Friday, June 29, 2012

LEGO Office Denmark

http://www.home-designing.com/2012/02/lego-office-denmark#.T0XL9iMn5w0.facebook

Located in Billund, Denmark, this LEGO office is intended to be a place of creativity, innovation, and judging by the incorporation of a huge slide leading to the collaboration areas, fun!

Designed by Rosan Bosch, and filled with LEGO, the space is full of color, which sings in a sunny environment. The layout tells us that this is a place where ideas are shared and expanded via informal meetings, with the center of the building remaining an open space littered with meeting points, from laptop bar pit stops and bespoke self screening sofas, to bonsai tree bedecked tables and private pods.

A whacky use of scale brings humor to the creative space, the architect explains: “The idea of scale is challenged with design elements such as huge grass wall graphics and a giant LEGO man and tables with built-in bonsai gardens, thus playing with perception and scale – who is big and who is small? Where does work stop and imagination start?”

Wednesday, June 27, 2012

Interior design: Kitchen trends; before/after kitchen; and slipper chairs

Interior design: http://www.oregonlive.com/hg/index.ssf/2012/06/interior_design_kitchen_trends.html

KITCHEN TRENDS: Take a stroll through some design trends as they pertain to kitchens from Home Design Find:

"There have been some big changes in kitchen design. In fact, you can take pretty much every major trend of the last few years and turn it on its head if you want to know what's new and hot in 2012."

STUNNING REMODEL: Speaking of kitchens, this before/after is stunning from Design Sponge:

"Photographer Jayme Lang and her husband just bought their first home in Vancouver. Fearlessly, they decided to gut the kitchen in order to rebuild their dream space. The newly designed kitchen is beautiful -- so open and bright, with a gorgeous band of charcoal gray above a clean combination of open shelving and simple white cabinetry. The dining room is an equally successful mix of crisp white, mid-century touches and beautiful wood floors. If these two rooms are any indication, the whole home will be stunning in no time."

ADD A CHAIR: The slipper chair, with its armless design, slips – sorry – into any room with ease as seen over at Houzz:

"One of my very favorite ways to infuse personality and pattern into a room is with a slipper chair. Without being a huge investment, they really open up the seating possibilities in a space. You can add texture and pattern without eating up too much real estate. And who doesn't love a great chair? The only problem is deciding which one best suits you and your personality. Here is a roundup of some eye-catching slipper chairs for you to choose from."

-- Bridget A. Otto

Friday, June 22, 2012

Springmaid Beach Resort completes multi-million dollar renovation project

http://www.traveldailynews.com/pages/show_page/50030-Springmaid-Beach-Resort-completes-multi-million-dollar-renovation-project

Specifically, renovations to Springmaid Beach Resort's Live Oak guest rooms feature decor with new carpet and porcelain tile; new window treatments; new American-made furniture; new wooden cabinetry, Five Diamond Series mattresses with plush bed toppers, pillows and linens; contemporary artwork; granite countertops; all new energy efficient lighting fixtures; new appliances; flat panel televisions; and new balcony flooring. The Resort's Live Oak tower features new corridors, elevators, refurbished parking areas and newly renovated pool areas; resurfaced and tiled water features, resurfaced decorative pool decks; new pool furniture and landscaping.

Renovations to the Resort's Palmetto guest rooms feature; Five Diamond Series mattresses with plush bed toppers, pillows and linens; new American-made furniture; new window treatments; contemporary artwork; granite countertops; all new energy efficient lighting fixtures; new appliances; flat panel televisions; and new balcony flooring.

A majority of the Resort's oceanfront meetings and conference facilities have been renovated to feature new carpeting; updated bathrooms with granite countertops, lighting, partitions and decor; window treatments; updated foyers with new furnishings; and crown molding.

Resort-wide upgrades include decorative corridor flooring; enhanced resort signage; landscape enhancements with new vegetation; renovated pool areas including resurfaced and tiled water features, and new pool furniture; an upgraded fitness center with all new equipment including treadmills, elliptical, exercise cycle and nautilus weight machines, gym flooring and wall coverings.

Springmaid Beach Resort also now features a newly constructed tackle shop stocking all necessities for the perfect day of fishing on the Springmaid Pier; an enhanced General Store and renovations to the Resort's Harbor Oaks miniature golf course; as well as extensive renovations to the Resort's on-site Marlin's Restaurant.

