FreeGreen: Bringing Green Design to the Masses!

Solar Decathlon blew us away, but we were particularly fascinated by a stunning Solar House from Cornell University. This team brought a beautiful zero-energy home to the mall in Washington, D.C., and had just launched ZeroEnergy Design, a home design firm focused on zero-energy design. Continuing their momentum as green home design gurus, two of the Cornell Solar Decathlon team members have just launched a new endeavor aimed at bringing custom green design to the masses through an innovative business model called FreeGreen. Started by David Wax and his partner Ben Uyeda, FreeGreen is making green home designs free to everyone!

FreeGreen provides a selection of green home designs for free, with a range of styles from traditional to modern. While the basic designs are free, homeowners can take the process even further and customize their designs for an additional (and very reasonable) fee. The cost of the design process, and of the free home plans, is kept to a minimum through partnerships between FreeGreen and green building product manufacturers – paid placement from product manufacturers.

As homeowners consult with FreeGreen for customized designs, they are introduced to healthy, energy-saving, sustainable products that are sponsors of FreeGreen’s eco-enterprise. It is a win-win-win collaboration that introduces people to green building principles and products and allows consumers on any budget to own a custom designed, green home.

Ultimately, FreeGreen is about providing people with the options and knowledge to make informed decisions. Green building products are widely available but sorting through the myriad choices, or even knowing where to look, is a daunting task for most new homeowners. Freegreen is solving this problem by offering excellent green building consult at little cost to the consumer. According to the founders, “The goal at FreeGreen is not to produce the greenest possible home but rather to provide a variety of different home plans that allow people to create homes that fit their lifestyles in a responsible and equitable manner.”

FreeGreen is launching this month starting with several great designs including our favorite, The Suburban Loft, a modern home suitable to all climates. Characterized by open floor plans and high ceiling loft spaces, this design will be available in a range of sizes to fit many lifestyles and landscapes.

We think FreeGreen is a great idea and a wonderful way to bring information, innovation and green design choices to everyone – “because green design should be accessible to all.” We are thrilled to announce the launch of FreeGreen!

Little Black Dresser by Judson Beaumont

Designed by Vancouver based artist Judson Beaumont the Little Black Dresser is a fully functional piece of chic art furniture shaped like a dress. The little black dresser by Judson Beaumont of Straight Line Designs Inc. represents the designer’s foray into sexier fare. Finally we can say that this piece of furniture is cute, but a dresser you hand in the closet it not our idea of practical. What do you think about it ?

Design tips for smaller bathrooms

If you have a smaller area designated for bathroom use, you will have to make some adjustments in order to make proper use of this space.Start by figuring out what things you need to have in your bathroom. For instance, if you aren’t planning to spend a lot of time in your bathroom, you can install just the main necessary equipments and items in order to feel comfortable. Another important factor is the wise choice of color because a pastel and light color is likely to make your bathroom look larger. The lighter shades are also more welcoming.

Even if your bathroom is small, you can still make it look quite elegant by using the right visual accents. You should use subtle wallpapers that can make your bathroom look larger. Floor coloring is another important issue and you should go for neutral or light colors in order to make the space look roomier. Light shades of blues, tans or grays are the best choices for a small bathroom because they can make it look more airy and sophisticated.

A small bathroom space should be lighted up with additional lights. If you notice that there is no space for such additional lights in your bathroom, you should go for the bulbs that provide a high wattage. These bulbs will make your bathroom very inviting and brighter. Don’t worry about decorating your bathroom either because even a smaller place is likely to be well decorated once you follow the right steps. 

Start by using only a few mirrors because overdoing with mirrors is likely to provide your bathroom with unwanted effects. Keep in mind that using too many mirrors in a small bathroom will emphasize only the corners of its space. So, you should be careful when it comes to selecting the places where you want to have mirrors installed. For instance, installing the mirrors opposite to each other is not a wise idea. Limit the mirrors in order not to show the real size of your bathroom.

You should cleat out the bathroom walls in order to create the illusion of a larger space. You should also keep your things floating. For instance, you might install floating cupboards and a wall mounted sink in order to prevent these items from taking too much from the floor space. You can utilize the bathroom floor for other useful things such as putting a plant or a trash can. Using the bathroom door is another useful tip that will help you save some space. The door is more useful and helpful than acting as a simple exit and entrance.  For instance, you can use it in order to install some clothes or towel hangers because this will conserve extra precious space. You will also be left with more space to use for the bathroom design you plan to have.

