Freshome.com - Interior Design & Architecture Inspiration Newsletter

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• Unique and Unexpected Design in Paris: Shop in a Swimming Pool
• How your Home Office can Help you ‘Go Green’
• Unequalled Weather-Dependent Architecture in Tokyo: Inside Out House
• Trendy & Vivid Boutique Hotel in Prague: MOODs
• Efficient Residence for Mother and Son: Lake House by David Guerra
• Contemporary Makeover of an Australian Home: the Haberfield House
• Organic Bed with a High Level of Comfort: SLEEPY

Unique and Unexpected Design in Paris: Shop in a Swimming Pool Posted: 10 May 2011 06:09 AM PDT Here is a post for all of you out there who  enjoy shopping. Hermes Boutique was designed by RDAI and is a conversion of the Lutetia swimming pool located in the heart of the Saint-Germaindes- Prés quarter of Paris, France. According to the architects, the project led by Denis Montel and the teams at RDAI mixes contrasts and complementarities. It was imagined more in terms of volume than surface area, in m3 more than in m2. In the end, it is an intervention both radical and astonishingly gentle. The project has a double aim. First of all to respect, conserve and reinterpret the architecture of the swimming pool. The only important modification was the covering of the pool by means of concrete composite floor slab supported by a light structure. Underneath, the pool has been integrally preserved. The facade,  giving onto the rue de Sèvres, has kept its original appearance. In such a volume, the lighting is crucial. The entire space is bathed in natural light that penetrates through the three large skylights above the atrium, softened only by a metal screen. Would you like to have your shopping done in a place like this? Ready for more amazing design ideas? Check below ! Beautiful Pool House in Connecticut by Hariri & Hariri Architecture Endless Swimming Pools 14 Indoor Pools for a Delightful Swimming Experience Embedded in Nature: Cube House in Singapore Swimming on a Rainy Day Made Possible with Telescopic Pool Enclosers International Design Center, Powered By Solar Energy Click here to connect with Freshome on or on

How your Home Office can Help you ‘Go Green’ Posted: 10 May 2011 03:48 AM PDT As the concern for saving the Earth's resources grow larger, and the need to preserve and cultivate new green methods grows greater, many homeowners are finding a home office a good way to 'go green'. For some people going green refers to their physical home office environment, and using practices that are saving Earth's precious resources, while for others it means opting to stay and work from home, instead of driving or using transportation to work. Whichever is your take on 'going green'; here are tips for how your home office can help you and the environment. A home office can save money & resources: Depending on where you live in approximation to your work, a zero energy and money commute to work may be ideal for you. Saving money on gas, public transportation fare, and less fumes and dangerous emissions from vehicles can be the benefit of having a home office. If you live close to local resources such as grocery and coffee shops, a quick walk to these in the morning can still help you get fresh air, while still returning to your home to work for the day. Green your home office environment: Just because you opt for a home office doesn't mean it needs to be stuck into a dark corner of your home. Choose an area of your home that has natural light, and if possible views to the outdoors and ability to receive fresh air. Use solvent and chemical free products and cleaners in your home when cleaning, so you don't inhale these products while working for hours in your home office. Opt for Energy Star rated (in the United States) or other government rated energy saving program electronics and office equipment in your home office. Choose office furniture that is eco-friendly: When planning out your home office area, consider using office furniture that is eco-friendly and doesn't emit VOC's (Volatile Organic Compounds). Instead of using particleboard – which is used by many self-assembly furniture manufacturers, opt for recycled metal or sustainable wood office furniture.  Use furniture that has been painted with non-toxic finishes and consider repurposing furniture in your home for new uses. Opt for saving office supplies: Let's face it, when most of us work at our bosses' office, office supply conservation isn't usually a high priority. While opting to work from home, you will now realize the importance of conserving office supplies.  One easy way to save is to try and go paperless in your daily regimen. Whether it is doing your bills, invoices, electronic communications, etc… The internet, social media, and email has made it easier to keep records electronically, rather than having filing drawers filled with paper that also take up valuable space in your home.  Consider utilizing your smart phone, organization apps, and "cloud" records retaining services to keep your files handy, and to save your home from being a paper waste pile from needless files. Your home office can help you 'go green' without having to make a huge sacrifice to do so. Even if your work lifestyle will only allow you to telecommute a few days out of the week, it will save you money, and may help you mentally recharge for the days you do go into the office. Follow these tips for helping your home office become a viable option for helping the Earth and you! Freshome reader's, how many of you have opted for a greener lifestyle by choosing to work from home? Ready for more amazing design ideas? Check below ! Seymour Home Office Armoire Home Office Ideas for Those of you Who are Working from Home Small Home Office Idea for a Small Apartment 63.02° house by Schemata Architecture Office Green Roofs Collection North Carlton Green House by Zen Architects Click here to connect with Freshome on or on