"We are already receiving overwhelming positive feedback from our guests on our renovations," said Don Singletary, Springmaid Beach Resort's general manager.

Wednesday, June 20, 2012

Interior design: Rooms that inspire ideas

http://www.oregonlive.com/hg/index.ssf/2012/06/interior_design_rooms_that_ins.html

IDEA MAKERS: Kristie Barnett, over at Houzz, gathers photos of rooms that inspire – from use of space to color.

"Most of us want to create a home that guests will admire -- but have you ever thought about decorating your home to inspire? If you're not sure what I mean, have a look at these ideas to make the spaces in your house more inspiring to all those who enter."

ANTIQUES MEET MODERN ELEMENTS: This Sneak Peek from Design Sponge is right up my alley. Love this mix of styles:

"Susan Hutchinson and her husband, Parker, live in a 1948 cottage in the historic town of West Chester, PA. They purchased it a year and a half ago and have been working on home improvements ever since. Their style is mostly vintage and traditional, with modern elements mixed in, and infused with antiques and French pieces (Susan is an eternal Francophile), some of which were inherited. The couple also loves a good flea market. Susan is an interior designer, stylist and blogger who, in addition to running Nesting, a baby/kids-focused interior design business and blog; maintaining her personal blog, Fleurishing; and doing editorial and event styling as Fleurishing LLC, is about to embark on her biggest project to date: twins! We're super excited to reveal the nursery, so don't miss it after the jump! Hopefully their beloved Billy (holding down the fort on the couch pictured above) handles the new additions to the family later this summer."

MASH-UP: Here's another fabulous mash-up of modern and traditional looks:

"We're always in awe of truly creative people--the type who can mix red and purcle and make it look amazing, or the type of people who see things that none of us do.

"We have to admit we get stuck in a rut sometimes. For example, if we are in the mid century house we think all the furniture has to be mid-century, or if we're in the cottage all the furniture should be shabby chic, right?

"But that kind of thinking can be limiting doesn't it? That's why we think it's important to think outside the box, so to speak. It opens up a lot more possibilities."

-- Bridget A. Otto

Tuesday, June 19, 2012

Portland Interior Designer Garrison Hullinger completes historic remodel

Read more: http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/g/a/2012/06/19/prweb9617709.DTL#ixzz1yJ7YFmgn

Portland interior designer announces completion of an historic Craftsman remodel that both respects architectural tradition and supports the modern lifestyles of the home's new owners. Careful space planning and use of a diverse but subtle pallette of materials, colors and patterns are key to the success of the remodel by Portland's Garrison Hullinger Interior Design.

Portland, Oregon (PRWEB) June 19, 2012

Portland interior designer Garrison Hullinger recently announced completion of a whole house remodel that introduces 21st century luxury living to a 1901 Portland Craftsman. According to Hullinger, the project's success was built on a process of discovery that helped uncover the clients' wants and needs for their remodeled home.

"The clients wanted to preserve the aesthetics and elegance of this historic house they bought, but they also needed a fully-appointed modern home," said Garrison Hullinger, principal of Portland's Garrison Hullinger Interior Design. "Thanks to our understanding of the homeowners, this new remodel achieved both."

The original house had a strong Edwardian influence, with floors divided into many rooms. The first floor included a dining room, brandy room, extensive pantry, kitchen living room, and half bath. The second floor housed five bedrooms, each with a tiny closet, and one bathroom.

"We really wanted to pay homage to the home and resist the modernist tendency to just open everything up," said Hullinger. "So we were committed to the Edwardian aesthetic but we also needed to carve out some space."

Hullinger and his Portland team of interior designers dove into intensive space planning mode, reducing the five bedrooms of the second floor down to three, and adding a second full bath to that floor. The GHID team used new, generous closets as buffers for the newly configured bedrooms, providing separation and privacy between rooms. Hullinger also designed a full guest suite in the attic space, and created nooks throughout the house for reading, phone conversation, or the iPad.

(For a portfolio of the interior design of this Portland craftsman remodel visit http://garrisonhullinger.com/portfolios/interiors-classic-remodel or view a video slideshow of the project at www.youtube.com/watch?v=SxJwv0CBqOA&feature=plcp)

In tune with the Portland home's historic narrative, Hullinger worked extensively with salvaged and restored materials in the remodel. An original leaded glass window provided inspiration for the new windows in the kitchen. Reused countertop remnants recovered from the house found new life in several rooms of the home. A rescued and refurbished handrail now graces the central staircase. And salvaged doors and windows abound, most notably the oval leaded glass window discovered by the builder during preparation for a full bathroom addition on the main floor, still installed but covered inside-and-out by drywall and siding.