You might consider using the collapsible shower screens. Such shower screens come in various types such as sliding or foldable ones. You can also use curtains in order to get the division you want. Allowing natural light inside your bathroom is another wise thing for you to do because having a window installed in this space will make it look more spacious. However, you must make sure that the window is not too big because, if this is the case, you will defeat the initial purpose of trying to conserve wall space. Now that you know all these tips, you are truly ready to start designing your small bathroom .   

7 Home Decoration Secrets

We always want our homes to be perfect. That is understandable since our home is our abode, our personal sanctuary, the place we look forward to go to after a whole day of stressful work. This is why, one of the most important things a homeowner has to do is to decorate his or her home in such a way that it will be a nice and relaxing escape. This article reveals top 10 home decoration secrets that you surely would want to know.

1. Visualizing is the key

Do not simply make an exact replica of the living room you found on the home interior magazine. Visualize on your own how you want your home to look like, how you want home decors like your wall plaques and paintings to be hung on the wall. Visualization of each room will make it easier for you to do your planning and decoration.

2. Start with a focal point

Any veteran interior designer knows how important it is to start with a focal point in any room so that other home décor items will flow easily around it. It is always a great idea to select an item that gives a big impact like the fireplace, a piano or a sofa.

3. Colors have psychological effect

Colors are important design elements not only because it determines the ambience and feel of the room, and gives the illusion of space but also because they have psychological effects on people.

For example, blue, which is the least appetizing color is not a good shade to paint in your dining area or kitchen. Meanwhile, light and pastel colors, which can relax the mind, are a good idea for the living room. Make sure that the colors you choose complement well with each other.

4. A theme makes it easier to achieve unity and harmony

A décor theme not only makes home decoration a lot easier but is also important because it reflects the homeowner’s personal taste and style. Your theme can be classic, modern, nautical, tropical, European, Asian or whatever you can think of.

Buy furniture and home accessories that match the theme that you have chosen. For example, if the theme of your home is contemporary, modern metal wall plaques would be a great addition while if you have a coastal theme, you might as well go for nautical wall art.

5. Clutter can ruin even the nicest home decoration

Get rid of everything that you do not need or hardly ever use and neatly store them in the storage room. Even if you have the most expensive or most gorgeous home decor, all these are useless if your room is filled with clutter.

6. Lighting is just as important as furniture

Lighting is important because of two things. First, it illuminates the room and allows people to do the things they need to do. Second, it creates an ambience and feel of the room. Because of this, you need to choose the proper kind of lighting, which will make you achieve both objectives. Lamp and fluorescent are great for general and task lighting while candles and smaller lamps are ideal for accent lighting.

7. Strive to achieve a balance between form and function

Form is just as important as function and because of that, it is necessary to achieve a balance between the two when buying furniture or decorating your home. To put it simply, you must be able to decorate your home in such a way that it will be both practical and beautiful

We all know that home decoration is not as easy as we want it to be. However, it is also true that we do not need a doctorate degree on interior decoration to get the job done right. With a dash of creativity, resourcefulness and patience, we can have a home that looks like one of those featured in interior designing magazines.

