Freshome.com - Interior Design & Architecture Newsletter

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• Luxurious Beachfront Villa From The “Limitless” Movie
• How To Make Your Pet Comfortable In A Modern Home – Kooldog Interview
• Easy To Spot Upgrade Of Century-Old Chalet In The Swiss Alps
• Awe-Inspiring 5 Star Resort Surrounded By White Sand Beaches
• Sustainable House S Built Using Locally Resourced Materials

Luxurious Beachfront Villa From The “Limitless” Movie Posted: 01 May 2012 03:32 AM PDT If you’ve seen the movie “Limitless“, you surely remember the luxury villa where Bradley Cooper parties in a luscious setting – a perfect place to gather friends and family during good times. Known as Casa China Blanca, the pristine residential construction is located in Puerto Vallarta, Mexico. Its beachfront location makes it perfect to share with others during special occasions like weddings, corporate gatherings or other memorable events. Overlooking the ocean, the residence’s large and bright interiors open towards the views with the help of floor-to-ceiling sliding glass doors. Prepared to welcome guests with 5 bedrooms and 8 bathrooms, Casa China Blanca also features 5 dining spaces and a stunning 1,000 square foot black and white kitchen. And this is not all – the exquisite resort villa features an on-site water purification plant and water treatment plant besides the solar heating features. You're reading Luxurious Beachfront Villa From The “Limitless” Movie originally posted on Freshome. If you've enjoyed this post, be sure to follow Freshome on Twitter, Facebook and Google+

How To Make Your Pet Comfortable In A Modern Home – Kooldog Interview Posted: 01 May 2012 02:17 AM PDT Indulging your pet ranks high up for those who consider their favorite animal a part of the family. Offering the family dog a place to feel safe that is in perfect harmony with the surrounding space led to the design and construction of modern Kooldog houses. Meant to be enjoyed by dogs living in urban developments and add character to the room, these simple and contemporary dog houses are easy to clean and display a minimalist design that works best with modern settings. Enjoy the inside scoop from Kooldog! What challenged you to start this business – building modern dog houses? People put a lot of effort and money into their home decor – but then usually toss a blanket or mattress on the floor forgetting that dogs (and cats) are den dwellers and like enclosed areas.  Alternatively, they might but a crate in the corner.  Either way, it's something that often gets put away when company comes over.  Especially in a smaller space, like a condo, where furniture is carefully selected to maximize a limited space, we wanted to develop a solution that can be tailored to a persons unique style, while complementing their home decor. What were your thoughts after seeing the first product in your line of modern dog houses? After the first production pieces were ready, we were really excited.  Particularly to set one up at home for myself.  We were very pleased with how polished and high end the final product looks.  The similar feedback that we’ve been receiving from our customers has been real testament to the need that we felt exists between pets and home decor. What are the main characteristics of your products and how do they respond to the need in today's market? Truly the main characteristic is the contemporary design.  At the moment we offer three wood finishes (more to come) for the front face so that it can work to specific decor styles. This product is designed to be a comfortable and easy-to-maintain space for your pet that looks great in a room.  The greatest interest has so far come from people who live in condos and town homes.  They generally have smaller dogs as a result of smaller living spaces. Balancing the need for a comfortable dog house and a modern display must have been challenging. What led you to design a minimalist dog house to be used indoors? We definitely understand the need to carefully select your home decor elements when you live in a smaller space.  All your purchases really need to be space efficient.  At the same time, you shouldn’t have to compromise on style. And let's face it, nobody really likes wire kennels and fur covered tarten or paisley pattern pet cushions as a focal point of a room. How would you describe your product to someone who thinks that an indoor dog house is just an unnecessary accessory? I would first ask about their design styles at home and find out some of the elements they are most proud of.  We understand our customer is someone that has clean, contemporary and minimalist decor tastes.  It's unlikely that our product will be featured in the same room as at trophy moose head or bear skin rug (though we do offer a walnut wood finish that would look great next to a bear skin rug). We believe you should love the things that you surround yourself with. Most people understand that about their pets (that is, after all why people have pets), but your decor is no exception. What was the oddest request for customizing the fashionable dog houses you produce? The oddest request so far was definitely a for a custom hot pink front face, with their pet's name studded in faux diamonds above the entrance. We certainly love the enthusiasm people have for their pets. Please describe the rise of your business – where do the customers come from? Primarily from the downtown condo and town house owners.  Again, this is largely based on the fact that they have limited living spaces and their decor is carefully selected as much for space as it is for style. What are your plans for the future? Do you plan on creating different dog house designs or grow the business by extending to more pet-friendly items? The intention at this point is to introduce other pet-friendly items as well as accessories for our current dog house. How many orders for the Kooldog house do you get from the internet opposed to the real stores? Which market brings you more customers? So far most of our sales have been online.  We do get a lot of requests online from customers who would like to see it first and what stores are carrying it. Our retail presence is actually very new. Currently there are 6 stores in the GTA that are featuring our dog house. What advice would you give to someone starting out in this business? In the pet world, you have to really love your products or services.  We absolutely love animals and that's how this idea was ever possible.  People love their pets consider them family members. Their pet-related purchases are usually made with an emotional connection – and when you speak with people about your business, that really needs to come out organically. You're reading How To Make Your Pet Comfortable In A Modern Home – Kooldog Interview originally posted on Freshome. If you've enjoyed this post, be sure to follow Freshome on Twitter, Facebook and Google+

