Architecture & Web Art

Posts Tagged ‘home improvement’

When it comes to style and design Leonardo DaVinci must be up there with the most famous characters in history. Not only was he a fantastic artist who is responsible for some of the world’s most iconic images, but was also an incredible engineer, scientist and inventor who was well ahead of his time.

Leonardo DaVinci then would no doubt have been great at interior design, and it’s safe to assume he’d have had a rather spectacular looking home filled with exciting trinkets and gadgets. If he were alive today then, what might his interior design look like? And how can we channel some of that creativity and knowledge into our own homes and layouts. Here we will look at how you can create a Leonardo-inspired look for your home today.

The Sunday Times is one of the most influential and widely read papers in Britain, and every year the publication likes to release a rich list of those attaining great wealth in the UK. Compiled on an annual basis by Philip Beresford, this list gives some interesting insights into the wealthiest people in Britain, in addition to showcasing the industries in which they work.

Several of those in the Furniture and Furnishings sectors have noted particular success for this year’s Sunday Times Rich List 2012, as shown in the infographic below. From Sir Philip Green in 17th place, down to the joint 949th positions of Tony Brown and MichaelPass, there are many iconic furniture providers in the top 1,000 wealthiest people in the UK. For easy reading, each individual’s wealth is represented by the size of their associated circle, offering a simple scale for you to draw out some important insights from this creative Furniture and Furnishings sector infographic.

That apartment seemed like everything you ever wanted when you first moved in, but it is quickly feeling more and more cramped by the day and you are now battling claustrophobia you never had in the past. Does this sound like you? Well, you are not alone.

(Photo credits: marc_p dmoz)

So many people struggle with trying to make their small spaces stop feeling so cramped. You know what they say, get rid of the junk to increase the amount of space in your room. However, the problem is, you might just not know what to get rid of, and you might get rid of the pieces that are most beneficial to you.

Since whether the space is small or not, you will still need to have furniture, it is a necessary, albeit daunting task to furnish your small room. It is possible though, all it takes is a good understanding of the types of furniture that are there and which ones you can use to your small room’s advantage.

No other part of a home enjoys so much family occupation and attention; your kitchen is the most heavily used part of your house and is also the room which forms the heart of any home. The French-style country kitchen is warm and inviting with a Gallic twist which is unique, stylish and functional.

While you are encouraged to consider how your finished kitchen is going to look, you should also maintain in the forefront of your mind the fact that you need to place a very high priority on functionality and practicality too.

How much?

There is also a cost issue to consider. There is a popular perception that remodelling your kitchen has to cost a small fortune, however this is not necessarily the case. What is more important is that you exercise as much creativity and design imagination as you can muster.

In our tough economical times, people everywhere are tightening belts: driving less, eating at home more, clipping coupons, and cutting corners. One of the corners people most often cut first is home improvement. Spreading the wealth and hiring others to do projects is a luxury few can afford today, and many people are either putting projects off or doing the work themselves to save money. Here are even more ways to save on do-it-yourself (DIY) home improvement projects when cutting corners.

1. Get Help

To prevent feeling overwhelmed when tackling a project, call on friends. Call on friends of friends. Call on friends of friends twice removed! Friends, neighbors and co-workers may have valuable skills and experience to share, or they may be able to strongly recommend other trustworthy, skilled people who may be willing to help or even barter. Word-of-mouth is a powerful method of marketing and endorsement. Bartering with others, with either goods or services, is a great savings system.