by interior designer on February 8, 2010
in Home Bar
If you’re looking for a wooden wine curio cabinet that will compliment the existing décor in a wine cellar, dining room or kitchen, then this wooden Meridian Wine Curio with an in-built thermoelectric wine cooler might be just what you’re searching for. As one can see from the picture below, this wine curio cabinet has a variety of compartments that will benefit the complete wine storage, serving and drinking experience.
The wooden wine curio cabinet is in oak and has a slim width meaning it can be placed in a multitude of possible locations depending on existing placements and designs. Although slim, the thermoelectric wine cooler has been designed to hold up to 18 bottles of wine at varying temperatures. For example, the upper zone of the curio wine cooler is around 10 degrees Fahrenheit cooler than the lower zone. This is important as different wines fare better at different temperatures.
What I particularly like about this wooden wine curio and thermoelectric wine cooler combination is how it fits together without looking confused or overbearing. A drawer in the center of the wine curio cabinet, just above the cooler, provide storage for wine bottle openers, place mats and various other small accessories connected to serving wine and indeed spirits. Another drawer opens up to reveal a pull-out granite work-top surface for opening and pouring wine.
As one can also see from the picture above, wine glasses are stored in the upper compartment of the wooden oak wine curio cabinet. A wine glass rack keeps the glasses within each reach and access above a space for the display of wine bottles that one might one to show-off to guests before drinking. By the way, the display area has a mirrored back panel which reflects the bottles on display and also gives a sense of extra space both to the wine curio and possibly the room itself.
For a family or bachelor that loves their wine and entertains dinner guests on a regular basis, this wooden Meridian Wine Curio with an in-built wine cooler will make a lovely addition to the home. This is especially the case if your kitchen, dining area or basement area has similar oak furniture. It’s a whole home bar in one which makes it both highly functional and at the same time, aesthetically pleasing.
You can buy this wooden wine curio and cooler from the following location: Wooden Meridian Wine Curio With In-Built Thermoelectric Wine Cooler.
On the page linked to above you can see a video of this wine curio in operation. Well worth a watch.
by interior designer on February 7, 2010
in Lighting
If you’re looking for a contemporary lighting instillation with a difference when this matchstick sculptural floor lamp for leaning against a wall is certainly a fixture to consider. It’s unique as well as eye-catching and has an aura of Alice in Wonderland charm and fantasy. This type of floor lamp will work well in a variety of interior settings ranging from the minimalist town house to the bohemian artist’s studio apartment.
The matchstick floor lamp sculpture is made up of a wooden stand with a plastic tip on top. When the floor lamp is lit, the light in the plastic tip illuminates with a soft glow, providing a fascinating accent piece to a darkened room. During the day, the matchstick floor lamp is merely a sculpture that looks remarkably like a giant matchstick leaning against a wall. The tip comes in a choice of two colors, either red or white, depending on the effect you want created in a particular interior.
This matchstick sculptural floor lamp is perfect for a city artist, writer, musician or regular host of dinner and cocktail parties. Placed in the room where guests mingle most and where an unusual but beautiful ambiance is needed, this leaning matchstick lamp will provide a funky backdrop to the setting. It’s definitely a talking point and with the main lights turned down low, will certainly create a romantic, magical and surreal environment for creativity and conversation to thrive.
You can buy this sculptural matchstick lamp from the following location: Matchstick Sculptural Floor Lamp for Leaning Against a Wall.
It has a price tag of $229
by interior designer on February 6, 2010
in Storage
by interior designer on February 5, 2010
in Floors
by interior designer on February 5, 2010
in Dining Room
by interior designer on February 3, 2010
in Kitchen
The stabbed man knife holder seen in the image below has gained quite a reputation since its creation. Most people see it as an eye-catching and humorous stainless steel knife set with a unique holder whilst others have complained it encourages violence and thoughts of depravity. Still others have claimed it has a therapeutic effect and those are probably the minority that the complainers are worried about. However the stabbed man knife holder with a set of 5 knives is harmless and just a bit of fun.
Whether one sees the stabbed man knife holder as a portrayal of a frustrated housewife or some kind of voodoo knife holder, the decorative kitchen accessory definitely provides a humorous talking point. Each of the 5 knives is made with heavy-gauge durable stainless steel and have been crafted to offer razor-sharp precision cutting. The 5 knives which make up the stabbed man knife holder set are each slightly different to one another and thus, as a whole, able to perform a variety of duties.
Individual protective knife sleeves are in-built into the stabbed man knife holder which means when the knives are in storage, they will be in a protected environment which will keep both the knives and anyone wandering by, safe and secure. Whether you’re married, co-habiting or single, this humorous voodoo-style knife man will garner a smile every time you and guests enter the kitchen. The one in the picture is in white but the stabbed man knife holder can also be found in chrome, red and black.
If you know of someone who is short of knives and possibly having problems with their partner, then this stabbed man knife holder with stainless-steel knives will make a great gift idea.
You can read more about this funny kitchen accessory as well as view purchasing details here: The Ex 5-Piece Stainless-Steel Knife Set with Unique Holder, White
.
