Freestanding Tubs

Clawfoot cast iron tubs will never go out of style, but the builder-quality jetted soaking tubs seen in many homes are getting a little tired. Often built into tiled surrounds, these behemoths are just as ugly as they are difficult to clean. This year, more people will go for reasonably sized freestanding bathtubs in interesting shapes to make their bathrooms feel more spa-like. Translucent tubs and Japanese-style soaking tubs are standout options, like this striking red tub from Cassa Design.

Cozy Colors and Bold Prints

Painting the entire bathroom white can go a long way toward making it feel fresh, but there’s a serious downside in all that visible dirt. It’s also kind of boring. Cozier, warmer color schemes will replace this outdated trend in 2023 to make the bathroom feel more comforting. Olive green, peach, and rich earth tones are among the top colors that will gain popularity this year, along with boosting the personality factor through wallpaper.

Modern stick-up wallpaper is much easier to put up and take down than its predecessor, and it’s available in virtually every print and color you can imagine on Etsy. For more traditional styles, you can’t go wrong with William Morris. This dark botanical print is from Etsy seller Los Angeles Wallpaper.

More of Your Personality

Bring warmth and personality to your bathroom with decor like antique furniture, window treatments, oil paintings, and other statement-making pieces. Some people are even adding rugs (just not too close to the toilet, of course). The idea is to decorate the bathroom more like you would the other rooms in your home instead of keeping it so sterile. Bringing in elements that really speak to who you are will not only make your bathroom more interesting to look at, it’ll also make it feel nicer to be in. Large artworks and a textural vase do just that in this bathroom by designer Sean Anderson.

Artistic Tile

Textured, decorative tile will be a hit in 2023, along with mosaics and other custom patterns. Try mixing and matching tile patterns, finding handmade options that feel really unique, or creating eye-catching geometric patterns. Terrazzo continues to be on the rise, bringing in a lot of fun speckled textures while remaining easy to clean. It often comes in large-format sizes, too, so there’s less grout to deal with. This gorgeous installation was created by designer Jamie Drake in collaboration with Cheryl Hazan Mosaic.

Mix of Old and New

Bathrooms where everything is brand new and matchy-matchy can feel a little soulless. On the other hand, you also don’t want it to feel like a time capsule. Go for a sweet spot in the middle by mixing old and new elements. For example, an antique commode is a great replacement for a vanity from a big-box store. Ornate mirrors and lighting also pop in small spaces. Here, designer Andrea Schumacher turned an old chinoiserie cabinet into a washstand with the addition of a marble waterfall top.

Statement Stone

Big slabs of statement stone also rank among this year’s top bathroom decor trends. The more dramatic, the better. It might come in the form of a bespoke vanity top, a backsplash, shower walls, or even flooring. Natural materials are preferable if possible, but you can get a similar look with materials like travertine and eco-stone. This dramatic wall is made of Elite Stone’s Calacatta Borghini Imperiale paneling.

The post 6 Spectacular Bathroom Decor Trends for 2023 first appeared on Dornob.

Wastewater management tends to be a big problem in rural India. In villages like Kundli, located on the outskirts of Dehli, hundreds of factories have popped up in a matter of decades, often releasing water contaminated with chemicals directly into the ground. The problem is that these factories, which manufacture items like plastics, rubber, jewelry, and polyester, typically don’t have enough space for high-tech water treatment solutions, even if they could afford them. The pollutants in turn make their way into groundwater and nearby waterways, contaminating the local bathing and drinking water.

The Indus tile system’s algae-based bioremediation process involves placing a wastewater tank on top of the building and then allowing gravity to funnel the water though “veins” in the “leaves.” The designers traveled to India and observed the production processes of textile dyers in Panipat and bangle makers in Kolkata, where various processes release different types of heavy metals into the wastewater. The team found that one particular type of algae was able to reduce cadmium levels in the water by 10 times within 45 minutes.

Fabricated in Khurja, India, which is known for its ceramics, the Indus tiles are made of clay and deeply textured to hold onto a viscous hydrogel containing the most promising pollution-busting species of algae. The vein-like channels are shaped by an algorithm to optimize their ability to absorb pollutants. As the water flows over a tile, the microscopic algae cells absorb and store the substances for energy. The hydrogel acts as a “biological scaffold” that keeps the algae alive, and it’s biodegradable. The materials required to prepare the hydrogel and algae cells can be supplied in a powdered form and reapplied to the tiles as needed.

The modular tiles fit together into a beautiful pattern using half-lap joints, so individual tiles can be replaced as necessary without disassembling the entire wall. This also makes it easy to scale the wall size up or down, tailoring it to each site. In the future, the designers hope to integrate a second phase in which the saturated hydrogel packed with heavy metals is removed and sold to high-tech companies, which can use the metals in their own manufacturing processes. The Indus tiles are set to undergo performance tests in the UK and then a pilot project in India itself.

The creators imagine adapting Indus wall tiles to different regions and needs, making them from local materials like stone or even waste materials. Different tiles could be tailored to different pollutants, infused with the particular type of algae that works best in that context. Given that the end result is so beautiful, it’s not hard to imagine the concept extending to residential applications, too. Just imagine installing a wall of these at the edge of your own roof instead of a gutter, cleaning rainwater for personal use later on.

