Midnight Friday

Black kitchen

2011-07-27T04:52:00.000+01:00

Though black absorbs light, when used with bright colours it makes them even brighter to our eyes. In this kitchen creates a sophisticated mood where the graphic vibe stands out trough the wall's tiles patterns and the kitchen clutter on the bookcase on the the right.

I do have a thing for black lately but in small spaces only works in accessories because it occupies to much visual space.

In this second photo we have an extension of the house. The amazing pinkish dinner table goes extremely well with the Eames black chairs! This extra room may be too strong for the ones who love pastels, mas it is certainly interesting and once again the graphic vibe is highlighted by the floor stripes.

Would you have all this black in your house?

Images via Bolig Magasinet

magazine covers

2011-07-26T18:32:00.009+01:00

I've been thinking that because of the same reason why women get insecure when looking at beauty magazine covers, we all get insecure and anxious about our houses when flipping trough interior design and decoration magazines. It's like "everybody" knows how to do it and sometimes it's not about money and buying expensive things, it's the whole aura of those houses, it's all so perfect and pretty, but how? Well I believe it's styling, there's no photoshop (sometimes in colours though) but pieces are moved, there's wine in glasses, fresh flowers and bowl of delicious biscuits. I mean, we drool for things that are not part of the house or decoration.

Some websites are getting famous for showing photos of more normal, cluttered houses but I guess there's a lot of staged scenarios in there too.

Take theselby.com, where you can see houses of creative people.

5 interior design advices - 1. before planning

2011-07-25T04:52:00.000+01:00

Hello bloggers, non bloggers and curious beings about interior design!:)

I'm doing an interior design project for a friend/company (more info later) and since this is my first real project with a budget, a deadline and concept I've learned a few things that can be interesting for you. It's not that I was not aware of them but working on a project made me more concious about the importance of a few things along the preparation for the planning phase.

1. Measure until there isn't one inch left

Sometimes you may feel that "this area doesn't matter because I won't do anything here" but you don't know that for sure at that phase. Sometimes new ideas can transform your initial concept and then, that little niche could give you an unexpected solution. And be rigorous, 'cause you don't want to have a cabinet that doesn't fit a place because of half an inch.

2. Ask questions about the place you will be designing

You need to know more than what your client tells you. There's a lot of information important to you that your client won't share because he doesn't know it is important for your work and for accomplishing his interior design goals. No question is ridiculous, just ask it.

3. Be prepared

Have a measure tape, a calculator, a camera, a notebook and a list of typical aspects you should look at a room. The more prepared you are, the more you can control. In this case, information leeds to organization.

4. Be organized

One of the problems about dealing with many different stores, objects, prices, measures, design possibilities, etc., is that it can be easy to get lost in the middle of so much information. The key to avoid this is organization. Have your catalogues in place, research and store everything properly. Every time a new idea pops up just write it down; don't trust your memory alone.

5. Photograph, photograph, photograph

Images of the room you're designing in many different angles can clarify a doubt of something you didn't notice while at the room. Maybe you'll lose some time choosing from the many images you got but it is essential to have many photos because you have a tendency to forget little details.

photo from vtwonen

Hope you like the list:)

More to come later on this subject***

Designers career path

2011-07-21T02:52:00.000+01:00

"Young designers should understand a career path in interior design rarely plays in a straight line."

Gioi Tran, Applegate Tran Interiors

Time

2011-07-20T17:53:00.000+01:00

Hello dear readers:)

It's been a long time since last post and I'm sorry for that. But right now I don't find the motivation and the time needed to post at the rhythm I wanted. Also, I tried a new way of collecting inspiring images that seems to work better than blogspot at this moment. At ❤ interiors porn, my tumblr page you can find images of interiors I love, quotes and thoughts. I'm still testing to see how practical it is to use, but so far so good.
The thing is, I do research for images and info about interior design, but to write about it demands another type of approach I can't have at this moment.

This is not a goodbye, it's more like cya later:)

Helsinki 35m2 apartment

2011-07-19T05:15:00.000+01:00

Small and beautiful (and organized). This is so hard to achieve. I should know because my attic has about the same size but let me tell that the slope ceileings don't help:P

The images of this post (taken by the photographer Maarit Hohteri) are from Design*Sponge and show a 35m2 apartment from Helsinki. It belongs to a grahic designer, Lotta Nieminen.

One of the interesting things about this Design*Sponge's post is that the owner of the apartment shares information about the story of the furniture that are present in the photos. Knowing this is a real home also adds a human touch that some of the photos of houses thar appear in magazines don't have. I find that really charming.

About this small bookshelf: "I saw the bookshelf in the window of a thrift store one morning on my way to work. I bought it and dragged it home with the help of a co-worker during lunch break."

"I’m addicted to magazines, and am notorious for storing big cardboard boxes full of old issues at the attic – throwing them away has seemed impossible. The ladder used to serve to climb in the bunk bed we shared with my little sister when we were little. Nowadays it serves as a rack for belts and gloves. The wooden archive boxes used to be my grandfather’s, who worked many years as a personnel manager."

"This old medicine cabinet is from my grandparent’s cottage near Turku, a city on the northwest coast of Finland. I use it as a nightstand. The thing that made me fall in love with this apartment was the amazing sunlight pouring in through the windows."

"The flat is small, so a big mirror adds an impression of extra space to the 375 square feet. I had been looking for a simple bedspread for ages, but only seemed to find very decorative or colourful ones. During a holiday in Portugal, I finally got my hands on this simple black and white one. It’s from Area, an interior decoration shop in Lisbon." Yeah she was already in Portugal and Area for the ones who don't know used to be an Habitat store.

"I got this wooden cupboard from a friend, who was cutting her impressive collection of thrifted furniture finds. Instead of repainting it, I added a layer of varnish to preserve the worn feel. I use it to store books and display my favourite shoes."

I'm in love with this cabinet❤ "The cabinet is on loan from a friend who couldn’t fit it in her new apartment. It’s very old and the back is almost split, so can’t be nailed to the wall like it was built to: it’s on the floor mainly for safety reasons."

"I work from home a lot, and have turned this corner into my office. A pretty workspace keeps me inspired. The framed poster is an ad for the Helsinki Comic Festival, designed by Jenni Rope. I snatched it from a bar’s bulletin board a couple of years ago."

How lovely is this house for a single person?:)

More images here and full text here.

The story of the co-founder of Apartment Therapy

2011-07-18T21:33:00.000+01:00

Knowing successful paths in the creative industry is most of the times truly inspiring. Not everybody knows what to do professionally when it's time to choose, and some of them discover their vocations by accident after doing many different things. I believe that sharing the different ways that lead people to success is important for the ones like me and maybe you, not sure of how thinks will work out. There's a big amount of luck, but an even bigger portion that depends on hard-work.

The video I bring today is from the Creative Mornings, an initiative from swissmiss, where creative people are invited as speakers to share what they do, how they did get there and their creative process.

In this video the speaker is Maxwell Gillingham-Ryan, the co-founder of the famous Apartment Therapy website. This is an interesting video not only because he explains how the website grew, but also because of his path and what he believes which has a lot to do with my own convictions about interior design. He was a Waldorf teacher and his students houses were his inspiration to help people to have better houses because he found that the students with the most comfortable and inviting houses were better students. This was the start of his new career.

2010/03 Maxwell Gillingham-Ryan from CreativeMornings on Vimeo.

How interesting was this to you?

Interior design & money

2011-07-17T05:05:00.000+01:00

How expensive is in fact interior design? This is a question that comes with the idea that "this is just too expensive and normal people can't afford it". There's some truth in this especially if as a reference you have interior design magazines and expensive brands. And also if you hear "expensive" when someone says "design".

