abo design co. » Theme Rooms

The Perfect Home for Book Lovers

admin — Fri, 10 Jul 2009 08:00:19 +0000

Are libraries too boring? Do you crave adventure & intrique inside & outside of your many books? For those of us who need an interesting, unique abode where we can sit back & enjoy our favourite novels, Point Design Studio in Tokyo, has created the perfect solution…an igloo style room to store books. Bookshelves are designed to allow you to grab your books from inside or outside this hut style creation. The design is whimsical, fun, creative and makes me want to spend hours in bed reading, while surrounded by books!

Image courtesy of point-tokyo.jp

Image courtesy of Inhabitots.com

Powder Room

admin — Tue, 21 Apr 2009 20:26:20 +0000

Powder rooms are one of those projects that you can have fun with. It’s a very utilitarian room so I always like to jazz it up and make it more than just a sink & toilet. This is a room for your guests so it’s a great place to make a statement about you & your personal style. Believe me, guests will appreciate a played up room while they sit on the throne contemplating about the people who live in the house. No need to go wild, although you can (powder rooms are forgiving that way), but do dress up your powder rooms with a few interesting accents & accessories.

As for fixtures, consider HOW the room will be used. Will your guests require the full storage that a regular bathroom calls for? Is it just one of those rooms, you pop in and out of or will you be occupying it for extended periods at a time? This will help a lot in the selection of sinks/vanities/seating/toilets. No need to provide tons of storage if you don’t require them. Spend your money where it’s needed & keep the rest for accessories & accents as they will pull the room together. Have fun with tiles & wall treatment. You can splurge a bit here because the space is small enough! There are so many different patterns & finishes that you can really get lost in the selection so be warned! If you are usually an undecided, don’t ask for too many “opinions” from friends or family members; they will just end up pulling you back & forth from one idea to another. Select your fixtures and if you really need help with design then seek a professional to help you pull everything together. It’s a small enough project that you don’t have to pay an arm and a leg for professional services.

Consider art (even the written print). It makes for a more interesting room & you give your guests something to look at. Fresh flowers are always a nice touch. Wouldn’t you want to feel like you’re at a hotel when you’re a guest a friend’s house? Perhaps they would too! Clean accessible linens are a nice touch for that added hotel atmosphere.

Some great examples of powder rooms done well:

Sarah Richardson

Anything but Straight

admin — Fri, 10 Apr 2009 16:00:03 +0000

Once in a while I find myself surprised by amazing talent but rarely do I find myself blown away. Just yesterday, I was blown away. It was the combination of talent and creativity that did it. I don’t want to say too much because the work speak for themself as you will see…Straight Line Designs Inc is a custom furniture design & manufacturing company that is well-known for their signature style & quality work. Their designs are whimsical and unusual. Designs that encourage children (and adults) to explore the limits and go wild with their imagination. They can pretty much custom anything you are willing to pay for. No idea too crazy. Just look at what they’ve already done. Their philosophy: “It’s not what we’ve done; It’s what we are going to do next.” Now that’s innovation that just doesn’t sleep! Enjoy…

Latest design, currently on display @ Vancouver Intl Airport

Sobey dressers

An assortment of crazies

Mrs Pearson

Canned Bench

Wallpaper do's & don'ts

admin — Sat, 21 Mar 2009 04:17:09 +0000

A client is considering wallpaper for an accent wall and recently revealed that a few of her friends have tried to talk her out of it. They think it’s passe and a nightmare to install. It is a nightmare to install if you don’t know what you’re doing. It certainly is not passe. With a plethora of selection for traditional and contempory patterns, it will take you further than paint ever can. There are, however, a few things you to consider before an installation.

Like paint, choose a colour/pattern that is in harmony with the neighboring rooms. However, if you want to make a bold statement, make sure the design is timeless and most importantly you love it: unlike paint, it is costly so choose a pattern you will not grow tired of in a year.

Good wallpaper ranges from $60-$150 per single roll. At those prices, it is recommended that you hire a professional paper hanger & choose a pattern you can live with. A good installer makes a huge difference. It is not as easy as the experts make it look. If it’s off just a smidge you will know and your eyes will zero in on it every time.

Consider lighting. If you are contemplating a textured/metallic pattern, use indirect lighting or you will quickly learn to hate it.

Considering the room you’re installing it in. I don’t recommend using wallpaper in your bathrooms due to the moisture but in a powder room where you’re not dealing with steam it can be stunning and adds a point of interest to what would be an ordinary room.

