A chat with Delhi-based designer & owner of brand La Kairos. 

Jacquin: Thank you Shreya for allowing Interiors by Jacquin a peek into your home! How would you describe the style of your bedroom decor? How does your home’s decor reflect your own personal style?

Shreya: It’s my pleasure to invite you and your readers into a place that’s essentially a sanctuary for all things me. My bedroom is basically the 16-year-old ME’s space exuding romantic, subtle, comfortable chic farm style. It draws from a modern English country look with a whimsical farm-living feel to it. I have always adored things that are classic and timeless in a stark contrast to the trendy. All the furniture in my bedroom is crafted from Indonesian mahogany with a clean white matte-finish accented with gorgeous matte-finished metallic knobs.

Signifying our family’s lineage and heritage; the ‘Crest’ features hand-embroidered initials inscribed within each crest – a celebration of each individual and each pair in the family tree. Each family is a circle of ‘Strength’ and of ‘Love’. And with every birth and union, this circle grows. With this collection, we celebrate love, heritage, strength, respect and power for each and every family around the world.  

Jacquin: How did you come up with your brand’s name La Kairos? How have your travels across Europe influenced your brand? 

Shreya: My mum’s been an avid reader since her childhood, which comes alive beautifully in the form of three vast libraries located around our house. They’re home to a score of titles, one of which is called ‘Simplicity’ – which caught my eye during the whole thinking process of exploring possible brand names. The book is a classic by the world-renowned writer and philosopher Edward de Bono. It speaks about making the complicated, simple – brought to life through Greek mythology where the world is divided into ‘Kairos’ and ‘Chronos’.

Drawing meaning from its essence is what absorbed my attention. I instantly connected with ‘Kairos’ – a greek word defined as transcendence, infinity, reverence, joy, passion and love, the ethereal, the sacred. Kairos comes alive as intimacy with the real. Kairos is time at her best. Kairos is to be happy at home. Kairos is spirit’s time. And that’s that, really!

Jacquin: What motivated you to launch your home decor brand, La Kairos?

Shreya: Here’s taking a trip back in time: I think it is deeply rooted in my childhood. My grandmother would spend her time knitting, crocheting and creating beautiful hand embroideries at home. Something, that truly inspired me to learn some of those gorgeous techniques from her, which are so significant of our Indian culture and who we are. Whether it was the hand-embroidered depictions of the tales of the Ramayana (An ancient Indian epic) brought alive on a sari border in cross-stitch or the illustrations of native flowers embroidered onto tea napkins. She introduced me to the art of hand crafting pieces of décor – an art form I slowly realized was diminishing given the mass production of goods taking over every industry.

Earlier on, when you bought something it would last you a lifetime because its quality and workmanship was just ‘on-point’, where you would hand down those special pieces onto the next generation. I wanted to create the same level of products and tell stories through them whilst keeping the hand artistry and sustainability as my focus.

Jacquin: I know you lived in London for a few years. How have your travels across Europe influenced your brand? 

Shreya: Europe is a place where whichever city you visit, you experience a very homegrown attitude of the people, rooted in their culture and traditions. It truly inspires one to strive for originality and to be a reflection of one’s true self – an influence that travelling around Europe brought about in me. Being rooted in Indian arts and culture while bringing about an aspect of innovation/originality is what I have always strived to bring about in the work we have done so far and continue to do at La Kairos.

Europe also indulged my love for history of art, architecture and the confluence of many other disciplines. My love and absolute admiration for Antonio Gaudi to Rembrandt, Michelangelo to Vincent Van Gogh was realized during these very travels. The masterpieces and stories of their lives continue to inspire me in every sphere of my work today artistically and also intellectually. 

Jacquin: How has your experience been as entrepreneur so far? What has been most difficult? What has been most exciting?

