Saturday, May 18, 2013

CLOCK - an inevitable element in your home

     Today when I came home I noticed that something was missing in my room. Only at the end of the day, I realized that it was my wall-clock. My brother broke it while playing football in my room. Now he is persona non grata :D Then I understood a clock is an inevitable element in my room. I was totally disorganized. Moreover without it, the space is empty. A clock helps me to become more responsible and give a specific charm to my interior design. The right clock can add your personality to a room.

     Table clocks also are very popular. They can be used on the table, in bookshelves, on the nightstand, or desk. In my opinion tabletop clocks combine functionality with style and can add your unique style to your home. Whether your interiors style is traditional, contemporary etc. you can find that perfect timepiece to enhance the décor of your house.

     So I am looking for a new wall-clock and I'd like something with a unique look that matches my home décor. I have accesed google search engine and I found some nice popular clock designs and decided to share them with you.

And don’t forget: "You must govern the clock, not be governed by it" Golda Meir

Catena wall clock by Andreas Dober. As the hours cycle through each day and midnight becomes noon and noon becomes midnight again, it’s easy to lose sight of the past. Andreas Dober brings us back to tradition with this.

Bubble clox by Darien Lee

Aspiral kinetic clock by Will Aspinall & Neil Lambeth. As the clock face turns, the red ball within rolls slowly and tells you the time at the moment.

Math geek wall clock. On it each hour is marked by a either a math problem or a symbol representing a certain value.

Good afternoon clock by Mile Project. Using beams of light as the hour minute and second hand this minimalistic clock aptly represents time as intangible and fleeting.

Vague clock by Sejoon Kim. If you don’t like a clock that’s always showing you the time and pressuring your life this vague clock will only provide the time when you press on it.

Normal Timepieces by Ross McBride. In this cleverly designed clockpiece, the hour hand of this clock is actually a rectangular hole that exposes the time on the face.

Domino clock

A clock introduced by Seattle-based Carbon Design Group, is a set of three larger-than-life dominoes equipped with articulating "dots" that flip back-and-forth between black and white to keep time.

Around clock by Anthony Dickens. The concept of this rotating clock is based on the constant and subtle rotation of the globe and is thus a better representation of time than the common clock.

Saturday, April 20, 2013

4 natural elements in your interior design

     When we think about natural elements we imagine their significance in astrology, but we should never forget that they are very important also for our interiors. I like have many natural objects in my house, What I like about objects is that they are movable - we can play around with them, add something new, take something away if you get bored of it, and create a different atmosphere whenever you want to.

     It is said that if you are working on attracting more prosperity, you will introduce elements of wood (earth) and water in the Southeast area of your house. If your need to improve your health, you will place lush wood element items, such as plants or pieces of wood furniture in the East area.

AIR=simplicity, transparency, naturalness. Air is a detaching element and enables co-existence of the two main elements, fire and water. It produces us a sense of freedom. This element creates a soothing and harmonious environment. The furniture can be easily removed or rearranged. Quality is also important, because it creates more comfort and safe we need. Natural atmosphere is obvious due to light color such as: white, blue, gray. Don’t forget that fresh air can do wonders in your interior. It provides you a soft slumber and improves the room atmosphere.

WATER=harmony, purity, elegance. The element of water has magnetic properties; it nurtures and sustains. Water determine to arrangement of “flowing” forms. It symbolizes pure elegance. Transparent and bright materials, shimmering like glass or waves texture bring the sea in our home. Colors are: turquoise, blue and white. All these transform your house in a wellness temple, an oasis of relaxation and recovery of lost energy.

FIRE=passion, energy. The element of fire has electrical and creative properties. It is said that one who masters the flames that holds the key to civilization. In the past people reunited around the fire in order to warm. Nowadays fireplaces and pleasant light candles bring prosperity and warmth in the house. Besides this red, orange and yellow colors confer to interior design more power, charm and safe. And modern accessories give extravagance to your design, but they should not be too much.

EARTH=stability, naturalness. The element of earth binds fire, water and air in various proportions, which makes possible the formation of materials with different properties. Solid wood is the most indicated to represent this natural element. Also it is recommended to any kind of ambiance and any style. As time goes solid wood becomes more beautiful and valuable. Colors are part of the wide range of natural colors such as brown, beige, white, cream or green. These colors make up the neutral background, such a pleasant atmosphere in the home.

