Home Decor Ideas

California-based Signum Architecture completed the design of Odette Estate Winery, a modern structure aimed at mirroring the refinement of the wines produced in the famous Napa Valley. The project is said to express the owner’s commitment to sustainable farming and wine production.

Defined by organic shapes throughout, the structure blends in with the landscape.”Nestled in the valley’s eastern hills, the building’s living roof appears to have been pushed up from the earth,” the architects said.

“At the front of the building, sliding perforated aluminum screens in tall, voluptuous forms veil the winery’s covered crush pad and open-air workspace. Behind these screens, three repurposed shipping containers serve as comfortable and sophisticated winery laboratory and office space.”

With a clean and simple layout, it’s easy to move from one functional area of the winery to the next. The design of the fermentation barrels matches the sober interiors, as if to invite guests to take a moment and reflect on the wine-drinking ritual.

On-site renewable energy created by solar panels and the smart use of building materials are just some of the elements that make the project sustainable. Photos and information provided by Signum Architecture.

The post Complex Winery Design Features Green Roof, Sliding Screens appeared first on Freshome.com.

Here’s how to decorate rental walls without forfeiting your deposit. Image: Joseph Bergin Architect PC

Rentals can be tricky. On the one hand, you want to make the space feel like home while you’re living there. On the other, you don’t want to make it so homey you kiss your security deposit goodbye. In particular, choosing to decorate rental walls can feel like walking a fine line.

That’s where we come in. In this post, we’ve gathered lots of practical suggestions to help you decorate your walls without having to deal with a single nail. Read them over and weigh how each one will mesh with your rental space and personal tastes. We’re sure you’ll find at least one option that strikes your fancy.

Display art rather than hang it. Image: Nathalie Priem Photography

Display art on surfaces

Here’s the No. 1 secret to keeping your security deposit safe and sound while still feeding an art addiction: You don’t actually have to hang art on your walls to make sure it plays a prominent role in your design. When your ability to change the décor is limited, simply displaying the art can have the same effect without inflicting any damage.

All it takes to pull this look off is a little imagination. Start by going around your apartment and looking into the various possibilities available to you. Consider existing shelving, tabletops or other surfaces that could use a makeover. These days, many minimalist looks even include larger artworks that have been propped up on the floor as a style statement.

If you’ve looked at your available spaces and aren’t quite satisfied, remember you can always bring in your own. Decorative ladders are great for displaying small décor items, as are entertainment centers and bookshelves. Don’t be afraid to get a little creative with this one.

Hanging art doesn’t have to mean mounting it on the wall. Image: Kenneth Brown Design

Find alternative hanging methods

If simply displaying art is not to your taste, you may not have to forgo hanging entirely. Here, it’s all about getting creative with the way they’re hung. Take the picture above as an example. With a little planning, a variety of household items can be transformed into part of a DIY gallery.

Though this list is by no means exhaustive, here’s a quick rundown of some options:

• Use S-hooks and decorative rope to hang pictures from your molding
• Enlist the help of wash-tape
• Get some of those removable wall hooks
• Opt for some Velcro

In this case, being satisfied with the method of installation and the final look of your pieces is key. After all, some people may be all for the bohemian flair of S-hooks and decorative rope while others may not care for it at all. We recommend looking at a few design sites like Freshome before you get started to gather some design inspiration for the task.

Temporary wall decals aren’t what they used to be. Image: Gaile Guevara

Reconsider removable wallpaper

Remember wall decals? They aren’t just for kids’ rooms anymore. Today’s wall decals — rebranded under the term removable wallpaper — are a great way to make a big design statement for relatively little effort and upfront cost. With a press-and-stick installation method, plus the ability to peel the design off and throw it away at the end of your lease, this method should be a go-to pick for any renter.

When working with removable wallpaper, the first step is to gauge the quality of your walls. Look for ones that aren’t heavily textured or have lots of loose plaster. Smoother walls reduce your chances of having air pockets under the design on installation and ending up with a bubbly look.

With the walls prepped, the possibilities are endless. Depending on the design you choose, you could opt to cover a whole room in a print, stick to one eye-catching design to create an accent wall, or highlight a particular area like an office nook or kitchen backsplash.

Consider adding greenery, one of 2018’s biggest trends. Image: Michelle Gage | Interior Designer

Add some greenery

This may be an unconventional suggestion to some since it doesn’t involve your typical forms of wall art, but in our minds, it’s about time to give greenery its fair share of attention. There’s no denying that natural elements like plants can bring a fair amount of visual interest and variety to your home, but best of all, there’s absolutely no wall-mounting required.

From a design standpoint, over the last few years, we’ve seen greenery become increasingly popular. Many modern aesthetics, especially those that advocate for simplicity like Scandinavian design or Japandi, count on plant life to give their interiors a much-needed pop of visual interest. With that in mind, if you choose to go this route, you’ll be solidly on-trend.

One caveat to this: Unlike the other suggestions in this post, adding greenery into your interiors does come with a promised commitment of ongoing care. Make sure you check out the upkeep instructions for any plants you intend to purchase so you know what you’re getting into.

