Author: Ava Parker

Remember fellow decorators and design enthusiasts that you need to ensure that the most important thing, is to make the most important thing, the most important thing. For you.

And again I am talking Rotterdam and the very innovative firm called PEÑA. I recently wrote about this dynamic firm based in Rotterdam, Netherlands, where I lyrically praised their redesign of an old museum in this city.

Well, I found another one of their apartment renovations in their project called Casa C. I hope you admire it as much as I do and at the same time get some tips on how to rejuvenate a small space into a masterpiece of design.

The overriding “important” features of the redesign are:

• Innovative structural design in the orientation of the functions of the apartment.
• Using clever design techniques to ensure orientation and placement of the functions to maximum benefit.
• Maximising light.
• Making spaces like the stairway and corridors part of the living space rather than separate spaces.
• Maximising the outdoor space and adding a conservatory to connect the dining room and kitchen.
• Adding sliding doors from the bedroom to the balcony to give it a holiday feeling.
• From urban to open living.
• Small spaces can have BIG features – note the fabulous doors and architraves.
• Small rooms can take big lamps and light features as long as you have high ceilings.
• Spectacular use of bold colours to demarcate areas.
• Amazonian plants can work in small spaces.
• Don’t forget the ceilings – they add a whole new dimension.

My best piece of advice if you happen to be an urbanite and wanting a more contemporary and natural structure to your apartment, is to get advice from people like these.

Miracles can happen even in the centre of a city! You too can have an “evolved” apartment to show off. The important thing is to remember that you must focus on what is important to you.

Trust you enjoyed this travel show – until next time.

Ava.

Starting with bare bones? In need of enlightenment? Well, this former museum in Rotterdam was transformed into the most amazing place. In my opinion (humbled in this instance), this is a magnificent small space design; one which rarely ticks all my boxes.

The architectural firm in charge of redesigning the space is a company called PEÑA and is based in Rotterdam, Netherlands. The company not only is renowned for its architectural designs, it also operates in interior and product design.

PEÑA completely redesigned the apartment, but the magnificent ceiling and beam structures were part of the bare bones – yes, how fab were these to work with?

Here are some factors that they employed to transform the space into a luxurious home:

1.White and light.

I very often don’t propose a white look in a home. It can be clinical. But in this instance, it really highlights the magnificent ceiling and beams and in no way distracts from the core features of the space.

2.Simple colour theme

The decor involves the colours black, greys, and is mixed with natural wood hues. This gives a wonderful palette which is easy on the eye. They eye moves around with great pleasure, but the shading of the dark greys and blacks give form.

The inclusion of duck-egg blue and the splashes of chrome lift the palette perfectly. Notice how the artwork matches the theme.

Remember that colour does not add a pleasant quality to design; it reinforces it.

3.The kitchen is a masterpiece of design camouflage

It is not often that you will have the kitchen in the centre of a room – but in this instance it works fabulously and with its all wooden cabinetry and walls it melds into a functional yet beautiful space.

4.Skylight opens up the kitchen and negates the lack of windows

Clever use of skylights can completely transform a space and can come with many more advantages too, as an example uv window film on skylights save on energy costs plus many other benefits. In this instance, with the kitchen slap in the middle of the space, the extra lighting from above gives it a lovely cosy feel, plus it’s all-natural lighting. It could easily have been a little hemmed in. You’re sure to find a transformation in your space with aia skylights that’ll add a new look to your room with the additional light. Of course, you’ll need to know if you can fit a skylight on your roof, or if the angle and position of the skylight is able to give you the natural light you need. You can pop over to these guys or to another company experienced with skylight installation to find out if you can transform your space.

5.Design is the purpose of elements – concentrate on composition, proportion and balance

The large scale of the corridors, the magnitude of the bookshelves and passage shelving all add to the composition of the space. The proportion and balance are in harmony.

I trust that you are seeing the good design in this example. It should become self-evident and needs little or no change or further criticism.

Come back soon!

-Ava

Still dreaming of the ultimate small apartment? This is how you can do it with some tips from the professionals.

Fimera Design – a site I spotted and liked – did this incredible decoration in a small studio apartment in Sofia, Bulgaria. They obviously have some very talented designers and I am amazed at how clever they have been in converting a really small space into a blockbuster of a winner.

It is a really good example for you to follow in order to launch your re-decorating career! The designers were astute enough to make the whole space flow beautifully. So, with a little help from the professionals, you too can get the look.
I hope this inspires the designer in you. We all have “it”; sometimes just takes a little longer to come out of its shell.

Contrast – make it work

Very often too much of the same thing can lead to monotony and ultimately boredom. A small space can easily fall into this chasm because you may be overworking it in one of them or color.

Here, the contrast in the decorative aspects, which include the bright white ceiling and floors as opposed to the brown hue of the walls, gives a crispness to the ambiance of the rooms. The beautiful details in the wooden furniture and shelving allow the space to feel homely and comfortable. A mix of modern and minimalist furniture gives the small apartment a sense of space. Too much clutter would have overwhelmed the area.

