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Decorating with Pantone Colour of the year 2016

If you have a keen interest in interior design, you would have seen the Pantone Colour of the year. It was announced last year. For the first time in Pantone’s history, the team decided on two colours – Rose Quartz and Serenity Blue. What a luxury. Instead of popularising one colour, they chose to present them as a combination.

These colours are reminiscent of baby gender reveal parties popular these days. They are soft and very easy on the eye. When paired together, they bring a sense of soothing freshness to an interior space.

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According to Pantone, “Rose Quartz is a persuasive yet gentle tone that conveys compassion and a sense of composure. Serenity is weightless and airy, like the expanse of the blue sky above us, bringing feelings of respite and relaxation even in turbulent times.”

Today’s feature looks at one half of this beautiful Pantone colour duo – Rose Quartz.

Finding the right colours to allow this soft pink colour shine through is important. In today’s feature, we share two applications in a living room setting.

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For a bright and airy look, paint your walls in white or off-white. Pared back with minimal metallic accessories, the pink sofa pops is the centre of attention in this living room. The herringbone patterned flooring adds that extra touch of texture and interest to the room.

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For a look that is calm and sultry but isn’t too feminine, start off with darker walls. To add to the warm scheme, team with rich browns in the other furniture pieces and accessories. It is both simple and appealing.

If you’ve never decorated with this shade of pink before, this is your time to give it a try.

For more industry commentary on the Pantone Colour of the Year

Colour of the year 2016 – Pantone

The Painted History of Rose Quartz and Serenity – Huffington Post

How to decorate your home with Pantone’s Rose Quartz and Serenity – StyleCaster

Kitchens in Pantone’s Colours of the Year – The Kitchin

Image source: Style and Minimalism

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Easy ways to add texture to your decor

There’s just something about the colder months that makes us want to hibernate at home for months. We don’t have that luxury and need to get out and about to make a living. The least we can do is to make our homes as cosy as possible for those anticipated relaxing days. Adding texture in your décor is one way of doing it. We share three useful tips to get you motivated. They’re super simple.

Create an organic look

It is startling the difference plants and flowers can make to a living space. Perfect for a minimalist or cosy look, you can create a fresh, organic look in your home. Lush greenery teamed with woven textures is a natural combination bound to work. You can even go big and over-sized like this example here. Smaller plants are perfect accents for your coffee table or the top of a chest of drawers.

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Add textiles for an instant update

We can’t talk about texture without mentioning our trusted favourites. Cushions, blankets, throws make it so easy to instantly create texture in your décor. Whether it’s a fluffy cushion or a cosy blanket, you can amp the cosy factor. You can introduce them in any room to give a relaxed look. Neutral coloured textiles work very well with most decorating schemes. For those who want added visual interest in a neutral scheme, use textiles with attention-grabbing designs.

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Keep it simple with accessories  

Thanks to the myriad of options available to us, accessorising our homes is so much easier. Providing function and beauty at the same time, wake up your room with textured pieces. Woven storage baskets for your throws in the lounge or towels in the bathroom. Mug warmers in the kitchen. Distressed wooden candle holders, you name it. Accessories are a sure-fire way to inject much needed texture into your home like a professional.

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What will you do to add texture to your home this week? Share your ideas with us.

Image sources

The Everygirl

Brown Design Inc

The Ultralinx

Live Love in the Home

Keep

Nordic House

Funksjonelt

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Clever ways to repurpose your old furniture

We all have those items in our homes. The ones we’ve had for donkey years. We don’t want to get rid of them but we don’t know what to do with them. Or sometimes it is furniture we’ve salvaged from a recent home renovation project.

Instead of taking them to the skip, why not give them a new lease of life? We’ve handpicked three clever ways to repurpose your old furniture into a new useful addition to your home.

Windows as a Coffee Table

If you’d love to reuse that old window you removed recently but can’t think of how, try this. Make it the top for a new coffee table. Like this one we found, they’ve upcycled a few pallets to create this industrial-style coffee table. Upcycling is sustainable and also rewarding.

