Students honoured with interior design awards

Staff Reporter / 2 June 2012

Humaid Mohammed Obaid Al Qattami and Rizwan Sajan (left)presenting the Danube Students Interior Design Award to winners.

Humaid Mohammad Obaid Al Qattami, Minister of Education, presented Danube Students Interior Design Awards to the winners in Dubai on Thursday.
The competition was organised by Danube in partnership with the Association of Professional Interior Designers (APID).
Al Qattami highlighted the importance of interior design in the industry, encouraging students to strive for excellence in their approach. The event also marked the presence of Zarine Khan, Bollywood’s favourite interior decorator.
The Danube-APID Student Interior Design Competition was developed as an adjunct to typical course work, in which students could utilise skills learned through their current academic development in the design of an interior environment with far-reaching appeal. The registration process started in March 2012 inviting post-secondary students from the GCC to apply for the competition.
The inaugural competition awarded 12 winners with total prize money of Dh85,000. The winners were chosen from over 280 entries submitted in the two categories, the Reception Lounge Category and the Display Vitrine Category. The grand winning entry, Group Ad.Infinitum, was rewarded with a cash prize of Dh20,000 and the winners in the CEO’s category, Group AGU, were awarded with a prize of Dh5,000. The competition recognised five winners in each category with special merit awards.  The designs were evaluated on aspects such as functionality, presentation, innovation and usability.
“Interior design in the Middle East is developing at a rapid pace. Launching the competition was part of a move to help boost the region’s interior design industry and also to discover the talent of emerging interior designers. The success has given us the assurance to lay the groundwork for a more exciting and activity-filled second edition of the competition,”said Rizwan Sajan, founder and chairman of Danube Group.
Farida Kamber Al Awadhi, president of the APID, said, “The overall quality of the submissions was of a high standard. The entrants demonstrated a holistic approach to sustainable design that communicates a forward-thinking approach. Each submission featured a unique solution to the ever-evolving concept of interior designing.”— news@khaleejtimes.com

source: http://www.khaleejtimes.com/nation/inside.asp?xfile=/data/educationnation/2012/June/educationnation_June1.xml&section=educationnation

World’s Most Amazing Homes of the Future

Komb House, Airdrop House, Birds Island, Dupli Casa, Shell House, Klein Bottle House, the mobile home MercuryHouseOne and so on are considered to become the homes of the future because of their unique shapes and designs. Let’s have a look at the most amazing futuristic homes in the world through photos as following:

Komb House is a design of architect Karim Rashid, who owns over 3,000 designs currently in production. The most interesting thing about the house is that it features reusable materials, including wood and glass. Besides, it can be taken apart and then put back together again.

Komb House

The Airdrop House is designed in response to the 2004 Indian Ocean tsunami and the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina. These houses used as temporary shelter to survivors at the disaster areas. Do you think that this house will be thehouse of the future?

Airdrop House

Dupli Casa is a three-story house located near Ludwigsburg in Germany. The house used to be named as the world’s most futuristic house design in 2009

This strange house is called Edge House. It was created by Mobius Architects firm in Poland

MercuryHouseOne is a mobile home, which is known for its unique raindrop shape with a thin marble exterior. Besides, the house’s interior is decorated with the most modern lighting, audio and video technologies.

MercuryHouseOne

Living in the house Birds Island, you can enjoy beautiful views outdoors while sitting in the house. The house’s outer “skin” can collect rain water, and harnesses solar energy and wind power.

Birds Island

The shell house, which looks like nothing before, is designed by Japanese architecture firm ARTechnic. Making use of the natural light and interior textures, the house promises to bring you the feeling of living in a dreamy home.

Shell House

The Klein Bottle House in Melbourne, Australia was built as contemporary holiday home with an origami-like twist. The Klein Bottle is built around a courtyard at the center with stairs that connect all floors within the interior.

Klein Bottle House

Living Tomorrow: house of the future

World’s Most Amazing Prison Hotels

Malmaison, Langholmen, Alcatraz and Liberty are some of the most notorious hotels around the world. However, very few can imagine that they previously were frightening fear of prisoners. Let’s discover the list of world's most amazing prison hotels.

