Freshome.com - Interior Design & Architecture Inspiration Newsletter

---

• Ecological, Friendly and Unconventional: Earth Homes by Vetsch Architektur
• How to Create Multifunctional Play Areas for your Kids
• Soft and Dreamy Retro NES Nintendo Controller Rug from WTCrafts
• Alluring Feminine Loft with Beautiful Rustic Details
• Opened to a Breathtaking Landscape: Casa Farellones in Chile
• Elegant Natural Speakers Displaying Porcelain and Wooden Elements [Video]
• Eco-friendly Handmade from London Oak iPad Docking Station: iLog

Ecological, Friendly and Unconventional: Earth Homes by Vetsch Architektur Posted: 19 May 2011 07:24 AM PDT Earth House Estate Lättenstrasse is a residential area composed of nine unconventional homes and located in Dietikon, Switzerland. Here is a project description from Vetsch Architektur; The earth- covered houses are grouped centered around a small artificial lake with the entrance well hidden and integrated at the side of the settlement. That not just serves the completion of the form, but also guarantees the secondary access of the particular houses through the subterranean parking lot. The residential settlement consists of nine houses. The daytime areas are situated towards the south, the nighttime area towards the north. In the middle, you find the bathrooms and the connecting stairs to the basement. All the bathrooms get natural light through rooftop windows. The isolation consists of recycled glass, an absolute environment friendly product. The water protection is added directly on the sprayed concrete. On top of the isolation is a protective layer with natural earth, which can be used to grow grass or plants on the rooftop. How do you appreciate the architecture of the Earth Homes by Vetsch Architektur ? Do you find it more appealing than that of modern buildings? Ready for more amazing design ideas? Check below ! Earth House Estate Lättenstrasse EDITT Tower – Singapore Goes Eco-Friendly Sophisticated and Bright Modern Residence in Germany with a Unique Facade Pb Elemental Designs 3 Homes in 1, in Seattle Eco Friendly Furniture – PLI Rotating UFO-Homes: Solaleya Domes Click here to connect with Freshome on or on

How to Create Multifunctional Play Areas for your Kids Posted: 19 May 2011 04:28 AM PDT Wouldn't it be nice if your home was large enough to have a separate play area for the kids, an area for you to watch television, and a separate area for everyone to coexist and still be happy? Well, maybe in a dream world, but in the real world, most homes have to be creative when thinking of areas for the kids to play. Quite possibly, the main gathering areas, such as the living room and family room have to accommodate the kids, the older siblings, and the parents. Here are tips for creating multifunctional play areas that the whole family will enjoy. Expand upon what you already have: In many homes, you already have the 'bones' for a good playroom.  Consider using main walls of your living room or dining room that have plenty of space for kids to be imaginative with.  Wide open walls can be used for bulletin boards, lining up easels for art projects, or can be painted with chalkboard paint for the ultimate in non-stop creativity for your kids. If you are handy with do it yourself projects, consider building built-ins for desks for adults and children to utilize while other family members are using the wall chalkboard. Turn unused space into a playroom: If your home has storage space or rooms that are not being used to their full potential, consider transforming them into multifunctional play area and congregating space. Basements, storage rooms, and unused dens or offices are good spots to transform. The advantage of these areas are the ability to take playful, whimsical wall colors, fun furniture, and combine the space with adult sized furniture, and storage, and the space instantly can house all ages of the family. Use one wall for a television and video game area, and the entire family will enjoy using this space at separate times of the day. Combine education and play: For many homes, the ability to have a separate studying quiet area and an activity play area is not realistic.  Combine the two functions, and separate at what times of the day you house the separate activities. Desks for kids that have computers and organized space for school work and activities, can later be used for board games and crafting projects. Consider using desks that have plenty of top work surface space and can take advantage of vertical wall space as well. Organization stores have great ideas for hanging baskets, shelves, and colorful bins to keep kids' belongings close at hand, yet out of parent's way! Share the space, but still make it fun: If you live in a small home or an apartment, find ways to share the space with your little ones, but still make it fun. Opt for neutral tones and use organizational decor to add color, and creative inspiration. Colorful rugs, accessories, and wall decor can make your child feel like they aren't giving up being a kid! If your main area has to be used for adult entertaining at a later time, opt for family friendly furniture slipcovers, and transitional color palettes that will make your home still feel sophisticated. A neutral palette of chocolate browns mixed with blues and greens can feel grown up or kid-like, depending on what decorative accents you have in the room. Having a multifunctional playroom in your home can keep the sanity between all family members. Since children don't play 24 hours a day, it is realistic to house a playroom in the same place where you have common household activities. For open floor plans that have a great room, instead of individualized space, consider housing louder play areas closer to the kitchen area, and quieter play areas closer to the bedrooms. This will help your household maximize the benefit of combining multifunctional playrooms, and make you happier at the end of the day. Freshome readers how do you solve the play area in your home? Ready for more amazing design ideas? Check below ! Multifunctional Leather Furniture : The Cayman Colorful Radiators For The Children’s Rooms Modern Bedroom Furniture for Kids More Freedom for Kids Imagination with the Chalkboard Table How to Organize a Kid's Playroom Multifunctional Design Click here to connect with Freshome on or on