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Repurpose an old credenza

Turn your old mid-century credenza into a new statement piece for your home. Although a bit bulky and definitely requiring knowledge of a thing or two on woodwork, you can breathe new life into your old treasure. This salvaged credenza was stripped, sanded, filled, designed and painted. A good amount of work went into it but it is a beauty to behold. The new designs also add the fun factor.

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Step up your décor literally

Not often do you get a ladder take centre stage in the home, talk less of in the bedroom. It can be done with a bit of creativity and vision. Make your bedside more interesting by repurposing an old leaning ladder. This example is perfect for book storage and even holds a spot for the lamp.

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When wanting to repurpose furniture, the options are endless. You can turn old furniture into extra seating, new display units and even wall art.  Inject personality and sustainability into your home by taking on a few new projects, or maybe one to start with.

Fill us in on your upcycling projects. We’d love to see your photos.

Image sources

DIY Network

Apartment 34

Dream Home Style

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Top Interior Books to read in 2016

As we welcome 2016, it gives us the opportunity to look forward to fresh aspirations with a new lease of life. If you haven’t done so already, you can make some new goals today.  Think big and give yourself the chance to see your vision come to reality.

One goal of ours at Moody Monday is to challenge ourselves to innovate more. This will sometimes take us out of our comfort zone but we welcome this. We are eager to learn and find useful resources to help stretch our imagination.

What better way to start off 2016 than with a new book list? If it’s in the world of interior design, we have just the list for you. Read on for some of our favourite interior design books to open your mind up to a world of new possibilities. No doubt your home will thank you for it too.

1. The Tailored Interior by Greg Natale

Offering readers a step-by-step guide of the interior design process, Greg shares how he creates vibrant homes with his bold signature style. Find out more

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2. Bright Bazaar: Embracing Colour for Make-You-Smile Style by Will Taylor

This colour-popping book is bursting with beautiful images and great ideas on how to use colour in every space in your home. Find out more

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3. Sustainable Design Book by Rebecca Proctor

This book opens the door to a world of inspiration from over 200 designers who are taking ecological product design very seriously. It is sure to surprise and educate you. Find out more

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4. Decorating with Style by Abigail Ahern

We love how she makes dark interiors look so luxurious and captivating. Find out more

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5. Style Council by Sarah Thompson

Get introduced to unique interior spaces which celebrate savvy home style in Britain’s ex-council homes. Find out more

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Happy reading and a happy new year! Let us know which ones become your favourite.

Image mention

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Inspiring Designers, Part II : Prasetio Budhi

This week, we introduce you to another talented interior designer based in Indonesia. Prasetio Budhi heads up Plus Design, the interior design consulting firm which he set up over a decade ago.

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Photo: Le Salon, © Plus Design 2015

His style is particularly youthful, having the ability to combine luxurious elements bringing individuality and personality to beautiful high-end spaces.

His mantra is “to bring world class design to every project”. Embracing more of a classic style in his interiors whether residential or commercial, his ability to showcase interesting design with a contemporary aesthetic is remarkable.

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Photo: Senopati Residence, © Plus Design 2015
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Photo: Jade Boutique © Plus Design 2015

The refined look created in this commercial store displays a creative juxtaposition of dark ambiance with statement lighting. We think his work is undeniably stylish with a refreshing edge.

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Photo: Elite Senayan City, © Plus Design 2015
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Photo: Elite Senayan City, © Plus Design 2015

For more of his interior projects, visit www.plus-dsgn.com. If you haven’t already, also read the first blog in our series, Inspiring Designer part 1.

Image mention

https://www.behance.net/prasetiobudhi

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4 Tips for organising your home office

The home office is more popular these days than it has ever been, thanks to flexible working practices and more people starting their own businesses from home.

At Moody Monday, we’re all for owning and having control of your space. Say goodbye to the days of chaos and messy desks, it’s time to make this the week of the organised home office.  Here are a few tips to get you started.

Declutter, declutter, declutter

If you’re not throwing things out on a regular basis, it’s very likely that you’re keeping more stuff than you really need. Like we do with our wardrobes and other rooms in the home, it is important to declutter your home office regularly to keep on top of things. Scan important items, remove old magazines, paperwork you’ve dealt with, excess folders and the like. The saying “Less is more” is definitely true for the home office, you can concentrate on only what is truly relevant.

