Gifted Funds As A Down Payment Option – Mortgages

Yes, Vancouver is the most unaffordable housing market in Canada. But determined home buyers are still trying to get their foot in the door, in order to get in before it’s too late and the lowest rung on that ladder is even further out of reach.

 

The average price for all residential properties in Vancouver is $889,100 ($1.5 million if you want a detached home). And if you want to avoid paying mortgage insurance premiums, you need to come up with 20% as a down payment. For the average consumer, it’ll cost more than 20 years to come up with a down payment, according to a report by Generation Squeeze titled “CODE RED: Rethinking Canadian Housing Policy.”

 

Can’t wait that long? You’d better find some family members who are willing to contribute to your housing fund.

 

Shaun Zipursky, a broker with City Wide mortgage services in Vancouver, says that they’re seeing many more gifted funds than they have in years past, particularly for young professionals.

 

“We’re seeing a lot of clients that are coming in with massive amounts of gifts, six-figure gifts,” Zipursky says. “So families are really trying to help out in keeping their kids in the housing market in the areas that they want to be in.”

 

Showing proof and documentation of gifted funds

 

But even if you are getting a gift in order to buy a home in Vancouver, there are some things that you need to know about a gifted down payment.

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4 Tips to Intensify the Benefits of Saunas

Content originally published and Shared from http://perfectbath.com

Saunas are used throughout the world for their health benefits. Below are some tips to intensify the benefits of saunas – read on!

Drink Plenty of Water
Drink 8 to 16 ounces of water before going inside the sauna room, holistic physician Lawrence Wilson recommends in “Sauna Therapy.” During the sauna bath, the body produces a therapeutic sweat that eliminates heavy metals and toxic chemicals, Wilson says. Sauna enthusiasts say that the body can lose about a pint of water during a 20-minute sauna session. Source: LiveStrong

Exercise First
Exercise prior to entering the sauna. Since the sauna promotes circulation of the flow of blood through the body, this will help you recover from joint and muscle soreness from your workout. Plan your use of the sauna on days you rest from exercise. While beneficial in conjunction with exercise, it is claimed that a session of 15-20 minutes will give you a workout equivalent to a brisk walk of 1-2 hours. This is due to an increase in your heart rate which is similar to that which occurs during a brisk walk.  Source: wikiHow

Choose the Right Temperature
The temperature you create inside the sauna is very important in achieving the most beneficial sauna session. Studies show that it’s best to heat the sauna to a temperature between 176 and 194 degrees Fahrenheit. This way, you will feel comfortable inside the sauna, you will not overwhelm your body with too much heat, and you will benefit from all the good effects of the sauna. Source: AllWomenSites

Alternate Temperatures
After about 15 minutes, you better step out of sauna room to cool down your body in air. It is better to jump into a cold pool or lake. Experts say that shocking your body with hot and cold in succession increases the effects of sauna detoxification and increase the blood circulation in your body.
You need not to get your body chilled. When you start feeling cold, you better come back to the sauna room and stay there until you start sweating again. You have to repeat this heating and cooling of your body three to four times for best results. Just be sure not to exceed 45 minutes in total in the sauna room.
When you are finished, cool yourself with fresh air, not cold water, to settle your body temperature. Take a cold bath afterwards to remove any dead skin cells. Source: StepByStep

Contact:
Perfect Bath
Phone: Toll Free 1-866-843-1641
Calgary, Alberta
Email: info@perfectbath.com

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Koch Membranen: A passionate problem solver | Architonic

One early milestone were the buildings for the 1972 Munich Olympic Games. Frei Otto was an ardent nature lover, and much of the technology he saw in nature was incorporated into textile construction and thus also into the products and projects of Koch Membranen. This is how the company’s architectural division began. Design, materials and construction are closely linked to each other, and projects are usually individually developed in Koch Membranen’s own manufacturing plant in close cooperation with the customer. The latter’s wishes are met wherever possible, while keeping in mind the technical and commercial limitations. For external textile structures, coated polyester fabrics and ETFE foils are used alongside mainly silicone- or PTFE-coated glass fabrics. Depending on the application area, a wide variety of structure types can be developed - from simple taut canopies over arch roofs, through multilayer pneumatic constructions, to convertible funnel umbrellas. The resulting structur

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Top 3 Reasons to Use a Steam Shower

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Having a steam shower can be extremely beneficial, not only to your health and body, but also to the value of your home. Here are some of the top 3 reasons to use a steam shower.

