Today’s web-based wanderings turned up a bevy of fascinating links, giving us peeks into creative types’ homes and inspiring a few imaginative ideas of our own. For starters, Design*Sponge gives us a photographic tour of the geeky-chic home (see above) of Amanda Wright, the founder of papercraft company Wit & Whistle…we love all the cute tongue-in-cheek humor she’s peppered throughout her space.

Alltop lets us in on the interactive optical illusion currently on display at Le 104 in Paris that uses mirrors and building facades to illustrate what it’s like to hang from the second or third story of a tall building. The installation is called Bâtiment Building and was created by Leandro Erlich. Those with a fear of heights might want to skip it:

Speaking of lofty pursuits, Curbed reports that director (and newlywed to Phoenix lead singer Thomas Mars) Sofia Coppola has purchased a new townhouse and put her airy Manhattan loft on the market for 2.75M…

Coming back down to earth for a moment, Design*Milk shares a review of the REK coffee table just released by designer Reinier de Jong; the table’s adjustable stair-step construction makes it adaptable to several different arrangements. We’ll take a closer look at it later this week…

In the meantime, The Nest (brought to us from The Knot) whirls us through no fewer than 30 modern dining rooms, offering a rather delicious buffet of design inspiration…

…and CasaSugar calls our attention to the sketch just released of Waldo Fernandez’s design for the 2012 Academy Awards greenroom. His sketch was inspired by director George Cukor’s living room — Cukor was the legendary host of many Old Hollywood parties in the 1930s and 40s, a vibe Fernandez hopes to recapture backstage at this year’s Oscars. Architectural Digest has decorated the greenroom for the past ten years and chose Fernandez from its own AD100 list of architectural and design luminaries to take the lead for this year’s project. Cheers to that!

Photo credits: Design*Sponge, Alltop, Curbed 

Happy Groundhog Day!  Since spring is just around the corner, we took a spin around the web today, looking for signs of life to lead us into the warmer months. From the looks of it, the rest of 2012 is coming up roses. For starters, Anthology presented a gorgeous series of photographs this week featuring LA-based designer Justina Blakely’s work with interior greenery, shown above. Makes us long for 80-degree temperatures and cocktails al fresco!

For those of us too impatient to wait for spring’s official arrival, there’s ArchiTonic’s article about herbal architecture, featuring stunning photography of ways clever designers have brought the outdoors inside, like Artaqua’s self-watering, room-purifying Grüne Wand® (Green Wall):

Furniture Fashion shared a roundup of decorative rugs this week, including a cheeky “Turn the Season” rug from YLdesign — absolutely perfect, given today’s prophetic news from Punxsutawney Phil:

Speaking of keeping things green, Dwell took to Washington State this week and released Part 9 of its ongoing series, Building a Zero-Energy Community, focusing on the first-ever multi-family community of its kind in the U.S. (with many more to follow, we hope)…

The boys over at Uncrate are clearly ready for barbecue season, given their raves this week over the Bob Grillson wood pellet grill, which uses electricity to burn its wooden pellets instead of requiring a traditional fire…

…and rounding out the spring fever theme is a post on spring cleaning from Design Public, taking us into the dirty underbelly of a DP blogger’s closet for a much-needed organizational purge. Come to think of it, those of us behind the scenes here at Interior Complex should probably follow suit, but then again, we’ve still got a smidge of winter left to procrastinate our way through.

Photo credits: Anthology, Furniture Fashion and ArchiTonic.

The gracious folks at Southern Living are showing us some southern hospitality by giving us a tour of their Texas-inspired Escondido Idea Home, including a peek at the staircase in the foyer, shown above, plus dozens of other inspiring snaps.

Dwell is sharing the intricate details of what made a mid-century modern home in Carmel, California eligible for LEED Platinum certification; evidently, it’s easier being green than Kermit might have us believe:

Ocean Drive lifts us out of our winter doldrums for a moment and makes a rather convincing argument as to why the Collins Park neighborhood is currently the hottest block in Miami:

Elsewhere around the web, House Beautiful is sharing 10 easy tips to spice up your kitchen… pun intended.

StyleList Home, brought to us by the Huffington Post, shares its picks for the top 21 iPhone, iPad and Android apps for designers and DIY enthusiasts…

…and hot on the heels of our celebrity bedroom roundup this week, CasaSugar gives us a glimpse into a few more to round out the weekend.

Photo credits: Southern Living, Dwell and Ocean Drive.

 

The front entry of your home says a lot about your decorative style before people even set foot into your home. Welcoming guests with an inviting front door and entry area gives a friendly nod to your neighbors and says, “Come on in.” to friends and relatives. Whether you update your front door with an eye-popping color, spruce up your patio furniture with new chair pads, or add seasonal plants, your front entry can be amazing with these helpful ideas.

