The Guesthouse

Your first stop upon arriving at the Treehotel grounds is the Guesthouse, where you check in to your room. The nine rooms in here give off a distinct throwback vibe, drawing on inspiration from designs of the 1930s to 1950s. Don’t worry, though — they still have Wi-Fi.

The Blue Cone

Set upon posts, this square red building is raised off the ground and handicap accessible. In stark contrast to its rustic exterior, the Blue Cone’s birch interior emanates a calm, sleek Swedish design. It also provides four beds, a sleeping loft, lounge area, and bathroom.

The Dragonfly

Perfectly suited for use as a meeting room, the Dragonfly boasts a table that seats 12, a lounge area, bathroom, and two smaller group rooms. Even if you’re ditching work for a personal stay, you’ll find that this lodging comfortably sleeps four people. Whatever the reason for your visit may be, the Drangonfly’s large panoramic windows are sure keep you feeling close to nature.

The UFO

The name helps paint an accurate mental picture of this silver orb nestled into the trees. To top it all off, guests gain entry to the UFO via a retractable staircase that stretches down to the ground. Inside, you’ll find a much cozier scene, with a main room that accommodates up to five people.

The Cabin

On first approach, the Cabin appears to float weightless in the trees. Intended for two guests, it’s a long capsule-shaped room with a double bed, bathroom, and terrace.

The Bird’s Nest

Camouflaged in the surrounding trees, one might trek right past this room if they didn’t know what to look for. Completely encased in branches like the massive nest of a bird, the Bird’s Nest is also accessed via a retractable staircase.

The 7th Room

As you’ve probably already guest, this addition came about only after the first six rooms were designed and built. Looking up at it from ground level, you’ll see a reflection of the surrounding forest printed on its underside. But while it blends into its surroundings on the outside, the 7th Room offers a very different atmosphere inside, with contemporary decor and massive northern-facing windows that facilitate views of the northern lights. Guests can even lay in a large cargo net off the deck to take in the sounds of the forest and obstructed views of the sky from a height of about 32 feet off the ground.

The Mirrorcube

Distinct even among unique designs, the Mirrorcube looks exactly like its name suggests. Its aluminum-framed base was contoured around the base of a neighboring tree before the reflective glass walls were added to complete the cubical concept. Like the other rooms, though, its interior brings nothing but warmth, comfort, and sleek amenities for two guests to enjoy.
Nearby buildings offer breakfast, lunch, and dinner options, as well as showers, a sauna, and a bar. When you’re not too busy enjoying the spectacular views from your room, visiting with other patrons in the sauna or Guesthouse, or eating your way through Swedish delicacies at the on-site restaurant, you might find yourself taking in the nearby hiking, rafting, kayaking, wildlife viewing, horseback riding, fishing, or fat bike riding options.

The post Sweden’s Treehotel Offers Offbeat Lodgings in Cozy Forest first appeared on Dornob.

Mostly, vignettes draw the eye, creating interesting focal points within a space. And while they can make for a great way to proudly put your prized possessions on display, vignettes can just as easily turn into overcluttered eyesores. These pointers will help you assemble well-designed vignettes that look natural rather than staged.

Focus on Style

While your vignette could comprise a collection of similar items, it doesn’t have to. Feel free to lay out your sand samples from around the world, but pull together a look by also adding some shells and a starfish, or a framed photo of the family on the beach. After all, the whole idea of style is to group like items without singling out too much of the same thing.

Image via Mercury News

This is true for any type of display pieces. For example, if you collect historic artifacts, putting them all on a shelf together can get overwhelming quick. Instead, try placing all the pieces from particular eras together in smaller groups. If you only have a few pieces, couple them with framed artwork, historical information, or tapestries.

As another example, say you want to feature a cultural theme such as Hawaiian or Spanish. Vignettes offer the opportunity to bring in elements that create discussion without completely smothering the space in the theme. So instead of parrots on a wire and sombreros hanging from the ceiling, place your favorite Mexican souvenirs in a grouping that will naturally bring out the wanderlust in any visitor.

Add Spacing

Image via HGTV

Pay special attention to how you place items together. Always make sure your vignettes are adequately spaced, and do your best to avoid blocking one item with another. If you have too many items for one area, create two vignettes instead!

Create Height

Image via Smitty’s Fine Furniture

Items that are all the same size and shape are boring for the eye. Instead, vary the heights of everything in the display. Even if the entire collection is made up of seashells, you can still put them in vases of various sizes, with taller ones in the back and loose shells in the front. If your items truly are all the same size, consider adding risers to the back row to at least create multiple tiers.

Texture

Image via StyleBlueprint

Again, mix it up! Along with the smooth glass of pictures and jars, throw in some coarse fabric and a candle. You’ll likely find your collection already provides a variety of textures. For example, a tribal vignette might house a wood mask, a ceramic plate, and a woven basket. Although very different in the materials, the different textures add depth and visual interest while the common theme holds it all together.

Colors

Image via Houzz

Make sure there’s some color contrast between the background and the display. Let’s face it: all white animal figurines against a white bookcase just aren’t going to make much of a statement. Instead, place a colorful image against the back panel to accent the white items in the front.

Personalization

Image via TLC

Remember to make your vignette your own. It should bring you joy. If it doesn’t, consider if it’s because it’s too cluttered, too boring, or too unorganized. Also add those items that make it personal to you. The fun roller coaster pic from an amusement park, a keychain you bought from a beach vendor, the portrait drawn by a local street artist, the mug given to you by an AirBnb host – all of these things will allow you to relive happy, meaningful memories every time you enter the room.

Top image via HGTV

The post 6 Tips for Creating Showroom-Worthy Interior Vignettes in Your Space first appeared on Dornob.

