Bold New Lighting from Europe

The following post is brought to you by Lightology. Our partners are hand-picked by the Design Milk team because they represent the best in design.

Hand-forged chandeliers inspired by Arabic calligraphy: Check. Ombre blown-glass pierced with rods of aluminum: Yep! Thin, curvaceous forms capped with balls of light: Oh yeah!

In the world of design and fashion, Europe is known for setting the bar. From Marcel Wanders and Michael Anastassiades to boutique up-and-comers, we scoured the continent to find out who’s setting the stage for lighting’s next big act AND how you can get your hands on these gorgeous imports right here in the US.

Il Pezzo Mancante
Crafted in Florence, Italy by designer duo Cosimo Terzani and Barbara Bertocci, Il Pezzo Mancante puts an abstract twist on luxe statement pieces, customizable up to extreme lengths. The calligraphy inspired chandeliers have even garnered the acclaim of famed designer Philippe Starck, serving as the signature every room deserves, or Il Pezzo Mancante, ‘the missing piece.’

3 endless chandelier by Il Pezzo Mancante. Find it only at Lightology.

3 round chandelier by Il Pezzo Mancante. Find it only at Lightology.

3 long chandelier by Il Pezzo Mancante. Find it only at Lightology.

Designed by famed Dutch designer Marcel Wanders, Calliope plays with texture and adaptability, creating fixtures that feel more like jewelry for the home. Find it only at Lightology.

Wonderglass
Venetian glass taken to an entirely new level, Wonderglass is redefining the art of glassblowing, partnering with a wide range of creative influencers to carry a traditional craft into bold new territory.

Inspired by the Venetian cityscape reflecting in the water, Nao Tamura’s Flow[t] gives a smooth and serene finish to bold geometric forms. Find it only at Lightology.

A modern twist on industrial lamps of the past, Dan Yeffet’s Calimero marries copper and hand blown glass, with stunning results. Find it only at Lightology.

Up close and personal with Dan Yeffet’s Calimero. Available only at Lightology.

Tribes pendant by tossB. Find it at Lightology.

tossB
Contemporary, Belgium-based tossB create fixtures that perfectly balance form and function. The Tribes pendant, from designer David Abad, draws inspiration from Calumet, the sacred pipes smoked by indigenous tribes of North America, offering both up and down lighting in a modern, seamless way.

Vertigo suspension by Petite Friture. Find it at Lightology.

Petite Friture
With its finger on the pulse of fashion and food, it’s no surprise that France is churning out design-forward lighting as well. Petite Friture (small fry) is anything but small. Each piece is unique and impressive, carrying a distinct voice that lends more than just light to a room—it gives it character.

Cherry pendants by Petite Friture. Find it at Lightology.

Lanterna pendants by Petite Friture. Find it at Lightology.

Michael Anastassiades
An icon in the world of lighting, London-based designer (and Design Milk favorite) Michael Anastassiades creates fixtures that border on fine art, always setting the bar higher. From the strikingly simple Tip of the Tongue table lamp to the showstopping Mobile chandelier, Michael proves that if you can dream it, you can make it.

Mobile chandelier by Michael Anastassiades. Find it at Lightology.

Tip of the Tongue table lamp by Michael Anastassiades. Find it at Lightology.

Find these and even more cutting-edge European designs at Lightology. If you’re in Chicago, swing by the showroom and see it all in person.

from Design MilkDesign Milk http://design-milk.com/bold-new-lighting-from-europe/

from Home Improvment http://notelocreesnitu.tumblr.com/post/165969334059

Desktop Downloads from Schumacher: Katsugi

I woke up to a yard full of dry leaves and the crunch crunch crunch of the dogs walking around in them means that fall is definitely here. To celebrate the seasonal change, we’re teaming up with Schumacher to share a series of five wallpaper downloads for your phone and computer screen. We’re celebrating florals for fall and each design will have a different take on a classic design.

Today’s design is called Katsugi and we’ve chosen the Tangerine & Berry pattern for your tech. This signature Schumacher pattern is a beautiful mix of fall colors and is a great way to spruce up your devices for a fresh start. Just click the links below to download in both sizes! –Grace

More about Schumacher: Schumacher was founded in 1889 by Paris-born Fredric Schumacher. This 5th generation family-owned company was the first in its space to do partnerships with designers like Paul Poiret, Dorothy Draper, and Josef Frank. Today they continue to have leading collaborations (they just launched a new series with Vogue this August) and are one of the few brands in their field to maintain a thriving in-house design team. Creative director Dara Caponigro (who you might remember from her days at Domino Magazine) says, “we like to think of ourselves as a 128 year old start-up company; we have a passion for design with the belief that great design makes a positive difference in people’s lives.”

