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Design Crew
Got a problem? Need some help? Just standing there shaking your head? Don’t know what to do? You’re not alone. Send us a link to photos of your design quandary and let the Desire to Inspire design crew help you …. that’s you lot … the readers! This week’s problem is from Leslie and she really needs your help!
I am moving to a new 2-bedroom apartment – with no roommates – and I’m really excited about designing it the way I want. However, I came across a problem that plagued me in my old apartment as well, and which I am unsure how to solve. I have workout equipment – a treadmill, yoga mat, and exercise ball – and I don’t know where to put it. Initially I wanted to sort of ‘merge’ it into the second bedroom, which will be a guest bedroom. But the square footage in there is small enough that I am worried the equipment would crowd and annoy any guest I had staying over in there. Not to mention mar the design. I want the guest room to be inviting. But I just don’t know where else to put the stuff. Is there a solution for placing exercise equipment in an apartment where there is no dedicated exercise room? Could I put it in my main living area (a small double parlor) without ruining that design – which will be seen more often – as well?
Attached are pictures of the living room, dining room and bedroom. The living room and dining room are adjacent. None of the furniture in there is actually mine – it’s the current tenant’s. So we sort of have to imagine there’s nothing in there yet. The items there now do help illustrate scale/size, though.
Many thanks in advance for your help!
A pretty kitchen
Happy Friday everyone! It’s Victoria day weekend here and that means getting to someone’s cottage (in my case my little sister’s), eating a ton of hamburgers and drinking our faces off. We Canadians know how to celebrate the first long weekend of summer let me tell ya. Anyhoo, I have a ton of stuff to get done so I can find some time to relax and enjoy the hot weather we’re getting (BRING IT ON!!!!), so before I do that, how about a gorgeous kitchen (etc.) from Natalie of Nest Design Studio (based in Toronto).
Reader’s home – Lucyna’s home in Poland
I have a FABULOUS reader’s home to share with you today. I adore this one. Dark and dramatic and edgy. And that concrete wall! YESSSSS!
My name is Lucyna Kolodziejska and i am an interior designer from Poland, Gdansk. My web site: www.fabrykawnetrz-fw.pl This is my flat, i live there with my husband Jarek, dog Pele and daughter Nathalie. It is 300 metres by the seaside. I design mostly apartments for private investors, I like to connect old things (etc. doors, old polish oak floor) with new design, also like to connecting very decorative elements with primitive concrete. As you see this in my apartment. (Photos: www.agencjanegatywna.com)
The category winners of the Belle/Coco Republic Interior Design Awards 2012
Australian interior design has never looked so good!
Best Residential Interior – Tusculum Street Residence SMART DESIGN STUDIO
Best Corporate Interior – Paper Stone Scissors RUSSELL & GEORGE
Best Hospitality Interior – The Apollo GEORGE LIVISSIANIS
Best Commercial Interior – Aesop Claremont RUSSELL & GEORGE
Once again thanks to Belle magazine for the images.
Ashley Capp
Ashley Capp is a Toronto photographer who has worked for some of my favourite Canadian magazines like Canadian House & Home and Covet Garden. Her photography rocks my world and she has now made it high up on my list of favourite photographers. LOVE!!!!! (And especially loving the first kitchen!!)
New projects from Dan Davis
We blogged the work of designer Dan Davis a couple of times now (see here and here) and he emailed us recently with photos from his latest projects.
Project 1 – a fun mix of vintage (remained) and antique and classical meets glamour.
Project 2 - The next project is our most compelling before and after story of a residential family room that transformed from an unfocused nightmare to a very contemporary space using a wavy wall composite to make a statement fireplace.
Project 3 - The 3rd space is a home office. The Cooke’s wanted this office to feel like it was connected to their garden. We did a custom drip technique that takes 3 people at once to apply. It was a spanish moss effect on a sunny day. We included architectural artifacts as well to add to the outdoor charm.
Project 4 – The 4th space is actually a home that belonged to the Henry Ford family. The new owners (Cardwell) wanted to keep the historical integrity to the home yet make it their own. We used transitional furnishings and an eclectic mix of art and architectural artifacts that we purchased on buying trips with the client. This home was featured in the Dearborn Symphony Home tour.
Project 5 - Space number 5 is a commercial space. It is for Cutters Editorial. The are an editorial house for editing television commercials. It’s a very creative client and their clients spend many hours in the editing room.
Project 6 - The 6th space was an event we did for the Michigan Design Center’s Celebrations Event. Each showroom asks a designer to do a take on a Celebration, i.e. Christmas, Halloween or an engagement party. Baker Furniture Showroom asked us to do theirs and to not make it a Holiday. We chose to show how you can make the meal an event, so we did this seafood inspired setting and it won 1st prize for “the look people most wanted to recreate in their own home”.
Laura Alvarez
Minimalist 2 storey apartment space within a heritage building in Amsterdam. Clean lines, sharp angles, limited colour palette and smooth surfaces. Warmed by wood elements. A steel staircase angles between the levels separating the dining and living spaces in the open plan first floor. But the hero of the space is fully equipped (albeit minimalist lined) kitchen centre stage. Design by Laura Alvarez Architecture.
Stalking the small and cute
Oh dear! That makes me sound quite inappropriate. That’s not what I meant. What I do mean though is that I love this little worker’s cottage in inner city Melbourne I found while real estate stalking. Bright and fun and quirky and cute. White walls bounce the colour pops around, the little girl’s room is so hubba bubba bubble gum pink that I can almost hear waves of giggles, the backyard is pocket handkerchief size perfect. Who needs large when 2 bedrooms in the inner city is just right. Link here while it lasts.
P.S. A few of you may recognise this house but we’ll keep it our little secret don’t you think 
Kerrie Kelly
Kerrie Kelly is an interior designer based in Northern California whose designs caught my eye while surfing the internet. Kerrie and her team of designers at Kerrie Kelly Design Lab have got what it takes – with various design styles in their portfolio they’re pretty great at just about anything – from a bit traditional to more modern/contemporary. Kerrie and some of her projects may look familiar as she’s been a featured designer and has consulted with several DIY and HGTV Network’s “Crashers” shows. The garage conversion below (after the jump) is an amazing transformation – and it had me laughing. You NEVER see garage conversions up here in Canada. The garages of Canadians are precious and sacred spaces that save us from having to scrape ice and snow off our cars (which on bad days can take a half hour).
An exhibition in Sarajevo
Some of you may remember Belma’s home in Sarajevo I blogged almost a year ago. She contacted me recently to share an exhibition called Bela Vida Gallery in Sarajevo, Bosnia and Herzegovina. Bela Vida Gallery represents a space which offers a dream home concept to its visitors. It does not just look alike, it can be felt, touched and perceived. Oasis or a perfect home, completely different from similar interior exhibits in the region, is placed in Importanne Center in Sarajevo, since 16th of February. Nowadays, when there is a lot of uncertainty and everyday changes, it is challenging to look for enough energy and to say out loud: Life is beautiful!!! Therefore, slogan of Bela Vida is celebrating everything beautiful, inspirational and qualitative in lives of all of us. By entering the gallery space, whose interior will be completely rearranged monthly, visitors will be able to experience all rooms of one stylish apartment. In that space, they can walk, sit, feel the scent, taste delicacies, get a free advice and simply enjoy the different interior cultures. It is a great honor for me to present you our May exhibition – Veni, vidi, viking. May is the month of Scandinavian design – with furniture and decorations from around the country. What a cool concept – I’d totally check out an exhibition like this here in Ottawa each month to see what designs they came up with.