This Vrbo home in Huntington Beach was transformed in collaboration with Paramount. While it’s not immersed under the sea, it’s at least symbolic in the fact that it was once a Southern California water tower and it does “tower” over the ocean.

Even those who can’t plan a visit in person can at least enjoy a virtual tour of the three floors via Vrbo’s property listing online. The tour begins with an attention-grabbing exterior, adorned to resemble a pineapple.

“Families can book cabins, condos, castles, treehouses, and train cars on Vrbo, but this is the first time we’ve had a gigantic pineapple on our platform,” Lish Kennedy, Vice President of Global Brand Marketing at Vrbo said in a recent statement. “We’re glad people can tour the Pineapple Over the Sea virtually and enjoy the new movie at home together.”

The first floor of the home is expansive, colorful, and stuffed with identifiable SpongeBob goodies like the float couches. The atmosphere reflects life under the sea with seaweed and jellyfish hanging about. Walking into the kitchen is a lot like entering the Krusty Krab, as any fan can easily see. Red tractor-seat stools at the breakfast bar and a train track around the ceiling of the adjacent dining room add even more character to the already eclectic space.

A curving wooden staircase leads to a second floor and the comparatively subdued bedroom, which itself boasts traditionally coastal vertical shiplap walls, tongue-in-groove wooden ceilings, and wood plank flooring. Weathered shelves, a built-in desk, and a barn door round out the look.

The third floor returns to the undersea theme with a massive curved couch and copious windows for expansive views. There’s also a built-in bar that just screams “happy hour” in the gathering space.

In all, the house features four bedrooms and three bathrooms, with room to sleep eight people in true Bikini Bottom fashion. Throughout the space, interior touches highlight the focus on SpongeBob characters with wall art from both the movies and T.V. show. There’s even fishing nets and foliage dispersed around. Flower petals hang from the ceiling and decorate the windows. A closer look shows buoys mounted here and there, a few submarine-style hatches, and a curving countertop with built-in aquarium decor.

The space is also architecturally interesting, with the curved walls of the water tower constantly inviting guests to see what’s around the next corner. What’s more, the peak of the third floor ceiling in the tower offers a visually dynamic topper to the whole space. Of course, great design is as much function as it is fashion, which is why this vacation rental’s been equipped with flat screen TVs and other modern conveniences. But it still carries a cozy vibe, with an assortment of games and sitting spaces that invite guests to unplug, unwind, and enjoy the view.

Are you ready, kids?

The post Take a Virtual Tour of Vrbo’s SpongeBob SquarePants-Themed Pineapple House first appeared on Dornob.

Mars House is a digital house. According to the platform where the home design was sold, it’s the first digital home ever sold. While that automatically earns it the title of the biggest sale for a home-design NFT ever, it might be a while before another digital house fetches 288 ETH, which is the cryptocurrency equivalent of $514,557.79.

Krista Kim has made a name for herself as an inspiration in the techism movement – an artform that combines art and technology. It’s a branding that inevitably increased the dollar amount on the final sale of Mars House. However, the project likely also garnered attention thanks to Kim’s collaboration with Jeff Schroeder of the Smashing Pumpkins.

Adding to the artistic and design aspects of the digital house is the focus on human well-being. According to Kim, the Mars House was created to be a healing atmosphere. Especially during the pandemic, she has embraced a Digital Zen philosophy that raises mental health awareness.

To further promote the cause, the majority of the proceeds were put towards the Continuum Foundation, as reported by Kim in a tweet following the sale that read, “@ARTofInternet is the new owner of Mars House and we will put the majority of proceeds to our Continuum Foundation, which will support a world tour of healing sound and light installations for mental health and healing. NFTs can do powerful social good by empowering artists.”

The Mars House was inspired by the architecture of Kyoto, although Kim further expanded on the tradition using digital aids to ultra-modernize. Since the intent was to formulate a meditative space, the floorplan is open and reflective – literally – with floors, ceilings, and furniture made of glass. In honor of the Earth, all decor and building supplies inside the home stem from renewable materials. Jeff’s musical contribution soundtracks it all with a calming composition that floats through every room.

NFTs (Non-fungible tokens) combine digital works with a specific type of blockchain that provides a unique signature to each one. This encryption means there is only one owner and one product, effectively enabling the creation of a virtual art market for emerging and established artists to develop, buy, and sell their work. In the case of Krista Kim’s Mars House, it also serves as a medium to promote the cause of improved mental health.

“As a Techism artist, I am challenging the power [of] NFT as an art medium. Mars House will live forever as an NFT, so let it represent an art movement for humanity through the power of digital technology. Let it remind future generations that we are here to create a new and better world,” Kim says. “The NFT can become an agent of positive social change through empowerment of artist-led initiatives, and Jeff and myself are ready to show how it is done.”

The post Artist Krista Kim and Musician Jeff Schroeder Sell Digital NFT House for Over $500k first appeared on Dornob.

The research team used the academic TensiStrength tool to decide whether tweets were stressful or not. They then ascertained locations and broke them up by gender, as well as isolating comments about specific pieces of IKEA furniture.

What they found is that the company’s packaging, products, and directions seemed to cause more stress in Iceland than any other country. 64 percent of IKEA-mentioned tweets there came from a stressful place. Moscow, Russia, and Quebec, Canada weren’t too far behind, with 60 percent of their respective IKEA tweets expressing frustration. Household Quotes put together a visual map that calls out the stress level of dozens of countries. Of course, their data could be a result of higher Twitter use in certain areas, or maybe it just displays a cultural phenomenon. Either way, most countries reported at least a 30-percent rate of frustration. Tiny Israel measured large on the stress scale at 50 percent. Greece reported at a rate of 45.5 percent, and Poland, 41.8 percent. On the other end of the spectrum, South Korea has either mastered the art of flat-pack construction or Zen meditation, since they only reported a 7.7-percent frustration level.