The post Leaf-Shaped Wall Tiles Full of Living Algae Absorb Pollutants from Rainwater first appeared on Dornob.

“It is not the oldest of its kind, but it’s the most complete and the rarest,” said Hammam Saad, Associate Director at Syria’s General Directorate of Antiquities and Museums in an interview with the Associated Press, adding: “We have no similar mosaic.”

The artwork in question, made of half-inch square stone tiles, is remarkably well-preserved, having been hidden underneath the 1,600-year-old Roman building that stood above it until recently. The property was bought by businessmen with the Nabu Museum in Lebanon and donated to the Syrian government for excavation.

“There are other buildings, and it’s clear that the mosaic extends far wider,” Sulaf Fawakherji, Syrian actress and board member at the Nabu Museum, told the AP. “Rastan historically is an important city, and it could possibly be a very important heritage city for tourism.”

Having unearthed roughly 1,300 square feet so far, the grand floor covering depicts scenes from the Trojan War, featuring soldiers with swords and shields and the names of many Greek leaders who fought in the 1200 B.C. conflict. The Roman water god Neptune is also highlighted in one panel along with 40 of his mistresses. Another segment shows the Greek demi-god Hercules battling the queen of the Amazons and her ancient warriors in one of his 12 labors.

“What is in front of us is a discovery that is rare on a global scale,” says Saad. “We can’t identify the type of the building, whether it’s a public bathhouse or something else, because we have not finished excavating yet.” Syrian officials heralded the discovery of this mosaic as the most important archeological find since the civil war started 11 years ago.

Rastan was one of the first Syrian cities to rise up in rebellion against the totalitarian government of Bashar al-Assad, experiencing a tumultuous seven years until the Syrian government regained control in 2018. The city has had a rich historical past as an important locale during Roman, Byzantine, and Ottoman rule.

Many of the country’s national treasures were vandalized or destroyed during the civil war. All six of Syria’s UNESCO sites have been damaged in some way amidst the fighting. The worst artifact offense was in 2015, when the Islamic State took over the ancient city of Palmrya and destroyed the first century A.D. Temple of Bel with explosives, as well as the third-century Roman Arch of Triumph and the second century B.C. Temple of Baalshamin. Since the Syrian government has reclaimed the city, it has been working on plans to restore all three sites.

Even this latest mosaic was under threat of removal from rebel armies in the recent past.

“Unfortunately, there were armed groups that tried to sell the mosaic at one point in 2017 and listed it on social media platforms,” Saad explains. Luckily, it’s once again protected by the government — even if that government is tyrannical and should not be allowed to continue ruling.

The post 1,600-Year-Old Roman Mosaic Unearthed in Syrian Town first appeared on Dornob.

What are Gypsum Ceilings?

Commonly used in commercial settings like offices, gypsum ceilings used to consist mostly of solid square tiles interspersed with fluorescent lighting. Today, gypsum ceilings come in all kinds of different shapes, many of which are custom-crafted to fit a particular space. Though they’re made of the same materials, gypsum ceiling tiles are often on the thinner side compared to wallboard, so they’re lighter and easier to hang.

Old-fashioned gypsum ceiling tiles can still be found at hardware stores like Home Depot, but manufacturers like Gyprock and USG make tiles specifically designed for contemporary applications. Fitted to custom-made framework systems, they can be crafted into interesting curves and layered for a collage-like effect that adds architectural interest. They’re still a great way to conceal elements like built-in lighting and HVAC systems, and they can be integrated with other materials like wood for creative results.

How to Create Contemporary Gypsum Ceiling Tiles and Designs

Gypsum ceilings are usually installed below the original ceiling of the room. The process is similar to standard wallboard and drywall suspension systems, but it tends to require more precision and a higher level of finish to get good results. The joints are finished with paper joint tape embedded with joint compound before being treated with a special ceiling compound for the final coats. The surface is then coated with a spray-applied finish, and you can paint it any color you like. All the components are designed to work together as a system.

While a very experienced DIYer might be able to craft their own custom gypsum ceiling, it’s a job better left to professionals, especially when it comes to the framework. The suspension system usually involves attaching hanger wires to the true ceiling, upon which metal crossbars are hung. More complex and curving designs sometimes use a plywood or lumber framework. When working with a contractor to create your ceiling, you can come up with whatever creative designs you can imagine, and they’ll be happy to help you bring your idea to life.

What’s the Difference Between Gypsum and Drywall?

The terms gypsum, drywall, and sheetrock are often used interchangeably. Gypsum is a naturally occurring mineral called hydrous calcium sulphate and is often used to create wallboard. It’s naturally heat and flame-resistant, soundproof, and typically comes in sheets of varying thicknesses from ¼ to ⅝ inch.

Gypsum is also the primary material used to create plaster and Plaster of Paris, which can be formed into decorative appliqués, trim work, and medallions. When applied to flat drywall ceiling surfaces, these ornate sculpted elements are also sometimes called “gypsum ceilings.” Armstrong is one brand currently using gypsum to create amazing ornate plasterwork ceilings.

Drywall, on the other hand, is made by pressing a gypsum plaster core between two pieces of heavy paper and then kiln-drying it to create a rigid material. Introduced as an alternative to labor-intensive lathe and the plaster walls and ceilings of the 1960s, it has since become one of the most popular interior finishing materials in the world. Sheetrock is simply a specific brand of drywall, but it’s come into colloquial usage as a synonym, much like “Kleenex” for tissues and “Band-aid” for bandages.

