Inspirational Work Spaces | Interiors

Cool, Creative Spaces

Whether your work is done at home, in an office, high rise building, your bedroom or simply a small nook somewhere, an inspiring work space is important for creativity and comfort.


Space that Inspires

In the latest edition of my favourite interiors magazine Urbis there was a feature on cool work place interiors.  Office Managers have found investing in design, layout and most importantly the use of colour creates a work space that not only reflects the company image but has a direct impact on staff mood and efficiency.  May that be for a small start-up for three to a large corporation.  Google's recently refurbished London HQ by local architects Penson, now sports a bright and colourful space that looks very chic and trendy, as well as a place of pure creativity. Although we can't all have retro themed cafes, allotments on the roof nor cutting-edge gaming rooms at our work place, we can, with a little thought create a space unique to our own inspirations.

 

(image via en.paperblog.com)

 

(image via www.awhitecarousel.com)

(image via paseoner.com)

 (image via scoutandnimble.com)

(image via mosaicworksca.blogspot.com)

Architecture on Waiheke Island

Named one of the places to visit in 2013 by the New York Times, just 17 kilometres (11 miles) from Downtown Auckland, lies the island of Waiheke.  Once considered a 'hippy backwater' now home to New Zealand's rich and famous with houses dangling price tags of up to $22 million. 

Hard not to open a New Zealand interior or architecture magazine without a Waiheke house featuring.  The prestige architectural award for the annual New Zealand Home of the Year was won this year by Architects Stevens Lawson for their Headland House, Onetangi Beach, Waiheke (watch a video about the house here).  The Headland House as well as others before and after it have forged the way of modern architecture taking place on the island.

It was island time for me this weekend and as well as enjoying the company of friends who have just bought a holiday home on Waiheke, it was interesting viewing the various architectural shapes and sizes scattered over the island.

Modern architecture on Onetangi Beach.  This holiday home beautifully flows open to the sandy beach and surf beyond.  To the top left hand of this image sits the 2013 Home of Year, The Headland House (see video link above).

Pod Houses.  There has been a movement in recent times in New Zealand architecture towards  houses with a main dwelling and separate satellite dwellings built beside.  All eating and socializing is done in the main bigger building and separate 'pods' or bedrooms are for sleeping and bathing.  Pods are usually separated from the main dwelling by a walkway or garden path.  The use of space in such a way allows for communal living with a feeling of space and privacy.  A perfect holiday home environment.

The Classic 'Kiwi Bach'.  An old style holiday home right on the beach.  Traditionally families congregate to the Bach for the annual two week New Zealand Christmas holiday.

Onetangi Beach on the eastern side of the island.

Timber cladded house with sliding shutters and tinted glass, allowing for the reduction in the glare from the sea.

Mixed architectural designs on Onetangi Beach.  No two houses look the same.

Dome House.  Designed by New Zealander John Rich, who has built geodesic dome houses all over the world, the shape is made from a series of interlocked triangles, clad in Butynol shingles.

Many of his houses have naked timber interiors, but this one is lined with slightly roughcast plaster, painted white.  It has 300-degree views of rolling hills and vineyards.

(image via nzherald.co.nz)

This new build has cause much local controversy.  Built directly on the beach it has no direct road access and the owners will have to drive on the beach to get into their garage.

Old and very basic New Zealand homestead with a slight art deco feel.

 

Waiheke is well known for art.  Annually, during the month of February, the Headland Sculpture Walk allows visitors to walk along a coastal path amongst various art installations on exhibit. 

 

 As you arrive / depart from the ferry terminal, the hills surrounding house many beautiful homes.

Peace and quiet on a ferry from Auckland city.


Photography / Laura Thomas

Article / Laura Thomas

About the Author.  Laura Thomas is Owner / Designer at Laura Thomas Linens.  She loves bed linen, interiors, art, architecture, the colour white and all forms of deep comfort. 

DIY: How to Remove Wallpaper

I've recently moved into a new house.  The house is a 1980's "U" shaped bungalow.  It has all the interior design trends of the 80's.  Fan shaped plastered walls, textured brown glass, carpeted on-suites, archways and oh did I mentioned the textured wallpaper?  The house needs totally modernising.

The Master Bedroom has a feature wall.  I'm making it sound elaborate however elaborate it is not.  The previous owner had painted over the textured cream wallpaper to create the so called stand-out wall.  The colour, pure blue.

Stripping wallpaper is a simple, easy and inexpensive job.  Even the most novice weekend DIY'er can have a go and succeed.  There are different ways to remove wallpaper, from renting a wallpaper steamer to good old fashioned elbow grease.  The latter was my choice and below is a simple step by step guide.

Time: half a day per wall.

Tools: bucket, sponge, fabric softener, scraper, Stanley knife, plastic sheeting, small step ladder.

