Loto Bed Ideal for Modern Homes

Loto bed, handmade from two pieces of beech wood crossed at the centre to create both the base and the feet is simply stunning. The clean lines and sleek appearance would enhance any bedroom style. I love this design which enables the Loto bed to be placed anywhere in the room as it has no headboard. Ideal for modern homes which often have small bedrooms and limited wall space.

Loto Bed

For those who prefer a more traditional approach of bed with a headboard and bedsides tables a variation of Loto which incorporates both is also available.

Using a headboard which is attached to the wall rather than the bed offers different styles to be used. Probably the most effective would be a headboard of simple design such as two pillow style padded pieces suspended by tab tops and hung from a pole.

Small curved bedside tables incorporated into the sleek design of the bed are just large enough to hold a small table lamp.

I love the idea of being able to place a bed anywhere in a room to provide a whole new dimension. With a Japanese style the bed is quite low to the floor providing a modern alternative to comfortable and stylish bedroom furniture with an almost Zen like feeling of clam and tranquillity.

The great thing about using natural beech wood and no headboard is that the colour décor in the room is completely unrestricted. The image above shows Loto with a patchwork style duvet, however I think this bed would look equally striking with crisp plain white linen.

Bedding which fit the size of the base rather than falling down the sides would need to be used to enable this striking bed design to be seen at all times. In my opinion there’s no point in having such a stunning bed frame and not being able to appreciate its beauty and craftsmanship.

Image source and further information can be found at Home Design Find

An Effective Space Saver

Having enough space for a table causes problems for many people. ‘Run of the mill’ modern homes typically have small rooms so finding the right size of furniture can be a real headache.

Created by Spanish designer Attua Aparicio Torinos this delightful and simple cabinet with a built in table may be the solution! The small table slides back into place to effectively provide much needed space in a room.

Attua Aparicio Torinos cabinet

The small table extension provides sufficient surface space for informal dining. The cabinet provides enough space to store plates and bowls. This cabinet is also ideal for providing extra surface for small project hobbies, storing all the associated bits and pieces neatly away. Using the cabinet in a child’s bedroom may be just the incentive needed to carryout homework, clear away when you’ve finished and you have more space as simple as that!

I’m not trying to imply that I am a ‘no clutter’ freak here, just trying to point out that small rooms will appear much larger when they are kept in order! I am also very aware of the space restrictions in many homes, designs like this make effective use of space.

I think the thing I like most about the cabinet is the non-flamboyant appearance. The designer has created and produced a piece of stylish furniture as an effective and efficient space saver which would be welcomed in many homes.

The white cabinet with bright blue table extension is unobtrusive and would suit all types of modern home interiors and designs. I’m sure different coloured tables would be custom made if blue does not fit in with a room’s colour scheme! The design is a modern alternative to drop leaf tables with additional storage combined.

Further information on this project and other designs visit www.attua.net

Image source: www.designklub.blogspot.com

Energy and Space Saver Lamps

With the ever increasing electricity prices how about reducing the amount spent on lighting your home by installing these blinds which have small solar panels strategically fitted into them?

The blinds have solar panels which are charged during the day. At night the built in visual images of floor, table or chandelier light are ‘switched’ on to provide subtle lighting in the room.

I love this idea of making really good use of blinds to store enough solar energy to provide mood lighting in a room. I’m not sure if there is sufficient or strong enough light source during the winter in the UK to make this a truly viable alternative to the humble electric light bulb. However the concept is a great way to bring a plain blind to life as he image of the lamp can be seen during the day, as the light outside fades the ‘Solar Vertical Lamp’ begins to shine more brightly.

‘Solar Vertical Lamp’ created by Korean designers Yoon-Hiu Kim and Eun-Kyung Kim uses solar power effectively and in such a clever way. No more light bulbs to replace and a great space saver as trying to find the right place for a table or floor lamp will no longer pose a dilemma in small interiors.

Placing the design pixels in appropriate places on the blind can even provide the illusion of a lamp being positioned on a table without actually taking up the table top space!

So for those of you who are looking for innovative and ingenious ways to save on electricity bills and make practical use of the sun’s unlimited energy these blinds could be fitted in all rooms of your house. No more forgetting to turn the lights off! A great way to help reduce your carbon footprint.

For further information and image source check out Yanko Designs

Modular Shelving and Wall Art in One

Fed up with the usual shelving units and in need of somewhere to display items and objects? This unusual design may be just the thing you are looking for!

Made by Russian designer Maria Yasko there are three variations of the design; My preference is the ‘Icelandic’ tree with its crisp finish and deep rich green colours. The variation of nooks and crannies of different size spaces is perfect for displaying all manner of bits and pieces. I do not see any reason why you could not chose any colour of wall art-work to suit your home interior if green is not your to your liking. Burnt orange, for example, would give the unit a more autumnal appearance, but that’s just my way of thinking!

‘Ril’ modular shelving is based on a simpler art form with shelve made from one flowing curve of white and duck egg blue. Yasko has incorporated subtle leaves and foliage designs onto the wall at two strategic points on the bends of the shelf, providing restrained interest which does not distract from the unit.

The third unit is ‘Bee’ which has orange and brown descending flow of curves, providing the appearance of the inside of a beehive. This unit would be great for storing books and files. It is a shame the ‘Bee’ has no art work on the walls behind it like the other two designs. I think that would make it far more adventurous and apt for its name. Without the art-work I feel it is a little understated and somewhat lacking interest, more suitable for an office environment perhaps.

