The Van Life is for sure a trend, particularly in these times of pandemics during which people feel trapped and constrained. However, the Van life is not for everybody but it could be the perfect summer getaway!
I have been considering the nomadic life for a while now as a solution to cut the cost of living and avoid daily commuting. After careful consideration, I decided that this lifestyle is not for me… I have never even camped in my life! In any case, I find the Van life such a fascinating way of living, and I am sure that plenty of people would agree with me…
There are quite a few influencers now that swear by this lifestyle as it gives freedom and, I must say, some of the spaces are awesome!
It may not be the right living arrangement for you in the long run, but it may give you some of the best and cheapest vacations of your life… The contact with nature, the whole outdoor experience, the interior/exterior lifestyle is perfect for the warm sunny days.
Hopefully, the above testimonies from Instagram have convinced you that the van life is perfect for a summer getaway. But, if you still think that this is a bit of a constrained life with none of the comfort of modern life I may be able to change your mind… So, let’s have a look at some of the best interior designs for vans…
The best van design for your getaway – van life interiors
I don’t know about you, but I think that this is the quintessential summer van. Colourful, bright, easy… It is definitely the kind of space that I would like to be in during my summer weekends on the coast…
This is definitely an example of clever van design. Less cosy in its appearance, but possibly one with many contemporary features packed in a very small space.
Contemporary design, elegant, clean lines, cool interiors featuring the whole of the amenities of modern living. This is really for the people that want to experience the Van life for a getaway in the summer but cannot let go of their comforts.
These designs are so neat, relaxing, bright… quintessential getaway. I can easily imagine myself with a cup of coffee to the edge of a lake on a sunny summer morning… A dream come true!
Hammock guys!! The van in itself features a truly nice space, very lovely layout, nice stove, very comfortable… But the hammock… this is a whole other level!
What about a more rustic style? These look really like small mountain cabins. They scream nature and outdoor. They smell of forest and mountains. A few candles, a small patio, a cosy blanket… the perfect romantic summer getaway.
For more inspiration, have a look at this IG profile…
If you liked this article, why do not discover more of the best interior design tips and trends.
Living in a northern country, or simply in a crowded city, small rooms, lack of sun… you are possibly wondering what can you do to make your room look brighter and -consequently – wider.
Look no more, below a collection of easy-to-implement tricks that you can try to brighten your space up.
1. Try the Mediterranean vibe
The traditional houses in the South of Italy are normally quite dark, not a lot of windows, very small openings, to protect from the heat and let the stone retain that fresh over the summer months. The use of the “all-white” look helps in making the rooms look brighter.
Even in the darkest of rooms, a light floor can make all the difference. The flooring material can capture the small light and multiply it, making the space look so much brighter.
3. Introduce colourful and bold accent elements
A bright, bold colour can capture the attention and, like some sort of magic, lit the entire space up. A colourful rug, an armchair, a sofa, the curtains, all have the power to make your darkroom look brighter.
4. Use glossy finishes and shiny surfaces
By their nature, glossy finishes and shiny surfaces reflect light and multiply it, spreading it all around the room. Thus, even the darkest of rooms can become considerably brighter if glossy surfaces are positioned in a clever way so as to catch the light penetrating the room.
5. Install a chandelier
Lighting fixtures are the best trick up your sleeves and the chandelier is for sure the king of all the lamps. A big chandelier can literally create the space around you, assign a style to a room and bring the needed light in.
6. Make your ceiling a colourful one
As weird as it may sound, a coloured ceiling may help to make the room look brighter. Either by applying a lighter colour or by applying bold colours or patterns, a colourful ceiling attracts attention and creates a nice contrast that makes the room look more interesting.
7. Use the colours of the sun in your interiors
Well, this nearly seems intuitive…by mimicking the colours that the sun projects on a wall (particularly during sunset and sunrise), we amplify the natural brightening effect that the sun creates in a space. Yellows, oranges, cream colours, they will all work fine. But the reds should be avoided as they may darken the room further.
