Architectural Design

Fish House Built on Water Takes Eco-friendliness to the Max

If you love water and nature in general then you'll love the Fish House in the pictures below. Designed by Guz Architects in Singapore, this spacious house seems to be built on water and it's definitely fun to live in.

Besides the impressive pool that seems to endlessly revolve around the Fish House, you also have a spectacular view of the ocean that's just outside. Moving on we find a great interior dominated by wood finishing and plenty of natural light that comes in through those impressive windows. And yes, that's a green patch of grass on top of the Fish House that will let you enjoy some time outdoors without actually leaving this ingeniously designed house. So if you live in Singapore and you're looking for a great house idea then I think this Fish House on the beach is just what the doctor ordered.

 

Dorm Rooms

Chic, Functional Dorm Room


With expertise in dorm makeovers, Alabama-based designers Katherine Bailey and Melissa Manifold of Moxii Design Studio share their secrets on maximizing style -- and square footage -- in a typical dorm setup. Plus, they give us the scoop on dorm essentials and need-to-know info, regardless of your school’s locale.

 I commend all the designers for this dorm makeover!!! BRAVO!!

Hide Dorm Floors


Provide panache underfoot. “Don’t be afraid to add personality from the floor up,” says Melissa. Decorative rugs, carpet squares, or bound carpets make an eye-catching focal point and bring warmth. Be sure to leave clearance for door swings, allowing air to circulate. Insufficient ventilation quickly causes condensation and mildew, which are common visitors to campus housing.

Layer Linens and Bedding


The designers chose heavily textured fabrics for bedding and headboards because they hide dirt and disguise stains. Katherine and Melissa advise purchasing two quilts with a washable layer of sheets underneath because dorm occupants have little control over the room’s temperature. “You can layer according to the indoor season,” says Katherine. Additional bedding also separates sleeping from lounging activities. Love the colors and design mix they have chosen for the room.

Elevate the Bed


Raise the standard. The Moxii design team suggests elevating beds onto risers, allocating a minimum clearance of 24 inches above the floor. The added height allows space for storage bins underneath the bed. Plan on purchasing an extra-long bed skirt between 24 and 30 inches in length to hide risers and storage containers.

Moxii design team conducted this interview with My Home Ideas, where you will find more details about their linen, and accessory suggestions,as well as how to make the headboard. Again, I commend their excellence in the design challenge!

Creative Apartment and Home Interior Design Minimalist

This is a creative apartment. This apartment interior designed by Dutch architect, It features two floors and four people living there. Thank you for using lasers to cut the original panel in the kitchen and other parts of the apartment, the interior looks quite creative and unusual. In addition to laser-cut panels are also other things that make it unique, including a built-in storage solutions and furniture designer. Before the renovation, the apartment has a lot of room but became, transparent residential area full of light and air. Upstairs the master bedroom located next to large bathroom with tile structured from the end of Patricia Urquola, glass, and wood cabinets.

Home interior design


Kitchen design
Staircase design


Bathroom design

Luxury Fabric

Gorgeous bright fabrics with a glamorous gleam, the new Bises Luxury Fabric collection from Rubelli and Sahco brings exotic flair to modern interiors. Featuring bold designs and vibrant spectacular colours, these luxury fabrics make a powerful statement. Founded by Ruggero Bises over 30 years ago, Rubelli is known for its design innovation and reinterpretations of traditional motifs. From graphic patterns to exotic florals the luxury fabrics use large scale patterns for dramatic effects. Sensual gleaming fabrics, wrap furnishings and windows in lush decadent beauty. Vibrant woven beauty, the Rubelli Bises Collection instantly transforms furnishings and interiors into sensual artistic masterpieces.

Ruggero Bises founded his textile design company in 1971, incorporating it into Rubelli some years later. Known for bold designs and spectacular colors, Bises has a long history of design innovation and stunning interpretations of traditional motifs.

Whether for sumptuous colors, unique constructions, or the often-huge scale of its patterns, Bises is a distinct departure from traditional Italian design, and a welcome addition to the Bergamo Fabrics collection of beautiful textiles.

Entertaining/Soft Black Bean Tostados

This hearty Mexican meal has countless variations. Fix the salsa and bean spread separately for snacks, roll the tortillas burrito-style, or make this dish vegetarian-friendly by omitting the chicken.