12 Ideas For Small Bathroom Design

Every person that has a small bathroom is interested in ways of making their bathroom appear larger.  Remodeling the bathroom is not always an option and in many cases, remodeling the bathroom would be very expensive.  There are a number of ways that a person can use to make their small bathroom seem larger without having to undertake any heavy construction. Pedal Sink, Mirror, and Lighting to Enhance Small Bathroom 1. Soft Color for Walls One of the easiest ways that a person can alter their small bathroom design to make it appear larger is to choose light soft colors for the décor of the bathroom.   2. Accent with Color Bright, bold colors can be used in small bathrooms, assuming you reserve them for accents only. Going overboard with bold or dark colorstend to make the bathroom appear tighter and more intimate.   3. Visual Accents If your bathroom has wallpaper, avoid using large prints or busy pattern. Instead, choose very subtle wallpaper patterns. Better yet, keep one wall free from any pattern at all. Consider making the largest wall in the small bathroom into a mural of an open space.   4. Light Tones of Bathroom Flooring Just like light colors on the walls, light colors on the flooring of the small bathroom will help make the bathroom appear roomier and more open.  The most popular colors for a light bathroom floor are tans, light grays, and light blues.  By incorporating these colors into the flooring of your small bathroom design, you will have the basis for a light colored decorating scheme that will make your bathroom appear more open. 5. Pedestal Sink Another small bathroom design that can be used to make a bathroom appear larger is to replace a large vanity or countertop with a slimmer, pedestal sink.  A pedestal sink can be found in many different styles, colors, and materials, allowing them to be matched to any décor.  By placing a pedestal sink in the small bathroom, you can open up the bathroom space by another ten percent. 6. Classic Fixtures When selecting fixtures for your bathroom, keep in mind they are going into a small space. Choose simple designs made from smooth surfaces, such as ceramic and marble, and opt for light, neutral tones.  Additional Lighting Opens a Small Space 7. Additional Lighting Fixtures Additional lighting in a small bathroom can make a world of difference in the way the space in the bathroom is perceived.  Consider adding additional light fixtures or using higher wattage bulbs, as appropriate. By making the bathroom brighter and more inviting, it seems that the space has opened up and the walls are farther apart.   8. Increase Natural Light There are a variety of ways that additional lighting can be added to the small bathroom without taking up more space than is already used, including installing a new window, or even putting in a skylight. 9. Limit Items in Bathroom Many people choose to open up the amount of space available in their small bathroom by greatly reducing the amount of items that they place into the bathroom.  Items such as storage shelves, hampers, and decorative items all take up valuable space in a small bathroom and the bathroom will appear much larger if these items are removed and the things that they hold are stored somewhere else.   Keep Clutter at Bay 10. Consider Storage Outside the Bathroom Some people choose to place a small storage cabinet in their hallway near the bathroom as a place to put all of the things that they would normally keep in their bathrooms. It's also a good idea to consider putting laundry hampers in the bedrooms instead of in the bathroom. Extra supplies and paper products can even be stored in the pantry. 11. Adding Mirrors Adding additional mirrors to the bathroom will also help the bathroom appear bigger than it really is.  Placing additional mirrors in the bathroom will help to capture all of the available light and reflect it back into the room to make it brighter.  Adding extra mirrors to the room will also add depth to the room, as the mirrors reflect each other and make the walls appear farther away.   12. De-Clutter Other ways you can use to make a small bathroom design appear larger include removing clutter and extra items. Instead of storing all of your beauty items on the counter, place them in a cabinet or in the medicine chest when not in use. The more items are visible in a small bathroom, the more cramped the space will look and feel. Using these subtle design changes to modify the look of your small bathroom is easy, inexpensive, and most of these design changes can be completed in a few hours.  By changing your small bathroom design, you can make your small bathroom appear larger within the space of a day.

Modern Bedroom Furniture Designs

The term “modern bedroom” does not refer to the physical “age” of the room itself. Rather, a “modern bedroom” is one decorated in a manner that parallels modern design values. Generally, this means that for your furnishings to be considered modern bedroom furniture, they have to be indicative of a characteristically modern minimalist aesthetic. To put it simply: For a modern bedroom, less is more. To achieve a truly modern look, you will first need to de-clutter your bedroom.

Modular House in Madrid, Spain by A-cero architecture Studio

Directed by Joaquin Torres, the first luxury modular houses that located in Madrid, Spain, was finished by A-cero architecture Studio, introducing a modular architecture product based on the principles of the Industrialized Construction. It applies the same ‘production line’ standardisation procedures to the construction, modularity, technology, quality control and time spaces that are applied to other many fields of human activity. The Modular House benefits from the speed and cost advantages of assembly line production. Producing in-factory and assembling on-plot means that within just 3 months a house design can be enjoyed after signing. More specialized labour can increase productivity and quality as well as reducing the costs.
A-cero plan to roll out the offering of bespoke modular houses offering decoration as equipping as an extra service, in the same way you would receive a boat. Example prices are divulged as 69,000€ for an 82 sq m house as standard, or fully decorated and equipped for 85,000€. Joaquin Torres A-cero architecture Studio also advised that this system need not be exclusive for residential construction – schools, offices, retirement homes or student residences could also benefit from this modular buildings technique
The project is unique from the typical prefabricated house in offering luxury but distinct from Daniel Libeskind’s recently revealed luxurious prefab (Libeskind Villa, the German-made Future House) in offering luxury at an affordable price, not simply for the economic elite.