The feature wall.

The textured wallpaper.

Step 1:  Get your kit ready.  Mix your solution 50:50.  I used an inexpensive fabric softener and hot water. 

Step 2: Score the wall lightly with a Stanley Knife.  Then wash the wall down with your soapy mix.  I have found that by washing the whole wall and then going back to the start and re-doing the wash again works well.  The wallpaper needs time to absorb the liquid and the liquid needs time to unstick the adhesive glue. (Note you can use a vinegar solution too however I prefer the smell of the fabric softener).

Make sure to put a plastic cover over your floor surface.  I would usually tape the plastic to the skirting board to fully protect however in this instance I didn't need to as once this room has been fully redecorated the carpet is to be replaced.  My sheet here is just for mess.

Step 3: Using your hands and a scraper tool gently pull the wallpaper off the walls.  Pulling upwards is the preferred direction however some areas do come away easier than others against the grain.

Step 4: Wash down your wall again ensuring no paper and adhesive have been left on.

(Article & Photography / Laura Thomas)
 

Laura Thomas is Owner / Designer at Laura Thomas Linens 

Please follow this blog for more interior news, trends, art, architecture and DIY by subscribing to this blog.  

 

Yarn Bombing, Street Graffiti.

Technically illegal but the growth and popularity in guerrilla style graffiti knitting has exploded in many urban spaces worldwide. 

I can't get enough.  The colour it brings into the streets creates warmth and energy to otherwise cold public places.  When New Zealand went crazy during the Rugby World Cup in 2011, my Auckland suburb of Devonport suddenly transformed into one big giant tea cozy.  Up popped all sorts of graffiti knitted on to poles, parking meters and railings.  Even a half Barbie was found hanging off one design on the ferry building's wharf railings.

Otherwise known as yarn bombing this graffiti movement was first seen in the Netherlands in 2004.  Since then there has been a huge global trend.  Unlike other graffiti it can be taken down and does not damage buildings and public property, maybe a law should be passed to make colourful knitting graffiti compulsory in concrete jungles.

 (image via www.knittygraffity.co.nz)

 (Photography / Laura Thomas)

 (Photography / Laura Thomas)

 (image via apartmenttherapy.com)

 (image via walter-g-designs.blogspot.co.nz)

 (image via sportsandstitches.com)

 (image via epherielldesigns.com)

(Image via whodunuknit.com) 

Article by Laura Thomas.  Owner and Designer at Laura Thomas Linens

Interior Trends April 2013.

Currently Loving

:)  Merci Concept Store, Paris showcased at this years Milan Furniture Fair.  Their hanging baskets are colourful, stylish and totally in trend with the vertical garden concept, big thumbs up. If in Paris, Merci is a must see in the Haut-Marais District, there's even a cafe in store too.
www.merci-merci.com

:)  Critically known as the Psy of Korean architecture Mr Moon Hoon (love the name) designed the Lollipop House.  Commission by the local government who have an urban redesign focus meant for first time buyers hunting for new abodes.  At a teeny weeny 103m², these houses give a pop of colour to the grey surrounds.  Can the town planners of Glasgow please take note...

(image / archdaily.com)

:)  Yellow chairs.  I recently purchased cream chairs similar to the image below and am going paint them yellow.  Such a feel good colour!

(image / homienice.com)

:)  Organic cotton bed sheets.  OK, so I'm plugging myself here but I can recommend the comfort of organic cotton sheets.  Cotton uses 75% of the world's insecticides, more than any other single major crop so I love knowing I'm aiding our eco-system by sleeping organic.  www.laurathomaslinens.com

(image via happyearthy.wordpress.com)

:)  Copper and brass have been very present at recent design shows and are evident in being a 2013 interior trend.  London designer Tom Dixon's brass lights are very chic, adding a touch of salmon pinky glamour to any room.  www.tomdixon.net

(image via styleestate.com)


Hating

:(  Flooring decisions.  Should I paint my concrete floor white?  Open to all opinions - get in touch..

  (image via bleuepeice.com)


:(   iPotty.  Come on Apple, are your designers not parents?  How messy do you think this gadget will get during training?  Perhaps this could be good money put down the toilet....

:( The Harlem Shake.  My five year old walks around the house shaking her sillies out.  How could adults make this viral?

:( Lastly, resisting temptation to purchase every cool interior object I see for my new house.  Loving the Diana Floor lamp by Portuguese company Delightfull.  www.delightfull.eu

 (image via delightfull.eu)

Black and White Striped Rugs

For an easy interior fix, why not try a black and white striped rug.  They add style, can be commonly found, are bold but easy on the eye and never seem to go out of fashion.

 (apartmenttherapy.com)

 (apartmenttherapy.com)

 (imbusyprocastinating.com)

 (desiretoinspire.com)