Home Builder Developer - Interior Renovation and Design

TAOS, N.M. Mike Reynolds never worried too much as the world inched closer to doomsday. In spring 2020, motorists lined up outside grocery stores waiting for food as the coronavirus pandemic first wrapped its tentacles around the global supply chain. Next came an unprecedented surge of extreme weather as wildfires devastated the American West, hurricanes lashed tropical coastlines, and a deadly winter storm brought the Texas power grid to its knees.

I was watching that on TV and then walking down the hallway of my building, picking bananas and spinach and kale and tomatoes and eating them. Barefoot, because my building was warm without fuel, Reynolds said. My Earthship took care of me.

Earthships are off-grid, self-reliant houses built from tires, dirt and garbage that have long been an offbeat curiosity for travelers passing by the ski town of Taos, but suddenly look like a haven for climate doomers. Residents of the 630-acre flagship Earthship community treat their own waste, collect their own water, grow their own food, and regulate their own temperature by relying on the sun, rain and earth.

Reynolds, 76, has been building these structures called vessels since the early 1970s when, after graduating from architecture school at the University of Cincinnati, he took up off-road motorcycle racing on the high desert plateau around Taos to try to injure himself to avoid being drafted to Vietnam. He never left.

They were talking about a freak on the mesa in New Mexico building buildings out of garbage. That was scandalous, Reynolds said. But he gained more followers as people became more conscious of climate change, and 2020 brought a surge of interest in new construction.

Those interested range from dreamers such as Linda May, who was depicted in the film Nomadland and whose ultimate goal was to build an Earthship, to young people anxious about a worsening climate, a housing shortage, and eternally escalating electricity and heating costs.

Its hard for me to even think of going back to a conventional house, said Freya Dobson, 24, who is from New York. This is a real solution for living.

Earthships operate using six green-building principles governing heating and cooling, solar electricity, water collection, sewage treatment, food production, and the use of natural and recycled materials. This meant that when Earthships emerged in the 1970s, they addressed something nobody else did: What do we do with garbage? said Rachel Preston Prinz, a green designer in Santa Fe, N.M., who wrote the book Hacking the Earthship.

About 40% of a typical Earthship is built with natural or recycled materials, most notably foundations and walls made up of hundreds of used tires packed with dirt. These work with dual layers of floor-to-ceiling passive solar windows, which collect sun during winter and reject it in the summer to keep structures at a comfortable room temperature, no matter the weather outside.

Its incredibly beautiful, said Britt Shacham Bernstein, 25, shortly after visiting an Earthship for the first time. Theres a whole ecosystem in here, and youre a part of the ecosystem.

Earthships originally spawned from the arid climate of Taos, maximizing abundant sunlight while squeezing whatever they can from about eight inches of annual rainfall. Each Earthship shares a set of core organs such as a water organization module, which filters and separates water as it moves throughout the house. In the Earthship ecosystem, water is first used for drinking, showering and hand washing before moving to interior plants, such as fig and banana trees, along with hanging gardens of herbs and flowers.

The resulting black water is used in the toilet before being flushed into a septic tank, where it fertilizes ornamental outdoor plants and can then be safely released into the groundwater supply.

Another module controls solar power, which is used primarily for lights and appliances. Earthships use about one-sixth as much power as a conventional house.

A typical Earthship can produce 25% to 50% of the food its residents need, depending on a multitude of factors including diet, climate and how much time is spent on garden maintenance, said Phil Basehart, a construction team leader. If you follow a plant-based diet, you may never have to visit a grocery store again.

Said Trent Wolbe, a sustainability lead for events and experiences at Google and a fellow owner who completed an Earthship Academy in 2012: Theyre super inspiring from a sustainability point of view. If youre a builder, or someone who is interested in doing off-grid systems and expanding where people can live reliably, then all signs point to Earthships.

But there are also stories of failed builds and abandoned projects, sometimes after tens of thousands of dollars have been spent, and Reynolds has faced lawsuits from unsatisfied buyers. Earthships are experimental, evolving and imperfect structures, and most American families cannot afford expensive growing pains.

Enthusiasts warn against buying or building an Earthship before participating in an Earthship Academy, in which students pay about $1,000 to spend a month helping with a build and taking classes on construction and maintenance. An Earthship is not plug and play, said Dobson, who graduated in October from the academy in Taos, and homeowners can be dependent on people in the Earthship community to help them solve problems. They are also hard to build, and many prospective owners hire the for-profit Earthship Biotecture as contractors.

