Selecting stones for use when designing your home.

Stones are a very common material used in construction both internally and externally. Stones are a naturally occurring material that is sustainable and hence recommended for use in green design. The stone properties are what makes it be categorized as one that is good for use indoors or outdoors. Stones have over the years been used for construction of houses, temples, tombs etc. Due to this, different technologies have emerged to assist in harvesting, shaping, and finishing the stones for appropriate use.

The distinctive qualities of stone are due to the complex geological processes that occur during its formation. The stones formed under high heat and pressure are strong and can be used outdoors and as foundation elements.

As an Interior designer, stones are materials that I largely use in my projects. They are used as floor and wall finishes as well as countertop, fireplace, and staircase cladding. I love the natural look of materials and therefore, I prefer using stones in their natural occurring state, colour, and finish. Stones can be polished or honed and the selection of either is based on the intended use.

There are over 8 types of stones used in construction. These are and not limited to:

• Basalts
• Granite
• Sandstone
• Slate
• Limestone
• Marble
• Quartz
• Travertine
• Onyx
• Gneiss

 All these can be used internally but not all can be used externally.

a.       Basalts

Basalt is one of the hardest stones used in construction. It’s a perfect material for use outdoors. Basalts are used for masonry work as well as paving. When constructing a house, basalt stones are used for the foundation locally known as ‘Foundation stones’. Due to their robust and impervious nature, they are used as paving block both for parking spaces as well as courtyards, walkways, and corridors. They mostly occur in grey colour and can range from a very deep grey to a light grey.  

Basalts can achieve a variety of thicknesses and therefore, machine cut basalt stones can be used as an interior or exterior cladding material.

 b.      Granite

Second to Basalt, Granite is also a hard and impervious stone. Due to its formation, granite is extremely heat, scratch and chip resistant. This makes it an excellent material for use indoors and outdoors. It being chip resistant, it is largely used as a floor material outdoors. Polished granite can be used at the entry porch, round the house corridors and even courtyards. Honed granite can be used in driveways, walk-ways and garages. In Interiors, it is a perfect material for use as kitchen and bathroom counter tops. The most common colours are black, white, green, blue, grey, red, pink and brown. Granite however has poor resistance to fire.

c.       Limestone

Limestone is a much softer stone. It is of sedimentary nature and is made of calcium carbonate. In structure, limestone is fine textured. Its colours range from pure white (chalky) to grey and dark varieties. Not all limestones are useful in construction; some are too soft and brittle. Limestone that is usable is dense, compact and fine textured. Since it’s quite porous and reactive to chemicals, it should not be used in areas where the air is polluted with industrial gases or in coastal regions directly exposed to salty water. The best use of Limestone is as a tile both on floors and walls and as a cladding material. Locally, the most commonly observed limestone is Mazeras; generally used as an entry area or poolside tile and Coral stone; mostly used as a cladding material. Limestone is produced in a honed finish since its brittle nature does not allow it to be polished.

d.      Marble

Marble is a metamorphic rock formed when limestone is subjected to high heat and pressure. It is softer than Granite but harder than Limestone. In the past, marble was commonly used for facing and ornamental work such as decoration of monuments, sculptures and columns. Marble can be polished to an almost glass look. Due to this, it is considered a very elegant product and therefore used in high end projects such as hotels, residential houses and palaces. Marble is porous and easily stains and therefore, one should be careful when handling it as a Kitchen top and floor tile. Avoid spilling turmeric, beetroot or food stain in the kitchen. One should also be careful not to step on it with muddy shoes as the red soil will leave stains.

e.      Quartz

Quartz is a manufactured stone that can be referred to as the best of all worlds. It is the ‘Revolutionary Surface material ‘… RossKopf + Partner.  In structure, it has stronger if not similar properties to granite with the look of marble. It is suitable for both internal and external use both on floors and wall.  Quartz is robust, versatile, heat-resistant, hygienic and easy to clean.  It is colour accurate and therefore, the colour is even within the sheet and also among other sheets. It is the most ideal material for use on Kitchen and bathroom tops and therefore makes it quite expensive.

Inspiration pour le Journee

Julie Khuu is an Interior Designer who puts out amazing content on Interior Design tips for a home. She has wonderfully outlined her best materials for use as a Kitchen counter top with their pros and cons. Check out her video.

Learning points.

• Patina: This is the natural look of a material as it ages.
• Marble counter tops need to be sealed in order to reduce porosity.
• Concrete counter tops are as hard as granite counters
• Treat your countertops as an investment

What would you like me to blog about? Let me know and have an exclusive feature in my next blog.

Living large in a tiny home.

A while back, I got inspired by tiny homes. This was when I was living in a rental property and after moving thrice, I realised that it is sometimes impossible to afford space enough to fit all your needs. As you progress in life, you realise that you need additional space e.g. an office, a kids play/school room, a laundry/offload room etc. All this spaces end up requiring one to get a bigger house every other time. This for sure is not sustainable.

