Category: Design

The kitchen worktop is certainly the most used object in this space – it withstands humidity, shocks, cold and hot dishes. In order to be resistant to scratches, heat, stains but also easy to maintain and to match the kitchen decor, the worktop must be chosen carefully since its material determines its durability and quality.

Does choosing a kitchen worktop seem now like a complicated process? We want to help you make the best decision.

Appearance vs functionality

Before you start your research, you need to know which category you fall into. Do you cook a lot and know that you will spend time in the kitchen trying out various recipes? Then you should prioritize the durability of your countertop. If, on the other hand, the kitchen is the place where you just drink your morning coffee and occasionally heat up food, then you can focus mainly on the aesthetic side of the countertop and not so much on durability.

Types of materials

Marble worktop – it is an ideal material for all kitchen activities, but keep in mind that it is as demanding as it is aesthetic – water droplets or stains and marks will be very visible on marble. It is worth it if you are not necessarily thinking about a perfect and impeccable appearance.

Granite countertops – they are a durable, heat-resistant material that adds an elegant touch to your kitchen. However, they can become stained or lose their luster if not properly maintained. Another thing you should know about granite countertops is that their porous surface requires waterproofing treatments.

Wooden worktop – solid wood adds a noble and glamorous air to the kitchen, but you should know that a wooden worktop will not stay as new for long, especially if it is frequently used. As a worktop, wood is durable, but traces of use will quickly appear on its surface.

Stainless steel worktop – for an industrial-style kitchen, a stainless steel worktop is an ideal choice. It is heat-resistant, easy to clean and maintain. You can put hot dishes directly on the worktop, but for cutting you need a chopping board because you can not cut directly on the stainless steel worktop.

Composite worktop – composite is an amalgam of materials, such as quartz powder and natural stone. Composite worktop is resistant to shocks and scratches and because it is non-porous, it does not require regular maintenance. If you choose such a worktop, you will give your kitchen an elegant and refined look.

Glass worktop – we are talking about a tempered and laminated glass, with a thickness of at least 10 mm. For a modern kitchen, this worktop material is ideal, especially since you can now find glass in a variety of colors and shapes. Glass is heat-resistant and shock-resistant only if it is thick enough.

Keep in mind that the durability and appearance of your kitchen countertop greatly depend on how you maintain it. Use pot holders, chopping boards, and special cleaning solutions for the countertop material.

Pictures source: Pinterest

We know that the balcony is often used as a storage space, but what if the balcony were the centerpiece of your home? Imagine being able to drink your coffee or have breakfast in the most relaxing place without leaving your home. Whether you have a closed, open, narrow or small balcony, this article’s purpose consists of ideas meant to help you make the balcony the most interesting area of ​​your home.

What kind of area do you want to create on your balcony?

Before purchasing balcony finishes and furniture, you need to know what role the balcony will play – do you want to receive guests here, do you want to turn the balcony into an oasis of relaxation or a workspace? A creative and ingenious arrangement will transform your balcony into a relaxation area on a hot summer day, into a space where you can work a few hours a day at an office, or maybe it can also fulfill the function of a storage space.

Flooring and walls

When arranging a closed and well-insulated balcony, you can choose a floor made of tiles or wooden boards or moisture-resistant parquet. You can also choose tiles, and for a rustic look you can opt for parquet-style tiles.

For an open balcony, you need to make sure that the outdoor tiles you choose are frost-resistant, and the grout between the joints is elastic enough so that it does not crack over time and does not allow water to seep under the tiles.

For the walls, you can choose natural stone, brick or special paint for the exterior.

Balcony Furniture

When arranging your balcony, we suggest you be as creative as possible. Choose materials such as wooden pallets to make shelves and bookcases, benches or even a sofa that you can decorate with a mattress and decorative pillows. You can also opt for foldable furniture that you can take out only when you need it, such as a desk. Also, mount shelves and bookcases along the entire height of the walls.

Ideas for decorating a closed balcony

• Choose a comfortable chaise lounge, and if space allows, add a coffee table;
• Decorate the balcony with flower pots and ornamental plants and opt for a wooden bench with decorative pillows or even a straw armchair
• A hammock chair that you hang from the ceiling would be an excellent choice; decorate the rest of the space with tall, green plants;

Ideas for arranging an open balcony

• Decorate the railing with flowers and accessories and install a wooden bench along the entire length of the wall that you can accessorize with decorative pillows;
• Choose a wooden table and 2-4 wooden chairs to create a dining area for hot summer days. Also, opt for a few shelves on which to place flower pots and green plants;
• Create a relaxing atmosphere and a dreamy terrace with some light garlands and choose a wooden lounger that you can accessorize with a comfortable mattress;

There are various solutions for arranging your balcony so that it becomes a surprising and relaxing room. Keep in mind the tips above and get inspired to transform your balcony into your favorite place in the house.