"You're packing 400 pounds of dirt into a tire," Dobson said. "That's one of the hardest things I've ever done."

Earthship Biotectures Global Model, the most popular build, was designed to work in the vast majority of climates with minor adaptations, and a study on Earthships built in London, Paris and Spain showed it is largely successful at providing thermal comfort without heating or cooling. But the intimate relationship between house and earth requires complex construction considerations that go much smoother with the touch of their eccentric founder.

Maybe hes a visionary, maybe hes crazy, Prinz said. But if youre not working with Mike, I feel like Im losing some of that.

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Reynolds has tried to build multifamily and commercial structures for years but has run into permit problems, forcing his team to experiment with new projects in places with loose building codes. His team has built a typhoon shelter in the Philippines, disaster relief homes in Puerto Rico, and an in-progress school in southern Haiti, which was devastated by an earthquake this past summer.

The projects are mostly funded by volunteers who pay to work on the builds and learn about Earthships, just as they do at the academies in New Mexico.

Reynolds knows humanity needs time to be swayed. He compares people to a banana plant in his Earthship that, as the months pass, gradually bends to reach the sunlight.

Its got to be down to, the Titanics got to be sinking, and this is the life raft, he said. But selling them on the life raft while they can go dine and dance in the hall with the rich people in the top level, its a hard sell.

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These homes are off-grid and climate resilient. Theyre also built out of trash. - The Philadelphia Inquirer

When it comes to creating the illusion of space in a small room, designers are divided. Some turn to color, some to the floor, and others to oversized furniture. However, there is one part of the room that is arguably the most influential of them all: the window or rather your window dressing.

According to top curtain designers, you can accentuate the size of your small space with one deceptive trick and the results are completely transformative. But what exactly does this curtain idea involve? Here, designer Gemma Moulton reveals what you need to know.

(Image credit: Future / Simon Bevan)

Window treatment ideas are a particularly easy way to add height and stature to a room when placed correctly. Although fitting into the wall above (rather than the window frame) will inevitably be more difficult, the results are completely transformative, says Gemma.

The East London Cloth designer, who has just launched her first online curtain-making course with Create Academy, explains that a curtain (or blind) will add the illusion of height to the window but that's not all.The trick will also allow more light in when pulled, meaning your room will appear brighter and consequently more spacious.

Interior designer Louise Bradley similarly urges you to seemingly increase the scale of the window (and the size of your room) by thinking about your curtain pole placement.

(Image credit: Villa Nova)

The pole should be slightly longer than the window itself, ensuring space for a generous stack back of the tailored fabric, Louise says. This interior design tip not only accentuates the space but also exhibits a luxurious feel within the room and softens the space to create a bespoke aesthetic.

However, the designer warns that while this window treatment idea works seamlessly in some rooms, it is less suitable in other spaces.

(Image credit: Villa Nova)

We would always position the pole to scale with the window; however, the higher it is placed, the more it would extend the window, Louise says. Therefore, if you are not looking to extend your window, it is best to avoid practicing this secret in certain rooms.

Were re-evaluating our curtain placement at the next available opportunity.

Read more:
This designer-approved curtain tip will create the illusion of space in a small room - Homes & Gardens

For many of us, the new year is a time to rethink our homes. And while we, at H&G are very switched on to the interior design trends, a new look is not always about embracing the latest fad. In fact, sometimes, it's just about switching up some of our existing furnishings, while indulging in the odd new splash of pattern or color.

There is something rather wonderful about the opportunity and optimism that a new year offers,' says Tricia Guild of Designers Guild.

'In many Nordic countries, they find the blanket of snow that invariably covers the landscape in January with its pristine whiteness a perfect time to re-set and re-focus, which feels like a very worthwhile exercise even with the absence of snow.

'The last couple of years have taught us so much about our quality of life, how our homes are our havens, how time spent outdoors in nature can be life-affirming, how our families and friends are vital to our well-being its important to hold these values close as we look forward to hopefully, a more "normal" year.

'I, for one, will be making a few changes at home to reflect a new mood that feels hopeful and optimistic.'

Here, Tricia shares interior design tips on how she creates a fresh feel for her rooms.

(Image credit: Designers Guild)

'Wallpaperis a wonderful way of adding character and atmosphere to a space this season, papers are rich and decorative. I love the clashing mix of pattern on walls, furniture and at windows and accessories. Floral details and tactile textures are definitely a winning combination and feel right for now.

