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The Design Inspirationalist

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The Design Inspirationalist

Category Archives: Guest Posts

Bringing in Light During Long Winter Nights

15 Thursday Nov 2012

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

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Tags

Form, Function, home, interior design, light, lighting, LightingSale.com, night, Ross Donald, sun, track lighting, winter

It’s finally happened. Just as the reds and yellows of the leaves have fallen to the ground, the cups at Starbucks have turned that same unmistakable shade of red. Summer has come and gone, and now fall has fell. Time to break out the sweater, the scarves and the big, warm, living room blanket.

Worse than even the coldest of temperatures is the way your days seem to disappear. A 9 to 5 easily steals most if not all of the daylight hours and hanging out in the dark just doesn’t have the same appeal to you that it had when you were 16. But you don’t have to be left in the dark; you can bring the light to you.

Light for Function
First thing’s first. Make sure your house has enough light to do the things you need to do. Overhead illumination is usually enough to cover this, but sometimes a well-placed floor lamp or wall sconce is just what the doctor ordered.

Guest Post: Bringing in Light During Long Winter Nights
Photo Credit: The Design Home

Guest Post: Bringing in Light During Long Winter Nights
Photo Credit: Ashton Sebastian

Light for Form
Now it’s the fun stuff. Lighting shouldn’t be all work and no fun. In fact, lighting your house will not only serve as a great, cold weather activity, it leads to further indoor activities, no matter the weather. Start with the rooms you spend the most time in. For me, it’s my kitchen and living room. Both of those rooms, while they have drastically different lighting, are adequately lit for their purposes. For example, my kitchen has bright, powerful lights over my work stations. My living room on the other hand is pretty dim for the most part. I have a floor lamp above the comfy chair that I read in, a small track lighting set up for general lighting and a cleverly place desk lamp behind my TV to give soft illumination from behind the screen.

Guest Post: Bringing in Light During Long Winter Nights
Photo Credit: Suburban Light

Light for Winter
Just as bears hibernate and birds fly south, many of us have our own winter traditions. Maybe yours is making hot cocoa on Saturday afternoons or cuddling up with a good book after work. Mine is adding an extra floor lamp in every room to combat the early evenings of winter. I do this because when it’s dark, I tend to get sleepy. And with the sun only shining for a few hours each day in my neck of the woods, I need all the help I can get.

Guest Post: Bringing in Light During Long Winter Nights
Photo Credit: My Hunter Gatherer

Written by Ross Donald

Guest Post: Cafe & Coffee Bar Interior Design Tricks & Tips

13 Tuesday Nov 2012

Posted by melissaoconnor in Everyday Design, Guest Posts

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Tags

atmosphere, business, cafe, coffee bar, colors, customers, entrance, functional, interior design, light, materials, public, staff, textures

A commercial space like a coffee bar or café is obviously designed very differently to a living area. This is due to its features and that the interior is under the public eye and therefore must have an aesthetic sense and also a business mindset.

The huge variety in possibilities that an interior designer can provide to a café often depends on its location, size and clientele. After valuating all of these factors a combination of materials, textures, colors and lines can create an appropriate atmosphere which can enhance a space but also make it functional for both staff and customers.

Guest Post: Cafe & Coffee Bar Interior Design Tricks & Tips

The Use of Color
A trick used by interior designers to make a dark room lighter is the use of specific colors. Many people think that using light colors will improve this but actually it doesn’t. It is much better to choose bright colors, which reflect light and turn your café into a more vivid space.

Guest Post: Cafe & Coffee Bar Interior Design Tricks & Tips

Entryway Tips
The entrance design is crucial to the success of the café because that is where customers make the decision to visit. The trick here is to create a mix of ambiance that is welcoming, warm and informative. In some cases that would meant choosing the sizing guide for the perfect rug to place. Someone nearby the café needs to feel attracted by the entrance and this will persuade him or her to have a coffee. Your café will be judged by its so-called ‘cover’, the entrance. The lines, textures and materials in display will set a tone and if used correctly create warmth to the customer. You can see some examples in this cafè design web site.

Layout of the Space
The layout of the coffee bar is often personalized to the clientele. There is a vast range of seating options from benches providing a more communal atmosphere to divided tables that can provide more privacy. The layout is often based on the shop location and clientele. For example, the many city cafes that include single seating facing outwards towards the street or square. The reason behind this is because many of the coffee drinkers are alone with either books or laptops and therefore it makes more sense for them to be able to look out the window.

