Myndu Interior Design

Having more than one teen your home leaves you constantly keeping them entertained or busy doing something that is fun and or productive. It doesn’t take long for your teens to become bored. When this happens they may go out of the home to find something to do and this is when teens get in trouble before they realize it. There is a way that you can create a special place for your teens to hang out that will make them feel comfortable enough to stay at home more than go out. If you make the room interesting enough they will start to invite friends over to visit and hang out. So how do you create such a room? It’s easy and it doesn’t take a lot of money to do it.

What do teens want?

Teens want a place that they can hang out without a parent breathing down their necks. They are becoming independent and they want a chance to prove that they are growing up.

What do parents want? Parents want their teens to stay at home instead of going out of the home to look for something to do. Parents know that their teens will get into trouble more often if they are out running around. It’s not that they are trouble it’s just that trouble always seems to find them. There is a way that you can make everyone happy.

Where do you start?

It can be in a garage or in a room upstairs, it doesn’t matter to teens where they are as long as they can have a room for themselves. Now, I’m not talking about a bedroom. This has nothing to do with a bed to sleep in. It is about a recreational room that includes such things as a television, VCR/DVD, an excellent sound system, satellite or cable, and of course you need one of the following systems: Xbox, Nintendo, PlayStation, or WII system. You will also need some really cool games to play that offers a little bit of everything. If you have the room a Air Hockey Table or a Pool Table is also a good idea. You will also need a mini-refrigerator. Teens love to eat and drink so it is a good idea to keep the fridge stocked with sodas, water and snacks.

First you need to decide where the hang out will be. Then you need to rid the place of everything. Don’t leave a corner or a section for storage. Your teens deserve this room and they want it all. After it’s cleaned out you may need to redecorate the room or paint it if it looks the least bit ‘adult’. Arrange the room so they have a place to sit around to play video games and not interfere with the pool table or hockey table. Put the fridge on the side of the couch if possible. It can serve as a side table as well. You can purchase a surround sound system for under $100.00. It’s not the best in the market but it will give your teens a good sound.

It may sound crazy to create a room just for teens but you will be relieved to know where your teens are and that they are having a good time. As parents you try to do everything you can to keep them safe and protected. Having a hang out room is one of the many stepping stones that you can offer them.

Katarina Häll’s graduation project is a comment on a world spinning faster and faster. The Poem cup offers a moment of reflection, a meditative break in the rush of everyday life.

What a cute design! Very quirky and fun.

But as I consider that the designer suggest that this is for a “meditative break in the rush of everyday life” – it makes me feel even more rushed.

Instead of conjuring up thoughts of relaxing and unwinding – it makes me realize what a crazy life it is if we can’t even drink a cup of tea without thinking that we need to ‘note’ something. Just looking at it makes me squirm.

Sorry whilst I love the quirkiness of the design I shan’t be getting one.

What do you think?

Are you stuck for space in your bedroom? Do you have an impossibly small area and not sure how to use it?

Instead of fighting it – use it to an advantage.

Johnston Architects of Seattle have used ‘barn’ style doors to reveal a tiny bedroom. The room will always appear more spacious because is is basically part of the living room but visitors arrive or you forgot to make the bed this morning – you just pull the doors shut and it’s all gone.

And by sticking to neutral colors of the same palette ensures a peaceful mood.

Maybe this is the solution for your guest room or converting that end of the garage into a teens getaway – in fact I can see heaps of ways to use this idea.

What are little boys made of? Slugs and snails and puppy dog tails… Take your cue from this popular nursery rhyme when decorating a boy’s bedroom. Lots of bugs and slugs and things that go vroom are the mainstay of any boy’s bedroom.

Keep one eye on the present and one on the future when decorating your son’s bedroom. Boys outgrow the cute and cuddly stage overnight and will very soon be mortified to bring friends over to a room that is oh-so-cute and embarrassing.

A child’s bedroom is his sanctuary. It’s a place to daydream and make-believe in. It is important that a child’s bedroom should be a reflection of his personality. A racing aficionado would be delighted to have a bedroom full of race cars whereas a budding aviator would love to soar high with aircrafts flying off from the curtains, ceilings and every corner of the bedroom.

When decorating your son’s bedroom, take your cues and get your inspiration from his personality. There are plenty of great themes that can be used to make a boy’s bedroom a special one-of-a-kind space meant just for him. Make judicious choices when selecting furniture and accessories and look for stuff that can be adapted as your son grows or as his preferences change.

Water Baby Ahoy!

Whether you live along the coast or not, your water baby can still spend hours in a room full of boats and seashells and fish. Walls the color of the ocean, with a border of sail boats, colorful fishes or a variety of shells can bring the beach right into your home. Get a colorful surf-board and put it up on one wall. Find a blue kids area rug for the floor. Shells in an assortment of shapes and sizes are a versatile decorative element in any beach-themed room. If he is really passionate about fish, an aquarium and blue area rugs would be just right for completing this picture-perfect room.