First you need to know that magazines as a rule show the best of the best. Which, normally "no one" can afford. But think about paintings. Art can be really expensive, but... if you can't have a Kandisnky maybe you can buy a good quality print of one of his paintings. I'll give more thought on this ahead.

Now, design and what people relate to it is a subject that can be confusing. The fork you use to eat has design. It has a shape that's based by its function. And there are many brands and designs of forks. The difference between forks can be found in the materials, quality inox lasts a life and or the shape, some are thinner others heavier. Other examples: real wood shelves won't curve with the weight of books so easily, kitchen cabinets lacquered with a good washable material will last longer and maintain the original look and even the stone on the kitchen balcony not only lasts a life but also makes working in the kitchen an easier job. These are simple examples of how the cost means better quality and sometimes a more practical use of the space or an easy way to perform a task. But the price you pay includes the cost of creativity and work put into the studying of the product design, the materials and the exclusivity of the product. Here you have to think about the value you give to a piece of furniture or an object. For example, if a brand sells a bed for €50.000 that's because they know someone will pay that amount of money. It can be questionable, yes, but that's how business works. And if it is an important brand/name they will make you pay that price of the label even if the consumer price is 500% above the cost of making the product. I'm not saying that what they sell does not have quality, because it probably has, but I would never buy a pillow for €500 like the one I saw in a shop I worked. Everybody wants to be rich and designers are not an exception and if they set the price high they want you to perceive them as exclusive.

Interior designers also tend to pass the image that their services are exclusive and expensive because they have clients that pay for it. They set the value of their services and clients just go with it. Some designers are really great and just a day with them can be motivating. And if there's lots people who want to hire them, their hour will value even more and cost more for the clients. This is the rule.

In my opinion they don’t want you to know that a big part of their job can be done by you. It’s like when someone just complicates a subject so you will feel totally ignorant and almost afraid to ask anything about it. Of course interior design has something to do with taste, but I believe there’s a lot of information these days and if you’re interested you don’t have to hire an interior designer to do everything. A professional can guide you and help you with his experience and solutions. For me, this is the future of interior design for the common, not rich people.

But there are cheaper interior design services (normally done by younger professionals) and I find more and more services adapted to the needs of clients. The financial crisis around the world also helps because there are fewer clients and professionals need to open up for new targets. But interior design is so associated with elitism that it can be hard to change mentalities and opinions.

“But if I don’t have enough money what can I buy?” Well, everybody needs some basic stuff: bed, sofa, towels, dishes, bookshelves... There's a big list I know. But these are the items you find whatever the house you go. But what if you plan a little and make some choices not just based on the price? If you can't, you can't, but sometimes is just a matter of putting some thought into it and if price limits you that much maybe you could wait and sleep just on the mattress for a few more months and buy the bed you really want. It’s about choosing and not content yourself with anything. One golden rule is just to buy things you love. If you want to have a home, a place where you feel good and comfortable, you want it to have stuff that not only represents you and that tells a story about you but also that makes you feel good. I know lots of people who can’t change the houses they live in (living with parents, rented rooms) and some of them do have the perception of how bad that furniture, patterns, wall colours makes them feel. Interior design is not supposed to be only pretty (that’s decoration in my opinion). It should help you to live your life better inside your house and this can be done with choosing wall colours, defining the layout of the furniture around the place, planning a kitchen with functional storage and easy to clean where tasks are a pleasure… Giving you solutions is the key.

Less is better. Or as the designer Mies Van Der Rohe said once, “Less is more”. Like I said before, why buy the cheapest, ugly bed if sleeping on the mattress a few months will give you the one you really want? Now, do this to everything you need, if you can. Sometimes it seems to me that people are in a hurry to have everything solved and don’t take the time to enjoy the process. Interior design and decorating is a process that some people speed up by paying professionals to do it for them and others just by buying the first thing they see without too much consideration.
It’s not easy to wait for the best time (£€$) and you’ll need to compromise sometimes. And I should say “most of the time”. Perfect houses are boring. No one should want to live in a house that never changes, because when the house does change you’re changing too. Your tastes and your needs are in constant evolution and so should be your house. But if you have planned like I said before, if you change, what happens? I say that you can make miracles with what you have if the “before choices” were good and with what you can afford to buy at the time. But this has to be something that matters to you so you’ll make the effort. You can always move furniture around your house and find new solutions. Paint furniture and just change the fabrics. Most of the times these small steps can be done without spending too much money. And going back to the Kandinsky example I gave in the begging, there are big brands that sell reproductions and copies of original pieces of design. And why not buying these? People tend to think that IKEA just sells bookshelves that will brake 6 months later, but that’s not true, you have quality furniture but you also have to pay a little more. And today there are many shops and internet to choose from which helps a lot.

Personally I hate those houses made by interior designers without much participation of the owners. This normally happens when there’s lots of money involved. It can result intro pretty houses, but they seem a bit fake to me to be honest. I do believe that people should transform apartments and houses into homes and you can just do that by living there and understanding the way you live the space and the needs you have.

The answer to the question: Interior Design can be really expensive, but there are options that will make it affordable. But like everything else some people prefer to spend money on shoes, others on books, concerts, cars, you name it. It’s a matter of choice because normally you can’t have it all. But if you really like interior design and understand that choosing wisely and compromise go together when there’s not a lot to spend I guess you’re on the right direction.

The most important rule: have fun with it:)

Any thoughts about this?

All images are from Sköna Hem and most of them have interesting and not pricey interior design solutions.

Perfect desk

2011-07-15T09:00:00.000+01:00

Some images inspire you and in terms of how a desk should be, this is what I call near perfection: there's a poster with a great message, an inspiration board, magazines, black on the desk's top, books and colourful clutter. I wish I could have those windows.

What's the perfect desk for you?
Image via poppytalk

Bohemian traces

2011-07-14T21:23:00.000+01:00

These images are from airspace, a company that has a collection of available houses for the film and photographic industries. There are many houses to see and I recommend a visit to their website.

This house in particular has a bohemian and eclectic vibe given by the subtle colours and interesting architecture. For me, using the white as a base is not just safe, but it helps a room to breath and everything on the white just pops up.

Images from airspace

House of Philippe and Jasmine Starck

2011-07-12T23:26:00.000+01:00

It's funny to see how a designer who is so linear, simple and rational in his design lives in a house full of colour and clutter. Creativity can come in many forms.

The last image goes with my theme. I wonder if this if a photo of Jasmine Starck herself...

Via The Selby from the house of Phippe and Jasmine Starck (yes, the designer)

One day I'll tell to my daughter...

2011-07-11T03:50:00.000+01:00

Dear future daughter:

Life is complex and full of layers. Learn that nothing is in black and white, the truth is always more complicated than that. And if someone tells you otherwise believe they will learn from experience how wrong they are. Be aware of how important is to think about what's going inside of you. If something feels wrong, maybe that's because it is wrong for you. And when feeling bad, dance and sing no matter how badly you sound. Punch a pillow when angry or talk to yourself. You're not crazy and it will save me on the psychiatrist bills. Stretch. Never leave the house without eating breakfast. Try whatever you want to try but don't be arrogant to the point of thinking you know it all. you don't.

