Philippe Starck Warendorf Launches Four New Kitchens

German kitchen manufacturer Miele DIE KÜCHE has rebranded itself as Warendorf.
To help introduce their new brand name, they are introducing four new kitchen models
that have been designed by Philippe Starck.

From Warendorf:

The versatility of the new Philippe Starck designer kitchens is showcased by Warendorfer Küchen GmbH in four different display kitchens: The “Library” kitchen with its bookshelf elements which Philippe Starck has conceived to reinforce the connection between culture and food in domestic life. The “Primary” kitchen brings neobaroque design to the kitchen with its bright yellow mirrored glass fronts, etched decorative flourishes and pretty wall accessories. The “Duality” kitchen, which can be accessed from two sides and the “Tower” kitchen with its striking towers, which can be rotated through 340° and which offers a thoroughly new approach to kitchen design. All four kitchens are complemented by equally striking functional tables supported by spectacular trumpetshaped feet in polished chrome.

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The Paraty Beach House by Marcio Kogan

Paraty beach house design two reinforced concrete boxes, sit atop each other, connected on the mountainside of one of the islands of the colonial city of Paraty and Angra dos Reis (between São Paulo and Rio de Janeiro), like two modern prisms between the large colossal stones of the Brazilian coast.

The building projects outward from the mountain, almost onto the beach, in an 8m cantilever. The beach house plans finds balance in the topography of the land, creating an extensive open doorway and living space in the practically untouched nature. Paraty beach house furniture features a collection showcasing 20thcentury design, including works by many well-known artists.

The residents arrive by boat. After stepping out onto the sand a metallic bridge positioned over a crystal-lined reflecting pool leads to a set of stairs connecting to the lower volume. This volume contains the living room, kitchen and service area. The continual internal area has a 27m span and huge glass windows to take advantage of the view of the sea.

The same entrance stairs also lead to the upper volume that houses the bedrooms. In the front part of the house, retractile panels of eucalyptus sticks protect the bedrooms from the sun. The areas that face the mountain have small internal patios with zenithal lighting, and use exposed reinforced concrete, which grants a striking texture to the walls.

The entire top of the house is covered with terraces, used as observation decks for the residents, and as a garden for sculptures, medicinal plants and edible herbs.

Architectural Co-Author: Suzana Glogowski

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Decorating ideas for small bathrooms

There are so many decorating ideas for small bathrooms that you need to choose the very best that suit your own design and taste. There are however some general rules to follow that ensure you will complete it much faster and attain a better finish.

The first idea is to make the small bathroom warmer and more relaxing. This is great for increasing your enjoyment of the bathroom and making it a place that you enjoy. For many people, the bathroom represents a place of privacy and total relaxation. For this reason, it is important to pay attention to the decoration.

The decoration should match a general theme. For this to work, you need to have a consistent color scheme. One of the best color schemes is a neutral or pastel color scheme. It must be something that you like and could imagine yourself spending time around.

There is also a growing trend of brighter and warmer colors. Implementing this design with mirrored cupboards can produce a really sensational effect.

The design is down to your own tastes and personal preferences, but just ensure that it fits with the bathroom setting.

If you decide that a new scheme is needed, then rub down the walls first. Bathrooms can acquire dirt very easily so you need to wipe this away before applying more paint. Failure to do this will result in a poor quality finish. Always have a clear area on which to paint first. 

Before you even start decorating, you need to clean out the small bathroom, let the fresh air clean it and remove any mildew, water damage or dirt that might have accumulated. A clean surface area is the way to start. This will ensure that you get a quality finish and your bathroom will look professionally completed.

If you want to add new features to the small bathroom, then look at buying some new fixtures and fittings. This is one area that you can find some problems with a small bathroom, but there are ways to overcome this. Because of the limited space, you need to find usable, contemporary storage features. 

These days you can find floating units that work really well and don’t invade the space. They also provide plenty of storage for the bathroom essentials. You could also look for an inset bathroom cabinet rather than using one that protrudes out into the open space. This is a great way to save space and ensure ample storage space.

If you are looking to add more warmth and comfort to the bathroom, then you might want to use a carpeted floor. This is not for everyone, and many people are now moving to traditional wooden flooring. Other people use ceramic tiles to create a very modern look to the bathroom.

Whatever you choose make sure that the design is consistent with the rest of the decoration.

There are many ways to improve and update your small bathroom. If you use some of the decorating ideas above, you will see a drastic improvement with a few small changes. Everyone can use these simple decorating ideas to improve the look and feel of their bathroom.

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curtain window interior design

living room curtain window


curtain window interior design


unique curtain window


door curtain design


shower curtain window

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Summer Paradise

Lavendar, boxwood, a rose covered arbour next to a tidy white house with an old iron urn as the garden's centerpiece, what more could a girl want?

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oysters working overtime

This chandelier dripping with pearls is my cup of tea!

Thank you to Jaqueline and her awesome blog HOME for this divine pic.

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Planting native perennials

The Botanical Gardens of Asheville Spring Plant Sale and the WNC Herb Festival were full of cool plants this weekend. We snagged all sorts of interesting natives, from Wild Quinine (Parthenium integrifolium), Goldenseal, American Ginseng, and ramps, along with Golden ragwort (Senecio aureus), Anise-scented Goldenrod (Solidago odora), Wild Yam, a Gaillardia cultivar, (Rough Blazing Star) Liatris aspera, and a lovely Carex spp.

Added to the Penstemons, Coreopsis, Centaurea, and Achillea that came as trial complimentary plants from Blooms of Bressingham (I'd signed up for them at the Garden Writer's Association annual conference), we had lots to plant in the front perennial bed at our small mountain house!

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