If you’re interested specifically in the United States, as a whole the country came in at 33.1 percent. Broken down further, the majority of states fell into the 30 to 40-percent range. Mississippi showed the least amount of patience, reporting 48.3-percent stress. Minnesota, Idaho, Nebraska, Wisconsin, South Carolina, Maine, New Hampshire, and Rhode Island also came in at over 40 percent. Apparently the lowest risk of IKEA-induced divorce is in Kansas, where most Tweeters simply swell with pride in their accomplishment, and only 23.8 percent express frustration.

When it comes to particular pieces of furniture, IKEA couches take home the ribbon for most frustrating, with 50.6 percent tweeting specifically about their assembly. Other furniture was nearly as blood-pressure inducing. Cabinets came in at 50 percent, nightstands at 48.5, dressers at 48.3, and cribs at 48.1. Headboards, benches, bookcases, chairs, beds, tables, shelving units, and drawers were also all over 40 percent. Desks, wardrobes, armchairs, and cabinets seem to push less stress buttons for people, but still rank between 30 and 40 percent.

Breaking down the data further showed that certain names seem to be associated with either feeling furniture-assembly stress or reporting about it. For instance, women named Rose, Ruth, Marie, Kathryn, Michelle, Stephanie, Linda, and Martha, in order of occurrence, all reported at 50-percent frustration or higher. Men named Jose held a dominant lead at 64.3 percent, so you may want to partner up with someone else for if you have a soft spot for the Scandinavian retailer. Johnny, Russel, Terry, and Noah also reported over 50-percent irritation.

While IKEA furniture is the ubiquitous solution for quick and inexpensive decor changes, overcoming the assembly process might be more frustrating than you think. Come prepared with plenty of time, a partner other than Rose or Jose, and perhaps a glass of wine to smooth the process over.

The post You’re Not the Only One Frustrated by IKEA Furniture first appeared on Dornob.

It wasn’t long ago that flying cars were the stuff of sci-fi movies. Several companies have worked tirelessly towards making them a reality since that time, but most recently the Terrafugia model secured its spot in the history books with the receipt of a Special Light-Sport Aircraft airworthiness certificate from the FAA. That means that the company behind the car officially has permission to take flight, even though the vehicle isn’t yet approved for the road.

Currently, dual licensed drivers/pilots can plan out a purchase, though it can still only be used in flight mode. The company anticipates having a completely air and road-ready model to release in 2022, even though they’ve repeatedly updated that timeline since the initial work began in 2006. Regardless, they say they’re close to being street legal, with just a few more modifications needed to meet safety standards.

Terrafugia General Manager Kevin Colburn admits that the coronavirus pandemic brought additional challenges to the task, but praised his team for “remaining focused, improving our quality system, completing the critical aspects of the design, building the vehicle, completing 80 days of flight testing, delivering 150 technical documents, and successfully passing the FAA audit.”

In flight mode, the Transition boasts a 27-foot wingspan, though on the ground the wings fold up small enough to fit in a single-car garage. The car can also obtain speeds up to 100 mph and heights of 10,000 feet in flight, allowing the pilot to ‘”transition” from car to plane in about a minute, and making the morning commute via small airports or a stretch of empty highway entirely possible.

While the plane part of the vehicle requires premium gasoline or 100LL airplane fuel to run, a hybrid-electric motor propels the car while on the ground. Terrafugia could very well be redefining the concept of crossover vehicles, attending to features like four-wheel hydraulic disc brakes and a rigid carbon fiber safety cage while also including an airframe parachute and fixed landing gear.

A company description hails the Transition as “the world’s first practical flying car. A two-seat, roadable light sport aircraft, the Transition features wings that fold and unfold, converting between flight and drive modes in under a minute. Eliminating the hassle of hangar storage, ground transportation, and aviation fuel, the Transition fuels up with 91 octane gas and can be stored in your garage.” Definitely not your average product press release.

If you’re wondering how to get in on the action, you’ll need to earn your pilot or sports pilot certificate and, according to a 2018 NBC News report, around $400,000.

Even with anticipated release in the next year, Terrafugia is equally focused on several other models of flying cars, including a four-person model with vertical takeoff and landing capabilities. Labeled the TF-X, this model is even more advanced, relying on semi-automation where passengers can input a destination and enjoy the ride while the technology deals with air traffic and bad weather.

Many other companies are also in the race to link air and asphalt, but potential contenders like prototypes from Uber, Kitty Hawk, and BMW all differ in that they involve vehicles taking up commercial air space.

Terrafugia was acquired by Chinese-owned Geely, the parent company of Volvo, in 2017.

The post Terrafugia’s “Transition” Becomes the First Flying Car to Earn FAA Approval first appeared on Dornob.

While tiny homes and RVs have been growing in popularity for years now, the Haus designs manage to combine both those constructions and provide something new on top. Each building is prefabricated, foldable, and delivered in a compact shipping container via truck. Once on site, the homes are unfolded and set up by two people in less than three hours – and that includes connecting to water, sewage, and electricity.

The whole package weighs in at around 9,479 pounds. Hinged edges provide the mechanism for folding and unfolding the homes, which can be repeated up to 100 times. This makes them an especially convenient option for people and businesses who need temporary space and move around a lot: simply pack up and move the entire dwelling. The homes can be placed just about anywhere from a city lot to a vacant hillside. They don’t even need a foundation, and off-grid options are also available.

