The kitchen is the heart of the home

The kitchen is where the most welcoming atmosphere of our home shoud be because often we all gather there. And this why we can see how industrial chic gives way to comfort, convenience and efficiency. It is not looking like a showroom any more, but like a warm centerpiece to the home, a low-maintenance oasis of calm. Natural materials and neutral tones complement space-saving innovations and functional features, and a range of new appliances promise to enhance these kitchens with subtle upgrades. And its not necessary to require large investments, as you can see from the examples below or in my older posts:

Euromobil

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styleous.ru

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Haute couture for bathrooms

They are getting more and more like a comfortable elegant living room!




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Fall trends for your home

 With the cold weather coming, it is wise to look for some ways to transform our homes into a cozy winter retreat. One of the main trends this year in interior design is the increased use of copper and brass - they both are warm metals and definitely will help you with this. Adding a touch of copper or brass here and there will make your interior much more warm and welcoming. If you like the charm of ancient crafts a lamp like this one can transform completely the atmosphere at you home:
Desiree Metal Bell Pendant Lamp
If, like me, you prefer the mellow beauty of copper, try to warm your home byadding some copper accent pieces:
IMAX 44191-3 Palmer Copper-Plated Tall Vases
Hammered copper provides both - visual and textural interest. 

This Oval Hammered Copper Party Tub is a great way to chill drinks for any party - whether indoors or out. This tub is also ready for everyday use! Use it to store firewood by your fireplace! Place it in your living room to catch magazines and books. Free Shipping.
And for a more modern style, the designer to look for is Tom Dixon - he is a great example of modern way of using copper and applying crafts. His Void Pendant Light reference the Olympic medals with three metallic finishes: brass, polished stainless steel and copper. Inspired by vacuum flasks, these mysterious lighting objects conceal a powerful halogen lamp that concentrates the light to create a soft directional beam. Solid metal sheets are pressed, spun and braised to form a double wall shade. They are hand polished to create a mirror surface which is lacquered to maintain a high gloss finish. Void makes use of existing techniques and regular fittings - the innovation lies in the undulating form of the shade:
Void Mini Pendant by Tom Dixon

Void Pendant Light 

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Beat Light Pendant - Fat by Tom Dixon is part of a series of lights inspired by the handmade brass cooking pots and water vessels found in India. Made from spun and hand-beaten brass, the interior retains its golden reflective quality while the exterior is painted a contrasting Matte Black. Also available in Stout, Tall and Wide versions.

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This Cast Mini Jack by Tom Dixon is a petite aluminum version of the original polyethylene Jack, that "sitting, stacking, lighting thing" first designed in 1994. At less than 5 inches tall, the hefty Mini Jack is ideal as a paperweight or doorstop. It is also the perfect decorative piece, with its distinctive lines gleaming in a warm Copper plate.
Step Pendant - Tall by Tom Dixon - made out of spun copper, which is then finished with a White powder-coat on the exterior and a Clear lacquer on the interior. The white stands in crisp contrast to the polished copper's warm, burnished glow. Exquisit!


Etch Candleholder by Tom Dixon

Copper Shade Pendant


Especially the Copper trend has been huge now for quite some time and since this is one of my favourite materials, I have dedicated to it a lot of posts - get some inspiration!

Soft sorage furniture

 No, I am not talking about sofas and poufs - I am talking about wardrobes! We have seen some examples of textile used in storage furniture, but this already becomes a stable trend: the 26 years old German designer Meike Harde's textile furniture series London consists of a wardrobe, a cabinet as well as a bag-like storage object. 
The Organisers from Tent and Super Brands London invited Meike Harde to participate at SUPER DESIGN GALLERY during the Design Festival.

We know the designer from her ingenious Zieharsofika collection that appeared last year and I think that this direction of her new designs is part of the beginning of new trend in furniture design.

Cersaie 2013

 Cersaie, one of the top tile and fixture trade shows in the world started on Sept. 23rd and runs until tomorrow. Let's have a look at some of the impressive new designs presented.

It seems that there is a focus on luxury and soft organic forms - look at some of the images from their gallery:
 

And at this unusual sink emerging from the wall:

Soffio, Antoniolupi. Design Domenico de Palo

It is made of Corian and has integrated LED lights. 

And a more traditional luxury design:

Aurora Bijoux - a free-standing tub on four elegant aluminium spheres, by DEVON&DEVON
Oxford by Marazzi

Retro punch to the kitchen or bathroom with the tiles Cento Per Cento by ImolaCeramica