What Is Your Concept of "Home"?

Irwin Weiner ASID - Most of us take for granted what "home" is. I've known people who have lost their homes due to foreclosure and eviction, and it's a life-wrenching experience. I was intrigued by this National Film Board of Canada video from Montreal focusing on four different home experiences, all in rehabbed buildings. Is "home" where many people can live together in community - yet have their own space or territory? Are we drawn to a building because we love it enough to want to save it? Is "home" where the heart is, or is it merely a roof over our heads as we go about everyday living ... and in some cases, aiming just for baseline survival?

This video got me thinking about my own concept of home. It's not always about professionally decorated spaces. It's not always about our mid-century, romantic notions of home and the nuclear family. Sometimes "home" is about found furnishings and salvaged goods; it's about relationships between people; it's about what you can afford; it's about choosing (if you're fortunate enough to have the means to choose) between something new and something old; and it's about bringing your personality and your essence into any space. My thoughts are with you and your families today, and hoping that your home - whatever and wherever it might be - is a happy, productive, and nurturing place.  

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Colorful Fun House in London Adds a Dollop of Surprise to Design

Ab Rogers Design
Irwin Weiner ASID - If you're Ab Rogers Design in London, you take on projects that are fun, creative, fresh, and challenging. You're not afraid to tackle a project designing a home in a bad part of town. Instead, you come up with something so innovative that it becomes a catalyst of positive change for the entire neighborhood. You'll enjoy watching this witty video tour of their Rainbow House project, complete with a rainbow-hued spiral staircase that sends color inspiration throughout each floor - not to mention fun surprises like a rotating bed and a trapdoor that lets you slide down to the breakfast nook (see top photo). Notice the floor design (superb). A clean, daring, livable example of home as work of art. Well done.

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New York's "Naked Hotel" Boasts Addictive Video-Screen Elevator

Jeff Goldberg / Ennead Architects

Irwin Weiner ASID - With the slight tilt to the two angled planes of NYC's fab Standard Hotel and the floor-to-ceiling glass windows in each room, guests need to watch how they trot around in their rooms! Many a passerby on the amazing High Line park (a converted elevated railway track) has gotten a glimpse of nude guests toweling off as they admire their room views, unaware that they're also added to the city's scenic interest. Adding to the amazing architecture from Ennead Architects, the Standard boasts elevators with LDS-trip video displays; come see MoCo Loco video of the experience. 

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Update on July 13, 2011 by Design2Share

Super King Size Leather Beds: We just found a great collection of sleek leather bed designs. They add sophistication, whether your bedroom decor is traditional or modern. 

Featured Project: DIY Painted Headboard

Now is the perfect time to think about freshening up your interior space. With a splash of color here and a new piece of furniture there, it's easy to redecorate. Here's a quick, budget-conscious DIY design idea to help get you started.

Paint Your Own Headboard

Chances are if you if you purchased your bed frame as part of a bedroom set, the headboard is already included. If you don't want to put forth the extra cash, especially after paying for a pricey mattress, no problem! Painted headboards are a great way to add a pop of color to your bedroom.

Step 1: Measure the width of the head of your bed and mark it with blue painter's tape from floor to ceiling. Now, choose your color based on your desired color scheme. You obviously don't want it to be the same shade as your walls, but it should complement that color.

Step 2: Once you have your color, paint the wall, staying within the blue painters tape. Once the paint dries, if you choose to do so, you can detail with paint or with some removable wall decals from a company like Blik. For as little as $40, Blik makes easily removable wall decals in fun shapes like bookshelves, chandeliers, birds, etc. If this sounds like too much work, don't worry and leave your wall a solid color.

Step 3: Simply position your bed up against the painted wall, prop up some decorative Euro pillows in coordinating colors and patterns, and you have yourself a headboard. You might want to take this opportunity to invest in a new comforter or duvet in fun, light, spring colors. You'd be surprised at what a little bit of paint and some new bedding can do for your space!

Contemporary vanities and more at Decor Planet for your bathroom needs.

Treating Building Facades as Video Screens

Irwin Weiner ASID - Watching the following German video from two years ago, it made me realize even more how playful we can be when we design exterior and interior walls. This Hamburg video installation project on the exterior wall of a gallery, called 555 KUBIK, won awards at Cannes but also wins design brownie points from me (a lot of good that will do them!) for beautifully illustrating that geometry, form, function, beauty, and playfulness should be part of any design project. Kudos to creators Urbanscreen.com for being so inventive, using walls as a video canvas.

 Click here to subscribe to our daily design videos.

Update on June 30, 2011 by Design2Share

Super King Size Leather Beds: We just found a great collection of sleek leather bed designs. They add sophistication, whether your bedroom decor is traditional or modern. 

Featured Project: DIY Painted Headboard 

Now is the perfect time to think about freshening up your interior space. With a splash of color here and a new piece of furniture there, it's easy to redecorate. Here's a quick, budget-conscious DIY design idea to help get you started.

Paint Your Own Headboard

Chances are if you if you purchased your bed frame as part of a bedroom set, the headboard is already included. If you don't want to put forth the extra cash, especially after paying for a pricey mattress, no problem! Painted headboards are a great way to add a pop of color to your bedroom.

Step 1: Measure the width of the head of your bed and mark it with blue painter's tape from floor to ceiling. Now, choose your color based on your desired color scheme. You obviously don't want it to be the same shade as your walls, but it should complement that color.

Step 2: Once you have your color, paint the wall, staying within the blue painters tape. Once the paint dries, if you choose to do so, you can detail with paint or with some removable wall decals from a company like Blik. For as little as $40, Blik makes easily removable wall decals in fun shapes like bookshelves, chandeliers, birds, etc. If this sounds like too much work, don't worry and leave your wall a solid color.

Step 3: Simply position your bed up against the painted wall, prop up some decorative Euro pillows in coordinating colors and patterns, and you have yourself a headboard. You might want to take this opportunity to invest in a new comforter or duvet in fun, light, spring colors. You'd be surprised at what a little bit of paint and some new bedding can do for your space!

Contemporary vanities and more at Decor Planet for your bathroom needs.