interior design Archives - A Million Lives

May 22, 2019 by Greg Underwood

5 Décor Lessons to Utilize the Noguchi Freeform Sofa

Homes are places you put your heart and souls into designing and so it takes considerable thought and effort to get it just right. Japanese-American designer Isamu Noguchi was one of the most prolific and protean creative forces of all times and one of the notable pioneers of organic modernism. The unique structure of the Noguchi Sofa made its acquisition for an elite clientele, but at present time it’s become widely available for us ordinary individuals to purchase. This avant-garde piece of art requires a bit of insight when it comes to installation, which is why we’ve come up with a few suggestions to get our creative juices flowing:

1. Strike a balance:

The unique proportions and gracefully clean aura of the Noguchi Sofa are custom. In fact, they pay tribute to it’s highly sought after design. If you look at this image you will notice the unmistakable precision set up in the placement of each article. The space exudes swoon-worthy, eclectic vibes with a focus on pure lines, paired with simplicity tempered by a desire for warmth. Furthermore, by using a neutral color foundation, with embellishments like classy floral arrangements, tasteful ceramics and even statement art pieces you can erect a truly serene and elegant location to entertain and host lavish get-togethers.

2. The classic walk-through living room layout:

Thecoolhunter

Perfect for long evenings of relaxation and steaming mugs of green tea, the Noguchi Sofa serves as a comfortable companion. The illustration above depicts a minimalist theme, bursting with an alluring aura. You can sink into casual luxury with this sleek, long as well as cushy sofa. Pairing it with natural light and modest supplementary furnishing like modest artwork, plain and polished center tables and accompanying single-seating sofas, marble-top counters and plenty of natural lights curates a fairly snug area.

3. A playful and visually interesting space:

The Noguchi Sofa is a beautiful take on mid-century organic modernism making it an ideal piece to create an ornate environment. In addition, this statement-making piece, with its unorthodox shape and the vibrant jade color is a visual delight that can be augmented with a myriad of multicolored throw pillows, mood-lighting like the chrome lamp pictured above, plant-pieces and trinkets littered across a sleek, intricately carved center table and white background. Opting for this look means you can use this setting to create a gorgeous focal point. You can even balance out the lively colors with lighter tones by including enough white space and earthy accents.

4. Glamorous sophistication:

Hautedeisgn

By keeping all the elements in a room sleek and uncluttered you can magnify the appeal of the Noguchi Sofa. As a result, it makes for an eye-catching décor piece. By placing a small round coffee table, you can perfectly complement this L-shaped sectional. Consequently, you can create an unfettered flow in the entire room. This is an ideal setup when the living room entrance and seating sit parallel from a fireplace. This inhibits the interruption in the flow, and keeps all the components in symmetrical peace. The large panels glass shades and darker seats add a soothing sensation when placed alongside the light-colored sofas.

5. Transform any parlor with layers of bold additions:

Vachun

The versatile nature of the Noguchi Sofa and Ottomans make them adaptable to multiple locations. These may include living rooms, waiting-areas, workspaces, lounges, etc. You can construct a boxed-in effect by obtaining a duo-set. Placing them around a simple, yet fashionable glass table adorned with funky decorations creates a convenient place for people. Here, they can laze around with a magazine or strike up a conversation whilst waiting for a reservation. The picture above shows how this arrangement livens up a room with its neon color pattern.

With these ingredients, no doubt you’ll be able to whip up the living room of your dreams. Of course, you can switch it up! But, when in doubt flip through these 5 ideas and achieve what your heart desires.

May 8, 2019 by Greg Underwood

4 Quick Ways to Increase Your Texas Home Value

There are several quick upgrades you can do that not only add to your home’s value but allow you to achieve a decent return on investment when it’s time to sell. Here is a look at four quick upgrades that will be worth the time and money.

