How'sHouse

Modern Massage Chairs Are Stylish and “Fun”ctional

todd harmon — Mon, 23 Nov 2009 01:22:26 +0000

With creative modern furniture, as anyone who visits this blog surely knows, it’s easy to put the “fun” in functional.

From clever bookshelves to ingenious recyclable chairs to quirky and cool mirrors, you don’t have to be a master sleuth to find some cool indoor accessories for your home. But what if all that searching and shopping starts to stress you out, exhausting the very core of your being?

Alright, so that may be a bit of a stretch. But who couldn’t use some real relaxation every once in a while? For those times when you could really use a rest, but don’t have the time for a full nap, why not try a contemporary massage chair?

Massage chairs are pretty amazing pieces of technology. Their robotic rollers, tappers, kneaders, and compression bags are finely-tuned to pinpoint pressure points and knotted tissue on YOUR unique body. And then they rub out all that stress with the finesse and therapeutic efficacy of a professional masseur. The last time I tried a modern massage chair, I almost turned to jelly as the robotic “fingers” kneaded me into a puddle of relaxed bliss. It was, in a word, excellent.

Massage chairs have truly come a long way since their tacky, clunky predecessors of the eighties. Not only has the massage technology drastically improved to the point at which many reputable massage chair models have actually been recognized by prominent doctors for their therapeutic benefits, but most massage chairs even look really stylish in any living room. They look like pretty much any other armchair lounger, with vinyl-leather and soft upholstering to blend in with any home or office.

Take, for instance, the Elite Optima 3005 Shiatsu massage chair. If it weren’t for the computer console sticking out from the arm, you would never know it was a massage chair at all. But the chair delivers an incredible massage in whatever style suits your fancy: choose from Swedish, Shiatsu, Reflexology, or even custom massage! Each of these massage types offer their own unique spin on musculoskeletal therapy. When it comes to modern furniture that is decorative as well as relaxing and functional, it’s tough to beat a quality massage chair.Similar Posts:

How Interior Design in Your Home Can Improve Your Mood

richard hubbard — Fri, 20 Nov 2009 00:00:10 +0000

Aside from work, your home is where you spend a majority of your time. After all, your home is a place to dine, relax, get entertainment, work, exercise, and sleep, so it’s no surprise that the interior design can have great importance on your mood. Whether it’s spacious Bellevue apartments to tiny New York lofts, or even a two-story house deep in the suburbs, a well-designed space can help lift your spirits and improve your mood whether you realize it or not.

Clutter

Some people may like the look of trinkets in every corner but often times, a space filled with too many odds and ends leads to a feeling of chaos. A space filled with simply too much stuff, no matter how attractive they may be, can leave a person feeling disorganized and unable to think as clearly. Some people prefer a minimalist look because of this very reason. The clean lines and surfaces leaves them feeling organized, uplifted, and ready to take on their day to the fullest. But not every home has to have a minimalist look to uplift your sprits and help you feel organized. You just need to figure out the amount of furniture and other pieces that feels comfortable for you, and don’t be afraid to edit.

Colors

Psychologists have known for awhile now that different colors have the power to influence our feelings and moods. The science has been well established and even advertisers and product manufacturers use colors to influence consumers. In a home, different colors in paint, furniture, art and other decorative items can illicit certain moods. For instance, blue can help bring on peace, calm, tranquility, and help bring in a sense of cleanliness. For that reason, people may choose to incorporate more blue color into a bathroom, bedroom or living room where a calming, relaxing environment is desired. Red or orange on the other hand are known to help raise energy and is associated with strength and passion. That’s why people choose these colors for their home offices or, sometimes, kitchen. Yellow can brighten up a space and induce feelings of joy and happiness.

Photos and Memories

Nothing can improve mood better than happy memories and meaningful keepsakes. That is why an interior design of a home that incorporates personal touches and remind people of happy memories and the people they love can have the power to substantially improve a person’s mood. Meaningful photos should be incorporated into a space using stylish frames. Other important items collected from special vacations or passed down from family members shouldn’t just be on display, but their layout should be well planned and should fit well in the space to prevent the feeling of clutter. Items don’t have to be obvious. For instance, a very small jar of sand from your favorite beach placed in your bathroom can help make your mornings a little bit easier. Incorporating little touches that you love into your space makes your home feel less like a hotel room and more like a personal sanctuary, which is sure to lift your mood no matter what.Similar Posts:

The Glass House

Adrian How — Wed, 18 Nov 2009 00:00:18 +0000

This house is anything but simple. It’s extravagant, loud, posh, and definitely not subtle. Designed by Nico Van Der Meulen Architects, The Glass House is located in Johannesburg, South Africa.