In decorating the interiors of the home, the Garrison Hullinger Interior Design team chose the subtle and diverse over the sterile and uniform. In the kitchen, for example, the variety of metal finishes on the fixtures, the La Cornue stove and the range Vent-A-Hood create an inviting and comfortable pastiche. The design approach also finds expression in the living room décor, with its subtle shifts in pattern and tone, and in the brandy room with its walls covered in patterned Scottish linen. Elsewhere, natural grass cloth wallpaper provides rich texture and a golden haze hue that tricks the eye into seeing sunlight when any light hits it.

"Nothing in these interiors is so precious that you would interrupt the flow by removing or replacing a piece here or a finish there," said Hullinger. "And the subtlety in décor allows the home itself to be the beauty."

Space-saving tactics were key to the project's success, especially in the home's twelve-and-a-half foot by fourteen-and-a-half foot kitchen. The custom kitchen "island" is actually on wheels and can be rolled out of the way. The oven's French doors encroach less on the space than would a conventional door. And a microwave drawer tucks that appliance away.

"The kitchen isn't big, but it boasts every modern amenity," Hullinger said.

GHID sought far and wide for uncommon pieces for the remodel's interiors. The firm discovered the playful Murano glass and crystal chandelier in a New York showroom. The home's imported rugs and fabrics, as well as its Concetto Ceasarstone agate countertops imbue the remodel with a distinctive look and feel. Each element was curated to fit the clients and the pattern of their lives.

"When I showed the homeowner a possible textile selection for an ottoman he told me, 'just make sure it can handle my golf cleats,'" Hullinger said. "That's exactly what we're after - luxurious, gracious home interiors that align with and support how our clients live their lives. It has to be comfortable and practical."

More about Garrison Hullinger Interior Design's work can be found at http://garrisonhullinger.com and on the firm's popular Portland interior design blog.

About Garrison Hullinger Interior Design
GHID is a Portland, Oregon based interior design firm dedicated to creating stunning interiors that respect taste, collections, artwork and budget: from custom home furnishings and decorating, to kitchen and bathroom renovation, to new home design.

Garrison Hullinger Interior Design
1204 SE Water Ave # 22
Portland, OR 97214

###

For the original version on PRWeb visit: www.prweb.com/releases/prweb2012/6/prweb9617709.htm

Sunday, June 17, 2012

Furniture, decoration store opens in Port Royal

http://www.islandpacket.com/2012/06/15/2103606/furniture-decoration-store-opens.html

Three women have teamed up and moved their consignment businesses into the recently opened Cottage Home in Port Royal.

The new store at 920 14th St. is owned by Indre Palencia, who is using the home-turned-office-turned-bookstore as retail space for herself and vendors Barbara Marsh and Ginny DuBose.

A New York native, Palencia was an interior designer for 25 years. When the economy crashed, she turned to retail.

"This was my hobby and my passion, so I was finally able to do it," she said.

She originally opened Cottage Home last year at 1632 Paris Ave., then moved to Consign and Design on Paris at 1406 Paris Ave. Palencia opened her most recent location June 2.

The store includes furniture, antiques, decorations and other home items. Palencia said her specialty is furniture she and her husband paint.

Marsh's specialties are art deco and vintage and costume jewelry. DuBose focuses on local items and makes crèches with indigenous Lowcountry materials, according to the businesses' website. They were previously part of Consign and Design.

"It's a little culmination of our passion and interests," Palencia said.

Hours: 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Saturday.

Information: 843-379-5599, www.cottagehome.webs.com

In other news about town:

A new nail salon celebrated its grand opening Friday on Boundary Street. Liberte' Nails is at 2303 Boundary St., Suite 6. Clients with military IDs receive a 5-percent discount.

Hours: 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. Monday through Friday; 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Saturdays.

Information: 843-524-8888

Plans to open a frozen yogurt shop in downtown Beaufort have failed after the business owner was unable to obtain financing, according to developer Steve Patterson. The space at 722 Bay St. is still available for rent, and Patterson said there has been some interest from prospective business owners.