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Images via Anthony Pepe and Home Designing

Invest in a good organisational system

I have a soft spot for making sure everything has a home. Books, stationery, folders, office supplies, post it notes, you name them. It’s undeniable that we all have different preferences about how particular we are about these things, however some level of organisation is helpful for remembering where things are and bringing a sense of calm and order into your office space.

Make sure you have adequate storage to prevent your desk from becoming messy and untameable. If your home office has evolved over the years, it’s most likely needing a full evaluation to be sure the space is still working well for you. You can either plan this out yourself or hire the services of an interior designer to help you out.

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Image via Intelligent Genie

Choose your desk and chair wisely

In most corporate offices, there is much emphasis placed on ergonomics. It’s usually in the company policies to ensure that employees have the right environment and equipment to do their work efficiently and are also well informed about this. Why not have the same level of care and attention in your home office? Be sure to get a chair which provides all the support your body needs and the desk is at the right height and is well suited to your needs. If unsure about what to do, contact a specialist home office furniture company.

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Image via Neat and Tidy

Personalise with something you love

Whether it’s a family photo, an inspirational quote, your favourite flowers, it’s good to have some positive visual reminders. They can help you to be thankful for the things you’re grateful for and are also pretty handy for those days when you need that extra bit of motivation. . We all know it is important to have the right mind-set to be productive at work.

Your home office should be an expression of who you are and the design style of your home. Be free to show your personality and style with the use of colour, texture and unique accessories in the design of your home office.

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Image via Ultralinx and Style Me Pretty

Your home office doesn’t have to be the usual desk and chair setting in a separate corner of your home, explore the possibility of using what you already have at home to your best advantage. A few weeks ago, we looked at how you can use the space under your suitcase from a previous blog post or it could even be by your bedside, there are loads of options to explore.

Whatever you do, keep your home office organised.

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Cosy Living Room Ideas

The living room is usually the hub of family activity and interaction in the home. Most of us are constantly looking for ways to make ours cosy and inviting. Today, we share with you some of our favourite cosy living room ideas.

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The luxurious velvet used on the armchair and ottomans naturally add a luxurious and cosy feel to this contemporary living room.

Source: Luxury Living Group

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Soft greys and blacks create a polished and sophisticated look in this monochromatic scheme. The rug is a perfect anchor for creating a clearly defined living room space.

Source: Home Designing

blog3_cosy living room_homifyArea rugs like this give a room that instant cosy update. They are perfect for sinking one’s feet in on those cold nights. The grey fluffy look makes it stand out from the brown furniture adding texture to the room’s look.

Source: Homify

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More a home theatre than a living room, we love the striking red colour scheme. Red and brown work harmoniously well.

Source: Zillow

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Nothing screams cosy as much as a lovely fireplace. This extra long fireplace makes a big statement in this living room. Teamed with dark hues and wooden logs as additional furniture, it is safe to say this will be a well-used family room.

Source: Dwell

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The vibrant blue colour scheme naturally creates a calm and serene atmosphere in this lounge. The contrasting armchair certainly adds a welcome unexpected touch of glam.

Source: House to Home

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We think you can never have too many scatter cushions. This simple living room has an inviting sofa against a neutral and minimalist backdrop making it perfect for those long hours of family fun and conversation.

Source: Dwell

 

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How to create a relaxing bathroom

Long days in the office, countless trips to kids’ clubs and activities, endless hours scrolling through our phones, we 21st century humans are probably the busiest lot ever in the history of time. Thankfully the majority of us have been blessed with a great asset in our homes which we tend to under-utilise – The bathroom. This precious room can take us from all that chaos, hustle and bustle right into a temporary state of calmness, renewal and rejuvenation if we care to use it well.

Especially as we approach the colder months, we can enjoy more time at home and escape into a little world of serenity every now and again. What is important in making your bathroom more relaxing is to focus on treating all of your senses to some delight. Read on for some of our tips.

See a beautiful view

Soft whites, greys and earthy tones work very well to create a simple and visually appealing scheme in the bathroom. Harsh overhead lighting doesn’t do much when you’re trying to relax, use dimmable lighting to alter the ambience. White candles are also a favorite for adding a crisp, luxurious feel.

