Thursday, March 20, 2014

Vintage Love: Incorporating Vintage Elements in a Modern Way

At Wise Design, we love vintage style. However, sometimes it can be challenging to work with some vintage elements that preexist in our homes. Sometimes unusual tile, quirky cabinetry, wood paneling or dated details can make it hard to bring your design visions to life. If you are in a position where you cannot remodel or change your vintage home (ie. renting, or on a budget) you may have to embrace the unique vintage elements of your home. Many times the real challenge is bringing these details up to date and giving them a fresh modern look. The best solution is to embrace the uniqueness of your vintage home and work with the space and not try to hide it or fight it. Here are some great examples of vintage put to great use in a modern way.


Kitchen

 

http://www.houzz.com/photos/6403138/Seaside-Beach-House-beach-style-kitchen-portland

 

http://www.houzz.com/photos/559152/My-House-spaces




http://www.apartmenttherapy.com/chelsea-alexs-mixed-styles-homehouse-tour-175330#gallery/39056/16



http://www.houzz.com/photos/7882922/Portland-Art-Deco-Funk-eclectic-kitchen-portland



Bathrooms

 

 
http://www.houzz.com/photos/362231/Vintage-Tile-Bathroom-traditional-bathroom-los-angeles

 

http://www.apartmenttherapy.com/paul-and-tyras-eclectic-charme-109962#_


http://www.houzz.com/photos/127995/City-Chic-eclectic-bathroom-san-francisco



http://www.houzz.com/photos/6693503/A-Charles-Goodman-MidCentury-Design-midcentury-bathroom-dc-metro



Living Rooms

 

http://www.apartmenttherapy.com/house-tour-199581#_


http://www.apartmenttherapy.com/marks-original-mid-century-mod-162638#_


http://www.apartmenttherapy.com/mark-macek-house-tour-169926


As you can see, the best way to embrace your vintage home is by keeping a streamlined palette and working with the preexisting details even if turquoise or pink tile wouldn't have been your first choice. Changing out hardware and fixtures in your space will also do wonders to bring it up-to-date. With a fresh modern facelift, your funky vintage space can look modern and best of all, it will be unique!

Wednesday, February 12, 2014

Time for a Warm Up: Wood Stoves vs. Fireplaces

With winter in full swing, everyone is dreaming of warmer climates. You might want to consider cozying up to a fire instead. The wood stove vs. fireplace debate has plenty of arguements for either side, both have their merits and drawbacks. Let's discuss some pluses and minuses for the two and look at some inspirational photos!


Wood Stoves: Think Beyond Cabin in the Woods

A wood stove has the advantage of providing literal warmth to a room, but some worry that aesthetically they are at a disadvantage. However, it may be time to rethink the wood stove. Newer wood stoves are much more slick and can be bring style and design to a space. Here are some reinvented wood stoves for you to consider.


http://www.stayfitbuzz.com/DECOR-LOVE

http://www.houzz.com/photos/5204995/My-Houzz--Niagara-Vineyard-Renovation-contemporary-living-room-other-metro



http://houseofhabit.blogspot.com/search/label/home%20decor

http://www.houzz.com/photos/7591462/Woodstock-Retreat-contemporary-porch

http://www.houzz.com/photos/1718072/Gyrofocus-Fire-rustic-living-room-other-metro



Fireplaces: Beyond traditional

Fireplaces have always been a very popular way to bring flames into a space. They may not heat your home as efficiently as a wood stove, but many enjoy the open and inviting look of a fireplace. One of the better selling points of a fireplace is the mantel. Mantels have always been a lovely place to display personal treasures. Interestingly enough, many modern fireplaces do not have mantels.



http://www.houzz.com/photos/1499987/Brush-Prairie-House-contemporary-living-room-portland


http://designindulgences.files.wordpress.com/2013/06/wpid-b9f33d8_large.jpeg






http://www.houzz.com/photos/3184765/Modern-Color-modern-living-room-chicago



http://www.houzz.com/photos/701295/Erie-Loft-rustic-living-room-chicago


http://www.archdaily.com/262571/broadway-penthouse-joel-sanders/


Best of Both Worlds

There are also some who prefer a mix of a wood stove and a fireplace. A wood stove with a mantel can provide the solution to the fireplace vs. wood stove debate. Here are some examples of a hybrid between the two sources of heat.


http://www.abeautifulmess.com/2013/10/at-home-with-kelly-moore-clark-1.html

http://default.media.ipcdigital.co.uk/96/000014a39/9f9c_orh0w0/Living-room-woodburner-style-at-home-housetohome.jpg


http://homeklondike.com/2011/04/05/mantelpiece-ideas/



Friday, January 31, 2014

Chairs: Take a Seat

More than just a place to sit, chairs really define and complete a space. Designers throughout history have poured their heart and soul into creating and re-imagining the places we sit.

 Living Room Chairs

In living and family rooms, chairs are a chance to show your personality in a way that can't quite be done with sofas and tables. An interesting accent chair in an otherwise understated room can completely change the mood. Here are some imaginative chairs that can make or break a space.

http://www.houzz.com/photos/69618/West-Chelsea-Loft-midcentury-living-room-other-metro

http://thedecorista.tumblr.com/post/3295144423
http://www.houzz.com/photos/380648/David-Howell-Design-industrial-living-room-new-york

http://www.houzz.com/photos/83961/family-room-modern-family-room-los-angeles




Dining Chairs

Dining room chairs can also push the envelope and define a space. Pairing a unique dining chair with a classic table can change the entire feel of the room. Let's take a look at some fabulous dining chairs.


http://www.traditionalhome.com/design/showhouses/ritz-carlton-showcase-apartment-doug-atherley?page=7

http://www.houzz.com/photos/545020/Modern-Dining-Room-industrial-dining-room-toronto

http://www.houzz.com/photos/75287/Dining-Room-modern-dining-room-boston

http://www.houzz.com/photos/542442/O-Neil-For-Interiors-midcentury-dining-room-dallas


High Design: Statement pieces


Some chairs really challenge our perception of the usual places in which we rest our bodies. Let's take a look at what concepts some designers have imagined a chair could look like.


http://25.media.tumblr.com/46b6d8206e6c6c291107f2909a19fdd8/tumblr_mva47tVXQ01seba4lo1_500.jpg


http://naiftasarim.com/products


http://www.picamemag.com/thin-black-lines/


http://anabundanceof.tumblr.com/post/74560564319/http-www-dezeen-com-2013-01-09-cod-by-rami-tareef-for-ga

Have a seat!