Freshome.com - Interior Design & Architecture Inspiration Newsletter

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• Sophisticated and Bright Modern Residence in Germany with a Unique Facade
• How to Create a Comfortable Home
• Contemporary Hillside Residence for an Active Family by Heliotrope Architects
• Artistic Connection Between Human and Animal: Maximo Riera’s Octopus Chair
• Contemporary Structure for Dali’s works: Salvador Dali Museum
• Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg’s New [Rented] Home in California
• World’s Longest Sea Bridge in China : The Qingdao Haiwan Bridge ( Video )
• How to Choose a Chandelier to Beautify your Dining Area

Sophisticated and Bright Modern Residence in Germany with a Unique Facade Posted: 14 Jan 2011 07:13 AM PST A beautiful cantilevering house in Schondorf am Ammersee, Germany steals the attention from all the surrounding buildings. Its modernity and uniqueness comes from the cantilevering design and the 380 acrylic cylinders that perforate the outside structure of the house, creating a very contemporary design. Called House R, the residence by German architect Bembé Dellinger is a sophisticated and bright multi-storey home that looks magnificent in any season. The continuation of the exterior design can be clearly seen on the inside. Walls are punctuated here and there by the cylinders, creating a modern fairytale look. Huge glazed windows framed with black steel allow the space to be filled with natural light and create a connection between inside and outside. Panoramas of the nearby lake can be enjoyed by the inhabitants while having their morning coffee or whenever they need to restock on energy and beauty. Ready for more amazing design ideas? Check below ! Dupli.Casa in Germany, Modern as Hell Superb Spacious Residence with Industrial Design Elements Exquisite Family Residence in Shades of Blue Modern and Comtemporary Storage Furniture Facade Vase – Transform a Watter Bottle into a Vase The Yorkville Residence by Taylor Smyth Click here to connect with Freshome on or on

How to Create a Comfortable Home Posted: 14 Jan 2011 05:09 AM PST In our homes the ability to make them feel comfortable and unique is the appeal that draws us home every day. What is it in our homes that make us feel at ease, and gives us the desire to beautify them every chance we get? From the beginning of civilization where humans call home is a mixture of comfortable living environments, decorative touches and optimal climatic conditions. If you are trying to make your home feel more comfortable, or you are brand new to your living space, look at these tips to make your space feel like…home. Falling in love with your built environment: We often take for granted the color of our walls, the amount of windows we have, and the welcoming wood flooring below our feet. The reality is, there is a reason we enjoy living with soft textures and patterns, rather than four walls of solid gray concrete. In order to feel comfortable your built environment should show a reflection of you and your family's lifestyle. Bring in colors that remind you of your childhood, or spark an emotion that reminds you of your last vacation! Whatever is your inspiration, bring it into your built environment. Feel comfortable with the climate: Whether we think about it or not, the climate in your home can make the difference of how comfortable you and your guests feel. Those who live in extreme conditions of hot or cold, tend to stay uncomfortable and have to adjust the heating or air conditioning in their home. Natural light and fresh air are also factors of comfortability. Homes that have more operable windows to let in fresh air and natural light tend to be more attractive than the contrary. If you tend to stay uncomfortable in your space, see if any of these factors may be the culprit. Bring in nature: You've probably heard this time and time again, but natural elements are the easiest way to make humans feel comfortable. Water in the home is tranquil and meditative. Consider a fountain or even looking at a pool or lake out your window can bring comfort. Natural materials such as wood, natural stone, living plants and natural textiles feel good to the touch and are visually appealing. If you can't bring in the physical natural elements, bring in the colors that remind you of it. Blues, greens, browns, and neutral colors make for a comfortable environment that very few humans don't like. Surround your home in you: Quite simply, find your favorite decorative style and bring in touches of yourself. Whether that means adding a do it yourself project to the wall for personalization or reupholstering your favorite chair from college, find a way to reflect you in every room. Homes that have kids are easy to personalize, with their artwork, and personal belongings, kids naturally bring comfort to a home. If you have an apartment, put up pictures of your home town, or paint a mural of your favorite still life photo. The sky is the limit, comfort starts with you. A comfortable home is the number one mission of most humans. We want to come home from a day of stress and unwind, play, and relax in comforts of familiarity. From the décor you choose, to the climate you keep, your home can evoke a sense of calmness or excitement. However you choose to live, it is what will keep you comfortable and content in your home. Use these helpful tips to find your comfort zone and to make your home the best it can be. Freshome readers how do you make your home comfortable and unique? Ready for more amazing design ideas? Check below ! 5 Reasons Why Home Design Matters How to Create a Relaxing Reading Nook Suitcase Furniture by Erik De Nijs How to Choose the Perfect Furniture for your Home Office Beautiful Chair for Adults and Fun Sofa for Kids How To Create a Minimalist Home Click here to connect with Freshome on or on