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Sources 1 | 2 | 3

Add an extra touch of cosiness

The last thing you want when you enter your bathroom is to be hit with icy coolness. A towel warmer will keep that bathroom nice and toasty, ready for you even before you step into the bath tub. Good quality bath towels and bath mats are a must have. Finish off with a cosy fluffy robe to enjoy some extra hours of warmth and comfort as you lounge around the house.

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Sources 1 | 2

Good tunes for your ears

The set is all ready. Don’t let it be spoiled by noisy neighbours or noise-loving family members. Shut windows, doors and anything else that can keep the noise out as you settle in to relax. Get some soothing music on and escape into a world of your own.

Smell the goodness

Nothing beats a nicely scented bathroom, it adds something soothing to the whole bathing experience. Essential oils, bath bombs, rose petals, you name them. Fresh flowers like roses and lavender are a perfect addition for that extra beautiful aroma. No wonder spas use this trick all the time.

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Sources 1 | 2

Tickle your taste buds

Except you’re not one for eating and drinking in the bathroom, a glass of wine can be just the thing to calm you down even further. You’ll soon be booking these special bath times into your diary before you know it.

Can we tempt you to see your bathroom a little differently today?

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Stylish table lamp ideas

Continuing with our lighting theme, today we’re putting the spotlight on table lamps.

Like floor lamps, they are super easy to add to a space and can provide an instant change to a room. Combining function and tasteful design, well designed table lamps can create a practical lighting accent for any space.

Read on for a few ideas to get you started on your lighting adventure.

Go mid-century

If you’re looking for something with a modern take on mid-century design, these desk lamps from Delightfull Lamps are perfect for any contemporary living space. With their industrial design, they add style and a pop of colour to an office desk, side table or worktop.

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The beauty of simplicity

If you like the minimalist look, you could opt for one with a classic contemporary look like these examples which show off beautiful design and thorough craftsmanship.

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Creative origami  

Lampshades take a rather creative turn with this lamp collection based on the traditional Japanese art of Origami. Designed by Sharyn Dunn, these lamps diffuse light in an elegant way and are a luxurious addition to enhance any interior. We’ve been doing some exciting collaborative work with Sharyn on a fusion of 2D and 3D for the Synchronise II exhibition at the National Centre for Craft & Design. Click here for a sneak peek.

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Here are some more origami creations by Ofir Zucker & Albi Serfaty, in collaboration with origami artist Ilan Garibi

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We can’t forget the more common table lamp design you’ll find in most homes. The white lamp is practical yet simply divine. This interesting take on the tear drop style with the lamp on the left particularly caught our eye.

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These luxurious lighting ideas can provide a convenient way of changing the ambience and mood of your space.

Images sourced from:

http://www.delightfull.eu

http://www.urbanoutfitters.com

http://www.7godslighting.com

http://handandeyestudio.co.uk

http://www.sharyndunn.com

http://www.pinterest.com

https://www.trendy-products.co.uk

http://www.jonathanadler.com

www.aquagallery.com

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Creative Ways of Using Standing Lamps

Lighting in interiors plays a very important role, and it can determine the focus of the room, as well as setting the tone for the ambiance and ‘feel’ of the room. This is why in this blog post, we’re looking at standing lamps and floor lamps, which are easy to add in any space.

We really love how these over-sized desk lamps are transformed into floor lamps, adding an innovative and stylish look to bedrooms and living rooms.

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They also look very stylish and daring in an office setting, as we’ve previously seen when we discussed the layout of the Leo Burnett office in Moscow:

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If you are looking to create a richer light effect, the use of floor lamps of different heights works like a charm. Two of our favourite examples are these lighting systems one in a more traditional shape (left) and the second in a modern design (right):

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Yet another style that is gaining popularity in specialty articles are the hanging floor lamps, and for good reason. We think they work great for areas looking to create a calmed down, relaxed surrounding, ideal for reading corners and living room spaces:

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Regardless of the preferred style, floor lamps can complement and emphasize the design of your rooms, for furniture to floors and wallcoverings.