The Interior Decor Thread! #1

[bc2006]

thanx, i already googled that site but didnt see the contest for this year, so im going to take a look at the contestants

i already love this:


appartmenttherapy.com

I dont have a big budget so im going to shop at ikea, i am just a poor student lol

That's the Barcelona chair.



Product: Mies van der Rohe Barcelona® Collection
Manufacturer: Knoll International >
Designer: Ludwig Mies van der Rohe
Year: 1929
Architonic ID: 2000535

KNOLL INTERNATIONAL CELEBRATES THE 75th ANNIVERSARY OF THE BARCELONA COLLECTION WITH A NUMBERED SPECIAL EDITION OF THE CHAIR.

The Barcelona chair was designed in 1929 by architect Ludwig Mies van der Rohe and designed specifically for the German Pavilion at the International Exibition in Barcelona. The chair was initially intended for the royal family to sit in, should they be fatigued while visiting the Pavilion.

From that time this chair has passed into the pantheon of design classics.
The curved shape of the frame contains 17 belting support straps and the seat and back cushions are invisibly fixed with hidden belts. The cushion is made of 40 individual panels, which are cut, hand-welted and hand-tufted with leather and buttons produced from a single cowhide.

High-quality manufacturing details and the use of superior quality materials give the chair a feel of quality and excellence; the chair features the pure compositional structure, which now epitomizes the modern architecture.
Knoll celebrates the 75th anniversary of the Barcelona chair with this exclusive special edition of just 240 pieces. It has a unique satin chrome base complimented by an elegant, high-quality leather exclusive in its unique colour. This colour has been chosen specifically for this limited piece only. There will also be a special engraving in the base that marks the limited edition.

A refined combination for a timeless product…..

(www.v-showroom.com)

 

[gius]

i like the sparse spots of strong colours, bc2006 ^

--

new question about lighting

has anyone any experiences with different light bulbs...
such as incandescent, halogen, fluorescent, etc.
what are your preferences?
are any more energy-efficient, easy on the electric bills in the end?

i read that incandescent and halogen are basically the same
but halogen will burn brighter, lasting longer
but will also get hotter faster
and then i hear there is some kind of UV ray emitted from the light, if it is maybe toxic..

 

[- JMJ -]

/\ Halogen lighting - usually very small bulbs that go into the types of lighting one uses on a drafting table [at least mine is in my architectural lamp] - these bulbs should never be handled with the bare hand/fingers, as the oils in the hands/fingers destroy the bulbs.

Florescent bulbs are generally used in 'overhead' lights - the sort that are long tubes and have an annoying 'buzzing sound' that accompany their usage...

Incandescent lighting is heat driven - think TV or stage lighting that is rather hot to stand under...

Earlier in this thread questions were posted regarding the placement of bulbs into lamps that are higher wattage than the manufacturer advises - not a good thing to fool around with and can cause a blow-out in the socket.

And this is very important - never place a single wattage bulb into a lamp that requires a '3-way' bulb AND never place a 3-way bulb into a lamp that requires a single wattage bulb. Electrical fires can result - I learned this at a homeowner association meeting where the local fire department visited and shared their wisdom.

BTW - this is a wonderful thread - thanks to everyone for the terrific pictures!!!

 

[gius]

thanks JMJ

that's kind of what i was thinking about doing actually
putting a 3-way bulb into a one way
i have a 50-100-150watt but all i need is the 150 watt
and it's a 'normal' size i guess.. it's not small at all. like a regular lamp bulb

i am finding it difficult to find a lamp that will go all the way to 150 watts
i went to a couple stores today-- the ones that could were super tall and not what i could use them for
i have found lamps which have no recommendations on the type of bulb (number of watts) though... but as you said, don't put a 3-way in a one-way

i thought it wouldn't matter
because you can buy 3-way switches or 'dimmers'
and apply them to lamps to change the amount of light passing through

 

[- JMJ -]

thanks JMJ

that's kind of what i was thinking about doing actually
putting a 3-way bulb into a one way
i have a 50-100-150watt but all i need is the 150 watt
and it's a 'normal' size i guess.. it's not small at all. like a regular lamp bulb

i am finding it difficult to find a lamp that will go all the way to 150 watts
i went to a couple stores today-- the ones that could were super tall and not what i could use them for
i have found lamps which have no recommendations on the type of bulb (number of watts) though... but as you said, don't put a 3-way in a one-way

i thought it wouldn't matter
because you can buy 3-way switches or 'dimmers'
and apply them to lamps to change the amount of light passing through

Yes - quite correct - you can purchase 3-way switches and dimmers that serve as a 'booster' - because they actually contain the internal wiring to safely boost the wattage - - - Compare this conversion to, for example, boosting an outlet from a two-prong to a three-prong capability - the 'adapter' contains the wiring necessary to safely boost the available wattage.

I have three-way lamps in my home, as well as conventional small '60-watt capable' lamps. It is so very annoying to have a 3-way bulb 'blow-out' one of the 'bulbs' - and it is usually the highest capable light - click to 75 watts - click to 100 watts - then click to nothing because the 150 watt turn is gone.

In terms of determining the recommended wattage for a lamp - I have found this information on the bottom of the lamp and sometimes even in the top of the coiled portion of the lamp socket.