Remember that no one is perfect and everybody makes mistakes but the golden rule is to understand what you did, why you did it and apologise. In case you didn't get it I'll say again, apologise and mean it! Saying you're sorry is like building a new bridge to the other person's heart. You gain in dignity and integrity when you're big enough to recognize you acted foolishly. And don't be a bitch unless on really special occasions and you'll know which ones when the time is right. Respect elders and pass that on to your kids. Learn from your mistakes but don't be too harsh on yourself; we are here to learn, just don't do the same mistake twice, that's stupid. Don't be afraid to give yourself to people, if they hurt you, cry and learn from it but don't close yourself because there's lots of hugs and kisses to give and receive in this life. Rainy days can be improved by wearing purple rainy boots. Another important thing you should know is that saying "no" is a valuable asset and people will respect you more because of it. If he is in love with you he won't notice you're having a bad hair day, so relax. Oh and by the way, the first kiss is overrated. Try again if it does not go that well the first time. The secret? Practice. But when you like someone and kiss that person for the first time it's always like a first kiss and it's OK to be nervous, just don't think to much about it, just do it. Having fun is better when shared. Oh let's dance in the living room! Remember: NEVER wear two pieces of denim in one outfit. And I insist on it, NEVER. Friends make a huge difference in life, for better, much better. And don't let the dishes accumulate in the sink. And cake's better when less cooked. Learn that "please", "thank you" and a smile can make miracles in many different occasions. If you don't know where your keys are, pretend you're entering the house again and do what you would naturally do. Yeah they are probably under a magazine. NEVER, but NEVER rip pages of my interior design magazines. I'm warning you lady!

But the most important thing is that... when in doubt, always choose a strawberry ice cream;)

Inspired by the cute photo :)
Update: and by the lyrics of "Everybody's free (To Wear Sunscreen)" by Baz Lhurmann

Free time

2010-07-03T03:25:00.004+01:00

On my last post I wrote that the 29th of May was my last day at the internship but it wasn't true, it lasted around two weeks more and I'm sharing this so you'll understand how deadlines and working in a magazine can be. If there's work to be done, someone will have to do it because in the end of the month the magazine has to be out. And it is now. For the Portuguese readers you may see my last collaboration with Máxima Interiores in the last issue already available for purchase:)

But now it seems I'm on holidays and that means free time to blog and to put into practice some projects around the house. I have a cabinet/desk that will be my workspace, bought on a 2nd hand furniture store but I need to paint it and my idea is to make a photo coverage of the process and share it with you;)

I'm also interested about the psychology and sociology of space and would like to share some thoughts about that because interior design is much more than pretty furniture and colour trends (feel my disdain?:P).

These images are from decor8 and illustrate some workspaces ideas. I love the dots wallpaper above and the white mood with feminine accents of the first image. Ideas for my workspace makeover are needed:)

Last day

2010-05-29T02:00:00.000+01:00

Today was my last day in the internship at Maxima Interiores (Portuguese interior design magazine).

After almost 7 months I can only say that it was truly rewarding to learn with the people I learn with and to see my hard work and effort recognized and appreciated. I couldn't ask for more.

I know I did my best when my best was asked but I also know I was pretty lucky to find the support I got from the magazine team.

When I went to London for the first time almost one year ago to KLC I knew change was coming but I couldn't really see the doors that would open up for me. I was not that sure it would be enough but sometimes all you need is a chance to show what you can do and even maybe surprise yourself.

I'm really happy with what started to happen since last year and just hope that this train doesn't stop. Lets see what comes next:)

Image via fffound

Photography Marathon

2010-05-12T16:39:00.002+01:00

Last Saturday I've entered in a photography marathon. It was at the Lisbon tube line and lasted all day long. The contestants received a list of six themes: environment, quality, public art, speed, mobility and Lisbon at the tube. The hardest part was not taking the photos, but choosing 6 from the many photos I took and not forgetting the given themes.

The next photos are some of the ones I sent to the competition today. You can see more at my flickr.

Theme: Environment

Theme: Public Art

Theme: Lisbon at the tube

Theme: Speed

Lets see if I win something;)

Blog Award!

2010-05-10T23:55:00.005+01:00

I received my first blog award!:D How exciting! Thank you maisonette! Rules: state 5 random facts about yourself and award 5 other bloggers.

{5 random facts about me}

1. I can't cut or rip pages of my lovely interior design and decoration magazines. They are sacred to me. I love those inspirational boards full of bits and pieces of magazines but I just can't do it.
(The image shows the last number of Living Etc, June, and you can see part of it here)

2. I love terror films. I love to get scared but when I know I'm not sleeping alone! My favourite one is REC, but the Spanish version. Maybe because I'm Portuguese and there are a lot of similarities between the languages, the film felt realistic and creepy and even today if I think of it... I prefer not to think about it right now... hahaha

3. I love to dance. When you feel the rhythm inside of you and nothing else matters, just you and the music... I'm in heaven. The 80's "Nowhere Fast" from Fire Inc. always makes me jump A LOT:D

4. When I grow up, I'll have a garden. It can be small, but it has to be cosy and big enough to invite friends and have meals outdoor. A big tree would be lovely and maybe a swing for the kids, or not just for the kids:P

5. Candies. I love candies, desserts, cakes and everything related.
Just bought Nigella Lawson's last book and just by looking at the photos of the desserts recipes I started drooling hehehe

{Blog Awardees}

1. Iva - iva y

2. Anna Caroline - designstudio210

3. Dilly Dallas - dilly dallas

4. Summer Allen-Gibson - design is mine

5. Lena Corwin - ~>O<~

That's it. Have a great Tuesday:)

Illusion bookshelf

2010-05-09T20:35:00.008+01:00

This is extremely cool. A bookshelf with a door with images of books in high detail. It was made for skitsch, an Italian company and designed by Front.

This collection is an example of a truly different piece that can stand out in a room. And the illusion versus the hidden storage idea is good, because you have the cosy feeling books give when exhibited but also protect them from dust.

And maybe you could do something to the doors of a billy's IKEA bookshelf. Just an idea;)

The original cost around €2000 and you can buy it here.

Scandinavian house

2010-05-06T22:32:00.001+01:00

If there's a "rule" you can trust about having a lighter room is using white in big quantities. I do not hide my love for the Scandinavian design and interiors and the house I bring reflects the best of the best: wood floors, white walls, books, art, personal clutter and pieces of colour strategically positioned along the rooms.

I have to thank Bolig Magasinet for showing us houses like this and of course, google translator:P

This house suffered a renovation and most of the walls were demolished to open up the space and receive more light. The roof was also replaced and skylights were added.

The bright light was balanced with grey kitchen cabinets and details of black - IKEA bench and frames. I find the "bits of papers" board interesting because it feels to me like a collection.

The living room is large and its windows face the garden. The bookcase stores finds, books and magazines. The lamp on it was from the owner grandfather. The Eames LCW chair goes well with the soft tones of the room and it almost matches the yellow pillow. I like the whole mood but I miss a rug on that floor though.

Now look at the ceiling of this room. A star! This is a star shaped stucco rosette, typical from the functionalism period. How amazing is this detail?!

In this simple bedroom we have a good idea. Using wallpaper as a headboard can work really well, but to avoid overdoing it (wallpaper can close up a room) limit the wallpaper to a smaller area using a shelf. In this case the shelf is also a nightstand. .

This last room almost feel like an orangery and it has a reading room mood. The circle window adds a touch of interest but in here the books are the focal point. It it a great idea when you want to fee space on the floor to built shelves on top of windows, but only when the space is reach in light.

Would you live here?

I certainly would:)

Sexy packaging

2010-05-05T23:10:00.001+01:00

I guess I'm inspired by the sexy theme and for me, this packaging oozes sensuality. The black with the colourful typography works for me. Black used in food packaging suggests that a product is gourmet, with quality.