East Coast Liquidators has opened at 481 Parris Island Gateway in Beaufort. The store sells items such as furniture, toys, clothing and electronics at a discount.

Hours: 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. Monday through Friday; noon to 4 p.m. Sunday.

Information: 843-522-6830

Last-Minute Occasions party supply store is opening Monday at 1808 Boundary St. in Beaufort, with a celebration planned for 11 a.m. Door prizes, coffee and doughnuts will be available.

Hours: 9:30 a.m. to 7 p.m. Monday, Wednesday and Thursday; 9:30 a.m. to 6 p.m. Tuesday; 8 a.m. to 7 p.m. Friday and Saturday; 12:30 to 5 p.m. Sunday.

Information: 843-379-5444

Captured Moments Photography family portrait studio is celebrating its grand opening Wednesday of its new location at 509-B Adventure St. in Beaufort. Festivities will begin at 4 p.m., and the Beaufort Regional Chamber of Commerce will conduct a ribbon-cutting at 4:30 p.m.

Hours: 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday and Wednesday; 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. Tuesday and Thursday; and 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Friday.

Information: 843-379-0223, cmoments.com

Thursday, June 14, 2012

Home Office Decor: Steel Logic

iVillage.com | Read More http://www.ivillage.com/home-office-designs-and-decor/7-b-256760#ixzz1xpJhfZJE | Sign up for iVillage Special Offers

Industrial elements—a factory chair, metal file cabinets and a lab-style desk—contrast nicely with a pair of upholstered chairs in this masculine study.

Tuesday, June 12, 2012

Green Tips for Home Renovation

http://www.gov.hk/en/residents/environment/public/green/greenrenovation.htm

Renovations can produce a great deal of waste if not handled properly. Here you can learn about the management issues you should consider, the availability of green building products, indoor air quality problems that might arise, how to reduce renovation waste and how to dispose of the remaining waste properly.

Managing Your Renovation

Home renovation can improve your living environment, but it can cause pollution and waste problems. That’s why it is very important to manage your renovation project carefully, taking into consideration what you need to do, how you will do it, how you will dispose of waste and how you will affect your family and neighbours. If you live in an apartment building you can seek help from the property management company to notify others of your intentions, and to help resolve any disputes. The property management company can also provide you with information on your rights and responsibilities during the renovation project.

Controlling Noise from Renovation Work

Noise from renovation work can cause annoyance to your neighbours. To minimise the disturbance, you should:

  • Avoid carrying out renovation work before 9 am.
  • Remind your contractor not to use powered mechanical equipment, carry out hammering or handle rubble between 7 pm to 7 am or at any time on public holidays.

Using Green Building Materials

Many conventional finishing materials, such as solvent-based paints, solvents and adhesives, contain high levels of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) which cause air pollution and smog having a significant adverse effect on human health. They are also smelly during the renovation process, which can be a problem for your neighbours. But you can avoid such situations by choosing to use water-based paints or paints with lower VOC content, and avoiding the use of adhesive-rich plywood.

Another way of using more environmentally friendly products is to purchase recycled materials. In Hong Kong, such materials are available for:

  • Walls and partitions
  • Carpets and other surfaces
  • Benches
  • Windows and doors

A list of recycled building materials, noting their specifications, supplier names and contact details, is available online.

Maintaining Indoor Air Quality

When you begin renovating, you should be aware of how your activities affect the indoor air quality for both you and your neighbours. Apart form volatile organic compounds, dust from polishing, sanding, cutting and grinding materials can be a problem. This can cause nasal and eye irritations, headaches, dizziness, nausea and even breathing problems. To avoid such problems, you should:

  • Schedule the renovation work during periods when the fewest residents are at home.
  • Identify areas that do not need extensive renovations – sometimes a new coat of paint will do.
  • Isolate renovated areas from other areas by installing physical barriers to prevent dust spreading.
  • Ensure that you have adequate ventilation by opening windows and operating exhaust fans.
  • Seal the inlets and outlets of air-conditioners to minimise the spread of dust and other contaminants.

When your renovation has been completed you should:

  • Ensure that the area is ventilated with fresh air well before you occupy it again.
  • Air out any new furniture that might contain formaldehyde adhesives for at least several days before taking it indoors.
  • Maintain a high rate of ventilation during the first few months of occupancy to ensure that air quality is maintained.

