The Vertical Forest Towers of Milan

If you want to create a large green space in the center of a busy city you would most likely have to tear down an entire neighborhood to get it. Architect Stefano Boeri had different idea to accomplish the same goal and designed a vertical forest tower, Bosco Verticale, for residential living in the city of Milan. Two towers are under construction today that will contain on the perimeter approximately 900 trees, 5,000 bushes, and 11,000 plants when complete. To fit the same quantity of greenery in a traditional green space you would need approximately 100,000 square feet to do it. Bosco Verticale is indeed a very creative use of space.

Sources: treehugger amusingplanet

Beautiful Bathtubs

One way to start a relaxing weekend would be to jump into one of these beautiful bathtubs.

Remarkable Office Workspace Designs

In case the build it yourself desks strike you as too “ordinaire” check out these unusual, yet functional workspaces.

source: weburbanist

10 Cool And Unexpected Ways To Add Color To Your Home

We all need a little bit of color in our lives. Color sets the mood and the tone of the home – some colors are vivacious and energetic while others are much more calming and relaxing by nature. 

1.Paint the front door. Why not make a bang up impression and wow your visitors before they even have a chance to step inside your home. Nothing is as welcoming as a warm entry. Your front door is the portal to your home. It should be inviting and reflective of your home. A freshly painted front door suggests a home that is well kept. A dark front door, such as black or navy might indicate you’ve a sophisticated style. A red or yellow front door suggests that you’re bold and love color and pink, or other unexpected colors may indicate that you love surprise and whimsy. Painting your front door is a simple and easy way to add color to your home. 

2.Paint the inside of your bookshelves. Perhaps you’re renting, or perhaps you prefer to have a neutral color on your walls but you yearn for a touch of color. You don’t want to buy accessories – after all, the ones you have are perfect. You’re not looking to replace or recover your couch, nor are you wanting to totally recreate your style. By painting the inside of your bookshelves (or cabinets) you’ll be making a big impact with minimal fuss. 

3.Paint the floor. Painted floors are increasing in popularity and often come as a welcome and fun surprise to a first time visitor. Painting your floors is a great way to cover up the imperfections in older hardwood floors and can cost significantly less than refinishing your floors in their current, less than perfect condition. A pop of color on your floors is a fantastic and creative way to breathe new life not only into your floors, but to the entire room. Any surface from hardwood to concrete can be painted. 

4.Paint your ceiling. Add an unexpected splash of color to your room by painting your ceiling. Worried about the old adage that a dark ceiling will make your room feel smaller? Don’t worry, it’s been dispelled. Still worried, then opt to go for a “safer,” lighter color such as a pale blue or grey. Adding color to your ceiling will add a lively touch to your style and will delight your guests. 

5.Add colorful appliances to your kitchen. This trend, as many are apt to do, started in Europe. Europeans are more playful, daring and adventurous than we Americans tend to be. Colorful appliances are not only the rage, but are becoming commonplace in many European home kitchens. A blue or red or bright orange oven adds not only a bold pop of color to your kitchen, but it adds an energy, character and dimension. Take caution, however, it is not so easy to change the color of your large appliances than it is to say, repaint cabinets or walls! 

6.Add color to your kitchen cabinets. Kitchens don’t need to have white, dark or wood cabinets, though this is what we most often see. Kitchen cabinets can easily be repainted and can provide the perfect vehicle to adding color to your room. Whether bold or more subdued, your kitchen cabinets can be painted any color. Perhaps you want to add some color to you space, but want to do so in a less obvious manner, simply paint the insides of the cabinets instead. Feeling bold? Daring? Why not paint both the insides and the outsides in various shades of the same color, or in contrasting colors! Re-painting your cabinets can give your kitchen an inexpensive and immediate face lift. 

7.Recover or paint your furniture. Painting vintage furniture is a perfect way to add new life to something old. It’s salvaging a piece of history and it’s environmentally friendly. Really, there is nothing that can’t be painted anymore! And older sofa or loveseat that may have faded, earned a few stains or seen better days but it still structurally sound can benefit from a new slipcover. Recovering or repainting a piece of furniture is a simple way to add a pop of color to your space. Adding a new color even to some old chairs can transform your room dramatically. 

8.Hang artwork. You needn’t an extensive collection of fine art, simply a few color paintings, posters or photographs. Hanging art on your walls will not only give your walls an instant pop of color, but the paintings will add another layer of texture and dimension to your room, and nothing is as reflective of one’s style as the art in one’s home. A home truly looks and feels lived-in when there’s a nice collection of art hanging on the walls. For those of you just starting out, or moving into a larger space and in need of things to make your walls less bare. 