Shreya: It’s really been a fascinating journey so far. Manufacturing in India has its rewards and its challenges – a fact that I experience through its fragmented textile market. A constant fluctuation of raw material prices keeps us on our toes. The irregular supply of quality raw materials and skilled craftsmen is contrasted by some really exciting international and national collaborations whether it be interior designers, architects or artists from around the world. What has been most memorable is getting the opportunity to interact with fabulous people, artists and drawing from their experiences, this is a part of the journey I have truly grown to love. What’s really unnerving and exciting at the same time is letting go of mental blocks and truly seeking what I wish to bring to this world. And of course creating and being able to bring art into home textiles with the amazing craftsmen in India has been spectacular.

Jacquin: For our readers with trips to Delhi coming up, what is your go-to shop in Delhi for fashion accessories? For vintage home furnishings?

Shreya: Must visits for me are Ogaan in Haus Khas Village and Ensemble at the Emporio. Some of my most unusual finds have been in shops dotting Shahpur Jat; an urban village crowded with upcoming fashion and accessory designers, promising something for everyone. If you’re seeking accessories and souvenirs with some fun bargains attached, the quintessential Janpath street market located in the heart of Delhi is a great place to visit. Some of my most interesting finds here include fashion accessories, quirky décor objects and some really unique handmade vintage fabrics – love at first sight. I highly recommend this market as it gives you a real taste of what an Indian street market feels like surrounded by a capital cityscape.

When it comes to furniture, some say that it was made better 100 years ago, but there are still quality furniture companies out there making furniture in the traditional way, creating heirloom quality pieces for the masses. If you are officially over quickly made, temporary furniture then you’ll want to consider furniture company Kisabeth, based in Forth Worth, Texas.

This company has showrooms in Dallas, TX and cities across the U.S. and they recently took me on a tour of their Fort Worth factory location. I was greeted by Kisabeth team members Laurel McEuren and Alan Novikoff, both of which are very knowledgeable on the important details of furniture construction & design. Watch the video of my factory tour experience at the end of this blog post.

While touring the Kisabeth factory I gained a real sense of just how Kisabeth has managed to create heirloom quality furniture as a standard over the last 60+ years. It seems the secret is extreme attention to detail, handmade craftsmanship, and using time-tested traditional furniture making skills just like 100 years ago. 

As I entered the factory’s large workshop space, I braced for loud noises and a busy, chaotic environment, but I was pleasantly surprised by the calm and focused workspace. Each of Kisabeth’s highly skilled craftsmen works at a moderate pace, careful not to rush the manufacturing and assembly process. Their factory equipment combines the best of old-world furniture techniques and modern technology. 
If you’re curious about exactly what Kisabeth can offer you as a furniture company, the answer is, the sky is the limit! Kisabeth’s custom furniture creation means that if you can dream it, they can create it. If you’re not quite ready to mastermind a fully custom furniture shape, that’s ok too! Kisabeth offers an extensive catalog of base furniture shapes that can be customized with one of their fabric selections, or you can even bring your own special fabric with you for upholstery. 

One surprising thing I learned during my visit to Kisabeth is that they are committed to reusing and recylcling. Kisabeth goes through quite a lot of wood and fabric during the course of their services and this often leads to a ton of scraps. Instead of throwing away their material scraps, Kisbeth has thought of two great ways to reuse and recycle these extra materials.

For the wood, Kisabeth has created custom wall installations with scrap wood blocks that become a work of wall art on thier own (see above example). For the textiles, Kisabeth has created a range of tote bags with their leftover heavy-weight fabrics, using scrap leather trim for the handles. Below you’ll see a photo of the very tote bag Kisabeth gifted me during my factory visit. Thank you Kisabeth!

The custom nature of Kisabeth’s furniture allows them to offer you a range of solutions for your decor needs. Kisabeth can create custom banquette seating like shown above, or beautifully tufted furniture accents to fit your own specific space. Kisabeth is also very experience at meeting the furniture and seating needs for commercial spaces, as well.