Contemporary Hillside Residence for an Active Family by Heliotrope Architects Posted: 14 Jan 2011 02:43 AM PST The Grand Creek Residence was designed by Heliotrope Architects and is located in Missoula, Montana. With a complex architecture developed in a contemporary manner, the house manages to take advantage of its natural environment while enjoying a high level of privacy. Here is the description from the architects: “Designed for an active young family, the house is a wood frame, cedar clad building oriented to minimize exposure to inclement weather from the north and maximize solar gain and views south across a larch covered hillside. A single, continuous copper shed roof shelters the building. Primary living spaces are located on the upper floor with sleeping, recreation and service functions below, partially submerged below grade, and open towards the creek, the pool and the spa. An open plan and ample natural light nurtures the modern family lifestyle through all seasons. A "tatami-box" inserted into the living room re-conceives the dining experience and pays homage to the client's period of residence in Japan.” ( Photography Lara Swimmer) Ready for more amazing design ideas? Check below ! Contemporary Residence in Brighton, Australia Spectacular Nature Retreat: North Beach Residence by Heliotrope Architects Darnell Residence Contemporary Riverfront Amalfi Residence Contemporary Belair Residence in California Beautiful Family Residence by Bates Masi Architects Click here to connect with Freshome on or on

Artistic Connection Between Human and Animal: Maximo Riera’s Octopus Chair Posted: 14 Jan 2011 01:31 AM PST What you are about to see is a creative approach to seating by Spanish artist Maximo Riera. Called the “Octopus Chair”, this next limited edition furniture piece is part of a larger collection, named “Animal Chairs” that encompasses over 15 pieces of art furniture, each depicting another animal, from mammals to reptiles. The Octopus Chair is supposed to be an elegant and majestic sculptural piece of furniture, one that remains true to the animal’s every detail. Maximo’s portfolio site speaks about the attention to details and fidelity to the octopus’ shape, which is displayed in strong connection to the classic chair: “The artist wanted to be faithful to the animal’s physique and the natural majesty of its movements. Maximo therefore attended to each physical detail of the octopus in order to make the animal the unique protagonist of the whole piece.” Over thirty professionals worked on this project, using a CNC milling machine to produce the chair. Modern technology has allowed for the shapes to be cut out of foam and then assembled into what became the Octopus Chair. Via Designboom Ready for more amazing design ideas? Check below ! Octopus Chair, Unusual and Daring Karakiri the Friendly Octopus Turning an Old Pool Into a Skaters’ Heaven : Octopus by NEVERCREW'S Ball Chair by David Di Benedict Sweet Plush Animal Speakers Human CD Holder Collection Click here to connect with Freshome on or on

Contemporary Structure for Dali’s works: Salvador Dali Museum Posted: 14 Jan 2011 12:02 AM PST All the US art lovers will be happy to know that the new Salvador Dali Museum in St. Petersburg, Florida opened itself to the public with a great opening on January 11, 2011, at 11:11 am. The amazing structure of 68,000 square feet reunites renowned Dali artworks in the biggest collection ever of the painter’s work. An artist like Dali deserves a structure that represents his quintessence, a shelter for his many artworks. Now the artistic movement has received an architectural present to gracefully display the masterpieces. The ones that made this all possible was the international practice HOK. Their team set out to discover how to better express the surrealist art in a hurricane threatened area. An amazing design process led to creating a structure that both protects the artwork and is a clear statement of Dali`s work. The unfinished concrete box that shelters the exhibition at the third floor is surrounded by two glass atriums that offer light and movement to the building. It now became a landmark building, an astonishing place to grow: “The Salvador Dalí Museum shall educate the public and promote understanding, enjoyment and scholarly examination of art through the exhibition of works by Dalí and artists of similar vision. The Salvador Dalí Museum shall preserve and expand its collection of art of Dalí and related archival material.” Via Designboom Ready for more amazing design ideas? Check below ! Architecture with a Strong Personality: Villa Dali in Rotterdam Casa Gutierrez in El Salvador by P&P Architects Fascinating Greek Home in New York, a Living Art Museum Zaha Hadid : Complete Works Book Zaha Hadis’s MAXXI Museum in Rome, a 224 Million Dollars Investment Skid Row by Philippe Malouin Click here to connect with Freshome on or on

Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg’s New [Rented] Home in California Posted: 13 Jan 2011 02:37 PM PST On Mark’s Facebook page, the 26 year billionaire listed his personal interests as “openness, making things that help people connect and share what’s important to them, revolutions, information flow, minimalism”. We don’t know if these life principles were the ones that indirectly led him towards this new home, a five bedrooms and around 3,800 square feet residence located in Palo Alto neighborhood, California. What we find intriguing is the fact that this place is a rental and that it looks quite modest when compared to other celebrity mansions. CEO Mark Zuckerberg currently lives just down the street from Facebook’s headquarters, where he is said to spend about 16 hours a day making sure that our networking needs are met. And yes, the black Acura parked in front of the house belongs to Mark. Freshome readers, we are certain at least some of you guys wondered how Mark’s home must look like. Impressed?- via Gawker Ready for more amazing design ideas? Check below ! We have a Facebook Fan Page ! Freshome.com is now on Facebook ( Join us ) Facebook Headquarters in California Interior Design Advice for a Freshome.com Fan Contemporary California Hacienda by Brett Barrett Contemporary Belair Residence in California Click here to connect with Freshome on or on