“The mission of Brette Haus is to fabricate quality mobile homes, considering that nowadays people are flexible and not attached to only one place,” the company said in an official press release.

The company currently offers three patent-pending designs, with around 10 others in the works. Each house is built with the same goals of creating a healthy, versatile space that can be used as an escape, an office, or even a guest house. All of their tiny home designs were inspired by Scandinavian minimalism. Brette Haus founder and CEO Gennadii Bakunin told Insider he was inspired by the shipping container home trend, as well as a “rustic and a bit Nordic” look.

Only the basic features are included in the baseline models, but the design’s modular aspect allows owners to add features that range from a full IKEA kitchen to off-grid solar kits. Each Brette Haus comes with a minimally equipped kitchen, a bathroom, a living room, and a bedroom.

The Rustic model is available in three sizes ranging from 237 to 506 square feet. It features a tall, steep roofline, copious windows, and a fold-out patio.

The Compact model comes in 193-square-foot and 290-square-foot options. The exterior is boxy and business-like with large windows and room for the basics.

The Urban also offers two sizes, 270 and 420 square feet. This modern style features two full stories, resembling one box stacked on top of the other.

All designs evolved from customer feedback and a “passion for optimization,” according to Bakunin. Costs range from $22,000 to $61,500 USD. Customers in Europe can receive their tiny home in eight weeks, delivered and installed on site. Americans will have to wait around 12 weeks for the same service. While the buildings are mobile and don’t necessarily require permits, regulations vary widely from one area to another.

Even with building components composed of natural, recyclable materials, Brette Haus tiny homes are still designed to withstand harsh weather conditions. While most of the homes sold are currently being used by tourism-related businesses, their potential is endless. They offer a solution for temporary housing following a natural disaster, an answer for homelessness, and a clean option for construction site offices, among many other uses.

The post Brette Haus Tiny Homes are Big on Versatility, Sustainability, and Portability first appeared on Dornob.

A new innovation in the photovoltaic realm was recently discovered by Carvey Ehren Maigue, an electrical engineering student in the Philippines. The concept involves harvesting ultraviolet light that can’t be seen, but is stored in materials the sun has touched.

This opens up opportunities in the solar-capturing field by allowing us to collect solar power even when the clouds roll in. Officially called AuREUS, which stands for Aurora Renewable Energy and UV Sequestration, the idea is to absorb UV light into organic luminescent particles. From there, the collected particles are converted into visible light and then into energy.

Referring to the solar film he created to complete this task, Maigue explains that “it’s similar to how we breathe in oxygen and we exhale carbon dioxide. It takes in ultraviolet light, and then after some time it would shed it as visible light.”

The innovation takes shape as a type of resin film that can be used on windows, walls, and building exteriors. Maigue created the material using waste from vegetable crops that he combined with resin. He then coated it with solar film and turned it into a 3 x 2-foot prototype he installed in a window of his apartment. That panel produces enough energy to charge a few smartphones, and he’s optimistic about the scalability of the material.

And he’s not the only one who’s optimistic, considering the fact that the project recently won the first James Dyson Sustainability Award. Recognizing the potential for the material, the informational release about the project says AuREUS is basically a vertical solar farm. All previous solar farms have been built horizontally, which takes up real estate in fields or rooftops. But by cladding buildings with the material, it can turn them into sources of clean and passive solar energy.

As an added bonus on the sustainability front, the technology relies on waste from farmers that they would otherwise have to deal with disposing of themselves. This support of the local agriculture industry mitigates financial loss by the farmers and provides an upcycling opportunity for ruined or unsold crops.

This symbiotic relationship seems an especially good fit considering the fact that this technology is based on nature. More specifically, the “Aurora” part of the system’s name comes from a process that results in the spectacular Aurora Borealis. Maigue explains that “Both AuREUS devices (Borealis Solar Window and Astralis Solar Wall) use the same technology derived from the phenomena that governs the beautiful Northern and Southern lights. High-energy particles are absorbed by luminescent particles that re-emit them as visible light.”

He continues: “When hit by UV light, the particles absorb and re-emit visible light along the edges due to internal reflectance. PV cells are placed along the edges to capture the visible light emitted. The captured visible light is then converted to DC electricity.”

Maigue plans to invest the $35,000 awarded from his Dyson Awards win into further research and development. 80 percent of his dyes currently come from fruits and vegetables, though he would eventually like to up that to 100 percent and eliminate chemical additives from the process altogether. This means finding a natural blue alternative, the only of the five total colors (red, orange, yellow, green, blue) he’s yet to source wholly from plants.

The manufacturing process is already underway, with a current production of about 30 panels per month. Maigue notes that “additional funding can allow the creation of a team and facility that can increase current capacity.”

The post This Solar Panel Technology Doesn’t Require Sunlight first appeared on Dornob.

These working solutions address desk location, space options, storage solutions, and the need for adequate lighting and privacy while you work.

The Work-Free Zone

As far as sample living rooms go, this one is pretty ideal, free of the copious toys, pet beds, and almost-there design elements we’re all so familiar with, but I think we can still envision ourselves working here. Is that an adjacent sunroom? And the architecture. Wowza. Okay, down to business:

Configuration 1: Use Existing Display and Storage

Get in the zone, work and otherwise, by sectioning off a portion of the living space to designate a work area. You don’t need to haul in the room dividers, either. Simply arrange freestanding shelving or bookcases to frame in your space. This creates a separation from the lounging, eating, and recreational areas of the room to help keep you on task. Plus, placing your desk in the center of the room allows you to benefit from flowing light since the divider doesn’t block it out.