The post 12 Gorgeous Gypsum Ceilings (and How to Get Them) first appeared on Dornob.

Commissioned by a homeowner in the seaside town of Javea, Spain, Pantone and his team used over 130,000 one-inch ONIX tiles in just seven colors to create a stunning underwater prismatic pinwheel. Known for his work with light and color, the mosaic spectrum of blues, yellows, and reds showcases the artist’s brilliant way of melding individual pixels into a seamless rainbow of movement.

“Color only happens because of light, and light is the only reason why life happens,” Pantone writes on his website. “Light and color are the very essence of visual art. Thanks to television, computers, and modern lighting, our perception of light and color has changed completely.”

His process begins digitally as he works with various computer software to invent his designs. Then comes the manual manipulation of materials — in this case tiny colored glass tiles — to bring his kaleidoscopic vision to life. Radiating out from the very center of the pool, the colored squares flow over every inch of the floor and up and over the side walls, extending the optical illusion to its fullest degree.

The vibrant pool, which he calls the Felipe Pantone Residential project, is even more dramatic because of its juxtaposition with the starkly white modern home it’s attached to. From above, the tiled pattern appears to shift and gyrate beneath the water’s waves.

Born in Argentina, Pantone and his family moved to Spain when he was 10 years old. It was there he spent the remainder of his youth outside near the seaside stand his parents ran, finding artistic inspiration all around. “I was hanging out on the streets all day, immersing myself in the hip-hop culture, dancing breakdance, meeting graffiti artists,” he explains. Pantone eventually started making his own graffiti for fun before heading to the University of Valencia to get a degree in Fine Arts and unleashing his unique style on the world.

“I grew up as a painter, trained as a painter, and now my biggest goal is to get clear of all the academic training and to be able to make art freely, with the tools that work best,” he says.

Having grown up in a technological age when “kids unlocked life’s mysteries through the Internet,” his art is self-described as “a collision between an analog past and a digitized future, where human beings and machines will inevitably glitch alongside one another in a prism of neon gradients, geometric shapes, optical patterns, and jagged grids.”

Thanks to his bold use of color and geometry, Pantone’s aesthetic has been depicted by Forbes as “the intersection of Blade Runner and PhotoShop.”

Since his first gallery exhibition in 2006, Pantone’s bright optical illusion-like work has received global acclaim, with shows and installations in places like Paris, Mexico City, London, Italy, Palestine, Japan, and Australia. In 2017, he even painted what was at the time Portugal’s tallest mural. He’s since collaborated with international athletic brands like Reebok and Puma.

The post Felipe Pantone Dips His Signature Color Spectrum into a Residential Pool first appeared on Dornob.

The project combines StoneCycling’s expertise in construction waste mitigation with Biomason’s innovative biocement, a binder that produces a material made by bacteria and sand. Combined with StoneCycling’s recaptured mineral waste, the biocement becomes a tile that’s three times stronger and 20 percent lighter than typical concrete masonry while maintaining a near-zero carbon footprint. And while conventional cement takes 28 days to fully cure, precast modules of BioBased tile cure in just 72 hours.

Ginger Krieg Dosier, co-founder and CEO of Biomason, has spent the last nine years searching for a way to “grow” cement bricks and tiles with bacteria. The process sounds pretty fascinating. Biomason uses natural micro-organisms to produce carbon-based material in ambient temperatures just like coral does in nature, though exactly how they manage to do that is apparently proprietary information.

That carbon is combined with calcium to produce biocement materials, which can even be seeded with marine microorganisms to give it self-healing abilities and enable it to anchor itself to the ocean floor and create marine infrastructure, breakwater assemblies, and near-shore sediment stabilization.

BioBased tiles shape the biocement into easy-to-use modules with all sorts of applications, so it can be used almost exactly like traditional concrete. They’ve been installed at businesses around the world, including the Dropbox headquarters in California and Helix Lab in Denmark. More recently, Biomason struck a deal with retailer H&M to install it in many of the company’s 5,000-plus retail locations around the world.

If it continues to take off, this bio-based material could make a huge environmental impact. Concrete’s carbon footprint is currently larger than the entire aviation industry and those of the countries of China and India. It’s also the second most in-demand substance in the world after water. Biomason estimates that its biocement could eliminate 25 percent of the concrete industry’s global carbon emissions by 2030.

“The demand for low-carbon building materials is clear,” says StoneCycling’s Massa. The aim of our partnership with Biomason is to accelerate the use of sustainable building materials and architecture even further. We share the belief in our collective ability to solve climate change, and we’re thrilled to be working with Biomason on new low-carbon products to revolutionize the construction industry.”

“Since our inception 10 years ago, we have focused not only on disrupting the cement industry with groundbreaking technology, but also in establishing a licensing and partnership ecosystem to enable broad adoption of our solutions throughout the construction industry,” Krieg Dosier says. “StoneCycling will be a key partner as we scale commercially and bring BioBased tiles to the European market.”

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Located on the Via Dell’Orso in Milan, the plain white exterior belies the vibrantly painted scene inside. Sticking with the chain’s pool-changing-room aesthetic, the design company’s co-founders Christophe Penasse and Ana Hernández contained the subway-style tiles to small segments of the walls, filling in the remainder of the roughly 1500 square feet with chunks of daffodil yellow, mossy green, ballet pink, and luxuriant lavender.