“A re-branded food range that echo the store’s forward thinking and contemporary attitude towards retail. Although there were over 100 own brand products within the store it was somewhat unrecognisable and lacked shelf presence. Our approach was to create a range that was unique; that did not follow any traditional sector cues. Colour coding everything black would make an incredible statement with only the type to reflect what was inside for example strawberry jam would have pink type. The typeface used was trade gothic range left and all the same point size across the range where possible. This ensured clarity and uniformity.”

Design by Dave Richmond for Selfridges & Co

Via lovelypackage.com

Sexy

2010-05-05T22:34:00.002+01:00

I find these images really sensual. The effects on the silhouette just enhance the sexiness.

What's sexy for you?

Via ffffound

Help me to win a Nikon D5000!

2010-04-23T21:04:00.002+01:00

I need your help to win this camera. And would not post this here if it wasn't important.

I've entered in a competition to win this Nikon D5000 camera and right now I'm at the 2nd place, so there's a real chance to win if I get enough votes until Sunday night.

This is a facebook event so you'll need to have an account there. To give me a vote (it jus tcounts one vote each diferent person) you have to:

1. Go to this page, It's from the company who's giving the camera. And click on "like" on top of the page.

2. And then here and just leave a comment.

Please, if you're reading this believe this is a big deal for me. I need this camera to do some of the projects I have in mind.

Thank you:)

Update: I didn't win:/ But thanks for the votes:)

Hand crafted wooden glasses

2010-04-21T03:35:00.002+01:00

Glasses are quite fashionable right now and even the ones who don't need them wish they did, so they use frames with acrylic lens. Retro is also the thing and from reading to sun glasses there's tons of models to choose from.

But I believe this is better than any of that! These wooden models are made by Herrlicht, a German company. They use three types of wood: marple, pear and walnut. And in case you are wondering, it seems they are light.

Do you like these? Imagine yourself with a pair? I've seen proces around $1000, but I guess it's a price to pay for great design...

More images and info at Herrlicht.

Spring/Summer 2010

2010-04-21T01:56:00.001+01:00

Splash of colours in a crazy, but fun way is what RICE brings in this collection. Colour, that's their thing and it's esay to image some of their objects around our houses. I do have a thing for their baskets.

Look at RICE High Summer Catalogue here

Mudar/Change

2010-04-20T23:18:00.014+01:00

Today I started to think if this blog should be also in Portuguese. It makes more sense because my world works in both languages and I believe that it's nicer for the Portuguese people who visit it. But... Hum. I'll think a little bit more:P

By the way, the image says "it's time for a change" and in the background you can see my bus station:)

Photo taken by me.

70 Million!

2010-04-20T01:19:00.003+01:00

This is so original!
In this music video, scenes from famous paintings are recreated with band-members performing within them. The band is called "Hold your Horses" and this is a video for the music "70 Million".

70 Million by Hold Your Horses ! from L'Ogre on Vimeo.

Not sleeping anymore

2010-04-19T12:37:00.005+01:00

Amazing.
I tend to think about caramel when seeing lava. I'm not normal ^_^

There's also a video here.

All images from flickr, last two from fredrik holm. Not sure about the first two.

Creative workspace

2010-04-19T05:15:00.004+01:00

This is the workspace of Beci Orpin, an Australian illustrator and artist. It's organized chaos, an explosion of clutter, colours and shapes. Check her blog.Image from the design files. (check this amazing website).

Back!

2010-04-18T23:49:00.002+01:00

Oh I'm so happy with the changes and hope you'll be too:)
It took some time but now I feel this new layout and header represent better the mood of this website.

It's still clean and fresh but more sophisticated and professional.
Now I have defined categories so you'll find the different post subjects easily. There's also the "visual vitamin" and the buttons for midnight friday's facebook fan page and my flickr account.

If you have any suggestions please leave a message or send me an email.

In the meantime...

2010-04-17T03:25:00.000+01:00

While I'm still working on the changes of the website let me share some images I found on my laptop. They are from a Zara Home catalogue.

Cya in 2 weeks

2010-04-01T22:06:00.003+01:00

Dear readers,

I wish I had more time to do the changes I really wanna to do in this blog, but honestly I don't have the time. As you can see there's no "blogspot,com" on the link and this site is now totally midnightfriday.net like I always intended it to be, but that was the only improvement I could accomplish. I'm also aware of the images missing and later I will deal with that.

The next step is to find a new layout to make the site look more professional, interesting and easier to navigate, but still fresh. And in order to do that I need time and lots of testing. (If someone wants to help me with this, leave me a message:P)

Right now college comes first and in the next two weeks I won't update or change anything in the blog.

I hope the waiting will be worth it:)

Stairs to Chiado

2010-03-20T03:01:00.004Z

We run through the stairs just to go somewhere and you may look but you don't see. But remember that there's more to see than what meets the eye.

Photos by me taken for a photography project
Chiado, Lisbon

Small and charming 50m2 studio

2010-03-02T05:26:00.010Z

Simple, practical and livable. Is it a small studio? Yes, but that doesn't mean you can't live comfortable with everything you need. And there's tecnology, the kind of tech that doesn't scream in a house but helps us to live better (or so we like to think).
This house is in Houston, Texas. This apartment has around 50m2 (500 sq feet) and is a good example of a flexible living space. It's not cramped and the neutrals help to open up the areas.Big windows are always a must. Light is the best friend of interior design (you can quote me on that hahaha). An in here we have big windows on both sides of the studio.Details like vintage technology and cute accessories can say a lot about you. Be picky with what you choose to stay and radical with what just sits there. There's no space for everything and in a house like this you must be relentless.This sheer panel above looks like a great invention if we forget that from the bed subtitles will be confusing but still as a two-sided projector screen it's an awesome idea. It also divides the living room from the bedroom without closing the space.Details well photographed=drool:)And again another example of vintage technology, neutral colours and a print that does not come too strong and it's interesting enough to look at.At this point I was wondering if apartment's owner didn't have any books. Nice rug on the lower right. We can also see the night stand near the bed which is just a floating shelf, great to clean and to keep the space open.I like the idea of having a map framed when it means something to you. And books, more books:)The sleeping area is specially interesting because the wallpaper of bricks. It defines that zone giving it character while we barely see it from de living space.
I bet that's a sofa bed and if it isn't, it should definitely be. Great for guests, we all need an extra bed sometimes.About this iamge I just want to say that this work table is adorable and that I want it. Not a big fan of the orange sun up there, no.Personally I would have a more white, black, wood and strong accents of colour type of studio, but I definitely recognize that this studio seems to work for the owner and if that's true then it's great interior design.
Would you live here?

More info and images at apartment therapy

Living with great patterns

2010-02-28T22:26:00.000Z

Today I want to show you an amazing Danish company called "Ferm Living". They have wallpapers, cushions, wall-stickers, some fabrics for the kitchen and accessories. All with great taste and with a special interest into kids patterns which make wanna have kids. Ok, not kids of my own but maybe do other's kids bedrooms:)The first three images show pillows, kids bedding ans wallpapers. Animals, robots and cars made with taste and interesting enough to captivate kids attention.This is a great wallpaper with the "closet/fashion" theme without being to dominant, specially if we are talking about small and interior rooms.The funky one, just B&W, ready for some glitter or just some pop and colourful furniture around.
This one makes think about winter in a very smooth way. It's not totally could, it's an interesting and warm blue if that's possible.This last one remembers me of my grandmother's kitchen floor but with great colours. Geometric patterns can make a room feel bigger and give a sense of order. Don't forget though, that wallpapers with patterns can dominate a wall/room, so you have to be careful not to clash objects, fabrics and furniture with it, and find a good balance between the dominance and the focus on the wallpaper.

They also have a new catalogue, see it here

All images from Ferm Living

How to clutter

2010-02-28T17:18:00.000Z

Clutter doesn't have to be a nightmare, but a reflex of your personality, you taste, your story. You may be just messy and keep things totally uninteresting and just because you can't take anything to the garbage, but that's different. I'm talking about objects you like, that mean something to you, souvenirs from travels, gifts...

These two images are two examples of how to clutter properly, showing of your objects and collections in a way that you'll really appreciate them instead of having everything around your place without order or any kind of organization. Cabinets with glass doors can transform a confused and cluttered shelf into a beautiful and nice showcase. You also protect books and objects from the dust and keep in mind that's a great help to keep your house practical and clean.
Don't you think that everything looks nice to look at displayed like this?
Now it's time for me to do what I'm preaching about:P

Images from design*sponge

Pubic hairs

2010-02-28T10:30:00.001Z

I guess I'll have lots of visits because of this post's tittle ^_^

via ffffound

Granny chic apartment

2010-02-28T05:26:00.000Z

You may not like the style but this a real home where real people live. Perfect high end houses make me a bit irritated because it seems people are supposed to live inside museums to be stylish or in a visually interesting environment. But the problem lies behind the "visually interesting" part because home is not like an art installation, or it shouldn't be in my opinion (it can be if you're crazy enough, but I can't really understand it to be honest).

Books, books, books! Isn't that bookshelf inside the wall cool?
Normal people have clutter in the kitchen.
I feel that interior design magazines are too focused on the expensive design, unreachable solutions for most of us and even though these images are more about decorating than design it seems to me they are real solutions it terms of real budgets versus budget.

via strange closets

Paddington real estate

2010-02-28T05:13:00.005Z

I have a thing for Paddington, a neighbourhood in Sydney, Australia. I went through some real state websites to look for houses and selected some of the images I liked more. And it's not about the decoration, it's more about the houses itself, the architecture of the Victorian houses, the wood and the beautiful renovations they do. Enjoy.

Images from realestate.com.au and domain.com.au

Indiana green home

2010-02-28T02:06:00.007Z

This house looks like a painting. I mean, how awesome is to look through the window and see this see of green. If I could choose a place to live, something open and green like this would be my dream.The leaf green counter-top just adds that fresh vibe from the outside to the inside very effectively. I also like the suspended effect of the top cabinets.
How dreamy is that floor to ceiling window? The company that made these windows also does the grocery stores ones and this one cost around $4.000. Ouch!
For me it needs some clutter, more personal objects and books, but the structure itself and the place it was built on really made me want it:)

More info about this house at dwell

San Francisco bright home

2010-02-28T01:06:00.002Z

This house has wood all over the place as it's the owner's first choice for bookshelves and cabinets. They also use bright colours but white is present as a neutral to balance the rooms energy. Did I wrote energy? You know what I mean:P

Images from dwell

Hilarious packaging

2010-02-28T00:41:00.003Z

This is such an original approach to packaging! These were made for an UK coffee shop called Puccino's. This brand doesn't take itself too seriously and that's such a rare capacity.
Designed by Jim Smith | Country: United Kingdom
Published on the lovely package

Black office with Ikea

2010-02-13T09:06:00.003Z

Suddenly I just want my Ikea furniture to be black 'cause it can look so sophisticated! (forget the dust for a moment).
So... Mommy?... can I?:P

Image from rumid

Bedrooms

2010-02-13T08:55:00.002Z

Bedrooms can be totally tricky because sometimes you don't really know if you want the calm and relaxing type or the vibrant, interesting and "so you" vibe. I do have a problem with white bedrooms but if you choose diferent textures of the same colours you add interest and then it's not boring anymore.
What I like about this bedroom is the bed structure because it's a marriage between architecture and decoration. Not so fan of one side closed by a wall though. And maybe I would've used a bold colour on the art over the bed.
This bedroom, on the contrary, uses bold and saturated colours creating an eclectic mood by the wall art and the pillows. And look how the washed floor in a white tone works so weel balancing the strong grey on the wall. It's simple and it works. And purple is THE colour:)

Images from rumid

Kids Wallpaper

2010-02-09T12:13:00.003Z

I hate when people try to use in kids rooms just colours and little cartoons. I believe you can make children spaces more interesting than that. This wallpaper is a good example of a great way to encourage kids to focus, pay attention and dream a little bit.
"We make wallpaper for boys’ bedrooms that feels crafted, that’s good quality, that’s thoughtful and has personality. That even has a sense of humour. We make wallpaper where boys’ themes meet grown-up style. Two opposing concepts coming together."

Find it at paperboywallpaper and you can ask for a sample too.

Wow

2010-02-08T05:39:00.001Z

Claustrophobia... I wonder who cleans the dust:P

Inspiring

2010-02-08T05:25:00.002Z

Black again and cool clutter. One day I'll pull it of, one day...
:)

Image from house doctor

Heaven

2010-02-03T23:39:00.004Z

After a good bath I'm in bed drinking a hot decaf coffee and thinking how comfortable I am.Small pleasures of life come in times of need.

Image taken in London near the Thame's river.

Homey Feeling

2010-02-01T14:12:00.002Z

Today I bring to you images from a Swedish house (I'm not sure) and some of its details. As normal in the Scandinavian houses they use white as a base palette and then invest in interesting wall decoration, rugs and sometimes vintage furniture to give a homey feeling.
I LOVE this cabinet. Even though I'm not a big fan of dark wood I open an exception to this one. And the glass door as usual gives to this piece a more distinct look, geat to exhibit books and cool objects. The print on the wall goes well together because it has the tone of the wood.
In this second image we can see the BILLY bookcases from IKEA with books organizes by colour. Not my thing but in that context I guess is ok. My favourite hear is without any doubt the rug. It's interesting and adds so much personality to a room, not to mention a big mirror like this one.
Once again we have another cool rug, a nice chair with the same tones and contemporaneous print. I like the detail of the lamp colour matching the soft purple of the printing, subtle but effective.
Finally there's hear a good option to have art and interesting stuff on the walls. I think owners of houses who rent them and don't let anyone hang nothing on walls could invest in this type of shelves because no more drills were needed and houses could be more personal even if used for a short period of time.

Hope you liked it:)
Images from Skona Hem

3000 visits!!! =D

2010-01-30T19:01:00.004Z

Thank you dear readers for the 3000 visits:)
I'm surprised by the fact that even when I don't post anything this blog still gets around 20 visits a day! So awesome!
After my internship is over I believe I'll be able to actually put into practice some of my projects, but 'till then I'll post as frequently as I can.

But now two images from soderbergagentur.com, a company that represents and promote stylists, photographers and illustrators in Sweden.
This one Patric Johansson, photographer. Love the big windows, the light, blues and the pinks. Of course that the mezzanine helps to create the doll house feeling.
Jakob Solgren was the stylist of this kitchen. It caught my attention because of the pink with wallpaper on the left but the black and the metallics match well together the industrial with the feminine look.

Sofia*

Change

2010-01-28T02:47:00.006Z

Change is complicated. And so is acceptance. We live our lifes in a rush hoping that our decisions come out the best way and sometimes we are truly whiling to do sacrifices in the name of something we believe, of something that's really worth it.
But we do stumble on our own fears and mistakes and sometimes we just don't know what to do. And in spite of talking things over or just stopping for a moment to think things trough we just act, we move, we react in a need to run away from what's uncomfortable and complicated and most of the times also confusing. And to make it worse our frustrations tend to cover our hearts and hide our real motives and what's important in the big picture.
Is it true that we all have moments where we don't get ourselves, where we just don't understand what's happening inside of us but the problem resides in the way we deal we things.
We can be wrong sometimes, oh so wrong! We hurt people we love, we disrespect the ones that mean the most to us and we say stuff we don't really feel. But after the damages are done there should come the understanding; a moment of pause to figure out the "whys", because if we jump into the next chapter running once again we do not learn our lesson. And the ones who are dealing with the same issues over and over again, probably run away from the answers they could get when living those issues shouting the common "that's just the way I am".

