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design

It is winter outside, but in a couple of months, when the spring sun brings a little bit of warmth into our gardens, we will want to spend all of our time outside. Comfortable chair, warm coffee in our hands and sun shining down upon us is all we need to truly enjoy beautiful morning before we start with our daily schedule, but having a beautiful scenery around will make that free time you spend there more enjoyable. So if you are not that imaginative and talented when redecorating is in question, we have a couple of landscape design tips from world’s top experts on landscaping design on how to create your own little backyard paradise.

Your Own Oasis

First thing you need to think about when deciding how to change your garden is where you are going to place your garden furniture, and then everything else will come naturally.

Right in the center, among all the flowers, hidden behind tall shrubs and trees, you need peaceful and comfortable sun bed where you can spend your days reading books while escaping the reality.

You can always go shopping for the usual garden furniture, like wooden chairs and decks with pillows that cover them, but think a little harder, and consider building a sturdy construction for  a big comfortable rocking hammock with a lot of cushions, where even two people can sit together if needed.

Another inevitable thing you need to have for this to truly be your personal oasis is Koi pond.

Those are little ecosystems with plants and fish that require special care and treatment, but it is worth it. They create perfect harmony and balance in your garden, and inside of you, while you are resting with the sound of the water trickling in the light breeze.

Koi Pond
image source: Pinterest

Warm Romantic Nights

There have probably been moments in the evening when you wanted to spend some quality time with your better half, sitting somewhere in the meadow, roasting marshmallows, while stargazing.

But the problem of today is that you are usually too tired to sit in your car and drive off, so you really need a cozy corner in your yard where you can put the firewood and light it to keep you warm while you and your dearest talk about the day you had, or simply enjoy the silence of the night.

A bottle of wine and a soft blanket for you two to roll under and cuddle up next to the flickering fire is all you need to create that romantic movie atmosphere.

Masonry Fire Pit
image credit: landscapingnetwork.com

Stonehenge

By now you have probably seen many beautiful garden pathways made of stone and little rocks, but you can be a bit more creative with it, especially if you have larger stones you can use to make yourself a unique sitting area.

They might be a bit heavy to move and work with, so you will need an extra set of hands, but once you pile them up, one by one, you will create a couch like no one else has ever seen.

They could be somewhat uncomfortable, so always carry an extra cushion or a blanket with you to sit on, but what it will be perfect for is a hot summer – simply lay on the cold stone and enjoy the beautiful day.

Stone Couch
image source: amazinginteriordesign.com

Stairway to the Garden of Eden

If your backyard is not a flat surface, and you need a few steps to reach some of its corners, try to be as creative as you can. Make them out of stone, as this natural material will look perfect in combination with the big grass surface that you already take such good care of.

However, if you feel that stone makes your scenery look a bit cold, you can always decorate it with your favorite flowers – leave some space between the blocks, and plant whatever you wish, just do not forget to water it regularly, and be careful not to step on it on your way up.

Garden Stairway
image source: Pinterest

An Old Teapot

Finally, not one garden should be without a fountain, and if you have an old pot that you do not use anymore, but you are emotionally attached to it, there is a way to create an interesting little stream of water.

So if you have always wanted to live in Lewis Carroll’s Wonderland, now you can recreate this mystical land with a little DIY project, with an old pot and a water pump, surrounded with colorful flowers.

Old Teapot Fountain
image credit: wonderfuldiy.com

At The End

So in the end you do not really need a designer. Just think carefully what you truly need in your garden to make you feel comfortable while sitting, and pleasing to the eyes.

A lot of flowers, natural materials, some old furniture, and even things that you thought you will not use anymore can do the trick and help you make the back of your home your own paradise on Earth.

Nowadays, as the negative effects of the global warming have finally started showing up and endangering our existence, many people realized how important the preservation of natural resources is. There are numerous controversies about the possible solutions that could help us save our planet, and some of them should be taken really seriously.

Some people have decided to use the materials that can be recycled or not to use the substances that can endanger the ozone layer. However, those with more creative ideas, and of course, with large amounts of money, undertake some more extreme ventures, such as building eco friendly houses. One of such people is Diane Cheatham, a renowned builder and contractor.

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images credit: dallasnews.com

Life In Harmony With The Nature

Diane Cheatham’s home is situated The Lake Highlands, a residential area that is built around streams and pounds in order to conserve water. The main purpose of this luxurious, 4,500-square-foot house is to present all its positive effects on the environment.

The materials used it the construction of the sole house are concrete and steel, with geothermal heating and cooling, high-performance windows and spray-foam insulation.

