The Opera Hostel Designed By Ktura Architekci

The Opera Hostel is a simple accommodation in Poznán, Poland that’s inspired by the Opera House situated just around the corner. Architecture company Ktura Architekci designed the Opera Hostel to have a similar thespian atmosphere by installing theatrical lighting, curtains, posters and graphics from theatre shows around the hostel’s interiors. As with most hostels, the amenities are modest but enough to get you comfortable for your stay. Unlike a seat at the opera, this budget-friendly hostel won’t cost you an arm and a leg but similarly, you’ll be glad you booked a reservation here.

What: Opera Hostel
Where: Zygmunta Noskowskiego 2/5, Stare Miasto District, 61-704 Poznań, Poland
How much? Rooms start at approximately $12 per night.
Highlights: This budget-friendly option has been getting rave reviews for its cleanliness and friendliness of the hostel staff. Like most hostels, the Opera Hostel is modest but provides everything you need for a comfortable stay.
Design draw: The interiors of the hostel is inspired by the interiors of the theatre, so Ktura Architekci installed theatrical lighting, curtains and decor to mimic a similar atmosphere.
Book it: Visit the Opera Hostel

from Design MilkDesign Milk https://design-milk.com/opera-hostel-designed-ktura-architekci/

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These 6 Home Improvements Are a Priority This Year, No Matter Your Budget

Better Home and Gardens just released the results of a national survey asking two distinct sets of homeowners what they want to change in their home for 2018. The 10th annual Home Factor survey polled two groups about home improvements they’d like to carry out this year: “luxury” homeowners who make more than $125,000 a year and “mass” homeowners who make less than $125,000 a year.

They found that these two groups may not have the same money to spend, but they have the same priorities when it comes to upgrading their homes. Amy Panos, Home Editor at Better Homes and Gardens said, “Regardless of their income, homeowners care about creating an inviting home that has useful, upgraded spaces for family and friends to enjoy.”

Here are the top 6 home improvements that are a priority for 2018:

1. Painting rooms

Caliente is Benjamin Moore’s Color of the Year for 2018. Image: Benjamin Moore

Painting a room is one of the fastest and least expensive ways to give a room a makeover. It’s also a great DIY project that can often be tackled over a weekend. The best part about this type of project is that homeowners can take a bigger risk with color and paint over it if they don’t like it.

2. Replacing flooring

Wood flooring is the top choice in floors for homeowners and potential buyers. Image: TK Interiors

This is not only high on the priority list, but a smart move. Upgrading to hardwood flooring can add up to “2.5% to the home’s sale price,” according to Realtor.com.

3. Bathroom remodel

When remodeling a bathroom, try to create a spa-like environment with a combination of textures and finishes. Image: Racing Green Construction

According to a report published by the National Association of Realtors, a complete kitchen renovation, a kitchen upgrade and a bathroom renovation topped the list of projects that add value to the resale price of a home.

4. Kitchen remodel

Contemporary coastal kitchen design is a favorite among families. Image: Chelsea Lauren Interiors

A modern, functional kitchen is one of the top features homeowners look for. But it’s important to not go overboard on the upgrades, since, according to U.S. News, a minor kitchen remodel will recoup 80 percent of its cost, while a major mid-range kitchen remodel has a 65 percent return on investment.

5. Decorating with furniture and accessories

The right furniture and accessories add a unique and polished look to a room. Image: Studio Envie

The right furniture and accessories bring new life to any room. If your budget is limited, focus on buying the highest quality main furniture piece in the room and then bargain hunt for the rest of the accents. For example, when redecorating the living room, splurge on the sofa — you’ll spend lots of time sitting on it and get creative with the accessorizing.

6. Adding a separate laundry room

Style and function are both possible with a well-designed laundry room. Be sure to add plenty of storage and a countertop area for folding. Image: Studio Envie

A separate, well-organized laundry room can not only make life easier, it makes the regular task of doing laundry a pleasure. Depending on the amount of space you have, a separate laundry space can be as simple as converting a closet to plumbing out a whole designated laundry room.

What’s difference between the two groups?