1: Replace the Old HVAC System

Image via Flickr by Jeremy Levine Design

Buyers want a home with an efficient heating and cooling system. If your current HVAC system is more than 20 years old, you should consider replacing it with a ductless system. This type of system is especially beneficial because it can be integrated with zoned heating and cooling, which allows families to heat and cool their homes according to customized comfort settings.

There are many affordable ductless systems to choose from when doing an HVAC upgrade, including the F High Wall Ductless System, P High Wall Ductless System, and the R*D Ducted Ductless System, to name just a few. Even though you will likely recoup only about 30 to 35 percent of what you invest in a new HVAC system, the value it adds in the eyes of buyers may be the reason they choose to purchase your home for asking price.

2: Redo the Vinyl Siding

The exterior of your home is going to play a major role in how well your home attracts the attention of buyers. If your home doesn’t have curb appeal, many buyers won’t even consider what the inside has to offer. This is why redoing the exterior with new vinyl siding can be a great investment.

According to CNBC, you can expect an astonishing 89 percent return on investment at resale when you add new vinyl siding to your home. This means if you spend $10,000 on new vinyl siding, this will increase your home’s value by $8,900. You won’t find many other quick upgrades that have such a high ROI.

3: Install New Windows

Another quick way to increase the value of your Texas home is to replace old windows with vinyl ones. Isoldmyhouse.com has a nifty chart that outlines how much of an ROI you can expect on various upgrades. The chart details that a vinyl window replacement has an average ROI of 85 percent, meaning if you spend $12,000 on new windows, you can up your asking price by $10,200.

4: Finish the Basement

Last on our list of quick ways to add value to your Texas home is finishing the basement. Not only can this add to the living space of your home but you’ll enjoy a 79 percent ROI, too. Many home buyers these days prefer basements with at least one bathroom, one guest bedroom, and a theater/media room, so make sure you keep those ideas in mind during the upgrade.

Performing upgrades to a home you’re going to sell is an excellent way to add to its value. You will want to be careful, however, in deciding which upgrades to perform. Your goal is to add to your home’s value while making sure you can recoup as much as possible regarding the money you invest.

March 11, 2019 by Greg Underwood

Top Ways To Inject Some Life In Your Home

We all want to have a great home to return to at the end of a long day at work, after a long holiday or even just being out for the day, but just how can we create the perfect spot for ourselves and our families that we can look forward to returning to time and again. While some people might want to go for the big changes and have an extension, a conservatory or a new deck built, there are numerous other ways you can inject some new life in your home. Here are just a few of those easy, inexpensive ways.

Change Up The Decor

Changing the decor in any room of the home – namely those commonly used rooms – is a great way to create a whole new vibe in the space. By changing furniture around or even replacing it entirely you can change the entire feel and look of a space. Not in the market to do so? Consider getting an existing piece of furniture reupholstered with new covers can be a more affordable way to change up the look of a room. If you don’t already, try adding a carpet or rug to your living space to bring more cosiness in. If you’re looking for something even easier, www.purelywallclocks.com.au has a wide variety of amazing wall clocks you can add to your living, dining or kitchen space – the perfect big and bold addition if you’re looking for something quick, easy and inexpensive.

A Lick Of Paint

Painting a room is always one of the fastest, cheapest and easiest ways to create a new breath of life in any space. Whether you go for something drastic in your colour choice and change or you’re going to stick with just a fresh coat of the tried and tested, one thing is for sure and that is the fact that painting can really help brighten a room. Be sure to check out this year’s on-trend colours and plan accordingly. Want something different? Consider the installation of a feature wall using wallpaper or different coloured paint.

Textiles Make It Easy

Need something truly quick and easy without much work or effort? Get yourself some great new textiles – curtains, throw blankets, cushions or cushion covers (but don’t overdo it), bedspreads and more to create a whole new look with just changing a few quick things. This is a great option for those who don’t have the time for a larger job or for those who might find themselves a bit cash strapped for changing floors, painting or redoing the house in other ways. Many shops offer textiles for great prices – they definitely don’t have to be expensive!