Configuration 2: Use Existing Display and Storage

Instead of struggling to find room for the desk and nearby organization, just move in front of an existing bookcase for instant storage. With your desk pressed up towards a wall bookcase, you’ll have room to keep supplies nearby without taking up coveted work space. Not only does this option dial up the supply management, but it also moves you away from any central activity in the room.

Configuration 3: A Low-Cost Divider

When looking at your living room, there’s typically a rather large obstacle that dominates the center: the sofa. If your couch is currently pressed against the wall, pull it into the room and use the back of it to designate a dividing line between the workspace and the after-work space.

Configuration 4: Got a Sunroom?

We can all only hope to have a “conservatory” attached to our living room. If you do, you’ve likely already considered the space as a climate-controlled and nature abundant place to type up reports. In case you haven’t, though, image being immersed in plants while enjoying the sun-capturing benefits of the space. You may even decide to extend your work hours.

Configuration 5: Take the Opening

Depending on the type of opening to your living room, you may find a previously overlooked option that you walk past several times a day. Try squeezing in a desk and needed supplies directly to the right or left of the doorway if you can – even if that means popping off the door to take advantage of the space behind it.

Configuration 6: Window Seat

When calculating the most pleasant location for a desk, the corner office is typically associated with the best views. Your own living room window may also offer a few good views, though, so don’t be afraid to scoot that desk right up to it. From a window-side perch you can take in natural sunlight and find inspiration, entertainment, or distraction from the activity outside. It also turns your back to the activity in the space. Add some noise-canceling headphones, and you might even forget you’re in the center of your house.

Configuration 7: The Naughty Corner

It doesn’t have to feel like you’re in trouble if you decide to clear out a corner for your desk. It’s popular real estate in the living room, of course, so you might have to pull furniture and bookcases down the wall a bit to make space. If your couch is using up the square footage, use the idea from configuration number three. Pull the couch out just far enough that you have room for your desk, and enjoy the buffer from the rest of the room.

The post Budget Direct Turns 1 Living Room into 7 Unique Home Office Spaces first appeared on Dornob.

Modern design increasingly combines a variety of elements traditionally associated with different eras. The hugely popular shabby chic, also known as French Country decor, is no exception. While you may recognize some elements offered by popular TV shows and Pinterest, shabby chic effectively captures and combines tidbits from hundreds of years of design.

Features

Identifying shabby chic means looking for a range of characteristics. Above all else, it’s an interior design style that leans into vintage furniture and furnishings. Antique lighting, rustic accents, and distressed finishes all apply here. In a bit of contrast, ornate carvings in the Baroque style also find their way into the mix. Even reflective metallic pieces have their place.

Shabby chic also includes feminine touches like lace, historically associated with Victorian or country design. The color palette is soft, feminine, and neutral. Natural fibers and even live plants also soften the edges of other statement pieces.

Given the vast array of features this style marries together, it’s no wonder shabby chic is hard to define in a few words. For that reason alone, you’ll find it best to focus on carefully-selected mismatched items that represent different eras.

History

Of course, individual elements of French country have come and gone, each passing through as a popular trend before being combined and defined as “shabby chic” by London-born stylist Rachel Ashwell. It’s been a few decades since she first fell into the style – mostly a result of getting couch covers to help deal with the realities of life with young children. From there, she drew the attention of friends with her seemingly eclectic choices, and realized there was a widespread interest in both antiques and newer furniture weathered to look old. Soon after that, she launched a flagship store stocked with flea market finds, and she’s since expanded into several stores across the United States under her brand, Shabby Chic Couture.

Wide Appeal

Shabby chic is an interior design style that appeals to the masses for a variety of reasons. Not only does it invite the opportunity to mix and match family heirlooms with quilts, a stainless steel tea set, and ornate mirrors, but it’s also a way of expressing a love of nature. In fact, French Country speaks to love of all kinds. It’s even become a popular wedding theme in recnet years, as evidenced by the increased use of mason jar lighting, chalkboard art, and distressed picture frames.

It’s also an evolving style that allows for easy updates. Unlike a full-scale transition from distinctly-defined industrial to cottagecore or rustic to midcentury modern, making changes within the shabby chic realm allows you to just swap out an item or two for a fresh look, no major overhaul required.

Another standout characteristic of French country is the fact that it’s easy on the wallet. Many interior design enthusiasts rely on a combination of their own DIY skills and budget-friendly thrift shops to make their shabby chic dreams come true.

Overall, the appeal of shabby chic is that it has something for everyone. Starting with a neutral base, it layers in the texture of heavy wood, eye-catching curved designs, engraved leaves and other tidbits of nature, and even a touch of floral from the boho realm for endless aesthetic possibilities ranging from Farmhouse to aristocratic. From whimsical furniture and fabric combinations to elements that send you back to the warmth of your great grandmother’s home, French Country signifies everything that marries touch of glamour with good old-fashioned rustic appeal.

The post French Country: the Not-So-Shabby Decor Style You Might Be Looking For first appeared on Dornob.

The team began by selecting seven animals with varying characteristics in the way of eyesight: dog, cat, goldfish, snake, tarantula, parrot, and chameleon. They then isolated room perspectives, looking across a pre-set space and down on it as an aerial view. Using scientific evidence regarding our understanding of animal vision, the HomeAdvisor team then created two renderings of each room/animal combination from both a human and perceived animal view.

Dogs are able to see an array of yellows and blues, along with grayish brown. This means colors that appear bright to us appear dull to them. While that means Fido doesn’t necessarily care if his toy is red or brown, it also means he won’t appreciate the vibrant dog bed or sofa (at least, not the color of it).