Waste Reduction during Renovation

You can reduce waste during the renovation process by:

  • Reusing items such as hoardings, formwork and scaffolding, and recycling materials such as metal.
  • Ordering the right amount of materials at the right time.
  • Collecting small materials in suitable containers so you can locate them easily – this will both reduce wastage and save you money.
  • Allocating a storage area for old materials that have been sorted, such as metal, concrete, timber, plastics, glass, excavated spoils, bricks and tiles.
  • Giving your renovation contractor clear instructions on the separation and removal of construction waste.
  • Delivering used items, such as electrical appliances and furniture, to recyclable outlets.

All sorted materials can then be recycled/disposed of as appropriate.

Disposing of Your Waste

When you are ready to dispose of the waste from your renovation, or have a contractor do it for you, be aware that you will be charged under the Construction Waste Disposal Charging Scheme. You or your contractor will need to open a billing account with the Environmental Protection Department before using Government waste disposal facilities. If you need to dispose of asbestos, it is a legal requirement that you must hire a registered asbestos consultant and contractor to do so, and give written notice to the Environmental Protection Department at least 28 days in advance. 

Choosing Energy Efficient Appliances

If you need to buy new electrical appliances after renovating you should look for those with energy efficiency labels. These labels tell you about energy consumption and efficiency, with highly efficient appliances allowing you to save on electricity bills, and to help save the environment.

Last review date: February 2012

Monday, June 11, 2012

Retail Interior Design - Miramar Shopping Centre



Retail Interior Design Project

Retail Interior Design

Design Date: 2011-07-18
Design Project: Miramar Shopping Centre

Website : http://www.miramarshoppingcentre.com
Address : 132 Nathan Road, Tsim Sha Tsui, Kowloon
Opening Hours : 11am - 11pm
Description :
Everything you need, right when you need it! Miramar Shopping Centre has it all. 

We have rounded up a host of exclusive flagship stores of the hippest brands from Japan and Europe, so you can catch up on all the latest trends in a flash. With access to the hottest names, you can be the first to change your style so pulling off a fresh, new look for a dinner date will be no sweat. From bars and cafes, to wine and dine options. Anytime you feel like true gourmet, you can bet on being in the right place. 

Miramar Shopping Centre Facebook Page

Thursday, June 7, 2012

T Interior Design at TW yahoo!

We sign up an new Interior Design Weblog at TW Yahoo!

URL : http://tw.myblog.yahoo.com/tinterior-design

Titan Interior Design Service

Titan Design offer professional design services from all categories of interiors such as:

  • Interior Design
  • Furniture Design
  • Space Planning
  • Contracting Work
  • Restaurant & Licensing
  • Project Management
  • Material Sourcing
  • Renovation

Tuesday, June 5, 2012

Home sweet home

http://www.cambridge-news.co.uk/Homes-and-Gardens/Interiors/Home-sweet-home-31052012.htm

Their passion for the lovely things in life has inspired Cambourne couple Kevin and Jenni Hairsine to launch their own home accessories business EMU. Louise Cummings pays a visit and prepares to shop until she drops . . .

Kevin and Jenni Hairsine have a masterplan – to fill homes across the land with ‘lovely things’. Passionate about upcycled furniture as well as beautiful home accessories and describing their idea of heaven as “drinking tea from china cups, while dipping into a good book”, the husband and wife team are the brains behind stylish homeware company EMU (it has nothing to do with shaggy Australian birds, before you ask. . . explanation later!)

Stepping into their charming shop on the main street of Gamlingay, it’s clear they have achieved their dream, creating a sheer haven of loveliness. Pretty pink polka dot wooden hearts hang next to shaker-style garlands and decorative bird houses in pastel shades. Shabby chic abounds with rustic trugs, shiny tin pails, one-off jelly moulds, occasional tables and old chests. “This cabinet started life in Macy’s in New York,” Kevin smiles, as he points out his latest upcycled pride and joy. “It was shipped over to England, and when it arrived with me it was all warped and in a bit of a state. It took abut eight weeks to bring it back to life,” he explains, giving it a satisfying tap.

Elsewhere there is a simply divine pine dresser which Kevin has transformed using the finest Annie Sloan paint in duck egg blue, an old chest rescued from a house clearance in France, not to mention the charming distressed Gustavian table.

I find myself diving into a box of dainty ladybird motif pegs, and have already selected a Mr & Mrs garland for my impending nuptials, and a clutch of rustic wooden plant signs, before I remember I am here to interview enterprising dad-of-three Kevin, 32.

