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Design Dilemma: One Touch Can Make The Difference

Sometimes, it only takes one thing to completely make a room. It could be a great rug, lamp, piece of art, an architectural detail or a piece of furniture, but that one thing can tie the room together, create drama and flair, and reflect, as well, the personality and style of the homeowner. This post is dedicated to just that one little thing that can completely change the character of the room.

A great example is in the living room above and  the dining room below. A rug (both of these are by Madeline Weinrib) packs a walloping punch of style that while quite graphic, also feels very classic.  Both of these rooms, without their respective rugs, would be nice enough but not nearly as cool.

Adding a really cool rug is an easy way to change the flavor of a room with one thing. Lighting fixtures can be like that too. For instance:

Without the pendant lamps in the dining room above, the room would feel more catalogue-y than artsy. But the addition of the black pendants in different shapes adds a quirky, appealing, offbeat touch that truly makes the room.

Same goes for the kitchen below:

The kitchen is minimalist, a little industrial, definitely modern. The hanging pendant lights that are bulbs on black cords hanging over an iron bar, provide just the right, edgy touch. Without the lights, the kitchen would be boring.

Sometimes just one beautiful painting can make the difference. For example:

What would the above room be without the drama and color of the bold abstract painting?
And what would this foyer be without the colorful pop of yellow provided by an abstract painting:

Some people pooh-pooh the role that houseplants can play, but often, the addition of a plant or two can make a big difference in a room. For instance:

This planter at the top of a stairway acts as a room divider and provides a sense of closure in the room. Without the plants, the room would have felt more like a pass-through. The plants also offer color and a sense of freshness. On a much smaller scale below, a vase with a stark arrangement of reeds seems to tie together the organic shapes found throughout the room.

And finally, one easy addition that can make a room are pillows. Yes, it seems mundane, but it is nevertheless true. Take a look:

And this:

And this:

And this:

None of the rooms above would have the same oomph without the array of colorful pillows that truly pop and tie in different elements and colors throughout.

Isn’t it nice to know that when it’s time for a pick-me-up at home, one relatively small change can make such a difference?

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A Jungle Resort Near the Mayan ruins in Belize

The Ka‘ana Belize is a charming and unpretentious old-world resort near some of the greatest treasures of the Mayan empire in Belize.

The uncomplicated design includes elements with some of the solidity and mass of the Mayan culture.

Its symmetrical courtyard arrangement also evokes the historic Mayan mysteries.

Wide grassy savannahs can be glimpsed through the walls of this somnolent retreat.

The Western Belize site provides an upscale outpost for exploring the ruins of an exotic culture, yet from within their very midst.

The small luxury resort boasts handcrafted items like this unique rusty lampshade.

Weighty sinks are carved from thick stone reminiscent of the sculptures of the Maya.

Even the plainer sinks have the air of ancient Mayan artefacts.

Other handcrafted sculptural pieces are casually dotted around the grounds. Read the rest of this entry »

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An Open Japanese Garden Pavilion Like a Child’s Drawing

From mA-style architects comes an interesting garden house next to the client’s main house.

With its square white base and steeply angled wooden roof, it is almost a child’s drawing of the perfect house.

The front is completely open to the air, so it is more of a pavilion than a building.

With what seems like a completely just-stroll-in entry at the side, the space seems strangely undefended for a structure in an urban neighbourhood.

But in fact, not seen from inside, sliding doors along the outside wall can actually close off the space.

A corridor connects it to the main house.

Little study nooks dot the length of the new building.

A homework retreat for several children?

The pavilion is a pleasingly proportioned combination of white room-height walls, with a pitched wooden roof creating a triangular window at each end letting in air and light. Read the rest of this entry »