Keep something in mind when it comes to the potential of overloading a lamp with too much wattage - if the electrical socket blows as a result, frequently it isn't just that one electrical socket that is impacted. Houses are generally strung with electrical capability in a 'string' logic. The current may run from the foyer and then 'string' into one half of the living room. The next string will then run from the second half of the living room into the first part of the dining room, and so on... So if the electrical socket blows in the second half of the living room, it may also impact the electrical capability in the dining room. Much of this 'potential impact' depends upon the quality of the wiring and the age of the structure where one lives.

The best bet - - be very careful about matching bulbs with the capability of the light.

When I really need intense lighting - I use an architectural lamp with a halogen bulb because the arm of the lamp can adjust as needed. This sort of lamp can also be purchased in a floor lamp style with the same adjustable arm - and the height will also adjust. I have found these lamps at Ikea - extremely affordable - very nice styling in both architectural styling and apothecary style [like a half-oval]- in both matte black and matte silvertone.

Hope this helps - very best regards.

 

[fashionista-ta]

Fluorescents are much more than the tubes now ... you can get CFLs in almost every (if not every) lightbulb configuration, but some are hard to find. I don't care for the quality of the light. Inside I have mostly incandescent, a little halogen, but I buy the long-life bulbs. My regular bulbs are 5-year. (The issue there is they can't be recycled, so using the longer-lasting bulbs cuts way back on what you're putting in the landfill.) My electricity is 100% wind, so I feel my wellbeing is the most important factor when it comes to lighting my home. But I do use CFLs on the front & back porches & in the laundry room. The perfect use for them is a light you leave on a lot.

 

[gius]

^the reason being that the fluorescents don't heat up (unlike the halogen + incandescent) ??

thanks for the useful info, jmj

it's brilliant the lamp here is 660 w
so the bulb should fit in alright
a small engraving around near the three-way turn knob switch

eventually i will have to get my own lamp

 

[Meg]

haha good luck gius! I know what it is to be obsessed with some small detail for your flat!

I don't know much about the different types of bulbs ie halogen v. incandescent, etc. I just know that energy saving bulbs (the twisty ones) tend to give off a lot more heat than other bulbs which for the most part is okay, but sometimes you have to be aware of it (ie if you have a very small area, it would make the room quite hot)

 

[Marvystone]

Atomos candle holder

I think it would be nice to have it in the center of a long wooden table
vow

 

[Ianastar]

I currently have very sleek and modern furniture in dark colors. I want to add a mix of French provincial to my modern. Somehow blending the two.

I some of the elements from these pictures...like the antique side tables and the Louis chairs. Plus most of my furniture is dark/black woods and greens and blue pastels. I want to add some white elements which seems to be a popular element in French decorating

pics are from parisapartment.com

 

[rochasfille]

I highly recommend Taschen's New Paris Interiors - the most inspiring designs I have seen in a while.

 

[Ianastar]

That looks good.

I looked at a Paris Interiors book at Anthropoligie and was dis.a.pointed

 

[Chanelle]

decorate / style your work office !!

hello theeere ...

i just moved to a new job , new office it's 3 x 3.5 ... have no window ... walls are light beige , desk and shelfs are greish ....

i have a lot of ideas to restyle it, but i realy don't know where to start ??!!
(paints , plants ???)


any tips / websites that can give me the point where to start ? please help !!!

 

[Chanelle]

any one .... pleeez ?

 

[papa_levante]

Plants help liven up a room. Plants also take the germs out of the air, so not only will you have a colorful desk but you will be sick-free come winter!

 

[Chanelle]

ooh what a useful advice ...thanks alot

waiting for other ideas ?

 

[gius]

greyish tables? ..are they silver/stainless steel? that would be gorgeous

i agree with plants..
would really liven up a room
even just green plants ..spider plants --my friend has basil growing in hers

since it's mostly beige and grey
how about something stronger...
like adding accents of black? black framed paintings/pictures, black +white photographs on the walls
and also metals... stainless steel in the chair? a steel cabinet?

& to soften things up... a textured curtain for the windows or even covering the seat of the steel chair with a knobbly upholstery fabric

--

just think of "balance"
soft with hard
calm colours with strips of strong colour
etc.

 

[dior_couture1245]

This is my absolute favorite......I want to just......die.......it's so gorgeous!

It's the perfect combination of majestic and cozy...and I would say that's my style, or at least the style I love most when it comes to interiors! What I wouldn't give to live in a home like this.....

(nicholashaslam)

 

[Hanne]

Only thing that doesn't do it for me in that picture^ is the trophies on the walls and the big TV..

 

[Meg]

I agree I don't like the animal skulls on the wall, but I think you could probably mount something in a similar way. Imagine perspex boxes with a single beautiful shoe inside or a glass/perspex shelf with a shoe/handbag on it. I think the TV is remarkably well integrated into the room as well. You don't go 'oh my there's a massive TV on the wall'. It's very much a part of the room, but it's not the sole feature and other than covering it up I'm not sure there's a better way to deal with a big flatscreen. I do love the mix of items in the room as well the colors. It's a very modern take on a traditional masculine hunting lodge type room and I would love to take away some of the hyper masculine stuff, put in hyper-feminine items and see how it would change.