Skin Rejuvenation
Steam Therapy keeps you glowing as warm moisture opens your pores, leaving your skin softer and more supple. Steam cleanses and nourishes the skin, leaving it with a healthy glow. It hydrates dry skin. And, hallelujah, it can also aid in the fight against cellulite while boosting your metabolism.
That daily steam indulgence is a natural detox that removes harmful impurities from your body. It can also enhance your breathing, leaving you with an improved sense of tranquility, promoting restful sleep and wellness. Source: MrSteam

Relieves Muscle Stiffness and Pain
The heat of the steam can help relax tight, sore muscles. The hot steam dilates blood vessels, improves circulation and increases blood flow to the muscles. This allows oxygen and nutrients to reach the areas where they are needed, which in turn helps loosen tight muscles and reduce pain.
The steam therapy can also help get rid of the lactic acid build-up in your muscles and thereby reduce soreness.
Steam rooms are often used after intense workouts to help relax tired and painful muscles. According to a 2001 article in the Journal of Strength and Conditioning Research, 20 minutes of moist heat is significantly more effective than 30 seconds of static stretching. Source: Youqueen

Instant Gratification
We’ve talked a lot about the tangible benefits of steam, but we can’t compile a list like this without giving credit to the actual ease, simplicity, and time commitment (or lack thereof) of steaming. Unlike so many other body/soul treatments that require extended involvement and hours of participation, just ONE steam session can inspire tremendous changes to your physical and mental well-being. And that one session can be all of 20 minutes to reinvigorate you from head-to-toe. Source: Thermasol

With an at-home steam shower, you’ll reap the benefits of all of these perks and more.  For more information, contact us now!

Contact:
Perfect Bath
Phone: Toll Free 1-866-843-1641
Calgary, Alberta
Email: info@perfectbath.com

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Jan Kath: Haute couture for the floor | Architonic

<b> In recent years, carpets have enjoyed an amazing comeback. What do you think are the reasons for this?</b> I believe many people secretly prefer carpets, and that this preference is firmly rooted in their subconscious. We have banished the traditional oriental rug used by our parents from the living room and got accustomed to polished concrete or wooden flooring, believing that they suit our lives better. But at some point we have also discovered that this clean ambience lacks warmth and security. With our contemporary designs we have dusted off the image of the carpet and broken with the old way of seeing things. <b> To what extent can architects and designers influence the design of a carpet?</b> We offer 25 collections. Essentially they are suggestions. Planners can determine all parameters such as size, colour, material mix and design themselves according to their own wishes. Almost 90 percent of our carpets are thus manufactured according to individual requirements. <b>

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Skinning up: Old Buildings, New Facades – Part II | Architonic

<b>Lawrence Public Library, Lawrence (Kansas), Gould Evans</b> The library in Lawrence, the sixth-largest city in Kansas, was built in 1972 in the brutalist style by the locally based architects Robertson, Peters, Ericson & Williams. To the west, the site is surrounded by residential development, to the east it adjoins the city centre, and to the south it borders a plaza. The existing building was plagued by problems including an outdated heating and air conditioning system, poor interior orientation, and insufficient daylight. The architects of the Missouri firm Gould Evans were commissioned to modernise and expand the building. Before they began designing, they spoke with residents of the city and users of the building, gathering their wishes for, and expectations of the library building. The designers used this information as the basis for their work. The citizens emphasised the civic importance of the building and suggested that it be established as a new urban focal point. The ar

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Material Tendencies: Marcel Wanders | Architonic

Architonic recently met Marcel Wanders in New York City. No less surprising was his reaction to our question when having to choose one material only. <b>Marcel Wanders:</b> That would be difficult. Basically the only material I am interested in is grey mass – your brain! Because that is the only material which is really making an effect for your experience. I don’t specifically care about stone, wood or plastics. I care about what my work does with my audience and I am really happy to be very free in which material I work with. I always try to use materials that I have never used before. <b>At what point within the design process do you decide in favour of a specific material? What comes first – the shape or the choice of material?</b> Basically every project starts really open because anything is possible. But if you think about the project, you narrow down what is the real opportunity in a situation. It really depends on the clients you work for, the budgets, the place it has to g