It's not easy to change, not easy to grow or to love. It all seems very simple until we are caught into the emotional web of relationships. It's challenging not having all the answers everytime. But then comes the day where we have to step ahead and recognize that we are complicated and human and that we may need some help and comprehension. But this is just if we do want to change, because we can do the same run and hide cicle and probably get very said and feel very empty in the end of the days.
Being a grown up means we should accept mistakes not as flaws or some kind of vulnerability, on the contrary, recognizing our imperfections makes us all bigger and better and more admirable.
Reaching out to others may mean we have to put our pride on a higher shelf and not focus on it, because if your ego gets in the way there's no acceptance on the horizon, just suffering and frustration. We may be distracted and everything seems OK, but is it? Really?

When you open yourself you discover new worlds, you find new perspectives and feel new feelings but nothing comes if you live as a rock, unmovable, unchangeable and unwilling to love.

Images by me from the Natural History and Science Museum, London

Hello again*

2010-01-27T01:27:00.003Z

Hello dear readers:)

It passed more than a month since the last post and I'm sorry for that. A lot as happened academic, professionally and personally which has delayed my attempts to return to an almost daily routine of posting something new.

As I told you a few months ago, I'm doing an internship in an interior design magazine in Portugal and this month I had to work like I've never worked before but I was rewarded with my name in the mag as a collaborator:)
I had the chance to do a 6 page issue about bedrooms all by myself, some shopping for a special issue about the gourmet theme and assist in a photoshoot of a product I chose for the last page of the magazine among many, many other things.
I'm really proud but it was hard, hard work!

After all this work I went to London again and it was an interesting experience to say the least. Very, very different from my first experience there.
I discovered that the National History Museum is my favourite one, that Oxford Street is a nightmare, that you can never trust on trains from the Stanstead Express, that the coffee shop/restaurant "The Gate" in Islington Green (zone 2) serves really tasty English Breakfasts, that Caramel Hot Chocolate is my favourite drink at Starbucks, that Portuguese tube stations are so much better (and new) than the London ones, that a "White" coffee has milk at McDonalds, that you need really good and strong luggage if you're travelling with it around the city, that I don't like milk with tea, that sugar in the Great Britain isn't sweet enough, that if you go with company you almost won't speak in English and finally that I have to go back there to live new things and create new memories.

I also went to a brief stay in Glasgow and Edinburgh so there's not a lot to say about it, but with so much travelling I was introduced to the concept of sleeping in an airport and uncomfortably in plains, feeling the pressure inside your ears and then being a little deaf for days, that the scottish accent can be absolutely impossible to understand, that you should never trust on an ATM machine that tells you have no money in your bank account and that Glasgow is too far away from Edinburgh to do a taxi travel between cities.

In the next two weeks I'll be on college exams so I won't promise any posts, but I'll try.
Thank you for the nice words I hear about the blog and how it's missed:)

Image from Alvhem Makleri

Habitat Spring/Summer 2010

2009-12-30T03:55:00.003Z

I love Habitat and its natural, "non catalogue" feeling we get while looking at these images.
More images here

I'm in love II

2009-12-26T15:53:00.002Z

There's something about this bed and the big rug. Now I want a BIG rug too:)

via ffffound and madebygirl

I'm in love

2009-12-26T03:17:00.001Z

via ffffound

Creative office of Anya Hindmarch

2009-12-25T20:07:00.003Z

This is the office of Anya Hindmarch, a British handbag designer.
"This is my office, where we have lots of meetings about everything from ideas to marketing. I'm ashamed to say they're a bit of a laugh most of the time. People often sit on the floor, and the other day someone was in a fur coat and a scarf because the heating was broken. We have breakfast together on people's birthdays, too – pain au chocolat, mini-cupcakes, sometimes booze, sometimes not. Still, I was thinking that if we all die tomorrow, what do you look back on? Not how much money you made, but how much fun you had."

Details:

JAR "I always have sweets in my office in case anyone needs a pick-me-up. My creative director changes them with the colours of the season – he's neurotic like that – but the blue ones are never quite so nice."

TEAPOT COSY "I love tea – I drink three or four cups a day. We have lots of celebrities coming in here to borrow bags, and often give them a cup, too. We didn't ever set out to court them. In the early days Princess Diana used to come to the shop in Walton Street, and then Elle Macpherson and all the "supers" started coming, too. It all happened fairly organically."

Via guardian.co.uk

Hand carved spoons

2009-12-24T10:26:00.000Z

Nic Webb is a wonderful spoon maker if I can call her like that. Nick's work is so organic and beautiful, like palpable poetry.“When I begin carving I look for the differing qualities in each piece, allowing the grain and character to influence the design. Each spoon evolves to have its own personality and when finished becomes a showcase for the limitless beauty of wood.”Every item is hand carved.

More information here.

Making of

2009-12-18T00:55:00.003Z

This is an expensive type to buy, but i like sooooo much! It's the ITC Chino made by Hannes von Döhren and Livius Dietzel. I believe it's interesting to know the creatice process behind design:) Enjoy.
"Our first idea was to create a headline face built up by combining straight lines with brush-stroke elements. How could we create a complete design with this system that would still maintain enough consistency?
Our first round of sketches were limited to just a few letters. These allowed us to easily examine the possibilities of our self-defined brief. "
"As we were filling out the heavy weight, we asked ourselves if the same design principles might also be applicable to a light version. In order to create the largest amount of contrast with our heavy cut, we decided upon a hairline weight; one that would only employ the lightest, seemingly monoline strokes."
"From the completed ITC Chino Regular, we developed a Black and a Light weight. With a MultipleMaster axis, we interpolated the Medium and Bold. These two raw results were then optimized by hand. This way, we could give each weight its own individual details."
"To sit alongside the five upright fonts, we added Italic variants. The characters from the upright files were obliqued, and then optically corrected. Outstroke terminals were added, and the letters a, f, and g — as well as a few others — were replaced with “true Italic” versions."

Images and text from ITC Chino

Designers work spaces

2009-12-11T00:45:00.003Z

This is the work studio of Solange Azagury-Partridge, a London jeweller.
"The walls are dark, which I adore, as they're very atmospheric, but as it's actually an old conservatory there's lots of light coming in through big windows. It has a sliding door so I can shut myself off and be private."
This is the Somerset studio from Alice Temperley which was originaly a warehouse.
"It's a real luxury to have a studio all to myself, somewhere to start mood boards for the next collection. All my team are in my original studio a few miles away, and the only way to clear my mind is to come and lock myself in here, with no phone or email."
Erdem's fashion studio in east London which has a pattern-cutting table 7m long.
"We're right above the Rich Mix cinema, which is great because I love the movies. The view is amazing. I can see the Gherkin, Barbican, Canary Wharf, and check on the progress of the new Shoreditch High Street train station. My bike got stolen, so I now walk from my flat in London Fields every day, down Broadway Market, get my coffee from La Bouche. It takes about 20 minutes."

I love to see work spaces as I mentioned before in other posts but these ones are special because we are looking at real studios, apart from homes. Rooms where you breathe creativity.

Feel inspired to be creative?

