Modern Interior Design

How to Get a Cutting-Edge Look

Modern interior design is a new cutting edge style of design that is becoming more and more popular in interior design in homes, offices, hotels and many other places.

The amazing thing about this type of design is that it gives a very impressive look to your place that people will be amazed about.

A modern or contemporary interior design gives a rich, luxury look to your house or office that you'll enjoy.

It's important to know that the interior design you choose is not only about the objects and furniture used, but also all other smaller parts of the entire picture matter. Parts like the walls, floor, doors, and even window curtains.

So it is the job of your interior designer to choose them all together the way they match perfectly.

So after you choose a good, skilled, reliable interior designer, you can sit back and relax. The rest is all to do on him.

Easy Tips: To make sure you choose the best design for your house or office, it is a good idea to first do some research online and see some picture galleries of top interior design samples.

Comparing various designs will open your eyes on the creative possibilities so you can choose the best one you like more easily.

To find these samples, simply search in Google. You'll quickly find hundreds of great designs this way so you can decide which type you like the most.

Source: http://www.interior-design-ideas-now.com/

Christmas Decorating Ideas

Christmas decorating in the Shabby Chic Cottage Style is defined as an elegant, comfortable, "lived in" feeling with a perfect mix of the old and the new.


Here are a few simple steps for creating a shabby chic, cottage Christmas by turning your home or apartment into a place of warmth this holiday season!

1. Choosing a color palette - Whites and creams are the staple colors for Shabby Chic style and also Christmas decorating projects. They can be used to create both an elegant or casual theme. White can be used exclusively or you can warm it up with beautiful pastels such as pinks, blues, or lavenders.

2. Fabrics - Use beautiful vintage inspired floral fabrics that fit within your Christmas color scheme. Damask would enhance and elegant theme while, quilted floral matelasse, white denim, and crisp linens can be used for table clothes or napkins for a more casual decor.

3. China - Set your table with mismatched china remembering to keep with your theme. This can be done fairly inexpensively with the help of your local thrift stores and flea markets. Using simple white dishes with small accents of floral china will add a special shabby chic Christmas charm.

4. Candles/Lighting - IllumiWhite Christmas treenated lighting is a critical element in creating the atmosphere of warmth. lights are perfect for trees doorways and mantels. A chandelier adorned with glass prisms reflects the light . Candles of different sizes, displayed beautifully in old canisters or on saucers will add that extra

5. Christmas Tree Decorations / Floral Arrangements - When entertaining guests, use fresh flowers as finishing touches all around your home. A bouquet here and a single flower there. Use interesting things to display them in such as tea pots, bottles, water pitchers. A single white rose in a small charming vase next to the sink in the bathroom reminds your friends and family that you care about even the tiniest details.

6. Pillows - Place floral accent pillows in your white or cream color scheme on dining room chairs, benches, and unexpected areas to create an inviting comfortable atmosphere while adding extra seating.

7. Slipcovers - If you don't already own slipcovered furniture, pre-made slipcovers can be purchased relatively inexpensively at many local department stores. The benefit of slipcovering your furniture during the holidays protects your furniture from the occasional seasonal spill. Simply take them off and throw them in your washing machine when your guests have left.

Christmas decorating in a Shabby Chic cottage style brings joy and elegance into holiday. It's a charming, kid friendly, and relatively inexpensive. Decorate with the things you love and the warmth of the season will fill your home. Happy Holidays from our home to yours.

Materials From: http://www.rentaldecorating.com/

Thanksgiving 2008

I consider myself to be undeniably blessed and most fortunate to have so many wonderful people in my life. Ever since I started All the Best it seems as if the best of all worlds have collided and I am the lucky recipient of its offerings. Of course I am most grateful for the support of my husband and son, both who encourage me on a daily basis.

