Home Furniture
Home Furniture

Wednesday, December 8, 2010 Best Home Design-Trend Alert: Planked Wood Ceilings

What is a ceiling? Is it simply a roof over our heads, so to speak? The answer to that question by designers is increasingly "no!" A ceiling really can be a fifth wall. And that opens up endless possibilities for interesting treatments.

One of the ceiling design treatments that is gaining popularity right now is the addition of wood planking. More than just the addition of beams, planked ceilings add visual texture and interest creating great focal points in a room. So the next time you are redoing a room...look up and consider the addition of wood to your ceiling.
traditional family room by Carl Vernlund

To emphasize a dramatic vault such as this one, intricate beams are added to a wood panelled ceiling.
by Carl Vernlund
traditional family room by Frederick + Frederick Architects

Combining wood panelling and coffering creates a visually dynamic ceiling treatment.
by Frederick + Frederick Architects
modern family room by usona

Bleached panelling adds texture without adding color in this contemporary space.
by usona
mediterranean family room by BraytonHughes Design Studios

Warm wood and beams accent the vaulted ceiling in this family room.
by BraytonHughes Design Studios
modern family room by mark gerwing

A planked ceiling is a unique addition to a kitchen.
by mark gerwing
eclectic family room by Design Associates - Lynette Zambon, Carol  Merica

Rough hewn wood adds to the rustic feeling of this room.
by Design Associates - Lynette Zambon, Carol Merica
traditional family room by Gast Architects
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Painting a wood ceiling brightens a room while still adding texture.
by Gast Architects
modern family room by Fuse Architects, Inc.

The dark wood on the ceiling echos the dark wood on the floor and contrasts beautifully with the crisp white walls.
by Fuse Architects, Inc.
contemporary bedroom by Vanni Archive

Draw visual attention to a unique ceiling like this curved one with wood planking.
by Vanni Archive
tropical bedroom by Sutton Suzuki Architect

Painted wood beams are a lovely addition to a master bedroom.
by Sutton Suzuki Architect
eclectic bedroom by Elad Gonen & Zeev Beech

Dream Kitchen House Plans

The holiday season is a great time to re-evaluate your kitchen design, especially if you are someone who loves to cook and entertain. You certainly understand the importance of having a well-equipped kitchen with all the latest professional-grade appliances and gadgets to making cooking holiday creations enjoyable and easy. One can never have enough counter space or efficient prepping, cooking and cleaning workstations. This week our issue of Dream Designs features some are most popular kitchen house plans. They are designed with an abundance of cabinetry, island counters, efficient work zones, multiple faucets and sinks and the most innovative and efficient appliances. We’d love to know which design is your favorite.

Dream Kitchen House Plans

This house plan features an open living space for the kitchen, great room and dinette.

Dream Kitchen House Plans

Gorgeous center island for cooking and seating.

Monday, December 6, 2010 Modern Classic and Rustic Bedrooms

Modern Classic and Rustic Bedrooms

In riding the coattails of our rustic dining rooms article, we wanted to shine some light on these beautiful bedrooms inspired by the same classic styles of Roche Bobois. Only this time the subtle and sophisticated take on modern classic decor is distinguished and gives us a glimpse of hope in making this beautiful era relative to our contemporary and multi-cultural lives.

Modern Classic and Rustic Bedrooms

Now, some of their furniture only appears ancient because of the antique aging process and hand-waxed lacquer finish but the detail in craftsmanship is undeniable so we won’t hold that against them. Using metallic fabrics and bold color in unexpected places while remaining true to the idiosyncratic fashion of the old world is simply a great combination for any period room. Wouldn’t it be grand to wake up in one of these royal-sized beds with the sun shining into your massive french windows as you examine the finishing touches of such flawlessly elaborate architecture and ponder the meaning of life? We’d like to think so…

Here you will see Baroque and Medieval inspired bedrooms with a modern flair. We only hope you come back to reality soon enough to enjoy our next post!



Modern Classic and Rustic Bedrooms

Modern Classic and Rustic Bedrooms

Modern Classic and Rustic Bedrooms

Modern Classic and Rustic Bedrooms

Modern Classic and Rustic Bedrooms

Modern Classic and Rustic Bedrooms

Modern Classic and Rustic Bedrooms

Modern Classic and Rustic Bedrooms

Modern Classic and Rustic Bedrooms

Saturday, December 4, 2010 Google’s offices from around Europe

Google work places are known to be fun! These pictures below, are from different offices around Europe.

The work places in Milan, Madrid and Munich were designed by DEGW, a company that usually designs for various Fortune 500 companies, while the one in Zurich was designed by the swiss firm Camenzind Evolution.

Google Madrid

reception

informal work space

The best location in the whole floor plan with the most stunning views of Madrid has been used for this informal/ formal interaction area.

game room

The games rooms used for a relaxing moment. It can also work for internal formal/informal meeting and for social events.

view from the game room

Google Milan

reception

View of the reception area.

open space

playroom

Imaginative designed staff room designed as a playroom.

office inside

Google Munich

corridor

workstations

Workstations.

break time area

Break Out area.

waiting area

Google Zurich

reception area

The reception in the Zurich office.

google office

office space

Igloo- inspired?

work station

fun anyone

Celebrating individuality?

the interior

Individual work spaces to inspire creativity.

slide back down

silde and glide

Who needs fancy elevators when one has slides?

rooms

And here is the Google HQ (In California, Not in Europe)

Thanks, Neety for the tip!

If you come across different work spaces like these which you think need to be featured here at Home-Designing, please mention them in the comments. Also we run a steady stream of cool posts like this at Home Designing and if you like to be notified when we have more such inspiring posts, please subscribe to our feed or newsletter!

Russian Web Company Yandex’s Offices

Search giant Google, social networking behemoth Facebook and chirpy microblogging site Twitter may all have great digs, but if you think that the only tech companies that have cool offices reside in the silicon valley you couldn’t be more wrong. Take a look at Russian search engine company Yandex’s offices and you will see what we mean. Created by Za Bor Architects, the space offers interesting focal points and perspectives all through. Considering that this is indeed the company’s fourth office within the country, you could be forgiven for believing their IPOing rumours.

The architectural designers wanted to evoke a cool calm and casual atmosphere that enhanced the computer geek squad’s organic nature and sense of humanity. So they used a whole lot of wood and cork and while keeping most spaces minimal, used fun furniture and played upon the shapes, forms and texture of the walls and ceilings. Walking through the space and seeing the diagonal doorways and blackened ceilings gives the offices an Alice n Wonderland feeling where objects and spaces are not as big and tall as they appear- or maybe they are, but we can imagine it keeps things in the office interesting…


 
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