Easy To Spot Upgrade Of Century-Old Chalet In The Swiss Alps Posted: 01 May 2012 12:18 AM PDT Located in the Swiss Alps, in the municipality of Gryon, Chalet Noisettes needed an upgrade that would extend the living spaces and bring the century-old log cabin up to date. Swiss architectural studio Lacroix Chessex started renovating the chalet and extending its beautified modern shape to accommodate the inhabitant’s needs. This renovation brought a new life to both the cabin and its surroundings, unifying the modern design with the existing one. Natural larch was artificially aged to construct an interesting blend with the old building. Extending the cabin meant more room for the family and guests and a new modern appeal. Colors were slightly adjusted on the exterior, while the interior received a dynamic use of vivid shades in the private zone. The living areas were kept natural and in perfect balance with the natural surrounding colors. The improved Chalet Noisettes now welcomes family and friends with five bedrooms and two bathrooms and a challenging design combining old and new. You're reading Easy To Spot Upgrade Of Century-Old Chalet In The Swiss Alps originally posted on Freshome. If you've enjoyed this post, be sure to follow Freshome on Twitter, Facebook and Google+

Awe-Inspiring 5 Star Resort Surrounded By White Sand Beaches Posted: 30 Apr 2012 10:31 AM PDT In our search for the most beautiful resorts, we came across the Labriz Silhouette Seychelles – a 5 star collection of pavilions surrounded by the Indian Ocean. Captured in between white sand beaches and offering magnificent views of the mist-hidden, forest-covered Mount Dauban, the luxury resort welcomes guests in an awe-inspiring setting. Complementing the surroundings, the exotic accommodations blur the lines between inside and outside. The island is only a 45-minute boat ride from the capital, but the feeling it gives is of a tropical paradise far from any care. Pavilions feature  private plunge pools, outdoor showers and exceptional natural-colored interiors. Spa treatment suites were placed on massive boulders emerging from the forest, creating a unique bond between guest and island. Traditional Seychelles cuisine can be enjoyed in the restaurants or on the beach and a wide array of activities like sea expeditions, big-game fishing or island excursions will quench your thirst for adventure. You're reading Awe-Inspiring 5 Star Resort Surrounded By White Sand Beaches originally posted on Freshome. If you've enjoyed this post, be sure to follow Freshome on Twitter, Facebook and Google+

Sustainable House S Built Using Locally Resourced Materials Posted: 30 Apr 2012 07:30 AM PDT Simple and cozy, House S was built for a psychology professor based in Boston. Datumzero Design – with offices in Costa Rica – were the ones commissioned to design the sustainable home in the Guanacaste province of Costa Rica. Three volumes were placed around a central courtyard, opening the spaces to direct sunlight and welcoming fresh breezes through large sliding doors. Smaller clerestory windows continue the open design up to the roof line, where overhangs take control of the amount of light reaching the interiors. Pierced by an existing tree in front of the living room and another one between the garage and guest suite, the roof constructs an interesting connection to nature. A yoga deck adjacent to the bedroom extends into the backside bathroom while wooden decks compose a vacation-like design throughout the garden. A long swimming pool along the wall creates an intimate place to unwind. All building materials were found within 10 kilometers of the site and the wood used in constructing House S comes from FSC certified forests, so besides having an interesting floor plan, this residence does its part in sustaining the environment. You're reading Sustainable House S Built Using Locally Resourced Materials originally posted on Freshome. If you've enjoyed this post, be sure to follow Freshome on Twitter, Facebook and Google+

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