Jaal wallpaper, Designers Guild

(Image credit: Designers Guild)

If you like a more restrained style take a look at two gorgeous graphic papers that we have reissued from our very first collection Jaal (above)and Shaqui (below) had pride of place in our Village collection and now more than 50 years later and in new colorways they are absolutely gorgeous.'

(Image credit: Designers Guild)

(Image credit: Designers Guild)

'Theres nothing like a new throw and cushions to refresh and recharge your living space. I love to have different sets of accessories that I change regularly. Some I have had for ages, while others are new and its exciting to mix them up for a different feeling.'

(Image credit: Designers Guild)

'Change pictures and photographs around this is a great exercise and means that you really notice your pictures, art and photographs in a new way. Moving them around and hanging them on different walls and brings a different energy that is noticeable.'

(Image credit: Designers Guild)

'Why not add some color to tired walls it really need not take an age or be expensive to simply paint a wall or two in a room of your choice. The difference a shot of your favourite color will make to how you feel about home is quite wonderful.

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Designer Tricia Guild reveals how she will be updating her interiors for 2022 - Homes & Gardens

Beauty YouTuber Song Ji-ah, also known as FreeZia, has been facing intense backlash after dozens of luxury designer items she flaunted were exposed as fake. [SCREEN CAPTURE]

A "Dior" tube top Song Ji-ah wore on Netflixs hit dating show Singles Inferno turned out to be a 16,000 won ($13) knock-off from an online mall. [SCREEN CAPTURE]

YouTuber Ham Yon-ji is from the conglomerate family behind Koreas food giant Ottogi. She is known for showing luxury items and shopping sprees. [SCREEN CAPTURE]

YouTuber Cheeu is known for her luxury haul videos. In this video alone, she shows off 80 million won worth of products from designer brand Gucci. [SCREEN CAPTURE]

Vice Chairman Chung Yong-jin of conglomerate group Shinsegae has built a following on Instagram with his image of a wealthy yet down-to-earth businessman. [SCREEN CAPTURE]

Song lives in a high-end apartment that has a view of the Han River, which flows through the center of Seoul. In Korea, homes that look down on the Han River symbolize wealth. [SCREEN CAPTURE]

Song wearing counterfeit "Van Cleef & Arpels" earrings on "Single's Inferno." [SCREEN CAPTURE]

Song's official instagram account is known for showcasing luxury fashion. [SCREEN CAPTURE]

A screen capture from YouTuber Aura M's video on designer bags for men [SCREEN CAPTURE]

BY HALEY YANG [yang.hyunjoo@joongang.co.kr]

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Luxury, lies and life with a 'gold spoon' - The Korea JoongAng Daily

By 2015, designers and architects Gita Ramanan and Shezan Bhojani had realised one thing - they wanted to go beyond merely designing to build a whole home solutions ecosystem, and this led to the birth of Design Cafe, a D2C home solutions brand in the same year.

The startup has so far raised $57 million in total funding, and counts the likes of Fireside Ventures, Westbridge Capital, and Sixth Sense Ventures as its investors.

Design Cafe is over 900 employees strong, has a revenue run rate of Rs 180 crore, and is targeting a run rate of Rs 600 crore in booking value in the next two years. It has helped design and deliver about 150 homes per month in Bengaluru, Mumbai, Thane, Hyderabad, and Chennai.

The startup has over eight experience centres, and a 35,000 sqft factory in Anekal, an industrial area in the outskirts of Bengaluru. By this quarter, the team is expanding to Pune and Mysore as well. They are also looking at new centres in existing cities, as well as expanding to Delhi NCR and some Tier II cities (10 cities in total).

Gita and Shezan, Founders of Design Cafe

The pandemic-led work from has democratised and opened markets for the housing and home solutions sector, thanks to the work-from-home culture catching up.

The startup follows an omnichannel model that helps consumers build the homes that they want, in the style and specifications they feel most comfortable with.

Design Cafe does this by offering end-to-end solutions starting from designing, manufacturing products to installing them.

Technology has helped the startup provide a wholesome experience to their customers, by providing more options in a timely manner within their budgets. Virtual reality (VR) specifically, helps customers visualise the designs in their private spaces.

While Design Cafe is not a first mover in the space, and has competition from players like Livspace and Homelane, what sets them apart is the designer point of view.

He adds they were aware that the skill sets of interior designers and architects werent simply available to everyone. We knew if we were to set up a home ourselves, we wouldnt be able to afford our own services, explains Shezan, adding that hiring a good designer is not only tough but also expensive.

Also, while designers struggle to execute on the clients' needs and requirements, it is equally frustrating for customers to get what exactly they wanted.