Guest Post: Cafe & Coffee Bar Interior Design Tricks & Tips

{Giulia Ricci is an italian designer. She’s working as free-lance design specialist for some design companies.}

Flowers to Use for Fall Holidays and Events

10 Saturday Nov 2012

Posted by melissaoconnor in Art & Design, Daisy Hart, Guest Posts, Weddings

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autumn, berries, bouquets, brown, calla lily, daisies, decorations, dried leaves, Fall Holiday Flowers, gardenias, Gloriosa lily, halloween, hydrangeas, peonies, Pumpkin, red astilbe, red roses, reds, ribbon, rye grass, seasons, sunflowers, Table Runner, traditional, twigs, vines, Wedding Flower Ideas, weddings, yellows

There are many wonderful opportunities to use and give away flowers during the fall season. It could be a wedding, pumpkin decorations or simply flower garlands and autumn-themed decorations of our homes for those with a sense of aesthetic. For that reason we are ready to give you some great ideas on how to enjoy preparing a beautiful gift for your friends, family or yourself by pointing out the best fall season flowers and their respective occasions. Thanks to Flower Delivery in the UK for these great ideas!

Guest Post: Fall Holiday Flowers

Wedding Flower Ideas
Although years ago summer was the preferred season for weddings because of its favorable weather and bright, sunny days it is now fall which is becoming increasingly popular due to its particular charm. The best thing about this season are the scents, the vibrant colors and clean, crisp air far removed from the heat and humidity of summer.

Guest Post: Fall Holiday Flowers
Photo Credit: (left) Brides.com (right) Knotforlife.com

Guest Post: Fall Holiday Flowers
Photo Credit: The Sweetest Occasion

The best way to go about decorating bouquets and arches of flowers is by combining them with dried leaves and twigs. They will symbolize the change of seasons and will feel more than natural in these environments. Remember yellows, reds and browns are your friends, however you can always combine this with flowers such as daisies, the gorgeous calla lily, hydrangeas, red roses and combinations of berries, rye grass and vines are a great way to combine all of these in a work of art.

Guest Post: Fall Holiday Flowers
Photo Credit: Brides.com

Guest Post: Fall Holiday Flowers
Photo Credit: Brides.com

Bouquet Centerpieces
Reception tables often need something to keep them good at attracting attention. For that reason bouquet centerpieces are a great way to catch the eye. Add some autumn leaves to the arrangement of flowers since they will be easily available. On the other hand, adding a yellow or brown ribbon also works well. Use your imagination and trust your inner sense of aesthetic beauty when arranging the bouquet for the best results possible.

Guest Post: Fall Holiday Flowers
Photo Credit: Brides.com

Guest Post: Fall Holiday Flowers
Photo Credit: Western Wedding Flowers

Guest Post: Fall Holiday Flowers
Photo Credit: Brides.com

Pumpkin Decorations
Although these may not be extremely popular in other countries outside North America where Halloween is not celebrated they are a traditional idea and their symbolism as a representation of autumn is well-known. You can carve up pumpkins filling them with fall leaves and flowers in nice bright orange, yellow or red colors. You can use mini calla lilies in red and orange colors or hydrangeas as a nice, classic flower arrangement. These decorations will easily add color to your table and they will spark the autumn mood and lift the spirits.

Guest Post: Fall Holiday Flowers
Photo Credit: Eddie Ross

Guest Post: Fall Holiday Flowers
Photo Credit: (left) Kate’s Place (right) The New York Botanical Garden

Guest Post: Fall Holiday Flowers
Photo Credit: A Pretty Life

Table Runner Flower Garland
This is a great way to put some color and life on your table by placing such a flower garland running around the whole table. You can use flowers such as the Gerber daisy, orange roses and hypericum berry. You can place those on a wall or arching over a doorway, or even on the table in such a manner which will spark the attention and tease the imagination.

Guest Post: Fall Holiday Flowers
Photo Credit: Real Simple

Guest Post: Fall Holiday Flowers
Photo Credit: Love to Know Weddings

Other Flowers You Might Use
You can always use more than what we mentioned here of course, there are plenty of chances to use flowers such as Gloriosa lily, red astilbe, sunflowers, daisies, peonies, gardenias and pretty much anything your heart desires. If you go to a flower shop simply trust your inner feeling on what you’d like to place there for your event. Don’t go traditional even, just do what feels natural to you and be unique!

http://www.flowerdelivery.org.uk/wedding-flowers/

Written by Daisy Hart

Creating Balance and Harmony at Home Using Feng Shui’s Five Elements

06 Tuesday Nov 2012

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

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Tags

abundance, art, balance, creativity, design, earth, energy, family, Feng Shui, Fire, harmony, health, In Style Modern, intimate relationships, manifestations, Marial Samuels, metal, water, wood, yin and yang

The art of consciously choosing the designs that support people’s life path is called feng shui. And the aspects of your life you consider as important, such as your family, health, abundance, intimate relationships and creativity, are mirrored by your home. The walls, tables and other accessories you place at home are physical manifestations of your beliefs on life in general. This also applies to the structures, patterns and colors that you surround yourself. Each one sends an energy vibration which may be useful or harmful to you.

