Luxurious Russian Penthouse Apartment Balancing Light and Dark Accents

Russian interior design studio Geometrix transformed the interiors of this next luxury penthouse into a surprising modern space meant to be enjoyed to its full potential. Featuring a combination of dark and light colour schemes, the interiors of this scrumptious penthouse call for a certain order in furniture arrangement. The interior designers created an extremely contemporary inside living space that extends on to the terrace for a full exploration of the panoramic views of Moscow. Situated high above the city, in the Triumph Palace, a 57-story apartment building in Moscow, the penthouse is compartmented into spaces that have many accents in common. Created as a unified space, the residence balances light and dark in a carefully planned manner. Large windows allow gorgeous, uninterrupted views of the Russian capital and the generous terrace extends the living space over the city.

source  : freshome

Fun and Functional Night Light Table for Soothing Bedrooms

Night Light Table was developed as a result of a collaboration between designers Charlie Crowther-Smith and Richard Bannister.You are looking at an original product that can create a subtle, yet strong effect in any bedroom: “We wanted to design something that omitted an ambient glow within any room as well as being functional furniture.” The result- an intriguing piece of furniture made from walnut legs and an oak top that serves both as a practical night table as well as a cool decorative item. Books, magazines, CDs and other small objects can be placed within this uncommon night table. Glowing all through the night, it can be a true friend for those who have fear of the dark. Pretty creative, don’t you agree ?

source : freshome

How to Creatively Display Interior Decor in your Kitchen

The kitchen has always been the heart of the home and its main purpose was for preparing food. As the years have gone on, the kitchen has become a place for guests to gather, and in turn a show piece of the home. Decorative accessories, shelving and lighting to accommodate kitchen decor, and bookshelves in kitchen islands are commonplace. If you’re looking for a way to expand your kitchen into a decorative show place for your creative style, here are a few tips for displaying all you hold dear.

• Make your kitchen all about the display: If you have a great collection of books, or an unbelievable collection of wines, why not make your kitchen the perfect place to show them off? Creative wood cabinetry and display can utilize bookshelves, custom shelving and unique storage areas to display your most prized collectibles. If your kitchen is adjacent to your living room, bar, or dining room, consider using display to serve both areas. Glasses, spices, and home collectibles can find a home in creative display in your kitchen.
• Glass cabinets make for great display: Remember when cabinets used to be closed off and dinnerware and glasses would hide behind closed doors? Glass front cabinets enable you to use your dishes as display. Creative glass applications can range from frosted glass, etched or pebbled glass, or completely transparent to allow personal collections to shine through. Ensure lighting is installed inside your cabinets for highlighting displays at night.

  
Casual meets function: If you prefer a more laid back style in your kitchen display, consider open shelving made from rustic wood, metal or natural surfaces. Open shelving is ideal for casual decorative styles, and allows your dishes and display to be visually showcased easier. Consider using empty wall space around kitchen windows or vacant space between upper kitchen cabinets to truly maximize on space and display your artisan artifacts beautifully.

Keep the family organized: Creative display can also mean a place for organization and updating the family quickly and easily. Bulletin, chalk, and creative wall paint solutions are a great place to display to-do lists, grocery lists, and notes to the kids. Consider installing simple organizing shelves adjacent to your kitchen and dining room area for quick access to dinner table items, or kitchen gadgets that are close at hand. Another great place for organization is the refrigerator. Instead of using dozens of magnets and papers, opt for open shelving or custom memo boards around the refrigerator area. It will look organized and keep your family connected.

 Kitchen display can be creative and unique with the help of these suggestions. If you have a kitchen island, use cabinet area for display too. Storage area that once served as cabinetry can be removed and replaced with shelves, wine storage, dish racks, or creative collectible display. Custom millwork designers can customize your kitchen to suit your needs, or visit an organization store for do it yourself options. Regardless of your style, display areas in your kitchen make the room become a livable space, and an expression of your family, not just a place to boil some water!

source : freshome

Delightful Swedish Crib or How to Make the Most of a Small Apartment

In this post we would like to showcase a fabulous 1,5 room apartment which brings tribute to Scandinavian design. This highly functional crib stretches over a surface of only 42 square meters, yet it does not seem to lack many things. The living room is airy and bright with windows looking out onto the quiet neighborhood. During the last renovation, the living room and kitchen were united, which contributes to an overall feeling of space. A rustic brick wall acts as a “decorative” border between the two rooms and ensures a high level of originality. The walls are painted in a white hue that provides a neutral base for decorating. Beautiful color contrasts are achieved by the gray sofa and flooring. To the left of the hall and directly adjacent to the living room, an extremely convenient and comfortable sleeping space can be observed. Two of the walls are painted in white, while the third is a beautifully patterned wallpaper in pleasant tones. This special alcove is greatly appreciated in a crib of this type, giving the feeling of a  perfectly planned small apartment.

source : freshome

Get Cozy and Inspired: 10 Most Beautiful Swedish Apartments of 2010

We know how much you guys enjoy Scandinavian interior design, so we decided to put together another interesting countdown. Get ready for the best 10 Swedish apartments of 2010, as voted by our readers. We didn’t count the cribs that made it into Okem's 10 Most Popular Apartment Designs of 2010, so be sure to check out that post too for more amazing apartments located in the heart of Sweden. You can click on every picture for more photos & details about each home. Enjoy!