Cats eyes have similarities to our own, but they basically see things the way someone with colorblindness would. So again your color palette is wasted on the cats, but they can still appreciate green and blue toy mice. Because cats’ visual acuity is 20/100 to 20/200, the angles of the room appear also differently to them, which means they need to be closer to items to bring them into focus. You can now rest easy knowing that the bookcase across the room will be much less of a draw to them than you.

Your goldfish, on the other hand, can see a wider range of colors than you can because it can see UV light, an adaptation that allows it to see through water. However, a goldfish’s visual focus is remarkably less than a human, making your entire room look like it’s underwater.

The pet snake may be safe in a tank, enjoying the spa-like heat lamp feature, but he’s likely not taking in the view from in there. This is because snakes, with few exceptions, have lousy vision. Not only does your room look like a photo development lab with oddly-lit blacklight highlights to them, but your reptile friend also won’t be able to bring specifics into focus.

If your pet of choice is a tarantula, you likely won’t be going to him for interior design advice. Even with eight eyes, spiders have very poor vision, so your carefully decorated space will almost certainly be underappreciated by the arachnid in the corner. In fact, regardless of your design style, Mr. Tarantula will see little more than a gray blur.

Parrots aren’t just colorful themselves — they also have a range of colors in their tetrachromatic vision. Where humans see red, green, and blue, parrots can also see UV. That means their perch provides a full-spectrum (and typically aerial) perspective of the space. So while the room will appear even more colorful to your feathered friend than it will to you, the spatial layout will be more fluid and less rigid than our eyes provide.

Finally, we have the chameleon, a well-adapted animal that almost literally has eyes in the back of its head. A chameleon’s eyes have the highest level of magnification of any vertebrate, so it’s like having your mother-in-law’s discernment in regards to minute details. To that end, every item is blown up in the chameleon’s perspective, and their panoramic vision allows them a super-wide range of space. Similar to your mother-in-law, if you want to hide the mess from your chameleon, just turn out the lights, as they have very poor vision in the dark.

The post This is How Your Pets See Your Decor first appeared on Dornob.

Computer science undergraduates Anita Nti and Jacob Buaful, his brother Caleb Buaful (who is studying industrial systems and engineering), and doctoral mechanical engineering student Danny Freudiger teamed up on the project, eventually founding a company called Electrion.

Motivated to combat the pollution created by running generators that power TVs, slow cookers, mini-fridges, and grills, the team developed a rechargeable battery pack with more than enough power to handle the job. They call it “energy storage as a service.”

When they ran a cost analysis, however, they quickly decided it would be cost prohibitive for individuals to buy personal battery packs. Instead, the students created a rental system that allows fans to charge up their tailgate activities sustainably using the rechargeable option.

“We really thought about the user experience. Because you are providing this as an alternative, you want that transition to be smooth. If it’s too hard, they’ll just keep using the generator because it’s easy to use,” Caleb Buaful explains.

Once the battery pack was developed, the students focused on a delivery system and decided on electric bikes that could easily zoom throughout the parking lots, quickly delivering batteries as needed. They then developed a mobile app that allows users to see when their battery is running low and instantly order another for delivery. The system has since found support at Ohio State, itself an eco-minded campus with big goals of its own (primarily to become carbon neutral by 2050).

Nti is president of a student organization called Smart Campus, which was founded by Freudiger. The mission of the group is to develop innovative solutions to improve communities at the university, and it’s safe to say that this project fits that bill pretty well. Mentor to the group BJ Yurkovich also expressed enthusiasm for the work the students are doing, saying: “It’s been exciting to watch this talented team of students not only develop cutting-edge technology, but also navigate the complexities of entrepreneurship and business development.”

The university showed support to the initiative by awarding Electrion an $89,000 Ohio State Sustainability Fund grant. Outside of campus, MegaJoule Ventures, an investment firm focused on sustainability, also invested $250,000 to help get the company off the ground.

While they started small by hoping to motivate their fellow Buckeyes, the team estimates each tailgating day results in about 120,000 pounds of carbon dioxide emitted, which means their system could really be useful in cleaning up sporting venues all across the country.

Nti adds that: “We came back and started talking and thinking, ‘If that’s just from one day, that’s thousands of pounds of CO2 being emitted at just one Ohio State game, how much more would be over a season and then at other schools across the nation as well? We saw that as a very significant impact, so we thought about how we could possibly be a solution.”

The idea for this generator alternative was born during the 2019 football season, and the team founded their company shortly before the pandemic hit. They are currently working up prototypes and hope to have a finished product available by the time tailgating is back in session.

The post Students Create Rechargeable Battery System to Replace Gas Generators at Tailgating Events first appeared on Dornob.

Prince Harry and Meghan Markle

Once they relocated to Santa Barbara, California, the royal couple invested $14.65 million in their not-so-humble abode known as “Chateau of Riven Rock.” Their new place is perfect for hosting guests – though they might deny as much when it comes to family, if reports are to be trusted. But regardless of political and personal decisions regarding who sleeps where, the couple’s home boasts six bedrooms in the main house and an additional two-bedroom guest house.

Defined by the French Provincial style, the master bedroom combines a touch of fairytale with a dose of romanticism. Dark wood features stand out against yellow walls and accent the white decor in the bathroom. An adjacent sunroom provides natural light from three sides, streaming in through copious windows.

Ariana Grande

To call this bedroom “Grande” is not only punny, but accurate. The master suite in Ariana Grande’s L.A. home covers the entire upper level. There’s a closet so large, it’s about the size of a standard apartment. Yes, just the closet. A terrace, bed, and lounging area round out the space – all overlooking Trousdale Estates and the canyon. While relaxing between sets, Ariana can head to the en-suite bathroom for a soak in her deluxe oval bathtub, configured to enjoy expansive scenic views.