Kisabeth is a design lovers one-stop-shop for custom furniture!

INTERIORS BY JACQUIN VISITS THE KISABETH FACTORY VIDEO:

Happy Weekend everyone! We’re back with a new Fashion meets Interiors feature to inspire you today with an outfit styled by Julie Pratz of Studio Seven Style! Julie Pratz is a self-described fashion psychologist and personal stylist who is committed to transforming wardrobes and enhancing confidence from the inside out.  Her company, Studio Seven Style, helps give her clients the tools to make fashion fun instead of frustrating.

She has spent the last ten years building relationships and is most passionate about the work she is doing to empower people to look and feel their best. As a previous fitness trainer turned image consultant, Julie has a developed a unique perspective when it comes to fashion and style. Influenced by art, architecture and nature, she aspires to help people reflect who they are designed to be while standing out in the crowd. Today Julie has styled model Valencia Roy in an outfit to match this stunning space and her personal style. Read on as Julie describes her inspiration for completing this Fashion meets Interiors look. 

I would define my personal style is California chic: warm, modern and alluring with a splash of rock and roll.  The pink dress was inspired by the beautiful rug.  I love that both items are elegant but still have a warm and comfortable feeling. The navy chair inspired the blue metallic jacket because both have a bit of sheen and are structured in form but luxurious in appearance.

My favorite part of any outfit is the accessories. This is where you can transform your outfit and take it from drab to fabulous! Accessories for an outfit are like the art on the wall in an interior space, they should be both very personal and unique.

I selected the long gold modern Vita Fede earrings to mirror the long lean legs of the table and the gold frames on the art. I chose an eclectic mix of bracelets to reflect the modern and eclectic feel of the room. The Matthew Campbell (MCL) blue topaz bracelet has similar color and shapes as the blue rectangles on the back wall. The leather and stone bracelet was inspired from the pictures of the bull and matador as well as the horns on the table.  The white and gold alligator cuff had a strong contemporary feel which I connected with the white couch and gold side table. 

The MCL necklace tied the darker metallic blue with the lighter blue and created a connection and focal point as the chair does for the wall. The cowhide tote mirrored the pillow on the chair and I paired it with the bright white handbag to give my models outfit a more layered look. The chic white Fendi handbag reminded me of the lamp with the scalloped edges and modern retro look. Last but not least- the shoes. The bronze shoes by Malone were inspired by the bronze table with dark linear legs. The table and the shoes connect in color and line and design: both have structure and curves which translate as modern yet feminine. Overall this interiors space and the outfit reflect my personal style: warm, modern, alluring, fun, elegant with a touch of edge. 

SHOP THE LOOK! 

• Pink Dress – Trina Turk
• Blue Jacket – Tahari
• Metallic Shoes – Malone
• Long Gold Earrings – Vita Fede
• Blue Topaz Necklace & Bracelet – Matthew Campbell MCL for Tootsies
• Black Leather Bracelet – Vincent Peach
• White & Gold Bracelet – Christa Sabathi
• Cowhide Tote Bag – Oliveve
• White Handbag – Fendi

Model: Valencia Roy / Photographer: John Smith, Blacksmith Photography / Stylist: Julie Pratz, Studio Seven Style / Location:  Tootsies, Houston

Today we head to Milan, Italy to interview artist & designer Lora Nikolova  about her uniquely abstract jewelry collections. Lora is a fine art jewelry designer who creates exquisite works of wearable art like nothing  you have ever seen before. Each piece is inspired by abstract design, found objects, and bold colors. Lora’s goal is to inspire women to adorn themselves with bold works of art as a way to stand out and express themselves with jewelry. Read on to see our interview with this innovative European designer.  

 

Jacquin: You have had such an interesting career Lora! From beginning in theater & film set design during your studies, how did you get started in fine-art jewelry design?

