Kalu Interiors Blog - All About Interior Design

Found in Nature… First

aleem — Thu, 02 Sep 2010 01:44:27 +0000

image from www.oluce.com

For today’s theme, we are looking to pieces which draw inspiration from nature and translate it into something we can enjoy and/or utilize in our everday lives. One design which takes the very most simple form of a stone, and translates it into a very practical yet beautiful indoor/ outdoor light collection is Oluce from Italy- calling this collection (quite fittingly!) ‘Stones.’ These polyethylene lamps which come in three varied sizes/ shapes allow for a very random application which can easily integrate themselves into any indoor or outdoor space to enjoy!

image from www.oluce.com

Found in Nature… Second

aleem — Thu, 02 Sep 2010 01:22:22 +0000

www.phyllismorris.com

Continuing with today’s theme of pieces and designes inspired by ‘Mother Nature’ herself, the next thing I bring to you is a collection of wallpapers designed for Phyllis Morris. A beautiful selection of print wallpapers ranging from blossoms, branches, peacock, to butterflies, this array of coverings offer bold and beautiful options which could bring any space to life! One particular and new addition to the collection is the metallic butterfly collection; Jamie Adler’s Butterflies.

Here is a little more information of this Californian-based company and their newest addition:

Wall-coverings in the series of Jamie Adler’s Butterflies feature grille motif of winged creatures, superimposed on matte gold or matte silver paper. Phyllis Morris has designed this new range for those who consider paint as outdated to adorn the walls. The new collection is particularly suitable for a signature wall. The pattern covers a 46-inch width with a 72-inch vertical repeat, which allows for large-scale installations. The butterflies in this Phyllis Morris wall-covering series can also be custom-coloured to match any décor.

image from www.phyllismorris.com

image from www.phyllismorris.com

image from www.phyllismorris.com

image from www.phyllismorris.com

image from www.phyllismorris.com

Found in Nature… Third

aleem — Thu, 02 Sep 2010 01:01:17 +0000

SO this one is maybe just a little off-kilter, and is sure to have you wondering whether this is beautiful, unique, plain weird, or maybe all of the above? Of today’s posts, this is definitely the most literal translation taken from nature, and transformed into something quite miraculous. Seriously, who would have thought a taxidermy animal could be so glamorous!?!

These strange/beautiful creations are due to the imagination of Sandra Musy, & ‘la nature vénéneuse’ which was a recent exhibition featuring these kooky creations, star-studded animals from a wide array of walks of life!
“…The artist, Sandra Musy, born in 1973, lives and works in Paris and creates in several mediums, one of which is, as you can see, taxidermy. This particular exhibit featured her wall-mounted deer heads and stuffed boars or pigs, ornately decorated with sequins.”

So do you think you might want to have one of these wild creations grace one of your walls, a coffee table, or maybe center piece on your dining table? I’ll let you be the judge of that one!

image from www.artydandy.com

image from www.artydandy.comimage from www.artydandy.com

image from www.artydandy.com

The Platform

aleem — Tue, 17 Aug 2010 14:45:33 +0000

Today is all about BEDS, and breaking the way we perceive some styles such as the platform, tufted, and canopy styles. For instance, we usually associate the platform style as ‘Asian’ or ‘Modern’ in style which can be true, but not always! When it comes to one of the most important sancturaries of our home; the bedroom, it’s important we select the bed just right for us! Something we can indulge, rest, and enjoy ourselves in. Something beautiful to look at, and sleep in. Also because so many of our daily activites take place in our beds these days, we need them to truly serve multiple purposes; we watch TV, read, talk, sleep, and more in them… Here is a ’round-up’ of some of the platform styles which may have you thinking a little more strongly about whether they are right for you… or not! AND if anything, these are some great design inspirations too!

iomage from www.archupdate.com

The Barcelona Bamboo

image from www.seedsandfruit.com

image from www.eroomservice.com

The Worth Japanese

The Nippon

image from www.poliform.com

image from www.yliving.com

image from www.ligneroset.com

The Canopy

aleem — Tue, 17 Aug 2010 14:00:23 +0000

When it comes to canopy beds, it’s usually hard to remove them from the cliché category of a very romanticized & feminine design they have been so strongly associated with in the past. Though, today there are such an array of options from traditional to modern, feminine to masculine, elaborate to simple, and so on… Yes, fundametally speaking the structure is somewhat transferrable from design to design, but like any pair of good shoes they come in all shapes, sizes, and colours! Here is a ’round-up’ of some great canopy options and ideas that could possibly put the “WOW” factor you’ve been looking for in the bedroom, and turn you into a believer!

image from Living Space UK

The Loire Four Post Canopy

image from www.westelm.com

image from Canopy Bed Detail Online

The Charles Rogers Canopy

The Marigold Bamboo

image from Century Furniture

image from Country Living

image from EQ3.com

The Tufted

aleem — Tue, 17 Aug 2010 14:00:11 +0000

The ‘Tufted Bed’ has always been the “go-to” traditional & masculine bedframe, but there have recently been so many variations of this design that it is hard to mantain it in this very narrow category. From fabric & leather explorations, to introducing new elements such as wooden frames, or tufting the entire bedframe, there are just so many options! The idea and very detail of tufting is very unique as it is a way to add texture or pattern without “actually” introducing one. It is also a great way to bring a sense of formality to a bedroom when needed, or if introduced in the right manner it can be a way to add that under-stated elegance you may desire! Here are some exaples and options that might tickle-your-fancy!