Unequalled Weather-Dependent Architecture in Tokyo: Inside Out House Posted: 10 May 2011 02:49 AM PDT The Inside Out House in Tokyo, Japan was constructed by Takeshi Hosaka Architects. Built for a married couple and their two cats, the residence’s architecture is based on the idea of cats and humans living together, sharing the same space. On the wall and roof, carefully placed openings allow light and air to reach the interiors and rain to quench the thirst of the greenery planted inside. The irregular form of the site was decisive for the building’s shape: an asymmetrical quadrangle perfect for cats and humans. The unconventional shape allowed the architects to play with the interiors. The lack of air-conditioning allows the inhabitants – humans and cats – to live as they would outside, in perfect harmony with the environment and depending on the weather. Protective boxes shelter the main living spaces: bedrooms and bathrooms on the first floor and a living room on top. The living room has glass sliding doors that make it easy to either enjoy the beautiful weather or be protected from rain and cold. The weather-dependent Inside Out House shows that people can embrace nature and extend their lives outside regular walls. Architecture has also proven that any need or desire can be met with the proper ideas. Could you live comfortable in a home like this one? Ready for more amazing design ideas? Check below ! 63.02° house by Schemata Architecture Office Amazing Home Breaking Architecture Rules in Tokyo’s Center Tokyo Residence by Yasuhiro Yamashita House with Great Views in Minami Boso Original and Intriguing 5 in 1 Home in Tokyo T-House by Den Nen Architecture Click here to connect with Freshome on or on

Trendy & Vivid Boutique Hotel in Prague: MOODs Posted: 10 May 2011 01:40 AM PDT MOODs hotel is an impressive architecture project located in central Prague, designed by Vladimir Zak and Roman Vrtiska. Here some information from the press release we received:  “Hotel MOODs offers a significantly different atmosphere than most other hotels of its kind. The main reason therefore is given due to the conception of hotel interiors, which are based on the usage of organic and natural materials such as wood, bamboo, moss etc., in contrast with rough natural materials such as concrete, glass and new technologies. The overall concept was created with a great accent on details and permeation of graphical elements and interiors. Hotel Moods arose in a block of flats in Klimentska street, in the heart of Prague, where a bank was originally situated in the early 90`s. Hotel MOODs disposes of 52rooms with Hästens beds. You can find there two mezonet apartments, a multifunctional conference room, massages and bar. Space in the reception area is variegated with a moss wall. Around a central chromed column is situated a typical custom made sofa. Dominating the reception desk is a wall created of cut bamboo sticks, which is in under-lighted version used as well behind the bar. The space in the front of the bar is decorated with a sanded wallpaper pattern. Hotel Moods occurs as an organic and at length thought unit, where several functional and aesthetic solutions fade into each other.” Freshome readers, we are looking forward to your “live” impressions regarding this hotel. Ready for more amazing design ideas? Check below ! Exquisite W Hotel in New York by BBG-BBGM Unique and Unexpected Design in Paris: Shop in a Swimming Pool Walter Towers : The Power of the W The Opposite House Hotel by Kengo Kuma & Associates The EPIC Miami Hotel and Residences Frame Bar: Flowing Bands For Exclusive Interiors Click here to connect with Freshome on or on