The two modular shelving with art-work designs would make a great focal point in a room and certainly make a refreshing place to display some personal objects. Far better than ’standard’ shelving units!

For more details of Yasko’s wonderful modular shelving designs visit Behance

Image source: www.behance.net

Fire Jacks

Remember the playground game of jacks with a ball and four pronged jacks which kept you and your friends amused for hours? If you do, then take a trip down memory lane with this fabulous new approach to making a gas fire effectual and right up to date in both traditional or contemporary home interiors. What a refreshing and practical way to beat the faux coal and log effect gas fire places and gas fire baskets which are so out-dated nowadays.

Fire Jacks by Lynn Kingelin

Fire Jacks is designed by Lynn Kingelin in four different colour finishes; black matte, white matte, glazed- antique white with crazing and burnished gold matte. One of the leading gas fire manufacturers Verine is licensing Fire Jacks as part of their exclusive new product range.

Kingelin says “My products are borne from trends that will embrace longevity and not fade as a fad.”. She believes Fire Jacks ‘is a ceramic design classic that will enhance any new or existing gas fireplace for years to come’. I have to agree the design has a great concept which will be enjoyed by many.

For those who are not familiar with the game of jacks, the striking visual effect of the fireplaces is unusual with a fun and modern appeal. The white matte finish makes a real contrast from what is the ‘norm’ with gas fires, complimenting a contemporary home extremely well. Antique white with crazing offering a great alternative in a more traditional or older style of home which has replaced original ’open coal fires’ with gas fires. For the more avant-garde, the burnished gold matte sounds truly fascinating.

Custom installations and unique finishes of gold and antiques-white Fire Jacks can be arranged via Lynn Kingelin Design Studios. The design studio will also provide custom made non-working fire sculptures, for further details of either visit contact www.ikuinen.com

Image source: www.yankodesigns.com

Blooming Marvellous

Korean designer Jin-Young Lee has created this stylish and very practical piece of contemporary furniture Da-Bloom. The concept of the design is based on a blooming flower, hence the name I assume, which can be easily customised to individual needs and preferences with a few simple twists and turns of the ‘petals’.

Made from plywood and plastic this modern design is a great spacer saver, with adults or children sitting on one ‘petal’ and using the next slightly higher ‘petal’ as a table. By filling the conical shaped base with water stability is provided, the next ‘petal’ and spacers lock onto each other to build a table with integral seating and work space for three or more children. The top of the central cone is hollowed, providing a space for pencils and writing implements. Da-Bloom also offers easy storage when not in use, the ‘petals’ simply all twist round to fit underneath each other.

I think this piece of furniture would work extremely well in children’s nurseries or schools, providing informal seating as well as a great place to let children’s imaginations run wild turning it into dens, buses and other role play themes, great for encouraging participation for singing and music, the options are endless in my opinion! Alternatively waiting rooms in doctors and dentists would look great with this style of modern furniture. At home this practical furniture would make a super informal eating area!

If white and natural coloured plywood is not to your liking Da-Bloom can be custom made in a variety of different colours to suit interior design colour schemes.

See the full range at www.yankodesign.com

Dining in Style

With Christmas approaching fast now is the time to ensure the dining area is looking at its very best. One of the easiest ways to freshen the dining room is to hang new curtains at the window and any French style doors to offer cosy warmth and a convivial festive atmosphere.

A small dining room window looks best dressed with medium weight curtains in light coloured fabrics to give the illusion of more space. Rich or vibrant colours are acceptable however, they do have a tendency to make a small room feel somewhat overpowered.

The choice of style and design of curtain fabrics is vast. Using a curtain fabric colour which compliments the dining table and chairs offers a chic coordinated interior design style. Small modern dining rooms with light wood tables such as pine or light oak look great when coordinated with curtains which are hung from wooden curtain poles. Fashionable eyelet curtains provide a stylish sleek effect with gentle folds and pleats and look stunning when hung neatly down to the floor. Contemporary fabrics such as faux suede in plain pale tones or made with a deep contrasting coloured bottom panel and edging create beautiful visual effects and soft textures. Unusual fabrics with a modern pattern symmetrical woven pattern and charming contrasting chenille motifs offer a great alternative to plain fabrics in an understated way.

For a more traditional curtain, deep three inch headings offer a multitude of soft pleats and a touch of elegance to a room. This style of curtain is ideal for a bay window, looking equally as stunning when finishing at the bottom of the window sill or at floor level.

Heavy and medium weight curtains hung from traditional curtain tracks made specifically for a bay window enables the curtains to be drawn back at the curved sections as well as each end on large bay windows.

Beautiful Jacquard fabrics with a small repeat pattern in traditional colours of gold and creams offer elegant and sophisticated bay window curtains coordinating extremely well with dark coloured dining furniture. Swags and tails look striking when used to dress French style doors in a dining room, swept back from the centre and held in place with tassel tiebacks. A gold or contrasting rich red table runner with matching tassel ends and place mats will add the finishing touches to a Christmas dinner table and brings the theme and style of the room together elegantly.

Contemporary Curtain Fabric

Contemporary curtain fabrics with bold geometrical patterns provide a dining area which is stylish and relaxed. Plain quality fabrics in bold and vibrant colours can be used to liven up a dining area, alternatively retro fabrics are very trendy and fashionable with a revival in hip-hop floral fabric designs inspired from the 1950s are becoming increasing popular choices for homes with a contemporary interior design style.
Whichever colour, pattern or design of curtain fabrics are chosen, brightening and refreshing a dining room in time for Christmas will ensure that the host and guests dine in style!