Soft and Dreamy Retro NES Nintendo Controller Rug from WTCrafts Posted: 19 May 2011 03:32 AM PDT For those of you who love games or have kids, this next rug can be a creative salvation from boring monochrome rugs. The NES Nintendo Controller Rug has the same shape and colour combination of the original controller. Made from soft yarn and with plush fleece edging, the retro rug can be the perfect gift for someone who intensely enjoyed the Nintendo games or even for yourself. Even your kid can benefit from an old-school design that caressed you own childhood or teen years. Designed by United States-based WTCrafts, the fun and functional controller rug is a soft and comfortable reminder of how simple things used to be. Use the rug to improve your game room overall look or place it at the foot of your children’s beds to offer them a journey to the past. Found on Incredible Things, the controller rug caught our attention instantly. Measuring 28.5 inches wide and 13 inches tall, the NES Nintendo Controller Rug can be ordered from the designer’s Etsy Shop for $59. Now let’s see, how many Nintendo games fans do we have among our readers? Ready for more amazing design ideas? Check below ! Wiimote Cabinet – Furniture for Gamers Retro Clock – Flip Down Control Your Curtains with a Wiimote Retro Inspired Chairs Retro Contemporary Coffee Table by Calligaris Elegant and Versatile Storage Console: The Parker by Jory Brigham Click here to connect with Freshome on or on

Alluring Feminine Loft with Beautiful Rustic Details Posted: 19 May 2011 02:18 AM PDT This exquisite feminine apartment was designed by Studio Vuong and is located in Barcelona, Spain. Stretching over a living area of 100 square meters, the place is just perfect for a romantic bachelorette. The living room is the core of this loft, with a simple and intriguing sofa that looks a bit vintage, two incredible looking wooden improvised coffee tables, a reading corner that is more than welcoming and a dining table for four. The ground oak floor gives a rustic look and at the same time contrasts the white walls. The apartment also has a lovely terrace with a rest area. The bright atmosphere is ensured by large windows and an openness towards the terrace. Contradicting the chromatics of the living room,  a vivid bedroom with a highly exotic feel adds the finishing touch to this original and charming crib. Ready for more amazing design ideas? Check below ! Victorian Loft : Located in Boston (photos) Bright Two-Storey Loft in Downtown San Antonio: The Collector’s Loft A Stunning Combination Between Classic and Modern : Abril Furniture Collection How to Bring Masculine Details into your Home Rustic Home Touches to Bring Luxury and Nature Together How to Bring Feminine Decor Qualities into your Home Click here to connect with Freshome on or on

