AquaTerra Outdoors was hired to design and install the entire outdoor package for this beautiful new custom home. We went with a traditional design with contemporary finishes. Features include traditional landscape, new pool, spa, deck jet water features, new fence and outdoor kitchen.
LANDSCAPE AQUATERRA OUTDOORS
Photography Wade Griffith
They Differ in Cost, Durability and Appearance
Leather furniture is made using many different types of?leather?that are created using different processes. This is what accounts for the different look, feel and quality of leather?furniture, and ultimately?even how to clean it.
Leather comes from many?different sources. Some are obvious, such as cattle, sheep and pigs, and some not so obvious, such as stingrays and ostriches. However, more than the source, it is how leather is processed that determines which of three main categories it falls into aniline, semi-aniline, and protected or pigmented leather.
Aniline Leather
Aniline leather is highly prized for the way it looks. It is the most natural-looking type of leather and retains unique surface characteristics like pores scars. Aniline leather is dyed by immersing the hide in a transparent dye bath, but the look of the surface is retained because it is not coated with any additional polymers or pigments. Only the very best hides, about 5 percent or so, are used for aniline leather because all surface marks remain visible. This is also the reason it is often referred to as “naked leather.”
Advantages:?Aniline leather is comfortable and soft to the touch. Since it retains all the unique markings and characteristics of the hide, each piece is different from any other one.
Disadvantages:?Since it is not protected, aniline leather can be stained easily. It is not recommended for use in furniture for young families or in high traffic areas for that reason.
Semi-Aniline Leather
Semi-aniline leather is just a little bit tougher than aniline leather because its surface has been treated with a light coat that contains some pigment, which makes it more soil- and stain-resistant. That makes the effect of dyeing a bit different because even the slightest bit of change in the process creates a different outcome.
Advantages:?While it retains the uniqueness of aniline leather, semi-aniline leather has more consistent color and is more resistant to stains. It can stand up to tougher conditions and isn’t damaged as easily. Pieces upholstered in semi-aniline leather might also be a bit less expensive.
Disadvantages:?The markings are not as apparent and therefore the piece does not have the unique appeal that aniline leather does. If you are a fan of the more natural-looking aniline leather, then this is not for you.
Protected or Pigmented Leather
Protected leather is the most durable type of leather, and for that reason, it is the most commonly used leather in manufacturing furniture and car upholstery. Protected leather has a polymer surface coating containing pigments, making this the toughest of these three types.
Protected leather has variations in the surface coating, but by adding it as part of the process the manufacturer has more control over the properties of the leather. The coating also adds more resistance to scuffing or fading.
Advantages:?Protected or pigmented leather is easy to maintain and stands up to different conditions and uses. There are different levels of protection, and you should be able to find a type that fits your needs best.
Disadvantages:?This type of leather does not have the uniqueness of aniline leather and looks less natural. It can be hard to tell one kind of grain apart from the other because the surface is coated and embossed.
BY ABE ABBAS
Spend a Little Time to Keep Your Leather Looking Great
Leather furniture doesn’t just look like a million bucks. It feels like a million bucks, too. It warms to your body in the winter but feels cool in the summer because it is a natural product.?A leather piece of furniture?is a joy to own, but it requires the right kind of care to prolong its life and keep it looking beautiful.?Leather?lasts much longer than other?upholstery, and if it’s well-maintained, it will get better with age, a little like wine.
BY?ABE ABBAS
The first thing that comes to mind when you are thinking about buying?upholstered furniture?is usually what color to pick. It’s usually the single biggest factor in fabric selection. But while color is important, other factors are equally important.
Fabric Durability
The importance of fabric durability varies depending on the piece of furniture, which room it is used in and personal aspects of the family, such as if children and pets live in the house.
Your fabric selection should reflect those issues.
Fabric Style
Choose a fabric that complements both the piece of furniture and the interior decor of your house.
Your fabric choice should be harmonious with the style and character of the piece it is covering. For example, a traditional fabric is a go-to choice for a traditional-style frame. That said if you have an adventurous sense of style and know how to merge two seemingly different styles together, go for it.
This approach adds originality to your space. An example of that unexpected choice might be a geometric design on a wing-back chair. This example works best in a room that is contemporary, with the wing-back chair an accent in itself, so that the print connects to the rest of the decor.
Some fabrics appear casual, while others look more formal.
Choose a fabric that echoes?your own style?and the mood of the decor in that room.
Consider the scale of the pattern. It should be appropriate to the size of the furniture it is covering as well as the room size. A large bold, pattern might work better in a larger room, while a more muted or smaller one might be a better choice for a smaller space.
Fabric Color
The color?of the fabric is very often the first choice you make when buying furniture, and it has a significant impact on your decor, especially if the furniture piece is a large sofa that will dominate the room.