As a single person, it is easy to have a small space that fits all. To date, I still admire the functionality of the tiny home designed by Ana white. Check out my blog on “The Tiny house”: https://interiordesigncafe.blogspot.com/2017/10/the-tiny-house.html .

In it is a link to Ana White’s video: Open Concept Modern Tiny House with Elevator Bed.

In my last blogpost, one reader commented:

As an Interior designer, I believe the goal should be creating solutions that make your house work for you and not necessarily adding up horizontal space. Before you consider renting a bigger space, always ensure that you have exhausted every corner horizontally and vertically. Your house should be a living space and not a storage space and therefore, also ensure that everything in the house is usable and has not just been stored for future use. Procure items that fit the users of the house and a few spares for sleep over guests. Do not rent up real estate with guests in mind as that is an additional procurement and maintenance cost that is unnecessary.

Every space in the house should be used for the purpose it was intended. For example, the living room should be used purely as a living area unless it’s big enough to fit any other function such as a living/dining area or mini office as well. When reviewing your house, check for the following:

1.       Purpose of the room

2.  Has furniture been installed that fit this purpose taking into consideration the size of space available?

3.     What other function can the room serve as?

4.     Do we have sufficient storage for items used in this room to avoid visual clutter?

Visual clutter is one of the things that affect comfort and aesthetics in small spaces. A space without visual clutter always feels bigger and more spacious.

 a.       Laundry room

A laundry room is a luxury in most homes especially because landlords in low/medium end homes do not take this into consideration. It is the centre bolt to cleanliness in a home. The key functions in this space are washing and drying. Equipment such as a washing machine can be installed to make life easier. With modern technology, a washer/drier machine can be procured so that it serves both functions at once. In a laundry room, one needs to also consider storage for cleaning detergent, buckets, basins, brooms & mops used to clean the rest of the house. This space can also be used for folding, ironing, pet bed & bath and also as a mud room where all shoes, bags, hats or umbrellas are kept once one comes inside the house. A 1.8 m by 0.6 m by 2.4 m is sufficient for this.

b.      Nursery

This is one of my most favourite spaces at the moment as I prepare for my little bundle of joy.

For expectant moms or those with small babies that do not have the luxury of acquiring a bigger space, function is key. Inbuilt storage works best in order to make use of vertical space. In your bedroom, one can take up one wall and make it a nursery. The necessity of a baby is sleeping, bathing and feeding. Baby items can be stored in the overhead inbuilt units to avoid cramping up the space horizontally. When shopping, only buy necessities. Diapers, oils and soaps should be usable for only one month or two as they are can easily be procured.

c.       Dining room

Dining tables need circulation all around for access. In the event one does not have a dedicated space for a dining room or where the space provided is small, a corner booth seat can be considered with a loose table and seats on the other end. The booth seat reduces on circulation on two sides. If the family has an infant, a baby feeding seat can be placed replacing one dining chair. A storage space can be created on one wall to act as a library or office supplies storage so that this space can also be used as an office or kids homework/crafts area. The booth seat base can have drawers for additional storage.

 d.      Bedroom

Bedrooms are one of the most badly furnished spaces in the house. One of the biggest mistakes users make is to buy a bed that does not fit the room. Most people want a 5’ x 6’ or 6’ x 6’ bed and yet the room floor area does not allow for this. For a small room, in-built furniture around the bedhead is a good way to provide storage. One can wire within the cupboard and provide new sockets or switches near the bed for ease of use. Clothes, shoes, electronics or even books can be stored separately. Cabinets at the highest level can be uses for spare items or items not used on a daily such as suitcases.

e.      Living room

The main secret to designing a small living room is Decluttering, Lighting and Essentialism.

Before embarking on the design, identify how you use the space. If you use the space for relaxing after a long day and watching TV, then a comfortable seat and TV need to be included in the room. If you prefer reading books, then a small library needs to be included. One seat and most preferably a Pull-out couch is sufficient. Mobile Ottomans that can be stuffed under the TV cabinet or rather maybe also used as stools can be considered. A set of nesting stools is more preferable to a large coffee table. Inbuilt TV cabinet/library shelving will maximize space. Wall mounted TV and sound system will reduce visual clutter and reduce on hanging cables. Light white sheers (or none) can be used to ensure maximum light filtration and reflection in the room. The main paint palette to be white or off white to ensure the space remains as bright as possible.

Inspiration pour le Journee

I love House and home because of all the fantastic ideas they put forth in Interior design.

In this video “Bungalow Makeover: How to make a small home feel big”, the Designer Brian McCourt designs an amazing small house. He takes into consideration all tips that one can use to maximise space.

 Learning points.

