Luxurious Mediterranean Lifestyle and an Exclusive Residence in Ibiza

When seeing homes like Blanco de Ibiza, the first thing that crosses my mind is that the ancient Greek gods knew exactly what a healthy, tidy and abundant life was all about. Reflected upon the “mortals”, this made them crave for a god-like lifestyle treatment. It is hard to say what triggers the idea that an exclusive lifestyle comes from “above”, but like me, many imagine that the Mediterrean iconic figures drift into a sea of luxury and comfort. The house was built more than 30 years ago and it has been recently restored by the architect Malales Martinez Canut,  pointing on the perfect blending of two diverse architectural styles, Mediterrean and Spanish.

Blanco de Ibiza, as the name sais it, is a gorgeous large white “palace” with Mediterrean accents and wooden furniture from Bali. The breezy environment sprinkled with natural fabrics such as reed, cotton and the natural colors such as green or blue create the perfect spot for relaxation. With a stunning view upon the Mediterrean Sea, Blanco de Ibiza is simply enchanting. The infinite blue horizon reflects in all those turquise subtle elements  of décor, that scatter over the lounge chairs. Old authentic fabrics meet new, contemporary materials, creating a unique style. Embracing the Mediterrean breeze, the beautiful oasis of tranquility, created by Malales Martinez Canut, expands its charm upon the “mortals”, just like the nectar “conquered” the Greek gods.

 

 

Via: Luxurious Mediterranean Lifestyle and an Exclusive Residence in Ibiza

Advances in countertops result in seamless sinks for less

Improved imaging technologies have given laminate countertops a serious design makeover in recent years, but you still had to settle for a sink that sat on top of the counter where the edge could collect dirt and bacteria. Now there's a seamless solution from Wilsonart—acrylic sinks that can be chemically bonded to a laminate counter to create a look that was formerly only available in solid surfacing, stainless steel and concrete.

Wilsonart has partnered with Lowe's to put examples of the integrated sinks, which are made in the U.S., and counters in more than 650 stores nationwide by next week. It is also releasing two new high definition Brazilian granite laminate patterns, Summer Carnival and Winter Carnival, available through Wilsonart dealers.

In Consumer Reports countertop tests, laminate countertops resisted stains, heat, and impact nearly as well as much more expensive materials. Acrylic sinks aced some, though not all, of our tough sink tests. Wilsonart's HD laminate costs about $1,500 to $1,600 for a typical kitchen, and its acrylic sinks around $400 to $550. Lowe's offers a one-year installation warranty on the countertop, sink and the seal between the two, according to a company spokesperson.

—Celia Kuperszmid-Lehrman

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Quiet Innovative Property in Auckland, New Zealand

Satisfy extravagance and delicate high-class information ! The residential undertaking, Lucerne Home, Auckland, New Zealand  made by Daniel Marshall Architects is the outcome of an ingenious prepare that implied a conceptual reframing of a property. What was truly curious and various about it was the insertion of  a garage which had to be concealed and integrated into the house ’s style and design line. The client ’s desire was to attain that great blend of purposeful and outstanding, in buy to accommodate an superb line of common automobiles. Like the architects said :  “The quick was really distinct, with garaging a number of typical automobiles a primary problem.” 

Possessing that in head, the architects produced a wide parking area, very carefully masking the garage and including a contact of style to the home. As you step inside, you enter a put flooded with gentle. In my viewpoint this is the optimum way of producing a joyful environment. The contemporary - vintage fusion of black and white, along with the classy line of furnishings motivate comfort and suit properly with the client ’s flavor for typical design. The factor of surprise is unquestionably the chandelier, the artistic thing of layout that embellishes the living home. Large glossy spheres of glass hang from the ceiling, making an impact on whoever visits this place. Plenty of glass has been used for the finishing, developing a clear and spacious atmosphere. Absolutely nothing appears as well considerably or too very little. It’s the correct volume of every little thing to preserve these vintage facts rocking. Neutral and classy, the job is an outstanding home, with outstanding facts of inside style.

Via: Quiet Sophisticated House in Auckland, New Zealand

Ground breaking and Useful Sofa by Marcin Wielgosz

Marcin Wielgosz, the head designer at merely , a begin -up home furnishings agency from Poland, sent us some shots and defined what their latest job called Hocky was all about. Given that it seemed so modern and amazing, we have made a decision to share it with you. Hocky is a comfy and purposeful piece of furniture, designed completely of segments which the moment sticked alongside one another, form a comfy couch. Or else, the segments have their very own specific features, serving as armchairs. The concept aims to offer independence, so permit your creativity float: select the colours and the materials and let the designers deal with the rest.

Pointing on its operation,  Hocky’s armrests change on their own into smaller tables in a blink of an eye. It’s really wonderful and exciting how Hocky adapts, following the stream of your requires : no make a difference if you want a couch, a modest sofa and an armchair or only armchairs, this object of home-based use creates unlimited opportunities to configure an best office. The hardwood tables assist laptops, publications and other stuff you want for work or leisure. Hocky is uncomplicated, purposeful and claims your creative imagination. It’s the flexibility of picking, going, merging and tests that helps make it these kinds of an exciting piece of home furniture ! Now that you know our viewpoint, how do you truly feel about it?

