Loft Swagger!

Loft apartments are spacious, stylish,distinctive, sleek, and absolutely stunning; they can be intimidating todecorate. I've always loved lofts and that is why I decided to share a bit ofloft inspiration with you.

The original lofts were warehouses or industrialbuildings converted to residential use and at times the conversions looked prettyunfinished like a set from Dragons Den; wires running everywhere, floorboardsthat creaked and brick walls exposed - but for city denizens squeezed into highrise apartments, loft living became the trend. Areas of London, Lisbon and NewYork were gentrified by turning former industrial facilities into desirable andhighly sought after residences. 

A loft is usually seen as a modern area andso contemporary furnishings tend to be the most suitable, equallya more traditional or rustic style will work. Materialslike wood, stone with glass and stainless steel enhance the solid effect andwill give you a hip, modern and contemporary look.

As a loft is an open space (and hence ablank canvass) deciding what "room" should go where is vital. Beforedecorating it is important you determine the future layout - this will help you not having to move furniture around to see if it’ssuitable for your loft. 

• Walk around your loft in order to find the bestspot for the living area, sleeping space and dining room.
• Your decisions should be based on where thekitchen and bathroom are located and especially how the windows are arranged. 
• What’s the best configuration for entertaining, should the diningarea or the bedroom double as an office space and so on.   
• You can also use a raised platform to set apart the bedroom from therest of the space

The best colour scheme for decorating thewalls of a loft is neutral; i.e. hues of beige, taupe and white throughout.Unlike in traditional homes it is best to use a single colour palette to keepthe space coordinated and eye pleasing.

  Here are my top 10 tips on loft designideas: 

1.  Use rugsto create a separation for themed areas or settings you want to create; theywill improve the ambience and add to the warmth of a room, making it feel cosier.
2. Use screensto divide the room or to hide certain areas; i.e. to create privacy in yourbedroom space. 
3. Uselarge furniture as walls enabling you to break and create boundaries fordifferent living spaces; i.e. armoires, sofas, tables or bookcases. 
4. Usemultipurpose furnishings in order to reduce storage space; coffee tables,ottomans or chests are great because these types of furnishings normally comeswith hidden storage and can be used as extra seating when needed. 
5. Usedecorative artwork; you will define the space as well as adding colour to yourwalls; use a large piece of decorative artwork or various shapes and sizes soit balances your open space while preventing the area to become lost. The highceilings make it the perfect canvass for experimenting so, be adventurous. 
6. Use tallpotted plants especially at the corners of your loft space; it will bring a naturalelement inside the room while visually making it much more pleasant giving it ahomely and warm touch. 
7. Usecushions as additional decoration to your sofa and other furniture; they willprovide the colour and texture you need to create a softer look. 
8.  Accessorisewith bright coloured vases and a variety of decorative items; i.e. applianceslike kettle, blender and coffee machine, displayed on the kitchen counter can doubleas accessories. 
9.  Hangfunky chandeliers, track lighting or pendant lights to highlight specific partsof the loft and meet the lighting challenge of the high ceilings. In addition,add some lower lighting with table, floor lamps and wall fixtures; by layeringyour lighting scheme you will create a softer and more welcoming atmosphere. 
10. Usedarker paint shades to camouflage the ceiling features and create an illusionof reduced height. Lofts ceilings tend to be high and usually feature exposedductwork and metal beams the impact of which you can alter with the rightchoice of paints.  

 

Follow these tips andturn that huge space into a cosy living environment you will enjoy and love. 

www.aguilarinteriors.com

Pictures via BrandonBarre's Loft and Trendland.com     

         

Colour me, colour me not!

Painting is an easy and inexpensive way to add instant life to a room; albeit the colour you choose will have an impact on the mood you are trying to create.

Yes I know it can be a daunting process to choose the right colour - have you ever heard someone say "I loved the colour in the shop and once I painted the room I immediately hated it", Déjà Vu?

If you are not comfortable choosing it by yourself then you should hire a professional to help you choose the right colour scheme. Remember that nowadays interior design isn't only for the chosen few, plus how your room is designed and the colour you choose will impact the way you live and feel more then you will ever imagine.

If you are a keen DIY'er, follow these simple steps to help you make the right choice:

• Shops can match any colour that you might find in a magazine, a piece of fabric, etc.
• Choose a colour from a a paint swatch and then go a shade lighter.
• Get a test sample and paint a test area before making the final decision. 

Remember that  the lighting in the shop is different from the lighting in your home so the colour will change - you must see it in the room and most important at various times of the day.

You have probably heard before that you should paint small rooms with light colours. Well I believe that a deep colour doesn't necessarily make the room look smaller in fact a small hallway painted a deep grey together with the right lighting will give the impression of a big space and it will make it look extremely stylish although I understand that it might not be everyone's cup of tea (husband now laughing because it is my ubiquitous phrase).

But if you are still not comfortable going alone then do get in touch - that's why I am here for!