Make sure your color choice is one you can live with happily for a long time. For instance, it might be best to avoid a very bold color for a smaller room, especially if your sofa is also large. Neutrals are generally the safest route since they tend to satisfy over time.
Avoid delicately colored fabrics if you have children and/or pets.
To strike the right mood, consider the color temperature. Warm and cool colors affect the mood of the room and that aspect should be part of the decision. Avoid trendy colors, unless you really like them. They can look dated long before the sofa or chair needs recovering.
Special Considerations
There are some other factors that you should consider before you make a selection.
These have to do with the environment in which you’ll be placing your couch. Does your room get a lot of sun?or is there any dampness?
Are there pets who share the furniture with you? Does anyone suffer from allergies?
Fade resistance:?This factor is important if it will be placed in a room that gets plenty of sunlight or close to a window.
Mildew resistance:?Look for fabric that is mildew-resistant if you live in a humid climate.
Allergies:?Consider fabric such as microfiber for certain allergies because it is lint-free and does not attract dust.
Pets:?If you have pets avoid using delicate fabric such as silk or any fabric with lots of texture. Select?pet-friendly upholstery?instead.
BY ABE ABBAS
So you’ve decided on a sofa style and now you’re ready to shop. But there’s a lot more to sofa-buying than just picking a style and color. Before you make a purchase (which will likely be one of the most expensive in your home) make sure you know what to look for.
Sofa Sizes
Sofas take up a lot of space both visually and physically. Before buying any sofa make sure it fits in your home. Measure the height, width, depth, seat height and arm height.
You have to make sure it will fit through doorways, around corners, and up the stairs if necessary. There’s nothing worse than having an expensive couch delivered only to discover it won’t fit through the door.
Construction
There’s a lot that goes into sofa construction, and generally speaking you get what you pay for. That’s why it’s advisable to always buy the best you can afford. But whatever your price point, make sure to run your hand down the back of any sofa you’re considering. A hollow back isn’t a great sign as it usually indicates poor construction. A padded back is what you want whether you’re spending $500 or $5000.
Fabric Choices
Fabric is a very important consideration in any sofa, and what you want should be directly related to how you will use it. If the sofa is going in a family room and will see a lot of activity (kids, pets, spills, etc.) a durable fabric is important (think along the lines of heavy cottons, canvas and wool).
If it’s going in a formal living room you can probably get away with something daintier such as silk. Remember, your sofa and its fabric should reflect your lifestyle so don’t buy it just on looks.
Color and Pattern
Color and pattern are important for a couple of reasons. The first is decorative. Sofas take up a lot of visual space and will have a large impact on the overall look and feel of your room.
They’re also expensive and can’t be easily replaced. So be sure to choose a color and pattern you love and can live with for a long time. The other consideration is that depending on where they are, sofas can see a lot of action and thus get damaged. Certain colors and patterns can help camouflage the regular wear and tear many sofas get.
Slipcovers vs Upholstery
As a general rule, upholstery is best for a clean, tailored look, but that doesn’t necessarily mean it’s the best choice for your home. Slipcovers are great because they can be easily removed and cleaned. This takes the worry away for people who have kids, pets, or just tend to spill a lot! It’s also great because you can easily change them if you want to switch up your decor with the seasons. It’s usually (but not always!) cheaper to buy a slipcover than it is to buy a new sofa, or even to have a sofa reupholstered, so if you have commitment issues a slipcover could be the right choice for you. Slipcovers are also great for hiding damaged or ugly sofa frames.
Comfort
Comfort is key when choosing a sofa. Before you buy test out the sofa in the store. Lie down, put your feet up, rest your head on the arm whatever you plan on doing at home should be tried out in the store (within reason of course).
Don’t kid yourself about how you will use it.
Sofa Cost
The cost of sofas varies wildly, and getting the best quality that can fit your budget should be a priority. When thinking about cost remember the golden rule of sofa quality a low-mid price sofa should last about 10 years, while a higher priced sofa should last 25 years or more. Budget accordingly.
Throw pillows are the perfect accessory. They can add color, pattern and comfort in an instant, and?they can be switched out easily if you want to change your decor (or if you just change your mind!). They’re perfect for anyone who wants a quick change, or who wants to test out a color or pattern without making a big commitment.
But choosing the perfect throw pillow requires considering a few different factors.
Color
Color is probably the first thing most people think about when they’re trying to choose the perfect throw pillow. The key thing to remember is that an accent pillow should always compliment?the sofa?or chair it will be sitting on. This means it can either blend in or stand out, and the best way to achieve this is to?look for something that?s either similar in color to the piece of furniture, or look for something that is completely different so that it adds contrast.
Pattern
If you want to add a touch of a particular pattern to a room a throw pillow is a great way to do it. (It’s also great if you already have a pattern you love and want to add more!) When experimenting with pattern by way of accent pillows don’t be afraid to try something a little bold. ?As long as the colors are complimentary, a patterned pillow on a solid fabric can be a lot of fun.