Although the colors aren’t as bold as the studio’s norm, the firm explains that “this time …the palette is a bit less splashy, to give it a more mature look and adapt it to the historic (Brera) neighborhood where the new Bun is located.”

The architectural details begin with decorative arches that frame each dining booth, creating cozy eating compartments with seatbacks made of upholstered circles, and wooden tables trimmed in gold.

“Goldish touches are one of the elements that make it more sophisticated,” said co-founder and marketing director Christophe Penasse. “We used dry plants for this space to add this more mature touch.”

Terrazzo tiles shift in color across the floor, following the flow of the rooms, while playful portholes in the booths echo the globe lighting throughout the diner.

This is the second Bun burger location that Masquespacio has tricked out for the company. The artists created a swimming pool-esque feel for the first (Located on Milan’s Viale Bligny) through a mix of olive and lilac tiles.

Masquespacio’s designers took the pool room idea one step further with this build though, creating an entire eating space encased in iridescent mirroring on the ceiling and top half of the walls, and gray subway tiles below. A pool ladder mounted on the wall completes the impression. “The outcome became a place to discover where a mirrored effect recreates the feeling of being surrounded by waves of water,” their website says.

Penasse adds that “while you can find an evolution of the swimming pool concept we used previously… here has a completely new approach for which we try to recreate the waves and blurry effect of being under the water.”

The restaurant’s serving bay is delineated from the rest of the restaurant by its green walls, counters, and floor. Mirrored tiles cover the ceiling here too, casting green above patrons as they choose their smashed-style burger of choice.

The collaboration between Bun burgers and the Valencia-based designers has been so successful that they’ve already announced plans for a third partnering for a branch in Turin.

Masquespacio (Spanish for “More Than Space”) was founded by Hernández and Penasse over a decade ago and has since won numerous design awards for projects in locations around the world. Most recently, the company was named “Young Talent of The Year” in 2020 by Elle Decoration International Magazine and awarded “Interior Designers of The Year” in 2019 by the Spanish edition of The New York Times’ T Magazine. Their continued mission is to “draw a smile on your face and make you feel excited every time we present a new creation.”

The post Bun: Italian Burger Joint Serves Up Stunning Pastel Interiors first appeared on Dornob.

Industrial Design

While it was super hip to have bare pipes and bulbs for a minute, stark and warehouse-like industrial decor is quickly becoming too cold and grim for our current pandemic conditions. People are looking for cozy, welcoming, and warm spaces to soothe their frazzled home-bound nerves. Industrial touches in strategic places will remain chic, of course, but an entire house full of them just isn’t desirable anymore. In fact, a recent survey of 2,4000 people by UK-based home improvement resource HomeHow found that 61 percent of respondents are already regretting going overboard on industrial decor.

Open Shelving

That same survey found that another 52 percent of respondents regretted switching out their wall cabinets for open shelving. Sure, those dishes and glasses look pretty on the shelves in the magazines, but in real life – the one where we’re all stuck at home more than usual – open shelves aren’t so practical. If dishes are close to the stove, they can attract grease or dust. Plus, compared to wall cabinets, open shelves can seriously reduce storage space and look cluttered if not properly arranged each and every time.

Shiplap and Barn Doors

Thanks to the genius styles of Joanna Gaines, farmhouse decor found a serious following in the 2010s. Still, it can feel terribly out of place in, for example, an urban condo. Today, houses full of shiplap (wooden wall siding) and rolling barn doors are quickly fading from popularity and can be very expensive to undo. If you’re still digging this look, consider a few minor rustic touches and muted colors to satisfy your cravings without a forever commitment.

Large Wallpaper Patterns

Oversized wallpaper patterns are certainly dramatic, but amid all the COVID craziness, most people want less drama in their lives, not more. Large, bold wall coverings are now dwindling in popularity as people seek designs that are more soothing and inviting.

Bold Bathroom Tiles

A similar philosophy is starting to prevail with flashy bathroom tiles. As it is, most patterns and colors circulate in and out of trendiness every few years. And while putting in a trendy pattern could make your space the talk of the town for a bit, it’ll cost you a pretty penny to redo when it finally falls out of fashion favor. If you really love eye-catching patterns, try choosing one with mostly neutral hues. Then you can add extra color through paint and accessories.

Rose Gold Metal

Metal finishes are notorious for shifting quickly in their trendiness. Brass was très chic in the 90s, while oil-rubbed bronze was the “it” look of the 2000s. Now rose gold has had its moment, too, but it’s already headed for the out door. If you still love rose gold, opt for using it in decorative accents, like floor lamps, instead of installing it permanently in your fixtures.

Terrazzo Tile

Known for its playful flecks of color, terrazzo tile came back into fashion in recent years, especially thanks to celebrities like Mandy Moore bringing its midcentury flair into their homes. Unfortunately, its appeal will seem old-fashioned again before long. Choosing a peel-and-stick terrazzo tile wallpaper could allow you to enjoy the look for the moment and easily remove it when it’s totally out again.