This meant a large problem needed to be solved and it rightly matched our ambition, says Shezan.

In retrospect, the whole idea of Design Cafe was created by Gita in 2010 during her Indian School of Business (ISB) scholarship stint. I was laughed out of the room as many believed this to be an unviable idea that they said was unscalable, says Gita. This nevertheless did not stop the duo from starting their architectural firm.

We realised entrepreneurship is something we definitely wanted to explore, recalls Gita. Subsequently, they went on to design over 500 projects across the country in sectors across residential, hospitality, retail, commercial, and institutional design. This continued for the next 10 years, which helped them develop a comprehensive understanding of the market.

The turning point came in end 2014, when a customer came to the couple and requested for a home to be built for Rs 15 lakh. We also started realising that people we had initially worked for were no longer coming to us because by then our work had been published in architecture magazines and journals. We had started doing homes worth Rs 2 crore to Rs 5 crore, and they were giving references, says Gita.

By the time the duo realised that they had skill sets that could create incredible value for people with smaller homes, that client bracket was suddenly elusive.

The couple also realised that the industry was standardising. Builders themselves were looking at ways and means to create properties that were catering to the new evolving and emerging middle class. They also saw that there was rapid digitisation and the number of people in the middle-income group was significantly rising.

We decided to create a standardised module on the backend and bring in our design sensibilities to the forefront. With that idea, we brought in a few tech people to build the module and the prototype, says Gita.

The first product the team had built was a tech solution, where consumers could design their own rooms, kitchens etc. They could pick modules, finishes etc. They could pick a layout of the room they were designing in a minute.

Information as shared by Design Cafe team

It was this prototype that the team took to Kanwaljit Singh, Managing Partner and Founder of Fireside Ventures, in 2015. Speaking of his investment in Design caf, Kanwaljit says,

To be successful in this space, there are many factors in play. The founders needed to have strong design sense, the ability to engage and understand what the customer wants and also understand the life cycle of building a home.

The key factors that played a role here was the ability to execute and build large scalable platforms. And we saw all of this in the founders of Design Cafe.Kanwaljit explains also the pandemic has democratised the market and the industry, making it easier for people to look at brands and options online.

"The consumer wants newer options, better options that suit their needs in every way possible," adds Kanwaljit.

While the team raised their first round of funding based on this prototype, they knew they had to change the product. After close to 300 meetings with customers, they realised that while consumers wanted a solution like this, they also wanted a final approval from a designer or an expert.

We shifted our model such that the designer would meet with the customer to understand what they wanted, and later feeded that into the system, explains Gita.

By 2017, the team realised they needed their own setup. We knew that to scale and grow, we needed to manage end-to-end, adds Shezan.

However, the market has its challenges and there are several moving variables and parts. Shezan explains it was then they realised that to give a complete end-to-end experience and solution, they need to manage the different elements like designers, artisans, workers, plumbers, electricians etc.

This means standardising and training them, making them realise and understand what the customer wants and needs. This meant building standardised modules and ensuring that the people are trained well. It is about providing all kinds of labour with the right job security and decision-making skills, explains Shezan.

A 2020 RedSeer report states that the Indian online furniture segment is pegged at $25 billion, growing at a CAGR of 15-17 percent on the back of increased digitisation, newer business models, and rapid urbanisation. In fact, the online furniture industry in India constitutes only 15 percent of the organised market, growing bullishly at 80-85 percent.

This shift is also because online-first (D2C) brands have gained over 30 percent share of ecommerce, which will grow to 45 percent by 2025.Shezan says,

The pandemic has shown us that we can manage processes, teams and work in an online and hybrid environment. Design Caf was an early entrant in the space of creating designer homes with a touch of exclusiveness and class. Home has now become the centre of work and family life, and this is where every consumer is looking for the best options when it comes to doing up their dream homes, this is the edge that the founders have focused on. We are confident that the need for good homes is here to stay forever and the fact that Design Caf blends all aspects of home design with tech, is why they have grown and built their large client base across India."

The team is now working to expand its base and presence across different parts of the country.

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How Design Cafe is looking to disrupt the $20B home solutions space with design and tech - YourStory

There can't be many people who would be excited by a for sale sign outside an enormous neglected church. Dean Keyworth and his husband Gavin Hilton saw the decommissioned church and decided it would make the perfect renovation project. They were looking for a second home near the coast and the church was situated in a quiet village, almost as far north as you can go without crossing the border into Scotland. That was 14 years ago and unfortunately things didn't go to plan. Their offer was outbid and Dean and Gavin continued their search.

