Kettal Brings High Fashion to Outdoor Furniture

Irwin Weiner ASID - I think that summer has finally hit the eastern U.S. The recent Memorial Day weekend was a scorcher, with temps climbing close to 90 degrees F - and it's time again to turn to outdoor furniture! Top of my list is the Barcelona-based Grupo Kettal, featuring some of the best furniture designers in the business, from Patricia Urquiola to Marcel Wanders. The top photo is of their award-winning Bob Armchair - pure comfort for any deck, patio, or outdoor room. I love the following video because

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World's Most Expensive Fountain

InternetCont Ltd.

Jay Johnson - There's something wet and wild about water shows like the one at the Burj Khalifa in Dubai. Befitting the world's tallest skyscraper is the world's costliest water show. Having seen WET Design's fountain shows at the Bellagio Hotel in Las Vegas, you're prepared for the Dubai Fountain extravaganza. The cost: $200 million for the 900-foot-long array with 6,600 lights. Enjoy this fountain show video; quite amazing!

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Old Houses Need Lots of Tender Loving Care

This Old House

Irwin Weiner ASID - Is it worth it to move into an old house, knowing that there is much ongoing work to do in terms of upkeep, repairs, and renovation? The porch on my 1900 rural Pennsylvania farmhouse needed to be completely rebuilt, and the results were published in This Old House magazine - so I know that old homes can be

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Design Essentials for the Perfect Garage

California Closets

Irwin Weiner ASID - What is it about a garage that makes some people's eyes light up while others glaze over? Design2Share recently interviewed Westport, CT interior designer Katy Cleare of Catherine Cleare Interiors, and we got to talk with her husband Steve Kolb about the only space in the house he was allowed to design and decorate. The builder/developer walked us through some of the features he built into his "castle." And here's my checklist for designing the garage of your dreams - and note that you can turn a seldom-used garage into practically any living space, from spare bedroom to garage band practice space.

• Add good lighting and you won't feel that you've been consigned to an outer ring of Hell
• Cover the walls with a storage system, even something as simple as old pegboard and hook systems for hanging ladders, leaf blowers, bicycles, and garden tools - but add cupboards and other cubbies and nooks to store things and keep things out of sight when they're not in use
• Include a hose and good drainage - the floor should pitch out so you can wash your car and motorcycle; make sure your walls have a water-resistant paint and waterproof drywall
• If you can afford it, heat your garage, e.g. an independent blower heater system
• You'll appreciate a laundry sink where you can attach the hose for quick car washes, and you've also got a place where you can wash paint brushes, and clean up from outdoor or mechanical work

California Closets

• Many families keep an extra refrigerator/freezer in their garage; outlets should be accessible so you can unplug the large appliances easily or use outlets that are operated by a switch - some people use such appliances only when they're having a party and keep them turned off when not in use, and you don't want to have to pull heavy appliances away from the wall to pull the plug
• Here's a real nice-to-have feature: heavy-duty outlets mounted from the ceiling in the center of the room are great for tools - turn the garage into the workshop space of your dreams by removing your cars and plugging tools from extension cords hanging down from the ceiling so there's no tripping over wires; it's also nice to work in the center of the garage so you have the maximum amount of space
• Workbenches on wheels with brakes can be wheeled from the walls to the center of the garage for maximum work room if you've got that overhead power system mentioned in the previous bullet - and it's nice when the weather's wonderful to be able to wheel the workbench into the driveway so you don't feel cooped up

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Update on April 19, 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.