Minimalism

Since so many Americans spent so much of the past year at home, the minimalistic, straight lines that held sway in the past are quickly falling from grace. People are now looking for softer contours, comfier textures, and all-around more layered spaces. Plus, the sparse and austere lifestyle became way less attainable as parents, children, and pets sat cooped up in their homes for months. The ultra-sleek style is subsequently giving way to the practicality of stuff ending up everywhere.

As we adapt to life in a post-pandemic world, our sense of style is also being revised. If any of these changes in interior design trends make you sad though, don’t worry. They rotate often enough that your favorites will probably come around again, even if they’re in slightly different forms and 20 years in the future.

The post 8 Interior Design Trends You’ll Be Regretting Before Long first appeared on Dornob.

The owners of this 1,065-square-foot two-bedroom apartment facing a forested hillside clearly aren’t risk-averse. They trusted the youthful architects and interior designers of 000 Design to craft a home bursting with personality, incorporating unexpected materials, clashing patterns, vivid colors, and most of all, fun. From the moment you walk in the door, you know you aren’t in an ordinary apartment.

The designers decided to throw out conventional ideas about how the feel of a home should be different from that of a business. Why not incorporate elements you’d normally see in high-end retail or commercial design instead of intimate residential spaces, if it results in a space that still feels relaxing and inspiring?

“With the development of internet and society, people spend more time living and working at their own dwelling,” says 000 Design. “We are willing to change the stereotype of a residence space which originally should be only cozy, warm, and relaxing. We hope this apartment also shows an impression of passion, fashion, and visual impact, [giving] a different attitude of the lifestyle with more freedom and maybe a little more [angst].”

An abstract mosaic of red, pink, yellow, blue, and white hexagonal tiles unifies the entire home, surrounding the main entrance and continuing inside the primary bedroom on several walls and ceilings. The small size and random patterns of this mosaic are contrasted by larger, more minimalist square white tile on the floor and on the walls of the bathroom. Out in the main living space, another tile motif in black, white, and gray brings a sense of geometric order to a balcony overlooking the landscape. Large glass walls and crystal-clear furniture keep the visual emphasis on the pattern and the view.

Careful editing is a big part of what makes the “Live & Fun” apartment a success. What the designers left out is just as important as what they brought in, leaving blank spaces for the eye to rest before moving on to the next chaos of color. In the hallways and living areas, smooth white surfaces are augmented by pale wood built-ins offering storage space, tables, and benches. The kitchen and dining nook are cut into two expanses of white built-in cabinetry, each one bedecked in neon colors for a striking jewel box effect. The lack of cabinet hardware helps the space feel clean and orderly.

And let’s not forget the ceilings, because the designers sure didn’t. Most noteworthy is the mirrored ceiling that visually elongates the common living spaces, augmented by lighting contained within red, green, and yellow acrylic boxes. A metallic ceiling surface perforated with thousands of tiny triangles complements the tile and doubles as a unique light source.

The post Colorful Tile Mosaics Brighten Up a Modern Chinese Apartment by 000 Design first appeared on Dornob.

Every year, about 250,000 tons of eggshell waste is produced around the world, and most of it ends up in landfills. Ng developed a new way to incorporate them into a composite formula base design that acts as a bonding agent. Up to 3,000 eggshells go into every square meter of tile, laid out in designs that draw from East Asia’s traditional eggshell inlay art. The shells are cracked, roasted, colored, and laid out by hand to produce distinctive organic patterns, colors, and textures, some of which closely resemble snakeskin. The way the shells interact with the specific dyes, some crushed so small you can’t even tell what they are anymore, produces an effect that’s truly one of a kind. They’re also smooth and easy to clean, so they can be used in demanding places like kitchens and bathrooms.

“We tend to associate eggshells with fragility, but they’re actually very strong and naturally UV-resistant,” Ng told Wallpaper. “They also absorb natural colors sustainably in fascinating ways, making them a wonderful building material. We use natural dyes, such as indigo, madder, and chlorophyll.”

Eggshells are just the latest natural material to be transformed into beautiful tiles by Nature Squared. While some are more conventional, like bamboo, leaves, vines, mother of pearl, capiz, and other seashells, others are equally surprising, like feathers, bone, and skin. The use of animal products can be controversial, but Nature Squared notes that these materials are byproducts of the food industry, coming from animals like chickens, cows, and fish, and would otherwise go to waste. But while the pieces from those collections make the sources look identifiable, with a more literal result, Carrelé is decidedly more abstract.

Prior to this eggshell tile project, Nature Squared worked more on custom projects rather than reproducible products. Their furniture, wall panels, and mirrors are frequently installed in places like private jets, superyachts, palaces, and villas for some of the world’s richest people. Co-founders Lay Kool Tan and Paul Hoeve brought in Ng to help create new methods and products that can divert larger volumes of waste away from landfills and broaden the potential for the company to make a difference with their circular design strategy. If you’re interested in any of their designs, contact Nature Squared directly for more information.

“Bespoke work doesn’t usually involve repeat processes, nor does it maximize an existing supply chain or natural materials’ potential, which limits the amount of natural waste that can be used,” says Ng. “With eggshells, for example, most people see waste, but I see an endless playground and limitless resource.”

The post Nature Squared Turns Your Unused Eggshells into Stunning Sustainable Tiles first appeared on Dornob.