In Feng Shui there are 5 elements (water, earth, air, fire and wood) and here is the color correspondence of each of the five feng shui elements:

  • WOOD: green, brown
  • FIRE: red, strong yellow, orange, purple, pink
  • EARTH: light yellow, sandy/earthy, light brown
  • METAL: white, gray
  • WATER: blue, black

                      Keep smiling,

                                             Doina

Saturday, April 13, 2013

7 common mistakes in arranging your interior

     Hi everybody! As I promised in previous post, this article will contain information about mistakes we often make in arranging our rooms. In order to avoid them we should pay much attention to details. Of course, without trying we wouldn’t know that it is wrong :). As said Albert Einstein “Anyone who has never made a mistake has never tried anything new”.

  1. Too many accessories

Too many accessories will create an impression of disorder. So, it is very important for you to use just some elements of décor, so to give a “feature” to your interior, without creating an impression of chaos.

  1. Mats in the bathroom

Carpets in the bathroom are one of the most common mistakes. Even I had a carpet in my bathroom. It was so uncomfortable… Why I consider this a mistake? Because mats in the bathroom haven’t any practical utility (I'm talking about fiber carpets). They retain moisture, reduce the space, look unaesthetic and “walk” continuously… It is recommended to use a dark rubber mat or the same color as the floor. If you can’t imagine your big bath without a mat you should use nonskid on your floor.

  1. Too many prints

There is no doubt that many people like prints in their interior but very often they make excess. You shouldn’t ever forget that prints, as accessories, have the role to accentuate a part of room which is least observed.

  1. Exposition in your room

The secret is that your interior design has to be particular. Sometimes we admire beautiful projects of famous designers and we reproduce them in our own house. Very often it looks like an irritating exposition, devoid of personality.

  1. Cables everywhere…

Cables confer to you room disorder and they destroy the beauty of the room. Try to hide or cover them.

  1. “Floating” furniture

Another common mistake deals with carpet arranging. You shouldn’t place it in the center of room, without associating it with another element. Unfortunately, furniture around the carpet will look unbalanced. This effect (mistake) is called by designers “floating furniture”. So, you have to fix the carpet using a coffee-table, an armchair or a sofa.

  1. Glowing paint for old houses

If you have an old house or irregular walls it is recommended to use matt paint. It will help you to hide imperfections and bumps.

                                Your,

                                           Doina (hug)

Saturday, March 30, 2013

10 tips from the experts to improve the safety of the house

      I greet you again dear readers! Today let’s talk about safety and comfort in our house. There is no doubt, safety is one of the most important things should have a room, especially if children live in it. So, experts suggest a few simple changes for a more comfortable interior. A big advantage is that the products needed for this change can be found anywhere at an affordable price. But you shouldn’t forget to:
     - aspire to perfection! Don’t buy some thing just because it is cheap, if you don’t really like it. After a while you won’t know how to get rid of it.
    - ask if you may test an object before buying it. This is the best way for choosing home décor.


               So, let’s return to those 10 tips mentioned above:
  1. Install light bulbs in all dark areas used for night work;
  2. Use shining light bulbs anywhere, this will facilitate your works. Today there are several light bulb varieties including incandescent, fluorescent, and LED;
  3. For greater convenience, install lights in wardrobes and adjustable shelves;
  4. Install switches that regulate the brightness, it can illuminate only certain areas of the house with what intensity you want;
  5. Install handles on all doors in the house at the same height as your hands;
  6. Install handles with very simple shape for all doors and drawers to be pulled easily;
  7. Provide all carpets and rugs with double adhesive tape;
  8. Put reflective tape (non-slip) on all stairs without carpet;
  9. Install handrails on each side of the stairs, both inside and outside;
  10. Place a bench near the entrance, which you can put groceries so you can open the door when you come home or can rest on it.

     Of course these tips from professionals will make your home secure and more comfortable. In the next post you will learn about the most common mistakes we should avoid in arranging our interiors.
                         Until next time,
                                            Doina :)

Sunday, March 24, 2013

Choosing a carpet


     When I come home after a hard day I want to kick off my shoes and dig my toes into a soft carpet. So, for me, carpeting is very important. For me, carpet isn’t just a floor covering, I associate it with luxury and comfort.
     Perhaps the most difficult decision of all is choosing the carpet's color. Also when you choose a carpet, you should keep in mind the size of the room. It is very important criterion.
-For small rooms it is recommended large carpets with uniform texture and pale. Pale and neutral tones reflect light and visual enlarge the space.
-In large rooms is better to use dark colored carpet and an unusual texture.
     If you have modern furniture with bright colors, you should choose a sober kind of rug, because it will confer your room elegant style.
     Texture of a rug represents aspect of the surface: smooth or uneven, delicate or rough. There exists many types of textures that are especially for a particular interior. For example plush and shag carpets are recommended for familiar interiors (warm rooms). Berber carpet is an ideal choice for a classic interior. Uneven carpets are suitable for circulated rooms styled intimate, warm.
     Another important element of a carpet is the fiber from which it is made​. It may be natural (wool) or artificial (nylon, polyester, polypropylene).
     Wool provides room nature and elegance. Wool is resistant, but is more expensive and harder to maintain. Because of this it is recommended to place wool carpet in rooms that are not visited very often.… Nylon is an artificial fiber that is the most popular and durable. It is also resistant to use.
     Homeowners with young children or dogs and cats may want to avoid hard-to-clean shag or high-end rugs. Stain-resistant carpets can eliminate the frustration associated with spills and may cut your cleaning time.

