Where Design and Interiors Meets Happiness and Wellbeing
This small loft bedroom is filled with smart storage solutions; and a decorating scheme that adds bright touches of colour and makes the most of the beautiful natural light.
But when interior designer Kia Sunda first saw the loft space of this home in Highbury, North London, it was cluttered and cramped. Out of sight from the rest of the house, it had become a bit of a dumping ground for discarded furniture and other items that had no real place anywhere else in the house.
Mike’s small New York apartment is an airy, calm and organised space with masses of clever storage solutions. It’s hard to believe that it is less than 500 square feet in size; but it shows just how much you can do with small spaces, with some clever design and planning.
But it wasn’t always this way …
One of the most exciting things about receiving a gift is the suspense of what might be hidden inside – and then the pleasure of unwrapping it. Rather than just using standard wrapping paper, personalising your gifts by wrapping and decorating them in innovative ways makes them extra special.
With the gift giving season now well and truly upon us, here are some original gift wrapping ideas for you to try. Or why not use them as a starting point for inspiration to come up with some gift wrap ideas of your own? (And if you do, please send me some images.)
A simple but dramatic gift wrapping idea using autumn leaves and brown twine. Natural and earthly, the warm colours of the leaves are evocative of the season and it is so easy to do. Just wrap your present in simple white paper such as tissue paper or baking parchment. Then wrap the twine around in a crisscross pattern and place a leaf under each section.
Bright and fresh, white is a perennial favourite for interiors and home accessories. But now, with the return of minimalism, white is re-emerging as a major interior design trend.
Nothing reflects light better than white. It makes rooms feel more airy and gives them a feeling of space. An ideal choice for more compact rooms, it opens them up and creates the illusion of a larger space.
White highlights everything around it and works as a great background on which to add colour and bright home accessories.
Exceptionally versatile, it can be used to create an array of interior styles including modern minimalist; a sophisticated antique look; beach theme; vintage or shabby chic style.
The hallway is often the most cramped and cluttered part of the home. Space is very limited, and its design given less thought than other rooms. But your hallway is possibly one of the most important spaces in your home. It is the first impression your guests receive of your home. More importantly, the entrance hall is the first area you see when you come through your front door.
Entering a bright airy space is a welcome sight to come home to and can help set the tone for the rest of your place. Even if space is tight, there are tricks to make it feel bigger.
Here are some tips and ideas that will make your hallway look and feel larger than it really is.
Imagine coming home to a front door like this? Doesn’t it look warm and inviting? Whatever the weather you can’t help but feel uplifted.
As the days begin to get cooler and memories of summer holidays fade away, why not give your front door a Mediterranean style update for a warm welcome home – even on a grey and miserable day.
Turquoise has long been a popular colour in Mediterranean homes. Traditionally, it was believed to ward off bad luck, and now this vibrant colour is making a big comeback in modern interiors.
A clear desk is like a blank piece of paper: a space for new potential, possibilities and ideas.
But standing between us and that ideal working environment is paperwork. Clutter creating and time consuming, it stifles creativity and productivity.
There’s an almost mysterious process as it gradually morphs on your desk, and you’re suddenly faced with a threatening mass invading your workspace. So daunting, that often the temptation is to try and ignore it, in the hope it will simply disappear (by trying to hide it with yet more paper on top).
Then one day, the inevitable happens. You need an essential document and are forced to spend ages rummaging through the chaos in order to locate it.
How can we prevent that overwhelming paper clutter and the stress it brings with it?
What is the secret to having a clear minimalist desk where we can work more efficiently and with a sense of calm?
Home accessories can make or break the decor of a room.
Used well, home decor can enhance your interior and transform your space. However, the opposite is also true. Here are a few of the pitfalls, and how to avoid them.
This striking minimalist bedroom, is part of a suite known as the Lioness Den, in the Hempel Hotel, London. Famous for its daring design feature – the bed is on a platform, suspended from the ceiling by metal bars. Also situated on this mezzanine is an en-suite bathroom and storage space. Below, there is a spacious, light and sunny lounge.
The design of the room is sleek modern minimalism with a warm and organic atmosphere. It is in keeping with the interior in the rest of the hotel: a blend of minimalist design and 21st century technology and comfort, inspired by the essence of modern and ancient travel.
The sleeping area is intimate, yet feels spacious and is perfectly proportioned. It achieves balance and harmony through the use of warm lighting and some of the natural elements associated with Zen philosophy: earth, wood, metal and fire. The inspiring modern design offers many interior ideas you could use to create your own minimalist bedroom.
Home accessories are to interiors what a belt or striking piece of jewellery is to an outfit. They can change the entire look or mood of a room.
Accessories are able to turn a bland space into a warm and inviting one. They add personality to your home interior, stamping it with your own signature and style.