Over the past two years I have had the pleasure of corresponding with so many fantastic readers and industry icons, several of whom have become close friends. Not only have I benefited from these remarkable friendships, but my family has as well. This year Thomas Burak and Michael Devine, two of the most gracious men I know, invited us to New York for Thanksgiving. It was one of our finest Thanksgivings in recent memory—delicious food and libations, gorgeous surroundings, a stunning view of the Empire State Building, a crackling fire, enlightened conversation, laughter and great friends. Thank you Thomas and Michael you truly are the best!

Tips for kid’s bedroom interior designing

Your child’s bedroom is a place where he spends most of his time at home, we must pay special attention to organizing and planning of the Chamber.

1. Always choose high-gloss paint for the children’s room, because it is can be washed.

2. This is a great concept of the wall paintings are based on a theme of your child’s choice

3. To save room space, buy multifunctional furniture for your child’s room.

4. Give due attention to the bathroom by including non-slippery tiles and decorating it with water toys.

Style is the main factor while choosing kids bedroom furniture. Knowing what style you are looking for can make shopping a lot easier.

kids bedroom design

Whichever style, brand or variety of kids bedroom furniture you choose, it doesn’t have to be an overwhelming task. Just keep in mind the most important things, safety and comfort. Bedroom is a very important personal room, where your child should get the best rest and relaxation.

Decorating a Child's Room

8 Simple Strategies to Make You Both Happy!

Decorating a Kids Room When it comes to decorating a child's room, your approach should be much different from decorating an adult bedroom.

For kids, their bedroom is where they play games, read, listen to music, day-dream, or just go to be alone sometimes. So use these eight strategies to help create a space that will make you both happy:

1. Talk to your child. Find out what activities and fantasies he or she enjoys; what their favorite color is; and what's unique about their personality that a theme could be built around.

2. Allow your child to help. Let them have a say about colors, fabrics, and how they want to display their collectibles.

3. Make the room multi-functional. Since children use their room for many activities besides sleeping, it should have several different zones, such as a play area, reading area, and entertainment area.

4. Make storage a priority. Try shelving, large decorative wicker baskets, plastic see-through containers, and closets that contain plenty of shelving and racks.

5. Keep window treatments simple. Avoid long draperies. Shades, blinds, and shorter curtains are safer choices. The fabric should be versatile, and patterns should be repeated in other items in the room, such as in pillows, quilts, lampshades, bed ruffles, etc.

6. Choose the right lighting. A child’s room should include both task lighting for homework and reading, and soothing light for quieter times. A nightlight is also important.

7. Use wallpaper or paint (if it is allowed in your lease) to add color and texture. You can apply whimsical borders along the top edges of the walls, and clouds or stars on the ceiling. Make sure walls are washable, so if you are using paint, choose a semi-gloss or gloss finish. Kids love bright colors, but you should limit any strong color to only one wall.

8. Allow your child to select the design theme. Here are just a few: firehouse fun room, starry night, angels, rainbows, unicorns, baseball, a bedroom for a princess, underwater scenery, outer space, race cars, airplanes, trains, jungle motifs, wizards and dragons, and dinosaurs.

Decorating with your child offers a great opportunity to display your playful side, while doing some memorable family bonding, so have fun with it!

by: Michael Holland Source: http://www.rentaldecorating.com

Off to New York for Thanksgiving

We are off to New York for Thanksgiving. I have always wanted to spend this wonderfully American holiday in the Big Apple. As a child I longed to watch the parade from a window just like Susan Walker (Natalie Wood).

This is our first Thanksgiving in the States since moving to Scotland and we are very much looking forward to being with great friends. Enjoy the beautiful images from Gourmet.

Home Remodeling Tips

Home Remodeling Tips

Remodeling your home while giving it a high-end look and style is what each one of us wants for our house. Making the best out of the money spent and giving a new image to your home is what we talk about here. Bringing out the best in your house requires careful planning and organizing. Whether you are remodeling for selling purpose or to upgrade it to a modern lifestyle these tips and ideas will resolve a lot of conflicts that rests in your mind.

Keeping a close eye as what will still look good after 15 years, here are different home remodeling tips for the different rooms in your house. Guide your way through each individual room and decide on how you want it to look and then start working on it.