Beware the open-plan pitfalls

If you page through the pictures over and over again – you don’t get lost in the translation. This means that these designers were crafty enough to separate the different rooms without the use of physical barriers. For instance, the blank space between the kitchen and the sitting room could easily have been overtaken by either one. However, through the placement of the dining room table and chairs, the whole space has been demarcated into kitchen, dining and sitting.

Use focal points to break any monotony.

You will see that the Fimera designers began with a plan. And it is clear that one of the objectives to be met was to ensure points of interest. These are apparent in the red chandelier in the dining area, the minimalist one red cushion on the sofa and high design wooden cabinetry in the kitchen.
In the bedroom, the “I wouldn’t have believed it will work!” bed covering along the fabulous upholstered wallpaper are details that were obviously cleverly thought through. All to draw the eye to something completely different.

Concentrate on a few walls.

The wonderfully modern corrugated look red tiling in the cloakroom, the luxurious embossed tiling in the bathroom and the ingenious incorporation of the TV into a high design wall all add character and give a sense of superior craftsmanship. The point is – don’t go overboard. One or two, not all walls. I know it is hard. People find they can do tiling themselves, stock up on the right tools from online stores like Stonex and then go about tiling every corner possible in their home. It’s understandable – once you get on a roll you want to repeat and repeat. A good designer knows when to draw the line. Speaking of tiling, if you’ve noticed that the grouting needs a little touch-up, it could be as simple as using a grout sealant to get the job done.

Thanks!

-Ava

A client’s passion leads to a design idea. A spiky idea!

This example of loft design has a unique theme. It is based on a desert. But what makes it really intriguing is that it is in the centre of Kiev, Ukraine. Not much desert around that neck of the woods I hear you muttering.

YoDezeen, an architectural design company based in Kiev, was responsible for this project. Their client liked rare cactuses – particularly from Southern and Northern America. The whole interior was influenced by his hobby of collecting and caring for these plants.

They then took centre stage in the theme of the loft design. A desert colour palette was used and industrial lighting and ceilings were introduced to give a resemblance of the harsh naturalness of the environment. Wow. It worked.

The cacti were placed behind a glass partition separating the open-plan area of the kitchen, dining room and living area with the bedroom.

Take-out ideas for you:

1. Colour theme used throughout and not varied.
2. Industrial look along with comfy furniture turned the open space into a warm and inviting hub.
3. Use of natural materials adds to the overall atmosphere.
4. Ingenious lighting gives off an exotic feel.
5. Unobtrusive cabinetry opens up the space to give the impression of a larger area than actually is.
6. Lack of clutter, clean lines and minimalist furnishings open up the small loft space.
7. Change of flooring in the entrance hall demarcates the space and lifts it.
8. Use of a beautiful poster above the bed of a desert theme reinforces the overall effect and makes the room feel “real”.
9. Back lighting on shelving adds depth and interest to the display.
10. A widely proportioned sitting area decorated with back-to-back sofas. Good thinking

Want to try this concept by accenting your home centralised around something that you are passionate about?

What about an Ocean Themed Loft, or a Forest Themed Loft?

Stick to one singular focussed theme and keep it uniform throughout – it really is a unique and clever idea.

Thanks! Hope you liked it!

-Ava

Yes, it is about trusting your own instincts

I have been travelling again. On the web that is. No time off on tropical islands just as yet. As all who know me will testify to my passion for finding new and inspiring sites that highlight good design in a home.

On my last trip, I came across S&A Decor in Toronto.

I stopped at this spot was because I think they are on the right track. They have blatantly stated on their website that they embrace “your” brave design ideas. Let me tell you a story from a well-travelled enthusiast – this does not happen often that a design company will gladly work around your instincts and bravery or lack thereof; S&A Décor will help you gain enough courage to follow your instincts. Great!

Some tips on how to get their type of look – gathered from fab examples of their work.

I hope you find them inspirational.

1.Proportions – essential décor items

Whether you follow Feng Shui design principles or not – proportions and pragmatism (2P’s) are clearly shown in this home to best effect. You may not entirely agree on the décor of a room.
Ignore that for the time being. Train your eye to seek out the balance of the space:

• ceilings are heightened
• floors are made to look like deep pools of shimmering water
• walls are treated in natural textures to add depth, curtains are hung to maximise height,
• lighting is used to reflect space and so on.

2.Detail but not clutter

Do not confuse the two. These examples show just how to get the look. The whole apartment is characterised by a sense of airiness, space and light. The idea of less clutter is shown in the beautiful hardwood flooring that you can get from True Hardwoods or similar, as well as the face brick/stone walls, high gloss cabinetry and mirrors next to the fireplace. Cosiness is introduced with a lovely thick rug, comfy furniture, silky cushions and clever lighting. If you would like to create a similar ambience in your own home, then it might be helpful to reach out to an electrician to work out the best possible lighting options for your space. Accordingly, for more information about how an electrician can help you to choose the best possible lighting for your home, head to: electricworkforceinc-il.biz/service-areas/oak-brook/. Ultimately though, an open floor plan home needs to have definition within the different zones. The open shelving allows various collections to be displayed but not in an overly filled way.