• Click here to download Katsugi for computer screens
• Click here to download Katsugi for smartphone screens

from Design*Sponge http://www.designsponge.com/2017/10/desktop-downloads-from-schumacher-katsugi.html

from Home Improvment http://notelocreesnitu.tumblr.com/post/165969249324

Granite Is No Longer the Most Popular Kitchen Surface and This Material Is

We hope you like the products we recommend. Just so you are aware, Freshome may collect a share of sales from the links on this page. 

Granite has been the counter surface of choice in many high-end homes since its heyday in the 1990s. But the material is not the most low-maintenance or contemporary looking. For those who went against the grain and chose an alternative material like quartz, you are now a majority!

The National Kitchen & Bath Association announced its results from a survey of kitchen designers that granite is no longer the top choice for kitchen counters — quartz is. In the granite vs quartz battle, quartz takes first place and here’s why:

Contemporary kitchens are preferred over traditional styles

The top choices for kitchen design are contemporary style and quartz over granite. Image: Ferguson

Shop a similar look: Bar Stool | Cone Pendant Lights | Chrome Ceiling Lamps

According to the 2017 Houzz Kitchen Study, the contemporary style is the No. 1 look homeowners want for their kitchen (22% and rising). Granite is not the best choice in a contemporary kitchen, because of its golden tones or distinctive and somewhat busy pattern.

A warm grey quartz countertop flows with the cool tones of this contemporary kitchen. Image: Nicholas Design Collaborative

Shop a similar look: Range Hood | Faucet

As homeowners start choosing more modern and minimalist patterns and sleeker, cooler colors like greys and whites for their kitchens, quartz offers more options.

Quartz is more eco-friendly than granite

An eco-friendly contemporary kitchen using low to no VOC materials and finishes. Image: Premier Kitchens

Shop a similar look: Counter Stools | Pendant | Faucet

When considering granite vs quartz, both are eco-friendly — and not. Granite is imported, which means the carbon footprint is larger, due to transport and shipping. Granite is a natural stone, but is porous and requires sealing with chemicals to minimize staining and etching. According to the EPA, granite may also off gas radioactive materials called radon. Levels are normally not harmful, but a radon home testing kit is inexpensive and can double check for you.

Quartz is made with at least 90% quartz material. The rest is polymers, color and resins, which bind the quartz and make it incredibly strong and stable. The resins, although not as dangerous as radon, may also release into the air. Quartz may also be imported, creating carbon footprint issues.

The U.S. manufacturer Cambria offers an eco-friendly quartz that solves both issues. Its quartz is made in the USA and is Greenguard Certified, which means it doesn’t create any indoor air quality issues from off gassing.

Contemporary yet classic kitchen design featuring light work surfaces and rich wood floors. Image: Melissa Miranda Interior Design

Shop a similar look: Cutting Board | Dutch Oven | Pendant

Quartz manufacturers Caesarstone and Silestone also certify their quartz products with the Greenguard badge. In addition, Caesarstone offers eco-friendly quartz surfaces that use recycled materials such as post-consumer glass.

Quartz offers more options as far as color and pattern

Caesarstone’s Apple Martini quartz is festive, modern and vibrant. Image: NZ Builders

Shop a similar look: Cutting Board | Faucet | Dining Chairs

Because quartz is engineered, grain and color can be added to the surface. Want an apple green surface? Quartz has it. Looking for a snow white countertop with very little texture? There are plenty of options.

A quartz version of high-end Calacatta marble is more durable than the original. Image: Aidan Design

Shop a similar look: Stools | Range Hood | Dinnerware

Do you love the look of marble but don’t want to stress about your counters being damaged? Go with Caesarstone’s Calacatta Nuvo, like the image above.

Quartz is easier to work with

Quartz is so durable and impermeable it can also be used as a sink, like in this contemporary integrated design. Image: Found Associates

When comparing granite vs quartz, the latter is as strong as granite but is more flexible. This means it can be used in ways granite can’t, like as a seamless counter with an integrated sink as in the image above.