• Spruce up your front door:  Depending on the architectural style of your home and the exterior color palette, choosing an eye-catching color for your front door can be a welcomed surprise. Consider using complementary colors for the trim of your home or, if you want to make a statement, choosing a bright contrasting color. Whichever you choose, note what colors your neighbors are using. While you don’t have to match, your home should make a positive statement and not a negative one.

Photo credit: 79 Ideas

• Enhance the approach to your home: The experience of the approach up to your front door can be a treat in itself. Sure, brightening your front patio with lovely planters of flowers and fresh cushioned furniture is one way, but also think about the walk of your guests. A playful white picket fence aligning your walkway, or carefully placed stepping stones can create an experience coming and going from your home. Consider adding coordinated lighting for the walkway and mimic a similar fixture at your front door to unify your front entry and the exterior of your home.

 Photo credit: House and Home

Creating an inviting front entry can make your neighborhood more desirable to live in, and it can bring you joy knowing that your home looks spectacular to guests. Depending on how much curb appeal you want to add to your exterior the ideas can be limitless. Many DIY projects, such as replacing a wall-hung mailbox, updating your old house numbers or just adding a fresh coat of paint, can make all the difference to your inviting front entry.

Photo credit top: Leen the Graphics Queen

Lighting can inspire, delight, and illuminate your home all at the same time. When was the last time you were intrigued with your table lamp? Take a look at Molecules by Aqua Creations and origami artist, Ilan Garibi. The intricate paper art of origami is translated into these beautiful lamps that transition in height from a table lamp to a floor lamp. Unique geometric patterns are formed from pieces of white paper pinched into repeated shapes. When illuminated, these lamps cast a glow and create a dance of shadows from the distictive shapes of each Molecules lamp.

A tree-like stump light switch gracefully stems from the ‘trunk’ which is supported by a smooth mahogany wood base to further enhance this extraordinary lamp. Designers Ofir Zucker and  Albi Serfaty have created a lamp that is sculptural and also modular. The stem of the lamp enables it to convert easily between table and floor lamp heights while still keeping the scale and proportions aesthetically perfect for each size of lamp.  Similar to a well designed garment, the Molecules lamp reminds us that functional accessories can inspire us to look at a whole person, or in this case room, differently.

Created with an aesthetic design, these lamps should inspire you to take the ordinary and infuse it with creativity and enlightenment. The Molecules lamp certainly makes you want to enjoy its unique glow in every inspiring room of your home.

Photo credits: Aqua Gallery via Dezeen

1. A Chandelier

Few things are as French as a traditional iron and crystal chandelier. Modern pendant lighting has taken a streamlined departure from the grandeur of the original, but there are still plenty of classics to be found. Although the real thing can cost a pretty penny, innumerable vintage shops and the good old Internet offer endless opportunities for a more pocket-friendly investment in case your budget is more petit than grande. And for an edgier, less classic look, consider jet black.

2. A Ghost Chair

Philippe Starck’s iconic take on the wildly popular Louis XV-style side chairs of centuries past will probably never go out of style. A bevy of knockoffs emerged in the years following the original Ghost Chair’s introduction in 2002; faux versions are now available in a range of colors and materials, but the most beloved version is the real thing, made of crystal clear polycarbonate by Kartell.

3. An Element of Chalkboard

When you think “France,” several visions probably pop into your head, and we’re betting “sidewalk cafe” is one of them. Whether you cast your entire kitchen in chalkboard paint or simply add a few elements of it here and there throughout your home, the presence of chalk writing — particularly in French — easily transports a home in Anywhereville, USA to the bustling streets of Paris or the winding roads of Provence, all teeming with bicycles, flowers and streetside bistros. Cafe au lait, s’il vous plaît… 

4. Parlez-vous français?

When in doubt, say it in French. Almost any application of fabric or paper emblazoned with the language of love will do the trick, from curtains, lampshades and bed linens to hatboxes, posters or even magazines strewn about the coffee table. Think of it as language immersion in the form of decor.

5. Black & White with a Pop of Color

Have fun with your own take on le drapeau tricolore (three colors represented in equal measure on the French flag) and stray from the red, white and blue of the flag itself into more striking palettes. Apply a hearty dose of black and white — stripes, preferably — to the base of a room, and then accentuate it with bold pops of jewel tones like fuchsia for a modern Parisian feel or pastels for a more pastoral approach. Strong black & white contrasts offset with unexpected color create a memorable visual experience not unlike the interior of a patisserie; just set out some pastries, pop the champagne and you’re all set.  Ooh la la!

Photos by Studio Ten25, CasaSugar, Pretty Little Things, Arcadian Lighting and Huelsta.

Apartment makeovers are always a treat to look at! Whether you love them because they give you inspiration on how to maximize space in your apartment, or you just love to see designer ideas and interiors trends. ‘The Bachelorette’ Ashley Hebert and JP received a great makeover for their New York apartment. Here are some of the additions that made JP’s old bachelor pad a home for the new couple.

Photo credit: Hayneedle

Hayneedle.com gave the apartment a much-needed uplift to accommodate a couple as opposed to just an individual. The challenge of transforming a masculine apartment into a home that both genders can enjoy and feel comfortable in can be a challenge. Celebrity Designer Courtney Cachet used touches of gender neutral colors such as gray, black, and white along with pops of decorative glam pieces to give the overall apartment a cozy, yet metropolitan feel.

Photo credit: Hayneedle

Cachet used all decorative pieces from Hayneedle and each of the pieces can be purchased directly from the site to achieve a similar look in your home. The tufted headboard and the gentle curvilinear bedside table both have feminine qualities. When paired with mix and match patterned bedding and dramatic vintage inspired black and gray wallpaper, the bedroom is completely transformed.

Photo credit: Hayneedle

Fun and glamorous accessories throughout Ashley & JP’s apartment make their new place feel like a fairy tale. Pairing mirrored and painted furniture together gives enough glitz for the feminine qualities and just the right amount of masculine traditional elements to make each space have its own character. You can create these looks in your home, and get more ideas from the Jan. 17^th issue of US Weekly.

Congratulations to Ashley & JP on their new apartment makeover!

Photo credit top: US Weekly

Taking a stroll around the web today, we found a few notable design links worth sharing.  Above, Design Milk presents The California Roll House, an exercise in abstract modern design that comes in the form of a prefabricated home.

Next up, Freshome reveals The Lake House, a Nevada structure that’s dark on the outside and bursting with light from within…a cool study in contrast and form:

Furniture Fashion paused this week to reflect on the resurgence of mid-century furniture design:

And a few more links for your perusal:

Architectural Digest is honoring its newly-announced AD100, a roundup of the top 100 architects and designers of 2012.

Curbed gives us a rare glimpse into an eye-popping Boston loft designed by none other than Frank Gehry, currently on the market for a cool $1.7M.

Last but not least, if you’re bored this weekend, the fine folks at Apartment Therapy have 20 weekend projects to see you all the way through Sunday afternoon.

photo credits:  Design Milk (The California Roll House), Freshome (The Lake House) and Furniture Fashion (womb chair).

And, did you know that Adler was told by a (ahem) teacher, that he might as well become a lawyer for all the talent he had as a potter. Whannnwahhh.

So, in light of his independent spirit, here are his 10 commandments for a happy chic home:

1. Thou shalt embrace maximalism.

Obviously this is aimed at reformed minimalists and not hoarders. Or Liberace. Liberace had the maximal down. The performer, not Adler’s beloved dog!

2. Thou shalt not deny thyself hotelish comfort at home.

If you have to go away from home to feel bathed in luxury then you’re doing it wrong. Home is your castle. Languish in luxurious llama loveliness; find fun fabulous furniture. As he said, “thou art worth it!”

3. Thou shalt buy an X-bench.

Yes, an X-bench. Google it. (I had to)

4. If thy nest needeth zest, consider thy crest!

That’s right, brand it. All you cowboys, fire up the poker, because the house needs your initials.

5. Thou shalt mix fancy with frisky.

Oh, what good wardrobe advice, too!

6. Thou shalt honor the functors of yore.

Name dropping is soooo uncouth, but that said, it is good to know your forefathers. And know David Hicks, Alesander Girard, Piero Fomasetti, Bonnie Cahsin, Bjorn Wiinblad he does. I don’t, mind you. Another thing I had to Google.

7. Thou shalt not commit murder.

Unless, of course, it’s necessary to get your paws on that stunning and yet silly special something that your room desperately needs. Then, by all means, bring out the knives.

8. Thou shalt not be afraid of orange.

And believe me, Adler is NOT AFRAID OF ORANGE. I, on the other hand, may have a bowl of oranges on the table to get me started. Baby steps. Baby steps. It’ll take me a while to be comfortable with the Malibu Dream Home for Barbie kind of orange.

9. Thou shalt play ping pong.

Playing with balls in the house, oh you wild and crazy guy.

10. Thou shalt not covet they neighbor’s house.

I mean, after following these commandments, why would you? YOURS will be the coveted home. So there.

And lastly, just in case you need further convincing that Jonathan Adler is an expert worth listening to, he’s the brainchild behind the retro-glam interior of the “real” Malibu Dream House for Barbie’s 50th Anniversary (from the picture above). Psshaaw.

Photo Credit: JonathanAdler.com

Once the winter has set in, and the colorful holiday decor has been taken down, your home may be looking a bit lifeless. Wintertime tends to have us staying indoors to escape the cold, and the need for your interiors to feel warm and inviting is a must. Adding color to your walls can give your rooms an instant facelift, and painting is the most inexpensive way to warm your winter home, without raising your energy bill! Follow these tips to help your winter home feel just as inviting as in the summer.

Decide how much saturation you like: Choosing colors for your home is no different than choosing what to wear on a given day. Depending on your mood, your design style, and how much saturation of color you desire, will help you choose the perfect colors to ward off winter cold outside. If you think a soft hint of color is more your style, consider light greens, blues, and yellows. While if you want a powerful punch of color to warm up your room, try oranges, pinks, and purples. The beauty of color is that there is a light to dark spectrum of every color! Go ahead, pick one and paint over it if you don’t like it.

Photo Credit: Jonathan Adler

Feeling nervous about color? Try these tips:  For those of you less adventurous when it comes to choosing color, consider keeping your walls a neutral white, camel, beige, or gray and then use decorative wall screens and art work to liven up your walls. Color can be brought through paint, but also by decor. Pops of color in decorative wall hangings, that coordinate with accent pillows, area rugs, and table housewares can give you color, without the commitment. Window treatments can also add color to your wall, and draw your eye up to the ceiling to add height to the room. If you’re nervous about painting, these ideas will surely ‘talk you off the ledge’.

Photo credit: Pinterest

Color has a place in every home and in the winter months, it’s important to not feel like you are hibernating inside your home until spring comes. Instead, grab some color inspiration for your walls, windows, wall hangings, and art work and display color proudly. Try adding an accent wall to your room for a focal point and use lighter shades, or complementing colors on adjacent walls. Wintertime isn’t supposed to mean drab and cold, instead warm up your walls with these colorful ideas.

Photo credit top: Home Bunch

Hawaiian theme bedrooms are very popular, using tropical patterned bedding and lampshades. Surf style living rooms and other interiors can be designed using retro surf signs, posters and wallpaper. Beach theme bathrooms can easily be achieved by adding a shower curtain with seashell patterns.

Two great sites for buying beach decor items are Bungalow Beach Designs and Home by the Seashore

Let’s start by looking at the current state of the property. Are there areas in need of repair? Does the interior design look outdated and shabby? If so, spending money on these ares to improve the home will greatly increase the value. Obviously, we don’t want to spend a fortune on remodeling the whole house, but there are a few areas which can be improved economically and quickly so as to find a buyer in a shorter period of time.

Wallpapers often look out of fashion after a few years, so stripping them and painting the walls is a quick and cost effective way to bring the room up to date and looking modern again.

Think about moving the furniture. If you have pieces which are looking old and worn move them to a room which may be darker and not perhaps as important as the living room or bedroom. The less items in a room the larger the overall space appears. If a sofa or armchair is worn or faded consider covering it with a throw over.

New accessories are cheap to buy, and of course they can be taken with you when you move, so it’s worth spending a little in this area. It’s often the small things which can make a difference to the overall appearance and ultimately add value to your house.

1. Lower the Blinds

Your first step when cleaning your blinds is to lower them down as far as they can go. The fabric of Roman blinds bunches up when the blinds themselves are raised, so you will want to lower the blinds until there is no fabric bunched up on the bottom.

2. Use Canned Air to Remove Excess Dust

Once the blinds are all the way down, use canned air to remove any excess dust. Canned air can be purchased at any department store and even some convenience stores. It’s mostly used to remove dust from electronics and other delicate items safely, but it can also be used for this purpose. Start at the top of the blinds and work your way down. This will remove any dust that would stick to a feather duster.

3. Lightly Dust the Blinds with a Feather Duster

Once you have removed the heaviest of the dust, switch to a feather duster for a more delicate and thorough cleaning. Gently go over each panel of the blinds from one end to the other. As with the canned air, it’s best to start from the top and work your way down. This will help remove any caked on dust that the canned air was unable to remove and loosen whatever dust gets left behind for the next step of the cleaning process.

4. Wipe the Blinds with a Damp Cloth

Wipe down each panel from side to side much like you did with the feather duster using a damp cloth. This should remove the last of the dirt and dust that has built up on the blinds. Be sure to rinse the cloth every few panels if you don’t want to keep spreading the dust and dirt. Just like before, start with the top of the blinds and work your way to the bottom. Keep wiping until you have removed all the dust and dirt. If you have white or light-coloured blinds, make sure that you are using a white cloth. Dyes from a dark cloth can get on the blinds and ruin their colouring. The colour of the rag makes no difference if you have dark-colour blinds.

5. Let the Blinds Dry

By this time, your blinds will not only be completely clean, but they will also be damp. Leave the blinds all the way down until they dry completely. Once you are sure they are completely dry, raise them to the desired height.