Painting or Whitewashing Hardwood

If your hardwood floors are looking tired, you can get an entirely different aesthetic with a little paint or stain. Whitewashing can provide an airy, coastal effect that showcases the uniqueness of each plank. It involves bleaching your existing color out, sanding down the wood, and applying a mix of water and light paint over the top. Traditional painting is also a great option if you want a specific color. A black floor can bring in the moody vibe gaining popularity these days. You can even paint patterns over the top of the wood for more artsy or modern looks. Just be sure to seal your work at the end to keep it safe from foot traffic.

Covering Tile with Stencils or Stickers

Grouted tile floors cost a fortune to pull out, but they can easily be stenciled or covered with floor stickers for a similarly dramatic makeover. Your design is only limited by your imagination, after all, as motif and color choices are endless. These water-resistant tile stickers from Target are applied by peeling away the backing and placing them in the desired location. They instantly add glamor and contemporary flair. Plus, you can always switch them out for a new design down the road.

Stenciling is also a good DIY alternative. This large geometric stencil on Etsy boasts a small price tag and changes ordinary bath and kitchen tiles into something truly exciting.

Floor Art

You could also insert some artistic flair under your feet by creating your own personalized floor mat like this one from LetterFolk. The kit comes with a mat base and plenty of mini tiles to design your own mosaic of shapes or words

If you’re ready for more intense floor art, many companies are now producing ground wallpaper with mind-blowing graphics. You can choose from things like making your bathroom floor look like a solid slab of gorgeous marble to transforming your office into a forested paradise. The wallpaper is printed in large custom sheets that are then laid down to make amazing pictures and designs. For durability and shine, an epoxy goes over the top to lock it all in place.

Rugs

Yes, they may be the obvious way to decorate floors, but never underestimate the power of a good rug to give your room a full metamorphosis. Just look how this Turkish Kilim rug gives a shot of energy to this living space! And don’t be afraid to put rugs in unexpected places, either. Even the kitchen can benefit from some well-placed floor coverings for coziness and texture.

Nature

A glossy-leaf plant in an eye-catching pot can bring attention to your floor in all sorts of new ways. Look for easy-to-care-for greenery and pots that won’t leak.

Seating

Adding some low seating pieces also enhances the style of your floors. This blue leather pouf from Pottery Barn conveys a spirit of warmth and welcome in practically any room it’s in.

Lighting

A decorative lamp can highlight your flooring in just the perfect spot. This one from West Elm beautifully arcs up and over, directing your eyes back towards the ground.

So the next time you’re stuck staring at your floors, remember there are plenty of options for sprucing them up – all with minimal mess or wait.

The post Mastering the Art of Good Floor Decor first appeared on Dornob.

By studying 2020 Google Trends data, the Roofing Megastore has tried to forecast what decor course changes are in store for us. Based on the number of times consumers search certain design terms, they’re able to determine the looks that are currently making the biggest waves online — as well as the ones that are doing less than stellar. Not surprisingly, many of the up-and-coming U.S. trends seem influenced by the coronavirus pandemic, perhaps in response to shifting priorities or simply as means of escape.

The phrase that increased in hits the most in 2020 was “Scandi Style,” otherwise known as Scandinavian design, with a 2,400-percent jump in search popularity. With its clean lines and focus on functionality without a loss of beauty, people stuck at home for work and play may have gotten tired of looking at all the clutter around them. Scandi style looks like it will be a major craze in 2021 as Americans fill a need to turn their homes into calm, spacious sanctuaries.

With a search increase of 628 percent in 2020, the second hottest rising fad is “cottagecore.” In case you’re not familiar with this aesthetic that’s been gaining steam since being named two years ago on Tumblr, Fandom.com decsribes it as a “romanticized interpretation of western agricultural life.” The basic idea is that of returning to a simpler way of life, and one that is more in harmony with nature. This reaction to hustle culture became such a means of escape as the pandemic swept the globe that Tumblr saw a notable 150 percent increase in cottagecore posts from March to May 2020. The look is characterized by flowers (both dried and floral prints), old school handicrafts, plenty of indoor greenery, and nostalgic wooden furnishings. That may be one reason “cane furniture” is also trending up 273 percent in Google data. Chairs like this rattan chair from Anthropologie may be everywhere this year.

And we haven’t seen the last of “dark green walls,” as people also typed that term into google 282 percent more this year. The deep, moody hue is welcoming while still creating a little old-world drama. If you’d like to try it out in one of your spaces in 2021, Benjamin Moore’s Cushing Green or Farrow & Ball’s Duck Green might fit the bill.

Also on the upswing with a 114-percent jump on the internet is “mermaid tiles.” A geometric yet more dynamic look than the classic subway tile — which may be on its way out with a search incidence decrease of 46 percent this year — mermaid tiles come in all different sizes and colors. For instance, this bathroom wall in shades of gray is elegant with a touch of whimsy.

Other decor trends to look out for in 2021 include “statement walls” (up 170 percent), “drink trolleys” (up 117 percent), and “geometric patterns” (up 78 percent.)

And there are several decor fads whose “moment” has apparently passed, based on the search data. You may be saying goodbye to “wall paneling” (down 53 percent), “textured bedding” (down 45 percent), “art deco style” (down 36 percent), and “crushed velvet” (down 34 percent).

Of course, no one system or expert can predict the future. We may yet be surprised by the trends in 2021. This year, more than most, we have very little idea what the coming year will hold as we face the uncertainty of a second pandemic year, promising vaccines, and a heightened longing for normalcy.