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Skinning Up: Old Buildings, New Facades – Part I | Architonic

What’s to be done with a building that has fallen out of favour because it doesn’t meet modern energy-efficiency standards or fit into its surroundings visually? Instead of tearing it down, the current trend calls for remedial action – aesthetic as well as technical – in the form of a new building envelope or a significant intervention in its facades. The projects featured here present a striking symbiosis of old and new. <b>Clara and Robert, Düsseldorf, sop</b> The historic Uhlan Barracks in Düsseldorf’s Derendorf district were built in 1890. To make the former barrack buildings usable as offices, the Düsseldorf architectural firm slapa oberholz pszczulny (sop) has breathed new life into the Wilhelmine-era complex. A central focus of this extensive renovation and expansion was the preservation of the expressive Saarhaus, with its characteristic yellow clinker facade. The architects found the optimal solution to be a new envelope and an addition to the historic building. The result:

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Nimbus: Never without my Roxxane Fly | Architonic

Instead of going to all the trouble of carrying a luminaire and extension cable out onto the terrace or balcony for example, this cableless, battery-powered luminaire by the name of "Roxxane Fly" gives you the unprecedented possibility of taking light where none was previously, or where it was too much effort to install permanent lighting. This luminaire can also be used in dry outdoor areas, especially when not only a strong lighting performance but also an aesthetic solution is required. The battery-powered LED luminaire is available in several discreet or vivid colours and can shine for up to 20 hours. This new type of luminaire from the Stuttgart-based premium light manufacturer has one or two remarkable features: one is the manoeuvrable pivot head, which enables users to direct the light to wherever they wish with just one hand motion; another is the magnetic base that can be attached to any metal object – refrigerator doors, pin boards, anything you can think of. "Roxxane Fly" ca

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3 Tips for Installing a Steam Shower

Content originally published and Shared from http://perfectbath.com

Thinking about recreating the experience at home by turning your ordinary shower stalls into warm, vaporous havens called steam showers? Continue reading to learn about some important tips for installing a steam shower at home.

Steam Generator Installation
After gathering your tools and materials and selecting a steam generator that is right for your home, locate the steam generator and have an electrician install a 240 volt circuit. The unit must be placed in a wide-open area that is above freezing. Shut off the water at the main, and close the valves at the water heater.  Source: DIYNetwork

Waterproofing
Ensure that the room containing the steam shower unit is built from mold resistant drywall, and provides necessary ventilation in order to prevent buildup of moisture in the room. Excess moisture can grow molds, mildews, and other structural damages. A single exhaust fan is sufficient for almost all residential steam shower installations.
Ensure that the electrical supply for the steam shower unit is GFCI protected, due to the proximity of electricity and water in the unit. The size of the line will depend mostly on the size of your steam generator. Typical sizes of steam generators range from 3000 Watt to 6000 Watt. These would require 240 Volt, 40 Amp line, or 30 Amp for smaller steam generators. Electrician services may be needed in this step, in order to prevent electric shocks. Source: wikiHow

Finishes
All finish materials need to be caulked and, if applicable, sealed. There are few limitations on finish material, so long as there is a layer of waterproofing in place and the generators are pumping steam. You can use sheet metals, acrylic panels, tile and stone or slab material if you want a typical shower. Just ensure there are cut-outs around the steam generators and shower hardware. Alternatively, create something completely unique, such as a river-rock pan featuring a 2-foot standing pool with knee-high wall waterfalls and a floating shower platform created out of teak. Accent this type of steam shower with green marble walls and copper-sheet, metal ceilings. The only limit is your budget. Source: HomeGuides

For more tips, contact us here today!