Jennifer Aniston

Jennifer may still be central to current pop culture, but her home decor style screams midcentury modern. “Sexy is important, but comfort is essential,” she notes. Jen’s interior designer Stephen Shadley agrees with this, saying, “Jen is drawn to wood, stone, and bronze, materials that have real substance and depth. No matter how beautiful or glamorous something is, it has to be warm and inviting.” Jen’s idea of welcoming must include seating, as she offers her visitors several options in that department, including bean bags that look perfect for both human and furry guests. The room’s desk and dual sitting areas are streamlined to include art and designer pieces against a neutral backdrop of earth tones.

Justin and Hailey Bieber

This power couple sleeps in one of the seven bedrooms of their $25.8 million Beverly Hills home. Every section of the modern architectural design, from the attached bathroom on one side to the sitting and office area on the other, offers views of the Franklin Canyon Reserve.

Jennifer Lawrence

Also in L.A., Jennifer Lawrence’s $8 million residence has a uniquely old Hollywood vibe. Dark wood flooring acts as a backdrop for the clean white decor of the sitting and desk areas while an accent rug softens the bed’s location inside a smaller alcove. The adjacent bathroom is similarly draped in white, from the curtains to the fixtures, both of which offer bold contrast to the gold accents. Massive French doors open up for views of the landscape and pool below.

Travis Scott

Home is where the heart is, but there’s nothing wrong with getting a deal on real estate. Rapper Travis Scott certainly has something to sing about with his $23.5 million home, considering the fact that the original asking price topped $42 million. The hilltop location in Los Angeles invites elements of nature throughout the master suite. Described as a cross between an art gallery and a spa, the suite, along with the rest of the house, meets Delos Well Building Certification standards, which means it provides an optimized level of healthy air, water, nourishment, light, fitness, comfort, and mindfulness.

Selena Gomez

Back in L.A., Selena’s home previously belonged to Tom Petty. It’s unclear whether the present design caters to his taste or hers, but since there are two master suites, maybe there’s one of each. The lower-level one where Gomez rests her head features elements of a hacienda and characteristics of a farmhouse, such as the barn ceiling. There’s also a large en-suite bathroom with freestanding tub, dual-sink vanity, and enclosure for the toilets. Large French doors lead to the veranda for a taste of nature any time of day.

Which design style most appeals to you?

The post These 7 Celebrity Master Bedrooms are Jam-Packed with Interior Design Inspo first appeared on Dornob.

The condo-style unit is currently being listed by Emily Beare of Core Real Estate with a price tag of $35,000,000, well exceeding the age-old adage of a “million dollar view”. In fairness, this luxury pad does offer more than a single view, with all-encompassing skylines in every direction.

In the spirit of Provenance, the building got its start as a design by the iconic Robert A.M. Stern. When it came time for a facelift, however, an equally notable name entered the cast. Architect Jeffrey Beers, founder of Jeffrey Beers International, found inspiration from the client’s passion for art and travel, creating copious space for her to display her extensive collections.

Also capturing the idea of bringing the outdoors in, Beers wanted to make sure the new space was open and naturally-lit from nearly every angle. To that end, ample windows were put in to provide expansive views of Central Park and the surrounding cityscape from the living room, dining room, library, and kitchen.

The complete redesign took two years to complete, resulting in maximum opulence throughout the 4,200 square-foot unit. For example, not many apartments can boast a proper foyer and central gallery, yet 15 Central Park West features both.

Of course, truly great designs offer function and style in equal measure. This can be seen in the renovated apartment’s custom floor-to-ceiling glass-panel and bronze sliding doors, both of which can be opened or closed between different parts of the unit to create entirely new spaces as the occupant’s needs change.

As expected, the apartment’s kitchen was also fully renovated and reconfigured to perfectly frame Central Park views. Stylish zebrawood makes a statement on the island countertop and shelving, while top-of-the-line appliances highlight the function of the space, including a Sub-Zero refrigerator and wine refrigerator, two Miele dishwashers, and a fully vented Thermador six-burner cooktop with dual ovens, grill, and griddle.

The unit’s luxurious master suite boasts similarly impressive views while also offering the cozy vibe of a gel fireplace. The master bath makes a statement with Italian Silver Travertine, a deep soaking tub, steam shower, double vanities, radiant-heated floors, and spa-like cove lighting. On the west side of the residence sit three well-appointed bedrooms with en-suite bathrooms. A home office, den, and laundry room round out the space.

While the captivating scenery certainly takes center stage, tasteful touches inside the space serve to accentuate the overall lavish feel. Moroccan wall tiles, 12-inch solid wide-plank flooring, hand-blown glass fixtures, and specialized warm ambient lighting (with recessed ceiling fixtures to accentuate the art) all provide justification for the big price tag.

Of course, the unit itself is cozy, but the building offers amenities that add even more to its appeal. The complex features a full-time staff, landscaped porte-cochère, garage, 14,000-square-foot fitness center, 75-foot sky-lit pool, sauna, private dining, wine cellar, library, business center, private screening room, meeting space, game room, outdoor terrace, and children’s playroom.

Although it’s obviously a residence, the vibe of 15 Central Park West resembles that of an art gallery rather than a traditional Upper West Side residence. For a cool $35 mil you can be beguiled by architecture, views, and amenities without ever leaving home.

The post $35 Million Central Park West Apartment Draws Inspiration from Art, Travel, and the Outdoors first appeared on Dornob.

It wasn’t so long ago that our photo albums and scrapbooks held design inspo in the form of ripped newspaper clippings and magazine articles. Then of course came the black hole known as Pinterest, where virtually every type of interior design is pinned, shared, and talked about several times over in a matter of seconds.

