what I did in Dylan’s room.)
Sofa shopping can be a painful experience. I know this firsthand. Finding a couch with the right combination of comfort, price, size, style, fabric selection, and durability isn’t easy. Since moving back to America a few months ago, we’ve been searching for just the right look for our new place. Our last apartment in Copenhagen, which was very small, didn’t provide us many options. We needed something that could be taken apart and transported through the nooks and crannies of our old home. This time around, with a larger home, we have had a more difficult time finding a sofa and complimentary loveseat to fill the space.
The history of interior design teaches us that furniture styles were not generally mixed together as a cohesive design. Take the Victorian era. In a Victorian room, Victorian furniture was used along with Victorian curtains, Victorian accessories, you get the idea. It’s not until relatively recently, I’d say even the last 15 years, that the “eclectic style”, the formal meaning of the word as not sticking to one designated style, has come to be common. Desireable even. That said, I think it’s pretty tricky to create a room with furniture of various styles and eras effectively. Oftentimes, it can come out looking like a hodge podge of garage sale finds. When it’s done right, it can be super beautiful. There are three ways to make it work.
When it comes to injecting personal style into your home, I tend to favor choosing items that reflect who you are and how you look at life. For projecting a sense of relaxed confidence, there’s nothing better than adding mid-century modern pieces into your existing mix. Here are a few ideas on how to do just that.
I don’t know what is in the blogland water the last few weeks but it seems like everywhere I turn people are speculating about The New Chevron. What pattern is going to be next to take over every room in our house, every tape dispenser in the country, and every maxi skirt walking down the street?
When man set his sights on the final frontier during the mid-twentieth century, home décor soon followed suit. The launch of Sputnik in 1957 further fueled our fascination with all things celestial, which manifested itself in design from textiles to furniture and accessories. Two lighting styles from that era, the sputnik and starburst, are among my favorites. They work in many settings, adding a whimsical, and at times glamorous, touch.
Though dogs probably do not care where they rest, their owners most likely do and it’s most likely in their own space. So why not make it attractive, right? Admittedly, I’ve never owned a dog. So, while I can’t speak from personal experience, I can speak (write) from my experience visiting friends with dogs. I can’t help but notice how the design of a doggy space often seems like an after thought. I find that the most attractive spaces for both humans and dogs merges their two aesthetics into one. Here are a few tips for designing for dog spaces.
Even though it’s been done many times before, today we’re creating a new spin on the whole “outfit as a room” concept. I have always thought that fashion and interiors were very closely related. I’m never surprised when I hear of an interior designer making their way into the fashion world or vice versa and I believe that’s because there are principles that apply when putting a successful fashion ensemble together just as there are to putting a successful room together. So today I want to generalize the “outfit to room” concept and take it down to the basics.
Take one look at the rustic-chic creations by DB Woodworks’ founder Daniel Germani, and there is no question as to why he is the ideal contributor to join the Interior Collective’s Ask an Expert panel. The Phoenix-based phenom has truly embraced Caesarstone in an exceptional way, which is why we’re elated to introduce Daniel as our latest expert.
An industry veteran, the Buenos Aries-born talent received a Masters in Architecture in Argentina, and then circled the globe traveling, learning and designing before co-founding DB Woodworks in Arizona in 2006. Daniel’s distinct approach to woodworking has made him a key player in the craft, and we have no doubt that his extensive knowledge, experience and impeccable taste will resonate with this robust community.