Contact:
Perfect Bath
Phone: Toll Free 1-866-843-1641
Calgary, Alberta
Email: info@perfectbath.com

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On the Tiles: FAP Ceramiche’s Roma collection | Architonic

When in Rome, do as FAP Ceramiche does. The premium Italian ceramic-tile brand’s Roma collection – with its porcelain stoneware floor and wall tiling that faithfully replicates the optical texture and nobility of marble and stone – pays clear homage to the eternal beauty of Italian style, which is known and loved throughout the world. The manufacturer, which has established itself since its founding in 1997 as one of the go-to companies for excellence in Italian tile production, has created with Roma a total design programme, which, through its variety of surfaces, sizes, colours and decorative motifs, provides the opportunity for architects, planners and other specifiers to truly shape bathrooms and other spaces in both contract and residential contexts. The individuality that Roma offers with its six different shades of ‘marble’ – Grafite, Statuario, Calacatta, Imperiale, Petra and Travertino – is amplified by the wide range dimensions that the tiles come in. In terms of flooring,

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Caimi Brevetti at XXI Triennale | Architonic

Caimi Brevetti, founded in 1949, has built its identity relying on research and design. Ten years after the big exhibition “Today is already tomorrow”, Caimi Brevetti is back in Triennale. The company, one of the main manufacturers in the furniture and furniture complements markets, presents at the 21st Triennale in Milano the show “Snowsound by Caimi. Design as you never heard it” with main topic the sound and the importance of a correct acoustic design in public and domestic spaces. The location is interesting as well. It is the “Cavallerizze” a 1800 m2 area which is the outcome of an important restoration work by the National Museum of Science and Technology “Leonardo da Vinci”. Snowsound Technologies by Caimi Brevetti are highly innovative and patented and have gathered the most prestigious international awards while constantly evolving. Unique systems considering both the applied technologies and the idea of sound absorbing elements intended as furniture complements capable of

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Do People Really Care About Feng Shui? Here’s The Truth

 

 

 

What If The House is on a T-Junction?

What If The House Is Facing The Big Street?

What If The House Is Facing North?

What If The House Is Facing South?

 

 

What I’ve learned in the industry is that there are many people out there who care about a property’s Feng Shui.  

What I’ve also learned is that though they care about the Feng Shui, they don’t all care it for the same reason.

Some people care about the Feng Shui because they think the property’s Feng Shui will affect the homeowner’s fortune and such.  They stay away from the property because they consider it “bad luck”.  

Then, when the price is reduced, all of a sudden, a portion of these people say “I want it, I’ll buy it.  I don’t care about Feng Shui…”

So, I learned that many people care about Feng Shui until the price is right.  If the price is right, they’ll throw their Feng Shui beliefs out the door.  Or maybe they’re using Feng Shui as a reason to get a better price on the property.  

I also learned that Feng Shui can be very subjective.  Taiwanese Feng Shui is different from Mainland Chinese Feng Shui which is also different from Hong Kong Feng Shui.  

The post Do People Really Care About Feng Shui? Here’s The Truth appeared first on Gary Wong Realty Vancouver, BC.

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Création Baumann: Calm and serene | Architonic

In addition, some of the fabrics are characterized by additional functions such as dim-out, flame resistance, heat and glare protection. Also possible are specially-made fabrics in custom designs and colours, and thus acoustic solutions that have been precisely tailored to the needs of a project. This is made possible by the unique production depth of the company, which extends from design, through development, to production - all from one source. With over 125 years of know-how and traditionally high quality standards, Création Baumann, based in Langenthal, Switzerland, is now in its fourth generation. Great attention is paid to the steady and innovative development of the products. In the field of acoustic fabrics, for example, a few years ago the company succeeded in developing, using a new yarn and weaving technique, lightweight, transparent and sound-absorbing materials made of Trevira CS. The collection is constantly being expanded, and with 'Primacoustic' and 'Terzacoustic' also

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Christian Fischbacher: Beauty with added value | Architonic

In this area, Christian Fischbacher is expanding its collection to include the ground-breaking innovation ECO FR, a fabric made from the natural materials linen, viscose and cotton that is both flame retardant and biodegradable - a characteristic increasingly in demand. The product is the result of many years of research. Molecular modification of the cellulose ensures that the fabrics are flame-retardant without the addition of chemical additives. ECO FR carbonizes and binds oxygen, and thereby suffocates flames - with no harmful emissions. Regardless of the technical requirements, Christian Fischbacher’s fabrics are created for interiors with personality. Take, for example, the recently-opened Aesop signature store in Munich. There the Munich-based corporate design and architect’s office einszu33 have experimented with contrasts in materiality and structure, as well as with subtle haptic effects. For the wall cladding, the plain velour VISCONTE II was used. The soft velvet surface re