Opened to a Breathtaking Landscape: Casa Farellones in Chile Posted: 19 May 2011 12:39 AM PDT Casa Farellones was designed by dRN Architects and is located in a mountain valley, outside Santiago, Chille.  Accroding to the project developers, “the design proceeds from the particularities of the topography, its slope, its vegetation, its views and the requirements of the client. All these conditions allowed a new definition of the program for a single-family house and to turn it into a single-person one in a spot that allows him to get away from the city and live in a close relationship with the landscape of the Andean foothills. The topography is interrupted by an 8×36m horizontal plane running north-south against the slope. The platform generates a stable and continuous surface area that includes a guest room, a patio, a pavilion, a terrace and a pool, which occupy its entire length. The heavy surface of the patio, raised 70cm above the level of the platform, is defined by the base of a pre-existing hawthorn tree. The pavilion is a glass enclosure beneath a light-weight roof, dark in color, an almost empty space from where the gaze traverses the glass in the direction of the foothills, the deep valley, the pines and the space immediately outside, taking in every field of vision the terrain offers”. We have to admit we were captivated by the incredible landscape this home is so perfectly connected to. Enjoy the relaxing photos taken by James Silverman and do not hesitate to give us your feedback below. Ready for more amazing design ideas? Check below ! Beautiful and Spacious Rustic Home in Chile Modern Chilean Residence Taking In the Spectacle of Nature Casa Reutter by Architect Mathias Klotz Architecture for Humanity : Donate For Reconstructing Chile Countryhome in Iceland : An Architecture Plan Determined by Nature Casa Blair Road by Ong & Ong Click here to connect with Freshome on or on

Elegant Natural Speakers Displaying Porcelain and Wooden Elements [Video] Posted: 18 May 2011 09:41 AM PDT The Natural Speakers are the exquisite contemporary decorative and functional items I would love to have in my home. Their porcelain speaker casing provides a clear resonance and mellow sound and visually dominates the attention. The sound that each porcelain casing emits is strictly verified during production: “Amplified inside the ceramic and wood transmission construction, the sound gains a slight echo, creating a natural feeling of resonance, resembling the distinct flair of an acoustic instrument right in front of you.” Each speaker is assembled by hand and carefully tied together. Created by Studio Joon&Jun, the speakers display simple punctured porcelain volumes with a base made from neatly stacked wood parts. Look below to see the natural speaker concept illustration and a video of the manufacturing and testing for great sound process. The creators of this amazing decorative speakers explains how they came up with the idea:”Whereas a lot of speakers are constructed to produce a rather fat bass and sharp high tones, we felt the sound was kind of stuck inside the speakers, missing a natural vibe and ambiance. During the development of the 'the natural speaker' we discovered the great properties of porcelain as a speaker casing, providing a clear resonance and mellow sound.” Ready for more amazing design ideas? Check below ! Dragon Speakers Spherical Speakers Made from High Class Natural Wood Elegant Wooden Towel Hanger, Milan 2010 Waterproof Porcelain Vase by Maxim Velčovsk Stylish “Lantern” Speakers from Xount JBL Control Now Speakers Click here to connect with Freshome on or on

Eco-friendly Handmade from London Oak iPad Docking Station: iLog Posted: 18 May 2011 08:27 AM PDT After sharing with you a list of 15 iPad Stands That Will Cuddle Your favourite Gadget in Style, we found this gorgeous and simple iPad docking station that we just had to show you. Its simplicity stands at the base of this eco-friendly design.  “Your iPad can fit either vertically or horizontally. It’s functional, useful and makes a lovely antidote to high tech living.” The friendly design features a simple wooden support that can turn your iPad into a TV, a photo frame, an alarm clock or even a computer, if you attach a keyboard. Designed as “a purpose built charging station“, the iLog allows you to enjoy a simpler way of dealing with technology. Created by Twisted Twee, the iLog provides a natural handmade oak stand that can help you use your gadget to its full potential. Made from reclaimed London logs, the iPad stand ensures a comfortable position for your gadget. It comes nicely wrapped in a blue package and is available for purchase from Not On The High Street. Do you hate it or love it? Ready for more amazing design ideas? Check below ! BeoSound 8 : Sleek Docking Station for iPhone, iPod, and iPad Luxurious Home in London’s Holland Park iPad 2 Shows Off New Features and Design Slick and Practical iPhone and iPad Duo Charger iPad Mounted in Kitchen Cabinet : Smart or Not ? Gorgeous Residence Combining Historic and Modern Features Click here to connect with Freshome on or on

You are subscribed to email updates from Freshome.com - Interior Design & Architecture Newsletter To stop receiving these emails, you may unsubscribe now.	Email delivery powered by Google
Google Inc., 20 West Kinzie, Chicago IL USA 60610