Pictures source: Pinterest

If before the Corona Virus pandemic, children needed a desk only to do their homework, during this period, little ones will spend much more time at a desk – whether it’s homework, online courses or computer games. That’s why you need to keep in mind a few rules so that your child has an upright and correct position at the desk, and the atmosphere is pleasant so as to stimulate creativity.

The Main Elements – Desk and Chair

Without a doubt, the main and central element when it comes to a child’s study space is the desk. It should be spacious, equipped with plenty of drawers, and set at an ideal height for the child. Our recommendation is to choose a desk with adjustable height, so that as the child grows, the little one can have the same correct position at the desk as before, and parents won’t have to buy another desk.

Since your child will likely spend at least two hours a day at the desk, it’s important to have a comfortable chair, preferably orthopedic, without arms and with a gently curved backrest. It is also very important that the chair you choose has several adjustment options, so that it can be used very easily by the child.

Light

Light plays an essential role in the study area, so it is recommended to place the desk by the window. This will enable the child to study with natural light, while their gaze is directed toward the outside view, which is not only beneficial for their mental development but also for the health of their eye muscles. However, regardless of the location of the desk, some additional lighting sources are needed, such as an adjustable desk lamp.

Storage

Having some storage space in your study area is essential, both for keeping things organized and for boosting productivity. So, you can place a bookcase next to your desk with lots of shelves where your child can put their books; you can also opt for decorative boxes to store other supplies and items.

Colors

Our recommendation is to select neutral colors for decorating a children’s bedroom. Therefore, you can use white, gray, or beige for the walls, while opting for pastel colors for the furniture and accessories. Psychologists have shown that brown and yellow improve focus and brain activity.

The study area should create a quiet and relaxing atmosphere, designed to promote interest in learning. It is recommended that the desk be positioned near the window so that the little one can benefit from as much natural light as possible. In order to create a learning space, you need a desk of the right size so that everything you need fits on it and a comfortable chair that supports a correct sitting position.

Pictures source: Pinterest

Today we would like to showcase a new iDecorate project, a design concept suitable for renters or tourists. The Pop Art design of a 75sqm apartment was the perfect solution to combine both functionality and attractiveness of a space intended for rental. Let’s see what we obtained!

For the Pop Art design of the apartment, we chose color schemes of beige, white, gray, and blue. The contrasting tones in the paintings (pink, yellow, red) provide dynamism to the space and visually enhance the design, highlighting the the areas’ functionality.

The green and blue shades in the bedroom, as well as the blue in the kitchen and hallway, stand out excellently, highlighting the pot art style in its purest form. The kitchen floor and the tiled bathroom floor are no exception – the Moroccan pattern highlights the white kitchen furniture and white bathroom fixtures.

The rest of the rooms also feature pop art decor. Notice the play of colors in the living room – certainly the most colorful room in the house; and the paintings in the bedrooms abound in colors and elements specific to the pop art style.

In order to provide as many accommodation spaces as possible, each room was designed with a bed or sofa bed. The furnishings were kept simple and functional in order to meet the needs of each role. The spaces are airy and bright, suitable for temporary living. There are efficient storage areas, along with a kitchen equipped with the necessary items.

Although pop art decor is harder to get used to for some people, the style creates cohesion with the overall design. So, colorful elements offset the plain floors and each object is emphasized by the importance and uniqueness it gives to the space.

In the current context, home is no longer just a place where you take refuge from everyday life, with your family. It is also the place where you work, where you carry out the activity that you used to fulfill at the office. Thus, the way you prepare your workspace ensures the productivity you need to properly carry out your activities.

For many of us, this sudden transition to working from home can be quite difficult. You probably didn’t even have a special space for office work before because you probably didn’t need it. But if you want to separate your office activities from your relaxation/household activities, the right thing to do would be to specially arrange a dedicated work area.

Whether you have a room dedicated exclusively to work, or a corner of the living room or bedroom set up for office activities, the most important thing is to have a space clearly delimited from the rest of the home, especially from its spaces intended for relaxation or entertainment. This way you will be able to complete your office tasks without being distracted by other activities that you normally do at home. Another benefit is that if you have a special space designed for the work area, you will not associate the relaxation area with work.

However, the best part is that you will be able to arrange your office exactly to your liking to work more efficiently. However, you need to take into account a few aspects when arranging your workspace.

