Design
Interior design trend: multi-functional tables
Interior design trends are changing to accommodate a shift in the American lifestyle, favoring smaller spaces. Enter multi-functional tables to save the day!
Multi-functional tables: the perfect touch
Smaller, more well designed homes with space constraints are on the rise. Gone are the days of McMansions and 10,000 square foot homes. Couples with children who have flown the nest are looking for a more simplified and less cluttered lifestyle. We are coming into an age where our homes and the furniture that goes in these homes need to be convenient, compatible, and multi-functional.
Speaking of furniture, sometimes clients beat you to the punch and find the coolest furniture to use in their new and smaller home. Such was the the case when working on a new construction and furnishing project for a couple in the 78704 neighborhood of Austin, Texas. Before deciding to work with a designer, my clients had discovered the perfect dining room table for their new smaller home. We’ll get to that table in a second, but lets talk more about furniture.
Alongside the family room sectional, the second most important piece of furniture in a home are tables. It’s the piece where we kick up our feet, gather for family dinners, or finish our homework. But what if our tables did more than just coaster our evening glass of Pino? What if our tables performed the duty of storage, game time entertainment, or additional seating?
Now I bet you’re wondering what piece of furniture my clients found for their dining table. This is by far the coolest dining table I’ve ever seen. It is not ONLY a dining table but converts into a pool table. Hidden by its sleek design and contemporary lines, you would never know until you take its top off (see below).
The Fusion Dining Pool Table… ooooh, aaaah
Who says your books have to be vertical?
Can’t remember the components for water?
…here’s a big cheat sheet:
Go ahead and pretend you’re Mozart, I won’t tell:
For the NES fan boy/girls in all of us:
[pl_video type=”youtube” id=”2c3q9K4cHzY”]
And some more multi-functional tables for the road:
Design
Graphic patterns: hot interior design trend
Interior design impacts how you feel and function in any room, and graphic patterns is one of the keys to quality design be it in a home or an office.
Graphic patterns make any room pop
Graphic patters, big or small are here to stay. As far back as ancient Greece, graphic patterning can be found in art, textiles, and on walls. Were the Greeks natural born interior designers or did they just understand the impact a graphic pattern could add to the room?
Think about it – have you ever heard of the ‘Greek Key‘ pattern? Derived in Greece, this decorative border is still found in every day design. Personally, I love it accented on a pillow as a trim or crown molding in a traditional living room. In my line of work, I use patterns every day, but graphic patterns can really make a room pop!
Using graphic patterns in a space can be seen as an art. When applying these graphics to a space, I take into account the size of the pattern, the color of the pattern, and it’s placement in a room. Fortunately, graphic pattern can been seen and used in endless interior design applications from wallpapers to rugs to pillows and everything in between.
Graphic patterns in themselves can be anything from a chevrons, to trellis, to simplified floral design. A mix between large graphic patterns and small graphic patterns creates a space that is visually appealing. More often than not, you like ‘that’ ad in the latest furniture catalog sitting on your coffee table because it is visually layered, and the key to layering your space is in the use of graphic patterns.
One way to begin adding graphic patterns to any space is to focus on a color. Select your main color and begin building the room.
Examples of graphic patterns
Secret to quickly adding graphic patterns
Mixing and matching pillows on your sofa is a inexpensive way to add a bold punch to your room. It may seem like an intimidating process but after you see these examples be brave and have fun!
Design
10 creative outdoor lighting trends for fall: design trend spotting
Making the outdoors appealing as the temperatures drop is tricky, but with these 10 creative lighting ideas, you won’t be sitting in the cold in the dark!
Bundle up, it’s getting cold out there!
There’s something about soft outdoor lighting in the fall that makes you want to bundle up with a blanket and watch the colors turn. Now that it’s actually less than 100 degrees here in Texas – and normal temperatures everywhere else – the outdoors are actually tolerable, and homeowners are looking to spend some time outside. Other regions are already experiencing snow, but spending time outdoors is still appealing to so many Americans.
If you’re considering adding a seating area to your yard, you’re going to need a way to light it. Take a look at the following outdoor lighting options, ranging from the romantic flicker of a flame in a fire pit, to ingenious walkway lighting illuminating the path to your doorstep. Then, grab a glass of wine, go outside and get cozy. Click any image below to learn more.
Contemporary garden lighting
Architectural complement
DIY: upside down terracotta pot
Year-round fire pit
Outdoor Japanese lamp
Beautiful porch lighting
Creative use of rope lights
Stairway lighting for front or back yards
Ventless outdoor fire bowl
Pure soft light
Design
Home buyer must-haves: Pinterest edition
Across America, some trends have remained tried and true throughout the years, particularly the most common buyer desires as outlined her today.
Features that Home Buyers Appreciate – Pinterest Edition
When home buyers are searching for homes, they often have a list of must-haves they’re looking for that will make a property a must buy for them. One of the most obvious criterion is space; a buyer wants to be able to envision themselves and their loved ones having enough space to comfortably grow into as time goes on.
But there are five home features that can cause buyers to give a property exceptionally high marks. Read on for our Pinterest home feature roundup, and click any of the images below to visit the original pinned photo on Pinterest.
1. Closet space and storage
Having ample closet space is a must for families and couples. Although this one is obviously custom built, you get the point: no one is attracted to a matchbox closet.
2. Modernity in the kitchen
The kitchen is one of the most popular communal places in the home. Whether enjoying a dinner with your family or a social gathering with friends, a modern kitchen ensures you have the right touches to create an unforgettable experience.
3. Sexy bathroom
A great bathroom allows for serenity after a long day at the office. Large soaker tubs and a spacious shower give an open and airy feel. And double sinks allow individuals to be undisturbed as they get ready.
4. Organized garage
A garage should be large enough to fit multiple vehicles and offer a substantial amount of storage space. Being able to store things away from the elements is valuable over time as residents become settled in the space.
5. Beautiful laundry room
Counter space in a laundry room is a definite value-add as residents can fold and put away as clothes come out of the dryer. An organized work areas also controls clutter, which is desirable in a laundry room.
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