In 2018, the pair discovered the church was back up for sale again and that it had been barely touched in the interim. 'This time I wasn't going to let it get past me,' says Dean and he set about making plans and finding out what was possible given that the former church was a Grade II-listed building, built in 1821.

It turns out that with flare, creativity and bravery in equal measure quite a lot was possible. And the dramatic results of Dean's church renovation project make it one of the world's best homes.

There's plenty here to inspire anyone who's taking on a major renovation project. However, the building's creative transformation is packed with ideas that would transfer just as well to smaller projects, especially for those looking for kitchen ideasbefore embarking on a refit.

Interior designer Dean Keyworth took on this neglected building, which consisted, he says, of just 'one huge main room with seven-metre-high ceilings, and an old bathroom with a tree growing through the wall'. Dean, who set up Armstrong Keyworth and is a past president of the British Institute of Interior Design, has brought the former church back to life in style, He added his signature colorful vistas and quirky talking points, all the while retaining the essence of the original space and period features.

We've picked our favorite corners of this unusual conversion. Here are some of its most inspiring design elements.

(Image credit: Douglas Gibb)

A kitchen in a choir stall - why not? We're definitely singing its praises! Looking for smart kitchen cabinet ideas? These elegant grey-blue cabinets were handmade by 1909 Kitchens, and Dean added the unusual distressed mirrored splashback. An island breakfast bar was also built into the scheme and a door opens to a Juliet balcony to make the most of the room's elevated position bringing great views and extra natural light. A curtain in Balangan fabric by Manuel Canovas provides an additional splash of colour.

(Image credit: Douglas Gibb)

Dean came up with a palette of burnt orange, green and caramel that he uses throughout the project and that works equally well in the old and new parts of the building. Anyone looking for kitchen color ideas, take note: Dean's mezzanine kitchen is a masterclass in color blocking.

The striking tongue and groove paneling is painted in Craig & Roses Russet to contrast with the units, but to echo the downstairs dining space, while the Robert Langford chairs at the breakfast bar are covered in Scottish leather and Armani Casa fabric in green, in keeping with the palette. A glass balcony was added to the existing mezzanine, but the couple were adamant that the central space would stay as one area. 'I hate it when you see gorgeous stained-glass windows cut in half with floors, says Dean. An expert was called in to restore the windows to their original glory.

(Image credit: Douglas Gibb)

Dean kept the full height of the central living space so that its original features, including the stained-glass windows, were not compromised in any way. The framed mural is Marine Au Soleil Couchant from Papiers de Paris.

(Image credit: Douglas Gibb)

Dividing the property's central space into zones has given each area its own identity, and also helps to create a more intimate, cozy look and feel. Of course, if you're looking for living room ideas, you can't go wrong by grouping your sofas around a fireplace, as Dean has done here. The green footstool is bespoke and Dean bought the antique cupboards on either side of the fireplace from a local auction house. Both the rug and fireplace were online auction buys. The dark wood and Gothic styling of the fire surround make it the perfect choice for a former church.

(Image credit: Douglas Gibb)

Although there's room for friends around the smaller dining table in the mezzanine kitchen, a more formal space like this is just perfect for entertaining a crowd. If you're thinking of dining room ideas or of reconfiguring a dining area, your starting point should be how many diners will you be entertaining, and how often?

This mahogany dining table seats 14 people with ease and was a bargain buy from a local auctioneers. The large mural across the back of the space is India Couleur by Ananbo, and the orange tone has been picked out in the woodwork. The couple brought some antiques with them from London but like to mix in mid-century pieces and buy furniture specially, or in the case of the huge antique bookcase borrow from friends.

(Image credit: Douglas Gibb)

A calm scheme of grays and off-whites ensures the main bedroom is a relaxing retreat essential for any bedroom ideas. The bed headboard is covered in Pierre Freys Reglisse. The table lamp is by Justin Van Breda. In the doorway is a a treasured painting by daughter Georgia, along with modern art made of margarine tubs by Hani Najm.

It's a very restful space now, but Dean found out that his plans to build a whole new floor for the master suite and spare bedroom in the loft initially gave his builder nightmares!

Our builder was great, but to strengthen the floor sufficiently, we needed three steels of 12 metres each,' says Dean. 'He admitted to me later that hed had sleepless nights over that one.

