Archives for 2011

Emerging trend: multi-tasking designs

From the geniuses in the design world, several winners have been named in the Reece Bathroom Innovation Awards for 2011 and right off the bat, we noticed a trend more dominant than in years past- bathrooms designs that multi-task to accommodate smaller spaces.

The winners are broken into professional designers and student designers with awards for both and our favorite design (which unfortunately did not win the award after being named a finalist) was Robert Grynkofki’s Vanity tub that brilliantly hides a tub underneath a double sink vanity:

Grynkofki’s entry says, “A bathtub is a key piece in the bathroom but individuals with smaller bathrooms often find the bathtub is a luxury that has to be missed. Those lucky enough to have a bath know that it often collects dust if it is unused. The Vanity Tub offers a solution as it offers the user a comfortable tub which then disappears underneath a spacious double sink vanity. Two sliders limit the operating area for safety and wheels for movement means this bath is as effortless as opening a kitchen drawer. Flexible steel knitted hoses for drainage and water enable the Vanity Tub to operate like any other bathtub. The aesthetics of the Vanity Tub can be personalized and the frame is designed to support standard sized bathtubs.”

Knowing options for smaller spaces can help real estate professionals give buyers a better vision for their future home and being aware of trends is useful for luxury real estate professionals expected to know the latest and greatest home amenities.

Sandwiched between two outer layers of conventional glazing sits a liquid crystal polymer membrane that can be activated by remote control or turned on (opaque) and off (see through) via conventional light switches.

Such shifts in opacity mean the same surface can serve as a window, partition, privacy screen or projection surface. Prefabricated with the synthetic core in place, units can be safely brought to and installed on residential or commercial building sites with ease.

This hybrid glazing comes in panels up to ten feet by ten feet, making them potentially applicable in large-scale, floor-to-ceiling settings as well as smaller room-to-room doors and dividers. Design by Russian door makers of Mauer Buro (translates as: wall office).

Want to wake to an unusual surrounding? Get creative with your bedroom design. There are plenty of design solutions and ideas including budget-wise ones that will make it for you. Before immersing into creative designing process think about an unusual location for a bedroom in the house. Maybe you’d like a bedroom in the attic where no one goes, sunny or shady side of the house, and interesting window in the room. This location will add to or take from the mood and atmosphere you would like to create in your bedroom.

Think Unusual Bed/Furniture

While you could save a bit on making an unusual design in terms of color scheme you could also invest in a creative bed to strengthen the effect of an unusual atmosphere. Since the bed is a focal point (or one of the focus points) of the room you will easily achieve unusual design by putting a bold bed in sight.

If bed is too much or too expensive you can rather opt for unusual chairs, cabinets, side tables, or shelves. The furniture should match and contrast the color scheme and add to the mood of the room.

Creative Rugs/Accessories

Creative rugs and accessories like floor vases, wall decorations, lighting, and bed linens can make a great impact to a conventional bedroom. Choose a bold rug that complements and intensifies or contrasts your color scheme. You can match prints and patterns in rugs and upholstery as well as curtains and wall coverings.

Unusual Color Scheme

Unusual color scheme can make it work but it should really be quite interesting. It is the most budget-wise design idea for an unusual bedroom. Just make sure to mix and contrast textures, use patterns, and pay attention to details that strengthen the effect of a color scheme.

Kids love bright and colorful rooms but what they like more is a theme. Most often it’s their favorite cartoon, book or game characters, superheroes and fun activities like sports.  Designing the kids’ room or play room in using a theme can make it very fun for kids to play and live in their room.

If your kids are small it’s up to you to decide what makeover to give to their room. But if they old enough to know what they like and make choices then you can ask them about how they want their room to look like. Paintings of favorite superheroes or characters from books or cartoons on the wall? Forest or sea theme? Little castle theme?

There are many options to it. You can even sketch the design together and choose a placement for wall art. It is important that the theme was really loved by children otherwise it may bore or irritate them soon. More neutral themes can include patterns or favorite shapes, like in a heart-shaped theme design below.

Try to stick with one theme in the room and arrange the rest of the décor around the wall art or themed bed and furniture. Choose one focus in the room – themed wall art or themed furniture and keep the rest of the design more subtle not to make the room look too busy and overdone.