The interior of the house is really amazing. The rooms are immense and classy, designed and organized by many eminent architects and designers. As Cheatham stated, the most prominent part of her house is the kitchen since she loves to cook, but also to throw parties and have dozens of people around. Natural materials, such as walnut cabinets and gray-veined statuary marble counters make the kitchen look upscale.

Another enormous and beautifully designed room is the dining room, with the astonishing view from floor-to ceiling windows. However, there are many details in the room, such as a long custom table or simple leather chairs that are simply charming. The bench by a famous architect Christian Liaigre takes up a special place in the room. The vivacity of the whole place is achieved by adding elements such as tiny vases that hold fresh orchids.

Moreover, the exterior of the house is also fascinating. In a luxurious patio, which was completely sheltered from the sun, takes one’s breath away. Apart from furniture, there is a beautiful koi pond. Also, the house has large pool and the outdoor kitchen.

The Touch Of The Nature

All in all, there are many facts about the house that simply have to fascinate us. Firstly, the house looks magnificent, and undoubtedly resembles one of those houses from a fairytale. On the other hand, it has refuted beliefs that the eco friendly houses have to be plain, and probably uncomfortable.

Cheatham herself stated that this house is the most worthy and the best of all her residences. Well, you didn’t misunderstand anything. She has several residences, and believes that there isn’t anything wrong about it. Since she doesn’t spend much time there because of the nature of her work, she decided to make the house accessible to everyone who wants to visit it.

So, if you are interested in a tour around this beautiful house, here are several pieces of information. The price of the ticket is 15 dollars in advance and 20 dollars at the door.

So, if all these facts impressed you, don’t waste your time and visit it.

It is of course hard to judge the aesthetic of a particular design, as tastes vary greatly from person to person, But nowadays, almost every design, at least in everyday homes, has become about incorporating functionality and design and making them work in total harmony.

What is not the modern bathroom is more about the practical use than it is about intricate décor of the room. The use of different materials was never more apparent, and different textures and colors make the room seem more interesting while still keeping that simple design.

The concept of a contemporary bathroom is that it should be the one place where you can have your personal time, and the one place where you can do everything- shower, dress up, get ready for work, do your make up, use the facilities and so on.

As the bathroom is a place where we spend a lot of our time, sometimes not even realizing it, it should be a place that makes us calm and looks appealing and soothing, reaching a spa-like ambience can be easily done, and with only some finishing details, but choosing what types of elements you are going to install in your bathroom will greatly influence the overall look and feel.

Bubble it Up!

 

image credit: au.lifestyle.yahoo.com
image credit: au.lifestyle.yahoo.com

Choosing a cozy bathtub is essential. If the space allows it, make sure to not skip on the tub. Even though showers are much quicker and effective, some good essential oils and bath salts can cure almost any ache you might have.

Easy to maintain, geometric, clear cut bathtubs are a perfect solution.

And notice for just a few added touches completely transforms the look of this corner of the bathroom from plain and boring to fun and modern.

 

To Each Their Own

image credit: dejongsanitair.nl
image credit: dejongsanitair.nl

 

One of the most used and most important elements of the bathroom will of course be the toilet. Simple, clear lines, monochromatic and above all functional.

These are one of the main characteristics of modern, or better said contemporary bathrooms, but there are still choices to make and reasons why to make them.

Depending on how much space you have and how much pain in the neck you want to have with maintenance, you can opt either for a wall-mounted or a floor-mounted toilet.

The function is the same of course, and both have their ups and downs. If you don’t want to struggle with a lot of cleaning and want to save up on space, go for the wall-mounted toilet; it is a bit more complicated and costly to install but the results will be worth it.

 

Hot Showers

image credit: yanamlynash.com
image credit: yanamlynash.com

When we’re at the topic of combining functionality and aesthetics, have a look at this. This shower has plenty of space to move around and without the hassle of installing a regular shower bed or a bathtub.

What’s great about this is that the threshold can basically be installed during the making of the bathroom or the renovation, and it is made out of concrete and covered in tile.

You can use the same tile that you used to cover your floor or you can make a visual effect and use the tiles that are on your walls; this will also make the threshold more apparent and prevent possible falling over it and similar dangerous situations.

This will make the room look bigger as the major part of the shower will be almost invisible due to the glass door, and don’t worry, the glass door is lined with rubber so no water will escape from your hot shower.

 

All About That Sink

image credit: leblogdeco.fr
image credit: leblogdeco.fr

Think about your morning routine. Does it involve another person getting ready at the same time as you are? Being shut out of the bathroom or showing each other in front of the sink and vanity is never fun and never time-efficient.

If this is the case with you, think about a double sink, more space for things and people.

