The Shiny Trend of Warm Metal in Interior Designing

Lately becoming more of a trend in interior design is the metal mania that swept 2015 off its feet. The use of warm, rich metal hues has moved the industry away from conventional metals, silver, steel, and aluminum. More interior and architectural designs are shifting to the palettes bronze, copper, and most especially, rose gold.

The use of these tones is experiencing a renaissance, as the colors provide an elegant and prestigious feel to homes, hotels, and even offices. Warm metal’s blend of natural elegance and beauty evokes feelings of comfort and amiability.

Image source: mazzeihomes.com.au

Rose gold is quite differentiated from other shades of gold, and it complements a wide mix of earth tones. Copper, meanwhile, provides more of an edgy, industrial feel. Bronze or brass offers resplendence that makes it a quality choice for high-end interiors.

Another trend in interior designing that will see an uptick is bringing nature into the homes. From horticulture-inspired fabrics to living walls, natural materials are ideal for the simplistic yet luxurious designs most homeowners or architects are searching for.

Image source: hgtv.com

This is a perfect avenue for warm metals to sneak its way even more into the interiors as the hues complement wood, stone, or raw concrete materials well, and help bounce light around the room.

Hi there, Scott Jay Abraham here, and I spend most of my time designing home and office interiors. I also love travelling, where I pick up countless lessons along the way, which I can incorporate to the designs I make. For more discussions about my passions, follow this Twitter account.

Mighty waters: Maneuvering through powerful rapids

White water rafting is a high-octane outdoor sport that is almost a constant entry to very adventure seeker’s bucket list. It has become the travel enthusiasts’ (like myself) dream to venture into the majestic outdoors by maneuvering through rough rapids amid wildlife. The following are some of the most majestic destinations that my fellow adventure junkies would wish to explore: 

Image source: siyabona.com

Colorado River, Grand Canyon
Boasting 226 miles of winding ride through Utah and Arizona, this spot is close to perfection. The Colorado River area is known for its splendid view of the Grand Canyon and the thrilling experience its rapids offer. In addition, it has various hiking trails, drylands, ancient Indian ruins, and camping sites that are excellent for weekend getaways. 

Zambezi, Zimbabwe
This 15-mile river is home to Africa’s most invigorating white water rafting ride. A playing field for the expert rafters, the excitement runs from the enormous swells and stirring drops as well as the chance to get a close view of various wildlife such as hippopotamuses and crocodiles. 

Río Pacuaré, Costa Rica
This rafting spot provides diverse classes of rapids which cater to both beginners and experienced adventurers. Aside from this 18-mile journey, Costa Rica also offers breathtaking biodiversity hotspots and serene natural environment. 

Image source: scenicrivertours.com

Noce River, Italy
Offering turbulent waters for the more advanced rafters, this 17-mile ride is one of Europe’s most exhilarating white water rafting sites. Furthermore, a fresh perspective of the snow-capped mountains can be viewed from the relatively remote Val di Sole and the narrow gorges of Mostizzolo. 

Hi there! I'm Scott Jay Abraham. I travel the world to discover some of its hidden wonders. As an industrial interior designer, I also get inspiration for my designs from my adventures. See you on Twitter!

Pretty and Productive: Design Tips for Boring Office Spaces

As an industrial interior designer, I get asked a lot by people who want to make their work spaces look more appealing than the usual white and gray walls that they’re stuck with. While I don’t think offices will allow their employees to paint their walls bright red, there are little details that can be added to the typically boring cubicle or corner that people call their workspace.

Choose colorful desk decorations

This tip is not just for the ladies. Even guys can feel the break in monotony with an electric blue clock or a bright orange pen holder. For me, the key to breaking the spell of boredom with a good color scheme. Prints are also a good way to bring life to a desk or a wall. But for all my friends out there who would like to stick with the industrial gray-white-black color scheme, a lot could be done with those three hues too. Perhaps using monochromatic or metallic desk accessories could make your space stand out.

Image source: Lifehacker.com

Adorn the walls

Putting up a poster or even a small picture of the things you love can change the ambiance of your workspace. To be safe on the side, try pinning all your posters and other items artfully onto a corkboard. When you’re stuck finishing financial reports, it’s good to have some motivation. Being creative with wall notes and decors could also be a good way to boost creativity.

Image source: Buzzfeed.com

These are very basic tips to spruce up an office space. Maybe next time, I’ll tell you more design secrets that can help make your office less uninteresting.

Hi! I’m Scott Jay Abraham. I spend most of my time designing the interiors of homes and offices, but I also manage to secure enough opportunities to travel to places that most people don’t know about. Let’s be friends on Twitter so we can talk travel, sports, and pets.

Workplace Chic: Office Designs to Boost Productivity

Gone are the days when offices look like offices. The dreary, clinical setting has been proven to hinder productivity and concentration rather than foster creativity and efficiency. So, how do you transform your office to boost employee productivity? Here are a few suggestions:

Let employees design their space

Workers tend to work better in familiar spaces. Allowing them to personalize their work stations by adding a picture or two of their families and loved ones or any other trinkets they cherish may help them enjoy their work more. This can lead to better output and increased job satisfaction. 