Via: Innovative and Functional Sofa by Marcin Wielgosz

We wish we could say this coffeemaker is out of this world

Take a look at the DeLonghi Nescafé Dolce Gusto Creativa Plus, and you could be forgiven for thinking it's some alien creature asking to be taken to your leader. But it's on this earth to serve coffee, one cup at a time. The little rascal costs $200 and nearly made our list of top-picks but, like most movie aliens, proved to be unpredictable, lacking temperature consistency from cup to cup. The ET-like Creativa Plus was one of five single-serve coffeemakers we've just tested.

What looks like a bird's beak is the machine's handle for pulling out the compartment that holds the same Nescafé Dolce Gusto hard-shell capsules used by the top-rated single-serve machine in our coffeemaker tests, the $150 DeLonghi Nescafé Dolce Gusto Circolo. And what resembles a ball-cap visor is actually the handle you push down to lock the capsule in place before brewing. The transparent portion of the "body" is a removable reservoir we found easy to refill.

Overall, in fact, we liked the Creativa Plus. It was fairly easy to operate and clean, delivered both the first cup and subsequent ones quickly, and allowed a lot of flexibility in adjusting the coffee strength. But if you appreciate the hundreds of choices available from a beverage-capsule brand such as Keurig or a pod-type machine that takes soft, teabag-like pods of any brand, you might not want to be locked into a capsule selection with only 16 choices.

Prefer a more traditional cup of coffee? A winner from our latest batch of four carafe models is the Black & Decker CM4000S, $40 at Target. Its brew performance didn't match the solid five or six minutes we expect a coffeemaker to maintain a temperature of 195 degrees F to 205 degrees F for optimal brewing, but it came close to the top-rated Mr. Coffee BVMC-SJX33GT, $40, and Kalorik CM25282, $80.

Via: We wish we could say this coffeemaker is out of this world

Cooks covet extra counter space even more than cabinets

When is the last time you heard somebody complain about having too much counter space or too many kitchen cabinets? Lack of space is why nearly 50 percent of homeowners say they keep frequently used kitchen items in other rooms—the food processor winds up in the laundry room, stockpots are stashed in the garage—according to the Research Institute for Cooking & Kitchen Intelligence. If you have space, you can add an island but make sure the countertop you install can stand up to years of punishment.

About 74 percent of homeowners surveyed said they want more counter space than they currently have, even more than those coveting cabinets, according to an online survey of 1,000 homeowners conducted by RICKI. "An island makes sense and can become a design statement," says Brenda Bryan, a spokesperson for RICKI. "You can choose the material you like and if you decide to sell your home in eight years, the island isn't a problem as the new owners can change just that countertop."

When selecting countertop materials for the rest of your kitchen you do have to consider resale value, according to the realtors and kitchen designers we've talked to. You don't have to pander to buyers' expectations, but be aware of them. Tile counters, for example, are a cleaning nightmare and some prospective home buyers shun them.

So let's say you like the look of soapstone but are wondering how it will hold up over time. We stained, sliced, scratched, scorched, and nicked soapstone and 13 other countertops to find out which ones will look good year after year. In our tests, we found big differences in materials, but little variation among brands. Quartz and granite topped the rankings but advances in laminate make that a good choice too and it costs far less. To find a countertop that suits your budget and lifestyle, take a good look at our countertop Ratings.

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Secure Rectangular Residence in the Idyllic Place of Austria

The Royer Home , noticed on Architizer is a compact, rectangular formed residence in Austria, totally designed by the Kienesberger Schröckenfuchs Architektur firm. The residence, situated in a tranquil neighborhood nearby Wels is ideal for a modest family in lookup of adopting a relaxing way of life, currently being fond of simple, yet secure style. Completed in 2010, the task  implies in addition to the home itself, a beautiful inside garden, a green place for peace, that completes the simple, non- outstanding entrance road circumstance.

The home has a narrow entrance entrance with narrow windows, creating a shelter of intimacy for its inhabitants. We can very easily say that the  Royer Household is a astonishing, nevertheless contradictory residence. Its exterior is wrapped in a simple, minimalistic look, currently being neither resourceful nor outstanding. But then, as you seep inside, the landscape is absolutely transformed. A extensive room, flooded by mild, with household furniture designed of lovely strong purely natural wood welcomes you in the most warm and homey way possible. The residing and kitchen area area are related to the inside backyard, giving an amazing look at upon the green maze of trees and grass. Significant wood framed windows, simple household furniture lines, an idyllic yard and a new angle of notion. Convenience has just develop into much more available. Would you make this your long lasting house ?

Via: Comfortable Rectangular Home in the Idyllic Country of Austria