Images and info from The Guardian

Eclectic kitchen

2009-12-10T03:14:00.004Z

Images from LivingEtc

Ebay ad campaign

2009-12-02T22:58:00.003Z

This was an ad campaign made for Ebay by Euro RSCG Paris with the baseline "Christmas is coming".

via fubiz

Cable drawings

2009-11-27T18:52:00.003Z

This is absolutely original. It is the work from a student of Royal College of Art, Maisie Maude Broadhead. In this case we have a fireplace shape but imagine the possibilities! I just wonder the mistakes she made along the way to know how much cable she would need to make that wall draw so she wouldn't have lots of cable left in the the end.

Via heartanddesign

Sick AGAIN

2009-11-27T17:27:00.003Z

Oh dear readers...

I'm sick AGAIN and it's my throat infection AGAIN too:/
Luckily it's no so bad like the one I had before and the antibiotic seems to be working by itself this time.

I have so many projects and ideas to this blog but the lack of time is not helping at all.

But just to keep the ones who are more close to me and know more details about what's happening:

1. The internship is going great and though I'm not there full-time and I'm still doing small things it feels really good to be inside a magazine and getting to know how things are done before it's finished, printed and available to the readers:)

2. College is not that great because it's not really something I wanted to do, but we'll see.

This is all for now but I hope to post new finds and interesting stuff in the next days.

Thank you:)***

Handcrafted clocks

2009-11-23T22:17:00.002Z

Clocks made out of what seems to be china plates is a truly cool idea. And through what I've read they are really well crafted.They are made by {flaire houre} and you can buy them here. Remember that these are almost always one of a kind.

Via decor8

Birds

2009-11-19T17:28:00.004Z

Shanghai-based designer Zhili Liu's lighting series was inspired by gatherings of birds, which becomes obvious when you see them. Up above are models entitled Sparrow, Nightingale and Dove (below), respectively. These lamps are adorable but unfortunately are still a prototype. Maybe we'll be able to buy it next year.
Bird lamps (design 2006, prototyping 2009) via dezeen

New chair from Vitra

2009-11-18T22:27:00.007Z

"Shapes from the world of vegetation serve as inspiration for Ronan & Erwan Bouroullec’s new Vegetal chair, as they did for Algues. Its plant-like structure made of polyamide dyed throughout goes to the limits of the technically feasible, and the six colours (unusual for plastic chairs) emphasise the link to nature. Vegetal is stacking and suitable for indoor or outdoor use."This is an amazing chair. It's structure feels really organic and I easily see it in a coffee shop outside near a garden while drinking an orange juice or eating a fresh salad.How did the designers got into this chair? How were they inspired? See this video with the drawing process.

Images from Vitra

Colours of joy

2009-11-16T22:49:00.005Z

Sometimes there's an apartment like this that surprises by the difference of options made in some details. This one was posted by Design*Sponge.
In a hallway like this I guess most of us would think of white sliding doors but this soft yellow brings a comfort touch that links well with the black stairs (next photo). The pink accents just add a more joyful vibe. And the floor is just gorgeous. What I find particular interesting in this bed is the detail of the wall decoration that kind of draws a colour scheme with de blues, purples and reds. And looking at it it makes wanna do something to my spare headboard.In the dining area (side by side with the hallway) the option for a red table seems to me quite daring and surprising. It works as a more inviting and warm touch to rest of the industrial look.

More images here

Original barcodes

2009-11-16T18:38:00.004Z

From Barcode revolution
via cool hunting

Ryan Korban - Interior Designer

2009-11-12T00:33:00.003Z

Ryan Korban uses touches of black in every design but he manages to pull the classic with a more urban yet refined mood to the rooms.

Images from his website at Ryan Korban

Need a paper wipe?

2009-11-10T18:43:00.005Z

The photography used in this packaging works really well. We do have the instinct to get a wipe and use it "before it's too late".

"The creative use of photography for Superdrug’s Handy Wipes make this product fun and approachable, not to mention that it helps it stand out on shelf in a sea of moist wipe products."

Designed by Turner Duckworth (UK)

Image via Lovely Package

News

2009-11-09T23:07:00.009Z

Hello dear readers:)

Today my post has to do not with interior design but with the future of this blog.
I won't say much because we are still studying exactly what we want (we as me and my web specialist hehehe) but what you need to know is that Midnight Friday has a new domain. From now on you can access this blog trough midnightfriday.net

While the creation of the site is beeing developed, every time you go to midnightfriday.net you'll be redirectioned to here.What to expect?
The idea is to give a more professional approach to the site, maintaining my freedom of what I believe it suits this space. Come here later and maybe I'll tell you more about it:)

Image via fffound (yep, this is me pretending to be funny:P)

Clothing brands expand to home ware

2009-11-07T17:18:00.000Z

Clothing brands are moving fast to a new market, the home ware. Now not only you can have your style of a certain clothing brand but you can also dress your home accordingly. In reality this is great for consumers. The more choice there is, the better. In terms of prices, the more cheaper and creative options we have, more solutions we can find that won't empty our pockets.

Some examples are Zara Home, H&M Home and now Diesel too, just to name the ones that pop at my head.Even high end fashion stylists see the advantages of creating lines of towels, fabrics, furniture, you name it. I'm not a fan when the looks clearly overwhelm the function but if there are consumers for it I guess there's a reason for those objects to be made.

Diesel got together with Foscarini, an Italian brand of lighting design and made these gorgeous cage lamps. They are truly stunning!
Images via Apartment Therapy

Pink accents

2009-11-07T10:13:00.001Z

Pink is a happy colour and can "wake up" a boring, bland room. In both of these kitchens the small details like the pot and the small poster (1st image) and the sink curtain (2nd image) give a new a fresh focus to the area.

Images from marie claire maison

Paper chandelier

2009-11-07T01:47:00.005Z

This is an artwork from Lena Corwin made of paper and straw. In her blog she says that this cool idea came from Laura Normandin'd blog in this post about a polish paper chandelier (below).She bought it at The Polish Art Centre and out of curiosity I looked for it online. And among the varieties they had I found this picture with a different and interesting angle (below).

The price of each chandelier is around $125 american dollars but there are cheaper ones. The Polish Arte Centre ships internationally, but you need to create an account and then see if your country is on the list.

Would you hang one of these at your house?:)

Brown and masculine bedroom

2009-11-06T22:30:00.003Z

An original, somewhat masculine, organized and functional bedroom is what you're seeing in these images.
The palette follows the browns, reds and oranges and some yellows. It's also a creative bedroom full of personality with an industrial vibe.
Some will feel it as to dark but I believe that from the picture above you have lots of natural light (look at the size of those windows) which helps to open the bedroom.

Images from marie claire maison

Vinyl Laboratory

2009-11-06T21:34:00.001Z

This UK vinyl shop is truly original. They ship worldwide.
More here at Hu2 Design.

Black and colour

2009-11-06T19:43:00.001Z

I love this image from the House Doctor brand website. Every time I go there I think "maybe some black wouldn't hurt" and then I start to think about the black items I have at home. They're just a few, but maybe with a few more I could get this interesting and vibrant look. It's not a rainbow table, it's more sober but still with a happy mood.

From House Doctor

I do

2009-11-06T18:22:00.001Z

via Le Love

Office view

2009-11-06T17:08:00.001Z

From sommarnojen

10 tips to have a better wardrobe area

2009-11-06T16:38:00.000Z

Girls like to dress up and if you have the budget to follow your consumer instinct then you need a space like this. Well, maybe you don't NEED it, but you wish you could afford one, I bet:P

How can you have a closet or lets say it a "Kind of" type of closet? Most of us have just bedrooms, but with some nice touches and changes you can transform the dressing up area into a more interesting and nice space oh with some feminine glamour perhaps!

1. Use well your space.
It's not rocket science and we all know what we should do but we delay the cleaning chore involved in this.