Image source: infochair.blogspot.com

Add color and textures

Colors and textures can brighten up any space. Certain colors also induce emotions. Meanwhile, color psychology could also affect personnel and determine the mood of the workplace. 

Lighting is important

Natural light is still the best kind of light and according to studies, exposure to it can reduce eye fatigue and promote productivity in the workplace. Artificial lighting can be harsh, so it is a good idea to let natural light into your office by adding more windows to the office area. 

Image source: designcurial.com

Provide mixed spaces

Wide and open areas have been proven distracting in a workplace setup. But providing communal areas where employees can mingle and share ideas with each other is something to consider. Closed meeting rooms are still appropriate, though, for serious business discussions.

Hi, I’m Scott Jay Abraham and I’m an interior designer and travel buff. Visit my blog for design inspirations and travel tips.

Keeping Their Heads in the Game: The Golden State Warriors Making History in NBA

Image source: bleacherreport.net

People thought The Golden State Warriors were at risk of losing their first game this season in NBA when they faced-off with the San Antonio Spurs. When the two teams met for the first time in the regular season, the then “rookie” team Golden State Warriors beat the Spurs by 30 points, ending the game at 90-120.

Image source: nba.com

The last game did not live up to the hype. While the Spurs played well, the Warriors played a notch higher. Curry was great on defense, and was a sharp shooter as well. Fans thought it was because of Duncan’s absence due to a knee injury, but the Warriors did not need to explain a lot about their win because their stats say a lot about how good they played the game.

Just like the Warriors, the Spurs were also undefeated (that is, before the GSW beat them for the first time this season), and won 33 straight games in San Antonio. They have beaten giant teams including the Celtics and the Hawks. Sadly for Spurs fans, the Golden State Warriors were as good as their team—or even better.

Can the Spurs get their crown back? It is hard to say for now, but the Golden State Warriors are showing solid performance—one that is for the books. Truly, the Warriors are making NBA history.

Know more about the Golden State Warriors and other interesting sports facts when you visit this Scott Jay Abraham blog

Decorating an Industrial Design Kitchen: Tips and Tricks

Industrial interior design is all about clean, simple lines, neutral colors, and the use of wood and metal to create an unfinished look to a home.

If your kitchen has exposed structural elements such as beams and ductwork, and unfinished walls, half your job is already done. Without these elements, you can still recreate the look of industrial design in your kitchen by selecting the right kind of home accents, appliances, and furnishing.  

Lighting and fixtures

Industrial design uses metal in cold colors: Think steel and iron, not gold or brass. Choose retro-inspired lighting and smooth steel fixture bodies in modern designs to match your modern industrial kitchen, or aged wood and metal in rustic patinas if you prefer a slightly warmer, more rustic look. Oxidized steel cage ceiling lamps lend a utilitarian air to your kitchen while square bronze wall lamps add light to dark corners.  
 

Image source: houzz.com

Flooring

Concrete floors, polished to a high sheen, are the norm in industrial design. Other great flooring options for industrial kitchens are timber, preferably aged, and stone.

 Counters and counter islands

For counter-tops, choose those made from stainless steel, polished concrete, or wood. Avoid matte or rough materials for counter-tops. While matte ones look nice, they stain more easily.

A burgeoning trend is mobile counter islands. No longer just for restaurant kitchens, wheeled counter islands can be moved to make space when necessary and, depending on their style, can add to a kitchen's industrial look or feel.

Appliances

Stainless steel and paneled appliances do double duty as kitchen equipment and decorative accents.

When decorating an industrial design kitchen, remember that less is more. Too many colors, shapes, and textures can make an industrial design kitchen lose its aesthetic edge.

Hello there, I'm Scott Jay Abraham, a California-based interior designer specializing in industrial design. For related articles, please subscribe to my blog.

The Future Of Interior Design Is In Versatile Furniture

I have always said that design is a reflection of the sensibilities of the society at the moment. Enthusiasts of the industry will see how each era, be it in fashion, architecture, or infrastructure was heavily influenced by what society dictated to be proper at the time. That said, I want to emphasize the growing popularity of versatile furniture, and why I feel that the future of interior design lies in these pieces. 

Image source: assets.coolhunting.com

Today, we are witnessing a rapid growth of technology and business. There are so many startups, so much software, and all of these things emphasize the need for a "now, now, now" kind of thinking. Office and home spaces reflect this by being relatively smaller – although sleeker. This is to accommodate the influx of people moving to the cities. Real estate managers have shifted their focus on building assets vertically instead of laterally. This leaves homeowners and employees with a space that needs to be maximized to its fullest. Thus, versatile furniture is such an amazing invention. 

Whereas our grandparents bought pieces of furniture with only one purpose in mind (e.g. this couch is meant to be a couch, and we can sit or sleep on it), many furniture makers have now developed pieces that have a variety of functions. It is not unusual for a sofa to now be a storage space or be converted into a bed. Versatile furniture, as the name suggests, optimizes space because of its versatility. 

This is why I believe the future of design would be based on these types of furniture. Interior designers cannot expect homeowners to spend so much on typical pieces that would take up too much space in their homes. Furniture that can serve several functions is not only practical but necessary.

I am Scott Jay Abraham, and I work as an independent interior designer. Follow me on Twitter for more design talk.