Saturday, March 31, 2012

Dormers #3

Dormers #3

More ides how to use the attic dormers.


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(houzz.com)

Thursday, March 29, 2012

Bedrooms - Country / Romantic

Bedrooms - Country / Romantic

Well... attic bedrooms is a hugh subject. It seems that most renovated attics include one or more bedrooms in them. The designing and decorating options are endless. In order to make some order in this I decided to present the bedrooms according to the "feel" they have. In other words, according to the design perspective that directed their decor. I will start with country / romantic bedrooms. Have fun and get inspired.
The first picture shows an almost naive bedroom decor. Very simple. The color palate is white, green and brown. The room only has the necessary items with very few accessories. The painted wood wall and floor add to the simple beauty of the room.
 

(google)

The next bedrooms gives me almost the same feeling. The colors are a bit different but the design approach and restraint are the same. Notice how in both rooms the use of a bold (green) color on the wall accentuate the vaulted ceiling as an architectural element in both rooms.




(imagfave.com).


Attic Bedroom Designs / Shelterness

The next bedroom uses muted colors (antique pink, cream, white and light green) and many different textures - the bedding, tufted headboard, throw blanket, wood floor, embroidered pillows and old (almost stripping) wall paper. It's charm is in it's old, soft, feminine vibe. Like an old vintage postcard. Just lovely.


(pinterest.com)

The next few pictures demonstrate the use of a color palate that is based on a white room accessorized with vibrant colors and patterns. the first picture used red as an accent to the white.  The designer used fabrics in solid red and three bold patterns in the room. Due to the restrict color palate there is a sense of harmony in the room and the eye is not overwhelmed. Note that using a yellowish lamp shades adds twist to otherwise two dimensional palate.



(imgfave.com)


Attic Bedroom Designs / Shelterness

(pinterest.com)

Here is one of my favorite bedrooms. I call it: "modernized country decor". The country elements are there: wood ceiling, white, iron bed, floral cotton fabrics and vintage furniture. But the painting of the partition wall in a statement yellow and the yellow and white fresh wallpaper pattern, change the whole mood and updates it instantly.


(houzz.com)

The picture below is of another simply designed bedroom. Again the refined design uses white with one wall in dark blue as a focal point. Combined with the wood tones of the floor the result is cozy and inviting.

(dsignsponge.com)

Another serene and simple (beautiful isn't it?) bedroom. Has just the basics but totally enough. The one wall that was painted light blue adds a lot to the serene feeling of the room.


(countryliving.com)

This master bedroom below is almost all white and wood tones in color. The space was large enough to incorporate a desk and book shelves. Notice all the window and the abundance of light in the room.


(diretoinspire.com)

Another country white bedroom. It's beauty is in its simplicity. The chandelier and the rug add shine and texture.

Rustic traditional country attic bedroom. Fits a cottage or a beach house. (pinterest.com)


(southernliving.com)

Another white on white country romantic bedroom. The unique (not to say awkward) light fixture adds interest.


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French country white on white bedroom. Charming and feminine.


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Another white bedroom. This time the floors where with washed too so the atmosphere is serene. Notice that how little was used for decor of the room yet it has a well designed finish to it. This was achieve by only using white and some natural elements in the room.

(pinterest.com)

Another white on white bedroom. Notice how much texture and interest the crochet curtain, the fur rug and the capiz light fixture add to the room. Though the room is white, the wooden wall make the space worm and comfortable. Less is more (sometimes).



This attic bedroom is almost spartan but amazing in its simple beauty. Again, you do not need a lot of money or an interior design degree to figure out how to decorate your own bedroom like that.


(pinterest.com)

Another example of a modern interpretation of country/cottage style. In the picture below you can see that the "bedroom" is actually only a corner of a room. So what? That's enough. The headboards are used as headboard and storage. (in the future I plan to have a whole post regarding storage). The red throw adds "pop" and happiness to the room.


(imagefave.com)

Farm/country decor. Simple, white, almost feminine. Suitable for a guest room. The matching bed coverings add unity to the room.



(pinterest.com)

Another white bedroom. Country contemporary. A beautiful way to do a guest bedroom on a budget or an attic in a cottage/coastal home. The white color of the walls and linens unifies the space and the different furniture.



(countryliving.com)

The bedroom below has the feeling of a "room within a room", achieved by using a 4 poster bed with curtains. The atmosphere is romantic and magical. One probable feels isolated from the world there.


(houzz.com)

Here are some examples for designing attic bedrooms. Most of them where done with a lot of thought and attention to details and not a lot of cash. When not sure how to decorate your own room, one way to go is to find a picture you like, see what design elements were used in the room (wall an ceiling materiel and color, floor covering and color, fabric use across the room and fabric color/s, accessories etc.) and interpret them your own way.