8. A white ceiling is an easy win.
If you have a dark room, perhaps dark walls, it is intuitive that a white ceiling will lift the soffit up. Actually, the trick works better when the walls are dark (dark painting or dark wood cladding). The contrast between the wall and the white of the ceiling will lift the room, making it look brighter and higher.
9. Mirrors, mirrors everywhere!
Well, even better than shining surfaces, the mirrors catch and reflect the light. This is what they physically are made to do. Well-positioned mirrors will bring so much more light to your space.
10. Metallic finishes can catch and multiply the light
Metallic finishes, metallic details, metallic fittings and furniture. They all capture the light, like the mirrors, but they function in a slightly different way. In fact, they act like small spotlights, create contrast and attract attention, for a more dramatic effect. They may prove to be a very elegant solution to style your room.
11. Transparent furniture
The transparent furniture literally makes volume disappear, creating space in the room. The clutter makes a room look smaller and darker, absorbs the light. Thus the transparent furniture does exactly the opposite. Also, it is usually made off plastic or glass, materials that can be included in the list of reflecting surfaces.
There could be magic in a piece of art, way beyond the realm of fantastic realms. It could actually help to improve the appearance of a room and, if purposely and cleverly chosen, can help to brighten up a room.
If you found this article interesting, have a look here to discover a few tips on interior design and home decor.
There is no designer more famous than the Eames. The duo, formed by husband and wife Charles and Ray, created some of the most iconic pieces of furniture in the history of the sector. Their collaboration with Vitra made the brand what it is now. The design of the Eames become legend between the industrial design lovers and their pieces are in all the important houses.
In 1969 they were invited to contribute to an exhibition in the ‘Musée des Arts Décoratifs’ in Paris. The exhibition, ‘Qu’est ce que le design?’, was exploring the meaning of design and its raison d’être.
Their contribution was formed by the exhibition of a series of their works and by an interview, in diagram form, that was discussing the significance of the design in the sector and in every day life.
The questions below were raised by Madame L. Amic, the answers by Charles Eames.
Q: What is your definition of ‘Design,’ Monsieur Eames? A: One could describe Design as a plan for arranging elements to accomplish a particular purpose.
Q: Is Design an expression of art? A: I would rather say it’s an expression of purpose. It may, if it is good enough, later be judged as art.
Q: Is Design a craft for industrial purposes? A: No, but Design may be a solution to some industrial problems.
Q: What are the boundaries of Design? A: What are the boundaries of problems?
Q: Is Design a discipline that concerns itself with only one part of the environment? A: No.
Q: Is it a method of general expression? A: No. It is a method of action.
Q: Is Design a creation of an individual? A: No, because to be realistic, one must always recognize the influence of those that have gone before.
Q: Is Design a creation of a group? A: Very often.
Q: Is there a Design ethic? A: There are always Design constraints, and these often imply an ethic.
Q: Does Design imply the idea of products that are necessarily useful? A: Yes, even though the use might be very subtle.
Q: Is it able to cooperate in the creation of works reserved solely for pleasure? A: Who would say that pleasure is not useful?
Q: Ought form to derive from the analysis of function? A: The great risk here is that the analysis may be incomplete.
Q: Can the computer substitute for the Designer? A: Probably, in some special cases, but usually the computer is an aid to the Designer.
Q: Does Design imply industrial manufacture? A: Not necessarily.
Q: Is Design used to modify an old object through new techniques? A: This is one kind of Design problem.
Q: Is Design used to fit up an existing model so that it is more attractive? A: One doesn’t usually think of Design in this way.
Q: Is Design an element of industrial policy? A: If Design constraints imply an ethic, and if industrial policy includes ethical principles, then yes – design is an element in an industrial policy.
Q: Does the creation of Design admit constraint? A: Design depends largely on constraints.