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Carpet Concept: Rethinking spaces | Architonic

More intelligent, more flexible, and greener: Carpet Concept’s specialists create designs that don’t date, so the carpets can be used for a long time. The company’s award-winning Hem woven-carpet collection, for example, was developed together with Ben van Berkel/UNStudio. The numerous colour variations are inspired by landscapes and offer wide-ranging possibilities for textile interior design. Carpet Concept’s latest product is a woven carpet with a surprising ‘Qutfit’. The idea behind Eco Iqu was to create a woven carpet with a very fine structure - suiting material for the floor as it were. The result is a material innovation with two different facets: a product with a fine structure as ‘couture for the office’, and a ‘rougher craftsman’s look’ as a strong counterpart. In each case, Eco Iqu has underlying parameters that every company will appreciate: the floor rounds off the architectural outfit, saves money, and thanks to efficient yarn use achieves a good ecological balance. An a

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Curves Ahead: Erik Bagger | Architonic

Danish-born Erik Bagger might have trained as a goldsmith, but in 2014 he successfully switched to furniture design on co-founding the company Erik Bagger Furniture with his Brazilian wife, Caroline. That this turned out to be a seamless career move shouldn’t come as a surprise. After all, Erik was able to apply his considerable skill at working on a miniature scale to designing the beautifully detailed, finely crafted pieces — from lounge chairs to dining tables — which he now creates with his other half. What’s more, the new venture was partly inspired by Erik’s long-standing passion for sketching furniture. As for Caroline, she has a deep-rooted interest in design, thanks in no small part to her own creative background: her mother is a designer and Caroline studied architecture and design in Brazil, finally gaining a degree in design. Erik, too, built up his design expertise from an early age. In 1972, renowned Danish metalware brand Georg Jensen took him on as a goldsmith. During h

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4 Benefits of Steam Showers

Content originally published and Shared from http://perfectbath.com

Steam therapy provides not just physical but also mental and emotional benefits, which can drastically improve your holistic well-being. Read on to learn more about the benefits of steam showers, including: detoxification, relaxation, skin care and increased circulation.

Below are 4 benefits of steam showers:

Detoxification
Steam shower bath has health benefits like strengthening your defense mechanisms and improving your overall skin condition. Sinus issues and breathing problems can certainly be helped with steam baths. Many ancient cultures believed that a fever could cure anything. They used steam baths for the function of creating a mock fever. Toxins are released from your body once you sweat. Releasing these toxins can be quite good for one’s health. The heat from steam baths can also soothe aching muscles. Source: SlideShare

Relaxation
Over the centuries, steam therapy has been used to encourage relaxation and foster a sense of wellbeing. Though feelings of serenity and peace are subjective-and therefore hard to measure in a clinical setting-it is well accepted throughout the disciplines that most individuals enjoying a steam bath for 10-15 minutes find themselves in a pleasant state of relaxation. With significant evidence linking stress and anxiety to hundreds of ailments and disorders, any method to reduce everyday stress should be welcomed with open arms. It is, perhaps, this anxiety-reducing effect of steam that is its greatest benefit. Source:  WaSauna

Skin Care
Steam is often used for skin care because it opens pores and allows you to perspire freely. According to Green Planet, steam is an effective home remedy for cleansing your skin. Twenty minutes of steam, once a week, is enough to reduce blemishes such as pimples and blackheads. Steam also works as a preparation for shaving by softening hair and reducing razor burn. Source:  LiveStrong

Increased Circulation
Steam showers are an excellent way to naturally boost circulation throughout the body. Increased circulation brings more oxygen to cells and decreases the risk of hypertension and hardened arteries, and it increases muscle function. Increased circulation also means more blood flowing through the heart, which helps combat fatigue and exhaustion. Source:  OverStock

Want a great way to enjoy all of these benefits in your own home? Call us now or email us here to install your very own steam shower.

