Ottomans have been present throughout our cultural history. They are an understated yet ever perpetuated and in the end, modernized furniture element that fits neatly into our homes to this day. Brought to Europe in the late 18th century from Turkey, as its name would suggest, the ottoman is one of the most versatile elements of furniture, which is the main reason why this import to the traditional living room has survived so long, in addition to its subtle elegance and its cuteness. The ottoman is an oriental newcomer to the European or American living room: a dialogue in Gilmore Girls comes to mind, with Lorelai telling her daughter something like “Welcome back, Rory, the living room missed you. Not the ottoman of course, but everyone knows he´s a snob.” And do you remember the puppy of the cursed royal court in Disney´s Beauty and the Beast being turned into a classic tiny ottoman? And yes, about that, ever thought that after the curse was broken, Belle and the prince might have had to take a look on Decoist and a trip to the store? As all their furniture and utensils tuned into people. But, enough about contemporary American lore and back to the ottoman. This simple, generic piece of furniture started out as a foot rest to fancy chairs, but nowadays can be used as a stool or even a coffee table. One doesn’t have to look far for ottomans: iconic designer chairs of the 20th century were given this addition, such as the Eames lounge chair or Mies van der Rohe’s Barcelona chair. In essence, this is what a living room is lately: a place where seats and table surfaces can melt together as a lounge, and the ottoman is a part of this philosophy. Whether round or square, plush or leather, ottomans bring a touch of cozy and subtle Orient to the living room, the bedroom, a dressing room or your special reading place. A popular chromatic approach: an ottoman of intense color can become the focal point and comply in nuance with the couch pillows, vases or paintings. And if you ever wondered where the impression of oriental comes from, it is the basic shapes of ottomans and the sitting at low tables, close to the room floor, as practiced in India and Japan, a position that reminds of meditation and thus unconsciously holds a suggestion of Eastern mystique.
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Zig-Zag Spread Yarn company Pickles has come up with a really posh Zig-Zag throw that will be the perfect plush addition to your sofa or armchair. The chunky texture of the wool blend yarn makes for a luxurious, textured accessory you’ll pick up again and again. Because this is knitted on large needles and finishes quickly, you can make a few in different colors to sway out each season. Hand Crocheted Throw This Design Sponge feature of graphic designer and illustrator Kelli Larson‘s home showcases a masterful mix of textures, creating a sophisticated space perfect for the creative mind. The visual play of a hand crochet shawl against a pleated bedspread adds charm to this monochromatic color palette. For this look, a lacy shawl with a delicate openwork design is ideal. Handcrafted Medallion Rug While the original version of this rug is created with hot glued jute rope, this handcrafted medallion rug featured by Shelterness can easily be adapted to work with crocheted circles. The earthy feel of this rug would make a great addition to a mud room or kitchen, or be a plush touch in front of a bathroom sink. Nursery Knitted Rug This rug featured by Scandinavian Deko is ideal for playrooms or nurseries where little hands and feet slide across hard floors. Channel your knitting skills (or those of a crafty friend) to weave up this plush heather gray rug. Be sure to attach carpet grippers to ensure there are no accidents. Accent Pillow for the Bedroom Jill of Ooo Look crocheted a romantic ruffled accent pillow that spices up even the plainest of spaces. The layered appearance is reminiscent of a floral design. For a feminine touch, crochet this pillow in bright colors for a garden-like effect. Knitted Stool in Fancy Colors
These gorgeous ottoman poufs by yarn company Pickles will make putting your feet up a happy event. The ridged texture and bright colors will bring instant cheer to your home. Make a few for a child’s playroom or stash a set for extra seating for your living room. Stuff with an inexpensive duvet for a firmer structure. Collecting stones is something most of us have indulged in at some point or another. As kids, many of us might have spent endless hours walking along that rocky and sandy coastline trying to pick the most beautiful, colorful and smooth little rocks we can get our hands on. A camping trip in the woods or a trip to the nearby creek also involves similar memories. While some of us polished the rocks with sandpaper, others used the more fancy rock polishers. Modern designers inspired by nature and its many rocky wonders, have replicated the aura of a natural stone with various artificial materials. Felted wool stones, gorgeous lacquer coffee tables and rugged beautiful rugs make up this fabulous collection. Visually bold, they often become instant focal points in any room. Contemporary, stylish and sophisticated, here are a few is a look at these stony inspirations. Fluffy Felted Wool StonesStones weathered, shaped and smoothened out by the elements have a magnetic charm