WE MOVED!!!
Interiordesigndigest.com has moved We are now better then ever
check us out at
One of the main reasons Brooklyn is great is its transportation. Downtown Brooklyn is one subway stop away from downtown Manhattan. So is Williamsburg. Three stops away from Union Square, this community is arguably the center for furniture trends in all of New York interior design.
Rival neighborhoods DUMBO and Park Slope don’t have the same youthful allure that makes Williamsburg such a great destination for tourists and city adventurers alike. The real estate on the brand-new East River Park means that the nearby condos have some of the best views of the Manhattan skyline in the entire borough. Sure, the bars and cafes attract plenty of young folks, but the food is raved about too. Fatty ‘Cue underneath the Williamsburg bridge was named one of the New York Times’ 10 Best Restaurants of the Year last year. And Zagat-rated restaurants line Bedford Ave’s surrounding area.
Many of the emerging arts are also centralized in North Brooklyn. From street art to furniture making, the neighborhood has a plethora of artists and galleries. Artists & Fleas is an artist, designer and vintage market open every weekend, and is well worth your time. They have clothing, baked goods, and furniture trends with designers on the scene. Who knows what discoveries you will make when exploring the ins and outs of this hip neighborhood?
It seems that all of a sudden Brooklyn is really cool. Why? Is it the tight-jeans wearing urban farmers? Is it the thousands of artists and creatives who call it home? Is it the still affordable real estate?
Maybe. But one of the biggest reasons that Brooklyn is cool is it doesn’t care what Manhattan is doing. It shows everywhere – from the interior design NY to the green-roofed skyline and the penchant for fresh herbs. The lifestyle in neighborhoods like DUMBO, Boerum Hill, and even Williamsburg is about simplicity and making the best of what’s available. Brooklynites don’t vie for new space, they’re protective about the space they already have. And because there is more space, furniture trends larger, rooms more open, and ceilings higher. So that a simple, affordable loft looks like it belongs in home interior magazines with the help of some heavy drapes, mod accessories, and contemporary chairs.
And when Brooklynites are tired of being in home interior magazines, they can take advantage of new restaurants, a burgeoning art scene, and remodeled parks. And did I mention the great views of Manhattan? That is, if you want to look west.
A little feng shui never hurts one’s NYC interior design. Feng shui is all about balancing your chi and making sure it flows properly throughout your home. The feng shui of each room is different, but the rules about mirrors are very important. Today we’ll just talk about your bedroom –the most important room.
The bedroom is your sanctuary, so peaceful chi is important. Use a strong headboard to ensure that your chi is protected while you sleep. Never place a mirror across from the bed and avoid your bedroom doubling as an office with computers or televisions in it. Work furniture and accessories need to be separated so that you can promote rest. A bedside table on either side of the bed promotes stability.
In terms of lighting, keep it soft. Again, we want to remain calm. Also avoid a ceiling fan directly above the bed. Any artwork and paintings should be happy and peaceful ones. Happy images will promote that same mentality in your life. Also try keep the windows open as much as possible to allow fresh air in. When they need to be closed, use an air purifier.
Even if you’re not one for feng shui, home interior magazines agree that the bedroom should not be cluttered and “busy” looking. A serene room equals a serene life.
If you haven’t already started shopping for outdoor furniture, you really should. Before you know it, all hot spot stores will be all sold out of your favorite pieces. So let’s discuss how to make the outside as chic as your home interiors NY. First, your outdoor furniture needs style. Treat it the same as you would the inside of your home. Choose from wicker, wood, wrought iron, or aluminum. What style do you want? Contemporary, traditional, modern, formal, or rustic?
Remember to keep it super comfortable. Go for deep cushions and plush lounge chairs. Who says outdoor furniture has to be as comfortable as school bleachers? When choosing furniture pieces, go for versatility and function. Many pieces are being designed with multi-functions in mind. You can find tables with drop leafs, storage benches, and chairs that will look just as fabulous inside as they do outside.
Turn the patio into a warm and inviting place with fire pits and decorative lighting. You don’t have to go for the tiki torch look either. Hanging lanterns and lamps can fit into any motif you choose. Just like the inside of your home, don’t forget to accessorize. Sculptures, fountains, and artwork can turn a boring patio into a beautiful new entertaining area. Browse furniture pictures to find your outdoor inspiration.
Spring has sprung and it’s finally starting to feel like it, so now it’s time to get into the season by sprucing up your interior design NY. Spring is all about bringing the outside in, so begin by bringing your favorite outdoor colors inside. Not everything has to be pastel, but don’t go for dark colors. Choose something in hot pink mixed with marigold or a pattern that mixes chartreuse and teal.