9.Accessorize. You can instantly add color and change the tone of your room by changing or layering your accessories. Swap out throw blankets and pillows for those of a different hue or pattern from time to time. This inexpensive face lift can dramatically alter the mood of your room. Keep a few spares on hand, if you can, and change your room’s ambiance with the seasons, or just because you feel like it! 

10.Add flowers. Perhaps the easiest and most versatile means of adding a touch of color to your space, is simply the addition of bright, colorful flowers. Whether an ornate arrangement or a simple grouping, a vase or large bowl of flowers can instantly transform your space. And what’s more, you can change your flower colors on a regular basis and according to the seasons!

How to Make an Indoor Luxury Spa Room at Home

After nearly a year of deliberation I have decided what I want for my next upcoming birthday: A minimum of two hours at the spa followed by an equal amount of time receiving a pedicure and manicure. Considering the lists of my childhood that were compiled pre-Christmas and birthday I am proud of myself for keeping it simple and attainable as well as conduced to one line. 

But that’s not to say your wish list should be comprised with the same one sentence. 
No, my homeowners, I urge you to dream bigger. To take this several steps forward and to pencil in some new arrangements to your blue plan that will help make everyday a celebration that will rival the timeless joy of birthdays. 

Why make a short one-day appointment at the Spa, when you can indulge in this fantasy every day, anytime and include your friends and family as well, when your wish list is a Spa Room within the confines of your own home. I understand that this may take some courage to approach your significant other as well as your mutual savings account, so that’s why I’m here. I’m doing the dirty work for you by preparing the essentials to an at home spa. Follow this list, print it out for your banker if you have to, and find the sweet release of relaxing in luxury at home. Ready? 

1.Neutral Pastel Tones. 

The objective of any spa is to relieve tension and allow your mind, body and soul to relax under the ministrations of a professional human or that of products like water and masks. To enable this choose your main color to be something that relaxes you as you dim the lights in preparation of sleeping muscle induction. 

2.Waterworks. 

You don’t want a bath, jet, or whirlpool tub. You want a small portion of the hot springs to be included in your mortgage. To do this you need to think big by thinking small pool. Whether you climb into it, or step down into it, make sure it has seating in it that will accommodate the most natural relaxing pose near the thermostat and other adjusting nobs. Also have this stationed near a privacy enabled, sunshine streaming window and give yourself a chance for some Vitamin D. 

3.Tile Floor and Walls. 

Easy to use, easy to clean, and beautiful to look upon as you find your eyes drifting shut. Again keep to calming tones. A deep blue tile floor and chair rail height wall will lull you into a sense of security and will be resistant to your amass of wet towels, spilled chocolate face mask and the wax of your lavender scented candles. 

4.Lounge Chairs. 

When you see the completion of your room you will be overtaken with strong selfishness and desire to keep this space to yourself. But the beauty and strength that will be resolved and gained from this room will multiply when shared. With small side tables accenting each lounge chair create an intimate seating arrangement that once you sash your white terry cloth robe and tie your hair back with the same quality will embrace you and your friends in love. Choose an ergonomic design that will be beneficial to your spine and posture even while lying on you back. 

5.Massage Table. 

Once you are done lying on you back, it’s time to flip over onto your stomach on a massage table. Let your face fall in the pillow frame. (Masseuse not included.) You only one or two of these as this part of your spa does require an extra set of hands. Thank your significant other for allowing you this room in place of his or her office in the home by choosing tow tables and hiring a couples massage. The tension of loan negotiations will be erased for at least several hours if not permanently. 

6.Separate Bathroom Amenities. 

This should definitely be an exclusive side door entrance that can only be accessed through the spa, but in no way should be open and visible while in the spa. Sometimes in the pursuit of luxury we forgo practicality. Do. Not. Fall. Under. This. Spell. You will regret it. For more privacy in the adjacent bathroom, closet the toilet in a separate area. 

7.Stylish Storage. 

Lastly we need a place where we can display our amass of snow white rolled towels, jars of honey, cucumber eye masks, robes for out of town guest, the list goes on. The joy of your home spa will be short lived if the essential ingredients are void or disappearing with no thought of being restocked.This shelving should be open, to continue the open sense of a spa room. Make it cohesive and keep it maintained and it will easily stay an attractive section of your spa. Once you have placed the last bottle on the shelf, and rolled the last towel, it’s your time to enjoy. Light your essence sticks, grab one of those five star robes and participate hands on in your new home addition.