The Idealist Magazine

Friday, 10 November 2017

Indoor urban gardening – solutions for all spaces and lifestyles

Whether you’re a plant lover, botanical challenged or feel your home and lifestyle aren’t suitable for plants, there are a growing number of solutions on the market to suit every need. The trend for indoor greenery certainly isn’t showing any signs of slowing down so we’ve rounded up a variety of options to keep your plants and your home looking great.

Hydroponics

Hydroponics (growing plants in water) is ideal for those who are away from home for periods of time, short on space for plants or simply don’t have much gardening experience. Eliminating the need for soil is also beneficial for homes with pets or young children where plant pots can get knocked over and make a mess. In fact, plants grown hydroponically grow stronger and faster as the roots don’t have to search to find the water and nutrients.

Optimus Garden is a smart vertical hydroponic garden that focuses on innovative design and efficient urban gardening. Up to nine plants can be grown simultaneously in the coloured casing and water levels and conditions can all be monitored through an app, providing a smart response to busy contemporary life. For further information visit Optimus Garden.

Planters

Vertical planters are perfect space savers as are plant hangers. Terrariums are perfect for creating a mini garden on a small scale with succulents and cacti so make ideal starter plants that need minimal care or watering. Window boxes suit all kinds of properties, whether its a collection of herbs for cooking or adding colour and greenery to a window they are really effective and easy to look after.

Tropical plants

Many interior photos contain large tropical plants and they work well indoors for several reasons. Tropical plants add interest to an otherwise difficult area, can be used a way of screening or partitioning a room and survive well in warm, dry conditions. Ikea have a great range of plants and planters that add instant colour and freshness to a room. Aloe Vera, Areca palm and Calathea (prayer plant) are all plants that make a statement whilst being easy to look after too.

Local Plant Centres and Nurseries

Plant centres, nurseries and independent shops are all great places to source indoor plants. Usually, the staff in such shops are gardening experts so tap into their knowledge so explain what you are looking for and they should be able to advise you. Look for healthy looking plants when buying to give them the best start in their new home too.

Plant Care, Maintenance and Accessories

The key to successfully maintaining your own indoor urban garden is getting to grips with the needs of the plants. Consider room temperature, how much light the plant will get and how much water it needs and then you’ll enjoy all the benefits plants bring to a home. Plant labels give the specific instructions required for each plant so keep them for future reference. Add in some stylish plant accessories such as baskets, metal or terracotta pots and a smart looking watering can and you’ll be well equipped to keep your plants looking their best.

Wednesday, 8 November 2017

Modern Heroes: SUGO Cork Rugs

Tuesday, 7 November 2017

How To Build The Ultimate Eco-Friendly House

Eco-friendly houses are no longer characteristic only of people with a bit extreme lifestyle who want to live in the most ecological way possible. They often choose to live in a forest or other secluded areas that provide them with everything they need, as long as their habitat and life habits are purely natural.

However, today it isn’t so uncommon to live in an eco-friendly house that doesn’t stand out from the others. In other words, it’s possible to live in a seemingly similar house as the ones in the neighborhood, which is at the same time different from them in many ways, being environmentally friendly.

So, how to build a house that is eco-friendly in any possible way? They may be looking like any other house, but there are features in it you will definitely have to plan carefully and significant changes you’ll have to bring.

Start from Scratch

Building an eco-friendly house means making a carefully thought plan, so you don’t have to do adjustments after most of the work has been done. You should opt for an airtight or “passive home“. This type of home is incredibly energy efficient, which is an aspect of an eco-friendly home. They are built in the way that they don’t leak any air or heat, which happens with regular houses that have gaps or poor insulation. Passive homes keep the heat inside, which allows you to save a lot of energy and money for keeping your home warm. There is no wasting of the slightest amount of heat. This type of home is 3-8% more expensive at the initial building but in the long run, they cost far less as they significantly reduce the amount of wasted heat. And let’s not forget the other important thing – they help in reducing carbon dioxide emissions.

Acquire Alternative Building Materials

The first material that comes to mind is – wood. If you worry about deforestation and ethical issues, you shouldn’t – as long as you know the right way to source this material, you will still be taking care of the environment. And how’s that? Well, when it comes to retaining heat, wood is 40% better than regular materials such as bricks or building blocks. So, you’ll still be able to give your contribution to reducing carbon dioxide emissions. Another thing that’s simply fantastic is the growing popularity of wooden prefabricated buildings in South Africa – they can easily be erected and move to another place in just a couple of weeks.