Blue Flokati Area Rug

Planes, Trains and Automobiles

There’s no dearth of choice, whether you are looking for wallpaper, fabric, boys area rugs, bedding or accessories that feature transportation themes of any kind. Mix and match bright colors and prints with a few solid colors that work together to complete the theme room. If aircrafts are a pet passion, hang a few airplanes from a blue ceiling and complete the décor with a few carefully assembled model aircrafts. A train track border around the room can provide hours of fun and games to any train-lover. Black-and-white checkered flags and a finish line are a must for a bedroom that belongs to a racing car enthusiast. A car shaped bed and a wall unit specially designed to proudly display that collection of mini race-cars could tie in all the racing elements.

Boys Digger Rug

Pirates, Cowboys and Knights

Which little boy has not at some time or the other dreamed of being a pirate, a cowboy or a knight? For a little wanna-be-pirate, a room full of portholes and ship masts, treasure chests and gold coins and plenty of secret hideaway places will provide hours of uninterrupted pleasure. A bedroom can easily be converted into a castle with ‘castle-walled’ wallpaper. Complement that with swords, shields, helmets and knight-themed murals (like this dragon fighting mural or this castle wall mural) .

Let your imagination run wild for a bedroom that is a cowboy’s domain- rope-bordered walls, tin stars and horses everywhere, bandana valances for the curtains and a big Stetson hanging on the wall. While you may want to pass on the guns a ‘Wanted Dead or Alive’ poster with your son’s face featured on it, will put the cowboy stamp on the room.

A Bug’s Life

From slugs and snails to bees and ants, little boys are often enthralled by these fascinating little creatures. Go with it and chose from a wide range of buggy bedding, pillow covers and curtains. A lady-bug photo frame or clock and a pair of snail book-ends would fit in perfectly with the theme.

Back in the day, kitchens could hardly be called stylish. It was a place to cook and eat, not to show off your sense of style. But that was ages ago—today’s kitchens are just as much about aesthetics as they are about function. Fortunately for homeowners, designers are rolling out new ideas all the time, so keeping with the trend is a breeze. If you think you can’t dress up your kitchen without slowing down, try these few simple ideas.

Modern Kitchen Countertops

Laminate is the popular choice for countertops, but it lacks the punch of modern materials such as granite, marble, or solid surface. Modern homes usually prefer granite for its high durability and attractive colors. You can find granite countertops in black, green, red, and even a mix of translucent colors. If you’re going for a sleek theme, look into solid surface countertops. The straight, simple lines make a nice complement to the natural curves of your kitchen layout.

Area rugs

Large kitchens are great, but all that space can be hard to manage. Kitchen area rugs help divide your floor area into manageable portions, so that your work is more organized. Bamboo area rugs work well if you’re going for an Asian theme, and jute and seagrass area rugs will suit a country or natural kitchen. They also work well for smaller rooms—look for kids area rugs that fit on your floor space and blend in with your kitchen décor.

Sleek cabinets

Storage is the most important element in the kitchen. You want everything within easy access, but that often means having big cabinets that get in the way of your décor. If you have a similar problem, consider getting modern wall-mounted cabinets to hold your commonly used items. An island bar can hold an open hanging shelf for goblets, wine bottles, or even kitchen utensils. If you have enough floor space, consider displaying your favorite items on a freestanding shelf—it makes for an interesting focal point.

Fancy patterns

Patterns can bring your colors to life and make your kitchen more interesting. Instead of plain tile, line your backsplash area with accent tiles that complement your color theme. Decorate a bare floor with oriental area rugs or colorful braided area rugs. Replace blinds with soft printed curtains. Use patterns where you can, but make sure not to go overboard or you’ll end up with a messy design. Combine solids and prints and keep a consistent color throughout the pattern.

Country Style Kitchens

For years, the trend has been towards edgy minimalist designs with lots of straight lines, sharp contrast, and bare space. Contemporary design is about bringing warmth and color back into the home—think country kitchens complete with hearths and chimneys. Try introducing more wood into your kitchen, whether in your cabinets, your countertop, or your island counter. If you can afford it, install some hardwood floors—it’s much homier than ceramic tile. Just add some wool area rugs to minimize the daily wear and make it last longer.

Just when you think you have seen every eco-friendly idea – a new one pops up. And I am continuously amazed by the creativity of people. The newest is chopstick art.

Our products are made from some of the 25 billions pairs of single use chopsticks that are discarded each year.

What came as a simple idea has grown into an amazing business. Used chopsticks are collected from restaurants, cleaned and sanitized at extremely high temperatures and then crafted into high-quality home accents.

The idea is Kwytza (pronounced k-why-tsa) – the Chinese word for chopstick.

Don’t think there are many single-use chopsticks used each year – think again. There are literally billions of single-use chopsticks used each year and they require 25 million trees and bamboo plants to produce them – that’s a lot of timber ending in waste.

And thus the need for these neat chopstick baskets and I’m sure there will be more to come.

Postmodern was the buzzword of home décor in the last few years, but the trend is changing fast. Today, country-style homes are making a comeback and warming up homes that were once cold and minimal. With our increasingly busy lifestyles, it’s great to come home to a home that’s warm and inviting, rather than one that’s sleek and stylish.