The Lives of the Rich and Famous

Well we are not talking about any TV soap here. But taking a close look at their home styles is a good way to set your gaze for the coming years. According to a recent survey it was found that the changing trends in the house remodeling styles are guided by the high-end homes. So if you want to foresee what’s going to be the hotcake of the neighborhood in next 6 years then a quick trip to some of the open houses in the up class and affluent communities is a good idea.

Make it Durable

One of the very important factors for any house is the durability of the house. Invest your money in materials that can endure the test of time. Avoid cheap materials, as they will start to show gouges as years pass by. Instead go for quality substance so that you don’t have to put energy and money on it later on.

Think Bold and Different

One interesting home remodeling tip is to make your home look interesting and different. If you are thinking from the selling point also, go for something that will appeal to the next generation. One of the easiest ways of doing this is by adding some custom glass tile and bold colored countertops in kitchens and washrooms.

Home Remodeling Tips for Rooms

Every room is remodeled in a different way. So let’s take a closer look at how each of these rooms and upgrade them to the latest trends of today.

Kitchen

Kitchens are one of the most difficult places to maintain. So while remodeling keep things simple. You can go for the classic granite counter top or have something that adds warmth to your kitchen. Though colors are hot and in right now, it may phase out in the coming years. Therefore investing highly on red stove and matching top should be avoided. Go for subtle colors that are perfect.

The Bath

Well to start with the utilitarian concept is out. Think big – think spa. Make space for your whirlpool tubs, multiple showers and even provision for steam shower. If you want to try something more upscale then go for towel warmers, heated floors etc.

Storage Rooms

Storage rooms no longer mean an attic or some small room that has no other functionality. Instead just like any other room in the house, storage rooms also have a personality of their own. If you have a spare room in your house then try remodeling it by adding some cabinets and closets. Make space to keep your food items and also things that are not required on an everyday basis. You can also remodel it by making space for your hobbies and recreation corner.

A Thought for the Elderly

One important tip to keep in mind while remodeling your home is sparing a thought for the elderly in the household. Make the home more accessible so that they can move around more comfortably and freely. While remodeling have wider hallways and doors. This will even be useful when you want to move bigger pieces of furniture as well. So whether you have parents living with you or visiting for a while, this is going to be of a great help.

Source: http://www.dreamhomedecors.com/

Happy Weekend

We are heading to the Highlands for the weekend. I think it will be too cold for me to wear similar attire, but I do love these J. Crew adverts. More to post on Monday. Happy weekend!

Profile: Michael George

Untitled, August 2008

I am so excited to share this profile today. I recently discovered the brilliant work of New York University Photography and Imaging major Michael George. I love to support the work of up and coming artists and Michael’s work is truly superb! Not only is he genuinely gifted, he is really young (barely in his 20s). If he is this talented now, what will a few more years bring?

I've highlighted a few of my favorites that just might make the perfect holiday gift this year. For more information you can contact Michael directly. Enjoy!

Untitled, 2008

What inspires your work?
I'm inspired by photography's ability to prove that the world has a natural formal order by grabbing a slice of time or space, even if there's chaos that lies just outside the frame.

What is the one thing in life you can't live without?
The ocean.

What is your greatest accomplishment to date?
Founding the Tisch Photography Magazine Club within my university. It began as an idea over the summer and suddenly we are due to publish our first issue in early December.

Lost Series 1, 2007

What is your idea of earthly happiness?
Acceptance. People get nothing out of denying others from their lives.

What is your most prized possession?
Can I make it a three-way-tie? My journal, my copy of Extremely Loud & Incredibly Close (a novel by Jonathan Safran Foer), and my Bruce Davidson print from the 'Brooklyn Gang' series.

What books are you currently reading?
On my own: 'The Tipping Point' by Malcolm Gladwell
For class: 'The Marx-Engels Reader' and 'On Photography' by Susan Sontag; 'The Photograph as Contemporary Art,' by Charlotte Cotton.