If you’re looking for more alternative materials, try old newspapers, recycled denim, straw or wool – they can all be used for the insulation of your future home. Of course, testing for air tightness is still a must, as there could be some leaks.

Use Renewable Energy Sources

Our Earth’s supply of fossil fuels isn’t infinite. And the media are constantly warning us of that. It’s not just about the environment anymore – it has also become an economic issue. Energy prices are rising, so a lot of people are starting to use renewable energy sources and trying to be self-sufficient. Solar panels are an obvious choice here, as they can be used to power both the light and electrical appliances in your home. Another type of solar panels is the one that stores the heat and then provides it when needed.

Wind and hydropower depend on the area you’ve chosen to live in. If your home is going to be built on a higher windy ground, having a windmill is a perfect choice for you. The similar thing is with using hydropower – it’s best used if there’s a strong stream in the vicinity of your house or the climate brings frequent and heavy rains throughout the year.

Renovate your Home and Replace old Appliances

When you’re building an eco-friendly home, it’s important to have high-quality materials, as well as all the things in your home, including appliances. Make your environmentally friendly house also a comfortable place to live – open-space rooms, wide windows with plantation shutters to get as much light as you can and new electrical appliances. There’s no need to try to save some money on old stuff – it will cost more to replace them later. The thing with old electrical appliances is that they spend more electricity than you would pay for new ones.

Be Economical about your Water Usage

If you’re living in a rainy region, you could install a rainwater harvester and reduce the water consumption for your home and garden, and also by using premium hose reels in different lengths to minimize the water expenditure. If a composting toilet is too much of a trouble for you, then consider purchasing eco-friendly toilets that still help reduce the unnecessary water consumption, although not that much. Small tricks on saving water, such as taking a shower instead of a bath and closing the tap while brushing your teeth, are for you to study them once your home is built.

Light and luxurious Belsize Park Gardens

Sunlight from the large windows streams into this three bedroom Victorian apartment in north London. Refiguring and refurbishing this space and integrating a study-come-bedroom and snug/family room was the challenge embraced by design studio Robinson van Noort, London based designers of buildings, interiors and furniture.

Let the Light In

The property’s greatest feature is the openness and light and this was the main area to work around whilst refiguring the space to fit in the extra room. By fitting a series of reclaimed 19th century partially glazed doors and screens the light flows effortlessly around the property. A clever internal window was added to the master bathroom with a roman blind for privacy above the headboard on the other side of the window.

Glass has been used in other areas such as the Murano chandeliers in the main reception area and above the dining table drawing the eye to the property’s high ceilings. In the kitchen glass has been used in a more contemporary way with a blue glass splash back on one wall and a bespoke glass fronted display cabinet in polished black metal adding an industrial look.

Mirror, Mirror

Mirrors, like the antique pine and gesso mirror above the fireplace, have a strong presence in this property helping to reflect the light and adding style and practicality. There are a mix of styles with the master bedroom hosting a 1950’s decorative brass framed Italian mirror and a modern full length mirror in the dressing area, whilst the master bathroom has twin mirrors above corresponding sinks in a luxury hotel feel.

Design Solutions

There are clever uses of space within the apartment. Behind the front door there is another large mirror with a simple shelf underneath, an otherwise unused area, and in the snug a desk has been integrated in the large storage wall. Technology, such as TVs are often a challenge to work with but in the reception room it is stored in the sourced and adapted Scandinavian cupboard.

Smart Storage

The French chest of drawers in the master bedroom were also sourced by Robinson van Noort and the kitchen units were made by bespoke joiners, painted in Little Greene’s Basalt 221. Little Greene paints were used throughout the property: Frech Grey Dark 163 and French Grey Pale 161 in the hallway, kitchen, study and reception room, Rubine Ashes 234 in the master bedroom and Tusk 237 in the master bathroom. Blue Blood from Paint and Paper was used in the family bathroom.

A Hint of Mustard

Against the backdrop of blues and greys the occasional splash of yellow really stands out. The Smith of Derby wall clock in the kitchen and the yellow roll top bath add an element of playfulness to the rooms as does the yellow chair in the study.

A clever multi-functional home has been achieved in this property whilst keeping light flooding in, however now it’s mixed with sense of individuality, style and luxury.

Saturday, 4 November 2017

All Set for an Out of this World Dining Experience

With the growing trend of using dark colours and details to create drama and interest within our homes, a similar statement look can also be achieved at the dining table. We love all this interstellar at The Idealist, so when we saw this new range from Diesel, we had to have it!