Yield: 4 servings (serving size: 1 tostada)

Ingredients

Salsa:

1/2 cup chopped peeled avocado
1/2 cup chopped seeded tomato
1/4 cup thinly sliced green onions
2 teaspoons fresh lime juice
1/4 teaspoon salt

Remaining ingredients:

2 tablespoons water
2 tablespoons fresh lime juice
1/2 teaspoon ground cumin
1/8 teaspoon salt
1/8 teaspoon ground red pepper
1 (15-ounce) can black beans, rinsed and drained
4 (8-inch) flour tortillas
1 cup shredded roasted skinless, boneless chicken breast (Optional)
3/4 cup (3 ounces) preshredded Monterey Jack cheese
1 cup shredded iceberg lettuce
1/2 cup fat-free sour cream

Preparation

Preheat broiler.

To prepare salsa, combine first 5 ingredients in a small bowl. Toss gently, and set aside.

Combine 2 tablespoons water, lime juice, cumin, salt, ground red pepper, and black beans in a blender; process until smooth.

Place tortillas on a baking sheet, and spread about 1/4 cup black bean mixture evenly over each tortilla. Top each evenly with 1/4 cup chicken and 3 tablespoons cheese. Broil 2 minutes or until cheese melts and tortilla edges are just beginning to brown.

Top each tortilla with 1/4 cup lettuce, 1/4 cup salsa, and 2 tablespoons sour cream. Cut each tortilla into 4 wedges.

Design Styles/Part 3 of 3

Today, we are continuing Part 3... About design styles and everything you always wanted to know about design but were afraid to ask.

Moroccan


A heavily layered look consisting of intricately patterned fabrics, colorful mosaics, metal lanterns, textured walls, bold, jewel-toned colors, layers of Oriental rugs and pillows in luxurious fabrics and ornately-carved wooden accents. Design by David Bromstad. LOVE David's creativity and his program (Color Splash)!!!!

Shabby Chic


Coined in 1980 by Rachel Ashwell, this cottage-inspired look includes weathered white-painted furniture, painted motifs, floral prints in muted colors, white slipcovered sofas and vintage accessories. A sense of brightness and airiness is always evident in these interiors. Photo Courtesy of Miles Talbott's Shabby Chic® Collection.

Traditional


Furnishings are usually 18th-century English, 19th-century neoclassic, French country and British Colonial revival. Use of classic styling and symmetry to create a calm, orderly decor. Color palette is usually in the mid-tones and fabrics are muted, usually simple florals, solids, stripes or plaids. Design by Tracy Morris.

Transitional


The transitional look bridges contemporary and traditional design. Offering a deep rooted sense of history in some pieces, while furniture often gets an update with cleaner lines. Leather ottomans used as coffee tables is very popular in this decor. Crate & Barrel and Pottery Barn could be considered transitional looks. Design by Tracy Morris.

Tropical


A look inspired by beaches of Hawaii, French Polynesia or other tropical destinations. Thatched furniture, heavy prints of palm leaves and bright colored flowers find their way onto upholstery. Muted colored rugs or sisal and seagrass carpets cover the floor. Design by Linda Woodrum. Soooo fabulous and fresh!!!! Great job Linda.

Western


Raw, rough hewn woods, inviting fabrics or cozy plaids play up the Western look. Worn leathers mixed with stone hearths or walls and other natural elements. Furniture is usually large scaled and wooden. Design by Shelly Riehl David.

Designer Appreciation Day

Designer Appreciation Day Set for Sept. 8


Thought I would display my own family room in honor of this tribute. The High Point Design Center has planned a Designer Appreciation Day for Wednesday, Sept. 8. Events include a complimentary lunch by E. Ellingtons at The Atrium on Main, 430 South Main Street, in High Point, N.C., and a presentation by Terri Maurer, ASID National Past President and co-author of Interior Design in Practice. All High Point Design Center Showrooms will be open for shopping throughout the day, including Swaim, Christopher Guy, and The Atrium showrooms. Host showrooms include Bernard Christianson, Christopher Guy, Swaim, and Durham Furniture. For more information, go to http://www.highpointdesigncenter.com/

Contemporary or Minimalist Home Design?

This is a guest room design combines classic and modern minimalist decor. Use a brown color on the walls and chairs and sofas classic impression compounded by using a colorful carpet. Not many other components or decor is one characteristic of the minimalist model. Combining these styles can inspire you to organize your living room.

Minimalist Interior Design Ceramic White House in Spain

This is a minimalist house design interior and white ceramic. Héctor Ruiz-Velázquez designer has transformed the attic of a house in Madrid, Spain into a new living space with a variety of spaces. Ceramic nicknamed House, all parts are protected with ceramic interior, reasonable name.