The owner’s requirements: A glamorous contemporary open-plan light-filled house that offers a view to the garden from every room

Did the Nico folks achieve it? Heck, yeah! There is so much beauty from the complexity in its design that just captivates you. It may be a bit too much to take but boy is it a dazzling piece of architectural work. I’ll leave you with images from HDF

http://www.homedesignfind.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/10/glass-house-4.jpg

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Look, Up in the Sky! It’s a… Lamp?

todd harmon — Mon, 16 Nov 2009 00:00:42 +0000

Here’s one way to experience a close encounter of the third kind:

All images, source: http://www.alienology.com

This is not a prop from the latest sci-fi blockbuster, nor is it a funhouse set piece. This is an arrestingly complex and uniquely attractive office or bathroom lamp that you can have in your very own home.

The company that designs these lamps is called “Alienology,” and it’s easy to see how they chose their name. Their distinctive lamps and light fixtures have an extra-terrestrial feel to them, whether it be in the elegant, Mobius-like swirls or the creeping appendages that look more and more like tentacles the longer you stare at them.

The Orbit ceiling chandelier

These lamps look cool, but aesthetics is never enough. To be a truly modern and novel idea, furniture and accessories today need to be functional and topical as well. The Alienology lamps are all these things.

These lamps are composed of individual slatted, reclaimed wood or acrylic pieces that click together without glue or fasteners. This means that they can be shipped flat-pack, which reduces both shipping fees and the carbon footprint of shipping. The best part is, despite their complicated appearance, these lamps rarely take longer than ten minutes to put together. This means you can have weird, exotic, and endlessly entertaining home lighting in no time. So not only are the folks at Alienology clever designers, they are also very eco-conscious. In my book, that’s win-win!

Alienology's Bloom Table Lamp

I highly recommend checking these guys out, you will surely be thrilled with their lighting products.

If the alien aesthetic isn’t quite your thing, you can find some more subtle modern lights through reputable online retailers. Personally… I’m going to get my hands on an Alienology lamp as soon as I can!Similar Posts:

What’s Cool About This House 003

Adrian How — Thu, 12 Nov 2009 01:33:47 +0000

1. Super clean lines – this is just soooo elegant. i’m drooling as I write this. A great play of lines in the design and the sacrifice of space above the kitchen island is well worth the effect it creates.

2. Hideaway chairs – a clever and well thought feature to incorporate the capability to hide away the stools under the island, leaving the island looking uncluttered

3. ultra simplistic kitchen – elegant faucet, simple sink, and a hob is all there is on the kitchentop. Great for viewing pleasure though in reality there’d be bound to be some clutter if the kitchen is actually used at all. But having a very long kitchentop such as this reduces clutter look

Not many homes have the luxury of space this one has but it sure has optimized it and made it into an opulent living space

imagesource: freshome

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Jochem Faudet’s Off the Ground

Adrian How — Mon, 09 Nov 2009 23:21:38 +0000

Jochem Faudet’s Off the Ground angular table is held by sheet metal steel legs clasped to the corners of the tabletop. This simplistic design is great for small unconventionally shaped spaces. The best thing is that the table legs clasp any surface that is 20-25mm thick hence allows you to constantly change your table top whenever you get bored with the current one.

More images after the jump

Imagesource: jochemfaudet.com

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Interesting Fireplaces to Eliminate Shivers

todd harmon — Mon, 09 Nov 2009 01:55:06 +0000

I first noticed it a few nights ago, when I woke up shivering and shaking at about 4 a.m. with my blankets and comforters kicked to the corner of my bed in a crumpled pile. Yes indeed, it’s starting to feel a lot like winter.