Lora: Since my early childhood I started experimenting with polymer clay (fimo) creating different kinds of forms and shapes, as well as brooches and beads for necklaces. As a child, I had a special interest and need to interact with arts and crafts in general. This led me to study textile design at the School of Applied Arts. I had the opportunity to develop my sense of color and drawing skills, as well as deepen my art history knowledge. I also had the chance to study set design at the National Academy of Arts Sofia in Bulgaria, where I earned a master’s degree in set design for cinema and television in the National Academy of Arts Brera in Milan. I acquired many new artistic skills there, all of which helped me to develop my own abstract style.

Throughout my school studies at the Academy, along with various work experiences in set & costume design, fashion, and photography, I was always tempted and inspired to create imaginative jewelry. When seeing a woman wearing an ordinary necklace, I often imagined what it would be like to re-create their necklace and transform it into a crazy and abstract piece of jewelry; something beyond the boundaries of the normal, like a work of art to be worn.

 

Jacquin: What is it about creating jewelry that you connected with?

Lora: Jewelry making combined many of my artistic interests and studies – mixing colors and patterns, applying my drawing skills, paper creativity, decoration, and fine art. This artistic heritage helped me create my own abstract style. In a way, I apply this style on the body which literally becomes a “set” (a scene) where I have the ability to create the design for an abstract screenplay, a composition which tells a story through colors and forms. Eventually it transforms into a wearable art object. The jewelry I design and make is the most significant way to give expression to my creativity, which comes from within.

Jacquin: How has your experience been as a woman entrepreneur building your creative business? What or who has been most helpful to you during your journey as an artist entrepreneur? 

Lora: Being a woman entrepreneur is not an easy job actually, I admit that I have not yet built my business completely but continue building it slowly day by day. Entrepreneurship is a hard and creative process which has to be nourished daily with experimentation, and by actively utilizing different strategies. As an entrepreneur there is no recipe or manual, so you have to think outside of the box. Every small business and growing brand has to find its own way in order to become bigger. Sometimes it’s also a question of luck, to be in the right place and with the right people, and of course investing is fundamental. I am grateful to my parents for encouraging me to study arts and also to my partner who is one of the people who has helped me develop my own brand.

Jacquin: How do you go about creating your jewelry designs? Do you sketch out your designs in advance, or do you work out the design as you go and simply begin creating?

Lora: Most of the time I sketch my designs, as it helps me to project and visualize my idea of composition – like the balance of volumes and colors. But I admit that sometimes I prefer to design as I create. When I take this more spontaneous approach I like to use white cardboard and place all of my materials on this neutral surface, then try different combinations of my multi-colored materials to create a new piece, without copying it from a sketch. Most of the time this spontaneous artistic appraoch gives the best results and proves to be more authentic. 

Jacquin: What has been your favorite or most memorable creative collaboration you’ve worked on so far? Why was it your favorite?

Lora: One of my most creative collaborations thus far was with a fashion brand called Ultràchic a couple of years ago. I had the opportunity to invent a collection of paper jewelry (paper sculptures) following the story and moodboard of the colorful and witty patterns designed for their FW-2016 fashion collection. The collection was actually called “The Apartment” and it interpreted in a cute and ironic way patterns reflecting your home decor and all the things that you might find in your apartment. The jewelry collection I created consisted mainly of brooches, necklaces, and earrings all handmade and hand painted by me. I liked it because I had the opportunity to express myself thoroughly. All the pieces were entirely handmade by me and I totally absorbed the exciting mood of the collection, which was very satisfying. 

Jacquin: Now that you’ve made your home in Italy, where is your favorite place to go for home decor? for fashion?

Lora: I like exploring Cargo & HighTech in Piazza XXV Aprile in Milan – a really cool labyrinth store with everything from clothes to furniture, fragrances, and many household objects. Another one of my favorites in Milan for fashion is the concept store, Corso Como 10 – it also has a beautiful bookshop and gallery, as well as a top floor terrace with a fabulous view in the middle of Milan’s skyscraper district. I also adore Antonio Marras’s stylish showroom and store located in Via Cola di Rienzo in Milan. 

