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Entries in dilemma (113)

Thursday
Feb172011

Reader request - slipcovered sofas

Today's reader request is from Bonnie: i saw the 'casually draped sofas' but i was wondering about slipcovered sofas. can they be chic? i have very young kids and i love white and cream sofas. dilemma. so i'm thinking my only options are leather or slipcovered sofas? am i right? can you do an entry on this? thanks. I have cats not kids so I'm no expert on sofas that are kid-friendly but I think your best options would be as you mentioned, slipcovered or leather. I think you should go for a white slipcovered one - that way you can throw the cover in the wash with some bleach if the kids decide to dump a glass of fruit juice draw you some pictures on it. Below are some photos mostly of white slipcovered (at least they look like it) sofas with a few cream ones and a couple dark colours thown in for the hell of it. Hope this helps!

Fri
Sköna hem
Hus & Hem
Sköna hem
Sköna hem
deko.

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Saturday
Feb122011

Design crew

Got a problem? Need some help? Just stand there shaking your head? Don't know what to do? You're not alone. Send us a link to photos of your design quandary and let the Desire to Inspire design crew help you .... that's you lot ... the readers .... get to it! I have a Saturday to enjoy.

"I have a bit of an issue. I've just found the perfect apartment, except for one detail. My new bedroom features only one wall for my bed to go. And not only does that wall have an off centered window, but that window is very low. About a foot off the ground. I'm really hesitant to but my bed up against it when my mattress will cover part of the glass. Is there a rule about this? How can I make design sense of an off center window cut off at the bottom by a centered bed?" - Kayla

Behold the bits of Kayla's new apartment she is not having problems with ....

And now the horror that is Kayla's bedroom ....the listing photo ....

And the truth ....

"Here are the new pictures of the room. I apologize for the blurriness.  Also, the window is weird. It opens on a hinge, and its close to the ground. I put the mattresses in there just for size illustration purposes." - Kayla

Come on readers. Let's help Kayla out. We know you are a super talented and opinionated bunch. Don't prove me wrong! (If you have a problem contact me with a link to your photos here.)

Thursday
Feb032011

Reader request - bathroom inspiration

Tanya owns a home remodeling company, and needs a bit of inspiration for a bathroom project: We want to install a shower in a narrow bathroom with a large south-facing window at the end away from the door. The room is a standard size bathroom that would hold a shower/tub, toilet and sink about 5 x 8 feet I am leaning toward tiling the whole room and sloping the floor toward a drain under the shower. I want some minimalist enclosure ideas which will allow the maximum light from the window to fall into, and through the room when the door is open. Many designs would compromise the window with a clunky shower surround. The main trade off I see is to encourage at least the majority of the shower water to end up in the drain, before coating everything else. Simplicity is a plus. The window will probably be replaced, so it will be able to get wet, (ie, vinyl.) Any thoughts? And pictures?
Here is a photo of the bathroom in it's current state:

YIKES. I'd say it could use a bit of work. :) I personally am a huge fan of seamless floors in a bathroom where, as Tanya is suggesting, water flows into a floor drain. Tanya also sent along a couple photos of bathrooms she found on DTI that lead her to the idea and inspired action.

I found some photos of bathrooms set up like this, as well as some with more separation for the shower, and I tried finding as many examples as I could of these with a window in the shower area. Hopefully these help!

Metropolitan Home Micasa Revista
Sköna hem Sunset
Sunset Sunset
Hus & Hem Apartment Therapy

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Friday
Jan212011

Reader request - leaning art

This week's reader request comes from Jessica: My husband and I have a ton of art. Not any fancy-pants stuff, but a lot of small and medium sized things, mostly framed, that we've picked up on our way through life. My problem is this: We have more than I want to hang at any given time, but I don't want to just store the extras and forget about them. I really love the look of art leaned against walls, on shelves, etc. but I can't convince him that it would look good without examples. Could you help me find inspiration photos of art, beautifully displayed, leaning against walls or on shelves? I love "leaning" art - it's a great versatile solution for people like me who get visually bored very quickly and saves your walls (especially handy for renters!), plus I love the casual feel it gives. So here are some photos of art not hung on walls in the traditional, expected fashion.

rue magazine Richard Powers
Lonny Sköna hem
New York Social Diary Ron Marvin
AT Casa Lucas Allen
AT Casa Marie Claire Italy
design*sponge Jacob Termansen

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Friday
Jan072011

Reader request - headboard-less beds

Today's reader request comes from Jenny: "Hi, can I do a request for a post on beds without headboards? I just got rid of my giant, oppressive headboard and I'm trying to style my room with my bed having just the Hollywood frame, but I need some inspiration. Thanks!" I too am a big fan of the simplicity of headboard-less beds and my bedroom is currently sporting this style. These photos should hopefully give anyone currently new at the headboard-less bed situation ideas on how to spruce up the bed without a potential monstrosity behind the pillows stealing the show.

Ekenstam
Lonny
Murdock Young
Nuevo Estilo
Per Magnus Persson
Riddarfjärden Fastighetsmäkleri
Hus & Hem
Pernilla Hed
Elle Decor
Apartment Therapy

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