World’s Longest Sea Bridge in China : The Qingdao Haiwan Bridge ( Video ) Posted: 13 Jan 2011 09:56 AM PST The world’s longest cross sea bridge has been revealed by China, proving once again how technology and economics are the strongest points of its economy. According to the Telegraph, the Qingdao Haiwan Bridge measures 26.4 miles (42.6 km) and links Qingdao city in China’s eastern Shandong province with the Huangdao district. Having an amazing architectural importance, the Qingdao Haiwan Bridge helps cut the distance between the two points by 30 km, a life saver in such a busy society like China’s, not to mention the touristic attraction. The 6 lane bridge is almost three miles longer than the previous record holder, the Lake Pontchartrain Causeway in Louisiana. The major infrastructure project consisted of four years of labour and US$ 8.6 billion spent. The money went into 450,000 tons of steel, capable of withstanding a magnitude 8.0 earthquake. Built in the Jiaozhou river delta, the freshly finished remarkable structure is supposed to hold the record for only a few years, because the officials already announced they started working on another bridge, that links southern province of Guangdong with Hong Kong and Macau. Finally if you’d like to see this amazing bridge in video be sure to check out the video below. Enjoy ! Ready for more amazing design ideas? Check below ! Adventurer's Bridge House by Max Pritchard Architect Latest Seoul Major Tourist Attraction : Banpo Bridge Largest Solar Powered Building in the World Unveiled in China Stupid Record : World’s Longest Sofa Record Broken Remarkable Home with a View of the Golden Gate Bridge in California The Very Weighty Tables of Daniel Meise Click here to connect with Freshome on or on

How to Choose a Chandelier to Beautify your Dining Area Posted: 13 Jan 2011 07:36 AM PST Lighting in your dining room area is important for how you and your guests enjoy your meal. In modern homes an informal and formal dining area are more common place, while more traditional homes may only have one dining area. Regardless of the form of dining area you have, the chandelier that adorns the space should feel welcoming and native to the dining room.  When choosing one, consider the size of your room, the décor and whether it's for casual or formal dining. Read on to see tips for choosing a chandelier for your dining area. What's your décor style: Depending on your home, the dining area may be where your family congregates on Sundays for a huge dinner, or it may be an intimate area for you and a few friends. A chandelier should reflect your personal style and that of your home. For a casual dining room consider chandeliers with fabric lamp shades. Different than the typical lamp shade, dining room fixtures that hang down can be coupled with fabric and a down light.  This casts a soft glow in the room and delivers directional lighting too. Be original: Remember when chandeliers used to be comprised of 1000 pieces of lead crystal and they usually cost enough to furnish your entire house? Today chandeliers have come a long way. They no longer have to made of crystal and beads.  Nontraditional chandeliers can range from vintage glass bottles to sea shells! If you love crafts you can make your own from a light kit and your imagination. Your local arts and crafts or larger lighting stores will carry do-it-yourself light kits and have ideas for decorating it. Focal point of the dining room: Chandeliers that are the main attraction of the dining room will never go out of style.  Often times an antique fixture in a modern dining room, or a red chandelier in a predominantly white room will give you added visual appeal.  Chandeliers can be the centerpiece of discussion at the table or they can be subdued and blend in beautifully with the surroundings. Lighting can be sculptural: Often times chandeliers are thought of as brightly illuminating a space. Recently chandeliers have taken on a lighter and airy nature in forms of small candles and subtle lighting sources. Your dining room may be in an open floor plan concept and it receives plenty of light.  Use chandeliers as artwork and sculpture as opposed to having to be the obvious lighting source. The more you blur the lines of traditional and contemporary the more you will love your dining room space! Local artisans in your area may have creative chandeliers to make your dining room unique and special. Chandeliers are gorgeous in today's interior design. You have the choice of keeping the traditional look of the past or starting a new trend of your own! For those that build their own fixture, ensure that you use the proper electrical wiring and non flammable supplies for your chandelier masterpiece. Chandeliers are just one more way to make your home dining experience a true treat. Freshome reader's do you own a chandelier in your home? How did you decide on the fixture? If not, what type would you love to see in your home? Ready for more amazing design ideas? Check below ! How to Choose the Perfect Area Rug for your Dining Room Beautiful Room : Chandelier Creative The Mismatched Dining Room : Tips for creating a well-balanced mismatched style Shoal – Fishes Chandelier Fringerie Chandelier by Dottings Design Kitchen and Living-Room Combined. A Few Fun Solutions Click here to connect with Freshome on or on

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