Anthony, 2007

Who would you most like to collaborate with on a project?
Living: Todd Hido
Deceased: Richard Avedon

How do you see the Internet changing the world of art and design?
For one, many photographers now think of their series not in the sense of a gallery space but a computer monitor. This has many implications that are both exciting and daunting. I believe it also has allowed people to expand their knowledge of other artists so that they are not caught in the tunnel vision that results from only viewing exhibitions at galleries or museums.

What is next for Michael George?
I plan to continue my project entitled 'Brink' over Winter Break and hopefully I'll get a chance to travel and expand on my 'Us & Them' project. Other than that, who knows?

Profile by Ronda Carman
ALL PHOTOS ARE COPYRIGHT OF THE ARTIST

Will Shelter Magazines Weather the Storm?

A recent article in The New York Observer (No Shelter in a Storm! As Economy Quakes, Home Mags Teeter) started me thinking about a subject that has been on my mind for quite some time. Are magazines becoming obsolete? With the increasing number of blogs, online magazines and the recent economic downturn we seem to be witnessing the irreversible and inevitable death of many magazines.

Personally I DO NOT want to see my favorite shelter magazines fall by the wayside! So my question is this: is it possible to have both a vibrant blogosphere and our beloved magazines? Can the magazine industry make financial ends meet? What more can be done in order for magazines to survive?

For the past several months I have been feverishly researching blogging trends. Primarily I have looked at how magazines, advertisers and bloggers can work together to promote a stronger readership while building a community of individuals who share a similar interest. Likewise, I have argued that many of the shelter magazines can, and should, create mutually beneficial relationships within the blogging world.

I do not see this as an 'us' versus 'them' issue. Several magazines have taken steps in this direction, but many have skirted the issue or failed to clearly see the potential. It's not enough for a magazine to have merely a 'web' presence. In my opinion, this is not a smart move, as it seems that the balance of power and influence is tipping, noticeably, to the Web.

Why is the balance tipping? First and foremost, it is a very personal means of interacting, communicating and receiving feedback. Most importantly blogs allow for active, not passive, readership. Another huge bonus is that blog content is instantaneous and, quite frankly, it is cheap! Not just in terms of cost to produce, but advertising as well. This is NOT an argument to do away with magazines. For me, nothing can replace my glossy magazines. I am merely stating a few well-known facts.

Do I believe that blogs have a greater advantage over magazines? Not necessarily. Nor do I believe the sky is falling on all magazines. The smart ones will find a way to reach out and weather the storm. I would love to hear your thoughts on the issue and if there are any interested parties, I am more than happy to share my thoughts and research.

Deconstructing the Art Wall

An eclectic assemblage of art hanging in the Kate Spade SoHo store--a mix of sizes, styles and mediums.

I recently came across this brilliant post from Maxwell Gillingham-Ryan Co-Founder/NY Editor for Apartment Therapy. Maybe some of you have seen this before, but it's new to me and seemed worthy of sharing. I for one struggle with hanging art. I know EXACTLY what I want, but I don't always execute my plan to perfection.

This is the starting picture - the keystone - everything hangs off of image number 1. Nothing maintains the horizontal line. Every picture "steps" down.

All the pictures "weep" or "slope" down from that center picture. The pictures in this assembly center around one picture and then "cascade" down on both sides.

Look at the keystone picture, there is an X and Y axis to the whole collection. Outside of picture number 1, these four pictures anchor the whole wall.

More Beautiful Walls of Art:

domino magazine

domino magazine

Miles Redd

Muriel Brandolini

Profile: Vicente Wolf

I am fairly certain that I am not alone in my admiration of designer Vicente Wolf. Once described as part tastemaker, part interior decorator, he is undeniably a long established and well-respected figure among the design elite.

Characterized by classical lines, contemporary design and unique decorative objects, Vicente’ rooms are always sublime and never austere.

In addition to design, Vicente is an accomplished photographer and author of two books, Learning to See and Crossing Boundaries: A Global Vision of Design. He is currently planning his third book for launch in 2009.