     There is no doubt that natural carpets are healthy. If your budget allows, check out carpet made from natural products.
            Natural fiber rugs:
Sisal- fiber extracted from the leaves of the agave plant. Its natural color is creamy white, but it may be easily colored.
Coconut- its rustic and natural aspect bring elegance in any interior,
Jute- with a soft-touch surface, jute is distinguished by a special gloss. Moreover, its aesthetic effect is excellent.
Seagrass- with a pleasant design, seagrass is available in 3 types: standard, stitching and zigzag.
Wool- this fiber is ideal for carpet confection.
      I hope you will make the best choice for your home!
              As always, with affection,
                                    Doina :*  
P.S. Aaron, thank you very much for helping (hug) :) 

Saturday, March 16, 2013

Jewelry-tree

     I am happy that you are interested in what I posted and I promise to continue give you useful advices in arranging your interior and decorating your home. Today’s post will be dedicated especially for persons who love jewelry.
     I think every lady likes to have a little collection of jewelry. Jewelry reflects a woman’s style and status in life. Everyone knows that accessories accentuate one’s look and bring out the personality.
     Often we don’t know were to put them. Every girl wants to have a jewelry box or something else designed specifically for accessories that rest on her nightstand in the bedroom. They provide a note of elegance and style in your interior.
     For keeping all your jewelry you don’t have to purchase expensive boxes that are "as all". Try to be original, try to be creative…Use all your imagination and make something special. You can make by yourself this kind of box containing different compartments for earrings, bracelets and rings. You can do something special by plaster, wires, everything... Just use your imagination.
     There are people that don’t want to keep them in a box but want to place them in such a way that they will always be visible and it will be more comfortable for them to choose something. Here I prepared for you, dear readers, some original ideas…some crafts that all of you can make by yourself.

     Today an original idea popped in my mind. I took a paper and a pencil and started to create something unique for my earrings. I decided to name it “Jewelry-tree.
     To show you the steps of making jewelry-tree I used cartoon and colored paper, but of course it is better to use thin wood/plywood and paint. I really hope that my idea captivates you and you will try to make it by yourself. I also think it would be a good gift for women from their sweethearts)))

     Cut 2 plywood pieces in the same form.

     Cut this 2 plywood pieces as in imagine, then overlap them.

     You can use other shapes, for example: a simple triangle, some fruit, fir tree (it will look like a Christmas tree full of toys).

                              Yours,
                                        Doina ;)

Monday, March 11, 2013

Upholstered furniture with leather or canvas?

      It is spring and I want to change something in my house. Analyzing room atmosphere I decided to change seat upholstery. Choosing upholstered furniture may be confusing…For some of us choosing it is the most enjoyable part of upholstery shopping. Upholstery fabrics have a wide range of quality and price. Be sure that you know what you want from your upholstery before you buy it.

     Many people prefer leather upholstery. There is no doubt leather furniture adds sophistication and elegance to any interior. This kind of fabric has a lot of advantages, for example leather furniture is not picky when it comes to dirt caused by various liquids, dust and it is an ideal choice for families who have babies. Also leather furniture is ideal for smokers.
     But there are also some disadvantages. One of them is its price. Leather upholstery is not very cheap. Moreover the leather offers very limited colors and designs unlike other textiles. Another disadvantage is that the material is sensitive to sharp objects, because of this we should be very carefully with it because it is a great risk of scratching the material. I’ve heard that after a while it also can change it color.

     Fabrics also have advantages and disadvantages. A big advantage of it is the diversity of designs and colors
     The biggest disadvantage of canvas upholstery is sensitivity. When you pour water on it is more disturbing than the leather material. For example a red wine stain is much easier to clean the leather trim unlike the fabric upholstery, sometimes you need a specialist advice to avoid the stain.
     Even if the fabric is harder to clean and if due to leather upholstery any room or space will look luxuriously I prefer canvas, not leather. I can't endure this material on my skin. If it is hot I have a bad feeling ... like staying "glued" to the couch.
     I've never been a fan of leather furniture... Maybe I should try? I like the changes in the house but even more I love comfort.
                          Kisses,
                                 Doina :*