(Image credit: Douglas Gibb)

Sometimes when it comes to pattern it's best to go for it in a big way. Daughter Georgias room features Charlotte Gaisfords prints on the walls (The Countess), and headboard fabric (Tsarina). By tying the busy scheme together with a calm, light green shade for the woodwork it becomes a winning combination

(Image credit: Douglas Gibb)

Among the great bathroom ideas worth copying from Dean's new loft suite is a 1930s sideboard upcycled to hold double sinks. A metal grid shower screen divides the large walk-in shower.

(Image credit: Douglas Gibb)

The spectacular wallpaper in the downstairs bathroom is Pierre Freys Alleluia, which is based on a Gothic design from 1830 and so ties in with the age of the former church.

It's easy to talk yourself out of choosing a special wallcovering based on its cost, but a little luxury goes a long way and if you find exactly the right bathroom wallpaper, as Dean did here, then it will make a big impact even in the smallest room in the house.

Feature / Stephanie Smith

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9 beautiful design tips worth borrowing from this converted Georgian church - Homes & Gardens

Houseplants have been keeping a lot of us company during the pandemic, and the good news is theres a plant for any home, big or small, well-lit or not.Theres also a virtual jungle of stylish containers in which to show them off.I love incorporating plants into our interior spaces, says designer Mel Bean of Tulsa, Oklahoma, both for the sense of life that they contribute, and for their help in improving indoor air quality. I prefer significantly sized plants in large containers rather than many small pots. It creates a dramatic impact while feeling sculptural rather than cluttered.Beans go-to shop is Bloomscape, which offers a range of simple pots, in muted hues, made of 80% recycled ocean plastic. There are handy wheeled saucers for larger plants, and bamboo stands that adjust to fit the pot.Other great options in planters and stands:IDEAS FOR SMALL SPACESClever shapes, like a smooth-sided planter that can serve as a bookend on a shelf, can solve limited-space issues.Its unique, interesting, and an especially innovative idea for anyone who lives in an apartment or smaller space, Better Homes & Gardens lifestyle editor Jennifer Aldrich wrote recently in the magazine.A sea-green, hand-glazed finish on Holistic Habitats Pita bookend planters gives them an artisanal look. And Urban Outfitters pair of bookend vessels also serves a dual purpose; the terracotta glaze gives them a nice look on a shelf.Miijmoj Design turns a cantilevered oak board into a bookend, and adds a cylinder vase, which can be filled with an air plant or single stem.Pedestal planters literally and figuratively elevate your greenery.Brooklyn, New York-based Tortuga Living has collaborated with Farrah Sit, founder of Light + Ladder studio, on the Platform Vessel collection. The concrete and stone terrazzo bowls and planters in various sizes were inspired by Bauhaus architectures geometric forms, and can be used indoors or out.Chen-Yen Wei and Hung-Ming Chens Story Planter, a series of rising containers, can be paired with their Story Bookshelf so plants and books are showcased together in a vertical stack with a compact footprint.It was not an easy task, though it appears really simple, Hung-Ming says in a studio mission statement. We hope people see it as a quiet, functional sculpture.Or simply use a small tray table, like Smith & Hawkens black steel-framed one with a removable wooden tray top.

CONVERSATION STARTERSMany planters are art pieces themselves. Jonathan Adlers Muse Dora Maar planter was inspired by the French poet, painter and muse to Picasso. A modernist carved face encircles the cement vessel; filling it with a tumble of feathery ferns, or a tall slim tree, would add another dimension to the profile.Midcentury-modern designer Arthur Umanoffs 1961 r attan and steel planter might be a chic addition to a room with a similar aesthetic. And the warm, wavy texture would look wonderful in a contemporary boho-inspired or maximalist-themed space as well.Textured or fluted ceramics, especially in a matte finish, can elevate even the most basic houseplant. Youll find affordable options in Targets Opalhouse and Project 62 collections.At Lightology, Kenneth Cobonpues faceted, oxidized metal Boulders planters bring a masculine, midcentury vibe to the table.Brittany Farinas, principal at Miamis House of One design firm, has been exploring botanical art, like a preserved-moss wall in one recent project.There are endless possibilities when designing with preserved moss, she says.Not only does it bring life and vibrancy to the home, but it acts as a conversational piece.Farinas worked on the moss feature wall with the team at Miamis Plant the Future. The design studio also runs a shop offering wood forms like burled balls or driftwood troughs that can be filled with moss. The gnarled, weathered specimens with tufts of green peeking out of the crannies are natural objets dart.Wall planters are a fun way to play with houseplants. If you have a motley collection, popping them onto a wall can evoke an indoor jungle or conservatory vibe. If you go with a more curated assemblage - say, cacti, succulents or one type of trailing vine youll create an artsy, architectural look.Holistic Habitats Romy wall planter collection features curvy cylinders of white ceramic, melding sculptural art with the greenery you place in them. Then theres the Geo, with a slim circle of copper cradling the clay pot; its a living sconce.SELF-WATERERSSwedish company Wetpot offers a self-watering pot that makes sure you dont over- or underwater. A terracotta planter, available in two sizes for either a couple of smaller plants or, perhaps, a potted fern, sits inside a reservoir of hand-blown glass; fill the reservoir, and plants will take in what they need.Eli Manekin of Loop Living has designed a thoughtful collection of self-watering planters that hang elegantly from the wall or ceiling on wooden rods, knobs or loops.FLEXIBILITYArhaus Miramar pots conjoin a roomy bowl and a tall cylinder, so plants can be transferred from small first home to roomier digs as they grow.A bar cart makes a clever plant table that can be moved around to catch the sun. Ferm Livings slim, powder-coated steel planter box, a bestseller on 2Moderns site, comes in hues like rose, gray and olive; filled with greenery, it could serve as a pretty room divider.Hanging macrame planters have a 70s vibe. Options available online include Hays cool Phanta hanger, in black, green or blue, and made of recycled material.Or make your own. At http://www.kenarry.com youll find instructions for a simple structure that can be adapted to any size pot. At http://www.hellonest.co theres a slightly fancier one, but it still uses just three knots. A video walks you through the process.