This kitchen may feature lots of bright white, but its durable and kid-friendly. Image: The Designory

Shop a similar look: Bar Stools | Double Wall Oven | Cutting Board

The strength of quartz means you can have bigger ledges or overhangs without support. It’s also less likely to crack or chip than granite, which naturally has fine cracks and fissures in the stone.

Granite vs quartz: Quartz is lower maintenance

A thicker, slab quartz-top island with integrated bookcases. Image: Ben Trager Homes

Shop a similar look: Stools | Pendants | Utensil Holder

Quartz is not porous — no sealing is required — so staining is virtually impossible. That makes clean up pretty easy— a quick wipe should get rid of any spills or stains. Quartz is less likely to scratch and, according to the Mohs Hardness Scale, quartz comes in at a 7, compared to a 6 for granite. They are close in hardness, but quartz surfaces are just a bit tougher.

A warm-toned ivory quartz ties in with the wood cabinetry. Image: Unique Spaces

Shop a similar look: Stools | Pendants

Consider quartz as your next kitchen or bathroom surface. There are a growing number of companies offering a great variety of color, style and texture options that are bound to beautify your space and provide durable and beautiful surfaces for years to come.

The post Granite Is No Longer the Most Popular Kitchen Surface and This Material Is appeared first on Freshome.com.

from Freshome.com - Interior Design & Architecture Magazine http://freshome.com/granite-vs-quartz/

from Home Improvment http://notelocreesnitu.tumblr.com/post/165967186614

There’s a Small Bathroom Design Revolution and You’ll Love These Rule-breaking Trends

We hope you like the products we recommend. Just so you are aware, Freshome may collect a share of sales from the links on this page. 

Tired of your small, dark and uninspiring bathroom? Are you ready to finally give it an overhaul? Well, there’s no better time to give your small bathroom a fresh look. Small bathroom design is finally stepping out of the cookie-cutter bathtub, sink cabinet, mirror and toilet combination.

The latest small bathroom design ideas are fresh and revolutionary, rethinking what we all expect a bathroom design to look like. Wall-mounted toilets and sinks defy gravity. Cabinet doors are gone. Bold texture and patterns take over a small bathroom space. Get ready to break some rules and open your mind to what your small bathroom should look like with the following nine concepts.

1. You don’t need as much bathroom storage as you think

A minimalist bathroom in France features floating cabinetry. Image: For House

The first small bathroom design idea for 2017 is a big one: you really don’t need more storage, just a more minimalist attitude! Think about this one for a minute. Those large vanities with the deep cabinet space under the sink are really an inefficient use of space. Things get lost at the back of the cabinet. And the scale takes up so much real estate in your small bathroom design that your bathroom ends up looking smaller. So how do you solve the issue?

• Get rid of clutter and unnecessary items. How many towels, cosmetics and hotel toiletries do you really need?
• Replace the clunky bathroom vanity with a floating sink or cabinet or narrow open shelves. You’ll be less tempted to clutter your bathroom when the stuff is on display. And you’ll open a lot more visual space in your bathroom. Like this bathroom image:

A New York farmhouse gets a space-savvy update. Image: House Designers

Here are some of our favorite floating vanities:

1. | 2. | 3.

2. Instead of adding storage, add function

This Paris apartment converts a small bathroom into a multipurpose space that includes a washing machine. Image: Bertrand Fompeyrine

Once you clear clutter and replace the oversized bathroom vanity with something more minimalist, think of all the useful things you can do with the space. Like adding an all-in-one washer and dryer. Or creating a vanity space.

Here are more ideas on how to add more utility to your small bathroom:

Images: Philip McCann, Sean Litchfield

3. Small bathrooms mean you can splurge on finishes

High-end stone and tile, a chrome towel warmer and exotic wood create a luxurious small bathroom experience in Rome. Image: Francesco Todaro

Brushed chrome accents and a combination of tile featuring inexpensive white subway tiles and expensive glass and marble chevron tiles create a visually interesting small bathroom. Image: Robert Frank Interiors

Some of the most expensive items in a bathroom design are the fixtures, tile and finishes. Since you’re working with a smaller space, you need less. It’s time to break out of thinking that a small bathroom isn’t worth the money. It’s time to splurge on making your small bathroom design look like a million bucks! Some ways to add more luxury on a little less budget include:

• Choosing quality accent lighting fixtures
• Tiling a stripe (or the upper half of your bathroom) in a more expensive tile or marble
• Adding a towel warmer that doubles as a towel rack
• Swapping your toilet for a new floating style
• Upgrading to a glass shower door, which is the next small bathroom design idea

Here are some of our favorite luxurious updates for your small bathroom:

1.| 2. | 3. | 4. | 5. | 6.