Colour themes, schemes accents and dreams

Subtle. Gently does it. This is what is really apparent in this example of high design. The use of subtle colours is often called “neutral”. But neutral can equal boring. So, be careful in your selection. This home has used stone like walls to accent the entire space as have many other homes. Faux and stacked stone has become incredibly popular in recent years as they can add depth and texture to a wall with ease. Plus, this faux stone is often easy to install too, creating a quick and painless installation process. Blues and greys. Browns and light creamy yellows all give the home a natural flow in a subtle finish. The overall effect is of one room flowing into the other. Metal, mirrors and glass give strong accents.

Thanks for reading!

-Ava

Here are 5 small space design tips to turn you puddle into a pond and at very little cost and you never know, you may just get kissed by a frog.
Sometimes all you need to do, and I suppose this is easier said than done, is to change the way you look at things. If you do this, the things you are looking at will change.

1. Always think Tall. Tops of walls and ceilings.

Draw the eye up. That is the trick. Once you have managed to do that the taller the room looks. Yes, it is an illusion, but then we are talking about tricks. And you want to trick the eye. So in this instance the top part of the walls and the ceiling has been well papered in a lovely pale geometric grey. Added to this is a very well suited light feature that automatically makes you look up.

2. Lighten to brighten. Walls, doors, floors and ceilings. Brighter to bigger.

The walls, doors, cornicing and ceiling are light. This allows the natural light coming from a fairly small window to seem more prolific than it actually is. Additionally, you can invest in good wall light fixtures that give some more light into the room from a standing height, rather than false light coming from above in a ceiling light fixture. This will give the impression that the walls are brighter than they actually are, especially if you are to choose a darker wall colour. The light toned grey wall, and the natural light brick all add to the feeling of a bright and breezy kitchen. Bold use of charcoal grey for the counter tops give the whole space a nice crisp look.

Darker colours on feature walls can make a room feel cosier and add a wonderful depth to the space. Just remember that dark absorbs light it does not reflect it. So always be aware of the trade-off between adding a dark, bold dash of colour to sacrificing light. You can always try painting a wall a different colour – a pot of paint is not going to cost you much and if you don’t like it – change it.
I like to experiment with colours so I very often get my paint shop to give me small pots to work with and I live with the different colours painted in small swatches. I watch and observe. Very often the right colour will come to the fore.

But remember there is no wrong or right. This is your space and you need to feel comfortable.

3. Think out of the box. Use clever wall paper.

There are numerous places that you can search for fab wall paper to brighten up a space. So before you hit the paint shop, perhaps you should do some searching for ideas. They can be quite expensive, but the overall effect is simply stunning. Perhaps you won’t be able to live with it forever, but it will most definitely be a major talking point and focus in your small room.

A bright and breezy one like this really adds depth to a room and makes it look so much larger.
I recently applied a tree and meadow scene to a small dark room and it has made the space look so much bigger. At night choose clever lighting to really add a different dimension.

For instance, why not install recessed perimeter light strips, alongside some repositionable spotlights to cover all bases? If you are unsure about which lighting would look best in a smaller room, an electrician can help you to determine the best possible way to brighten up the space.

Accordingly, to learn more about how an electrician can help to turn your lighting dreams into a reality head to: safeandsoundelectric.com/old-greenwich-ct/. Above all researching a few different lighting options can help you to make the right decision for your room.

This example of wall paper on the ceiling shows how you can brighten up a room, adding a whole new dimension. We very often just forget about the ceiling and paint it the normal white. Think where you eye can be drawn to and very often it is the ceiling. The effect that is has in the shelving nook is great as it adds a sense of depth and interest to the space.

4. Place furniture strategically – this often means away from the walls.

If you can, and it will very often go against your decorating style, think about pulling your furniture at least a few centimetres away from the walls. Don’t if you can help it, place your couches right against the walls. This illusion will make the room seem larger and more open. Try it, it really works.
If furniture is pushed right up against a wall it will feel cramped. Your objective is to get away from this in a small room.

Ideally, if you have enough space put a narrowish something behind, a shelf or a narrow console table will do the trick. You can then decorate on top of it – which gives you depth and of course you could add a lamp of two there

5. Elongate at every opportunity

Again, we are talking illusion. Note the clever use of wall paper in this small bedroom. Two walls are papered in vertical stripes to give a sense of height and balance the very steep ceiling. The bed footboard is vertically striped steel ensuring that a boxy look to the bed is not achieved.

vertical stripes in this small cloakroom give a sense of spaciousness and the accompanying gilded light and mirror really add to a sophisticated feel.

These striped curtains in an entrance hall really add a bit of drama and accentuate the door. They have been placed quite high above the door frame to draw the eye forever upwards and after all, that is the one big trick of the trade.

Right, so now you are the princess in your pond and you can live happily ever after.
We will be back soon with more space enlarging ideas for you to use.
Remember – be bold. No frog is going to kiss a meek and mild decorator.