Easy Floor Upgrades

Place and click flooring has made changing your flooring easier than ever. Many people are opting for this choice when doing up their homes due to the simplicity in the execution of this particular type. One or two people can often complete a job in a day or two, and no special tools or professionals needed. Available in stone, hardwood and other linoleum style finishes, this is an increasingly popular option for those who want new flooring for less.

So if you’ve been looking for an easy or inexpensive way to create a great new space for the coming months, hopefully one of these suggestions will provide an ideal starting point for you with some fantastic inspiration.

July 11, 2018 by Greg Underwood

How to Embrace Wabi-Sabi Design in Your Home

For ages, symmetry has been a synonym of good taste, aesthetics and positive visual stimulus. However, applying it in an interior design is, more or less, restrictive and unimaginative. This is due to the fact every move you make conditions you to make a separate move in order to “put things into balance”. Instead, why shouldn’t you embrace this imbalance and make it into your ally? This is so-called wabi-sabi, an ancient Japanese philosophy of embracing the imperfection in life and learning how to enjoy the beauty hidden in it. Designing in this trend can be incredibly liberating, yet, also challenging in more ways than one. Here are some suggestions and examples.

1. Declutter

The first thing you need to understand is the fact that there’s a thin line between imperfect or imbalanced and outright messy and careless. Your wabi-sabi design may be imbalanced but it isn’t random. However, if you let all the unnecessary items, thrash and old furniture pieces you’re yet to store devour the room, you’ll make it look just outright chaotic. Keep in mind that your ultimate goal here is harmony, therefore, you need to heavily invest in transparency and directness of communication. With that in mind, any process of preparing a wabi-sabi design needs to start with decluttering.

2. Simplicity

Another thing you should focus on is the simplicity that’s not unlike what you’ve encountered in minimalism. In fact, these two trends have much in common. The phrase less is more also applies, yet, you also need to understand that this is not just about the simplicity of the layout but of the form, as well. This means picking simplistic furniture pieces and fixtures, like a plain wooden stool for your bathroom and a freestanding stone bathtub.

3. The raw form of materials

In theory and by exploiting numerous logical syllogisms, one could argue that all materials (even synthetic ones) are, in one way or another, obtained from nature. After all, the raw materials used for their making are natural, so wouldn’t that make them natural, as well? In practice, on the other hand, this doesn’t translate that well, seeing as how you aren’t aiming for a compelling reason to prove why you’re right but a sensation of being in touch with nature. The above-listed two fixtures (tub and a stool) can achieve this through their natural texture, which is what we were aiming for from the very start.

4. Natural landscape

Creating natural landscape is yet another challenge you’re bound to encounter, ranging from a way to implement adequate houseplants into your home and make them fit the landscape around. To achieve this, you need to think about the palette that you use for the interior of your home. We’re talking about hues you’re able to encounter in nature, which means that bright colors are off (for the most part).

In order to make your home stand out, you need to think past the traditional indoor plants and consider getting a real bonsai tree. The downside of this idea lies in the fact that such a tree takes quite a bit of maintenance. The fun part lies in the fact that you can make your own bonsai tree from a starter pack.

5. Clay is your friend

Metal, especially copper, is all the rage nowadays. However, when it comes to accessorizing, especially if we’re talking about bowls, planters and similar items, you might also try going with clay. The most compelling aspect of this is the fact that you get a completely new way of DIY decorating terracotta pots. While this is a trend that most commonly takes place outdoors, there isn’t a single reason why you shouldn’t start using it indoors.

6. Outdoor furniture

To carry on with this trend, you might also want to turn towards an outdoor seating solution inside of your home. Nonetheless, not every option is as available and applicable. Keeping things simple is your first goal. However, if you could embrace furniture made from reclaimed wood, it would be even better. Wabi-sabi is all about the natural cycle of life, death and growth. Naturally, reclaimed wood fits this idea perfectly due to the journey that the tree the furniture it’s made from had undergone to reach you.