Diesel Living with Italian brand Seletti, have joined supernatural forces to create a Cosmic Diner range available from We Interiors this Christmas. The collection reflects both classic and futuristic elements of life in space whilst exploring the art of the table and challenging the tradition of collectible items. From salt and pepper rocket grinders to meteorite glasses with additional pieces from Made and Habitat, we’ve complied our top ten items for an out of this world dining experience.

Front & Centre

Diesel Living with Seletti’s Starman vase takes centre stage on any table and is made from fine porcelain, £58.

The Edna shade is a smoked glass pendant light shade evocative of the classic space suit helmet in the Starman vase (above). It works within all room schemes thanks to it’s elegant globe silhouette. £35 from Made.com

Setting the Table

Bardo Black table runner. Regardless of the size or material of your dining table this woven runner brings texture and interest to the table and creates a dark backdrop. £15 from Habitat.

Dishing Out

Moon, Mars, Jupiter, Pluto and Callisto Dinner Plates replicating the planets and their respective colours and surfaces. These are bold and striking key pieces from Diesel Living at Seletti’s Cosmic Dining collection, from £42.

Bask Set of 4 Round Felt Placemats in Charcoal. Placemats are an easy and affordable dining table update and very practical too. They add a natural texture whilst in keeping with the circular and planetary inspired theme. £14 for a set of four from Made.

Newbury 16 piece cutlery set will catch your guests’ attention. It adds a playful element and ties together the different colours found in space with a distinctive metallic look. £160 from Made.

Drinking In

Meteorite glasses, made with textured glass inside and a smooth outside, have a warm amber colour adding interest and originality. Small £21, large £24.50 from Diesel living with Seletti.

Adding Salt to Cosmic Dinner

Rocket salt and pepper grinders made from solid wood add a fun touch to any meal. £73.50 each from Diesel Living with Seletti.

Finishing Up

This Greta Jug brings height and stripped back design to the table. Its clean lines in classic black stoneware means it is a very versatile piece at £25, Habitat.

For a simple yet stylish platter, the round Merak at £30 is perfect. Made from powder coated aluminium it is designed to compliment the Greta Jug as featured above also from Habitat.

The secret to building a bold yet cohesive look is to mix statement pieces alongside equally well-designed basics on a dark background. With a good foundation in place, the sky really is the limit of what you place with it resulting in a versatile look that is future proof.

Diesel Living with Seletti items are available at WE Iteriors and on 0207 738 2424. Other pieces from Made and habitat.

Friday, 3 November 2017

Making an Entrance: How to Style Your Hall

Think about your hallway. How does it look? Although this segue to your home can make a strong first impression, many people don’t make much of an effort to style their entryway. Entryways are the small, hallway-like entrance rooms found in many homes—also sometimes called mudrooms if you’re lucky enough to have a country pile! They serve as the greeter for all your guests and a functional spot to store things like shoes, jackets and keys.

Hallways are small rooms, though, which can make them difficult to style. The goal is to find furniture and accessories that have the right shape and add function to the room. If you’re looking to give your entryway a makeover, try some of these tips.

Your Hallway Functionality

Since this is the last room you’ll see as you’re leaving and the first you’ll see when you get home, you should design it to serve your needs at those times. Hallways are a great place to add storage for things like jackets, keys, shoes, hats and more. To further enhance your hallway’s dressing room functionality, add a small bench or table where you can sit when you’re gearing up or winding down.

You can get a little bit of both with this Avoriaz 2-drawer entry cabinet from Maisons du Monde. Its slim profile and gorgeous natural look make it a perfect entryway piece.

If you need more seating, a storage bench like this one from Spice Counter is an elegant solution that provides added storage as well.

Making the most of your hallway space

Hallways are generally pretty small, so you have to be careful not to overcrowd them. Look for space-saving furniture that fits the orientation of the room and provides more than one function. For example, if you have a long, thin hallway, you should get long and thin furniture. Other solution is to get wall hanging furniture, which will allow you to save some extra space.

You can never have enough coat storage—especially when it’s mounted to the wall. These wall hooks from Habitat give you four more spots to hang your jackets or keys, plus a small shelf on top for smaller items.

As messy as they get, drawers are a useful catch-all, especially when you’ve just walked into your home. This Bella side table from Loaf saves space while giving you a drawer and a small table top to hold a decorative piece. We know it’s designed for the bedroom, but it would look great in the hall with an antique phone on, we think!