Built in 1862 and operating as a prison until 1998, the hotel Jailhotel in Lucerne, Switzerland was ever a prison for over 135 years. Currently, this hotel gives guests a chance to discover “unplugged rooms” mimicking the sparseness of imprisonment. More especially, Barabas, the prison’s old recording room and library suite with a full of the former prison’s books have still been preserved in Jailhotel.

Jailhotel in Lucerne, Switzerland is one of the most fantastic prison hotels in the world

Serving as a penitentiary from 1900 to 1997, Karosta Prison in Liepaja, Latvia was home to deserters, dissenters, rebels, and enemies of Stalin and the Soviet Arm

Langholmen Penal Colony located on Langholmen Island in Stockholm, Sweden was a penal colony for women until 1975

Old Jail Bed and Breakfast in Taylors Falls was the first licensed B&B of Minnesota with wood-burning fireplaces, a lot of sweets, popcorn and fantastic views of the St. Croix River

The Mount Gambier Gaol: Mount Gambier, Australia

The Alcatraz Prison Hote; in Kaiserslautern, Germany has 56 rooms converted from cells. Guests can choose “Comfort Rooms”, “Suites”, or “Cell Rooms” to stay. Moreover, the hotel also provides a Japanese garden and old prisons preserved for curious visitors

The Liberty Hotel, Boston, Massachusetts

San Clemente Palace and Resort, Venice, Italy

Decorated with lush purples, reds, and mahogany, the luxury Malmaison hotel seems to serve for connoisseurs of wine than the vulgar man. There are very few people thinking that it previously was a prison of the Queen Victoria.

Malmaison, Oxford, England, previously Queen Victoria’s jail, is in the top world’s most extraordinary jail hotels

World’s Most Amazing Prison Hotels: Jailhotel in Lucerne, Switzerland

Top Creative Designed-Headboards

When it comes to decorating bedrooms, many people wish to make their rooms look beautiful and special. The main décor of the bedroom is beds. To serve the functional purpose, most of beds have similar shapes and structures. So, how to make each bed distinguished from others besides wall art décor? A bed without a headboard looks incomplete. Thus, a special headboard will make new changes.

Different headboards personalize the beds and bedrooms in an individual fashion. Headboards have many different varieties and styles. They are different from colors, shapes, materials, styles, and price. However, modern and creative headboards are undoubtedly main factors in changing the appearance of a bedroom. The following most creative designed-headboards are recommended.

A vintage shutter headboard makes the bed perfect. However, it is suggested that anyone who wishes to decorate their beds like this should first assess the condition of the shutters before using them in case wooden shutters are rotted badly or have broken or missing baffles.

A vintage shutter headboard makes the bed perfect

The Cocoon Bed is designed by designer Thomas Althaus. The bed is upholstered in a plaid fabric. With simple lines and beautiful unique headboard, the bed makes the room more luxurious

Adele-C presents a wonderful solution for a bed headboard. It has two sheets of material methacrylate with wing shape and pattern of light with soft LED lightning

The Mid-century Gothic headboard

The paint swatch wall is created by Scott Prendergast. It seems that users can add paint swatches as many as they want

Children may like this typography headboard very much

The idea of clever headboard comes from Mystery Science Theater 3000

This headboard looks fantastic. It is made from a single piece of redwood

This adjustable headboard is for those who do not want to stay the same

Discover Jennifer Lopez Romantic Villa

Actress and singer Jennifer Lopez is always famous and beloved for her amazing style, but it seems the Jennifer’s excellent taste doesn’t stop at her fashion style. Jenny definitely knows what she likes in terms ofhouse decorations as the actress tried to give amazing instructions to her California residence’s interior designer. Jennifer Lopez's home looks romance and reflects elegance and shabby chic sophistication. The villa keeps a perfect balance between glamour and classic. The house designer said that Jennifer’s house had “a very romantic streak” and it was tastefully glamorous, like Jennifer herself. Let’s discover Jennifer Lopez romantic villa through photos as follows:

Color plays an important role in home décor. And gray tones seem to dominate the scene inside Jennifer's home and bring the owner a certain vintage feel that calms the spirit

Workman said that Jennifer wanted a modern and streamlined house, but it must retain the sophistication and stylishness

The house features all things that J-Lo needs such as the grace, serenity and personality

The house, therefore, becomes a wonderful relaxation zone for the star and her family members

Jenny has managed to show clear instructions to Michelle Workman, her interior designer to create a romantic homeand the result have been really surprising

The living room in Jennifer’s home looks very stylish as it is decorated with high-end furniture and fabrics. Everything seems to be put in exact places and ready for owners to enjoy their relaxing days.