So either by yourself or together with myself do go and be creative.

www.aguilarinteriors.com

Pictures via www.only-apartments.com, www.rubyrhino.wordpress.com, 
www.interiordesign-newyork.com, www.ucritsxw.wordpress.com, www.elledecor.com, www.marymcdonaldinc.com

Emotions through colour.

Most of us are unaware of the effects that the visual world has on our senses and feelings; blue is considered beneficial to the mind and body, it slows the metabolism and produces a calming effect. Red is a very emotionally intense colour, it enhances human metabolism, increases respiration rate, and raises blood pressure.

These emotions can be altered significantly depending on saturation, or depth of colour, but the basic principles are worth considering when deciding on your colour scheme.

•  Red is associated with energy, power and passion.

• Pink is fun, lively and feminine.

• Orange stimulates creativity, encouragement and is invigorating.

• Yellow is the colour of sunshine and is associated with joy, happiness and intellect.

• Blue represents the sky and water. It is associated with wisdom, confidence and calmness.

• Green suggests nature, harmony, freshness and fertility.

• Purple is associated with royalty. It symbolizes power, nobility, luxury, and ambition.

• White means light, purity and cleanliness.

• Black denotes strength and authority; it is considered to be a very formal, elegant, and prestigious colour.

Attitudes towards colour differs from person to person so identifying the colours that affect you and your environment favourably or negatively will help you to feel and live better.



www.aguilarinteriors.com
Pictures via 11eleven-life.blogspot.com, arsitekturmedia.com, uptowncountryhome.blogspot.com, MilesRedd.com, rawsilkandsaffron.wordpress.com, eledecor.com, modecodesign.com, homeinfurniture.com and freshhome-design.blogspot.com

The birth of a great collection!

Elegance with functionality would seem to be Brabantia's motto.

Everyone (except my husband that is) associates the privately owned Dutch company with designing high quality bins and storage containers! Now if you are looking for a range of good quality home products from storage to casual dining you need look no further.

The company was founded in 1919 in Aals, the Netherlands, under the name van Elderen & Co. The name Brabantia comes from a region in the very south of Holland - Brabant - and was an early van Elderen trade name. That I am sure you didn't know.

They have an established presence in the kitchen especially with food preparation, so it was a logical and progressive move to go into casual dining with the Get Together tabletop collection. But where others failed they have succeeded in coming up with a contemporary, functional, stylish and trendy collection. Brace yourself because today I have a special treat for you so let's "Get Together"...!

Being of a Latin culture the act of sharing a meal with family and friends is ingrained in my DNA; the food I serve is extremely important but so is the ambience I create around the table and the Get Together range allows me to strike a balance between the informal and formal.

 

The Get Together range is hip and fashionable including porcelain, cutlery, textiles and accessories featuring three colourways; white, grey and purple. What I also love about it is that Brabantia introduced a a variety of materials - porcelain, stainless steel, wood, textiles and silicon making it very visually attractive and tactile.

Yes I am taken by the whole collection; I especially like the quality of the coloured silicon heat resistant pan coasters, those sweet egg cups and the wooden party plates with the dip servers. Plus the weight of the stainless steel salt or pepper mills and crushers, napkin rings and candle holders also but not only exude quality and feel it, so if you like me want good quality products in your home then this is just the thing for you.

You have 56 pieces of porcelain to select from and in a choice of sizes and colours; from cappuccino cups to tea mugs and breakfast bowls to dinner plates, to name but a few. Prices start from £1.95 for a white Dip Server, now that is a great price. And you also have the textiles selection witch include napkins, tablecloths, oven gloves, etc.

I like how the undersides of the plates come in white, grey or purple allowing you to use one colur scheme or just mix it up; you will have great fun "mixing and matching" the colours, shapes and materials. Indeed I know I am quite excited about the Get Together collection and yes I have my eyes on a few things already...and so will you once you see them.

Yet they have not neglected their heritage and cleverly allow you to choose the colour of your bin (ColourYourBin) from more than 20 official RAL colours to introduce individuality into your kitchen.

 

I have teamed up with Brabantia to run a truly global competition for readers of my blog. Am happy to say that worlwide bloggers are joining me and therefore giving their readers the opportunity to win this lovely prize. A gift pack will be awarded by the judging panel to the two most original responses to this statement:

"When I look at the Get Together collection....."

To enter please complete the statement by writting in the comments box at the end of this post. Competition is open to readers worldwide. Comments/entries will close at 11:59pm GMT on Thursday June 30th, 2011.

The winners pack will include:

Breakfast Bowl, White

Breakfast Bowl, Grey

Oven Dish, Large, Grey

Tea Towel, Purple

Oven Glove, Purple

Party Plate, Dipservers, Wood

Dipservers, White

Egg Cup with Dish, 2 Pieces

Salad Bowl, Purple

Salad Servers, Stainless Steel

I know this superb colletion will be an absolute success so what are you waiting for? Get down the shops or go online and start ordering now.

wwwaguilarinteriors.com

Pictures via Brabantia.