Joyce Ford Blog

This apartment in Bucharest, Romania, caught our attention thanks to the ingenious design ideas it puts on display. Discovered by Freshome on Designrulz , the 77 square-meter (828 square-foot) home is filled with light and storage solutions that maximize space. The owners of the apartment, a young couple with a passion for minimalism, embraced the idea of Scandinavian influences in their home. The task was passed on to the architects at CRAFTR , who creatively merged function and refinement in the design process. The living room is captivating to say the least. Your eyes are instantly drawn toward the window, which comes with an inspiring storage system. Moreover, the punctured areas below and above the glass hide away the heater and air conditioning system. The TV unit extends with a small sofa. This complements the dining table, which can expand to welcome more guests. If we’re to talk about other original features of this home, lighting is definitely one of them. In the living

An IKEAHackers reader, dteleki, recently discovered a wonderful YouTube vlogger, Cath of “ The Square To Spare ” and alerted us to her amazing work. Cath’s channel specializes in videos showing how to build dollhouse furniture and accessories. And of course, dolls need IKEA furniture in their homes too. Here are a few that caught our eye. IKEA MICKE desk   IKEA STORA loft bed   IKEA LACK coffee tables   IKEA FINNVARD trestle desk   IKEA MOPPE storage chest   There are also other modernist-style items that are NOT based on IKEA items, but that would harmonize with them in a modernist-style dollhouse:   Miniature industrial modern bookshelf   DIY miniature dining set   Miniature modern bed    There are many other fun videos too. Even a haunted house , in time for today.  My personal favourite is the typewriter , miniature iMac  and violin . Do check out Cath’s channel . Be warned, you’ll be hooked. Photos: The Square to Spare Youtube Channel Great f

Mid-century modern has never been more popular. And that’s because homeowners and renters want a modern style that’s also warm and full of personality. Add mid-century modern elements to your small kitchen design ideas to enlarge and brighten your small space and put fun back into cooking! Small kitchen design ideas and elements Cool, modern and with a touch of whimsy, this small kitchen looks larger than its footprint thanks to the high ceilings. Image: HGTV Let’s review the basics on mid-century design and why it works for a small kitchen: Pastels and bright, vibrant colors add life to a small kitchen by brightening it and giving it a cheerful vibe. The minimalist open space concept of tall ceilings, fewer walls or open shelving makes a small kitchen look larger and removes some of the heaviness dark cabinets can create. Wood adds value and a warm, earthy feel. Fun, quirky retro or vintage accessories and appliances put fun back into a small kitchen design. Check out thes

I like the dark grey cabinet fronts in this kitchen combined with the matt black countertop and the white tiles that continue all the way to the ceiling. The open shelving looks very stylish as well and I like the hanging plant that is placed on the side. Styling by Sandanam, photography by Boukari for  Historiska Hem First seen on Coco Lapine Design

Feste Landscape / Architecture completed the design and implementation of a small floating house on Lake Nisser in Telemark, Norway. The cabin’s total living area is 26 square meters (280 square feet) and is developed on stilts, due to local planning restrictions. “Externally, the walls and roof of the cabin are clad in thermally treated pinewood, creating a precise and expressive design that merges with its surroundings,” the architects said. Gutters and downpipes are integrated into the external walls allowing for clean facades from all points of view. “The micro cabin offers an alternative to the emerging trend in the Norwegian holiday home market of luxury cabins with sprawling footprints,” the architects explained. “We aim to maximize the user’s experience of the lake and the surrounding landscape.” Thanks to wood and glass finishes, the cabin’s interior exudes warmth and light. A massive glazed entryway opens up the kitchen and living room space toward the covered terrace f

  Good morning friends!! I’ve had so many questions lately about how I incorporate essential oils into our home and how to easily eliminate harmful chemicals. Today I wanted to share one way I do both of those things. Homemade Hand Soap. The same way that many of us examine food labels, we should be doing the same for personal care and cleaning products. There are many products out there that contain known toxins. And unfortunately most are very poorly regulated. I’ve realized over the years that it’s my responsibility to do my own research and decide what I choose to use and not use. These are my own personal convictions, maybe you share similar ones or maybe you don’t, that is okay. You do you! If you do then it’s my hope that you find these posts helpful and encouraging as you travel your journey to healthier living. Now I know it can be overwhelming and we certainly can’t avoid things completely. I’ve also come to terms with the fact that this process takes time. And every day

  There’s nothing quite like the soft glow of a candle in the fall and winter months. Candles create warmth and coziness in any space and I almost always have one burning. As much as I love yummy smelling candles I know that some store bought candles are often filled with toxins that are released into the air when burned. I’m always looking for ways to create a safer home for my family with less chemicals. Beeswax is a safe and healthy to burn and isn’t filled with toxins. Plus it has a lovely natural smell. I’ve been buying beeswax candles for a little while now and while it’s easy and convenient to buy them already made, it can get costly especially for someone like me who loves burning candles often. So I decided why not try to make my own? I’m always looking to learn new skills and figured it was worth a shot. I found this “How To” through Pinterest, it was simple and easy to follow! You can most certainly add essential oils to these candles. I opted to leave them out simply b

The LAMPAN lamp is a classic and one of the cheapest table lamp at IKEA. Coming in at a mere $5.99. It recently got a long overdue update — with new colours (gold, silver and blue) and a LED version ($9.99). If it’s still a little plain for you, it’s easy to embellish. Anat of Anenet Studio  used cross stitch and added a pretty flower motif to an otherwise bland lamp shade. Here’s how she did it: *** Materials: IKEA Lampan table lamp – white Cellophane tape Embroidery floss Needle Tools: Drill 1.5mm drill bit Dremel 1. I copied the embroidery pattern on a piece of paper. 2. I attached the pattern to the lamp using cellophane tape . 3. I drilled holes at the four corners of every X of the embroidery pattern. I used a 1.5 mm. drill bit . 4. I gave it a gentle sanding (used my Dremel , but you can do it by hand) to gently scrub off the left over bits from drilling. It sanded it both from the out side and from inside the lampshade. 5. I added the embroidery using