Not All Business

Although your hallway should be functional, you don’t have to sacrifice aesthetics to achieve that functionality. Make sure you add a few warm touches, such as a nice mirror and elegant lighting. Items like these not only add function to your entryway, they also make it more of a warm, welcoming entrance for you and your guests.

Now that you’ve got some neutral colours filling your hallways, it’s the perfect time to pick a rug that pops to add some colour to the room. This blue and white runner from John Lewis is a good size for hallways and adds a splash of deep blue while complementing the other neutral colours in the room.

Lighting is an important part of creating a warm, welcoming hallway that makes a statement. Top your side table off with this small tripod table lamp from Habitat. The white lamp shade and neutral wood legs make the perfect complement to the other pieces in the room.

Thursday, 2 November 2017

5 Must-Try Home Cleaning Hacks

Everyone loves a fresh, clean home, but who has the time for all that scrubbing, scouring, and sweeping?

With these five must-try home cleaning hacks, you’ll enjoy a cleaner home without the need to hire a maid or spend your weekends toiling away. Better yet, these cleaning hacks all use simple ingredients you already have about the house, helping you create a spotless home without spending extra on high-end cleaning supplies.

Iron Carpet Stains Out

Rather than scrubbing stubborn carpet stains with harsh chemicals and cleaners, start by soaking a piece of flannel cloth in water, then completely covering the stain with it.

Using a household iron set to high, slowly iron the flannel until it is dry and no longer generating steam. This will help to break down the stain, making it much more manageable and easier to scrub off.

Spiffy Up The Microwave

The microwave can be a real magnet for splatters, grease and grime. To keep your micro looking and smelling fresh and new, simply slice up a few whole lemons and place in a medium microwave-safe bowl along with two cups of water and a splash of cider vinegar.

Place the lemon-water-cider vinegar mixture in the microwave and heat it on high for about 10 minutes to create a blanket of steam throughout the inside. All you’re left to do is simply wipe out the inside, and you’ll be left with a spotless, grease-free micro.

Sprinkle Baking Soda On Your Mattress

Baking soda is a low-cost, all-natural product that works wonders when it comes to absorbing stale odours.

Freshen up your mattress on laundry day by sprinkling it with baking soda. Simply remove your bedding, then use a generous amount of baking soda. The longer you leave it on, the more effective the soda will be – just be sure to vacuum off all the powder before re-making your bed.

Clean Pots With Cola

With pH levels hovering around 2.8 (similar to lemon juice, wine, and vinegar) cola is more than a sweet fuzzy drink – it’s a highly acidic liquid that can work wonders when it comes to cleaning.

Instead of spending hours scrubbing burnt food and build-up off pots and pans, simply cover the bottom with a generous layer of cola, set the pot to simmer over low flame, and heat gently for an hour or so, taking care not to boil the pot dry.

Afterwards, remove the pot from the flame, let it cool, and wash as usual. Now you have a deeply clean pot.

Deodorise With Vodka

Not only is vodka perfect for making your favourite adult beverage, but it works wonders as an odourless, colourless disinfectant on fabric surfaces like your sofa, draperies, and rugs.

Try placing some vodka in a simple spritzer bottle for use whenever you need to give your fabrics a quick freshen up – in a pinch it can even help to take odours out of dry-clean only jackets, slacks, and blouses.

Friday, 10 November 2017

Hydroponics

Planters

Tropical plants

Local Plant Centres and Nurseries

Plant Care, Maintenance and Accessories

You May Also Like

Wednesday, 8 November 2017

Tuesday, 7 November 2017

Start from Scratch

Acquire Alternative Building Materials

Use Renewable Energy Sources

Renovate your Home and Replace old Appliances

Be Economical about your Water Usage

You May Also Like

Let the Light In

Mirror, Mirror

Design Solutions

Smart Storage

A Hint of Mustard

You May Also Like

Saturday, 4 November 2017

Front & Centre

Setting the Table

Dishing Out

Drinking In

Adding Salt to Cosmic Dinner

Finishing Up

You May Also Like

Friday, 3 November 2017

Your Hallway Functionality

Making the most of your hallway space

Not All Business

You May Also Like

Thursday, 2 November 2017

Iron Carpet Stains Out

Spiffy Up The Microwave

Sprinkle Baking Soda On Your Mattress

Clean Pots With Cola

Deodorise With Vodka

You May Also Like