Q: What constraints? A: The sum of all constraints. Here is one of the few effective keys to the Design problem: the ability of the Designer to recognize as many of the constraints as possible; his willingness and enthusiasm for working within these constraints. Constraints of price, of size, of strength, of balance, of surface, of time, and so forth. Each problem has its own peculiar list.
Q: Does Design obey laws? A: Aren’t constraints enough?
Q: Are there tendencies and schools in Design? A: Yes, but these are more a measure of human limitations than of ideals.
Q: Is Design ephemeral? A: Some needs are ephemeral. Most designs are ephemeral.
Q: Ought Design to tend towards the ephemeral or towards permanence? A: Those needs and Designs that have a more universal quality tend toward relative permanence.
Q: How would you define yourself with respect to a decorator? an interior architect? a stylist? A: I wouldn’t.
Q: To whom does Design address itself: to the greatest number? to the specialists or the enlightened amateur? to a privileged social class? A: Design addresses itself to the need.
Q: After having answered all these questions, do you feel you have been able to practice the profession of ‘Design’ under satisfactory conditions, or even optimum conditions? A: Yes.
Q: Have you been forced to accept compromises? A: I don’t remember ever being forced to accept compromises, but I have willingly accepted constraints.
Q: What do you feel is the primary condition for the practice of Design and for its propagation? A: A recognition of need.
Q: What is the future of Design? …
No answer….
If you like the design of the Eames and are interested in great designers, why don’t you gives this post a go ….
Calling all the purists out there! You are probably thinking that this is a total disaster. OMG, it is like living in Hello Kitty’s world or in the mind of a 12-year-old girl… But trust me, it is not as bad as it may sound.
Shall we look at some example first? (You really don’t believe me, do you?)
See? It is actually incredibly cool, don’t you agree?
It is because of the use of a very pale tone of pink, which removes the ‘Barbie Girl’ effect and rather donates softness and warmth to the room. Indeed the biggest mistake is to muster all the pinks under one big preconception. Pastel pinks are normally not as invasive and can be cold or warm, depending on the tones, which will result in diametrally opposite outcomes. Some of the shades will be simply perfect with the blues, and others are going to marry splendidly with reds and yellows.
Which means that we can have completely different accessories and combinations within a room simply changing the colour of the wall.
But let’s stay focus on the topic of this post: the monochrome pink design!
Mood Board
Monochrome Pastel Pink: Mood Board
This is probably the most extreme design of the entire series but it is definitely the most effective if you like pink! The monochrome pink design is warm and bright at the same time. It is probably more appropriate to girls but I personally think that an entire pink house is extremely interesting. The use of pale pinks and blush pinks are definitely helping to lose the ‘Barbie effect’ and create a cosy and warm, refined environment.
Let’s have a look at some examples that I put together for you, a living room and a bedroom.
LIVING ROOM
LIVING ROOM – monochrome pink
Sofa: ‘Moby’ two-seater by Made (£599 @ Made) accent armchair: ‘Moby’ by Made (£349 @ Made) rug: ‘Hayden’ by Made (£279 @ Made) rug: ‘Helgar’ by Made (£199 @ Made) side table: ‘Coffe table’ by & Klevering (£112 @ Made in Design) cat bed: ‘Moby’ pet sofa by Made (£129 @ Made) wall mirror: ‘Circum’ by AYTM (£127 @ Made in Design) curtains: ‘Julius’ by Made (£59 @ Made) vase: ‘Vase’ by Bloomingville (£9.92 @ Made in Design) cushion: ‘Knot Cushion’ by Design House Stockholm (£91 @ Made in Design) storage table: ‘Componibili Bio Storage’ by Kartell (£163 @ Made in Design) pendant light: FlowerPot by &Tradition (£149 @ Made in Design) wall painting: ‘Sorbet’ mixing silk finish (£16.42 @ Dulux)
BEDROOM
BEDROOM – monochrome pink
bed: ‘Margot’ by Made (£649 @ Made) pouf: ‘Circus’ by Normann Copenhagen (£376 @ Made in Design) pillow: ‘Lorna’ by Made (£18 @ Made) cushion: ‘Brisa’ by Made (£20 @ Made) bedside table: ‘Elona’ by Made (£129 @ Made) rug: ‘Mateo’ by Made (£199 @ Made) illuminated mirror: ‘All Saints” by Kartell (£320 @ Made in Design) chest of drawers: ‘Elona’ by Made (£399 @ Made) long mirror: ‘Angui’ by AYTM (£101 @ Made in Design) wall lamp: ‘Blush LED’ by Northern (£219 @ Made in Design) table lamp: ‘Albert’ by Made (£39 @ Made) baskets: ‘Toro’ by Made (£25 @ Made) vase: ‘Lief’ by Made (£16 @ Made) bedspread: ‘Julius’ by Made (£99 @ Made) wall painting: ‘Ballerina dance’ mixing soft sheen (£16.42 @ Dulux) carpet: Axminster Devonia by Confetti (£42 @ John Lewis)
I would be delighted to hear your opinions and comments. If you want, just leave a comment below.