Understanding how you use feng shui at home is the key to reaping the energy that helps you live a better life. But first you must determine what chi is moving through your body and your environment. This is where the concept of yin and yang emerges as these two dictate the energy that flows in people’s lives. The presence of too much yin energy has negative impact on health, affects the chi flow and shuts down the body. Meanwhile, an excess of yang energy also results in ill health, most noticeable effect include increased heart rate and blood pressure.

The most important part is to balance the yin and yang energy movements to establish a whole state, thus, paving the way for healing, emotionally, mentally and physically. It is also noteworthy to remember that no person carries an entire yin or yang energy. This is because our energy changes with the current season as well as the food people eat and the time of a day.

Here are the 5 enhancing element energy designs in feng shui that can aid you to controlling the yin and yang chi in your life:

Fire
Fire energy is synonymous with expansion and transformation. This means that you are more open to new ideas and are more willing to sharing your gifts with others.

Guest Post: Creating Balance and Harmony at Home Using Feng Shui’s Five Elements

You can add fire energy at home by using any bright color, such as red or orange, or any active color that helps energy and light to bounce. To send up more energy into a room, use the following shapes: diamonds, triangles, pyramids and sunbursts. You can also add lamps, a carved wooden box, spotlights, lanterns, red or green candles, backlit plants, palm trees or yucca trees, pillars, tall chairs, and any groupings of three.

Guest Post: Creating Balance and Harmony at Home Using Feng Shui’s Five Elements

Earth
Earth helps you become more grounded, thus, helping you to feel more protected, stabilized, secure and safe. Aside from moving downward, earth energy is slow on its motion and is represented by nurturing, soft objects as well as solid, heavy objects.

Guest Post: Creating Balance and Harmony at Home Using Feng Shui’s Five Elements

The goal of earth energy is to serve as reminder to people that the physical body, physical world and physical needs must be given due honor. Earth colors are subdued and are usually represented by yellow and brown. Also, the shapes and structures associated with earth energy stone, adobe, straw and brick. Think of warm cozy blankets, terra-cotta pots, a rock garden, brightly colored pillows, pottery, and pillows

Guest Post: Creating Balance and Harmony at Home Using Feng Shui’s Five Elements

Water
Water energy helps you to a relaxed state where you release the things that have been bothering you for the day. To attain physical and emotional healing, make it a ritual to start your day in a water environment and end it as well on similar surrounding.

Guest Post: Creating Balance and Harmony at Home Using Feng Shui’s Five Elements

Black and dark blue are the water colors, thus, adding white tiles around the bath, a curved path, a white vase, a black or dark blue birdbath. I’ve always loved indoor fountains and this copper fountain has stolen my heart, and hanging plants are perfect ways to experience water energy.

Guest Post: Creating Balance and Harmony at Home Using Feng Shui’s Five Elements

Wood
Wood energy manifests creativity and growth in your life.

Guest Post: Creating Balance and Harmony at Home Using Feng Shui’s Five Elements

Definitely not pastel, wood colors bring in clarity and energy in your life. And these are purple to allow expression and bring in abundance as well as green to grow and heal at the same time. To ensure growth is achieved, you must not pick colors that are too muddy or have lots of gray. Objects that are related to wood include vertical blinds, flowing curtains, a blue or green vase, sloping or tall furniture pieces.

Metal
Metal represents the mind energy, with two essential aspects: the intellectual left-brained and the creative right-brained. Too much of this energy, however, can influence people to be sarcastic and overly critical of others.

For the left-brained, the colors associated are gray, white and silver. These are most beneficial for people engaged in accounting or computer programming or any job that requires detailed tasks. To avoid any sharp edge, you can color your room with a soft warm color as well or just opt for creamy or rosy white. For the right-brained, rainbow colors are ideal to bring out your creativity at the same time allow body healing.

Adding bells, metal chimes, a brick pathway, long comfortable sofa, low, wide furniture will bring in the metal energy in your life

Written by Marial Samuels 

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