Inside Jennifer Lopez’s villa

In order to balance the cool colors of the walls, Jennifer Lopez chooses stylish chandeliers that reflect light as well as brass and bronze accessories

If you are looking for a romantic, cozy, elegant and stylish house, Jennifer Lopez's home is definitely a tasteful source

Linon Home Decor Arista Vinyl Arm Chair

Brand Linon 



Click on Image to see price and details!

Vintage meets modern in this superbly comfortable upholstered chair. Substantial,durable padding and a sturdy hardwood frame for long lasting utilization. This chair will surely add an air of sophistication and elegance to virtually any home decor. A functional and artistic addition to your living room,bedroom,or den. The rich black finish frame is complimented by the stunning black PVC fabric.

Indispensable Things to Attract Home Purchasers in 2011

People nowadays tend to buy a house with rooms that can do double duty, a house that includes outdoor living areas, a house that features open kitchen. They are not only interested in a house that has an eligible price but they also want value. They require a house equipped with “green” features such as triple-glazed windows or high-efficiency boilers. They also tend to buy smaller homes, but they want to be able to use every inch of space. If you are planning to sell your house, these tips like those will be indispensable things to attract home purchasers.

Most of purchasers need homes that are well-maintained and have good condition because if they have limited amounts of cash, they can’t do a fix-upper.

Another thing that house purchasers want is the outdoor living areas where place several features such as screened porches, outdoor kitchens and two-way fireplaces. Having this point, your house will be more competitive on the market.

Outdoor living areas

Home purchasers may require “green” features such as triple-glazed windows, high-efficiency boilers or energy-efficient appliances because they always care about the ongoing operating costs of the house.

Home purchasers may require “green” features

Purchasers often like material that looks natural such as granite, which looks like natural stones, or glazed terra-cotta slabs used for countertops

It is no doubt that every buyer likes luxury. It is so great if there is a living space where you can have some tools to get some fun.

The buyers are not only interested in a house that has an eligible price but they also want value. It means that the sellers should repair, update and clean as well as stage in order to make the house special for purchasers.

A clean house is the one that buyers prefer

Along with lower price, home buyers also want to be offered some incentives such as gift cards for new furniture.

One of the most important things in the house is the kitchen. Therefore, it is easy to understand why buyers want to have open kitchens.

Home purchasers nowadays tend to buy smaller homes, but they want to be able to use every inch of space.

Indispensable Things to Attract First Home Buyers and Purchasers in 2011

The 2011 Elle Decor Modern Life Concept House

James Andrew in an Aurelien Gallet interior. Photo by Lars Stephan

The announcement of the Elle Decor Modern Life Concept House had us thoroughly excited, and so we quite promptly set off to the High Line Park area to have a personal look. Elle Decor’s select “Designers to Watch” here are paired with leading modern brands, and we’re happy to report that these young designers came up with some truly stunning interiors—quite forward looking, in fact, while maintaining an appreciative eye to the past. The contrasting aesthetic within is refreshing and, perhaps not surprisingly, well balance—this is an Elle Decor production after all!

I’m pictured (top) in Aurelien Gallet’s super sexy and richly atmospheric interior.

In rather stark contrast, I’m also photographed in a wonderfully ethereal room by Marie Turner.

Detail from the Elle Decor Modern Life Concept House.

Detail of a room by Sara Story whose travel to exotic lands inspires her work.

The EDMLH is only open until June 5th, so do make a point to see it ASAP and be sure to work in a nice stroll along the new extension to the High Line Park!

Oh, and it should be noted that while you are enjoying your visit, your ticket sales go to benefit Housing Works whose dual mission is to end homelessness and AIDS – We here at WIJW have always found the combination of altruism and fine design totally irresistible.

I’m sporting a wild mix of patterns—Gucci white and black window pane plaid silk/cotton jacket, navy linen pin stripe pants, black patent belt and loafers in black, white, and silver leather, Tom Ford shirt in a midnight cotton dotted herringbone print, Yves Saint Laurent silk paisley and camouflage print pocket square, Cartier “Tank Divan” from Raj Tolaram and my fragrance is Creed Imperial Millesime.