If you want to discover more on the topic of this series, click here to be redirected to the ‘pastel pink design’ main post.
Do you need ideas to renovate the kitchen? This is the post for you! This post aims to share with you a few ideas to take inspiration from if you are going through the redecoration of your kitchen.
Below you can find a showcase of different styles, different finishes, different colours… Some of them are easier to achieve, others require more effort/money. But there is really for all tastes. Let’s have a look together to some ideas to renovate the kitchen
I would love to listen from you! Leave a comment or get in contact, if you want to have a chat or want some advice or simply more ideas to renovate the kitchen!
N1. Contemporary full-on
Let’s start with this amazing all-round design. Contemporary interiors are often oriented towards a consistent look thoughout the house. The kitchen is often a fluid space connected to the living area, an extension of the living itself. Open plan and large spaces. The neat lines and the contrasts of materials are a must.
This minimal space with modern lines is the perfecr solution for the contemporary living. Spacious cooking with the central island. The dining space is in the kitchen, open plan and spacious storage. The whole is made interesting by the contrast of the two materials: light timber for the kitchen, basalt for the wall/store.
There is nothing that says ‘luxury’ better than marble… what do you think of this kitchen? Marble island and splashback contrasting with black laminate. A few brass/golden details make embellish the design for a real gorgeous space, suitable for both contemporary and classic-style homes.
The richness of textures in this design is simply astonishing. The glazed white tiles and the terracotta floor brighten up the dark coloured furniture and the green walls. The long wooden table with the benches gives a sense of community and big family. While the chandelier elevates the room to the condition of noble space.
This mono colour space is so soothing and relaxing. The subtle rustic vibes speaks a language common to summer holidays in the Mediterranean Sea… the clean lines and simple design are functional. The perfect space for a chilled dinner.
Wide island to have the space for proper culinary art (don’t you feel like you want to try to make your own bread?). Plenty of storage in this bright and refined kitchen. The contrast between the dark wood of the island and the white cupboards and marble provides the room with interest. Please to notice the details of the ceiling… what’s not to love?
The contrast between the dark wood and the white walls produces and interesting space. The big windows and the rooflights bring the light inside. The details in different materials (brass, marble, textiles, different woods) create texture and depth to the design.
N8. Edwardian-style kitchen
I am absolutely in love with this kitchen! Spacious, elegant, full of incredible details. The wooden island is original looking and incredibly interesting. The fin-de-sigle metallic hood gives richness to the overall design. The skylight is not for All, but the design is complete already without it.
N9. Minimal colourful
Super playful, contemporary, minimal. Perfect fit for a minimal house, for an industrial space, even for a vintage space (reminds of a certain 60’s design). The simple lines are evergreen. The pastel pink is simply so trendy. Perfect for the house of a young creative.
A kitchen that seems straight out of an experimental design advert of the 60’s. All steel, contemporary looking, compact. Ideal for open spaces, provides the space with an industrial-chic vibe.