1.    While making use of vertical space, consider vaulting ceilings to acquire room height which eventually makes the room feel bigger.

2.       Take advantage of the vaulted ceilings to introduce Skylights.

3.       Install tinted windows to avoid curtains or blinds where necessary.

4.       Break down unnecessary walls to open up space.

5.       In the event walls or screens are required, consider using glass.

What would you like me to blog about? Let me know and have an exclusive feature in my next blog.

Maximalism; Will this trend survive?

Maximalism is a term that most people have not heard of. In essence, it’s the direct opposite of minimalism. The general rule of thumb with maximalists is that “More is More”. Maximalism as an aesthetic began in the 1950 with the early Styles of design such as Victorian, Georgian and Gothic styles. Read more about the Victorian style from my 2017 blog: https://interiordesigncafe.blogspot.com/2017/08/understanding-styles-01-victorian_28.html

In this style, there is no limit. All elements of design are used together in extra potions. The style encourages boldness and excess. Maximalists are sometimes seen to be materialistic. In this design, the eye wonders throughout the space. There is so much of everything. A bold mix of patterns, textures, colours and scale is observed. This style by far is loved by collectors.

A well-coordinated maximalist style is not easy to put together. Elements may conflict and look tacky; too much colour may become unappealing. For a space to look well put together, a base template needs to be put in place. For example, a colour palette can be generated to guide the general look and feel. Different elements with similar colours and textures may look better than those with different colours. 

Several ways one can achieve a well styled maximalist space is by;

1.      Layering: This is the art of arranging things in different layers e.g. scatter cushions, rugs etc. 

2.       Repetitive Patterns in prints such as florals, abstract and animal prints 

3.       Rich bold colours 

4.       Unique statement pieces

5.       Mixing and matching of textures and colours

6.       Multiples of items such as books, statues, artworks etc

7.       Blending of styles e.g. Mixing farmhouse style with Victorian

 a.       Entry porch

The entry porch is the first area of contact and visibility when getting into a home. In a lot of homes, this area is set up as an easy sitting area so that guests who are just passing by can rest for a few minutes. It’s an area of entertainment and therefore, it needs to be well designed. As in the picture above, different styles of furniture can be put together to bring character. Multiple colours and prints can be used in scatter cushions to bring the pop of colour. Multiple plants placed on the table, floor or hang on the wall also bring the garden feel.

b.      Entry hall

The entry hall is the area immediately after the entry way. Most entry halls are corridors because in modern day design, the entry way is uses to connect to the other parts of the house. The corridors give good wall space for displays. A lot of people use these walls as a photo gallery for the family and a sort of a memoir. Other times, one can use these walls as a collectors display area. One can mount art, pictures, mirrors or any other collectibles that can be mounted on the wall. This creates a point of interest as you transit from the entry to the rest of the house.

 c.       Bedroom

 

Bedrooms are those spaces in the house that are personal and can be personalized. The idea of excess can be implemented in patterns and not necessarily in quantities of things. A bedroom is a place of rest and therefore too much can take away this comfort. Excess can become clutter both physical and visual. For a maximalist’s bedroom to look and feel well designed, one can select a colour scheme and work within 4 colours to avoid conflict. Out of the four colours, one colour should be bold, one colour neutral and the rest subtle. Use of white as the accompanying neutral colour makes the bold colour pop while use of black tones it down.

 d.      Sunroom

 

Sunrooms are not a common type of space here in Africa and within the tropics. This room ideally was created for homes located in the northern and southern hemisphere that receive little amounts of sunlight and with adverse weather. The sunroom therefore allows the sun rays to come through while sealing off wind, rain or humidity. This area is characterised by large panes of glass and therefore, very visible from the outside. Plants and a play of colour can make this place not only comfortably but also aesthetic. Like in the case above, one can use bright and bold colours to bring character. By reducing the number of colours, one can have many items within this space without making it feel overly cluttered or too off the top.

 e.      Living room

A major characteristic in the Victorian and Georgian styles of design is use of one colour in different tonal variations and different patterns. This inspired fabric manufacturers to always produce new designs of fabric in six or eight variations. While layering, one not only uses multiples of the same item but also a variety of patterns on these items. Maximalists use bold patterns. Plain fabrics do not appear a lot of times in their spaces unless the plain fabric has a bold colour.

Inspiration pour le Journee

As Featured in the September 2020 Issue of House & Home Magazine, More is more! Designer Cynthia Ferguson takes us inside her 1930s bijou Toronto home saturated with color, pattern and artwork. She shares the dos and don'ts of maximalist design. Watch more of this in the video below.

Painted furniture ideas for 2021.

My sister is the biggest fan of white painted furniture. Why? Because she loves how clean and neat the furniture looks. Well, she’s not the only one. I love painted furniture but not specifically white.    