 

Contact:
Perfect Bath
Phone: Toll Free 1-866-843-1641
Calgary, Alberta
Email: info@perfectbath.com

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Christian Fischbacher: Beauty with added value | Architonic

In this area, Christian Fischbacher is expanding its collection to include the ground-breaking innovation ECO FR, a fabric made from the natural materials linen, viscose and cotton that is both flame retardant and biodegradable - a characteristic increasingly in demand. The product is the result of many years of research. Molecular modification of the cellulose ensures that the fabrics are flame-retardant without the addition of chemical additives. ECO FR carbonizes and binds oxygen, and thereby suffocates flames - with no harmful emissions. Regardless of the technical requirements, Christian Fischbacher’s fabrics are created for interiors with personality. Take, for example, the recently-opened Aesop signature store in Munich. There the Munich-based corporate design and architect’s office einszu33 have experimented with contrasts in materiality and structure, as well as with subtle haptic effects. For the wall cladding, the plain velour VISCONTE II was used. The soft velvet surface re

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Carpet Concept: Rethinking spaces | Architonic

More intelligent, more flexible, and greener: Carpet Concept’s specialists create designs that don’t date, so the carpets can be used for a long time. The company’s award-winning Hem woven-carpet collection, for example, was developed together with Ben van Berkel/UNStudio. The numerous colour variations are inspired by landscapes and offer wide-ranging possibilities for textile interior design. Carpet Concept’s latest product is a woven carpet with a surprising ‘Qutfit’. The idea behind Eco Iqu was to create a woven carpet with a very fine structure - suiting material for the floor as it were. The result is a material innovation with two different facets: a product with a fine structure as ‘couture for the office’, and a ‘rougher craftsman’s look’ as a strong counterpart. In each case, Eco Iqu has underlying parameters that every company will appreciate: the floor rounds off the architectural outfit, saves money, and thanks to efficient yarn use achieves a good ecological balance. An a

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Anker: Creativity out of tradition | Architonic

In the German Bundestag, the Federal Chancellery, numerous ministries, many financial-services sector public buildings, hotels and office buildings, as well as in countless other prominent buildings, visitors' attention is immediately drawn downwards to the ANKER carpeting. And not only there, because the manufacturer also produces specially woven carpets for most airlines including Lufthansa and Emirates. In this demanding sector, ANKER is one of the few international suppliers that can meet the high quality and safety requirements of the airline business. Its range of products extends from classically woven fabrics, through modern patterned tufting items, to a large array of carpet tiles and rugs. Among its most famous products is the interior classic PERLON RIPS. Developed in 1959 as the original textile floor-covering, it has long since attained worldwide recognition and continues to be entirely produced by ANKER today. The unique weaving of the carpet, its compact structure and th

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Why Making Offers On Overpriced Homes Can Land You A Deal

 

 

 

Everyone Goes For The Low Priced Listings 

I’ve Never Heard Of Those Interested In The Overpriced Ones

Until…

 

 

From my experience, the lowest priced listings always get tonnes of action.  Many low priced listings even receive multiple offers and sell for more than asking price.  

Although I help my clients look for the lowest priced homes, there are times when I tell my clients to consider the overpriced listings.  It’s completely contradictory and unconventional wisdom.

 

So, why do you give them that advice?

 

There are times when I’ve seen overpriced listings that have sat on the market for a long time, all of a sudden sell for below market value.  So how did that happen?  

I thought about it for some quite time and started thinking in the shoes of the seller.  

If I was the seller and I haven’t been getting showings or receiving offers on my property for a long time (probably because it’s priced too high), I may be more understanding if someone came and gave me a lowball offer.  I may start to doubt my pricing strategy and convince myself saying, “well, it’s a lowball, but since I haven’t been getting much action, I’ll work with this offer…”

And before I know it, I end up taking a lower offer than I had originally thought of.  

The post Why Making Offers On Overpriced Homes Can Land You A Deal appeared first on Gary Wong Realty Vancouver, BC.