I love marble, I have previously stated that for me marble is synonym of elegance. This is the perfect example. In a design otherwise extremely minimal, the marble creates interest and gives texture to the room. The juxtaposition of steel, black laminate, timber and marble is well balanced and thought through.
Let’s start saying that this is not for everybody. Although very professional-looking and probably extremely functional, this is not everybody piece of cake. Personally, I quite like the idea of a shiny steel kitchen, especially if enriched by different textures of the materials.
Well, as I am from the South of Italy, I cannot avoid to introduce a bit of Mediterranean freshness in the mix. Blu patterns created with the use of ceramic tiles typical of the area of Amalfi, white walls, small ceramic art pieces, jugs and bowls, create the perfect combination for a bright and rich space.
Simple but effective, this pastel colour kitchen is such a nice and bright and relaxed space. You can really see that someone put this design together with love. I would definitely love to live there. Easy space for an easy life.
Take a few classic pieces, paint them bright pink, cover the walls in green glazed bricks, and here it is, you have obtained an accomplished design! The details in copper are essential to pull everything together and enrich the palette of materials. But don’t be fooled, it is not an easy design. Avoiding the kitsch is a task for a savvy designer.
I generally have a fascination for ceramic tiles. I always keep a lot of samples with me, simply cannot get rid of them. It is because the tiles are like magic wands. With the right tile, laid in the right way, you can make all the difference in a room. Look at this kitchen, for example. The vertical pattern is adorable and playful, and together with the dark blu clean lines of the furniture, creates one of the easiest and most accomplished looks I have seen. (Without the tiles it wouldn’t be the same).
Mediterranean style, yes, but this time we move a bit north, towards the Cote d’Azure. Mediterranean Sea is about white walls, decorated ceramic, tones of blue… This kitchen is the perfect example. Elegant, simple, fresh, extremely clean. Perfect as it is.
French design is a bit like their food: Complicated but sublime in its execution. Extremely elegant and classy, this kitchen combines elements of the rustic style with an extremely bright mix of classic pieces. The result is stunning.
I have a thing for pastel colours interiors lately – if you follow my Pinterest profile you can easily figure it out. This kitchen is not as extreme as others that I liked, but still, very fresh and bright and pastel-y. A wise choice of elements creates a well balance interior, with hints of colours without over-doing it.
This is the kind of interior that even men can like. Rustic elements (timber beams, the fireplace…) along with contemporary lines and design. The contrast between new and old wood gives so much richness to this room that it is impossible to dislike it.
Hope that you found something that you like. Get in contact if you need more ideas to renovate the kitchen or any advice on how to renovate your house.
What are the more appropriate lights for elegant interiors?
Have you ever dreamed of living in a sophisticated house, that screams luxury and good taste in every room? Don’t worry, your goal is perfectly achievable! First and foremost, light is one of the main factors when comes to define the tone and ambient in a space. Indeed lighting design is something to consider when you aim to make the difference.
Sometimes all you need is to select lights that can attract the attention. Definitely picking the right colours and the right furniture is essential, but I want to show you how simple can be to decorate a room simply with a good piece of design, just a single lamp. To reinforce the idea of how simple it can be, let’s have a look at the room down here. It is an empty room, a window on one side, completely blank canvas. Now let’s try to insert a nice lamp. What about this famous piece, Allegro by Foscarini?
As you can see the room does not look empty anymore, and it is suddenly colourful and warm, reflects of gold are painting the walls. We only added a single light, and done nothing more than that. If you are not quite convinced yet, have a look at these lamps by Curiosa & Curiosa, and imagine one of them in our empty space. Nice and colourful, right?
Select your lighting strategy
But, before even picking the piece you prefer, the first thing to do is to decide what is the right strategy to achieve the desired effect. In fact, the room can change completely based solely on your light design. What are the perfect lights for elegant interiors?
