Uncluttered Modern Family Home Breathing in Canadian River Panoramas

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• Uncluttered Modern Family Home Breathing in Canadian River Panoramas
• Vibrant Bar&Restaurant Inside an Articulated Wooden Snake: Izakaya Kinoya
• Extremely Creative Vertical Apartment Showroom: IKEA Climbing Wall in France
• 10 Design Lessons You Can Learn From Scandinavian Interiors
• Modern Family Retreat With a Curving Upper Level: House Revnice

Uncluttered Modern Family Home Breathing in Canadian River Panoramas Posted: 16 Sep 2014 07:12 AM PDT Defined by simplicity and a powerful connection to its green surroundings, the Dunrobin Shore modern family home was envisioned by Christopher Simmonds Architect as being a personal oasis near a crowded urban fabric. A unique custom home design was envisioned by the architect as shaping a private heaven for the family living here, a cluster of spaces adapted for a modern family lifestyle. Bright and airy, easy to navigate and in permanent visual contact with the green outdoors of Dunrobin, Ottawa, the modern Canadian home showcases a blend of modesty and simplification few homes provide. “To the river, a continuous wall of glass spans the living, dining and kitchen space allowing a full panorama of the passing seasons.” There’s no doubt this home is ravishing in its simplicity and the architect knew how to make the most of views, space and functionality: “Away from the water the view is framed and edited by a simple porch. The porch roof has been opened to create space from nature, a single Japanese maple which is inserted as a foil to the simple black stained cedar cladding of the house. The garage volume is differentiated from the house by a cladding of grey cement board. To the river, the simple cantilevered form of the deck is surrounded by frameless glass. The porch and deck, occurring opposite each other, stretch the space of the living room out into an experience of the landscape and provide varied options for sun, shade, shelter, and view.” One last thing you might want to know about this unique modern family home is that it was designed within a modest budget. The attention to details alongside a remarkable mix of natural and industrial materials create a soothing effect. Bamboo stair treads complement polished concrete floors on the lower level while bamboo flooring and cabinetry flood the master suite with warmth. Completely vibrating on the same wavelength as the outdoors, private spaces were visually entangled with the raw, inviting riverside landscape outdoors. The post Uncluttered Modern Family Home Breathing in Canadian River Panoramas appeared first on Freshome.com.

Vibrant Bar&Restaurant Inside an Articulated Wooden Snake: Izakaya Kinoya Posted: 16 Sep 2014 04:16 AM PDT Izakaya Kinoya in Montreal, Canada is the latest restaurant & bar project belonging to interior designer Jean de Lessard.  In his work, the architect emulates the primary spirit, function and aesthetics of the izakaya, an informal place where people drank beer and sake. We found out the unconventional restaurant has always been full since its opening, despite the fact that one must stand shoulder to shoulder. The soft lighting and the cozy atmosphere makes it a friendly environment where the smell of wood mingles pleasantly with the aromas of mouth-watering dishes. The notion of confinement is staged with simplicity using fractal geometry and the broken line: a box with a shape that recalls an articulated snake. The box creates a break between the known/predictable (the outside world, the opening) and the unknown/unpredictable (chaotic enclosed interior, full of nooks and crannies). “For a space to become Event or Emotion, it must generate its own energy. I designed an enclosed space that is totally focused on the business of partying. The design elements are deliberately oppressive or aggressive, so that it is anarchic, rough and where we are loudly heckled“, explains Jean de Lessard. The vertical drop of 4 to 5 feet between the front and rear parts of the ceiling contributes to the cocoon effect. [Photos and information provided via e-mail by Jean de Lessard] The post Vibrant Bar&Restaurant Inside an Articulated Wooden Snake: Izakaya Kinoya appeared first on Freshome.com.

Extremely Creative Vertical Apartment Showroom: IKEA Climbing Wall in France Posted: 16 Sep 2014 12:23 AM PDT The advertising campaigns implemented by Swedish furniture brand IKEA usually rank high in creativity, but wait ’till you see the company’s latest “stunt”! IKEA climbing wall is a vertically designed apartment that anyone with proper feet muscles and a soft spot for adventure can discover. This colorful installation near the massive Gothic Clermont-Ferrand Cathedral is meant to promote the retailer’s 30th store opened in France and it was developed in collaboration with local communication agency Ubi Bene. Joyfulness of playing is released through vibrant colors, powerfully contrasting the black lava monument behind. Just like on a regular climbing panel, adventurers can ascend by using various grips for hand and feet. Only that in this case, these climbing milestones are also chunks of real furniture: lockers, tables, shelving units and even beds. The coolest advantage is that if you feel tired, you can relax in some of the seating units on display. Each climber is helped along the way with safety gear and advice from professional staff. This IKEA installation is one of the most intriguing showrooms we’ve seen- we can’t think of a more inviting way to convince passers-by to test a furniture product.   The post Extremely Creative Vertical Apartment Showroom: IKEA Climbing Wall in France appeared first on Freshome.com.