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From the Garden: Pots and perches to show off your houseplants in style - pressherald.com

How should theevaporative air coolerbe maintained in winter?

1. Try to turn on the evaporative air cooler every month. Pay attention to frequently check whether the power plug is in good contact with the socket, whether it is loose or falling off, whether the air duct is blocked, and whether the sound is normal during operation. When not in use, it is best to keep it turned on once a month. The core of Xingkeevaporative air cooleris the compressor. If it is not used for a long time, the lubricating oil in the compressor may condense and affect the next use.

2. Fully clean after the end of the use season. Xingkeevaporative air coolerare recommended to do a thorough cleaning when they are responding to seasonal shutdowns. When cleaning the Xingke evaporative air cooler filter, pull the filter out. It is best to use a vacuum cleaner to suck up the dust on it, or you can rinse it with clean water. After drying, put it into use. For dusty environments, the filter should be cleaned frequently to prevent too much dust from blocking the air outlet and affecting the cooling effect of Xingkeevaporative air coolerAfter cleaning, only turn on the fan of the air cooler and run it for about 2 to 3 hours to dry the inside of the air cooler and remove moisture.

What should one pay attention to when using anevaporative air coolerin the workshop?

1. Check whether the power is on before starting. The outdoor evaporative air cooler prohibits all fire sources from approaching; in the case of thunder, the power switch should be cut off as much as possible.

2. Under no special circumstances (except for places that need to be turned on 24 hours a day), the power should be turned off when no one is using the evaporative air cooler during get off work, so that the air cooler can be stopped and rested after a few hours of operation, so as to increase the operation of the evaporative air cooler Life and operating performance. When shutting down, you should turn off the wall controller switch first, and then cut off the power. Never turn off the power switch directly when the evaporative air cooler is running; if theevaporative air cooleris not cooled or ventilated during use, check the wall The fault information of the controller, and theevaporative air cooler is turned off, waiting for the after-sales personnel to come to service.

3. Use the cleaning function of the machine once every 2-3 days to keep the water quality clean, especially after rainy days, be sure to clean it once, so that the next day when the evaporative air cooler is used, it will not blow out the fishy air.

4. Clean the filter once every 1-2 weeks. If there are more environmental stains, it is recommended to clean it once a week. The specific cleaning times can be judged according to the cleanliness of the filter.

Media ContactCompany Name: GUANGZHOU XIKOO INDUSTRY CO. LTD.Email: Send EmailPhone: 86-15915891751Country: ChinaWebsite: https://www.xikooaircooler.com/

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With many people working from home, the heating might be on more often to help stay warm. This means many might be looking at ways they can cut down their bills as well as help to conserve as much energy as possible.

Many people are starting to give more thought to the cost of heating our homes this winter especially given the latest Ofgem price cap increase, which saw the average customers energy bills rise by 139 from October 2021.

Despite the lifting of Covid-19 restrictions, recent research commissioned by the BBC showed that 70 percent of workers dont intend to return to the office full-time, with the Office for National Statistics reporting 85 percent will opt for a hybrid approach going forward.