Do you want to give focus to a specific area or create a dramatic effect at the centre of your room? A big ceiling lamp or a chandelier can do the trick.
Diffuse light is particularly suitable for the spaces designated to relax. Table lamps and floor lamps, in particular, are appropriate for bedrooms and living rooms.
If you need more light in a specific area or want to create interest, spotlights and small pendants will do the trick! Perhaps it is too dark to crop the carrots, or to work at your desk. No problem, there are lamps for any taste.
Your ceiling is too low and you want to have a feeling of space. Directional lights and uplights are perfect to provide vertical emphasis and lift the space.
What materials should you use?
Once you have decided on what strategy to enact and what light effect you want to achieve, you can select the materials that suit your furniture better. In fact, the lamps should compliment the design and work together with the furniture to shape the room.
We want to create an interior which reflects elegance so brass, gold, copper, aluminium, marble and glass are all materials that give that luxury and sophisticated feeling we re looking for.
Personally, I love glass pendants and have a special passion for translucent marble and alabaster. Particularly, the latter, can be difficult to insert within a space without creating an overachieving and heavy design. But if correctly used, they are a big win and difficult to forget. Glass is easy to insert in any design, with an exception for extremely colourful ones. Metals like brass, copper and aluminium (gold or silver coated) are not very difficult, but they require a bit more of effort to match the rest of the room. The metal lamps come in so many styles and shapes that you need to pick the right fixture to bring the design together.
My favourite lights to create the perfect refined space
This is my personal selection of 10 lights for elegant interiors. Please, enjoy scrolling through!
Materials : Mouthblown glass – porcelain (ceiling rose and bulb holder) and fabric cord. Available in different colours (clear glass, silver glass and gold glass). This very elegant lamp is perfect for the living room or over your dining table. I can guarantee a very tasteful effect if applied in a row over the kitchen island.
Materials : Blown glass opal diffuser. Available in brushed brass or chrome steel. With a deco feeling, this lamp is perfect in corridors. It will give a nice soft and clear light which contrasts with the brass of the arm, for a refined space.
Materials : white painted aluminium structure and plastic material diffuser. The circular diffuser is available in different sizes with led strips along its entire length. The simple geometry of this piece is simply irresistible. On its own can create patterns and shape a space. Suitable for hall and living spaces, will go better on clean and wide walls.
Materials : Marble and Brass with brass ceiling rose. I mentioned my love for marble? Well, needless to say that I love this lamp. It is perfect to create a chic corner. The diffuse light will give a soft accent to any wall.
Materials : Blown dark glass and lacquered metal. Available in white too. The elegant design of this lamp, together with its geometry, will create the nicer contrast against pastel walls. Perfect as a feature piece, will go very well with furniture with simple lines.
Materials : Mouth-blown and hand-assembled glass bulb with brass ceiling pendant. The filaments inside are inspired by the Fibonacci sequence. How cool is that? The golden light they emanate screams luxury.
Materials : Opal and glass with a concrete base and brass details. This table lamp is perfect for a side table. Whether in the bedroom or next to a nice armchair, its luxurious design will always be a discreet touch of elegance in anybody’s life.
Materials : Hyper-polished pressed steel. Available in copper and steel. This is probably not suitable for every space, but it will be simply stunning accompanying furniture with a simple line and a minimal design. Love the incredible reflects and the mirror effect.
Materials : Blown glass opal diffuser and brushed brass. A perfect feature piece for side tables or bedside table, the spherical bulb is floating against the simple brass lines, for the most magic effect.
Materials : Polycarbonate globe and aluminium. Available in different shapes and finishes. The futuristic design reminds of the pure white of the interiors of the sci-fi movies from the ’60s. Inspired by a space helmet, it looks like something ready to land on the Moon. Ideal for minimal spaces, It can give the right touch to industrial interiors.
Hope that now you have a better idea and know the correct lights for elegant interiors.
If you liked this list, have a look at some of the other lists I prepared in my ‘Products’ category.
Recent Comments