of their own. Much like an old and battle-hardened veteran, they tell a great story! The collection of felted wool stones, pillows and seating solutions bring along with them a similar vibe. While we might not always be able to roll in those big beautiful boulders, the light weight felted wool alternatives are the perfect substitutes. They often can fool people into believing that they are the real deal. Ergonomic and stylish, they act as perfect sculptural additions even while bringing a fun and playful atmosphere. Dreamy River Stone Table!This is one of our personal favorites when it comes to beautiful and minimalist modern coffee tables. The River Stone Table designed by Jason Phillips, is indeed one of those deceptively simple, yet stunning décor additions that oozes with panache and sophistication. The lacquered resin table is perfect for both indoors and outdoors and is also available as a cocktail table. Coming in several different finishes, it is the glossy black that seems to pack quite a punch aesthetically! Soft Stone Ottomans and Ravishing RugsIf the large felted wool stones and the striking River Stone Table are not what your traditional interior needs, then the Soft Stone Ottoman is next best option. Bringing in the stone look in a more classic design, the Soft Stone Poufs from VivaTerra, also provide an additional option. Just live every other stone-inspired décor item, they almost instantly add and earthen quality to the interior. Hand-woven felted wool rugs also work like an absolute charm. Just place the rug on a contrasting surface (preferably a warm wooden floor) and watch the magic unfold!
The Hanging gardens of Babylon are dubbed as one of the seven wonders of the ancient world. Unfortunately for us, top-notch digital photography was just not available at the time to capture all its wonders. And while we may not replicate the grandeur of those hanging gardens, contemporary designers are bringing in the ‘green’ with their own unique designs. Most modern homes and apartments are often short on space. A beautiful wall of hanging planters instantly brings home the fresh garden vibe indoors. Elegant, ergonomic and stylish, these modern hanging gardens are all about form, functionality and space-consciousness. Here are a few fabulous inspirations that instantly add life to a room. From DIY projects that involve mason jars to exquisite creations from innovative designers, there is a container garden idea for everyone. As these eco-friendly creations showcase, at times all you need is some ingenious inspiration! Strung with Style Air plants are simply perfect for a hanging container garden inside your home. This one though tops the list not just because of the cool aesthetics. These DIY planters are pretty easy to create and you will be amazed with the touch of contemporary panache they bring to your home. All you need is shampoo bottle tops (or any bullet-shaped containers), a bit of spray paint, nails and some rope. Let you kids join in on the spray painting and you will have a fun and productive family weekend. Check out the complete step-by-step DIY guide for the hanging planters before you get started. Designed by Gabriella Asztalos, the floating garden plant containers bring a dash of metallic glint along with their modern form. The minimalistic style of these planters ensures that you have a container garden that is not just cool but is also contemporary in style! You can mix and match planters in various sizes and shapes to create an exclusive look. Coming from design house Boskke and Jaguarshoes Collective, these Sky Planters seem to defy gravity with astonishing ease! Our first instinct was to wonder whether standing under one of these was really safe. But it absolutely is. Coming in chic prints and vivid colors, these planters usher in accent shades with ease. Put together a few of these in a cool Scandinavian setting and you have an elegant floating container garden ready to steal the show. These hanging glass bubble terrariums are bound to be among the coolest decor that you ever brought into your home. Air plants are a perfect fit for hanging container gardens. With the necessity of soil being done away with, the open and transparent glass bubbles seem all the more appealing. Glass is an integral part of modern interiors. Impressive styling and ease of maintenance has made these hanging terrariums pretty popular. [from: West Elm] Well, you are in luck as the air plant pods designed by Michael McDowell offer precised this. Made from natural Moroccan sand-colored clay, the pods have been custom designed for sensitive air plants that could decay in any stagnated water. Hung using a lovely natural hemp cord, they are a natural fit even for the outdoors. Hang of few of these in your studio apartment and you will instantly feel closer to nature. The air plant pods are also available in several colors and finishes and are ideal for those who prefer a more modern and glossy look. [from: mudpuppy] Crafted in porcelain and sporting an unglazed exterior, they save up space with ease. You can get an army of these and create a hanging garden setup that is both vibrant and beautiful. Hang them by the window or in that forgotten corner and watch your interiors acquire a new lease of life! Wonders on the Wall The porcelain and rope hanging planters a re pretty popular with home