Follow our tips to keep your deposit safe. Image: Marcia Prentice Photography

Decorating a rental and, in particular, dealing with rental walls can be a challenge. On the one hand, it makes sense to want to make the space feel like your own during your tenure there, but the threat of losing a security deposit can be enough to quash that aspiration for many. With the help of the advice in this post, we hope to have your décor feeling unique to you in no time flat.

What do you think of our suggestions for bringing a little life to rental walls? Will you be using any of them to decorate your apartment? Tell us in the comments.

The post How to Decorate Your Rental Walls (and Still Get Your Deposit Back) appeared first on Freshome.com.

It may seem counterintuitive, but asymmetry matters in interior design. Image: Denver Image Photography

Though trends are an important part of the interior design landscape, nothing can overtake the necessity of understanding the fundamentals of how design works. Which is why, today, we’re going back to basics. We’re about to take a look at why asymmetry is a crucial component of design in our homes.

Keep reading to learn more about what exactly asymmetry is, why it matters and how you can pull it off in your own interiors. We’re sure by the time you’ve finished reading, you’ll be ready to make a few adjustments of your own.

Asymmetry is a type of balance. Image: Clean Design

What is asymmetry?

Put simply, asymmetry is a type of balance that’s often used in design. Typically, when people consider balance as a concept, they stick to working with symmetry — or mirror images — in their interiors. While that’s always a viable option, it’s far from the only one to choose from.

In reality, there are three distinct forms of balance you can incorporate as part of your design. They are as follows:

• Symmetrical/formal balance: This type of balance is created by taking the room and splitting it into two halves that mirror each other. It could, for example, include a living room that features two sofas with a coffee table between them.
• Asymmetrical/informal balance: In this case, the room is balanced by the repetition of similar forms, lines and colors, but there is no mirroring or exact duplication. A living room done in an asymmetrical style might feature a sofa with an end table on one end and a floor lamp on the other.
• Radial balance: Radial balance is the most infrequently used option on this list, but it involves similar objects being placed around a common center point. It’s most often seen in dining table arrangements where the same chair is used throughout.

Put simply, asymmetry makes things a little more interesting. Image: Amit Apel Design Inc.

It adds visual interest

Now that you know what asymmetry is, it’s important to take a more in-depth look at why people use it in their designs. The most common reason is that it adds more visual interest. Where the repetition of symmetrical arrangements has a tendency to feel monotonous over time, asymmetrical looks keep us on our toes.

There’s actually a psychological basis for why this occurs. It has to do with the way our brains process information. They aim to pick up on as many patterns and repetitions as possible, so the mirroring effect of symmetrical design makes those rooms very easy to figure out. In asymmetrical spaces, the patterns are less immediately obvious, so it takes our brains a bit longer to process them and ultimately makes them more interesting.

Take the picture above as an example. While the room features a consistent color palette, the same number of chairs on either side of the coffee table, and even a symmetrical layout, it was probably the fireplace that caught your eye first — and held it. Asymmetrical elements are a good tool to use when you want to call attention to a feature of your design.

Asymmetrical design can make your interiors feel more casual. Image: Lucas Y. Hernandez

It’s more casual

Take a second to think of all the mirror images you’ve seen in interior design. More than likely, the images you’re thinking of are stately living rooms that feature double couches or a long dining table with two rows of identical chairs. This rigid duplication of symmetrical design has a tendency to present as more formal and even a little stuffy.

In contrast, asymmetrical designs aren’t constrained by the same level of perfection. The allowance for differences in their arrangement enables the space to feel a bit more casual, a bit more “lived-in.” As such, asymmetrical designs are often favored in high-traffic areas of the home, such as family rooms and eat-in kitchens.

Follow these tips to bring asymmetry to your interiors. Image: Isler Homes

How to pull it off

The last step to becoming a master of asymmetrical design is to know how to apply these concepts in your own home. While there are no hard-and-fast rules for this one, we do have a couple of suggestions to get started.

• Make it a focal point: If you’re going big with your asymmetrical element (like the fireplace above), make sure it’s something that would be a natural focal point and build the rest of your design around it.
• It can be big or small: Asymmetry doesn’t always have to make a huge statement. Sometimes even piv0ting a chair at an angle is enough.
• Use odd numbers: Arranging groupings in odd numbers is a great way to utilize asymmetrical design.
• Remember coordinating elements: When you’re going asymmetrical, it’s crucial to include a few common threads to help pull everything together. Repeating elements with similar colors, lines and shapes are the way to go.
• Use your perception: Pay attention to how your asymmetrical elements make you feel. If something feels “off” about your design, you may have to make a few tweaks until everything makes sense.

Will you be giving asymmetry a chance? Image: Isler Homes

Believe it or not, asymmetry is a foundational principle of interior design. Read over this post and consider our tips carefully. We’re sure when you learn more about the why and how of this design technique, you’ll be ready to give it appropriate attention in your home.

What do you think of asymmetry? Will you be making an effort to include more of it in your interiors? Let us know in the comments below.

The post Why Asymmetry Is an Important Part of Interior Design (and How to Make it Work) appeared first on Freshome.com.