Home interior design

Design is considered as three-dimensional objects, allowing each one of the rooms or line of houses to be located by determining the coordinate axes. The result is a power to move around a few square meters at different altitudes, up and down, offering a new experience of roominess in the context of home: to explore space.

Continuous transition between rooms and allow the flow of free movement at various levels. Flexibility of space to change this house is an innovative housing concept that conform to the actual needs and to new uses. Where is the roominess, the brightness and the time flow in a multifunctional room with no corners or take precedence. [via]

Design Styles/Part 2 of 3

Today, we are continuing Part 2 About design styles and everything you always wanted to know about design but were afraid to ask.

Eclectic


This catch-all style borrows from several other design styles and evokes a sense of imagination and surprise with unexpected contrasts. The style is not simply throwing together everything and anything, but rather relies heavily on the building blocks of design (color, pattern, texture, composition) to make the space look cohesive. A multitude of fabrics is characteristic, whether patterned, textured, solids or all three. Design by Andreea Avram Rusu.

English Country


A feminine look, with lush rose patterns, extensive uses of greens, reds, pinks and blues are characteristic of an English Country home. Ornamental, fine carved wood furniture, overstuffed sofas with tufting and skirted furniture mix with antiques and lots of small decorative accessories. Design by Phyllis Harbinger.

French


An ornate, fanciful and decorative style is characteristic of this look. Colors range from rich, sun-drenched Mediterranean hues to softer, muted shades. Often, one color or fabric is repeated throughout the space. It's characterized by rich details and extensive use of gold, bronze and gilt. Antique or heirloom furniture, layered dramatic window treatments and abundant fresh flowers fill out a French home. Design by Camilla Forte.

Mediterranean


Inspired by the coastal regions of Spain, Greece and Italy, this look favors colors that echo the sea and also include terra cotta, yellow and lavender. Furniture pieces are short with ornately turned legs and feet; hardware is heavy and often burnished. Velvets, linens and textured fabrics mix with textured walls. Design by Ammie Kim.

Mid-Century Modern


A look originating in the '50s and '60s and epitomized by the Rat-Pack days in Palm Springs. Scandinavian designers and architects were very influential at this time, with a style characterized by simplicity, functionality and natural shapes. Architecture shows off its minimalist design with walls of glass. Pops of deep colors such as orange, yellow, olive green and chocolate brown add to decor. An updated version of this look is found at stores like Jonathan Adler, marked by fun, colorful and quirky furnishings.

Modern


Rooted in minimal, true use of material and absence of decoration. A clean, streamlined furniture and architecture style from the 1930s. It's characterized by a neutral color palette, polished surfaces, strong geometric shapes and asymmetry. Design by SPI Design.

Minimalist Modern Home Designer: Builder

Minimalist Modern Home Designer

Entertaining/Pear Tree

Pear Tree


A tart, refreshing, nonalcoholic drink that's appealing to mojito fans.


Ingredients


1 cup ice
1/3 cup pear juice
2 tablespoons Lemon-Lime Juice (see "Bar Essentials," below)
2 tablespoons Simple Syrup (see "Bar Essentials," below)
4 fresh mint leaves, plus 1 mint sprig for garnish

Preparation

Put all ingredients except mint sprig in a cocktail shaker and shake until well blended, about 10 seconds. Pour drink with ice into a tumbler or a snifter. Garnish with mint sprig.

Note: Nutritional analysis is per mocktail.

Bar Essentials: Have these on hand for mixing great mocktails.

Simple Syrup: Equal parts sugar and water, heated until the sugar dissolves. (Your yield will be the same as the amount of water you use.)
Lemon-Lime Juice: Equal parts freshly squeezed lemon and lime juice, for adding acidity in a flash.

Fresh Lemons, Limes, and Oranges: To make juice, wedges for squeezing or moistening the rim of a glass, or twists of zest for extra citrus aroma.

Superfine Sugar: Dissolves easily and makes a nice garnish on the rim of a glass.

Fresh Herbs: Basil, mint, and tarragon add complexity, texture, and visual appeal.

Purchased Ice: For a big party, it's hard to make enough ice at home. Besides cooling, ice helps blend flavors in the shaker.

Minimalist Design House Italian Style

Minimalist Home Designs

Home interior design

This is a modern and minimalist house design Italian style created by Andrea Oliva. All the characteristics of minimalist house combined to make this house truly minimalist. Start with simple rectangular shapes, flat roofs and white palette and the use of gray on the exterior and interior. The house is also equipped with sustainable features. Flat roofs equipped with solar panels that meet all of these electric eco-design of the house and hot water needs. [Via]