You could also incorporate a big vanity drawer or cabinet beneath it to store all the things you need to get your glam on in the morning.

Let There be Light!

image credit: nicehomez.com
image credit: nicehomez.com

 

It is very important how you position your lighting in the bathroom and for several reasons as well. First of all, you need to have in mind which parts of the bathroom have to have perfect lighting (i.e. in front of the mirror where women will be doing their makeup).

Apart from this, various lighting fixtures can be used to accentuate different parts of the bathroom and make it more pleasant to stay in this cozy part of the house.

Whether it is for houses or buildings, exterior design is very important. Precisely because it doesn’t have to be in unison with the interior, architects have the freedom to do what they want and create what they want, with the permission of their clients of course.

Whereas most people design and build their houses so as to fit in with the rest of the neighborhood, there are some who just purposefully stand out.

Exterior in modern architecture is trying to break out of the cookie cutter design, and instead strive for something new and unexpected, and inspired by layout, location, function, texture, etc.

Here are some intriguing exterior designs to make you think and wonder if you would ever have the guts to pull those off.

 

Colorful Mykonos

image credit: zilinskas.net

 

This house situated in Mykonos, Greece represents a wonderful mixture of traditional architecture characteristic for this region and naïve playful painting.

Even with the design that is very traditional for this region, using blue color to cast away evil spirits, this example is a very bold one, with a bold choice of color.

Clear Cut

image credit: freundevonfreunden.com
image credit: freundevonfreunden.com

 

Most people hire an architect to build their dream house. The couple from this home did the entire job almost entirely by themselves. This is a classic urban style from northern countries, a bit closed off from the exterior world, but inside sheltering an intimate atmosphere.

It is meant to interpret nature in a way, with its rough edges, stone-like shape, materials used etc.

 

Seashell Seashell By The Sea Shore

image credit: beautifullife.info
image credit: beautifullife.info

 

In areas close to the sea architects sometimes get all sorts of inspiration. Coming from Mexico, this is a house formally known as the Conch Shell House on the island of Isla Mujeres, the house of the famous artist Octavio Ocampo.

Using pretty traditional materials as well as old recycled and found materials, this house stores a pretty unusual design. It heavily interprets nature in the sense of organic formation of objects.

 

A Bold Design

image credit: apartmenttherapy.com
image credit: apartmenttherapy.com

 

This house was designed by a famous Mexican artist Juan O’Gorman, and it is known as the Diego Rivera/Frida Kahlo house.

The style is industrial modernism, and it uses the bright color as an architectural tool for point out the form of the shapes and flat surfaces. The repetitive use of nature with the cactuses and trees in the background is used to sustain the symbiosis with the object.

Old And New

image credit: inool.com
image credit: inool.com

 

Geometric is sometimes good and sometimes bad, but it’s never good to carry it out at any cost.

In a broad mixture of styles, cubic forms are combined with broad glass surfaces look very modern and are there to point the vision in the direction of good vistas, but the choice of material is not good for this as it is rustic, and doesn’t complement the contemporary build.

 

Transparency Is Key

image credit: homedit.com
image credit: homedit.com

 

Once again, a design that is not very fitting next to its neighbors. Nonetheless, this house in Japan is very bold and transparent. It seems the architect has decided to completely cut out privacy by bringing in transparency in everyday life with so many glass surfaces.

What is visible in the inside shows a contrast between the dynamic of the interior and the down-to-Earth exterior.

 

There’s Something Fishy Going on Here

image credit: homedit.com
image credit: homedit.com

 

This is Hus. Ett, a Swedish micro designed house.

Even though small, this haring shaped house the elements on the inside of the house, as well as the vast window area create an atmosphere full of light. It is a contemporary interpretation of traditional architecture.

 

Tin Man House

image credit: inool.com
image credit: inool.com

 

This house sort of reminds us of a metal container. Even besides the good form and the very interesting arrangement of openings such as windows, doors, etc, the selection of finishing materials is not the best.

In this case, concrete and wood would be a much better combination than the present metal and wood.

 

Lego Blocks

image credit: telegraph.co.uk
image credit: telegraph.co.uk

 

The use of shipping containers for living purposes is something that greatly sets the Trinity Buoy Wharf house in east London apart from many others. This is actually a home for an entire community which is where these containers come in great use.

Furthermore, the architect did a wonderful job to show off the playfulness of the design by combining different colors and geometrical shapes.

 

The Little Green House

image credit: archdaily.com
image credit: archdaily.com

 

The first thing that is apparent when seeing this design is that it is trying to go back to nature. The architect is giving us the message that he is trying to give back to nature what was unrightfully taken from her by building this house.

The mixture of geometric wholes is apparent.