Piping Hot Design Trends

03 Thursday Jan 2013

Posted by melissaoconnor in Everyday Design, Guest Posts, Liz Alton, The Home

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bathroom, bedframe, bookshelves, country, exposed duct, historic, Industrial, Liz Alton, loft, minimalist, pipes, recycling, shelving, steel pipes, Storage, upcycling, urban, vintage, wine rack

One of the beautiful things about working in a historic mill building is the gorgeous exposed piping and ductwork. Combined with the brick walls and the high ceilings, it’s one of the selling points of the space. When I was coming up with some creative ways to accessorize the space, I found some visually striking examples of designs that integrated pipes along the ceiling or in accent pieces. If you love this look and aren’t currently calling a loft home, there’s some creative designer and DYI pieces on the market that you can use – from shelving to lighting fixtures.

Exposed Duct Works, Redux
Exposed ductwork is a hot look in a lot of urban apartment and office buildings right now, especially the ones that used to be factories, mills, or big commercial facilities. These lofts go for big bucks, and have tremendous character that you can work with. Lots of natural light, exposed bright, and rich woods permeate the space.

Piping Hot Design Trends

But not all exposed ductwork is urban. This beautiful country example of an exposed duct takes a really practical turn as place to hang pots and pans!

Photo Credit: Trilogy Builds

A colorful paint job makes this design a standout for a fun take on exposed pipes in a kids’ bathroom.
Piping Hot Design Trends
Photo Credit: Houzz

Hanging Storage Solutions
Who doesn’t love a creative storage solution? DIY crafters are rock stars at recycling and upcycling, and these pipe shelves are a great way of using steel pipes and even a bellowsflex hose to create unique shelves and bookcases that can adapt to almost any arrangement.

Here pipes double as both the supports and the mechanism for attaching the shelves to the wall.

Photo Credit: Interior Result

With pipes’ structural integrity, it’s really possible to combine shelves into ultra-creative configurations.

Photo Credit: Yellow Pelow

Hanging bookshelves in particular are a hot item, where shelves can double as both the supports and the bookends. This lighted version is great to illuminate a reading nook.

Photo Credit: Gear Culture

Industrial fittings are used in this one to give it even more character.

Pipe Shelves Scaled
If you love the pipe shelf look but need more than just a foot or so of shelf space provided by the hanging shelves, there are some great examples of floor shelves constructed of pipe. The key qualities translate over: a very artistic and modern industrial look with a highly configurable potential design.

Pipe and wood combine to a really unusual shape in this one – this would be a great idea for working with specific display needs or around an oddly shaped wall feature.

The pipes on this corner shelving unit help anchor the whole thing, while allowing it to fit into a tight space between window and door. Look at all the room you get for books, knickknacks and more.

Photo Credit: Modern Meals for Two

Funky Furniture
There’s also some really fun pipe and hose furniture. This vintage wheel cart combines pipes and antique box wood.

This pipe and wood wine rack is absolutely to die for.

Photo Credit: Manhattan Cleanline

It also makes a sturdy, minimalist bedframe.

Photo Credit: Design Fabulous

A lot of these items are commercially available, but they are all very doable as custom commissions or DIY projects. I think it’s time to sign my husband up for a welding class!

Written By Liz Alton

Luxury of Towel Warmers

03 Thursday Jan 2013

Posted by melissaoconnor in Alvin Steel, Guest Posts, The Home

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Alvin Steel, bathrooms, towel racks, towel warmers

If we look at the heated towel rails we will find that they are used to heat up towels and sometimes even the room. They have an exterior structure which is made up of iron rods which is where the towel hangs. There are many advantages to having one in your bathroom as well as having the luxury of using their many features.

Makes life easier
Considering the towel rails enable you to enjoy a warmer experience out of the shower, this makes your morning a little easier and much more satisfying. It’s better than being cold!

Photo Credit: Houzz

Made up of durable material
Heated towel rails are usually made of copper, stainless steel or chrome and are quite durable and long lasting.

Photo Credit: Houzz

Available in various sizes
The other good feature is that they come in various sizes and dimensions and are just the right thing for the owner. There are basically three types of sizes; small, medium and large. The owners can purchase the most appropriate heated towel rail as per their need and specification.

Photo Credit: Furniture Fashion

Improve the look and appearance of the space
Heated towel rails help in enhancing the outlook and appearance of the room or apartment where they are installed. There are various colors and shades they come in as well.

Photo Credit: Great Indoor Designs

Easy to install
The biggest plus point of these heated towel rails is that they are to install in your house. Due to their compact and adjustable size they can be fitted in most of the rooms or apartments.

Power
Although the most commonly used towel rails are heating by electricity, some towel rails are heated by gas and not electricity, which makes them more efficient. If we look at the working mechanisms, we will find they work just like radiators and keep the room or apartment warm where they are placed or installed as well.

Written by Alvin Steel

Unique Door Designs for Your Home’s Exterior

29 Saturday Dec 2012

Posted by melissaoconnor in Everyday Design, Guest Posts, Jim Klossner, The Home

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design, double doors, exterior doors, front doors, garage doors, home, Jim Klossner, non traditional, visual impact

We spend so much time decorating the interiors of our houses. When we tackle the exterior we change the siding or shingles, paint and trim, and relentlessly landscape until the lawn is the right shade of green and the flowers are just so. But how often do we actually pay attention to the door that we’re walking through? Much less, it turns out, than we should.

Our exterior doors not only add or detract from our overall look and feel, but they represent the gateway between the outside worlds we’ve so carefully architected and our beautifully decorated nests. When it’s time to look at your exterior door, here are some of the most stunning examples we’ve seen for inspiration.