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Christian Fischbacher: Beauty with added value | Architonic

In this area, Christian Fischbacher is expanding its collection to include the ground-breaking innovation ECO FR, a fabric made from the natural materials linen, viscose and cotton that is both flame retardant and biodegradable - a characteristic increasingly in demand. The product is the result of many years of research. Molecular modification of the cellulose ensures that the fabrics are flame-retardant without the addition of chemical additives. ECO FR carbonizes and binds oxygen, and thereby suffocates flames - with no harmful emissions. Regardless of the technical requirements, Christian Fischbacher’s fabrics are created for interiors with personality. Take, for example, the recently-opened Aesop signature store in Munich. There the Munich-based corporate design and architect’s office einszu33 have experimented with contrasts in materiality and structure, as well as with subtle haptic effects. For the wall cladding, the plain velour VISCONTE II was used. The soft velvet surface re

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Carpet Concept: Rethinking spaces | Architonic

More intelligent, more flexible, and greener: Carpet Concept’s specialists create designs that don’t date, so the carpets can be used for a long time. The company’s award-winning Hem woven-carpet collection, for example, was developed together with Ben van Berkel/UNStudio. The numerous colour variations are inspired by landscapes and offer wide-ranging possibilities for textile interior design. Carpet Concept’s latest product is a woven carpet with a surprising ‘Qutfit’. The idea behind Eco Iqu was to create a woven carpet with a very fine structure - suiting material for the floor as it were. The result is a material innovation with two different facets: a product with a fine structure as ‘couture for the office’, and a ‘rougher craftsman’s look’ as a strong counterpart. In each case, Eco Iqu has underlying parameters that every company will appreciate: the floor rounds off the architectural outfit, saves money, and thanks to efficient yarn use achieves a good ecological balance. An a

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Anker: Creativity out of tradition | Architonic

In the German Bundestag, the Federal Chancellery, numerous ministries, many financial-services sector public buildings, hotels and office buildings, as well as in countless other prominent buildings, visitors' attention is immediately drawn downwards to the ANKER carpeting. And not only there, because the manufacturer also produces specially woven carpets for most airlines including Lufthansa and Emirates. In this demanding sector, ANKER is one of the few international suppliers that can meet the high quality and safety requirements of the airline business. Its range of products extends from classically woven fabrics, through modern patterned tufting items, to a large array of carpet tiles and rugs. Among its most famous products is the interior classic PERLON RIPS. Developed in 1959 as the original textile floor-covering, it has long since attained worldwide recognition and continues to be entirely produced by ANKER today. The unique weaving of the carpet, its compact structure and th

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Campfire Stories | Architonic

“Scotland is wet,” says Bart Leenders. This may, as the locals say, be stating the bleeding obvious, but this man truly knows what it means to be out in the wiles without waterproofs. Not quite up the proverbial creek without a paddle, this self-confessed outward-bounder and seasoned bushcrafter – who also happens to be managing director, as well as poster boy, of premium woodburning-stove manufacturer Harrie Leenders – hits Mother Nature and hard when things get hard business-wise. It’s here, throwing caution to the wind (and other elements) he finds inspiration, renewed energy, as well as himself again. “It’s my therapy,” Bart says, with a refreshing candour that anyone who knows the man knows well. “It’s like pressing a reset button. It all started when I hit a point where I really needed to take time out. So I decided to go into the Scottish glens with a colleague and some friends.” Torrential rain, fire-making, survival techniques. You get the picture. “For a long time, it felt li

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MOSA: A day in the life | Architonic

These films are set to inform, attract and engage its viewers. It revels in the powerful bond between Mosa and the international architecture scene, a building and its materials and, ultimately, the fascinating worlds of design and manufacturing. Dutch ceramic surface specialist Mosa celebrates its on-going commitment to supreme design quality, functionality and sustainability with these bespoke films dedicated to the art, science and pure joy of designing with tiles. Testimonials from five acclaimed architects and designers feature prominently in the film, underlining Mosa’s strong connection with the creative world. The company’s pledge to support professionals in the best possible way is one of Mosa’s core values and this comes through loud and clear with the presence of the film’s key contributors – which include French designer Stéphane Parmentier, Alex Wraight of London-based architects Allies and Morrison, Christina Köpf and Philipp Heitsch of German design practice Designliga,

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Rethinking spaces | Architonic