If the two sets of homeowners agree on the same projects, what are the differences? The luxury homeowner set is willing to pay more for quality pieces and hire contractors to do more of the renovations than the mass set. Interestingly, mass homeowners want to focus on the pricier kitchen and bath remodels while the luxury homeowners want to paint or redecorate the home with furniture and accessories.

What are you planning on upgrading this year?

The post These 6 Home Improvements Are a Priority This Year, No Matter Your Budget appeared first on Freshome.com.

from Freshome.com - Interior Design & Architecture Magazine https://freshome.com/6-home-improvements-priorities/

from Home Improvment http://notelocreesnitu.tumblr.com/post/170349299429

Native Union Drops Into the Wireless Charger Game

Outfitted in fabric and aluminum, Los Angeles/Hong Kong luxe tech accessorizer Native Union arrives fashionably late to the wireless Qi charger party with a handsomely outfitted Qi wireless charger, the Native Union Drop.

Coming off the heels of CES and the recent Maison & Objet in Paris, the LA+HK based Native Union reinforces their reputation as a brand placing design on equal footing with technology, presenting a hard-wearing home textile top integrated with a non-slip silicone tread above an aircraft grade aluminum base – each an aesthetic and functional treatment designed to keep devices in place while also prevent overheating. 

Underneath the fabric and silicone patterned top, a thermal protection sensor and foreign object detection keeps devices safe while inching back toward 100%.

iPhone 8, iPhone 8 Plus, iPhone X, and any other Qi enabled devices, the Drop’s 10W charging base ships with a matching USB-C to USB-A 6.5 foot braided charging cable, complete with an integrated leather strap for wrapping up the cable to adjust the length or for tidy storage (the all-black ensemble could be customized further with one of the company’s other existing USB-C to USB-A belted cables).

Note, the Drop is a 10W charger and thus doesn’t rate for fast charging; impatient iPhone X users should look elsewhere for fast charging options (it’s still double the 5W charger shipping with the iPhone X).

For those looking to get the…ahem…drop on the $60 Native Union Drop Wireless Charger, mark your calendars for March when the charging pad becomes available via NativeUnion.com.

from Design MilkDesign Milk https://design-milk.com/native-union-drop-wireless-charger/

from Home Improvment http://notelocreesnitu.tumblr.com/post/170349230779

SelgasCano Designs New Creative Workspace for Second Home

Second Home launched in 2014 offering unique workspaces for entrepreneurs and innovators. The company continues to expand and just recently opened Second Home Holland Park, their second spot in London which was designed by Spanish architects SelgasCano. Second Home Holland Park marks the fifth collaboration between the two companies with a continued study in environmentally sustainable design along with a focus on natural materials, natural light, and greenery.

The offices span 12,000 square feet within a mid-century building with a storied past. Throughout, the interior boasts bright colors, natural light, and a menagerie of plants, some of which grow right up through the floor. While the interior is outfitted with modern essentials, historic details were also restored.

From Second Home co-founder Sam Aldenton:

When it comes to design, we’ll never do the same thing twice – that’s just boring. I love the way SelgasCano responded to the rich cultural heritage of the building, and created something totally unique – and yet recognisably Second Home.

35 trees were planted inside the offices and benefit from new roof surfaces that allow more light in.

Photos by Iwan Baan.

from Design MilkDesign Milk https://design-milk.com/selgascano-designs-new-creative-workspace-for-second-home/

from Home Improvment http://notelocreesnitu.tumblr.com/post/170347752874

It’s Last Call for Macy’s “$10K for Your Big Day” Wedding Registry Sweepstakes!

We’re well into to the new year and that means people out there are planning for their weddings. We’ve seen many beautiful weddings here on Design*Sponge, chockfull of creative ideas to make the nuptials warm and personal. After the wedding, couples tend to settle into the “nesting period” and begin to create a home that suits both individuals. Having quality things to keep up that home is helpful. That’s where Macy’s comes in.

Macy’s Wedding Registry is offering $10K for Your Big Day. Enter for a chance to win $10,000 CASH to use toward planning your dream wedding. A valid Macy’s registry, with a $500 value, is all that is required in order to enter. What would you register for if you had $10,000 to spend? We put our wish list together below, but we want to know what you’d put on your list so let us know in the comments!