Painting furniture is one of the easiest ways of upgrading old furniture and restyling not so old furniture. I love repurposing as a craft to uplift dated furniture and prolong its use. Sustainable design is not only being careful of what we design, the purpose for which it’s designed and the material used but is also prolonging the life cycle of everything that is existing. Check out my 2017 repurposing blog: https://interiordesigncafe.blogspot.com/2017/08/repurposing.html

Painting furniture is easy because you can easily do it at home. However, it can be tricky if you don’t do it the right way and use the right paint. Like any other painted surface, one needs to analyze the following things:

1.    Type of Material i.e. Is it made of Natural timber, Metal, Plastic, MDF, Rattan etc. ?
2.     Intended location where the repainted furniture will be placed i.e. Indoor or Outdoor?
3.    Use of the furniture i.e. Is it Seating, Storage or Table furniture?

Many paint manufacturers have developed paint that can be used on different types of furniture. My personal favorite is Eggshell by Crown Paints. It is a semi-gloss oil-based finish designed for use on woodwork and metalwork where a “fashionable sheen” finish is desired. It is resistant to wear, dirt and steam. Check out more about this products use :

https://www.crownpaints.co.ke/product/crown-eggshell-finish-semi-gloss/ . 

I also love the chalk paint by Valspar. Its an ultra matte paint that is easy to work with, requires little to no surface preparation and has a vintage chic look on wood and metal furniture. Learn more about this on:

https://www.valsparpaint.ca/en/find-the-right-product/interior/paint/valspar-ca-chalky-finish-paint.html

a. Credenza

Credenzas are largely decorative pieces. They are used in dining rooms along walls to hold decorative pieces and sometimes store dining area utilities such as table mats, flower vases etc. They create perfect accents to plain walls. In open plan house set-ups, they divide the dining room and Living room. Typical Credenza’s are 1500 mm x 450 mm x 750 mm. This size varies based on the size of space and use of the piece. Credenzas were invented in the early 14^th Century. Since then, the designs have varied due to the change in styles throughout the centuries. In this Contemporary era, credenza designs are simple, minimalistic, use simple geometric forms and have a mix of different materials such as metal and wood.

 b.      Bed

 

I recently bought a painted bed and I’m totally disappointed with the product less than 3 months later. Painted furniture needs to be good quality first before the paintwork is done. Paint does not conceal bad quality and therefore always ensure that the natural product is good before applying paint. Metal beds are painted to have a good finish on the end product. Most people use a brush to paint metal instead of spray paint. The latter is preferred due to the finesse of the finish. With availability of metallic spray paints, a rustic look can be achieved. Gold, Brass, Bronze, Copper and even Rose gold finishes make the entire look unique.

 c.       Dining seats

Painted dining tables are a major feature in Farm house design styles. This Interior Design style incorporates a lot of items that look natural and also like they have been hand made in a workshop. A rustic look and feel is observed. With painted dining sets, one can break the monotony of the paint by leaving some of the areas unpainted. For example, you can paint the leg of the dining table and leave the top as natural wood. You can also leave the entire dining table as natural wood and paint the seats only. One can also mix materials for the different pieces. As in the image above, the dining table is made of timber and the seats metal. This more so has been adopted in the Industrial style of design.

d.      Coffee tables

 

Coffee tables can be functional or decorative depending on the owners liking. All in all, most people have table décor on the coffee tables such as Books, candles, plants etc. to keep the tablescape looking exciting. Coffee tables at the center of the living room are mostly decorative while side tables are functional. In contemporary design, the styles of the Coffee table and side tables can be mixed and matched. For example, one can use a glass coffee table at the centre and match with metal side tables. The side tables can be as “funky” as possible to have that edgy exciting look.

e.      Pool beds

Pool beds form part of outdoor furniture. Outdoor furniture is quite sensitive in its nature and materials used to make these items must be carefully selected. These furniture is fully or partly exposed to weather conditions and therefore the materials must be able to withstand UV rays, water, moisture, direct sun and heat. Manufacturers have invented new materials such as Synthetic rattan and PVC to be used for furniture intended to be used in areas with extreme weather such as coastal and desert areas. Metal and wood can be used for furniture intended to be placed under shade. High gloss paint or Eggshell is good for such furniture.

 

Inspiration pour le Journee

Christina Muscari is a Furniture artist who has been flipping furniture for close to 8 years now. She runs the blog Pretty Distressed and has a You Tube channel where she displays her projects.

Check out her blog: https://www.prettydistressed.com/ and 

YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC3Z-v8s8z18kERxGc4G2JjQ

Watch this video specifically made for people who would like to paint their furniture at home as a DIY for quick and easy tips on how to do that.

This month, I’m running a get inspired segment where I’m curious to know what design feature or element is currently inspiring you. Let’s connect on my IG … and let’s chat. 

My IG handle: designcafe001