Jacquin: What is your favorite hobby when you aren’t creating jewelry?

Lora: My favorite hobbies when I’m not creating jewelry are all the activities that precede the artistic process and expand my visual boundaries in order to create new things. One of which is going around fairs in search of new materials, traveling and visiting museums and exhibitions and getting inspired for new projects. I love taking pictures (ultimately with my phone), or if I do with my camera I love editing the pictures with photoshop. I like to play with photos, editing, and creating interesting effects and colors. I adore getting lost in Pinterest – it’s a ocean of inspiration. One of my hobbies, for which unfortunately I don’t have much time nowadays, is painting with acrylics. Eventually I hope that someday this activity will also have the possibility to become something more than a hobby.

A special thank you to Lora Nikolova for taking the time for this exciting interview! I love the idea of wearable art and will be following the career of Lora to see what’s next. Visit her website to stay up to date on her artwork & jewelry!

I had the opportunity to meet entrepreneurs Stephen & Carrie Fitzwater of Modern Lantern at a Trade Show recently and I was so impressed by their product. Modern Lantern sells CORDLESS LAMPS that will revolutionize how you decorate! They sell a large collection of cordless lamps in modern designs on their website, but not only that. Modern Lantern also converts vintage and antique lamps to their cordless technology. You will love this brand! Read on as I interview Modern Lantern‘s owners, Stephen and Carrie Fitzwater, and tour their eclectic mid-century modern home. 

Jacquin: I absolutely love your business concept, Carrie & Stephen! Tell us about what inspired you to launch your cordless lamp company, Modern Lantern.

Stephen & Carrie: Thanks Jacquin! Coming from a talented designer that means a lot to us! As an interior designer it just kept driving me nuts when I’d do an install and discover no floor plugs for those lamps typically needed in a large, open floor plan living area. I just couldn’t stand placing a lamp that didn’t work on an end table or swapping it our for a floral piece when the plan clearly called for a decorative table lamp. So I just kept bugging my husband (who just so happened to be a product designer;) that this was a product we can and should bring to market.

So finally he did the research online and found that lots of people had the same issue and no one was doing a good job of solving that lighting problem. Stephen starting buying components on the internet from various industries to get a prototype that worked well. Once we accomplished that, we filed the patent (we now have several), and went off to China to work with our friend and sourcing agent Johnny, to find the right factories to help us bring in our first container load of cordless lamps in early 2012. Seven years later we keep expanding and improving our line we sell direct on ModernLantern.com.

Jacquin: Have you two always been entrepreneurial minded?

Stephen & Carrie: I think so?! or at least I’d like to say I think so. LOL. We’ve both done the corporate thing which served us well raising our two boys (now young men) but for the both of us we heavily embraced the Gen X story growing up. Both of us are pretty creative and independent thinkers, and we both even as kids, had our own jobs that we were in control of and that was more inspiring to us than just a paycheck.

Jacquin: How would you describe the style of your home and decor?

Stephen & Carrie: Our look is pretty eclectic and represents both our personalities. We like traveling, vintage hunting, toys, and modern clean lines but definitely more mid-century than sleek contemporary. We feel our home is pretty warm and inviting. Our four pets seem to like it, they get to live in it more than we do.

Jacquin: How was your experience decorating your current home together? Did you create any DIY home decor accents or invest in any vintage pieces? 

Stephen & Carrie: We’ve had 5 homes since we’ve been married and ALL of them complete redoes, so plenty of experiences there, LOL. Our current home in Fort Worth is a 1950s Austin stone ranch. We loved the sprawling yard, trees and the retro stone but the inside was a mess. My husband hopes this is our last redo! We gutted the kitchen, painted the entire house, inside and out, all new landscaping and my favorite feature is the new deck in the backyard, my husband’s favorite might be his skateboard ramp, which I told him had to look ‘Pinterest worthy’ if going in our backyard (laughing). To decorate, we change stuff around pretty regularly. Some things my husband collected traveling overseas, some I found in antique stores and estate sales and we love our artwork, which for the most part are originals.