The post These U.S. Design Trends are on Their Way Up in 2021 first appeared on Dornob.

A new collaboration between architects and marine scientists at the University of Hong Kong (HKU) is using modern technology to make it happen. Their new method of 3D printing specially designed reef tiles could boost coral’s chance at survival by providing an anchor for “corals of opportunity,” which are dislodged coral fragments that might otherwise just float away and die.

The Marine Park is home to more than three-quarters of reef-building corals in Hong Kong, as well as more than 120 fish species. Mass mortality events, coral bleaching, and bio-erosion all put them at risk. Offering the coral a structurally complex foundation for attachment prevents sedimentation, which is when sediment run-off from the shore either directly suffocates coral reefs or gets mixed into shallow coastal waters, reducing the available light coral need to photosynthesize.

In July 2020, marine scientists deployed the 3D printed terra-cotta “reef tiles” made by the HKU Robotic Fabrication Lab and seeded them with coral fragments at three key sites within the Marine Park covering about 40 square meters total (about 430 square feet), including Coral Beach, Moon Island, and a bay near the WWF Marine Life Center.

The 3D Printing Media Network reports some fascinating details on the project:

“Three coral species historically common in the Marine Park, namely Acropora, Platygyra, and Pavona, were selected for the study. They have different growth forms, representing the branching ‘staghorn,’ massive ‘brain’, and foliose ‘plating’ colony forms, creating a diverse habitat for other marine species. Marine scientists at SWIMS will investigate the success of restoration using the mono-, mix-, and polyculture of the three coral species, while researchers will monitor the performance of corals on the tiles for the next one and a half years.”

“The 128 pieces of reef tile with a diameter of 600mm were printed through a robotic 3D clay printing method with generic terra-cotta clay and then fired at 1125 degrees Celsius. The design was inspired by the patterns typical to corals and integrated several performative aspects addressing the specific conditions in Hong Kong waters.”

The use of environmentally friendly terra-cotta instead of plastic is particularly interesting here, especially since it’s usually associated with architecture and design. In fact, the tiles look like decorative art pieces you might have as a sculptural element in your garden. Fired in a kiln, the 3D printed tiles are durable enough to withstand underwater conditions. Hopefully we’ll get an update from the researchers once the coral attach — it’ll be interesting to see whether the patterns of the tiles affect the formation of the coral, or if they disappear altogether under a blanket of new marine life.

The post 3D-Printed Tiles Will Restore Coral Reefs in Hong Kong Waters first appeared on Dornob.

A new book from esteemed publisher Taschen lets you do just that without ever getting on a plane. “The Complete Gaudí” celebrates the architect’s greatest achievements through brand new photography, plans, and drawings by Gaudí himself. You won’t just find obvious inclusions like the Sagrada Familia chapel here, either. The book also highlights his furniture, decor, and unfinished projects.

Taschen describes the 368-page book as a “personal tour through Barcelona” to discover Gaudí’s singular vision.

“The life of Antoni Gaudí (1852–1926) was full of complexity and contradictions. As a young man he joined the Catalonian nationalist movement and was critical of the church; toward the end of his life he devoted himself completely to the construction of one single spectacular church, La Sagrada Familia. In his youth, he courted a glamorous social life and the demeanor of a dandy. By the time of his death in a tram accident on the streets of Barcelona, his clothes were so shabby passersby assumed he was a beggar.”

“Gaudí’s incomparable architecture channels much of this multifaceted intricacy. From the shimmering textures and skeletal forms of Casa Batlló to the Hispano-Arabic matrix of Casa Vicens, his work merged the influences of Orientalism, natural forms, new materials, and religious faith into a unique Modernista aesthetic. Today, his unique aesthetic enjoys global popularity and acclaim. His magnum opus, the Sagrada Familia, is the most-visited monument in Spain, and seven of his works are UNESCO World Heritage Sites.”

Even those who aren’t familiar with Gaudí’s work can pick out more of his buildings once they’ve seen just one or two. His unmistakeable style puts his own personal spin on Art Nouveau, adding elements of Catalan cultural traditions like mosaic tiles. His seven major buildings in Barcelona include Parque Güell, Palacio Güell, Caca Vicens, Casa Mila, Casa Batlló, the Nativity facade and crypt of La Sagrada Familia, and the crypt in Colonia Güell.

When you look closely at his work, you’ll discover just how much thought, symbolism, and attention went into each and every element. Many of his facades feature fantastically ornate carvings, bright mosaics, 3D features, and all sorts of creatures, both real and imaginary: doves, pelicans, turtles, chickens, snails, chameleons, dogs, snakes, and dragons.

In our era, embellishment and artistry tends to be cast aside in favor of minimalism and budget-friendly simplicity. Isn’t it nice to imagine a resurgence in this kind of creativity in architecture, and how much character it could add to our cities?

“The Complete Gaudí: Freedom of Form with the ‘Dante of Architecture’” retails for $60 via Taschen Books and other retailers.

The post New Book Explores the Ornate Details of Antoni Gaudi’s Iconic Architecture first appeared on Dornob.