7. Wooden floor

Lastly, while tiles (especially stone tiles) are also an option, it’s much safer to go with wood. Here, we’re not talking about laminate or engineered hardwood. What you need to go for are more natural-looking options like cork, bamboo and real hardwood. In this way, you can achieve a harmony with most of the above-listed trends or even combine this method in any other way possible. When choosing a floor finish, going for matte is by far the best choice.

Conclusion

One guide online described wabi-sabi design as shabby chic’s less flamboyant sibling and, based on the above-listed trends, this much seems to be true. Despite its dependence on organic and high-end materials, it wouldn’t be fair to describe wabi-sabi as expensive. Minimalism and dependence on DIY projects alone make it much more budget-friendly. All in all, it’s one of those low-effort high-impact trends that isn’t likely to get outdated in years to come, seeing as how it’s both efficient and beautiful.

May 8, 2018 by Greg Underwood

15 Easy DIY Kitchen Updates

Adding some new life to your kitchen doesn’t have to be hard or terribly expensive when you check out this list of ideas for easy DIY kitchen updates!

Giving your kitchen a much-needed facelift is one of the ways that can help you fall in love with your home all over again. Unfortunately, the average kitchen remodel is going to set you back a cool $22,000; that is if you choose not to go with DIY kitchen updates.

You can save a lot of money if you forego the expensive renovations and just focus on easy kitchen upgrades that you can do little by little over time.

15 DIY Kitchen Updates You’ll Love

We’ve gathered 15 affordable DIY kitchen renovations that’ll give your kitchen a new breath of life – and it won’t break the bank, either!

Let’s dive in, shall we?

1. Paint!

Painting is a quick and easy way to take a boring kitchen and turn it into a creative environment that’ll make you (and other family members) want to be in the kitchen!

Green and yellow are great color choices for a kitchen, but if you have a lively personality, don’t be afraid to go bold!

2. Change Knobs and Handles on Cabinets

Did you know that your cabinet hardware can date your kitchen? They get dirty, they don’t hold a polish anymore, and maybe they just don’t look nice.

Before you pick out new hardware, you’ll want to decide what style of kitchen you have. If your kitchen has contemporary finishes like concrete Minerva Worktops, you should avoid antique finishes.

3. Paint Your Cabinets

Along with painting your walls, you can paint the cabinets. It will take a bit of time and effort to do this (especially if you have a lot of cabinets!), but the payoff is going to be well worth the effort!

4. Install a New Backsplash

Backsplashes come in a wide variety of colors, styles, designs, and even materials. You can find affordable but stylish options at your local home improvement store, or try searching online.

5. Install Task Lighting

Task lighting under the cabinets can be a practical DIY kitchen upgrade because it’ll give you a better workspace, but it can also create an evening mood-setting if you opt for dimmable LED lighting.

6. Mix and Match Countertops

If you have an island, you can get a wood countertop for a reasonable price. The wood is a lovely way to add warmth and richness to your kitchen area without having to do all of the countertops, which can get pretty pricey.

7. Re-do the Flooring

Your kitchen sees a lot of traffic, so chances are the flooring you currently have is looking a little worn-down. You can find affordable flooring options that are easy to install and look absolutely beautiful!

8. Add More Storage

In many homes, the kitchen is one of those rooms that could do with more storage options! Since you are already doing a variety of cheap kitchen updates, why not incorporate more storage solutions into the mix?

You can do this by adding more shelving to bare walls, or use hooks and racks to store all of your odds and ends. It’ll give your kitchen charm, but more importantly, it’ll give you more space!

9. Use Chalkboard Paint

If you’re interested in adding more storage space but you aren’t keen on having all of your measuring tools out in the open, why not use a bit of chalkboard paint and contact hooks to spruce up inside one of your cabinets?

To do this, just paint the inside of your cabinet door. Then when the paint dries, you can create a measuring chart for easy measuring, but you can also hang your measuring spoons and cups on individual hooks.

Check this step-by-step guide on how to do this project.