Now, I live in San Diego, so I’m sure many of you are sitting there snickering. “San Diego? You don’t even know what cold is!” And, as a native San Diegan (but a student of the world), I would have to agree. So I can’t help but imagine how cold it must be everywhere else, if I live in a meteorological nigh-paradise and I still shiver in my sleep. Time to break out the old matches, time to dust off the old flue and fireplace mantel: time to stoke up the old fireplace! Which sounds like a great idea… only, I don’t have a fireplace in my apartment. I’m sure many of you reading this can sympathize.

But, that doesn’t mean we have to wallow in mutual, perma-frosty misery (though there is warmth to be found in company). Check this out:

image source: http://www.pontonliving.eu

It’s called “Fireplace,” and it’s designed by Ponton (who seem to be a bit lacking in the creativity department, insofar as product names go, though their design imagination seems to soar). It is completely fueled by bio-alcohol, which gives off very few emissions (relative to standard wood-burning fireplaces). It is also small and very portable, suitable for indoor or outdoor use. And let’s face it – the thing just looks cool. It goes for 350-1900 Euro, or about 550-2500 USD.

Another portable and decorative alternative to traditional fireplaces is electric fireplaces, which have few CO2 emissions and can be just as beautiful as a real roaring fireplace. Add a stylish fireplace mantel to surround the electric firebox, and you can have yourself a stunning and warm living room just in time for the cold season! The price range for these is about the same as for the “Fireplace” above, though even cheaper (and decidedly less impressive) models can be found at major chain stores like Target or Home Depot.

Whether you go with a Ponton “Fireplace” or an electric fireplace, you will surely love the ambiance such a feature can provide in your apartment this winter. The only way to make it better? Share it with a friend!Similar Posts:

Starting my own wall-o-memories

Adrian How — Thu, 05 Nov 2009 14:37:39 +0000

About 3 weeks ago, I finally got my butt off the couch to get some digital photos printed, bought some IKEA RIBBA frames, and with hammer and nail, started my own wall-o-memories.

What is a wall-o-memories? It’s really just a collection of pictures hung up in a haphazard manner on a wall. Read more about the wall-o-memories concept in my previous post.

Here’s the one I did – the focal/central point being a cast of baby Ryan’s hand and foot when he was 4 months old.

Flanking Ryan’s pictures are my wedding photos (YinLeng and I are wearing traditional Chinese costumes in the second from top right photo). This particular activity is still pretty much a work in progress as we’d like to include images of our parents and siblings as well as including images of milestones in our lives (when i next decide to get my butt off the couch again). Being the amateur photographer that I am, I’ve just realised that the reflection of me shooting this photo can be seen in the image above. Gah!

Here’s a close-up of the cast of Ryan’s hand and foot. Flanking that is an image of Ryan in his favourite outfit – his Manchester United onesy and a picture of Ryan wearing his cap turned backwards, looking through the rails on his cot.

For parents who are keen on getting 3d sculpturing of your baby’s hands or feet, you can get this done at The Baby Loft at The Waterfront in Desa Parkcity.Similar Posts:

Mr and Mrs Chin

Adrian How — Mon, 02 Nov 2009 22:53:32 +0000

Giovannoni Stefano of Alessi worked together with the National Palace Museum of Taiwan to come up with a concept called ‘The Family of Mr. Chin’ where each character represented a household function. The one that really stands out is the Mr. and Mrs. Chin salt and pepper shaker set.

I’ve seen this unique Italian designed, Chinese inspired set available for retail at Robinsons Departmental Store for RM250. A pretty steep price to pay for a salt and pepper shaker, but when it comes with the Alessi name stamped on it, you know you’re paying good money for quality

Imagesource: alessi

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Art Exhibition: Print Show

Adrian How — Thu, 29 Oct 2009 02:49:42 +0000

Looking for art for the home? Here’s an avenue:

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How'sHouse

Modern Massage Chairs Are Stylish and “Fun”ctional

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How Interior Design in Your Home Can Improve Your Mood

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The Glass House

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Look, Up in the Sky! It’s a… Lamp?

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What’s Cool About This House 003

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Jochem Faudet’s Off the Ground

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Interesting Fireplaces to Eliminate Shivers

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Starting my own wall-o-memories

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Mr and Mrs Chin

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Art Exhibition: Print Show

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