Alternatively if the piece of furniture has a pattern already, a solid pillow can be a nice way to tone it down and soften it a bit.?Just remember that patterns should enhance the colors and fabrics in the room and add some interest, but?too many patterns?can be busy and messy-looking.
Shape
Pillows come in a variety of shapes, but the most common one are as follows:
Size
When it comes to choosing the perfect throw pillow size definitely matters.
The main thing to remember is that the pillow should always be in proportion to whatever piece of furniture it’s placed on. A tiny pillow placed in the middle of a three-seater sofa or king size bed gets lost, while an oversize pillow on a side chair is overwhelming and uncomfortable. Pillows should work with the piece of furniture to compliment and enhance, so always make sure they fit appropriately. And keep in mind if you have multiple pillows sitting on one piece of furniture think of the collection of pillows as a single unit and make sure it’s still in proportion.
Texture
Texture is an important element in every room, and the texture of your throw pillows and how they work with the rest of the upholstery should always be considered. Ideally you want to create depth by combining different textures (this is particularly important in monochromatic or?neutral spaces).
So something soft can be layered on something harder, or something shiny can be placed atop something matte. However, if you’re using a lot of patterns, colors or embellishments this becomes less important. Trust your eye to tell you when it feels like it’s too much.
Trim
Trim is a great way to add a decorator detail to an otherwise plain pillow.
Embellishments
Pillow embellishments include details such as button tufting, ribbons, brooches, sequins, and even small mirror accents. Embellishments can do a lot to enhance the look of a pillow, but it’s really important to keep in mind that if the pillow is more than just decorative (you may lean or rest on it) you don’t want any embellishments that could scratch you or make you uncomfortable.
Inserts
The type of insert (or filler) you choose will depend of a few factors. The main one is price, followed by comfort, and sometimes allergies. Down feathers are soft and comfortable, but down pillows can often lose their shape (and some people are allergic to them). Synthetic fillers don’t have this problem but they’re also not as comfortable. In many cases people opt for down and feather mixes that are soft and comfortable but still hold their shape.
When you know the basic interior design principles you can transform any space to look fabulous. You know what it feels like when you walk into a well designed room. You can sense how everything feels cohesive and put together. It feels just right. You can achieve that effect in your own home with a little knowledge of basic design principles. Pair that knowledge with practice and experimentation and you?re on your way to creating a beautiful home.
Balance
In design, balance creates a feeling of equilibrium. It is all about equalizing or approximating the visual weight of objects. Balance is created not just through shape, but through color, pattern, and texture as well.
There are three different kinds of balance:
Rhythm
As in music, rhythm in design is all about creating patterns of repetition and contrast to create visual interest.
You can achieve this by using the same color or shape at different intervals. Its purpose is to move your eye around the room. For instance, you can establish a rhythm by using a color in the pillows, picking it up in a painting, and echoing it again in a rug. These repetitions will help carry your eye around the room.
Harmony
Harmony is created when all the elements act together to create a unified message. Just as rhythm can create excitement, harmony creates a sense of restfulness. For instance, you can create harmony by using just one color, even though your forms vary greatly in shape, size and texture.
Emphasis
A room where everything gets equal importance will seem either scattered or boring. You need an anchor. Architectural spaces often have points of interest such as a fireplace or a window with a beautiful view. You can choose to enhance the built in focal point by arranging furniture around it to emphasize it. In a room that lacks such a built in point of interest you can create one through groupings of furniture or using an unusual or large piece.
Proportion and Scale
Proportion is the ratio between the size of one part to another, and scale is how the size of one object relates to another or to the space in which it is placed. For instance, a large overstuffed sectional in a small room will be out of scale.
Some proportional relationships are more pleasing than others. The ancient Greeks came up with the Golden Section, which sought to reduce all proportion to a simple formula: The ratio of the smaller section to the larger section should be the same as that of the larger section to the whole. This proportion is present in nature, and artists and architects have used it as well.
By Abbe Abbas
Over the last 15 years, Youssra El Jouhary has emerged as a major name is the field of Interior design. An American of Arabic descent, she lived in New York in mid 90s & graduated with honors from Academy of Arts with B.Sc. degree in interior design & decor and graduate studies in the field of theatrical decor & design.
Her creativity and innovation won her several prestigious recognitions & awards in different parts of the World like New York, London, Italy and Middle East. After working with several prominent local designers, she founded her own interior design company La Maison Interiors?in 2002 exploring ground markets in New York and the UAE.
Youssra El Jouhary is a creative, innovative interior designer with sound business sense. She is also a specialist in art history, color, and space planning, combining materials with a keen eye for detail and architectural elements.
Youssra’s design philosophy is based on the belief that beauty and functionality are the ultimate goal of each design.
