Freshome.com - Interior Design & Architecture Inspiration Newsletter

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• Why You’re Going To Love a Smaller Home with Richard Taylor
• Intricate Modern Architecture Within a Dramatic Environment: Leferve House
• Classy Table Set for Special Dining Moments
• 10 Ways to Change your Space with Tone on Tone Color
• Delightful Looking Home with Sustainable Features in California

Why You’re Going To Love a Smaller Home with Richard Taylor Posted: 02 Nov 2010 06:15 AM PDT Freshome is always intrigued with small places and learning how to love them is always a challenge.  When we find designers or architects who specialize in working with homeowner’s to design their homes, we love to hear what there is to love about our small homes! Architect, Richard Taylor, A.I.A. shares with us the great advantages of not living in an oversized, impersonal space. Boy how things have changed.  One moment you had a house full of kids – yours and all their friends – and the next they're off to make their own way in the world, leaving you alone in the nest. A house once full of life and family now seems empty, and well, huge.  In fact as you think back, the house has always been huge.  Why did you think you needed so much space back then?  You vaguely remember the real estate agent (or was it the builder?) raving about the virtues of a huge new home, how you'd have all these rooms to decorate, how you'd have plenty of space for entertaining, how valuable it would be someday. But with three kids you never got around to buying all new furniture, and when you did entertain, it was either in the kitchen (no one ever seemed to be comfortable in the dining room) or in the TV room.  There's a lot of space in this house you just didn't need, and oddly, not enough space in the places you needed it. You hate the word "downsize" (it sounds like you're lowering your quality of life), but you can't fathom one more day of heating, cooling, cleaning, and rearranging furniture in all these empty, useless, echoing rooms. Ugh. Could you be happy in a smaller home – maybe even a much smaller home? Imagine a home with everything you've always wanted, and none of the things you don't.  Let go of the "resale" mentality; picture a home without a formal dining room; without a two-story "great room"; without an Olympic-size whirlpool tub (that you never use) in the "Master Retreat". Get rid of all the real estate and builder clichés of "luxury". Your home should be your most personalized of possessions – it shouldn't have anything that exists only to satisfy some imagined future owner. That custom, personal home is the home you're going to love more than any other, because the money you spend to design and build it will go towards quality and detail rather than area and volume. That home is going to be smaller than the home you're living in now; the useless rooms and hallways are gone and the spaces you keep are just the right size for how you live.  You're going to love making each room do more than one thing (the guest bedroom doubles as a great home office) and how to carefully plan each space around your furnishings. You've always had an inkling of what "scale" means (your old house must have been designed for a race of giants), but in your smaller home you'll find out how proper human scale makes a room cozy and comfortable – for you and three friends, or just you.  No more "family room in an airplane hangar" feeling. The kitchen, eating area, and living area will have great "flow"; you'll find yourself using these spaces as if they were one, chatting with friends in the kitchen and not feeling disconnected from the rest of the house.  For once, this part of the house will actually make sense to you. And all of these spaces are going to be properly detailed with all of the finishes and fixtures that bring them alive.  No more twenty-foot tall slabs of dreary drywall that you have no idea how to decorate (your big framed family portrait looked like a postage stamp on that wall!). Instead, you'll have a cozy built-in window seat in a sunny corner – a place to read and relax, sip tea.  You'll have bookshelves that help define space but don't close off the rooms.  You'll actually be able to warm yourself by the fire, because the fireplace will be designed to be used, not just as a feature to fill up an otherwise empty wall. You'll love that your home is filled with light, with warmth, with color, and with comfort. Inside and out, your smaller, cozier, more comfortable home will connect – to the past, when neighbors chatted on sidewalks, when the front porch was the living room; and to the future, when grandkids look fondly back on weekends at "Grandma and Grandpa's house" and appreciate its feeling of "home" just as you do. And you'll love the look of your smaller home, properly proportioned and scaled (this is SO much easier to accomplish with a smaller home!) and definitely unlike your old huge house, which was designed only to impress your neighbors (you're so over that, right?). Feeling better?  Great – you're going to love a smaller home! Richard Taylor, AIA Richard Taylor, A.I.A. owns Richard Taylor Architects in Dublin, Ohio where he helps homeowners get great design in their new home and remodeling projects.  He also acts as his clients' "eyes and ears" during the construction process, directing them around obstacles and pitfalls.  Rich lives in Dublin, Ohio, and loves blogging about residential design, and plays a little golf now and then. Ready for more amazing design ideas? Check below ! Beautiful Colors Wall Clock Discovery Drawer by Richard Shed and Alex Taylor Modern White Beach House by Richard Meier in South California Unusual Typograhic Sculpture by Richard J. Evans Kitchen Integrated In Living-Room Storytime Rocking Chair Click here to connect with Freshome on or on