Powder Room, Brown Design Inc

Don’t substitute your crown moulding for wallpaper borders. Don’t use borders around your windows or doors. Don’t use it to make your painted wall interesting. In fact, don’t use borders period. It is tacky and just doesn’t work.

Consider the furniture in the room. Pairing modern furniture with traditional patterns results in a spectacular space. Your guests will be in awe and wonder who your designer is even though you told them you designed it yourself

Charles Rupert Designs, Victoria BC

Mix patterns but keep your colour scheme simple. Adhering to this rule will balance the space and keep it habitable.

Wallpaper your bedroom! With the right furniture pieces it is very glamourous, intimate and romantic.

House to Home, UK

Mixed Patterns, House to Home, UK

So have fun & know when you need help (before you swipe your credit card hopefully). Here are a few more of my favourite rooms:

Tuxedo ready

Coop Residence, San Francisco

Fit for a Princess

My favourite lime

admin — Tue, 17 Mar 2009 02:24:02 +0000

Spring is definitely on its way…slowly but surely! I was so determined to push it through the door that I wore my lime belt (a very thin one) over grey dress shirt today…and it certainly perked me up! So here’s a list of everything lime to gear you up for the season…Becareful not to get carried away though. Lime does pack a hefty punch so beware of overuse!!!

New Yorker Lime Chair

Lime Striped Giclee Shade Table Lamp

Guacamole Sofa from Vessel

Kiwi Dinnerware from Chintz

Celery Fellini Chaise from Chintz

Schonbek Geometrix Matrix Chandelier

A New Light

admin — Thu, 26 Feb 2009 05:20:58 +0000

My designs tend to be simple, neutral, and classic. This is mainly because I have found that most people have difficulty living in dramatic, powerfully punctuated spaces, regardless of how good it looks on a magazine page. People have to live, entertain, and function in the space day after day and trends come and go. Could you afford to redesign your space annually? If you said yes to that, you are interior designers’ dream client! Kidding aside though, keep your space as neutral as you can bare it and jazz it up with dramatic pieces that won’t break the bank to change up if you want a change but has enough character to add interest to the space. I like to have fun with small items like this chrome (or crystal!) table lamp by Kartell.

It’s fun, it’s different and it has enough character to balance out any design-neutral room. And if you really like to have fun with your designs, envision this in a boudoir with dramatic damask walls in say a black and white scheme.

Nursery room decor for the modern family

admin — Wed, 10 Dec 2008 05:30:29 +0000

A nursery room, for many cultures, is a lost concept. For many families all over the world, the space simply isn’t there for a nursery room. I myself grew up in a culture where the parents would welcome their new baby into their own bedrooms. I didn’t have my own room until my teenage years when my “teenage angst” made me unbearable to live with. (Thanks Sis for putting up with me for as long as you did!)

With today’s modern and smaller families, “nursery” is becoming more a part of new parents’ vocabulary. What shall we do with that extra room? First things first. Safety. You can easily get carried away when decorating (there are so many bedding options afterall) and overlook safety. However adorable those pink Italian Damask Sheeting from Restoration Hardware. Without those Cuddle Plush Bumpers, your baby would not have the padding she needs when she becomes active. Make sure you keep all electrical cords out of reach and out of sight. Area rugs are definitely a plus if you have hardwood floors because at some point the crib will become too small of a playground; it would be nice if they had a floor that is just as soft as their crib, like this Gingham Pink Cotton from KidsDecor.Net. But make sure to use a non skid pad under the rug so it’s not sliding around and posing a potential hazard. You can also purchase safety kits which will have all the items you need to accident proof your baby’s room.

When choosing furniture, keep your eyes on timeless pieces that will age with your child. For example, a lot of cribs now have the option to convert into youth beds. Becareful not to pick designs that will “date” them though. It’s ok to have fun with bedding and toys but for furniture pieces, stick to classic designs.

As for toys, think about how your baby will play with their toy…Holding them up to their faces and possibly into their mouths. So definitely nothing sharp, hard, small-enough-to-swallow, or toxic. Consider the Veggie Crate from Saplings Sustainable Kids Decor. These organic cotton vegetable-shaped toys are safe and will help them to develop positive attitudes towards vegetables. They will also be great when your child is teething.

There are so many things to consider; it is overwhelming how much preparation you need to do when welcoming your new baby. But remember, you have sources all around you. Your mom, sister, friend, co-worker, aunt, gramma, cousin. You are bound to know someone who’s been through it. If you’re really in doubt though, hire a professional and learn a few things from them!

PS. Best of luck to Jacqueline & Michael B, who are expecting their first this January! I have no doubt you will be wonderful parents and may the force be with you on those sleepless nights