We sit down to chat over a frothy latte in the gorgeous Crafty Cupcake Café, which is run by vintage-loving Faye Boissieux – from whom Kevin rents the space for EMU.

Surrounded by strings of bunting and home-made corsages, Hull-born Kevin explains that both he and wife Jenni were in completely different careers before their gorgeous homeware brand was born. His background was in catering, with chef stints at top venues in the City and across Essex, including working for the famous Roux Brothers, while Jenni was a freelance editor.

Having met in Jenni’s native Braintree, the couple decided to move to Cambourne in 2003, where they bought their first home. Marrying at Madingley Church in 2005, their first daughter Milena, now 5, was born a couple of years later. Planning for another baby, it was when they were told they were expecting twin girls Zahra and Yasmin that the couple decided it was time to make a work/life change.

The couple had always dreamed of owning their own business, and didn’t take long to decide on their niche market. “People are spending more time at home, they want to beautify their homes, and there are always home improvement programmes on the television so that’s why we chose the world of home accessories and furniture.”

Jenni dreamt up the name Emu, as the couple wanted something short, snappy and slightly ambiguous. “It’s attention grabbing but it’s not related to any emu-related products, which is what we often get asked about!" Kevin smiles. "Our tagline is ’lovely things’ and that describes exactly what we sell.”

Rather than heading straight for the High Street, Kevin decided to take EMU down the concessions route, launching the family brand from a room at The Barn in Kneesworth in February 2011, then following a month later with a room at Swan Antiques, Interiors and Gardens at Hemel Hempstead. The response was heartening, with the home accessories selling well, and steady commissions coming in for upcycled furniture.

“It felt exciting to have something that gave us such flexibility,” Kevin recalls. “Jenni concentrated very much on the twins and that gave me the freedom to put my all into EMU.”

With the business proving popular, EMU’s online shop was launched last July and orders have come in from as far afield as Carlisle and Devon, with the website getting visitors from 50 different countries and receiving its first international order recently from the USA.

Not one to rest on his laurels, Kevin wanted a new challenge for 2012, which is where the Gamlingay shop comes in. Meeting Fay, owner of the Crafty Cupcake, at the Gransden Show, the pair got talking and decided Kevin should rent a room at the shop. EMU had its grand opening on February 23rd this year. “It’s a perfect spot as this is very much the hub of the village,” Kevin smiles, as we hear a group of children downstairs giggling over their waffles and ice cream. “Fay hosts book clubs here, craft evenings and knitting clubs, and has therapy rooms. The great thing is that Fay and her team man the shop for me, so I have time to be restoring furniture at my workshop or hunting for the next bargain which I can turn into an upcycled piece.”

Ultimately, Kevin and Jenni would love to bring Emu to Cambridge, but for now they are happy with the progress of their haven of loveliness. “It’s going brilliantly,” Kevin enthuses. “It has been challenging but it’s very enjoyable and has given us such flexibility as a family, which is exactly what we wanted.”

Visit EMU at www.emuhome.co.uk or at The Crafty Cupcake, 28 Church Street, Gamlingay.

Monday, June 4, 2012

Fitness Furniture: A Couch Made For Crunches

http://www.fastcodesign.com/1669957/fitness-furniture-a-couch-made-for-crunches-and-chilling-out

The home exercise industry is built on indulging people's laziest instincts--get a six-pack in just 2 seconds a day and never leave home!--which is why it's pretty shocking that the Bowflex and Nordic Track makers of the world didn't think of Panorama first: It's a living room set that doubles as fitness gear.

That's right. Panorama lets you work out without ever getting off the couch. Designed by three students at L'École de Design Nantes Atlantique in France, it's conceived as a carpet with built-in backrests that can replace both standard living-room furniture, such as chairs and sofas, in addition to clunky exercise equipment. The backrests are designed to accommodate home accessories, such as lamps, file cabinets, and tables. One of them can also be used for situps, and has an adjustable height for increased resistance. There is additionally, a "lateral element, which is harder, [and] allows [one] to practice many different fitness exercises, like push-ups or strengthening," the designers say.

Sounds like you can get a really good, sweaty workout using this thing. Here's hoping the carpet is easy to clean.