More recently, Budget Direct Home Insurance was curious about the connection between the famed social media platform and its association with popular interior design influencers around the globe. Naturally, they put their best data scientists to the task of finding out who were the most pinned designers and design styles.

The technique used in gathering this information was quite hands-on. The team first scoured major design sites like Housebeautiful.com, Elledecor.com, and Indesignlive.com. They also reviewed regional design sites in order to generate a well-rounded list of talked-about and referred-to interior design professionals. With those names in hand, they then went about combing through millions of pins until they identified the top 10 designers with the most pins on boards created by fans.

Following that task, the team did the same thing to pinpoint the top DIY decor trends right now. Budget Direct Home Insurance’s goal here was to discover who and what are inspiring homeowners during this period of increased home renovation. Now, the results are finally in:

The most-pinned interior designer in the world is Joanna Gaines (USA), with 238,163 pins. The entire world. Of course, it’s not too surprising if you’ve ever flipped between TV channels or perused a magazine cover at the grocery store. Joanna is everywhere, and her style is definitely inviting.

Thomas O’Brien came in second in the U.S. with nearly 169,000 pins. Nate Berkus was right behind with 163,086, and Michael Taylor garnered another 151,132. Tony Duquette (100,563), Kelly Wearstler (90,472), Billy Baldwin (84,945), Dorothy Draper (72,991), Alex Vervoodrt (69,416), and Jonathan Adler (60,118) were next in the United States line-up.

Outside the USA, the most-pinned interior designer is Axel Vervoordt (Belgium), with 69,416 pins. In the UK, Zaha Hadid is popular with 57,168 pins, and Australia’s most-pinned designer is Greg Natale (11,985 pins).

Moving to the most popular interior trends according to Pinterest users, it appears that what is old is new again, with vintage amassing a whopping 2,665,779 pins. Representing global interests, Indian style claimed 2,138,964 pins. Arts & Crafts style is always popular and rests in the third place spot with 2,034,783, followed by modern style with 1,761,556 pins (a narrow lead over English style’s 1,760,669).

The next most-pinned interior design styles include country, cottage, French, farmhouse, and shabby chic, in that order.

While interior design is primarily a matter of personal preference, there’s no denying the influence of strong visual cues. With sites like Pinterest driving the opportunity for quick decor ideas unlike ever before, it’s easy to see how any trend could quickly spread regionally and internationally these days. And let’s be honest: it’s much easier to find and pin ideas than it ever was to maintain that scrapbook.

The post The World’s Top Interior Design Trends and Stylists, According to Pinterest first appeared on Dornob.

The test, produced by DxTerity Diagnostics, “is the first at-home saliva test to receive Emergency Use Authorization (EUA) by the FDA for symptomatic and asymptomatic testing,” according to a statement released by the online mega-retailer on January 5th.

The FDA originally approved the test on December 9th, becoming available for purchase through Amazon just last week. An individual test sells for $110 but is likely reimbursable through FSA, HSA, and insurance plans. Businesses or individuals can also purchase a 10-pack of tests for $1000. Either option offers free shipping to you, and prepaid express return shipping gets the sample to the lab at no additional cost.

“We have demonstrated the reliability and quality of our COVID-19 testing solution with big business, and now we want to expand access to customers at home and small businesses,” says Bob Terbrueggen, Ph.D., Founder and CEO of DxTerity. “Amazon is the perfect partner for expanding access to millions of U.S. customers.”
Terbrueggen is referring to DxTerity’s COVID-19 testing solutions that have already been provided to over 130 U.S. corporate partners, including numerous Fortune 500 companies, global pharmaceutical organizations, and entertainment groups.

Perhaps best of all, this test doesn’t include the dreaded nasal swab. Instead it relies on saliva. Only a small sample is needed, too, so collection involves nothing more than spitting into a tube. That tube is then sent to a lab in LA, where the diagnostics are run. To send it in, users must register and submit a physician’s authorization using an online portal, and then drop off the sample at a FedEx collection location on the same day the test is taken. Results typically come in 24 to 72 hours after the sample arrives at the lab.

This mail-order version can be used for both symptomatic and asymptomatic testing at home or in the office. It can be an especially useful tool in a work environment or in advance of a family gathering, since an estimated 40 percent or more of COVID-positive patients don’t exhibit any outward symptoms. It is unsupervised, of course, so it might not fulfill some travel requirements. The test also has other limitations in that it doesn’t confirm immunity or identify existing antibodies.

The FDA has approved other types of home tests, each with their own availability, procedure, and reliability. These include products from Ellume, Lucira Health, and Abbott Laboratories. Priced between $25 to $50, these tests are less expensive than the DxTerity Diagnostics variety, but they aren’t nearly as easy to obtain since they’re not yet available on Amazon. Another possible obstacle is the reliability of these tests. For example, the nasal swab offering from Ellume is 96-percent accurate for those having symptoms, and 91-percent effective for those without. There is no lab involved and results are available in 20 minutes. Unfortunately, rapid tests like this one result in a small number of false positives and negatives, so they still require follow-up in the form of confirmation by another test. Another option by Everlywell is ordered directly from the company, arriving in two to six days. You then self-administer a lower nasal swab sample collection and overnight ship it to the lab. Although the cost is $109 up front, customers can then submit the receipt for reimbursement through their insurance company.

Ultimately, the best testing option for you depends on the situation in your area, as it can often take several days to obtain a test in person. You should also consider the reason for your getting tested, and whether or not the results will be considered reliable for your needs. To avoid unexpected expenses, check with your insurance company regarding their policy on reimbursement before ordering any at-home COVID-19 test.

The post You Can Now Order Your COVID-19 Test Through Amazon first appeared on Dornob.