Essential pieces – the desk and the chair

For the work area you need two essential pieces: the desk and the office chair. There is a wide range of office models so that when you arrange your workspace, you obtain a coherent space, in accordance with your home’s design. Thus, if the layout of your home is a modern one, you can choose a minimalist office. On the other hand, if the decor of your home is classic, then choose a solid wood office, in simple lines.

Special attention should also be given to choosing the right office chair. It must provide the necessary comfort and help you maintain a correct position when working.

Light Source

Our recommendation is to place your desk in an area that gets plenty of natural light, perhaps right in front of a window. However, make sure to position the monitor with its back facing the window to avoid direct light shining on the screen. If there are times during the day when the sun is too strong, you can opt for a curtain that can be easily raised or lowered.

If you still can’t arrange your work area by the window, opt for ambient light – a table lamp placed on your desk or a floor lamp placed next to your desk. Since you need to concentrate, you should choose cool light.

Organization

Overcrowding is definitely the most counterproductive thing. To eliminate any source and factor that could distract you, try to keep your desk as empty as possible. Organize your documents and work items in storage furniture – shelves, chests of drawers that do not take up much space, or mini bookcases. To save space, arrange storage furniture vertically rather than horizontally.

If you still choose to keep a few items on your desk – pens, diaries – organize them in holders, trays or boxes.

Pictures source: Pinterest

The dining area is the home space where the whole family gathers at the table. The dining area can be an annex to the kitchen or an extension of the living room, designed in a way that makes it easier to serve the meal. The dining area receives special attention in interior design, especially because it is the space where the whole family gathers at the end of the day. If you want a space like this, we assure you that the design is not expensive at all. You just have to keep in mind a few rules so that the dining area respects the design of the entire house. In the following lines, we have prepared some tips and ideas for you to make the best choice regarding the dining area.

Dining Area Design

A space dedicated to dining should not be treated with indifference. To give it a comfortable and visually pleasing appearance, we must pay attention to a few style rules related to colors, lighting and details so that it would be in harmony with the rest of the house.

The first and most important rule in arranging the dining area is minimalism. We should not choose massive furniture, chairs with imposing designs, tables in different colors, tablecloths with floral patterns or sophisticated rugs. It should be taken into account that the dining area is a fairly used space, which means that you need durable furniture, in simple lines and neutral colors, as well as enough space it to be able to move around easily.

Design Style

The dining area should match the overall style chosen for the home. For example, if you have chosen a minimalist decor for your home, the dining area should be decorated in the same style to maintain balance and harmony. You should be very careful when it comes to selecting the flooring, carpets, walls and furniture.

Choose the right colors

After you have chosen the style of decoration, you will select the colors for the dining area that will be found in the furniture, walls, curtains. You can choose complementary color schemes or monochromatic tones. Our recommendation is not to opt ​​for strongly contrasting colors because the dining area should reflect harmony and peace.

If your layout allows, choose complementary colors to create a contrasting and vibrant design. The combinations are simple: red with yellow, blue with orange, yellow with purple. To visually deepen the space, opt for multiple shades of the two already chosen colors.

For a monochromatic decor, you can choose a single color for the entire space. However, to avoid monotony, you can opt for alternating shades – for example, choose a light green for the walls, a darker one for the furniture and a very dark green for the carpet. There is also the option of choosing neutral or pastel colors to create a relaxing atmosphere.

Dining Area Lighting

If the home’s space allows it, place your dining area near natural light, near windows or doors that open to the yard. Natural light helps you to highlight every detail of your dining area and also saves on electricity.

If you don’t have the option of natural light, you will have to provide artificial light through lighting fixtures. The best option would be to place a chandelier or a light fixture right above the table – in addition to the elegant appearance, it will separate the dining area from the rest of the room and make it seem like a completely delimited space.

Furniture

In any dining area, regardless of the room’s style, you will find a few basic furniture elements:

• Dining table – this should be proportional to the space you benefit from. If you don’t have a lot of space, choose an extendable table. Narrow models are also ideal because they offer enough space for guests, encouraging conversation.

• Dining chairs – these should be chosen based on the height of the table but also on the level of comfort that is offered. If you have chairs from the same set and want to improve their look, enhance them with seat cushions.

Details make the difference

As we have seen, the dining area does not involve much furniture, which means that you will heavily rely on accessories and details to create the desired decor: candles, vase of flowers, dishes, tablecloth.

In conclusion, to arrange the dining area you need to keep in mind a few rules so that the final result would be in harmony with the rest of the house. Choose the right design style, colors, lighting and furniture. Don’t forget the accessories and details, they make the difference!

Pictures source: Pinterest