Guest Post by Heather Greene

Guest post authored by: Heather Green


Introductory Bio: 


Heather Green is a freelance writer for several regional magazines in North Carolina as well as a resident blogger for onlinenursingdegrees.org. Her writing experience includes fashion, business, health, agriculture and a wide range of other topics.


Enjoy the post... 

Choosing a Modern Home and Furniture

There has been a return to the modern home design in recent years. A modern home design is often more green, and many builders are focusing on bringing the green elements into the home. The windows and the more open floor plans make conserving energy easier, but they also lend themselves to beautiful modern furniture and design. When you are considering a modern home purchase you should also consider how you plan to furnish the home and be prepared to embrace all aspects of modern design.

Modern Design in Main Living Spaces

The modern floor plan may make it necessary for you divide your main room into spaces used for specific purposes. For example many modern designs have one main room that is larger, but within that space you need to place a dining area, an office, and an area to entertain guests. You can divide the space using rugs, and by arranging your furniture in a way that designates the change of use for each space. It makes the most sense to have the dining table next to the kitchen area. You can place a run under the table to clearly mark the spot. If you do not entertain very often you may choose to use the bar from your kitchen as your only dining space, and focus on choosing bar stools.

The entertaining area should have a place where you can seat your guests or when you can relax easily. You can use another rug to set this space apart. To provide more seating options you may also want to have several pillows that guests can use when they sit on the floor if you have a large number of people over. If you are going to do this, be sure you do use an area rug for them to sit on.

Modern Design in the Bedroom

Modern furniture offers several unique and eye-catching pieces that can be used in the bedroom. Each piece from the bed to the dresser and shelves gives you the opportunity to make a unique statement about you and your personal decorating taste. Many modern pieces come in unique shapes or have a unique way to display the items that are most important for you. The modern design offers clean lines, and you should often choose a minimalist approach to your accessories when you use modern furniture. Additionally the colors you choose to accent your room are very important. You can choose bold colors, but in your bedroom you may choose to go with a softer color palette to create a soothing retreat.

Modern Design in Your Office

As you design your office you will want to choose items that lend themselves to practicality while still embracing the bold, sleek designs of modern furniture. Instead of choosing a heavy desk or office piece you may choose something that is more subtle and subdued, but that more fits the modern design. If the desk is in the main living space, you will want to choose a design that compliments the rest of the room, and that will blend into the space instead of standing out.

About the Author:

Heather Green is a freelance writer for several regional magazines in North Carolina as well as a resident blogger for onlinenursingdegrees.org. Her writing experience includes fashion, business, health, agriculture and a wide range of other topics. Heather has just completed research on<a href="http://www.onlinenursingdegrees.org/">online nursing schools</a> and <a href="http://www.onlinenursingdegrees.org/types/lpn.htm">lpn degree online</a>.

Hope all of you enjoyed her post..

AG Home Goods

A very Cool Visitor Center in Tibet

'namchabawa visitor center' by standardarchitecture, linzhi, tibet all images courtesy standardarchitecture


Positioned within the small village of pai town in linzhi, tibet, the 'namchabawa visitor center' by beijing-based practice standardarchitecture provides visitors with information of the area's attractions. carved into the steep slopes, the rectangular forms initially read as stone retaining walls within the landscape. near the yaluntzangpu river and set alongside the road connecting the last zhibai village within the yaluntzangpu grand canyon, the 1500 square meter building offers details of the 7,782 meter tall mount namchabawa. additional program is accommodated including a reception and information hall, public toilets, supply store, internet bar, medical center, locker room, meeting rooms
and offices allowing the facility to serve as a town center for villagers and supply base for hikers.



view of the center from the road


three linear volumes are oriented parallel to each other and accessed through a stairway which reveals itself asindividuals approach the structure. devoid of windows, the construct does not announce itself as traditional 'tibetan'architecture but instead features traditional assembly methods by the local 'shigatse' craftsmen. a combination ofmasonry stone walls and concrete, the facade's components are sourced from the surrounding region and vary from 60cm,80cm and 1 meter in width. columns, ring beams, lintels within the self-supporting walls reinforce the structure including the concrete roof against earthquake forces.



rectilinear building volumes read as stone retaining walls within the landscape


the interior is illuminated with a series of skylights and a single window overlooking the river to the north. unadorned by cultural decorations, the space accentuates the construction process and materials. individuals pass through the fortified walls to find the restrooms and luggage storage areas, and continue to a 'stairway to heaven' which leads to a resting area and roof garden. a water storage tank and electric switch room is concealed within the stairs to maintain the self-sustaining site.



main entrance is accessed with a stone stairway



information hall



information desk



(left) stone stairway
(right) multipurpose hall



at night



site plan



floor plan / level 0



floor plan / level 1



floor plan / level 2



floor plan / level 3



section



section



section


project info:
 

project name: tibet linzhi namchabawa visitor centre
location: pai town, linzhi, tibet
program: visitor centre
site area: 10000 sqm
building area: 1500 sqm
architect: standardarchitecture
design team: zhang ke, zhang hong, hou zhenghua, claudia taborda, maria pais de sousa, gai xudong,
sun wei, yang xinrong, wang feng, liu xinjie, sun qinfeng, huang di, chen ling
collaborate design institution: china academy of building research & tibet youdao architecture associates
structural system: mixed - stone masonry and concrete reinforcement, concrete roof