Interior Design Decorating

Before going into the foyer you should paint the outside of the entry door an inviting color. Why? Because it is the first thing people see when approaching your home and a lifeless door is not inviting anyone to enter. The color you use will depend upon the color of your home, but red has been used and is very popular.
This foyer is probably one of the most neglected areas of the home; yet it is the first room a visitor sees when entering your home. This is where visitors get the first impression of the rest of your home; so it should be nicely decorated and give a great image of your home. So what can you do to make it more presentable? That depends upon the size of the foyer.
If you have a large area you can use it as an art gallery to show you favorite pieces to all who enter. Perhaps you may want to put a chair in the corner, so someone entering can sit and remove the wet boots or just to relax for a moment.
But, what if you have a small foyer like most of us? Well, how about hanging a wall mirror or even a full length one. The mirror will make the area look larger. You could also hang one large picture or a few smaller ones. This gives the area interest and creates a focal point.
A dark entry can create a challenge for lighting. Use a fixture or chandelier that allows for brighter bulb wattage. Many fixtures only allow for 60 watts and in some areas that is not enough lighting. If you need even more lighting a mirror will reflect the existing light very nicely.
Of course, color is very important. It should reflect the preference you use in the rest of your home. Choose colors that make you feel good when you look at them in the store; but remember that the color will look different in your home and under your lighting. You want a color that will react nicely with you when you walk through the entry door into your foyer.
You can use a small table and add some pictures to accessorize the foyer or use it to hold keys, etc., but be sure the container is very decorative and doesn’t make it look like a mess of keys. And a nice plant and stand will bring the outdoors indoor.

Homes Sent by Our Readers: Private Residence in USA

We received these pictures not too long ago from Conor Musgave, one of our readers. This house is located in Port Madison Bay, Bainbridge Island, WA. We like the peace and comfort inspired by the exterior as well as its “green” location. But above all, we like to see homes with an impressive interior design sent by our readers. This particular residence can be characterized by airy arrangements and plenty of functionality. Large windows are present all around, increasing the feeling of space and allowing natural light to “flood” the rooms. There is a subtle use of color that manages to sensitize the whole place. More information on this home can be found on Bainbridge Island Coastal Living.

This is beyond villa, Located in Thailand, Asia’s most glamorous and luxurious home features a massive 6,000 square metre (64,560 square feet) of indoor living space, with best views – perfect for the world’s richest and most famous seeking absolute privacy, directly on Thailand’s most exclusive beach. This ultra modern home is a beachfront property located on the Natai Beach. If tropical beach life isn’t enough beauty for you, this luxurious 6,000 square meter extravagant home is sure to impress.

Garden Terace

One of the great things about summer is that we can expand our living space without enlarging the house or make a costly renovation. In many cases not even have to decorate too. Simply clean the porch or terrace and Drop in a comfy chair. Others may want to make a room outside on the terrace or garden and can be done at minimum cost.

A comfortable outdoor furniture enhances any room outside, but need not be expensive. Two chairs and a table with four dining chairs will really comfortable our space.

Many products are available in a wide range of prices and come ready to assemble. A plastic furniture, very cheap, will last a few years and is easy to assemble and clean. And we can always make them look a little more stylish by adding cushions. We can also make a modest investment and buy pieces of cast aluminum or wrought iron, which last longer. Any of them should be kept inside during winter to last longer, but are made to stand outside in the summer months.

Bedroom Furniture Inspiration

Bedroom furniture inspiration is another inspirational post from our bedroom design inspiration series. Today I’ve gathered another 5 beautiful bedrooms for you, and I hope that while you are watching these pictures a few inspirational ideas will hit you. If you would like more inspiration check our Bedroom section …I’m sure you’ll find a lot of inspiring bedroom furniture ideas there.