Intricate Modern Architecture Within a Dramatic Environment: Leferve House Posted: 02 Nov 2010 04:16 AM PDT Lefevre house was designed by Longhi Architects and is located in Punta Misterio, Peru, overlooking the Pacific. The stunning rocky cliffs merging with the ocean waters create a spectacular scenery, where few would take on the challenge of building a home. This magnificent residence seems infiltrated in the ground with its asymmetrical volumes surfacing like a submarine. The home’s architecture is modern and diverse, offering unexpected angles of sight. Two amazing pools add color and entertainment to the overall project design. The building’s interiors take  full advantage of the environment. Floor to ceiling windows allow unobstructed views of the ocean, while also ensuring a large amount of natural light during the day. The use of natural rock inside the house bring a feeling of authenticity and pays tribute to the surrounding landscape. Ready for more amazing design ideas? Check below ! Striking Contemporary Architecture: Sodae House in Amsterdam T-House by Den Nen Architecture 63.02° house by Schemata Architecture Office Beautiful White Beach Home in California Inspiring Modern Home Architecture Modern architecture – Farnsworth House Click here to connect with Freshome on or on

Classy Table Set for Special Dining Moments Posted: 02 Nov 2010 03:01 AM PDT Here is an elegant table set designed by Studio Batoni for Esedra, perfect for a stylish dining experience. “Drop’ is an elegant alternative for the classical table and features some very original elements. Its feet are slightly thicker than the ones belonging to a common table, creating unusual proportions between the elements of the furniture item. The laser cut patterns add a playful touch, while in the same time maintaining the product’s overall delicacy. We also like the design of the chairs, and the way they “blend in” with the table. The “Drop” dining collection would go great in a contemporary interior with a minimalist design. Available in a variety of colors and finishes, it is all up to the customer to find the appropriate design for his or her interior.- via Trendir Ready for more amazing design ideas? Check below ! Pool Table Disguised as Dining Room Table The Flip Table Ergonomic Push Table Dining Set by Svilen Gamolov Small Apartment Furniture – Cube Style Convertible Coffee Table Adjustable Dining Table by Draenert Click here to connect with Freshome on or on