Having longstanding experience of working in different parts of the world her designs can fit out to any cultural preferences.
Youssra is a professional member of west Milford art Association of Interior Designers in NJ and active member of international association of arts (UNESCO).
Established in 2002 La Maison Interiors, is an American managed Interior Design company and a leader in home interior design turnkey solutions in New York (USA) and United Arab Emirates (U.A.E.).
La Maison Interiors employs a full team of qualified, experienced business professionals with longstanding expertise in turnkey interior/exterios design solutions. Their designers have the talent to combine the luxury of eastern design and elegance of western taste.
At La Maison Interiors, they specialize in designing and executing Interior Design Projects for private villas, Commercial, Retail Space, Sports Facilities and luxury residential buildings of any size.
Their qualified professionals are capable of handling interior design and fit out to suit any cultural preference.
Based in Dubai, JD Design studio undertake also overseas project in Belarus, Lebanon, Saudia Arabia, and Nigeria. Architect Jaafar Daher is here to get in touch with each client and to work personally in every project with our team of young and professional expertise in order to assure the high quality standard of our design and presentation.
They offer their clients full Design and presentation services for both Exterior and Interior Environments starting from consultation and sketches to Creative Design solutions presented in high quality computer graphics images and drawings. They also help their client execute their projects by providing contracting services or supervision during the construction stage.
They speak Arabic, English, and Russian. So, please get in touch with them today and let them find the best way to help you turn your ideas into virtual reality, then into actual reality!
[videopress ZCRcO5Uc]
Robert Kolenik (1981, Westervoort) is an interior designer and furniture designer with a warm, luxurious, international and timeless signature.
He represents the new generation of Dutch designers who are respected and admired around the world. This is due to the high quality of their work, their businesslike approach and their unique design style. What?s more, Kolenik combines all this with a huge amount of passion, a critical eye and an inspiring personality. His design studio is based in Amsterdam in the Netherlands. From here, he creates a wide variety of interiors and design furniture. These range from villas to restaurants, and from design chandeliers to sofas. The interior designer?s projects take him all over the world. He might be in London for a villa in Notting Hill one day, and in Mauritius designing a beachfront home the next. The common thread running through all these designs is his rich, natural approach to design and production. Aficionados will recognise this design philosophy in the Eco Chic Awareness Label. Kolenik founded the label in 2014 and he is still passionate about it today.
Interior roots
After completing his marketing degree in 2004, Robert Kolenik started work at his father?s construction firm. This taught him all aspects of the job, from technical installation to plastering and carpentry. This early practical experience would turn out to be of crucial importance to his development as a designer.
After the sudden death of his father, Kolenik took over the business in 2005 and renamed it Kolenik Interior renovations.
After spending three years renovating homes and hospitality venues, Kolenik landed his first big design commission in 2008. This was for the interior design of the Demain cocktail bar in Nijmegen This year would mark the beginning of his career?s stellar growth, despite the serious financial crisis that had taken the world by storm.
Rising star
In 2010, the young designer set up his own design studio in Amsterdam under the name Kolenik Eco Chic Design. That same year, having taken part in a number of prestigious trade fairs, he won an award. At that point, his name was already established amongst a select group of fans of his warm, luxurious and minimalistic style.
Right from the start, Kolenik Eco Chic Design?s portfolio expanded rapidly, and it includes an impressively diverse range of projects. These range from individual home interiors to a variety of corporate designs. He has also created a furniture range and designs for high-profile brands that are implemented under licence. His studio?s ability to translate brand values into appropriate designs for hotels, restaurants and bars means that Robert Kolenik is now a well-known name when it comes to hospitality design projects. Kolenik Eco Chic Design, which now boasts an experienced team of architects, designers and graphic designers, is rapidly spreading its wings all over the world.
Environmental focus
Driven by his passion for nature conservation, Kolenik decided to co-found Plastic Soup Foundation Junior in 2014. The foundation organises educational programmes to raise children?s awareness from a young age of the plastic waste polluting the seas. Later, Kolenik also started the Eco Chic Awareness Label, his sustainable design guarantee. This means that where possible, his designs ? from furniture to lamps ? incorporate rich, natural materials, chosen with the greatest care. And that?s not all: his pieces are also manufactured ecologically, as well as complying with the very highest quality standards.
Style and philosophy
Kolenik finds inspiration for his interiors in the natural world. His subtle use of colour is drawn from nature. So too are the materials that he lovingly uses in his interiors and designs. These range from luxurious woods and natural stone to shells. The carefully considered and consciously chosen balance between functionality and aesthetics creates harmony in every ? unique ? design and interior. Natural elements like living green walls and the spectacular boardroom aquarium are endlessly fascinating and unique. And that?s not forgetting his use of sophisticated technology to create optimal comfort, plus his eye for a perfect finish.
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