Dream Spaces: 14 Fabulous Indoor-Outdoor Bathrooms

outdoor bathroomDisappearing walls put these baths in Mother Nature’s lap, counting tranquil views and fresh air as the best luxuries of all

The modern bathroom has become a retreat in today’s busy world, a refuge from the stress of overscheduled lives. The best ones are filled with luxurious touches — steam showers, soaking tubs, TVs and surround sound — plus elegant materials like rich woods and earthy stones.

But if I were designing my dream bath, I know what I’d put at the top of my wish list: a way to bring the outdoors in. I’m talking about adding glass walls and a glass door to the shower, or setting a freestanding tub on a deck (or in a garden) so I could admire the view while I soak. Imagine what it would be like to hear birdsong or the rustle of the trees as you lather up, or smell the roses (or whatever else is blooming) while you loll in the tub.

Not surprisingly, these baths work best in balmy climates. I’m stuck on the snowy East Coast these days, but it’s always fun to daydream. So join me: Check out these 14 bright and airy baths, all designed to showcase Mother Nature’s best work.

Architecture, interior design, and more ∨Find top local interior designers, residential architects and home builders for your next home remodeling project.
Work with a home decorator when making changes to your home interiors, including picking out a rug or hanging new blinds.

Choosing New Cabinets? Here’s What to Know Before You Shop

Screen Shot 2014-02-21 at 8.07.48 AMGet the scoop on kitchen and bathroom cabinet materials and construction methods to understand your options

With all the options available, choosing cabinets for your kitchen or bath can be an overwhelming experience. Aesthetics aside, there are lots of factors that might not be readily apparent that will impact the cabinet’s performance and price. Understanding those factors will give you an advantage in making your selection.

There are three basic structural components to a cabinet: the box, the shelves and the drawers. Each can be constructed in a number of ways. Cabinets generally come four ways: boxed and ready to install in standard dimensions, boxed and ready to assemble, semicustom and custom.

To get a better understanding of the way cabinets are made, I visited two manufacturers: Canyon Creek Cabinet Company in Monroe, Washington, which makes semicustom units, and O.B. Williams Company in Seattle, a 125-year-old woodworking shop that builds custom cabinets.

 

General contractors, home builders, and more ∨From Shabby Chic home accents to contemporary furniture and the perfect mirror, browse thousands of decorating ideas to inspire your next home project.
Browse inspiring bedroom design, then outfit your own beds, convertible sofa beds ordaybed with luxury bedding and decorative throws.

Furniture origami: Saving space in your apartment

For those of us trying to live within a certain means, we like to think of there not being such a thing as small spaces so much as small imaginations.

If you’ve been feeling the crunch of a not-so-luxurious living space, check out a few of the ideas in this clever infographic, and luxuriate in being the king or queen of your own compact castle.

furniture-origami

Towers of Power: Industrial Loft Defined by Airy Additions

for-loftAn old, slightly run-down industrial loft in Brussels received a modern makeover from Belgian architecture firm adn Architectures. The designers added two light, airy volumes to the space to segment it without adding too much visual weight while taking advantage of the high ceilings. The finished space is called FOR, and it is a surprisingly bright and comfortable home.
for loft

remodeled brussels loft

Both form and function were kept as simple and straightforward as possible. Along one of the long walls, a built-in storage area keeps the residents’ belongings hidden away behind bright white doors. The loft’s other long wall is home to a simple, low-sitting kitchen setup.

brussels FOR loft

The two elevated volumes are home to an office and a bedroom which sit on either side of a central eating area. Their metallic mesh walls keep these rooms connected to the rest of the loft space, but hidden enough that they still feel like private, separate rooms.

folded steel staircases

The real stars of this interior redesign are the unusual stairs leading up to the two elevated rooms. They are made of folded steel and cantilevered to appear almost as though they are floating. Their passive presence in the loft makes them almost melt into the second-story “towers.”

kitchen bathroom

The architects and their clients set out to create a simple space that contained four walls and some windows, and would fulfill the basic needs to sleep, wash, eat, and relax. They did this by keeping the colors neutral, the materials simple, and the space open and attached to its industrial roots – and they also managed to make the home an elegant and comfortable space to live.

Read more: http://dornob.com/towers-of-power-industrial-loft-defined-by-airy-additions/#ixzz2tncUQOck

Opening the door to a new kind of door [video]

evolutiondoor

Doors are a pretty straightforward invention, either opening on a hinge, sliding into the wall, or folding, so you wouldn’t normally think of them as an area begging for innovation…

…until Klemens Torggler, and Austrian company, came along and blew our minds, that is.

Meet the Evolution Door, a combination of rotating squares and origami that finally makes the doorway a topic of conversation worthy of any designer.

[pb_vidembed title=”” caption=”” url=”http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=umfvm8I9_oU” type=”yt” w=”680″ h=”385″]

Is Radiant Heating or Cooling Right for You?

Screen Shot 2014-02-18 at 8.01.07 AMQuestions to ask before you go for one of these temperature systems in your floors or walls (yes, walls)

With a radiant heating or cooling system, the goal is to make the temperature of a room more comfortable by changing the temperature of an entire surface. Most of the time we think of radiant heating systems, we think of them for floors, sometimes called underfloor heating or in-slab heating. But the principle can be applied to any surface: a wall, ceiling or even a mirror.

The concept, like many other modern sustainable design strategies, is actually quite old. Archeological evidence shows that ancient Roman, Korean and Chinese dwellings had various forms of heated floors and walls, with either water or smoke acting as the vehicle for transporting heat or coolness from room to room through hidden pipes. In the realm of modern technology, these systems have been improved and perfected so that there’s now a range of options.

General contractors, home builders, and more ∨Ideas for your living spaces, lighting and landscape design.
Search for a fun bar stool, clock, sectional sofa and storage chest to spice up your basement.

How to Add a Kitchen Backsplash

Screen Shot 2014-02-18 at 7.56.06 AMThe options for kitchen backsplashes are pretty much limitless in terms of material, color, size and cost. Ultimately, you’ll have to decide what’s best for you and your lifestyle. Knowing how to navigate the process of installing a new backsplash can help ease some of the stress. Here’s what to expect.

 

Kitchen designs, bathroom designs, and more ∨Hire a decorator to find that just-right couch and coffee tables for your living room.
Select garden furniture to match your style, garden storage sheds or even greenhouse designs to personalize your landscape.

Anatomy Of A Happy Home

anatomy-of-a-happy-homeclick on the image for a larger view.

 

What Homebuyers Fall In Love With

housing-survery-2012