Decor should be light and fresh looking. Choose linen, sheer, and open weave fabrics. Change out pillows throughout the home, add vases of fresh cut flowers, and bring in a little greenery. If you don’t have an outdoor patio, add wicker settees and chairs to the living room. If you can, arrange the focal point of your living room. Instead of focusing on the fireplace, make the furniture face the open windows looking into the backyard.
Don’t forget about spring cleaning before you start changing everything. Dust off those shelves and de-clutter the home. Spring is also about organization. Make a fresh start with your home. Add a new coat of paint, change out hardware on cabinets, and pick new artwork for the walls. Spring is a fleeting season so enjoy it while it lasts.
Sometimes I feel like the world is shrinking, or at least a lot of the gadgets and everyday items we use are. Although the TV screens are getting wider, they’re getting thinner. Tiny smart cars are becoming increasingly popular and many of our electronics are shrinking, especially the computer. Both laptops and desktops are taking up a lot less space on our desks, as well as the compact speakers and printers to go along with it. We even use paper and filing systems far less since everything is on the computer itself.
With these shrinking items comes the small desk. You want a functional desk, but there isn’t really a need for something upscale and large. If you have a laptop, why do you need something 5 feet long? I came across this intriguing compact desk by designer Tomoko Azumi, pictured above. Not only is this desk extremely compact, it has a ton of little compartments to store your electronics.
Obviously, if you have the new 27 inch iMac, this isn’t the desk for you. But chances are, most are sporting a laptop at home. If so, this is one furniture trends to follow. Like I mentioned last week in the Asian design post, simplicity and functionality are the key to design balance. So listen to this interior design magazine when we tell you to start thinking small!
When it comes to interior design and furniture trends, everyone seems to love Asian design. Whether it’s just in the living room or throughout the entire home, people are draw to its simplicity and the serenity and balance is brings forth. However, we can’t lump everything from the East together. There is Japanese design and Chinese design and both are very different. Before you commit to an Asian style, let’s talk about the differences.
Japanese style includes natural materials like bamboo, straw, and stone. Furniture is always low to the ground and sleek. Black, red, and dark browns are good colors for wood furniture. Wall colors include soft earth tones like green, brown, and gray. Sofas should be fabric and accent tables are often glass. Accent rooms with rice paper lamp shades, bamboo rugs, and statues of Buddha and dragons.
For Chinese decor, the colors are always bold and the furniture ornate. Red is the color of luck, so expect to incorporate a lot of red with yellow and green accents. Avoid black which represents bad luck and white which represents death. Decor pieces are often made of jade, porcelain, stone, and ivory. Furniture usually has several coats of lacquer, providing a high glossy finish. Two-door cabinets are popular accent pieces, often depicting landscape scenes or calligraphy.
Browse through furniture pictures to see which style best suits your specific tastes!
You’ve been following all the latest furniture trends and have all the pieces you want in your living room, but trying to figure out the arrangement feels more like a game of Tetris or a bad jigsaw puzzle. It’s just not working, or perhaps it just looks plain and boring. Hopefully you took all the required measurements before you went out and bought that furniture. Pieces that are too large or too small will just make your job a heck of a lot harder. Furniture needs to be appropriate for the size of the room.
The scale of the items is important. If you want a serene and calm room, the pieces should be more similar in scale. A balance of different heights, widths, and depths will create a harmonious room. You also need both asymmetry and symmetry. Symmetry promotes rest, while asymmetry creates motion. One trick for furniture arranging is triangulation. A perfect example is placing two end tables on either side of a sofa and a painting above the sofa.
Remember that not everything has to go up against the wall and form perfect lines. You are allowed to angle that side chair. Before you waste a day arranging and rearranging, take out a piece of paper and sketch out a few different designs. Browse furniture pictures to get inspiration. Don’t expect to get it right the first time and don’t be afraid to change it up every once in awhile.
Wait, aren’t all gardens organic? Aren’t I already helping the environment with my garden? Not if you use dangerous fertilizers and pesticides! Then your garden is far from organic. Be really really green by following some of these great gardening tips for creating an organic garden:
Be good to your environment and it will be good to you and your garden! Check back again for more great gardening tips from Interior New York!
Visit Interior New York:
www.interiornewyork.com
Questions or Comments
editor@interiornewyork.com
Advertise
sales@interiornewyork.com
To submit artwork
art@interiornewyork.com
1227 60th Street
Brooklyn NY 11219
718 854 3773
Follow Interior New York Online:
