furniture Archivi - Page 8 of 8

Drywall how to use it at home? Here are 7 different ways!

Drywall, how to use it at home?

There are at least 7 possible ways to use this highly convenient and versatile material!

But first of all, what is drywall?

These are panels or boards composed of gypsum and cardboard sheets; they have a standard width of 120cm and a height ranging from 200 to 350cm.

Thickness varies according to use, although 13mm is the most common.

There are sheets with good acoustic and thermal insulation properties, or fireproof or even water-repellent.

The use of this material has several advantages:

– quick and easy processing due to the panels.

There is no need for mortar; the panels, which you can cut with a simple cutter, are screwed to a galvanized steel frame.

The joints would then be grouted, and the whole thing prepared to be painted like a regular wall.

Its ease of installation makes it practical for concealing systems, thus, avoiding making tracks in walls or “leveling” any imperfections or edges.

– cleaning.

The pieces are virtually ready to use: there is no use of bricks or mortar, raising thus very little dust, so once the work is done, ordinary cleaning will be enough.

– customization.

Due to the ease of workability, it is very suitable for custom fabrications: you can have curved shapes, put doors or add integrated lighting.

– ease of removal.

The ease of installation is also found in its eventual removal.

– costs.

Drywall work has a lower cost than the same work done, however, with wood or brick.

Of course, there are some disadvantages, but minimal:

– heavy impacts.

The slabs are resistant at the surface level and can withstand medium-slight impacts, but certainly not strong ones; the slab can be dented or ruined if you give it a hard blow!

– weights.

Paintings, shelves, or chandeliers may be too heavy: there are special hooks and dowels to put them.

For heavier loads, some dowels can be attached to the framing.

Well, now that we have seen what it is and what the advantages and disadvantages of drywall are, let’s also see how to use it in the home!

– One of the most common uses is as a FALSE CEILING.

A drywall ceiling will allow the use of recessed spotlights or LED strips.

Excellent use in transition areas or perhaps to optically divide two different functionalities in the same room, such as the open-space kitchen and living room or the entrance that gives directly onto the living room.

(credit inlet.it)

(credit cose di casa)

– Use of RIB.

It is always a ceiling use, only this time it is not fully covered, but only the perimeter part.

Perfect for creating ambient lighting

It could be a great idea to emphasize an impressive ceiling because LED strips can be put on it that light upward.

Depending on the width, it will also be possible to put spotlights pointing downward.

(credit officinemama.com)

(credit Tavan Dekor)

– WALL constructions.

It can replace bricks for wall construction to divide rooms.

That is convenient if you have to do this division when you already live in the house.

The ease of installation and cleanliness of the work makes this intervention really not invasive.

(credit cose di casa)

– Construction of DIVISIONS.

It is not always necessary to divide an entire wall; sometimes, a small wall or just a portion is enough, perhaps with an open opening to let light and look flow.

(credit homify.it)

(credit casaegiarfino.it)

– CUSTOM furniture.

Its versatility allows the construction of cabinets, bookcases, wall units, and niches…

Really with a bit of imagination, you can do anything!

In the bedroom, for example, it can become an original wall with illuminated niches that will also serve as a support.

Or, if the room is large, you can create a walk-in closet.

Last week I was talking about mansards: drywall would become an incredible ally on that occasion!

Also great for taking advantage of an open understairs!

(credit El mueble)

(credit decor Style)

– fireplace COVERING.

If you have a fireplace in your home, lining it with drywall will give it a contemporary appeal.

If, on the other hand, you do not have it with drywall, it will be possible to put in a bioethanol one, that does not require a chimney, adding charm to the living room.

(credit artheco.it)

(credit michelincaminetti.it)

– creations of small MEZZANINE.

Especially in tiny houses, taking advantage of every inch is really vital.

Creating some small mezzanine in some areas where the ceiling is higher could be convenient for additional storage space!

(credit Cose di casa)

Have you used it yet? Let me know how and where in the comments!

If you have any doubts just contact me!

5 October 2020/2 Comments/by Virginie Simonet

Living in a Mansard: 4 suggestions to furnish it at best!

interior design

How to furnish a mansard?

Living in a mansard has a certain charm because of its unusual shape, but for the same reason, decorating it is not so easy!

Today let’s see together some tips and tricks to make attic rooms comfortable!

Before we get into today’s topic, let’s make a little history: the mansard and this term come from the French word “mansarde,” which in turn comes from the name of the architect François Mansart (1598-1666) who first designed this type of housing.

There are pros and cons to having a mansard room or apartment

Pros:

– it is an original and striking environment because of the sloping ceilings, often with exposed beams;

– thanks to the skylights, it tends to be a bright environment;

– with a bit of imagination, you will be able to find unusual settings not found in “normal” apartments.

Cons:

– it is not easy to find suitable furniture in stores;

– you have to be more careful about the climate and relative temperatures.

The roof is definitely exposed, and the risk is to have a room or house very hot in summer and very cold in winter;

– despite having a large floor plan, it might look small, having areas perhaps not walkable!

With good design, however, these cons can be, if not eliminated, at least curbed!

What makes particular a mansard is the difference in heights within it, which can be very different, making a furnishing project more or less difficult!

(credit fantasticfrank.se)

There are mansards that at their lowest point reach 2 meters and definitely make the task of furnishing it easier.

But there are also mansards that perhaps barely reach a meter in height and complicate things a little.

In this case, figuring out how to furnish the attic flat becomes more complicated but not impossible!

Speaking of heights, I make a very small digression: if you have an attic and would like to make it an apartment, you should know that there are very strict regulations to make that space habitable.

These regulations mainly concern heights (but not only), more precisely, the average height between the highest and the lowest point.

They vary from region to region, so I recommend contacting a technician who can give you the correct guidance!

Back to us, let’s look at some ideas that can help you better understand how to furnish a mansard!

1) CORRECTLY MATCH ROOMS TO HEIGHTS.

That is, put the rooms in the right place!

By this, I mean placing in the highest areas those rooms where you are often standing, like the kitchen or the bathroom.

(credit. architecturebeast.com) (credit arch.Claude Petarlin)

In the lower areas, on the other hand, you can put, for example, the living room (especially the sofa area) or the bedroom…

(credit Westwing) (Christian Schaulin tramite Elle.com)

That may create an irregular floor plan, but, after all, this is another thing that gives charm to this type of housing!

2) USE CUSTOM-MADE FURNITURE

Here more than ever, making the best use of space is vital!

As we have seen among the cons of this type of housing, it will not be easy to find suitable furniture in traditional stores.

Therefore, it will be necessary to create custom-made furniture and carve out cabinets and storage in the lower areas that you could not otherwise exploit!

(credit Archon) (credit vtwonen)

The cons turn into pros because you will have unique and original furniture designed not only for the conformity of the room but precisely for your needs!

3) ATTENTION TO LIGHT

These rooms should be very bright, as always natural light is preferred.

If it is a room, skylights will be okay, but if it is an entire apartment, it is good to have vertical windows and maybe, at least, a small veranda!

(credit Arch. Bartolucci)

That will allow a glimpse of the outside the risk, otherwise is to feel a bit stuffy!

As for artificial lighting, however, some tricks will improve living comfort:

– light from below and above, especially if you have a wooden roof!

– be careful with chandeliers except in the highest areas!

While passing under them without problems, the chandelier is still a bulky element that creates a visual “barrier” that will optically shrink spaces.

Electrified rails, adjustable spotlights, sconces, and LED strips will allow you to bring light where you want it with little clutter.

(credit menzoarchitetto.it)

(if you are interested I talk about lighting in general here)

4) ATTENTION TO COLORS!

If the mansard is very low-lying, the ideal is to use light and bright colors, at least as a base.

That will optically expand the spaces giving more breathing room.

If you want to use it, the color will be good in the furniture, accessories, and textiles.

(credit dodk.net)

On the other hand, if the mansard is high, you can dare a little more by coloring some walls too.

In this case, do it in the brightest parts of the house and avoid too dark colors.

(credit cristinavelani.com)

If you have a wooden ceiling and want to keep it that way, keep more neutral colors for the walls; so you don’t risk weighing the environment down.

You can think of whitewashing the wooden ceiling to give it more breathing room, all or part of it; for example, if you have beams, you can decide to whitewash the battens between the beams while keeping them unchanged.

(credit Architettura & Urbanistica Sigurtà) (credit Living corriere)

These 4 tips are the basics that will help you better understand how to decorate your mansard, but if you have any doubts, don’t hesitate to write in the comments so I can better help you!

I hope the article on how to furnish a mansard was helpful and you loved it; in case, let me know in the comments!

If you need any help just contact me!

28 September 2020/0 Comments/by Virginie Simonet

Open-space kitchen / living room? 7 ideas for optically dividing spaces

interior design

Open-space: ideas for dividing kitchen – living room…

The kitchen and living room are two rooms with quite different functionalities, but are now often seen together in one open-space!

There are pros and cons to having the kitchen and living room in one open space: on the one hand, we have more space, not having dividing walls, brighter rooms, and you definitely increase conviviality because you can talk to guests even while cooking.

On the other hand, the classic clutter in the kitchen, when preparing food, absolutely cannot be hidden, and even all the smells cannot be “enclosed”!

But how do you furnish an open space?

It is a good idea to try to keep, at least optically, these 2 environments separate, emphasizing their different functionalities.

There are at least 7 different ways to create division between these two areas…

Let’s look at them together!

1) USE OF FALSE CEILING and/or PLATFORM

Lowering the ceiling of either area (tends to be better in the kitchen) and perhaps using spotlights will give the impression of an effective division.

You can also do the opposite and decide to raise the kitchen one or two steps: this, too, will divide the two areas.

If the final effective height allows, you may decide to use both the platform and the false ceiling, thus creating two different rooms!

(credit iversonsignaturehomes.com) (credit Paul van de Kooi)

2) THE USE OF COUNTER, ISLAND, OR PENINSULA

If the room is large and spacious, you can place a counter, island, or peninsula (depending on the shape of the kitchen) that delimits the cooking area from the living room.

It will also be super functional as a work surface, and why not as well as a snack table!

In this case, placing the stools so that you sit with your back to the living room looking at the kitchen will emphasize this division even more.

Using lights that “fall” on this top will further help to give the idea of separation!

(credit Aubrie Pick) (credit elmueble.com)

3) PLACE THE SOFA WITH ITS BACK TO THE KITCHEN

The couch placed in this way, so that whoever sits down has his back to the kitchen and looks at the living room will act as a dividing “wall” between the two areas!

Adding a beautiful large rug in front of the couch will, even more, help keep these two spaces optically divided.

If, by chance, the back of the couch is not too visually appealing, you can always put some console table or, even better, a container cabinet, which, in addition to dividing the two rooms, will give more storage space!

Then if the space is tiny, you can lean the couch against the long side of the dining table!

(credit lesh-84.ru)

4) USE OF DIFFERENT FLOORING

Using different colors or materials for the floors of the two areas will give the impression of two divided rooms.

It is always a matter of optical!

Of course, a sharp line separating these two floorings is not mandatory, but the two surfaces can also meet in a playful and “softer” way by playing with different shapes.

(credit dezotti.com)

(credit socooc.com)

5) THE USE OF COLOR

Color is quite an incredible ally!

You may decide, for example, to divide the living room and kitchen by using a different color for the walls.

As with flooring, platform, or fall ceiling tiles, it is a matter of optics: the eye, seeing different colors, perceives different environments!

You can dare by coloring with the same color as the walls, even the ceiling creating a kind of box effect for the kitchen!

(credit Ban architecture)

(credit Melissa DiRenzo/apartmenttherapy.com)

6) USE OF VERTICAL PARTITIONS

Open (that is, bottomless) bookcases can be extraordinary dividing elements.

They, indeed, will delimit spaces, but without totally closing them off, allowing glance and light to pass through.

If there is not enough space for the thickness of a bookcase, you can create different open partitions, using, for example, wooden slats, or creating honeycomb or lattice structures…

The important thing, in this case, is that they are full height and create a visual separation, but not a sharp one: you must be able to glimpse what is on the other side!

(credit roomandboard.com)

(credit casaegiardino.it)

7) USE OF GLAZING

Stained glass windows are a great alternative to divide the living room and kitchen.

They create separation but keep the brightness intact!

They are ideal for those who would have liked two separate rooms because you also have the option of totally and effectively closing off the kitchen!

That will allow you to really have two separate rooms, but without losing all the advantages that open space offers!

(credit fantastic frank)

(credit decorazione.mobelideen.com)

As always, with a bit of caution and balance, you can also create divisions by using two or more of these listed solutions together!

If you have an open space tell me how you furnished it in the comments, I’d love to get to know you better!

Also, write if you are furnishing it and have any doubts, I will be happy to answer you!

I hope this article with ideas for dividing an open-space the kitchen – living room was helpful and you love it; in case, let me know in the comments, and if you like this kind of tips you can find more on my YouTube channel!

Feel free to share it with anyone you think might be interested, I will be honored, and it will help me get my name out there.

If you feel that your home, or some environment of it, does not reflect you enough, do not wait any longer and book your consultancy!

31 August 2020/0 Comments/by Virginie Simonet

Furnished “grandma” house for rent

interior design

Furnished house for rent?

A couple of weeks ago, Lucia (a fictional name) approached me because she had inherited a charming one-bedroom apartment in a semi-central area of her city.

The house was partially furnished, so she had tried to rent it out but couldn’t find a tenant.

To understand it, I went to inspect the apartment myself.

The apartment per sè was pretty, but it had an old, slightly beaten-up sofa, a partially broken chandelier in the living room, and a missing mattress on the bed.

Despite having a beautiful custom-made wardrobe, the apartment could be described as somewhat “neglected.”

THE PRICE MIGHT HAVE BEEN RIGHT BUT…

The rental price considered the favorable location and the fact that no renovations were needed (even the painting was very recent), but not the actual condition of the furnishings.

That meant that those who would have been willing to “settle” for those furnishings might not have been able to afford the rent, while those who had the means certainly didn’t want to pay that amount for an apartment that wasn’t “perfect”!

People are becoming increasingly demanding.

A few years ago, perhaps because there weren’t many options available at the time if you rented a furnished house, you would settle for what was there.

Often, you would find a “grandma’s house” or, perhaps even worse, a mishmash of styles thrown together to clear out homes or basements.

THINGS HAVE CHANGED!

Today, it’s no longer the same.

People want to be able to live in apartments that are perhaps simple but well-maintained in order to feel good!

Often, people looking for furnished houses do so because it’s not their “permanent destination,” and, understandably, buying furniture that may not fit well in another home (in addition to the stress and cost of moving) is not always the preferred choice.

However, as mentioned, they shouldn’t have to sacrifice comfort!

Therefore, offering a better product is a winning decision!

“But then I don’t know who will enter the house; I risk they break everything!”

I often encounter this objection.

It’s self-evident that one can never guarantee for anyone: and there is always this risk.

However, it is also true that the phrase “the beautiful attracts the beautiful” holds some truth.

So, if one finds something nice and comfortable, the tendency is to take care of it.

At the same time, since we never have absolute certainty, we’ll make minimal-cost interventions.

Certainly, expensive designer pieces will not be used (obviously, I’m referring to “normal” accommodations, not luxury ones… the target audience is different there!).

HERE’S WHAT WE DID

That said, Lucia accepted my help to modernize and improve the apartment a bit:

I kept the kitchen but changed the sofa and light fixtures, added a mattress, rearranged things for better functionality, and, together with a colleague, colored the table, chairs, and coffee tables to make them more attractive.

Curtains and decorations were the icing on the cake.

This is the result:

Thanks to the assistance of a competent real estate agent, the apartment was rented out on the first visit, with a slight increase in the rent!!!

Taking care of a rental property means always having a tenant inside and, therefore, receiving income.

If, on the other hand, you don’t make a minimum investment, the risk is to leave it vacant, turning it into just an expense!

So, if you have a furnished house for rent and are struggling to rent it out, don’t waste any more time.

Give it some appeal, and if you need help, you know you can contact me!

17 September 2018/0 Comments/by Simonet Virginie

Posts

The use of this material has several advantages:

Of course, there are some disadvantages, but minimal:

– One of the most common uses is as a FALSE CEILING.

– Use of RIB.

– WALL constructions.

– Construction of DIVISIONS.

– CUSTOM furniture.

– fireplace COVERING.

– creations of small MEZZANINE.

There are pros and cons to having a mansard room or apartment

1) CORRECTLY MATCH ROOMS TO HEIGHTS.

2) USE CUSTOM-MADE FURNITURE

3) ATTENTION TO LIGHT

4) ATTENTION TO COLORS!

1) USE OF FALSE CEILING and/or PLATFORM

2) THE USE OF COUNTER, ISLAND, OR PENINSULA

3) PLACE THE SOFA WITH ITS BACK TO THE KITCHEN

4) USE OF DIFFERENT FLOORING

5) THE USE OF COLOR

6) USE OF VERTICAL PARTITIONS

7) USE OF GLAZING

THE PRICE MIGHT HAVE BEEN RIGHT BUT…

THINGS HAVE CHANGED!

HERE’S WHAT WE DID