(desiretoinspire.com)


(desiretoinspire.com). 


(desiretoinspire.com).


(potterybarn.com)

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(potterybarn.com)

Wednesday, March 28, 2012

Sunday, March 25, 2012

Trading City Life for the Farm

Trading City Life for the Farm
From: HGTV.COM
A couple gets help selling their city home so they can move to the country.
Before:

 
There is beautiful hardwood flooring in the attic, but they are terribly scuffed up. The homeowner tried to cover it with a new area rug, but that also looks shabby.
Homeowners Jill Patton and husband John Bean are ready for a change in lifestyle. They are selling their home in suburban Washington, D.C., and moving to the country to live on a farm. The home's location should make it an easy sale; the neighborhood offers suburban living in the heart of the city. The 2,500-square-foot house would be perfect for a couple or small family. There is a large addition off the kitchen, a spacious master suite and a finished attic.
 
Real estate expert Shirley Mattam-Male pays a visit to give the homeowners her candid advice. She finds the outside beautiful and very inviting. Once inside, the addition off the kitchen has her confused. She feels it would make more sense as a breakfast room then a sitting room. In the master bedroom, she loves the hardwood floors, but hates the cheap blinds. She also thinks that the room needs a fresh coat of paint and some sprucing up. Mattam-Male climbs the stairs to the attic and finds the extra square footage absolute bliss, it brings a lot of value to the house. But the floors are in bad shape, and the unfinished trim work looks shabby.

Designer Taniya Nayak agrees with Mattam-Male's assessment and lays out a plan to make the interior of this home as wonderful as the exterior.

Step 1: Refinish the attic floors, and add some wall color in an effort to convert the space into an additional bedroom.

Step 2: Repurpose the addition off the kitchen into a breakfast room.

Step 3: Add some romance to the master bedroom with new paint, window treatments and bedding.

Contractors John Allen and Matt Steele know the design plan and are ready to get the job done. The large skylights bring in lots of natural light, so it's too bad the trim and molding around them is not finished. The light fixture on the ceiling is in sorry shape - a bare bulb is the room's sole source of artificial light. The brightness of the space emphasizes the drabness of the wall color. A fresh coat of paint is sorely needed. The master bedroom (not shown), looks rather worn out and poorly maintained. The closet doors are off their rails, a chest of drawers is blocking the artwork on the wall, and the window treatments look ragged.
 
Before, this attic was partially finished with piecemeal skylights, a pitiful light fixture and scratched floors. Now, this attic is a cozy bedroom with newly stained hardwood floors.
 
This bright and airy room off the kitchen is an addition to the original home.
 
The dingy sitting room is now a cozy breakfast room.
The closet and bookshelves got a facelift with a new coat of paint and some trim molding. The austere fluorescent light is replaced with a classy wrought-iron-style chandelier. The stained carpet gets ingeniously revamped by cutting a large rectangle out of the middle section and inserting a darker remnant piece to look like an area rug within the carpet. Seaming tape and seam sealer are used to prevent the remnant from fraying. The inexpensive carpet fix not only got rid of the stains, but it also added interest and color to the room.
 
 
Cost breakdown:
dining set and lighting $420
bookcase upgrade $160
carpet and supplies $98
attic materials $200
bedding and drapes $536
paint and supplies $180
accessories $398

Total: $1,992
Breakfast nook products:
red toss pillows, 450-70437056, Burlington Coat Factory
bronze flower five-light chandelier, 153528 and chandelier lampshades, 235436, Lowe's
drapery panels, Radiance, 732/1030, JCPenney Outlet
curtain rods, 04243729022, Wal-Mart
Champagne Red remnant, City Carpet

Attic products:
vase, 759236; toss pillows, 160010, 149359 and 723810; drapes, 725737, T.J. Maxx
track bar lighting, Sparta, 119255, Lowe's
paint, Desert Tan, eggshell, 2153-50, Pineapple Paint Co. (Benjamin Moore Paints)

Master bedroom products:
Tree of Life wall hanging, 706-70079265, Burlington Coat Factory

comforter set, 004180841607; toss pillows, 088530800802; curtain rods, 004429410089, Wal-Mart
wall paint, Providence Olive, HC-98; closet door paint, Abington Putty, HC-99, Pineapple Paint Co. (Benjamin Moore Paints)
 
From: HGTV.com

Friday, March 23, 2012

Dormers #1


Dormers #1

Most attics have dormers. Here are some inspirations regarding how to incorporate the dormer in the design of the attic and make use of the (sometimes) awkward space.

An Attic Penthouse in Gothemburg, Sweden / Miss Design

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(housetohome.com)


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(pinterest.com)


(kaplan thompson arc.)

(diynetwork.com)

 (pinterest.com)

(fresh home magazin)


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