2. Give, sell or just get rid of clothing -and accessories- that:
a) are tearing themselves apart (or just fix those items)
b) don't fit you anymore unless you shrink
c) have really bad quality like those polyester shirt that easily stink (we all know those)
d)you don't use "just because"3. Buy nice boxes to put on top of your wardrobe or inside of it on the highest shelves (you can buy transparent ones if you are keeping them inside)

4. Cover the back of your wardrobe with a nice wallpaper because glamour is in the details

5. Buy new clothes hangers and make sure they all look the same because it gives consistence and the eye likes that:P6. Use those perfumed lavender bags in fabric and hang them or put them inside the drawers. It will add not only a nice perfume but it gives that feminine touch. Although you can perfume your clothing even with bathing soaps inside the drawers.

7. Have a big mirror with a nice frame if possible. Add some lighting on top of the mirror. Make sure you you really see the colours and the details of what you are wearing.

8. Please also make sure there's no furniture next to your wardrobe that prevents the doors from opening completely. It's suppose to be practical and not just pretty.

9. Have some art like a poster or an illustration related to clothing or fashion near the wardrobe zone just so you remember and focus that's the place to keep your clothes, not the top of your floor.

10. If possible have a bench or a nice armchair around to give the closet feeling. You can also use a screen do divide that area from the rest of the bedroom you you have:
a) good natural light
b) enough space

Do you have more tips? Share with me:)

Images from LivingEtc

Easy

2009-11-06T15:59:00.004Z

Oh if remodelling could be just easy as this:P

Source: weheartit

Vavavooom bath

2009-11-06T14:18:00.003Z

Chic and vibrant!
A white, neutral bathroom doesn't have to be boring. Use bright, interesting and bold objects and you can create a cool space without spending too much.

Image via LivingEtc

Let yourself feel

2009-11-06T10:51:00.000Z

let yourself feel. from Esteban Diácono on Vimeo.

From Esteban Diácono

Testino knows how to do it

2009-11-06T09:55:00.003Z

Look at her fierce look! She is a great actress and she does know how to portray the "bitch look" pretty well.

Natalie Portman photographed by Mario Testino

Images via Cartoon Styles

Swedish realestate

2009-11-06T09:02:00.000Z

Images from Bukowskis Realestate

Photographer Per Ranung III

2009-11-06T01:54:00.001Z

Images from b-martin

Rug

2009-11-05T20:57:00.001Z

This is an amazing rug from the Danish company Hay. It's the Pinocchio multi colour model. It is totally hand woven and made of 100% new wool. The possible dimensions are: 90 and 140cm diameters and 200cm in the next year of 2010.

The price is between €400 and €1000 depending on the size.

I can only imagine how comfortable must be to walk on top of this rug=D

Internship

2009-11-05T18:08:00.003Z

It's official: I got an internship in the best Portuguese interior design and decoration magazine!=D

Image via Silver Scents

Photographer Per Ranung II

2009-11-05T17:48:00.001Z

Images from b-martin

Deep blue

2009-11-05T11:11:00.001Z

What's not to love about this blue?

Images from Bukowskis Real Estate

Good morning

2009-11-05T09:06:00.000Z

If there's coffee you are at home.
Agree?

Photos from Alice Gao

Photographer Per Ranung (Elle Interiör)

2009-11-05T08:25:00.001Z

Pinks, reds, blues, oranges and purples, all together as accents with the white all over the walls, floors, ceiling and kitchen cabinets. It's a vibrating room but the white with the big painting (or wallpaper) balance the focus.

Wood and whites with splashes of colour it's a technique that can hardly fail.
One again, light colours and wood work really well with more acid tones and you can always add some spice with a colour outside the obvious palette like the orange bottle (imagine it's a pillow).

All images taken by Per Ramung for the Swedish Elle Interior from b-martin

Story Hotel

2009-11-04T21:33:00.003Z

These photos are from a stylish hotel in Stockholm. It is casual, but chic at the same time. Natural materials with a not so new look help to give an easy and comfortable feel.

Images form Solid Frog

I WANT THIS APARTMENT=D

2009-11-04T15:54:00.003Z

I'm usually not excited about a house, not that I'm not excited with houses because I am, but sometimes I feel this urge to live in a place like this small apartment. If I could do some changes in terms of remodeling my actual attic OMG:)

This is a 47m2 Studio. The living room also function as a bedroom and there's just a tall wall nicely decorated with a wallpaper to divide de areas. Storage could be an issue but there's a wall with big shelves, a closet, big kitchen and lots of natural light which always helps to make the rooms feel bigger.
Check the images above.

Would you live in this studio?

More images at alvhem maklare

Don't forget to take the garbage out!

2009-11-04T08:29:00.003Z

How cool is this?=D
These garbage bags are from a British company called suck.
You may not know but that least in London people put the garbage outside their houses, in the street, inside plastic bags which are collected later.

Price: £10.00 (12 bags)

Would you have these?

40m2 Studio

2009-11-01T21:37:00.005Z

Swedish 40m2 studio. More images here, at Alvhem Maklare

Simple kitchen

2009-10-29T17:15:00.002Z

White kitchens look as clean, organized and let the cooking part shine. In this case we see some IKEA cabinets with old wood furniture which works pretty well . There's a feeling of modernism but with comfort and practicability.

Photos from anne naumann

Cute top

2009-10-29T16:26:00.003Z

I'm not a fashion addict but sometimes I just can't resist and I definitely can't resist this H&M top. So feminine and light and beautiful.

From le blog de la mechante

Parisienne small studio

2009-10-29T15:50:00.003Z

Small can be pretty and organized. This is a 26 square meter apartment in Paris. You can see how Elodie, the house owner made possible to have different areas in such a tiny space.
The whole apartment has IKEA items with some vintage ones.

Apartment present in Apartment Therapy.

This is the house of Elodie (click and go to her blog)

Autumn palette

2009-10-29T14:59:00.004Z

Simple, earthy, warm and comfortable. This is my autumn palette.
What's yours?

Image via decor8

Photo idea

2009-10-29T11:18:00.005Z

Using photography as a decorative focus can work pretty well in a room. Use images taken by you or friends, images you like and with visually interesting. details.
You can have one only theme or different ones in one wall. You can do the same on top of a table with glass on it, in frames and you can even print photos on fabric like pillows, duvet covers or curtains (not that found of the last one).
I have also seen a fabric headboard with a little girl sleeping ans this was in a girl's bed.

The limit is your imagination.
Any suggestions?

Images via domino (click to go to original flickr links)

The Eames lounge chair

2009-10-29T09:28:00.006Z

Some objects are just icons of design and you can see them in lots of houses. Probably not in a middle class home, because design can be really expensive and if we are talking of an icon multiply that for ten, but "design homes" usually use great furniture from different times in history.That's the case of the Eames lounge chair by Ray and Charles Eames, an icon of modern design. This chair was built in the early 50's and if you're wondering about the idea behind the creation, there you have:

“the motivation behind most of the things we’ve done was either that we wanted them ourselves, or we wanted to give them to someone else, and the way to make that practical is to have that gift manufactured… the lounge chair for example, was really done as a present for a friend, Billy Wilder, and has since been reproduced." said Charles Eames.This particular chair is about status, masculinity and it is a object that gets better with age.
You can find lots of information in the book released this year, "The Eames Lounge Chair, An Icon Of Modern Design". This book has many photographs, explanations of the design, documents that show the evolution of the chair and its social context among many interviews that help to understand why this is such an important icon of the 20th century.
You can find the book here at amazon and here at the book depository
Images via BIS Publishers and Daily Icon