Resource Visual
Posted by Cynthia | Filed under Musings
Design. At the core, it is the art of problem solving. This beautifully presented and startling BBC Infographic in Fast Company, translates graphically the state of our depleting non-renewable resources. For me, it is a call to action. To reinvent, redesign, and repurpose. Not only for big businesses who depend on many of these elements for product production, but also for each of us as individuals, to design our daily routines and process’ to make better use of, or even eliminate our dependence on these fleeting resources. To support companies doing the right thing, like FLOR, and to take steps locally in our communities.
Realizing reporting varies on this subject, it does seem that time is fleeting. An exciting design opportunity, with a deadline. Let’s get to work.
I’d love to hear about your ideas, plans and creative solutions. What do you think?
Images and excerpts sourced at Fast Company.
Tags: BBC, Fast Company, FLOR, interior design, Non-renewable Resources, sustainable design
Check out these Cribs
Posted by Miriam | Filed under Design Tips, DIY Projects, Musings, Solutions
Have you ever come across something in a design magazine or in a shelter blog or on Pinterest and just thought to yourself, “well, duh – that’s just too perfect for words”. That’s EXACTLY how I feel about what I have to share with you all today.
Perhaps it is because I am still deep in the ‘trenches’ of baby hood with my youngest child, but it never even dawned on me that the crib mattress could ever be repurposed into anything once it was done being used in its original function.
And then I saw this:
Someone (I’m not sure who because after an exhaustive, 3 hour search down many a rabbit hole on the internet the only source I could find was here) took a crib mattress, mounted it on some wood shelving units and styled the heck out of it and I am smitten. SMITTEN I tell you!
So, of course, I had to find some other inspiration to share with you!
Fab Rehab Creations saw the same inspiration (above) and created this lovely daybed for her sons:
And another similar transformation can be found over at HGTV, submitted by the incomparable Ana White:
In fact, once I got started, it was hard to STOP finding great crib turned daybed ideas. I particularly like these next two because they actually use the rails of the cribs as well:
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(found here but originally from these fine people)
And I found this amazing outdoor seating option that uses an old pallet with a crib mattress over at Lottas Himmelrom
Well – it turns out it isn’t just the crib mattress you can repurpose. Check out these lovely inspiration boards created from crib springs! Seriously!! People are so inventive…I just LOVE it!
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(found here and credited to Pinterest – sorry peeps, I tried to credit it further but quit after two hours)
Have you ever repurposed a crib mattress or frame?
Tags: crib mattress, designing with crib, FLOR, FLOR tiles, FLOR.com, kids room, old cribs, Repurpose
FLOR Story : Crazy Colorful
Posted by FLOR | Filed under FLOR Stories, Musings
Dear FLOR,
Even before we found out we were having a baby, we were looking forward to redecorating a room for a little one. So, once we knew we were having an actual baby, we started throwing around ideas. It should be colorful. Crazy colorful. Our home more generally is full of nutty colors but a kid’s room seemed like a perfect opportunity to go all out on color.
While the website was fun to use, we wanted to see the tiles in person before we ordered something for the baby’s room. We headed to the Flor store near us (in Chicago) and worked with Kim, who showed us all sorts of tiles. After working with us for awhile, helping us zero in on a palette of tiles we liked, and seeing that we were open to lots of ideas, Kim suggested taking the tiles we liked and laying them out in a striped pattern. She laid it out on her laptop (and even emailed us a .pdf of the design to use when we set up the tiles). We hadn’t thought of stripes but immediately felt like it was a super cool way to capitalize on the modularity of Flor tiles.
We had a bunch of fun putting the tiles together and the Flor definitely fulfilled our desire for a unique and nutty carpet in our baby’s room. We really love her room, hopefully she will too!
Thanks,
Matthew – Chicago, IL
To see more stories like this one click here. If you have a FLOR story that you would like to share, email it to us at pictures@flor.com or post it to facebook or twitter (& tag us) and you can receive 10% off your next purchase.
For more information or questions about FLOR you can visit us at www.flor.com, call our design assistance at 866.952.4093 or visit a store near you!
–
Tags: baby rooms, colorful decor, decorate, designing for a baby, diy, FLOR, FLOR store, FLOR tiles, nursery decor, Nursey
Functional Art
Posted by Cynthia | Filed under Musings
Why decorate? This creative solution to artful storage for wine, is a show stopper. It is simple, organized, and graphic. If you look carefully, you’ll notice the attention to detail given to the vertical alignment of the foil tops of the bottles, and color groupings of red, gold, black and silver. Pulling a punch of color for the banquette seating from the group of red foil tops of the wine bottles, creates a simple yet strong and cohesive presentation. The success of this space is founded in few, repeated elements, and one bold punch of color. This is an easy design strategy to use at home, and the artful wall display could incorporate any necessary tools or personal collection that is an expression of you. Have fun with it. I’d love to see your images! Now, I think this room would really scream with a third element to reinforce the color scheme. With the few, repeated elements, and one punch of color, take a look how different this room will become with the the range of FLOR rugs below. A room, easily transformed with each new introduction of fun on the floor. Easy to change with your mood or design inspiration.
Room Image sourced at ny.eater.com
FLOR rugs: Ins and Outs, Modern Mix, Sitting Pretty, Line by LIne, Line, please, Take a Ribbing. Images sourced at http://www.flor.com
Tags: art-display, color, color inspiration, FLOR, interior design
A Glass Ceiling Break Through
Posted by Miriam | Filed under Musings
Every once in a while I come across a design image that makes me immediately think, “Oh! We TOTALLY have to do that!!” Of course, then I quickly remember the confines of our current living space (a lovely space that we plan to inhabit for many, many years) and realize that there are certain limitations to my sky-high desires.
Below, is one such image.
Oh we could totally achieve this look in our kitchen…but we’d have to move the kitchen to the 3rd floor, which really isn’t practical.
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Fortunately, I have found some other beautiful, inspiring ceiling designs that are actually quite reachable.
We’ll start with the Coffered Ceiling. Always a dramatic treatment, a coffered ceiling does require a certain amount of space in a room to truly shine. This one that spans the kitchen and great room is embellished with bead-board and beautifully detailed moldings.
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For a more modern, yet more romantic (in my humble opinion) version of the coffered ceiling, a circular pattern can really make an impact.
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Paneling a ceiling can also be a fantastic upgrade. This kitchen balances charm with modernity. The stainless steel, mini-subway tiled backsplash contrasts so beautifully with the rustic, paneled ceiling for maximum appeal.
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Even less of a challenge for ceiling installation is the charming tin ceiling. Very popular in the Victorian era, the look can be replicated these days with stamped aluminum or even plastic.
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For a less permanent ceiling treatment, swags of linen can have a very powerful impact.
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Even small spaces can take advantage of a ceiling treatment. The application below is actually a wall paper graphic that can be custom fit for the size of your room.
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If the thought of wall papering your ceiling doesn’t make your back ache and your fingers go numb, you could always go the stencil route as well. This damask print is quite the statement…
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…likewise, this delicious, large-scale graphic ins bold turquoise is a game changer for an ordinary bathroom/laundry nook.
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And if stenciling or wallpapering or applying a textural treatment seems too overwhelming, it is always an option to utilize some simple faux painting techniques. While faux finish applications on furniture and walls may have seen their prime, an application on the ceiling would offer just the right amount of perspective to make the technique fresh.
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Have you ever done any of these to a ceiling in your home? Would you?
Tags: ceiling designs, designing ceilings, FLOR, FLOR.com, kitchen ceilings, kitchen designs, rooms