image from www.apartmenttherapy.com

image from www.decorati.com

image from www.yliving.com

image from www.decorpad.com

image from www.beekeeperscottage.com

www.beekeeperscottage.com/

image from www.plantationdesign.com

image from www.inspireanddelight.com

image from www.homeportfolio.com

image from www.decorati.com

image from www.decorpad.com

The Amber Lights

Our Kitchen Reno Update!

phyllis — Tue, 10 Aug 2010 16:30:09 +0000

So our kitchen reno is progressing…..s-l-o-w-l-y but surely. I FINALLY managed to choose some finishes…..not sure why I have soooo much trouble choosing for ourselves and no problem at all choosing for other people. Must be one of those things….everyone is always their own toughest customer and critic!

I had talked a little bit about the reno a little while ago: Previous Post

I’ve decided against the original white shaker cabinet idea. Decided in the end it’s not what I really like and I know hubby tends to lean towards a more modern look as well. So here is where we are at with the finishes so far…..it looks like quite a dark scheme but it won’t be. We have no upper cabinets on one side of the kitchen and the backsplash will go to the ceiling. This will dramatically brighten everything up.

Finishes:

Everything is in permit process so construction will hopefully start in September if all goes well. Will definitely keep you updated on how things go! In the meantime, feel free to let us know your thoughts! It’s not too late to make changes! ;-)

Project Update: Richmond House

phyllis — Tue, 10 Aug 2010 16:00:59 +0000

We’re so excited……one of our summer projects is almost complete! It was a fun project and we’re so pleased with the end result! The house was from the 70′s I believe and hadn’t been renovated much since. It needed a massive overhaul which is what we did for the clients and within a reasonable budget. Now the space shows the fun and youthful vibe of the people who live there.

Here are a few images to tie you over until we can get some fully completed pictures! We’ll be sure to give you a more detailed look into what was done soon!

This first image is the kitchen before. As you can see, it is typical of a home of that age.

Kitchen Before

As you can see, it is still not complete but I think it gives you a good idea as to how drastic the change was…..

Kitchen After

The living room before had a lovely railing detail to it. As much as I loved it, it had to go =)

Living Room - Before

Living Room - After

Next we have the tub area of the Main Bathroom. Not sure why the coloured tubs and toilets were so big back then but let’s hope it is a trend that doesn’t come back. Not a big fan especially of the pink toilet fad.

Main Bathroom - Before

Main Bathroom - After

The Master Bath area was tough…..it had a vanity that was open to the bedroom as in hotel style and an accordian door to the rest of the washroom. We had to completely reconfigure the whole room to make the washroom more attractive. You can sort of see from the after picture that we changed the orientation of the room.

Master Bath Vanity - Before

Master Bath Vanity - After

more to come! Let us know what you think so far!

Mention Worthy

aleem — Fri, 30 Jul 2010 21:58:19 +0000

Recycled Lighting by Varaluz- Re-Nest

Need a dip in a Swedish Hot Tub? - Apartment Therapy

Cardboard Crazy, just fold it out and use it! - Dezeen

Mirror Mirror on the Tree – PicoCool

Toys, a Man’s best friend! – Like Cool

Anything BUT Deserted…1

aleem — Fri, 30 Jul 2010 19:20:59 +0000

image from www.olsonkundigarchitects.com

Situated in the high desert of Idaho, the ‘Outpost Home‘ designed and built by Olson Kundig Architects (OSKA), lead by architect Tom Kundig, is an exemplary example of ‘beautiful desert living!’ Through the unique realization of this home, the result is a residential structure that meets more needs than one- the Outpost is also home to an art studio as well as a gallery for displaying this art. Suddenly, we then begin to understand the interplay between the focus of art and the architecture. Not a dull view of the home that can be found, the architecture allows for a continuously changing & dynamic perspective from every place you view it. Also unique is the way the structure has integrated itself on the site, extending elements such as a wall to not only enclose a private garden, but as well to let the structure “‘bleed” onto the site demonstrating a stronger relationship of site & structure!

…”Set in the remote and harsh high desert landscape of Idaho, Outpost is a residence and studio/workshop for making and displaying art. An important aspect of the complex is the protected “paradise garden,” which is separated from the wild landscape by thick concrete walls. The materials used in the structure, including concrete block, car-decking, and plywood, require little or no maintenance, and are capable of withstanding the extreme weather that characterize the desert’s four seasons.”

image from www.olsonkundigarchitects.com

image from www.olsonkundigarchitects.com

image from www.olsonkundigarchitects.com

image from www.olsonkundigarchitects.com

image from www.olsonkundigarchitects.com

image from www.olsonkundigarchitects.com

image from www.olsonkundigarchitects.com

image from www.olsonkundigarchitects.com

image from www.olsonkundigarchitects.com

image from www.olsonkundigarchitects.com

image from www.olsonkundigarchitects.com