Non-traditional shapes make an interesting visual impact
Ask any child to describe a door and they’re likely describe a rectangle to you. But many innovative doors have other shapes, from elegant and stately curving archways to more abstract takes.

Arched doorways really stand out, especially when they are accented by stained glass or other glass features.

Photo Credit: Nicks Building

This is an understated and somewhat antique looking approach to an arched oak doors for your home that fit into a variety of settings, including urban buildings.

Photo Credit: Trustile

And here are some interesting abstract doors – incorporating everything from unique materials to shapes and accents.

Photo Credit: Wishka

Photo Credit: Kuhl Doors

What frames and accents the door is as important as the door itself. When we’re thinking about doors, we often overlook the idea of the entire door – including the frame – as an installation. The entire door space can create an artistic impact in your overall design.

This beautiful craftsman door features a striking frosted window with small ledge, and matching panels to either side that create a special look.

Photo Credit: Door

Here are some others with small details and bold frames that stand out for being unique or memorable.

Photo Credit: Art Factory

Photo Credit: Wishka

Photo Credit: Vision Glass

Double doors are distinctive
Some of the designs above were double doors. It’s not the first thought you have when picking an exterior door, but in addition to some practical advantages (bringing in a giant sofa, for example), the look is a stand-out. Here are some of our favorites:

Photo Credit: Art Factory

Photo Credit: Vision Glass

Don’t overlook the garage
When considering exterior doors, it’s easy to not give the garage another thought. But residential garage doors are another great way to work some flare into your home design. The good news is that the options for garage doors go way beyond the gray industrial versions you might be thinking.

Here are some great non-traditional multi-door options:

Photo Credit: Bay Area Overhead Door

Photo Credit: Sweet Marias

Photo Credit: Jay Andre Construction

Colorful garage doors are another way to lend individuality to your design efforts.

Photo Credit: Attention to Detail Greenville

Unique Door Designs for Your Home's Exterior

Let a little light in
Finally, if you’re looking for doors that will let tons of natural light come streaming into your house and give you the chance to enjoy your yard or view more, there are plenty of beautiful French doors that will do the trick.

This floor to ceiling model is ultra clean in its look and lines, and almost brings the feeling of being outdoors right into the home (same effect screen door models – at The Screenmobile).

Photo Credit: North Jersey

Paneled French doors fold back to literally become a collapsible wall, which is perfect for summer barbeques on your patio or kids running in and out of the yard.

Photo Credit: Appliance in Home

There are also classic interpretations that blend seamlessly with a more traditional house design.

Whether you’re replacing your front door or looking for the perfect piece to integrate into a grand design, paying attention to your exterior doors will give you a leg up on achieving your overall desired effect.

Written by Jim Klossner

Creative Ways to Decorate a Small Apartment

27 Thursday Dec 2012

Posted by melissaoconnor in Everyday Design, Guest Posts, The Home

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benches, bright colors, coffee tables, home, interiors, mirrors, ottomans, painting, small spaces, Storage, Vertical Space

Making a smaller space look great is hard enough if you own it. You have to bend over backwards finding creative ways to get things to fit without making it look cluttered. Now imagine having to do this as a renter since when you’re essentially borrowing someone else’s living area. That can place limits on your ability to express yourself.

Ultimately, you have to remember two things when trying to make your small apartment livable: 1) it’s okay to cheat a little, and 2) as much as possible, everything should serve more than one purpose. Here are several great decorating ideas to make your space shine.

Secret storage
It almost seems like a cruel joke, but the smaller an apartment is, the less storage it tends to have. What those people with huge apartments need with all that extra storage space is a mystery (give some of it to us!) but that’s the way it is, and it means that you have to get clever by finding ways to store things in plain sight.

Fashionable ottomans and benches that open up are great places to put your blankets, books, and even things like board games if you have enough room. Stores like IKEA have fantastic-looking hidden storage options, like a coffee table for the living room with large drawers on each end—perfect for hiding away the two dozen remotes, iPods®, and other portable electronics you have.

Photo Credit: Ballard Designs

Photo Credit: Home Decorators

Photo Credit: Ikea

Reflections of you
A big part of successfully decorating a smaller area is tricking you into feeling like it’s bigger than it really is. One easy way to achieve this effect is through a clever use of mirrors. To give the illusion of an open space, larger mirrors in standard shapes are best because they do a good job of sucking you in. Most renters can probably get away with hanging a large mirror or two and simply patching the holes when they leave, but if that idea scares you, it’s not completely out of the question to find tall mirrors that you can carefully prop against the wall.

Photo Credit: West Elm

Photo Credit: Pottery Barn

When painting, go light and bright.
Lighter, brighter colors tend to make a space feel bigger than it really is, so you should always stick with them over darker hues that can create the feeling of being trapped in a cave. But wait a minute; you’re wondering how can you paint the walls as a renter? Who said anything about the walls? If you don’t own the space, redecorate by painting what you do own—your furniture! You’ll be shocked by how different your room looks when you repaint that black entertainment center an electric blue, or change your bed frame from oak to white. Just make sure you do a little bit of research on the best ways to paint furniture before you jump into the project.

Photo Credit: Better Homes and Gardens

Think tall
When your square footage is limited, the best way to get the most use out of it is to look up and try to find furnishings that do a good job of taking up the vertical space. Not only will this help you to store more while making your living areas feel more open, designers say that big furniture often serves to create the sense that a room is larger than it really is. Nice!

Photo Credit: What is Home Improvement

Photo Credit: Remodel

Photo Credit: Free Home Decorating Ideas

Robert Mansions writes for Apartments Management Group. When Robert is not writing or reviewing apartment rentals, you can find him at home working on his garden and landscaping.