So, with more people spending more time at home, and energy bills going up, Daikin UK expects this winter to bring some of the highest energy bills of the last decade for many households.

The experts at Daikin UK said: While this might seem like a bleak outlook, there are some simple things you can do to help youre your heating bills at bay and to look after the planet in the process.

Iain Bevan Commercial Manager at eco-heating brand Daikin UK shares his top tips for keeping the home warm for less this winter.

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This can lead to inefficient heating and higher bills as this leads Britons to try to make the colder rooms warmer but are overheating other parts of the house in the process.

Balancing radiators is a quick job Britons can do themselves and theres a range of helpful step-by-step guides available online should they need a hand.

If homeowners are interested in a longer-term solution to reducing the cost of heating their home, they could consider switching their oil or gas boiler to a greener alternative, such as a heat pump.

This can significantly reduce energy bills during winter and beyond, as well as lowering the homes carbon footprint.

On average, an efficient heat pump can save a UK household up to 378 on heating bills each year compared to a gas boiler, and up to 476 compared with an oil boiler.

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Simple tips to keep your home warm for less this winter using foam and duct tape - Daily Express

MARSHFIELD Christine Clarke has spent decades honing design and maker skills across numerous disciplines,from painting and sculpting to upholstery andlost-wax casting.

Each of her varied skills can be seen throughout Thistledown Nest, herworkshop and showroom on Webster Street, from finished products to those just now getting new love and care.

A Kingston native, Clarke returned to the South Shore with her daughter last year from California's Bay Area, where she was sole proprietor of a decorative painting and design practice.

In a move that she described as very unusual for her, she rented the space she now occupies at 844 Webster St.unseen. Formerly a yoga studio, she quickly got to work transforming the purple, pink and light blue space into the perfect space for furniture restoration.

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"I had a vision and I just went to work," Clarkesaid. "I did it mostly all myself. I didn't bring a whole lot of stuff with me from California, so I just got to work."

No traces of the previous tenant remains. The space has reverted to arustic industrial style, with all attention focused on the intricate pieces dcor Clarke breathes new life into.

Even the structural columns in the space act as part of her portfolio. Previously bright and colorful, Clarke hand painted the vertical beams with a wood grain design indistinguishable from the real thing.

Many peoplewith good quality furniture have had it handed down from previous generations and don't know what to do with the pieces, Clarke said.They can be uncomfortable and out of date, or simply don't match the style of the current owners' space.

"People havepieces that are beautifulbut no one wants them because it isfilled with horse hair, it's not comfortable," Clarke said. "It's all dusty and dirty andit's too dark and heavy for modern homes."

Many of these pieces have sentimental value, she said, and while people don't want to get rid of them, they don't know how to incorporate them into their lives. That'swhere Clarke comes in.

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"What I really like to do is transform vintage things, furniture with good bones," she said."People like things light and bright, with more colors, more brightness. The old furniture that's hand carved and beautifully built just looks so heavy."

Clarke is able to pull from her decades of experience to identify the best ways to refinish or repurpose clients' pieces, from stripping down the finish and applying a new stain or paint color tofull re-upholstery with modern materials, molding and replacing missing trim or design elements. She can also adddecorative painting to match other elements in the room the piece will live in.

"You do have to be careful, because not every piece of furniture is worth that much elbow grease, but a lot are," she said."When you have something that's made of wood that's solid and hand carved, let's keep it out of the landfill, because it's better than the sawdust that you're buying from Wayfair."

Since receiving her BFA from the Massachusetts College of Art and Design, Clarke has spent years working in the home design space, and her work can be seen across the country and even internationally.

She started out as a decorative painter, a career that ledher toworking in murals, bronze foundry, sculpting, mold making, restoration and decorative furniture work, as well as lost-wax casting,a method ofmetalcasting in which a molten metal is poured into amoldthat has been created by means of awaxmodel.She also restoredand refitted antique picture frames, pieces of art andupholstery.

She said she is particularly attracted to "the old world skill of it all."

Her time as a muralist included work at the Breakers Mansions in Newport, Rhode Island;multiple casinos in Las Vegas; P.F. Chang restaurants; and a hotel casino in Dubai.

Clarke said she has been busy with client work since openingofficially in October 2021, and is ideally working on a two- to three-month lead time. The style people want in their homes here differs from Californians, she said, and she's quickly adapting to this change.

"I'm trying to figure out what the area wants to see and how Ican best serve what people want," she said. "I hope to build into a business that sustains not just me, but a couple of other artisans and provides a service that people appreciate."

To see more examples of Clarke's work, visit thistledownnest.com.

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