10. Change Out Switch Plates

Light switch and electrical outlet plates are one of those things that people don’t really think about when doing a renovation because they aren’t an in-your-face improvement.

However, when you do swap out a dingy switch plate with a fun one, you’ll be surprised by how much of a difference it makes!

You can find plates in a variety of styles and materials, so you may have a hard time choosing just one! Of course, you can always replace all the plates in your home if you can’t decide.

11. Upgrade Cabinets with 2 Things

All you need is a bit of molding and stain to change the look of your cabinets. You can even add some trim to the drawers and doors of your cabinets, too.

12. Upgrade Your Faucet

It may not seem like a lot, but by upgrading your faucet can change the look of your kitchen in a subtle way.

You can either do a complete upgrade and purchase a new unit, or you could just use a bit of elbow grease to prep the faucet’s surface so it’s ready for primer, and then spray paint the entire unit.

Note: You’ll need to use a rust-proof paint because it will come in contact with water.

13. Remove Cabinet Doors

Who said that you had to have cabinet doors?

If you have a cabinet that sits on a peninsula, you can remove the doors on either side of said cabinets to create an open shelving concept.

This will allow more light into the home while giving you an open and airy feeling without having to do any real demolition!

14. Get Stainless Steel

Stainless steel appliances aren’t an affordable DIY kitchen upgrade, but you can achieve the same look by using stainless steel contact paper.

You can put the contact paper on your dishwasher, microwave, and refrigerator and the best part? A roll only costs $5!

15. Line the Inside of Your Cabinets with Contact Paper

If you have open cabinets, contact paper is available in many different patterns and design, and it’s one of the simplest ways to add some character to the kitchen.

Maybe you aren’t having any luck finding the perfect paper but you really like the idea of colorful cabinets.

You can always paint the inside of the cabinets some fun color if that would be a better option.

Final Thoughts on DIY Kitchen Updates

Updating your kitchen may seem like a big undertaking, but don’t let it discourage you! You can always do simple weekend projects that’ll make a big impact without making a big impact on your bank account!

Check out our blog for more DIY tips, tricks, and ideas!

January 14, 2018 by Greg Underwood

Making Your House Feel Like Home

Source

Sometimes the hardest thing to do is to get your home to feel like it really is your own. This takes getting used to what you bought and accepting the thing that were built into the home. Lots of time this is difficult because there are things you just don’t like or are simply uncomfortable with.

In that case, the only real option is to call in a professional and do some remodeling. With this strategy you can make your home have the exact look and feel you like and you will truly begin to feel at home.

Here are a few things you can do to make your house feel like home:

New Paint

Picking the color of your home gives you the chance to put your stamp on it. Choose to start with the exterior and pick a color you will be ecstatic to see when you come down the street. Many older homes have bland or dull colors while newer homes have a variety of browns, blues and even pastels. Pick from a palate you love and make a not so obvious choice. You may find something you never thought of and have your spirits lifted. Use a professional painter and call in a contractor to put in outdoor lighting that can enhance the color at night. A few sconces in the right places will work wonders.

In the interior, you can make each room its own special place with paint and wall treatments. See which works best and do not be afraid to be bold. One room might be begging for wall paper while another might need a just off white paint to compliment the art work you have. Or, you might want a similar color scheme throughout the house. Remember here also to put in the right lighting fixtures. So call your contractor and have him place lighting where ti works best in the room.

Replace Windows

Older windows can do so much to darken a room. Older and smaller homes tend to have small windows limiting the amount of natural light and air flow into the room. Having the right windows makes everything better and brightens your mood. So bring in a contractor and go shopping at Community Builders Tulsa to take a look at which windows throughout the house need to be replaced for maximum effect. Also put some focus on upgrading window treatments. You can opt for full-height shutters so you have more control over the light and warmth that enters your home and additional privacy, or just change curtains and drapes. Either way, you will make a big difference.