Price: $69.95
by interior designer on February 3, 2010
in Furnishings
by interior designer on February 2, 2010
in Technology
The home door alarm, to use a cliché, does exactly what it says on the tin. Home owners and business owners alike can find peace of mind by installing a home door alarm. Once installed they will protect your property, belongings and family from unknown intruders. If someone breaks into your home, the home door alarm will provide a warning that such an incident has occurred and in many cases, a loud nose to scare the intruder away. So what types of home door alarms are there?
There are a wide range of door alarms for the home depending on the type of system that best suits a property and lifestyle. The most common form of home door alarm is the use of a bell, buzzer or beeping sound when someone enters or exits the premises. We are most familiar with this type of system when we enter a small store and a little bell rings above our heads to let the owner know someone has arrived. This form of door alarm is the mildest use of such a system and for homes, a more sophisticated home door alarm is needed.
A home door alarm is basically made up of magnetic contact strips which are placed along doors, windows and their frames. An alarm is activated whenever the contact is broken. Depending on the time of day and the model that is purchased, a signal is either sent to a security company or the local law enforcement. Other types of home door alarm simply make one hell of a racket which wakes the home-owner up as well as scares the intruder.
The average home door alarm is easy to install and in most cases, unlike in the past, the system can be installed by the home-owner themselves due to wireless connections. The price of the door alarm system for the home has also decreased whilst the reliability and function has increased. You can find a lot of alarm systems online which will meet the needs of your family home or business.
by interior designer on February 1, 2010
in Kitchen
Pizza plates come in so many shapes, styles and colors that it can be difficult to know which one to buy. As with many kitchenware items, it’s easier and indeed more interesting to pick a certain theme. This theme can be based on the color of a pizza plate such as the Hungarian hand-painted blue pizza plate in the picture below. Other considerations can be based on the shape, the material, cultural significance and also the decorated design which can be found on the surface.
The hand-painted blue pizza plate I will write about today has a stunningly beautiful floral pattern which is eye-catching to say the least. A tasteful combination of cobalt blue and white gives this Hungarian pizza plate an elegant grace. This should come as no surprise because this blue pizza plate is actually made by Hungarian master potter Istvan Barakonyi who is renowned in Europe for his designer creations. As well as making the pizza plate from white clay, Barakonyi also meticulously hand paints and signs his work, which just makes this intricately designed floral pattern all the more amazing and beautiful.
It’s interesting to note that the floral pattern on the blue pizza plate is inspired by the designs of the ancient European province of Danubia, which can now be found in modern day Hungary. As the name suggests, it straddled the River Danube which now flows through ten European countries. The cultural history of this region is vast, rich and fascinating to read about. This Hungarian hand-painted blue pizza plate has been inspired by this and is a kitchenware item that can be used in the process of heating and eating pizza.
If you have Hungarian ancestry or regular guests from that region, then this pizza plate with a floral design will be more than ideal.
You can buy this plate from the following location: Hungarian Hand-painted Blue Pizza Plate.
By the way, it’s oven, microwave and dishwasher safe.
by interior designer on February 1, 2010
in Bathroom
by interior designer on January 29, 2010
in Lighting
For anyone who has worked in fashion modelling or in a photography studio, the umbrella floor lamp as seen below will be a reminder of the large photo-studio lamps one can find in such locations. However, this umbrella floor lamp which is the creation of Venezuelan designer Pablo Pardo is much smaller and designed for use in a domestic home interior setting. If you are looking for a decorative lamp with simplicity matched with elegance, this floor lamp is worth a second look.
The umbrella floor lamp features a Lycra diffuser which spreads light to all areas of the photo-studio style lamp shade. This, combined with the long but sturdy iron base and trunk, leads to the effect of a light hovering in space when lit in a dimmed room. In many ways, as one can see from a picture on the product web page, the umbrella floor lamp is reminiscent of a jellyfish floating in the dark oceans, one often sees on nature documentaries. It’s a quality floor lamp and one that also has a full range dimmer.
The designer behind the umbrella floor lamp is as impressive in his creative scope as his lamp is in beauty and light. Pablo Pardo was born in Venezuela but then moved to the United States where he set up his own design company in 1993, aptly called ‘Pablo’. He’s a graduate of the renowned University of Cincinnati and has designed products for large and famous companies such as Fisher Price and Daimler Chrysler. As is so often the case with gifted designers, their creations span a large and diverse range of products.
Pablo Pardo’s Umbrella Floor Lamp is a lighting fixture for a contemporary interior. Its simplicity, elegance and modernist design means it will compliment and merge well with furniture and décor that are similar in scope, character and sophistication. Like a great painting, this umbrella floor lamp is meant to be enjoyed for its aesthetic qualities which will transfer through the medium of light, to the rest of the interior in which the lamp is located.
You can read more about this lamp as well as discover where to buy it from this location:
Umbrella Floor Lamp by Pablo
.
By the way, the diffusers can also be found in four other colors apart from the white which is shown in the image above. These colors include Silver, Plum, Black or Ice Blue.
by interior designer on January 29, 2010
in Accessories