owners. Their clean and classy design allows them to blend in with almost any pre-set theme of the room. The rope that is used is often cotton or leather and you can open between individual planters or two-tiered and three-tiered planter sets. Setting you back by anything between $120 to $150 for each set, a beautiful niche filled with 3 three-tiered sets brings in both beauty and balance to the space around it. A Myriad of Styles and Hues Simple and elegant, these strung planters are both cost effective and cool. All you need to get them done is some rope, glass jars, small rocks and the necessary green and you are good to go. Try to pick jars of different sizes to add style and contrast to the container garden on your wall. Strings in different colors also could do the trick. [from: apartment therapy / song and dance]
Drinking Glasses in Solid ShadesWe begin with solid-hued glassware sans pattern, starting with a classic find for those who want a clean-lined look. This 8-Piece Marta Barware Set from CB2 is micro-thin, consisting of four 18 oz. coolers and four 13 oz. double old-fashioneds (the wider of the two glasses below) For those who already have the basics in their collections, it’s time to branch out with some interesting shapes. This 5-Piece Archival Glass Set from Crate & Barrel is brilliantly based on five Mid-Century modern designs. Etsy is a great source for unique glassware finds. From vintage pieces to handmade selections, you’ll discover amazing pieces from the past, as well as new items that showcase true craftsmanship. Below we see a set of Glasses Made from Recycled Aranciata Mini-Juice Bottles, courtesy of Etsy shop Glass|Wares. Sold in a set of four, these glasses have the light green tint and bumpy texture of original sparkling juice bottles. Perfect for sipping juice or white wine! Patterned Drinking GlassesWe now turn our attention to drinking glasses featuring patterns, starting with one unforgettable set. It was the kitschy motif of the summer…flamingos! All of a sudden, the ’80s were back with a vengeance, thanks to a slew of flamingo finds. Shower curtains, napkins, glasses–luckily these pink birds put their stamp on a variety of products. While the flock seems to have left stores for the time being, we couldn’t help but reminisce about the best of summer decorby showcasing these pink flamingo glasses from IKEA:
Designed with a twist in conventional geometry by Nic Owen Architects, this fascinating new addition to a classic Kew House in Melbourne steals the show with ease. This audacious extension to an existing home Dow Under was done to provide more space and offer a contemporary hub to the owners. Since the existing façade in the area could not be altered extensively, the new addition was added to the large backyard so as to provide seamless visual connectivity between the indoors and the world outside. While the catchy new extension of the Kew House looks unusual and daring from the outside, the interiors are kept simple and minimal. A cool color tone in neutral shades is employed with ravishing wooden flooring bringing inviting warmth. Ample use of glass makes sure the interiors feel a lot more spacious than they really are. An open floor plan sees the living area, kitchen and the dining room connected in a natural fashion.
These spaces are often BIG. We’re talking big on a grand scale! Filling the space is a real challenge. With the size comes the desire for dramatic details. When done well, these details can be amazing. When done poorly, they can tarnish a lobby. Hotel LobbiesHotel lobbies evoke the decadence of a relaxing getaway. And who wouldn’t want to celebrate the feeling of being on vacation? In recent years, it’s been fun to see the emergence of boutique hotels that infuse creative, eclectic design elements into their lobbies. Below we see a tribal rug and other earthy-meets-modern details at the Ace Hotel in Palm Springs. Let’s hear it for non-traditional dramatic draperies! [photo by Becky Harris via Houzz] The lobby of Hotel Palazzo Zichy in Budapest is an homage to dramatic lighting. Pendant lighting, backlighting, recessed lighting. Put it all together and you have a truly epic space… Speaking of dramatic lighting, the lobby of the Hilton Hangzhou Qiandao Lake Resort has it in spades! In fact, this hotel is filled with design elements that evoke the feel of water. Can you see the ripples represented by this stunning lighting installation? Intricate flooring provides another level of ornate design, while features such as modern art and angled windows keep the look contemporary. [from Ivan C. Design Limited] Ah, the simplicity of gorgeous furnishings and bold colors! The black and gold color scheme of the Fitzwilliam Hotel in Belfast makes a powerful statement. Clean-lined seating and striking pillows also add elegant flair to the space: Commercial Lobbies
We now move from hotels to the spaces we walk through everyday–our residences and offices. Let’s start with the lobby of The Shore highrise condo building in Austin, Texas. Stadout features include seating by Ludwig Mies van der Rohe and a bubble-themed wall art installation. A trio of indoor planters adds a touch of greenery, while a large pendant light draws the eye upward… |
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June 2017
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