 

#10. Our first entry is a beautiful Scandinavian apartment featuring spacious rooms, tall windows and a remarkable interior design. A fancy gloss kitchen with integrated white drawers follows the modern living-room. From the kitchen you can reach the newly constructed balcony. Oak parquet flooring runs throughout the apartment, warming up the atmosphere.

 

#9. This beautiful three room apartment linked below is highly inspirational and treats light with a great deal of respect. Every room has large windows so that the need for artificial lighting is minimum. The living room has a youthful feel, while being very spacious and homey.

#8. We are charmed by the simple, yet charming interior design of this 85 square meter flat consisting of three rooms plus kitchen. The living room (first photo) is the heart of this beautiful crib. Light and airy with whitewashed walls, oak flooring and three windows for abundant natural light, this room seems perfect for familiar gatherings.

#7. Cheering up a dull interior design is extremely simple if a little color is added. This fresh apartment linked by the image below is a great source of inspiration for those of you in search for lively design ideas. As you can see, the crib is painted in white, but this did not stop the designers from improvising. The living room features a flashy red shelving system which adds a touch of refined eccentricity to the seriousness provided by the comfortable reading corner. A giant blue wallpaper complements the black and white carpet creating an uncommon atmosphere.

#6. Here is an apartment that inspires harmony and coziness.Painted in bright colors, the walls and furniture make a stunning contrast with small colorful elements, such as the pillows, the paintings, the flowers or the chandelier. The living room serves as the apartment’s heart and soul and it features charming nooks bathed in natural light from large windows.

#5. With a surface of 92 sq m, this charming loft has a total of 4 rooms, all with a contemporary and fresh feel. The living room is the focal point of the apartment and hosts a delightful sofa with comfortable pillows, two armchairs which can be used as reading corners, a practical coffee table and plenty of shelves for storage.

  

#4. Here is a charming 114 m2 attic home that spells “coyness” and impresses due to its overall harmony and peaceful atmosphere. The crib has no less than three bedrooms, a living room, a kitchen and two bathrooms (you can see more on the structure of this place by clicking the photo for the original post).

#3. Check out this incredible looking apartment which brings tribute to Swedish design. Step inside and feel welcomed by a large hallway with a lovely light and a beautiful view over the city rooftops. Hang your jacket on one of the stylish clothing supports and enter the delightful living room. Bright, airy and generous in size, with three windows facing west for plenty of natural light, this room is the core of the apartment and a perfect area for family gatherings. And we assure you the rest is just as appealing.

 

#2. This beautiful small apartment linked by the image below only has one room and an area of no more than 17 sq meters. What the interior designers did with this place is absolutely fabulous. This small studio is not only very practical, but also looks modern, inviting and original.

 

#1. Having a small apartment can be a drag when it comes to implementing the perfect interior design idea. Our number 1 is an example of a two-room apartment which is both aesthetic and functional. In order to achieve a high level of practicability, the designers of this crib took advantage of every single corner of the house and made it functional. Click on the photos for more inspirational details on this apartment and let us know what you think of our countdown.

source : freshome

How to Choose a Headboard to Complement your Bed

Have you ever noticed that you can have any type of bed, but the presence of a fantastic headboard can give dimension to the entire bedroom? A headboard creates a visual anchor for the bed, and makes you feel fantastic when you’re inside the bed. From romantic wrought iron headboards, to commanding a presence and ceiling climbing headboards, the options are countless. Depending on the size of your room, height of your ceiling, and your decorative style, choosing a headboard can be an enjoyable experience. Here are tips to find your perfect one.

How large is your bedroom: One of the most important factors is how much space do you have for the bed, and headboard.  A king sized bed may fit in your room, but if you add a too tall headboard it will shrink down your space immediately. Try and keep the proportions of your bedroom in mind when choosing a headboard. The larger the room, the larger the headboard can be without swallowing up the room, visually.

 

• What is your décor style in the bedroom: If you prefer a more romantic, airy and light feeling to your bedroom, a minimally detailed headboard with soft curves and soft materials may be for you. If your style is for a more refined sophistication, consider a tufted or upholstered headboard. For more bold lines and masculinity, a sleigh headboard, or rich leather and woods will be an ideal for your décor style choice of headboard.
• How tall are your ceilings: This seems like an odd question but it is not. Ceilings are a direct contributor to feeling height and spaciousness in your bedroom,. If you’re ceilings are low in your bedroom, stick with headboards that don’t consume the entire height of the wall, and vice versa with tall ceilings. A few exceptions may include, windows which flank both sides of the bed, therefore allowing ample light in and contradicting the height rule with low ceilings.

 

Get creative with your choice of headboards: While upholstered, wood, and metal headboards are common, they are several ideas that can be used as headboards too. Headboards can be flat decals affixed to the wall behind the bed, or they can be picture framed windows behind the bed. There are no rules when it comes to design of headboards. Re-purpose wood doors, privacy screens or any material that can serve as a backdrop to the pillows and bed. Use the same creativity in kid’s rooms. From a white picket fence to custom made cabinetry, headboards are the showpiece of the bedroom
 

Your headboard in your bedroom deserves to have all the functionality and décor style of a piece of furniture. If you’re in the process of designing your bedroom, use these tips above to help guide your decision for a headboard. Furniture catalogs and online stores can give inspiration, while other rooms in your home may be inspiration enough! Keep in mind the scale of your room, ceiling height and décor style and you are on your way to a gorgeous headboard.

source : freshome