10 Design Lessons You Can Learn From Scandinavian Interiors Posted: 15 Sep 2014 12:07 PM PDT Scandinavian design is modern and minimalist with plenty of natural views. Image Source: Jeffers Design Group You may be surprised to hear that the beauty of the Scandinavian design movement wasn’t fully recognized until the 1950′s. Since then, this minimalist European design has brought acclaim to many prominent and noteworthy Scandinavian designers who have made a global mark by creating unique furnishings and housewares. While some may immediately think of the primary blue and yellow buildings of Ikea, there is so much more to Scandinavian design than this iconic chain store. Scandinavian design extends to the countries of Denmark, Norway, Sweden and Finland—offering a vast and eclectic taste that personifies this design movement and is characterized by simplicity, functionality and minimalism. What can we learn from these simple, yet unique European designs?  How do they differ from North America’s minimalist designs? Let’s take a look at 10 designs that are singularly Scandinavian to see what we can gleam from them. We can gleam a lot of great design ideas from Scandinavian interiors. Image Source: Gerstner 1)  Neutral Colors in Scandinavian Designs The calm, muted tones of pale blue, cool grey, white and cream are seen everywhere in Scandinavian interiors. This color scheme has almost become the trademark of Scandinavian design and seems to be one of the main draws to its global mimicry. These colors are unique to Scandinavian minimalism—especially the pale blues; they are not commonly seen in North American minimalist designs. However, not all Scandinavian designs are muted and calm—in fact, there are some noteworthy designers who preferred a much bolder design statement, such as the popular Marimekko; a Finnish design company that prefers bold, graphic and colorful arrangements. Whether you prefer bright, bold interiors or a more calm serene quality—you can achieve a distinctly Scandinavian style in your home. A neutral color palette is favored in Scandinavian design. Image Source: Studio-Revolution  2) White Wood Floors Unlike North American homes, carpet is not a common occurrence in European homes. Scandinavian designers have always seemed to prefer the use of simple, white wood from floor-to-ceiling. It is easy to understand why this is so popular when one looks at rooms designed in this manner— white wood floors make a room seem open, airy, clean, and draw much-needed attention to the interior craftsmanship of a rooms architecture and furnishings. If the flooring is not white wood, then it still remains light in color with wood such as birch or pine,  or a cool grey stone tile. Mimic this clean design by using  light wood wherever possible—it is certainly an interior design that you will not grow tired of. White wood is very common in Scandinavian designs. Image Source: Tim Clarke  3) Let in the Light With upwards of 60 days of Polar Nights, lighting can become essential and revered. This is what most Scandinavians deal with every winter, depending on their location within the Polar Circle. The site, My Little Norway, offers unique tips to surviving all those cold, dark days, but also points out that Scandinavians love summer to the fullest, and while they may have many dark days they also have summer days where the sun remains high in the sky until midnight! What better way to let in the much-loved light than large windows? Floor-to-ceiling windows are common in Scandinavian designs for this very reason. Most Scandinavian rooms have large windows, allowing natural light to stream in. Image Source: Jeffers Design Group  4) A Love of Nature Scandinavians have a deep-rooted love of nature. With past-times revolving around outdoor activities such as biking, hiking and swimming—they take every possible opportunity to be in the great outdoors. Of course, during those cold winter days and nights, it can be easy to forget the natural beauty of their much-missed summer world, so they bring nature indoors as much as possible, beating the winter blues. Interiors reflect this by bringing in numerous natural plants, and furnishings that mimic nature through their rustic wood grain. Also, most Scandinavian homes have some sort of balcony where natural views can easily be enjoyed. Scandinavian’s love to view nature indoors and out. Image Source: Bruns Architecture  5) A Touch Of Elegant Country in Scandinavian Homes This is the look that has iconicized  Scandinavian Design—white walls, Swedish antique clocks, crystal chandeliers, curved rustic white wood furnishings, white linens, and simple flower arrangements—it is a marriage of down-to-earth attitudes with understated elegance (see image below). It is easy to see why this design has been copied time and time again—it personifies the definition of grace. If this is the Scandinavian look you love, then you will need to do a little antique shopping.  In fact, it can be easy to replicate this style by simply painting some rustic furniture pieces white, and adopting this relaxed yet elegant feel in your home. So, loosen up; open your windows, letting in the cool breeze and natural views—this is a look that says relax and stay while. Look at this wonderfully refined country elegance! Image Source: Swedish Interior Design 6) Add a Sauna It may not be common knowledge, but saunas are part of the Scandinavian lifestyle.  