Carpet Concept’s latest product is a woven carpet with a surprising ‘Qutfit’. The idea behind Eco Iqu was to create a woven carpet with a very fine structure - suiting material for the floor as it were. The result is a material innovation with two different facets: a product with a fine structure as ‘couture for the office’, and a ‘rougher craftsman’s look’ as a strong counterpart. In each case, Eco Iqu has underlying parameters that every company will appreciate: the floor rounds off the architectural outfit, saves money, and thanks to efficient yarn use achieves a good ecological balance. An acoustically-effective version is also available for productive silence in the office. Office-sector requirements are nowadays as diverse as the working world itself, and include a desire for zoning, common and individual retreat areas. Using acoustically-effective CAS Carpets on floors, CAS Objects on the walls and ceilings, and the flexible modules of CAS Rooms, spaces can be repeatedly redefin

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Creativity out of tradition | Architonic

In the German Bundestag, the Federal Chancellery, numerous ministries, many financial-services sector public buildings, hotels and office buildings, as well as in countless other prominent buildings, visitors' attention is immediately drawn downwards to the ANKER carpeting. And not only there, because the manufacturer also produces specially woven carpets for most airlines including Lufthansa and Emirates. In this demanding sector, ANKER is one of the few international suppliers that can meet the high quality and safety requirements of the airline business. Its range of products extends from classically woven fabrics, through modern patterned tufting items, to a large array of carpet tiles and rugs. Among its most famous products is the interior classic PERLON RIPS. Developed in 1959 as the original textile floor-covering, it has long since attained worldwide recognition and continues to be entirely produced by ANKER today. The unique weaving of the carpet, its compact structure and th

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5 Tips for Remodeling a Small Bathroom

Content originally published and Shared from http://perfectbath.com

Remodeling a bathroom with a small footprint is more difficult to do well than bigger bathrooms. A small bathroom is easily overwhelmed with busy designs and clutter. The smaller the space the more important it is that all the design elements work together seamlessly. Here are five tips for getting the most out of your small bathroom.

1. Maximize Storage

Nothing makes a small space feel more claustrophobic than clutter and mess. When designing your bathroom, make sure to include plenty of storage space.

• Euro style vanities combine the small footprint of a pedestal sink but still offer plenty of under sink storage.
• Wall cabinets or shelves can make good use of the often neglected space above the toilet or in a corner.
• Recessed shelves in the shower can be built between the wall studs and provide a dedicated place for body wash and shampoo.

2. Brighten Things Up

Good lighting in the bathroom isn’t just about getting a good shave or applying makeup; the right lightscape can make the room feel bigger.

• Vanity lighting needs to be bright enough to catch that stray whisker or smudge, but not so harsh that it casts shadows.
• Overhead lights should be bright enough for most tasks. The ambient lighting should also brighten up the shower so that there aren’t any dark corners.

3. Consider Scale

Just like any other room in the house, bathrooms require attention to their decor’s proportions.

• Larger tiles minimize grout lines and can trick the eye into seeing more open space.
• Smaller fixtures not only take up less floor space, but combined with larger tiles they emphasize the impression of open space.

4. Keep It Simple

The smaller a space is, the more impact each design element has. Adding too many elements risks overwhelming the room.

• Monochrome rooms with minimal contrast feel open and airy.
• Repeating shapes or colors keep the eye moving round the room and make the bathroom feel cohesive. Try echoing a square cabinet handle with square wall tiles and angular fixtures or repeating the color of the accent tiles in the towels and soap dispenser.

5. Use Mirrors and Glass

The extra light opens up the bathroom and extend the field of vision.

• An oversized mirror above the vanity not only visually expands the space, it also adds a high end touch. A large framed mirror adds polish to a small bathroom.
• Glass shower doors instead of a shower curtain opens up the room and allows more light in the shower. The glass doors can also be outfitted with sleek towel bars for a tidy place to hang towels.
• Sliding shower doors are useful in smaller bathrooms when there just isn’t the floor space for a swinging door.

Small bathrooms offer unique remodeling challenges, but the end result is well worth the effort.

 

Contributed by: Aaron Gruenke author and foremost expert on bathroom fixtures and bathroom design. Aaron is a writer for Perfectbath.com and other online and offline venues.

 

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