Never one to rest on his laurels, Vicente most recently tossed his hat into the blogging ring. Last month I had the chance to speak with Susan Moolman, Director of Public Relations for Vicente Wolf Associates, at the blogger panel in NYC. After the panel we spent time chatting about the merits, conception and the benefits of blogging. Vicente’s new blog is now live, and, as one might expect, is both informative and beautiful.


What is your most prized possession?
My Maine Coon Cat, Nene. He is my bed companion, my wake-up alarm, my napkin when I don’t have one and a welcome ‘miaooow’ when I get home.

Who are your style icons?
Gene Kelly for his athleticism and for always putting himself together with true American style.

Photographer Richard Avedon for his greatest quality - that casual self-assurance that only a great master can have.

Karl Lagerfeld for his great style and for being able to travel different roads while always staying true to his point of view.


What books are currently on your bedside table?
Auction catalogs from Sotheby’s and Christie’s of photography auctions in the UK, France and the US.

The Dark Side: The Inside Story of How The War on Terror Turned into a War on American Ideals by Jane Mayer

New York Interior Design 1935 – 1985, Masters of Modernism by Judith Gura.
I am so proud to be included in this beautiful book.

What is your favorite luxury in life?
Flying Emirates First Class, just because I can.

What is the only other occupation you would consider?
I would definitely be a full time photographer.

Who would you most like to collaborate with on a project?
Bill Gates. He is someone who is so capable of looking within to have created Microsoft, yet still be expansive enough to care about the world would be a wonderful person to collaborate with.


Past or present what designers have influenced you most?
David Hicks. His blending of contemporary and traditional always feels very present. I find the past leaves me more for the future than the present does.

How would you describe your personal style?
I am a combination of sarcastic and sweet, funny and dead-pan, hard-working yet an escapist, political and unconscious, politically incorrect and concerned all mixed into a Latino interior and covered in a shell of New York (sophistication?). While I’m fully committed when I commit, I don’t like to be nailed down to one thing.

For the past 35 years I’ve seen myself as a modern designer with a strong reference to the past and, when I’m not designing, I take photographs and travel the world.

How has the Internet changed the business of interior design?
It may make it more commercial and more communal, but the human connection and the creative eye still rules.

Interior Design Color Trends for 2010

Interior Trends for 2010 - Oriental Sweetness:

After Woolmark has launched its new interior colour trends for 2010 /11 at the start of the New Year, it looks like Japanese Inspired themes are going to be prevalent. It is still early days as far as interior predictions for 2010 , but we are going to look into one of the trends that is looking hot for next year, Oriental Sweetness & produce a dedicated range of canvas art prints to compliment it.

It's all about the East: Asian & Oriental influences are key here. Look to vintage floral Japanese textiles for inspiration, simple and minimal shapes with striking colours.

The colour palettes for the 09 season features strong tones of red, purple and burgundy, contrasted with brighter shades or neutral tones in unlikely combinations. The base for all the colour palettes can be made up from Neutrals, white, brown and bark.

Japanese, Oriental florals are inherently simple in their form, one of the aspects that I love is the minimal block colour approach, it is like pop art, but pioneered hundreds of years early. If you look at Japanese & indeed a lot Asian art, it closely resembles what graphic design has now become in a CAD based world. Blocks of colour that would have been intricately painted with a watercolour brush is only now becoming a popular graphic design technique, thanks to Adobe Illustrator.

Simple, vector based shapes are the key focal point to a design, little or no tone is apparent or necessary.

To quote us from the inital 2010 trends forecast we did, "The use of floral images and light colours simplify things and help keep its grace. Look no further than our floral canvas art section, where Japanese & oriental florals have featured prominently for the last 4 years." And we mean it, we've been all over Japanese florals for years now, what better a time for it to come through than now, when we have tonnes of original artwork!

We are well and truly on the ball with this trend, already loving a Japanese inspired floral design makes it easy for us, as the passion for what we do is there.. So, we've currently designed a selection of brand new floral canvas art, you can see some of them featured on this news blog. The rest can be found on our floral art pages, check them out, feel free to hit us up if you need custom art producing.