Decorating country-style isn’t as hard or costly as it seems. Just a few simple additions can completely turn your home around and make it your own country haven. Get started with these simple tips.

Bring in the wood

Wood is probably the first thing people think of when they think of country homes. Casual and inviting, wooden elements add instant warmth to your home—a sharp contrast to the cold, bare look of modern design. The best thing about it is that it goes with just about any color—just add a splash of your favorite shade and you’ve got a nice country home with a personal touch!

Can’t afford real wood? Create the same look with wood-themed wallpaper or laminate flooring and countertops. Some of them even come with wood scents to make them even more real.

Go natural

Country homes are known for their outdoorsy feel, so natural materials will fit right in. Sisal area rugs, bamboo shades, and wooden furniture are all excellent room additions. Not all natural materials are durable, so make sure to check for quality especially if you’re buying furniture. Wooden furniture has to be coated to minimize wear and resealed every year or two.

Create soft surfaces

A country home should have a casual atmosphere—you should feel like you can plop down anywhere and be comfortable. Start with natural fiber area rugs. Wood floors are prone to damage, so protect it with soft wool area rugs, or braided area rugs if you want a bit of color. If you have a large living room, choose oriental area rugs with central medallions to create an instant focal point. This looks especially dramatic in front of a fireplace.

Let in some natural light

Let in as much natural light as possible. It’s great if you have large windows—you can simply leave them open in the day and pull down the shades at night. Otherwise, maximize whatever light you have by using bright, pale-colored surfaces. Beige or yellow area rugs, pastel fabrics, and light curtains are best for small homes. You can also put up a mirror to reflect the right around the room. If properly placed, mirrors can eliminate the need for daytime lighting altogether.

Add a personal touch

Country décor is all about personalization. Consider making your own pieces from recycled materials such as fabric scraps, pieces of wood, and old bottles. They don’t have to be beautiful or well-made; they just have to be presentable and have that unique personal touch. Avoid store-bought decorations as much as possible. If you’re not into DIY décor, look for individual pieces in vintage or antique stores.

How many times do you find sticky stuff all over your taps – annoying isn’t it!

The solution – Delta’s new Pilar™ Pull-Down Kitchen Faucet with Touch2O™ Technology, which not surprisingly has won various industry awards.

To turn the water on and off all you need do is touch anywhere on the faucet. For those that need to know the tech stuff – it’s called “Proximity Sensing Technology”.

I love it and want one – no more messy stuff on my taps.

By the time winter is nearing the end of its annual extended visit, most people are ready to embrace the youthful exuberance of springtime with open arms. These easy decorating tips help you bring the beauty and cheer of the fresh, new season indoors.
Go Floral

As springtime buds begin flowering in a profusion of colors, you know the promise of spring has arrived. Once in bloom, the scent of these flowers is a welcome sign that winter is truly gone and sunny days are here to enjoy.
Potted spring flowers displayed everywhere around the house will fill your home with the refreshingly beautiful sights and sounds of spring. Tulips, crocus, and hyacinth are popular varieties and are usually easily available at florists during this time of the year. You can usually even find them at your local grocery market.
Think Green

Head out to your local nursery or the nursery section of one of the big-name home improvement stores and browse their vast selection of house plants. Load your cart with your favorite varieties and take them home to inject a healthy dose of oxygen into your home.

If you are lucky enough to enjoy a good deal of sunlight in your home, you will have a much larger selection of indoor plants to choose from. Don’t let less light keep you from having houseplants however; there are several varieties of house plants that can thrive even under low light conditions.

Add Pastels

While you aren´t likely to change the entire color scheme of your living room with new paint and carpeting, you can still make a dramatic springtime statement with some more subtle decorating touches.
There are simple, unobtrusive ways to bring some of the pastels of spring into your home environment. Throw pillows are a great way to make a quick, relatively inexpensive change. Pick up several in your favorite spring colors and scatter them across the sofa. Put away the heavy wool afghan and in its place display a lighter weight, pastel colored throw. How about a display of pastel candles? Pastel candles in springtime scents are another way to bring the colors and scents of spring right into your home.
Bring in More Natural Light

Make the most of the ever-increasing sunlight and bring more of it into your home by lighting up your window treatments. If you typically use heavy drapes on your windows, consider removing them. The effect will be dramatic. Try using nets or light curtains instead of heavy and dark ones. You will see the difference immediately and not only that, you will feel all the better for it.
If you don´t want to make drastic changes in your window decor, you can still capture more rays without making a big change. Just see to it that the windows are exposed as fully as possible. For example if your windows are typically covered in blinds, consider pulling the blinds up half way or even all of the way. As the light pours in, you will feel the promise of spring.
The change from winter to spring is refreshing and spirit lifting. As the landscape changes outside of your window, making a few changes to your indoor landscape will help you delight in the season even more.

This island bamboo cutting board sits over the sink area giving you extra bench space.

The cool thing about this is the built in flexible colander that fits over the sink allowing you to rinse, drain and chop. Plus did I mention that the colander is removable thus making it easy to transport ingredients between sink and stove.