Jacquin: What is your favorite Modern Lantern lamp on the market currently?

Stephen & Carrie: Our favorite is our Bartlett Cordless Lamp (shown below). They are pretty unique… for one they are rechargeable, but also important is our ceramic line of cordless lamps are made right here by hand in DFW. We work with a stoneware artisan in Dallas that makes the ceramic pots, all glazed at his facility, and then Stephen and our Shop manager, Clarisa, hand assemble and pack them all out of our shop here in Fort Worth. So we think they are pretty special. We do a few antique when we have time too on our Etsy page, ModernLanternVintage.

Jacquin: Tell us about your favorite hobby when you aren’t working at Modern Lantern?

Stephen & Carrie: We love the outdoors… love camping, entertaining friends and barbecuing, working in the yard, riding mountain bikes, and Stephen enjoys skateboarding with his buddies too.

Jacquin: What is your favorite room in your home and how do you think it reflects YOU?

Stephen & Carrie: Our favorite spot is our deck in our backyard. We wake up to coffee on a nice morning and then enjoy a beer or cocktail right there in the evening, after work. In short, we like to relax together, talk about the day (or the future) while staring at the birds and the mature trees on and around our property. We are pretty chill people.

If your home office is notorious for its overflowing paperwork, tangled electronic cables, and a general feeling of overwhelming clutter then look no further because this “How To” is specifically made for you! For many people, the home office often becomes “The Room Filled With All The Extra Stuff We Can’t Fit Anywhere Else”, which is great for reducing messes everywhere else!… Until the moment you rush to the office to complete an important project, only to open the door and realize you’ve just been transported to another dimension (and not a pretty one). But hey, no judgement here – it happens to the best of us! And with these 5 space saving tips, you’ll be able to transform that otherworldly mess into a stylish office you’ll actually be excited to work in. 

#1 Cubbies, baskets, bins, oh my!

Cubby storage systems + chic baskets/bins = adorably organized! Bins are especially useful for storing all that not-so-cute junk laying around your room as well. 

#2 Talk to yourself! (with bulletin/message boards, I mean)

Keep all your loose sticky notes, memos, and to-do lists on bulletin and message boards! That way you’ll never forget what to do next, and it’ll keep your desk nice and clean. 

#3 Bar carts… but less alcohol, more supplies (okay maybe just one bottle of wine)

Rolling carts are truly the best way to keep all that little stuff organized and tucked away in one easy-to-reach place. Plus you can bring the cart with you no matter what area of the office you’re in! 

#4 These walls were made for hangin’… and thats just what they’ll do! 

Use your wall space wisely. Hang up shelving and wall organizers to keep your floors clean and your mind clear! 

#5 Give it a designated area – AND KEEP IT THERE!

It’s much easier to stay organized when all of your paperwork and supplies have an assigned spot it’ll return to after every use. These rose gold file organizers from Masions du Monde are a wonderfully chic way to keep all of your little things in one area! 

Products from Masions du Monde

However, perhaps the most important tip to remember is that organization does not only make a space look great, but it also helps ease your mind! Keeping your work space tidy will help you reduce stress and allow your creativity to flow in a more free and relaxed environment! 

Hi friends! Thank you for your continued support and readership as we grow the Interiors by Jacquin brand. If you’ve been inspired by this blog’s interior design inspiration over the years, then you will LOVE our new online shop! The NEW Interiors by Jacquin online store features colorful throw pillows, luxurious bedding, and small furniture items that will add warmth and style to any home. I am so excited to introduce these products to you!

Please take the time to browse our new online shop and write-in letting us know which home decor item is your favorite. My personal favorites right now are the Interiors by Jacquin embroidered ‘Fiesta’ pillows and the luxurious Orchids Lux Home ‘Bailey Quilts’. Stay tuned for additional furniture selections and fine art sales on our shop next! We look forward to beautifying your home with items from the Interiors by Jacquin shop! 

You can stop by the online store for a visit any time with direct access from the blog.  Just click on the pillow icon at the very top of the blog that says “Visit our shop”. I hope you love these products!

Thank you for visiting the new home decor shop!

Inspiration from the World’s Best Coworking Spaces

Considering how we are all likely to be working from home for the foreseeable future, there’s no better time to redesign your home office than now – especially considering that having a well-design office can do wonders for your well-being, productivity, motivation and performance.

In fact, the 2019 Workplace Design Survey conducted by Capital One found that 90% of professionals perform better in workplaces that are well-designed or have certain elements like natural light and adaptable spaces.

Coworking spaces are very much aware of this fact, which is why it’s a good idea to take inspiration from some of the most beautiful coworking spaces around the globe when it comes to redesigning your home office. That being said, here are some home office designs inspired by some of the most beautiful coworking spaces around the world.

Add a vibrant splash of color

The Ministry of New coworking space in Mumbai is the perfect example of a workspace that creatively combines vibrant colors without looking unpleasant or tacky. According to the co-founders of this hip coworking space, Marlies Bloemndaal and Natascha Chadha, they chose to decorate their coworking space with colorful pieces and personalized furniture to create a space that is dedicated to building a community. In addition to creating spaces that are uniquely homey, certain colors can also help in attaining greater efficiency and focus, like pale greens and calming blues. Other more vibrant colors like yellow can help you feel more energized, optimistic and fresh.

Show off your green thumb

Being stuck at home can be depressing, but surrounding yourself with greenery can instantly lift your spirits. A study conducted by researchers from the University of Technology in Sydney found that when plants were introduced into a workspace, significant reductions in stress among workers were observed. Other studies also note that the productivity of employees can jump to over 15% when a handful of plants are introduced into working environments. In redesigning your home office, you can take a cue from Industrious’ curated coworking spaces (with locations across the U.S.), which incorporate hanging ceiling plants and low-maintenance pothos. This vine-like plant with heart-shaped leaves is perfect for those people who are too busy to care for a plant but still want to enjoy the beauty of having plants at home. Pothos can thrive in low light and humidity for long periods of time, and have also been known to help remove pollutants like benzene, toluene, formaldehyde, carbon monoxide and xylene from the air.

Industrius‘ coworking facilities filled with greenery.

Incorporate wood fixtures

For many people, summer means beach trips and sunbathing, and while current circumstances might prevent us from taking those trips to the beach, it doesn’t mean we can’t take the beach to us. You can do this by introducing wooden fixtures like the rattan lamps at the bamboo haven of Hubud into your home office. Hubud’s coworking space is located in Bali where bamboo and other wood elements are abundant. Aside from giving you that beach vibe, natural elements like wood can actually do wonders for your well-being. Designs that incorporate elements that can give you a sense of nature help in engaging your mind and restoring attention and focus, which in turn improves performance.

Many of us might still be getting used to the idea of working from home, and the best part to boost productivity is to designate a space that you can enjoy working in. While you’re at it, consider incorporating fixtures and designs that will not only keep you productive, but also inspire you. Explore the rest of Interiors by Jacquin for more ways to transform your home office into a productive work space.

With spring’s arrival and summer fast approaching, it’s time to start thinking about preparing your outdoor space for the warmer weather! There are many ways to achieve celebrity style living in your own backyard! Jennifer Aniston’s gorgeous back deck, pictured above, is giving us major back deck inspiration. Achieving such a luxurious yet serene backyard retreat is completely attainable with Kebony’s wood products for decking, siding, and more!

The Deck 

The first step to take in revamping your outdoor space is the base, the deck. It’s important if you are building or renovating a deck to choose a wood that is durable and made to last. Norwegian-based company Kebony is a great source for outdoor timber. Kebony specializes in producing enhanced wood of a superior quality that is both environmentally friendly and cost-effective. 

Your outdoor deck is an extension of your interior design. Make your deck both beautiful and functional, like in the photo above, which showcases a Kebony wood deck from a home in Germany. The photo below is gorgeous example of how to create a seamless flow between indoor and outdoor living also showcasing Kebony. The stunning exterior walls shown are covered in Kebony wood. 

Why stop at just outdoor furniture when curating your outdoor deck… add a touch of luxury! If you really want to elevate your outdoor space, why not add a hot tub? 

Hot Tubs

What better way to transform your backyard into a relaxing oasis than adding a hot tub to your deck. There are many things to consider when you’re getting ready to install a hot tub in your backyard. What type of tub do you want? Where do you want the hot tub? Safety factors must also be considered as well in the installation process. But don’t worry, we have simplified the process. 

Where to Put the Hot Tub?

Consider where in your backyard or on your current deck you want to place your hot tub. Although there are logistics that factor into a location of a hot tub, like access to water and electricity or room for maintenance and repairs, don’t forget to have fun with it! Do you have a beautiful garden area you want to overlook? Do you have a pool you want to add the hot tub on to? Be creative and have fun with it!

Selecting your hot tub can be an exciting but overwhelming process. There are all sorts of shapes, sizes, and design options to keep in mind. Consider what you want out of your hot tub and how you want it set up on your deck. Would you like it to be simple and strictly functional, or would you like it to be a main design element of your outdoor space? Below I’ve listed a few different options to consider, which can all be built around a custom deck. 

Plexiglass Hot Tub

The plexiglass design is perfect for anyone looking to achieve a contemporary look for their hot tub. This is a great option to consider when adding a hot tub to an already-existing deck. The plexiglass hot tub is ultra-chic and sure to make a modern statement. 

Sunken Hot Tub

A sunken hot tub is another great option for a contemporary, subtle and fluid addition to a deck. A sunken tub can also be added to an already-existing deck. Installing a sunken hot tub is minimalist, yet function-focused design option. Keep in mind, a sunken hot tub could have some potential safety concerns for children.                        

Built-in Hot Tub

If you want to add a hot tub to an already existing deck, a built-in hot tub is a great option. They can also be added to a deck that’s in the construction process. This is a great option so you can see a view from the hot tub over a deck’s railing. The tub can also be surrounded with the same wood as the deck to make it blend in with the environment. This is also the safest option for children. You’ll also need to decide if you want a jetted tub or more of a spa-type tub for your back deck. Creating the deck of your dreams is all about the detailing you select!

Pergolas

If you want to make an architectural statement with your deck, or are just looking for some shade, try adding a pergola. They are also a great way to add lush greenery to a contemporary deck, like the photo shown above. Either way, pergolas are great to create an outdoor seating area like shown here.

Get the Outdoor Experience with Coverage Under a Pergola

Pergolas can protect you from harmful UV rays, or provide shade to make blazing summer days outdoors more enjoyable. Wood from Kebony would be the perfect material to construct a pergola because it’s durable against the elements while remaining environmentally friendly. 

With warmer weather right around the corner, now is the perfect time to start constructing your outdoor oasis. Don’t forget to start with a durable wood for your deck like Kebony’s durable woods. You won’t need to blow your budget on an extravagant penthouse when you can have the same deluxe experience in your own backyard. Hot tubs are a totally realistic way to create an ultra luxurious spa-like environment in your own home.  Or if you are aiming for a strong architectural statement, add a pergola. With these outdoor additions you’ll be living like a celebrity in your own home all summer long. Visit Kebony.com to learn more about the potential available for your home’s outdoor space with Kebony wood products.