Change the kitchen

The kitchen is becoming the hangout place in most home but unfortunately many of them simply are not built for it. These means people are constantly running into each other there. Look at expanding the size and functions of your kitchen to make it the most comfortable. Knock down an unnecessary wall and put in an island to make it gorgeous and change cabinets and appliances to make it more functional. You can make major changes at various price points and it all starts with your desire.

New Flooring

Dingy carpets can really dull down a living spaces. Today people love wood so put in a hardwood floor for a sleek and contemporary appearance. These days flooring has come way down in price and gone way up in options. Choose a light floor color to brighten a room or a darker color to make it look more elegant.

Finally, place your things around the house. Adding personal items like pictures, pillows and rugs gives you a sense that your house is your home.

January 4, 2018 by Greg Underwood

How to create a modern kitchen

For most homeowners, the kitchen is more than just a place to cook and prepare food. In the right circumstances, a kitchen can be a hub of conversation, a place to bond with place and family, and a space that is perfect for personal creativity.

Of course, if you want to make the most out of your kitchen, then you’ll need to make sure that it’s properly styled, and protected. Just as it’s important to consider the matrix of what’s covered in home warranty plans to ensure your home is protected in the future, it’s also crucial to make sure that you have a kitchen design in place that’s capable of standing the test of time.

Start by looking at colors

Perhaps the first, and simplest thing any homeowner should think about before they start creating a stunning modern kitchen, is what kind of colors they want to use to demonstrate their unique personality and sense of style. The power of color can transform your kitchen more quickly and easily than you might think. For instance, a drab white kitchen can be completely transformed with just some stylish patterned tiles on the backsplash, and a fresh lick of paint on the cabinets.

For a bold experience, try using contrasting colors like green and purple, or blue and orange. On the other hand, if you want a more subtle and homely effect, pastel shades are always a good bet.

Choose practical accessories

While you want your new modern kitchen to look incredible, it’s important to remember that there’s more to a great home space than just aesthetics. Ideally, you’ll want to pack your kitchen full of tools and accessories that make it easier for you to get the most out of your space. For instance, hidden cabinets can give you extra room for storage, while ensuring that you don’t ruin the overall look of your kitchen.

Remember, when choosing accessories for your kitchen cabinets, it’s a good idea to pick colors and styles that fit seamlessly with the design you’re trying to achieve.

Don’t forget the flooring

It’s easy to overlook the power of a beautiful floor when you’re creating a modern kitchen from scratch. However, a boring or dirty floor can easily draw attention from the designs you’ve spent so long perfecting.

Try to strike a balance between choosing a floor that looks incredible with your chosen color scheme, and something that you’re going to have an easy time of cleaning and maintaining. After all, the last thing you want is to end up spending all of your weekends scrubbing your kitchen jut so that it can continue to look it’s best.

Get plenty of light

Light is an important feature in any kitchen and something that shouldn’t be overlooked at any cost. Not only does light ensure that you can be safe and confident in the kitchen when you’re cooking and preparing food, but it also helps to draw attention to all the modern design elements that you’ve implemented into the room.

Try and get a good blend of both natural and artificial lighting. That means investing in plenty of spotlights and LEDs, as well as ensuring you have a large open window space available too.

Choose the perfect countertops

Finally, while everything from the paint on your walls, to the color of your cabinets can have an impact on the way your kitchen looks and feels, it’s important to remember that few things are more appealing in a kitchen than the perfect countertops.

Where possible, try to choose a material that you can trust to stand the test of time. You’ll want something that looks great, but also has the durability to withstand things like hot pans, and other forms of wear and tear throughout the years. Granite and marble are particularly good for these reasons, but there are plenty of options available.

Making your modern kitchen

The right modern kitchen has a lot to offer today’s homeowner. From a place to relax with your friends, to a location where you can enjoy exploring some new hobbies, a kitchen can be a fantastic area packed full of love and creativity. However, just like any space, a great design can help to make your kitchen really inspirational.

With a little care and attention, your modern kitchen could transform your entire home, and give you a focal selling point when it comes to getting on the real estate ladder.