These are not typical American saunas that one usually finds in a fitness center, rather Scandinavian saunas are ingrained in the culture and have their very own etiquette. An article by, This is Finland, aptly points out that visitors need to go with the flow and follow the “bare facts” that saunas involve taking off all your clothes—yes, you go naked in the sauna and sit with a group of other naked people to sweat in 100 degree temperatures! It is estimated that there are two million saunas in Finland alone, so hop into this relaxing cultural pastime by incorporating a sauna  within the privacy of your own home—maybe you will even dare to go bare. Sauna’s are the epitome of Scandinavian culture. Image Source: Prestige Saunas 7) Form and Function of Scandinavian Homes Functionality reigns supreme within these minimalist Scandinavian designs. Homes are meant to be open, airy and have a flow that allows easy living. This is not to say that art and romanticism doesn’t have a place in these designs—culture and art play a large role in Scandinavian life, it is only natural for this to show up in their home interiors, as well. Smashing Magazine offers an interesting reason for this minimalist design—Survival in the North required products to be functional; they didn’t need heavy decorative elements, only what was functional and useful. Maybe we should all take a cue from this simpler lifestyle and get rid of some of our un-required clutter. Scandinavian homes have character and a lived-in feeling. Image Source: The Kitchen Designer 8) Scandinavian Furniture While modern Scandinavian furniture takes advantage of innovative textiles, these textiles were not available to the early craftsmen. Amazing craftsmanship can still be seen in today’s Scandinavian homes via antiques and current designs. No matter what decade their furniture is derived from, one thing is certain—attention to detail and high-quality materials will always show-up in Scandinavian furniture designs. A simplistic, yet artful, approach reveals itself in all their furnishings through simple straight lines combined with understated ornateness. Quite literally, their furniture is like an object of art, and it will last for a lifetime. This is the reason that there are still some great antiques that remain on the market. If an antique is out of your price range, then consider looking to many of the modern Scandinavian furniture designers who are making an impact in this market. Scandinavian furniture is modern and features simple, straight lines. Image Source: Baan Design 9) Simple, Yet Cozy Corner Fireplaces It’s a long winter, so a fireplace is a must! Unlike North American homes, Scandinavian fireplaces do not usually take center- stage in the middle of one wall.  They were never meant to be ornate centerpieces with mantles to decorate. Rather, these fireplaces were functional and meant to provide warmth and a place to cook. Of course, modern homes do not need to worry so much about this functionality, so the fireplace design has become a bit more of an artful focal point, yet they usually still remain in the corner of a room. There are plenty of online sources that offer unique Scandinavian-style fireplaces, so take a look and see if you can find one to add this warm eclectic touch to your home. Add a cozy, yet modern, corner fireplace to your Scandinavian home. Image Source: Marica McKeel  10)  Eco-Friendly Interiors Along with their love of nature is a desire to nurture it.  Modern Scandinavian homes feature world-leading green technologies that are exported around the globe. Through political movements and a strong desire to save nature, Scandinavians have helped to lead the eco-friendly design movement. Scandinavians not only preach this lifestyle, they live it — with 99% of Norway’s power being derived by hydropower. The entire world could stand up and take notice of the Scandinavians love and respect for nature— and we could all mimic this lifestyle and save a tree or two. Scandinavian’s love nature and nurture it, too. Image Source: Mary Ellen Kowalewski Are we all ready to hop on a place and move to Norway, Finland, Denmark or Sweden? It certainly is tempting when you see all the beautiful homes and natural views that Scandinavia has to offer! Since most of us are stuck in place (or don’t want to suffer through their dark winters), we should try to mimic the Scandinavian design within our own homes. It is as easy as following these 10 design lessons outlined above. So go ahead, paint your walls a lovely muted grey or blue; throw some white slipcovers over your furniture and maybe pick up an antique or two. Scandinavian culture and design is achievable no matter where you live. Do you love the aesthetic of Scandinavian design? Share your favorite look with us today! The post 10 Design Lessons You Can Learn From Scandinavian Interiors appeared first on Freshome.com.

Modern Family Retreat With a Curving Upper Level: House Revnice Posted: 15 Sep 2014 06:48 AM PDT Situated in a residential area of villas on the northern bank of Revnice above the Berounka valley in the Czech Republic, House Revnice is a modern family retreat offering a healthy lifestyle. The residence- envisioned by Jarousek.Rochová.Architekti- is composed of a lower level embedded into a green garden and an upper volume which seems independent from certain viewing point. For privacy reasons, the street facade is relatively closed, while the southern part the house opens into the greenery of the garden and makes use of an intimate terrace. According to the architects, the residence is structured as follows: “The living section consists of the main living space, dining room and a kitchen with exits to the terrace. This living area utilizes along its' whole length the transparent curvature of the southern facade, with continuous contact with the garden and the house itself. The northeast of the building comes with a beautiful view and a section with a continuing curvature oriented to the patio. It is here that the bedrooms and a hallway with a dressing room are situated”. Enjoy the virtual tour! [Photography: Filip Slapal] The post Modern Family Retreat With a Curving Upper Level: House Revnice appeared first on Freshome.com.

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