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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Mother Nature Gave These New Homes Good Bones

Photo: Art GrayIrwin Weiner ASID - The homes you decorate always start from what we like to call "the bones." These are the architectural features of the house, from the walls and ceilings to the floors, doors, windows, and room shape. One of the first jobs in interior design is to "get the bones right," or to make sure that any weaknesses in the architectural decisions are addressed. It helps when a home is newly made, but even new construction can be a nightmare for decorators, e.g. open-plan spaces need to be better defined by their function and still maintain good flow with the rest of the house. We admired theseAndersson-Wise "natural houses," new-construction spaces that celebrate nature through the use of beautiful building materials and clean lines. The natural homes in this video are what we mean by good bones!

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Thick as a Brick

Irwin Weiner ASID - Remember when you first became aware of bricks? It might have been your Legos or building block sets, and the wonderful sense of accomplishment as you stacked these little rectangular units to form walls and whole structures. My partner Jay grew up in a brick house in Peoria, Illinois and has fond memories of it; his mother kept the family's brick tradition going when they moved to Iowa, putting up a brick front porch with "sloppy mortar" squeezing out between the bricks like whipped cream. 

It's fascinating to see the way architecture for both homes and commercial structures is evolving with brick as the primary construction material or external cladding.This video shows off the best of brick-inspired architecture, and you'll see everything from an amazing home in the German countryside (see above photo) to a brick museum that I wouldn't mind moving into! Thanks to Wienerberger, the UK company that's the largest manufacturer in the world of bricks and their annual Brick Awards.

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Update on June 17, 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.