[H/t Trendland]

Saturday, June 2, 2012

HKDI - 65917F Higher Diploma in Interior Design 2012

http://www.vtc.edu.hk/admission/eng/course/course-65917f.html

Normal Duration of Study 1.5 - 4.5 Years
Entry to Level 2 : 4.5 Years
Entry to Level 3 : 3 Years
Entry to Level 4 : 1.5 Year
[There are 3 semesters per academic year, Autumn, Spring and Summer Semester. Students are required to follow the course arrangements stipulated by HKDI]

Mode of Study Part-time (Evening)

Offering Campus(es) / Venue(s) (Accepting Entry to Level 2 of Study) HKDI
(Accepting Entry to Level 3 of Study) HKDI
(Accepting Entry to Level 4 of Study) HKDI

Year of Study Accepting Entry
Level 2
Level 3
Level 4

Entrance Requirements
Entrance Requirements for Level 2 (Note 1):
HKCEE 5 subjects - Grade E / Level 2 or above (including English Language and Chinese Language) OR Diploma in Vocational Studies OR Foundation Diploma OR Foundation Certificate OR Project Yi Jin OR equivalent; applicants should be working in the relevant design fields and are required to attend an interview *.

Please contact the Department for further details (Phone no : 3928 2800)

* If an applicant possesses the relevant academic qualifications but is not working in the relevant design fields, OR is working in the relevant design fields but without the relevant academic qualifications, such case may be considered individually. Successful applicants must study bridging modules (for which extra tuition fee will be charged).

Entrance Requirements for Level 3:
Achieved entrance requirements for Level 2; and possessing relevant recognised Certificate / Professional Certificate OR equivalent; applicants should be working in the relevant design fields and are required to attend an interview *.

Please contact the Department for further details (Phone no : 3928 2800)

* If an applicant possesses the relevant academic qualifications but is not working in the relevant design fields, OR is working in the relevant design fields but without the relevant academic qualifications, such case may be considered individually. Successful applicants must study bridging modules (for which extra tuition fee will be charged).

Entrance Requirements for Level 4:
Achieved entrance requirements for Level 2; and possessing relevant recognised Diploma / Higher Certificate OR equivalent; applicants should be working in the relevant design fields and are required to attend an interview *.

Please contact the Department for further details (Phone no : 3928 2800)

* If an applicant possesses the relevant academic qualifications but is not working in the relevant design fields, OR is working in the relevant design fields but without the relevant academic qualifications, such case may be considered individually. Successful applicants must study bridging modules (for which extra tuition fee will be charged).

Evening(s) per week 3 - 4 evenings (Students may be required to attend class on Saturdays)
Introduction
The programme develops students' abilities to engage in spatial design for interiors and environments which take into account historical, social, cultural, economic and technical considerations. The programme aims to cultivate a holistic approach to design education that encompasses both conceptual and professional concerns leading to graduates' capabilities of independent decision making.

Modules (Note 2)
(Module Value)(Note 3)

Level 2

Design Studies (13)
Cultural Studies (4)
English & Communication (4)
Computered Aided Design (4)
Drawing Studies (7)
Design Technology (2)
Photographic Studies (2)

Level 3

Design Studies (10)
Cultural Studies (4)
English & Communication (2)
Putonghua (2)
Computered Aided Interior Design (4)
Furniture Design (3)
Interior Photography (1)
Professional Practice (2)
Interior Design Technology (4)

Level 4

Design Studies (13)
Cultural Studies (4)
Computered Aided interior Design (4)
Furniture Design (3)
Interior Photography (1)
Professional Practice (1)
English & Communication (4)
Interior Design Technology (2)

Articulation
Graduates can apply for admission to the following courses :
Bachelor degree course in BA (Hons) in Interior Design offered by the Birmingham City University, UK (Third Year).
Upon admission to relevant degree courses, graduates can apply for credit exemption. The level of exemption will be considered on individual basis.

Tuition Fee Please click HERE for tuition fees.

Note(s):
HKCEE English Language taken in 2006 or before should be at Grade E or above (Syllabus B) / Grade C or above (Syllabus A).
Students admitted to Level 2 will be required to take the Structured Whole Person Development Module(s) if they have less than 2 years of full-time work experience before graduation. The same requirement will apply to students admitted to Level 3 and Level 4 if they have less than 1.5 year and 1 year of full-time work experience respectively before graduation. Please click here for details.
A Module Value of one is equivalent to 15 curriculum hours, including class contact hours and self-guided learning.

There might be changes in the course details.