4. Add a seamless glass shower door to your small bathroom

A minimalist yet earthy small bathroom in Barcelona, thanks to the reclaimed oak floors. Image: Roca

Images: At Studio, L’Essenziale, Jodie Rosen

Here’s a small bathroom design tip that may not sit well with traditionalists: tear out the bathtub and add a modern walk-in shower surrounded by seamless glass. It’s a great way to save tons of space in your small bathroom. A seamless glass door may be more expensive than a shower curtain, but will definitely be more durable. Not to mention, it will open up the space and add value to your home.

Not ready to give up on the bathtub? You can still add a seamless glass shower or tub enclosure.

5. Go crazy with texture and pattern in your small bathroom

Three-dimensional white tile adds depth to a small bathroom space. Image: Jasmine McClelland

A Scandinavian tile in a repeating pattern creates the feel of a larger room. Image: Poopuu Design

The floors provide a great surface to create a bold and richly patterned design. Image: Pinar Miro

Most designers tell you that dark colors or busy patterns are not a good idea in a small space. Think again. Strong patterns and textures add depth and play to a space, creating the illusion of more size and life.

Here are some of our favorite tile patterns and textures for your small bathroom:

1.| 2. | 3. | 4.

6. Wall-mount everything and throw away the doors

Wall mounted or floating elements and a wood-look tile add a modern look to this basement small bathroom. Image: Rozonova

Images: Rethink Design Studio, Ar-Ka Studios, Philip McCann

Porcelain tile in the look of plank wood and floating bathroom design elements create a new, modern small bathroom space. Image: Inne

The small bathroom design keyword for 2017 and beyond is: floating. Float everything, including the toilet, from your walls. It’s a great way to make cleaning easier, when you can access the floor below. Not to mention the space looks bigger, because our eye tends to judge space by analyzing the floor area. You also maximize valuable wall space, which is often left bare. And let’s be honest, it looks pretty fresh and cool!

7. Cubbies aren’t only for toddlers

Bathroom cubby ideas that add storage without taking up space. Images: Color Theory, Catlin Stothers Design, Roca.

A built-in wall nook with open shelves houses essential bath items. Image: Catlin Stothers Design

It’s time to tear up the walls (or add new ones) for cubbies. The inset wall cubby is an ingenious way to add integrated storage to a small bathroom without sacrificing space. It’s also known as an alcove, niche or recessed niche.

Behind bathroom walls, between the studs, is just enough of a gap to create a useful cubby. And nowadays, you can even buy a DIY tile-ready niche at Lowe’s.

Don’t want to tear up the walls? Find new ways to add cubbies to your small bathroom, by adding a shelf, wall mounting a floating cubby shelf or choosing a cabinet with open shelves to store extra items, like the bathroom below.

A wall-mounted storage cubby coordinates with the floating cubby sink base. Image: Reliance Design & Build

8. Mirrors instead of walls

When creating a bathroom mirror wall, choose mirror that is treated to withstand moisture to avoid dark spots from developing. Image: Optimise Design

A long wall of storage mirrors reflect light from the windows. Image: Elanandez

Images: Interior Solutions Design Group, Maya Parkhani Interior Design 

Mirrors do an incredible job at creating the illusion of more space. Want to add more space to your small bathroom design? Then add more mirrors, like the inspiration images above.

Check out our favorite bathroom mirrors:

1.| 2. | 3. | 4.

9. Add more black to your white

Images: Optimise Design, SF Design Build, Marcelle Guilbeau

An all-white bathroom does feel brighter and lighter, but it can look a little cold or lack the depth your eye registers as space. Adding black to your bathroom, in the form of black walls or a black-and-white tile design or a black ceiling adds the “POW!” your small bathroom is begging for.

Which one of these new small bathroom design trends are you ready to try?

The post There’s a Small Bathroom Design Revolution and You’ll Love These Rule-breaking Trends appeared first on Freshome.com.

from Freshome.com - Interior Design & Architecture Magazine http://freshome.com/small-bathroom-design/

from Home Improvment http://notelocreesnitu.tumblr.com/post/165895652154