Design Direction
Do you have a challenging space or need some design guidance? Design Direction is a chance for you to submit photos or videos of your design challenge(s) and a Vastu interior designer will provide you with some help. Every Wednesday we will feature one reader’s submission.
Hello!
No picture or video from me - just a question for you. I saw the question about paint and a baby’s room a couple weeks ago, so I thought I’d ask you a paint question about a little girl’s room. I am in the process of re-doing my 7 year old daughter’s room and she really wants her room to be painted pink. I want her to be happy, but I’m not a big fan of big pink. Could you recommend a pink paint color that isn’t too “bubble gum” or “Pepto Bismol”? Something youthful, but not so bright and fun that in a couple years she won’t like it…
Thanks so much!
What do you think?
Introducing Rebecca…
Rebecca Chair in orange organic wool
…and a few other new items to the Vastu showroom. Be sure to stop by and check out a great selection of modern seating and tables from a new vendor. We’ve got the:
Interview with Peter Sandback
Concrete tables, huh? We adore them, but how did you decide to go into this line of business?I studied sculpture in school and found it a difficult way to make a living. I started by making concrete counters for a client that need cheap counters. I liked the material and soon started to make big heavy tables. My wife and I decided to move from San Francisco to rural New Hampshire to raise a family, so I had to figure out a way to make tables from concrete that could be easily shipped. That is when I worked out this process of casting a veneer of concrete around a lightweight core.
How long have you been doing this?
Almost 15 years
How long does each piece take to make? What is the process like?
I make 5 part molds for each piece. The concrete is poured into the mold and then vibrated. A big piece of foam is then carefully pushed down into the concrete while the whole thing vibrates. After the piece is dry, the mold is removed and the concrete is sanded and washed. It dries again and is then clear coated. If everything goes well it doesn’t take all that long, but it doesn’t always go well.
Keepin’ it kid friendly: Dining table
Vastu interior designers are often asked how to keep furniture, colors and floor plans kid friendly. We’ve done quite a bit of work and research into how to keep spaces fun and livable for kids without sacrificing design. Keepin’ it kid friendly is a chance for us to share what we’ve learned.
When is comes to food and kids, the first thing that comes to mind for some is “mess”. So, trying to decide on a dining table when little ones are involved can be tough. However, it is possible to have a great looking dining table that is kid friendly if you look for the following types of tables…
- Glass top. A very easy surface type to clean regardless of what gets spilled.
- Coated marble top. Marble table tops have a sophisticated look, but when coated are extremely easy to clean. Be sure you’re only looking at coated marble if you’re concerned about ease of cleaning. Uncoated marble is porous making it more difficult to maintain.
- Round. Depending on your children and their age, you may want to go for a round table so there won’t me any sharp edges for precious small ones to bump in to.
If you have toddlers and you think it’s best to just give them a place of their own to eat, Knoll has a line of kids furniture that includes dining tables made of really durable materials. There’s the…
Design Direction
Do you have a challenging space or need some design guidance? Design Direction is a chance for you to submit photos or videos of your design challenge(s) and a Vastu interior designer will provide you with some help. Every Wednesday we will feature one reader’s submission.
Hi Vastu!
A while ago I saw an image of a room painted black and fell in love. I really want to do it, but I’m afraid. My concern is that while these rooms look moody and intriguing in photos, it might be too much in real life. I sent you all a picture of a black bathroom I found on a blog called Home Interior Design Themes because the room I’m considering painting black is my master bath (though I don’t have the really cool tub). So, what are you thoughts on painting walls black? Is it a no, no?
Really looking forward to your thoughts.
Thanks
What do you think?
Places to go | Folks to know – DC
If you’re going to be in the DC area on October 19th, be sure to find time to attend the ART BUZZ Remix Happy Hour from 6:30pm to 9:30pm being held at Co. Co. Sala. The event benefits the DC Arts and Humanities Education Collaborative’s Arts for Every Student Program.
For a small donation, enjoy live video art installations, free giveaways and great drink specials. For more click here.
Monday, October 19th
6:30 to 9:30 p.m.
Co. Co. Sala
929 F. Street, NW
Washington, DC
(Gallery Place/Chinatown Metro)
Home sweet home {office}
Designing your home office can be challenging. It needs to complement the design aesthetic of the rest of the house, but be different enough that it promotes productivity while in the space. Your home office may not even be a room of it’s own, but need to exist in a space that has other functions like a guest room, bedroom or living room. Well the Vastu Design Services team is here to help! Here are a few suggestions and products to consider when designing your work space at home:
Wall-mounted desk system. Think about having a wall-mounted desk system installed, especially if you have a small space. You have the surface area you need to work without taking up as much floor space as a traditional desk would. Here’s a look at a wall-mounted desk system used in a bedroom…
Vastu Floor Models Must Go!
To make room for a new line, we’ve reduced the prices of our floor sample items. Stop by soon before these gorgeous home furnishings are gone! Recently reduced items include…
Extendable Godiva Dining Table in walnut – Orig. $3,725, Now $1,200
Interview with Babette Holland
Babette Holland is a Brooklyn, NY-based company that creates beautiful handspun aluminum lamps and mirrors. Babette was willing to answer a few questions for us for a more detailed look into her business.
Babette and Tony (her husband and business partner)
Tell us a little bit about Babette Holland? What were you doing before you started your business?
Well, not having a trust fund, I should have been smart enough to have gotten a “real” job. But being the first in my family to graduate from college, my parents didn’t know this made a difference. They were just thrilled with the idea of “higher education” and learning. So, I went to Alfred University, College of Ceramics Division of Art and Design to study ceramics, and as we all know, it’s an extremely lucrative profession. At least I was poor and smart, so I went for free. Actually, I made money going to college! But, just try and find Alfred on a map… My high school graduating class had at least twice the amount of people than the whole school – including those studying for their Masters and Doctorates. But, it was the best place in America to study Ceramics and very few people got in. But OMG- when I got there I found out there were no movies and no Chinese food. I thought how is a Jewish girl from NY going to survive in this place for four years without going nuts? To add insult to injury, it snowed the second day I was there.
Design Direction
Do you have a challenging space or need some design guidance? Design Direction is a chance for you to submit photos or videos of your design challenge(s) and a Vastu interior designer will provide you with some help. Every Wednesday we will feature one reader’s submission.
Hello Vastu Designers!
I recently bought a lamp I loved, only when I got it into my living room and on my side table is was WAY too big. Well, I’m not going to use the lamp in that room anymore. What do I need to keep in mind about proportion/size of lamps for side tables so I don’t make the same mistake twice.
Thanks.
What do you think?
Welcome to Design Clique
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