Really Cool Lamps

'tamtam' by fabien dumas for marset
images courtesy of fabien dumas and marset

berlin-based product designer fabien dumas has created 'tamtam' for spanish company marset. the pendant is composed of a central lamp measuring 50 cm (20 in), with smaller satellite shades (35 cm or 14 in) attached using a swivel mechanism. this allows a 350° rotation in either direction, allowing the user to control the direction of the light. the shades are made out of lacquered aluminum and available in black, white, orange, tobacco, green or gray. depending on how much light is needed,
either 3 or 5 satellite shades can be attached to the central lamp. to soften the light, a methacrylate diffuser is put over the open ends.



view from below
images courtesy of fabien dumas and marset

different color and number variations
images courtesy of fabien dumas and marset

pendant over table
images courtesy of fabien dumas and marset


a combination of sizes and directions
images courtesy of fabien dumas


detail
images courtesy of fabien dumas 

AG Home Goods

Some Really Cool Modern Homes

Modern homes I liked..

While looking through some old magazines I wanted to throw in the recycle bin, I saw a few homes that really are very stunning so I loked up the places on the internet and found them and I decided to share these with all of you.. Here are two really cool homes..

Enjoy the pics....

Minimalist White House in South Africa

Minimalist White House Design Inspiration

Minimalist White House located in South Africa with modern interior design. minimalist white house color and big windows are everywhere is trendy design for minimalist house. This beautiful spacious white house is located in South Africa. White color widens the space and makes it light, a white surface doesn’t get hot so much under the sunbeams .The designers added some natural wood and grey color; the art collection of the local artists looks very harmonious and well framed by the interior. There is a rustic touch that gives some coziness: fireplaces in every room and firewood. As the house is located far from neighbors, the designers decided to make an open bathroom: the walls are manufactured from glass, and therefore the homeowners will open them to own a shower right outside. the full house tells regarding relaxation and harmony. this house used the white stone bathtub, glass roof in living room, stunning home library,classic fireplace in living room and bedrom

Open Living Room Design in Minimalist White House with Modern Interior Design in South Africa

Open Bathroom Design in Minimalist White House with Modern Interior Design in South Africa

Living Room Furniture Ideas in Minimalist White House with Modern Interior Design in South Africa

Home Library Design in Minimalist White House with Modern Interior Design in South Africa

Comfy Bedroom View in Minimalist White House with Modern Interior Design in South Africa

Classic Kitchen Furniture in Minimalist White House with Modern Interior Design in South Africa

Small Vacation House with luxury Design and combined modern and traditional

Wonderful Natural Pool Design in Small Vacation House with Private Steam Sauna and Pool Design

Here are the modern and cozy small vacation house with private steam sauna and pool design, This mill house in Swedish design by Wingardhs. Small vacation house with traditional sauna and bathing space design there are rooms for undressing, washing and relaxing. the combination of traditional materials and modern architectural strategies. The traditional ritual of sauna involves baking together and dashing out for an invigorating dip in a cold water. To make the process flawless small pool was built adjacent to the sauna. Besides the pool there are small garden near it.The sauna and spa spaces are tucked deep within the building, providing privacy for its users and a prescribed path for moving to the artificial house-side pool.The interior is a combination of cozy wood walls and ceilings and modern concrete floors, metal appliances and a suspended wood-burning stove.

natural pool design beside Small Vacation House with Private Steam Sauna and Pool Design

Small Vacation House Design Ideas with Private Steam Sauna and Pool Design

Loft Bedroom Ceiling Design in Small Vacation House with Private Steam Sauna and Pool Design

Loft Bedroom Design in Small Vacation House with Private Steam Sauna and Pool Design

Cool Loft Bedroom in Small Vacation House with Private Steam Sauna and Pool Design

Cozy living room ceiling in ingardhs Mill House in Swedish

Interior and Lighting Design in Small Vacation House with Private Steam Sauna and Pool Design

kitchen furniture and interior in Small Vacation House with Private Steam Sauna and Pool Design

Living Room Layout and Design in Small Vacation House with Private Steam Sauna and Pool Design

Modern kitchen design with wooden ceiling in Small Vacation House with Private Steam Sauna and Pool Design

modern open living room with fireplace in ingardhs Mill House in Swedish

open kitchen ideas in Small Vacation House with Private Steam Sauna and Pool Design

Small Vacation House in Swedish

small vacation house kitchen design in ingardhs Mill House in Swedish

Sauna and bathroom view in Small Vacation House with Private Steam Sauna and Pool Design

Sauna Room Ideas in Small Vacation House with Private Steam Sauna and Pool Design

Shower Room Design in Small Vacation House with Private Steam Sauna and Pool Design

Hall way design in Mill House in Swedish

Small Vacation House with Private Steam Sauna and Pool Design

Small Vacation House with Private Steam Sauna and Pool Design Ideas

Staircase design in Small Vacation House with Private Steam Sauna and Pool Design

Round Way Frame garden in Small Vacation House with Private Steam Sauna and Pool Design

Garden Entryway to Small Vacation House with Private Steam Sauna and Pool Design

Outdoor garden view in Small Vacation House with Private Steam Sauna and Pool Design

Two great homes in far off places that seem like perfect getaway homes to just relax and enjoy nature and all its offerings...

AG Home Goods