Efficient Residence for Mother and Son: Lake House by David Guerra Posted: 09 May 2011 11:56 PM PDT Showing off all its 340 square meters, the Lake House designed by David Guerra Architecture is located in Minas Gerais, Brazil. The highly inclined terrain on which the residence was built gave the architect the possibility to build a box-like structure with suspended balconies. The inhabitants are a mother and her adult son, so the house must fulfil their needs for privacy and comfort, as well as entertainment. The framed landscape ensured by a great position adds to the value, while the collection of spaces is highly personalized. The son benefits from a bedroom with a separate entrance, located on the lower floor, right next to the games room. The gourmet kitchen is also located on the lower floor, where there are also two additional bedrooms and a service area. A balcony and a deck make the connection to the fresh air and beautiful panoramas. The first floor features the garage, laundry room, living and dining room, balcony, a guest bedroom and the master bedroom. This is a great place to live that offers entertaining and relaxation spaces for its inhabitants and their guests, don’t you think?   Ready for more amazing design ideas? Check below ! Floating House in Ontario, Canada Farquar Lake Residence, a Wooden Architecture Wonder Timber Home Design by Sturgess Architecture Modern Cottage on West Lake Okoboji Shoreline “Icarus” Lamp, a Legendary Design at Milan 2010 Wall-Mounted Book Shelf – Bookhouse Click here to connect with Freshome on or on

Contemporary Makeover of an Australian Home: the Haberfield House Posted: 09 May 2011 08:53 AM PDT Haberfield House is one of those homes that conveys a sense of modern family urban living. Designed by Lahznimmo Architects, the 180 square meters residence situated in Sydney’s Hatherfield neighbourhood received a modern makeover not long ago. The existing floor plan was altered to make better use of light, natural ventilation and space. A dark glazed brick clad living cube in the back of the house connects the space to the outdoor garden and surprises with a high timber veneer ceiling. The kitchen received an addition in the form of a timber batten clad outdoor room, used as dining facility. A beautiful white breezeblock wall saved from the former house additions decorates the space. With a timber deck connecting the internal spaces, the residence ensures a chic and comfortable lifestyle while a 5000 litre tank underneath the deck collects rainwater for toilet flushing, clothes washing and the irrigation system. Surprisingly contemporary, the former crowded residence has been transformed into a modern gathering place for the family. Ready for more amazing design ideas? Check below ! Western Minneapolis Residence Contemporary Glass addition Adorning an 18 Century Home Modern Mountain Home Design by Ulisses Morato The Muston Street House in Sydney Contemporary Wall House in Seattle by Adams Mohler Ghillino Revamped Inner City Residence Featuring Contemporary Interior Design Click here to connect with Freshome on or on

Organic Bed with a High Level of Comfort: SLEEPY Posted: 09 May 2011 07:51 AM PDT It has been a while since we posted a comfortable sleeping unit on Freshome. SLEEPY, designed by the Italian architect Angelo Tomaiuolo and produced by Tonin CASA, is an aesthetically pleasing bed, ideal for contemporary houses. According to the producers, the wide base is upholstered with fabric or eco-leather in different finishes. The wrapping sculptural headboard contribute to its extremely original and unique shape. Production processes studied in order to guarantee each product with the right “dress” and to exalt the organic feel that Sleepy transmits. Its dimensions are quite impressive, which is why this king-sized bed is suited for large bedrooms. In the photos below you will also notice the BESIDE table, a minimalist glass addition that seems to harmonize perfectly with the design of the bed. Looks alluring? Ready for more amazing design ideas? Check below ! Eye-Catching Seating Items with a “Light Vintage” Look Casual Sofa With Extreme Comfort : “Supadupa” Bamboo Bed ELLIS Chair Organic Wooden House : The Dang Residence Vertical Garden on Building Walls in Osaka Click here to connect with Freshome on or on

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