To some, this might seem like a troubling development. What does it say about modern society, that so many of us would choose to close ourselves off to our communities to enjoy our own private oases, with seemingly little care for how unfriendly they might appear from the outside? Psychologists and sociologists might have answers to those questions, and it’ll definitely be interesting to see whether this trend continues to develop in the coming years. But the truth is that many of these “introverted houses” are actually responding to environmental conditions, whether it be harsh climates or densely populated cities where privacy is hard to come by.

And while some seem to have little regard for how they fit into their neighborhoods, others retain a sense of cohesion with the local architectural vernacular, striking a better balance between privacy and interaction.

In Toledo, Spain, architecture firm OOIIO pulled off the latter with “Casa GAS.” This single-family detached residence was designed for a young couple who wanted a comfortable, bright, and unique home that was fully personalized to their needs, from the architecture all the way down to the smallest details. OOIIO oversaw not just the building design but also the interiors, including the final materials, furniture, and lighting.

With its clean lines and almost exclusive use of white, the home projects a sunny disposition that’s well matched to its Mediterranean climate, and, just as importantly, its material palette echoes those of other houses in the neighborhood. Completely walled off from the street, including all outdoor areas, the home is unquestionably inward-facing, but it doesn’t look like a hulking, antisocial bunker, either.

The architects describe the ceramic seen on the roof and within hexagonal tiles on the facade as “the protagonist” of the design, taking inspiration from the traditional patios of La Mancha. The array of hexagonal tiles on the facade is meant to mimic the way dappled light might fall upon it.

And it’s really light that makes the home special in every regard. The courtyards draw natural daylight deep into its subterranean levels, and the single coolest feature, appearing like a secret oasis in the desert, is a shimmering reflecting pool that’s partially open to the sky and partially enclosed.

The firm explains that they decided “to organize the program of the housing project that the clients needed in the most efficient and simple way possible, always around natural light. To do this, the orientation of the plot was studied and the house program was distributed by strategically placing four patios, which are four light wells, four natural ventilation distributors, alternate and distributed throughout the site.”

“Between these patios grow volumes that reach different heights depending on the function they host. Thus, the highest will be the one that corresponds to the most “noble” living-dining room area and the lowest to the garage. But the facades of the patios could not be shown like the rest of the house, they are the raison d’être of the project, the heart of its architecture, that is why we express its importance also in the materials that cover them, playing with some hexagonal ceramic pieces that highlight them and complete the composition of the entire house.”

The post A Reflecting Pool Glows at the Heart of This Urban Spanish Home first appeared on Dornob.

The “House of Flying Tiles” contains surprises and delights at practically every turn. Some observers, approaching its exterior screen of clay tiles dangling from wires, find it very strange. What could the purpose of this contraption possibly be? Is it purely artistic? Not exactly. It defines a small area of the yard for private lounging without cutting off access to fresh air and views of the sky, while simultaneously shading a facade that consists almost entirely of glass. But it also sets the mood for a quirky residence designed for optimal engagement with nature — and optimal daylight for reading.

Architect Daniel Moreno Flores made it his mission to ensure the house was highly customized to his clients, expressing their unique identity while meeting all their needs and desires. For starters, the setting needed to remain as pristine as possible, with not a single tree removed to make way for the house. Ultimately, “House of Flying Tiles” was oriented to views of the adjacent mountains above all else. Thankfully, privacy is not much of an issue its rural location, making all of those glazed walls more livable than they might seem.

Flores explains that “the design of the house was born in a search of the essence of the owner, for which it is inquired on many of the topics related to it. From that essence, [I] identified a lot of creativity, a playful spirit, innocence, exploratory features, surprise seeking, sensory experiences, aim to discover, valuing processes, [and an] interest in mutations and changes in space. In this process, much of the characteristics of the owner’s character were absorbed and personal meanings were worked on. Due to the passion of the owner for the illustrations, it was established that it was fundamental to get involved in the owner’s logic and make illustrations as a design methodology (a book was made).”

“After understanding this constellation of ideas, we sought to encourage spaces that allow timelessness so that the owner was able to immerse in reading. These spaces seek an intensification in the relationship with some externalities such as the mountain, the low vegetation, the sky, and the Guirachuro (a local bird species). For the location of the house, an event was held with the owner in which we met to be able to witness the sunrise. This was fundamental to understand where the sun rises and to have that relationship in mind during the whole project.”

The house makes use of abundant natural and local materials like Abeto wood, reclaimed eucalyptus staves from an older home in the city, and clay tiles. The slanting planes of its exterior create diagonal lines connecting to the views or nearby trees and give the house a dynamic feel. All of its volumes are arranged in a way that creates “spaces that are discovered” as you enter. Even the angles at which light will enter the house at different times of year have been considered, with some glass configured so that rays of sunlight will enter the home vertically on the equinoxes.

The living room, dining area, and kitchen on the home’s lower level are bright and. A private, darker chamber containing the bedroom and bathroom is also set within this main volume, its roof creating one of the upper platforms and its exterior covered in open shelving. In place of conventional doors, bookcases and panels slide to reveal access.

To get to the office area one level up, simply pull down a set of ladder-like steps, and swing them back up again when they aren’t needed. A second, higher interior platform contains a reading nook, and yet another ladder grants access to the roof.

If one thing’s for sure, it’s that there’s certainly no shortage of heights and angles from which to enjoy the land in this house.

The post Glass-Walled “House of Flying Tiles” Designed With Reading in Mind first appeared on Dornob.