Image above by Simon Fieldhouse via Wikimedia Commons

And don’t just think toasters — Macy’s is known for its one-stop-shop convenience for all things weddings. And yes, that includes clothing for wedding-related events like rehearsal dinners, luggage for your honeymoon and even wedding bands. Providing top-notch customer service has always been part of the Macy’s experience since it opened its first store on 14th Street in 1898. Rowland Hussey Macy foresaw the future of retail being “uptown,” so he smartly consolidated his 13th and 14th Street store and opened the new Macy’s in a richly-detailed Edwardian brick and limestone building at Herald Square in 1902. As fate would have it, the busy (and adjacent) Penn Station opened its doors in 1910 and the Macy’s experience was suddenly available and convenient to even more shoppers visiting New York City. It was here at the massive Herald Square store that the moniker “The World’s Largest Store” was born.

Image above: Macy’s Herald Square, NYC store in 1907; Irving Linderhill, Photographer from the Library of Congress via Wikimedia Commons

Macy’s offers exclusive brands created for them by Martha Stewart, Hotel Collection, Crux, The Cellar and more premium brands. And, of course, they carry the covetable brands that are helpful for setting up a new home. Think Dyson, KitchenAid and Le Creuset. Some of our picks are below.

Our wedding registry product picks above clockwise:

Cusinart Espresso Maker $260

Martha Stewart Vintage Wash Sheet Sheet $120

Le Creuset Enameled Cast Iron Skillet $429

KitchenAid Artisan Mini Stand Mixer $475

Antler Hardside Luggage $300

Kate Spade Goblets $40

Kate Spade Gardner Street Dinnerware $139 per place setting

Martha Stewart Faux Fur Pillow $100

Martha Stewart Colorblocked Pillow $120

Hop over to the Macy’s site and pick out your favorites to set up your registry, then enter for a chance to win that $10,000 prize. Their Starter Ideas section is super helpful if you need an easy place to start! Setting up your registry over at Macy’s simplifies everything. They have in-store registry advisors who help guide you through the process and keep you posted on local events where couples can learn more about the entire wedding process. And once you register, you’ll get access to special savings in preparation for your big day. Macy’s even offers a 20% completion discount on all of your remaining registry pieces for 6 months after your wedding after your wedding so you can save on the pieces you didn’t receive as gifts.

Enter “Macy’s Wedding Registry Sweepstakes $10K for Your Big Day” here.

NO PURCHASE NECESSARY. Open to legal residents of the fifty (50) United States including District of Columbia, 18 years and older with a Qualified Registry. Ends 1/31/18. For Official Rules: macys.com/weddingsweeps. Void where prohibited.

from Design*Sponge http://www.designsponge.com/2018/01/its-last-call-for-macys-10k-for-your-big-day-wedding-sweepstakes.html

from Home Improvment http://notelocreesnitu.tumblr.com/post/170346292429

A Lunch Box Roundup for Adults That Will Make You Want to Take Your Lunch Everyday

January is always a time for fresh starts. Whether you are big on resolutions or not, sometimes you don’t have a choice. This month my twin toddlers started daycare… thus I started making lunches! Here at Pinch, we are spoiled with delicious family-meals daily. So let’s just say my lunch making skills were a little rusty. To get my groove back, I decided to first hunt for the PERFECT bento box.

Now, as you might imagine, most of the findings were not designed for 2 year olds. But lucky for us, we had a post to write. So voila!

Here is our lunch box round up…

Mita by Bruno Marques

Photos by Morley Von Sternberg

Now And Then by Linnie Mclarty and Natascha Madeiski

Bento Colors by Bento&Co

Steel Lunch Box from HAY

Takenaka Bento Box

Magewappa Bento Box Round

Aluminum Lunch Box from MUJI

from Design MilkDesign Milk https://design-milk.com/a-lunch-box-roundup-for-adults/

from Home Improvment http://notelocreesnitu.tumblr.com/post/170346028644