10 Ways to Change your Space with Tone on Tone Color Posted: 02 Nov 2010 01:09 AM PDT Have you ever been in a space where only 1 or 2 colors were used but it seemed as if there were 20? Tone on tone coloring or layering, is a decorative technique that takes a single or a few colors and uses different saturation of that color(s) throughout the space. The result is a room that can be dramatically transformed just by lightening or darkening of that color.  If you are happy with the color of your space, but would like to give it more definition and style, look at these 10 ways to change your space with tone on tone color. 1.) Layer your wall coloring: Tone on tone coloring works well with any color, and thus is the magic! For a dramatic look in your space use a dark wall color as an accent color, then ask the your paint supplier to bring that tone 2 – 3 shades lighter.  For a subdued look only use 2 shades, for more drama, use more shades on different walls – all within the same color. 2.) Pull inspiration from art: If you have a piece of art that you love, but don't know how to decorate around it, choose your 1 favorite color and use tone on tone variations throughout the room.  This will prevent making the room too busy for the eye, and will blend beautifully with your art work. 3.) Mix and match patterns: A new trend in décor is mixing and matching materials and patterns, but keeping all within the same color family.  In a living room use one color for the walls, and then lighten the same color in throw pillows, accent rugs, and adjacent spaces. The result will be a pulled together look. 4.) Neutral room, one color décor: If you prefer a crisp neutral palette in your space, keep your furnishings neutral and add a pop of color in your décor.  A turquoise vase, or a yellow table setting will keep the room neutral, buy add whimsy and visual interest. 5.) Bring color into door and windows: From window and door frames to window treatments – don't forget tone on tone color isn't just for walls and furnishings. The more variety you use throughout your space, the more warm and personalized it will become. 6.) Window treatments can match the walls: If you have very high ceilings and want to make the space feel more intimate, match your wall treatment color to the walls. Choose to use a lighter or darker tone for either the wall or to complement each other. Use this same color throughout the room to add dimension. 7.) Pair color tone with black or white: Tone on tone color works beautifully with black and white too. Since these are neutrals they seamlessly will meld together with little effort. Use black or white in fabrics, and trim colors to accent beautifully your tone on tone color palette. 8.) Exterior paint colors work too: The outside of your home can use tone on tone color palette for field color, trim, shutters, gutter and downspouts. For contrast use dark and very light tones for the accent exterior pieces.  Tone on tone color works well in neighborhoods with strict covenants and restrictions about paint color! 9.) Flooring can use tone on tone colors: For open space floor plans you can choose to break up the spaces with different color flooring. So the spaces flows from one space to another choose lighter and darker tones of the same color. Wood and concrete flooring work best for this color concept. 10.) Tone on tone in any room: Bedrooms, bathrooms, kitchens and living spaces are the most common spaces to use tone on tone color palettes. In fact the color concept can be used throughout your home and gender neutral shared offices and nurseries especially work well with tone on tone coloring. Change up your space by using tone on tone colors; you will be pleasantly surprised at the outcome. Consider bringing samples home of the colors from the paint store before transforming your entire space.  Once you've chosen the paint colors, take these to your local fabric store to bring in patterns to your living spaces. What a difference one color can make! Freshome reader's have you tried using tone on tone color in your home? Tell us how you incorporated it into your home! Ready for more amazing design ideas? Check below ! Beautiful Space Saving Furniture : Nettlestone Library Ensemble 10 Ways to Beautify your Home with White World Largest Piece of Furniture Discreet Window, an Original and Fun Blinds Concept Unlimited Designs in One Chair: 'Stand Up' Collection from Phillip Don Leather Chair – Ox Chair Click here to connect with Freshome on or on

Delightful Looking Home with Sustainable Features in California Posted: 01 Nov 2010 08:37 AM PDT Hover House 3 comes from Glen Irani Architects and is located on the Venice Canals of Los Angeles, California. The challenge of the project was to maximize outdoor space, by creating a volume that seems to hover above the ground level. With a living area of 2500 square feet(232 sqm), three bedrooms and two offices, this home manages to maximize the potential of exterior spaces, while reducing the indoor surface. Moreover, the project is a showcase of sustainability, according  to the architects:  “Embodied energy analysis on major systems resulted in the use of exterior man-made slate panels, exposed concrete walls and radiant hydronic heating and many of the finishes. Natural ventilation is carefully devised with proper window placements and a wind tower that extend 9' above the roof (the max allowed by code) in order to eliminate air conditioning. Roof-mounted photovoltaic panels offset 80%  of power demands. With the exception of interior wall paint, all interior finishes are devised to last indefinitely so that future emissions from finish replacements are minimized or eliminated.” The residence also features a special system for reducing outdoor noise. Aside from being environmental friendly, this home is a beauty, with a design that surprises and captures. Ready for more amazing design ideas? Check below ! Another Delightful Swedish Apartment That Stuns With Its Chromatics Contemporary Belair Residence in California Solar Decathlon Sustainable House in Ithaca, New York Wooden Inspiration : Ocho House Sustainable Luxury Living : Aura at Camelback Contemporary California Hacienda by Brett Barrett Click here to connect with Freshome on or on

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