Monday, January 10, 2011

Office Flooring – What are the Options?


Don’t feel daunted! It can seem as though there are too many possibilities and flooring options for your office space. You possibly thought that selecting something for the floor would be one of the simplest decisions you would need to make for the interior of your business. There are a considerable number of alternatives and here we bring you some of the most popular and reputable choices.


Carpet:


Carpet has traditionally been used in office spaces and for good reason – it can look effective while still being functional. You may be tempted to try to save on the cost of your carpet but it is with a warning that this is done. Quality carpet lasts longer and is more durable. By choosing a cheaper and inferior product, you may well end up having to pay for carpet again and well before you expect and should have to.

It is also important that you choose a type of carpet that is appropriate for the area in which it will be installed. If there is a significant amount of foot traffic, choose a durable and hard wearing carpet that will show as few signs of wear and tear as possible, in preference to a plush and very nice looking carpet that is more appropriate for a private home.

Carpet Tiles:

Carpet tiles represent a great alternative to conventional carpet. Now available in an extensive range of colours, styles and patterns, carpet tiles can be used in unique ways and to create particular effects, or can be used in more familiar ways to cover large floor spaces. Tiles can be easily replaced, are far more straightforward and quick to install than carpet. In addition, they are often made with eco-friendly products and through sustainable processes.

Vinyl:

Vinyl is not to be confused with the gaudy and quite ugly lino that you may well associate with the floor of your grandmother’s kitchen. Vinyl is available in a range of modern and attractive colours and styles and can be used to enhance an office space. Contemporary vinyl can even be sourced with a cushion underlay and of course, has excellent water proof qualities.

When considering vinyl as a possible flooring option, it is important to consider the different slip ratings. Do not ignore this characteristic of different types of vinyl – it is important to choose the most appropriate product for the needs and purposes of your office.

Tiles:

Durable, hard wearing and often easy to clean, tiles can look fabulous and can create a modern, sleek and sophisticated impression. However, tiles must be laid properly in order for them to be a sound investment in flooring. Tiles that have not been laid well can lead to frustration and wasted money.

Consider also the finish of the tiles used. Different effects are created through shiny or matte tiles and it is useful to evaluate the merits of each in your own office space.

Epoxy Paint:

Epoxy paint is a good option if the floor that it will cover is subjected to spills. Flooring of this type is easy to clean up and entirely practical for settings such as warehouses and other industrial contexts. Epoxy paint can be a cost effective option and will often enhance the look and feel of a large area.

Polished Timber:

Ever popular, this type of flooring comes in two main varieties: authentic polished timber boards and floating floor panel systems. Flooring of this type can be effectively used in reception, display and foyer areas but is less well suited to offices and work areas as floorboards can be noisy and have poor acoustic properties.

Lino:

Now manufactured and available in an array of attractive colours, lino is vastly different to the material best known for its use on kitchen floors! Lino is often made from natural products and while it is an appropriate flooring option in many locations, it is not the best option in wet areas.

Flooring is a very important aspect of the interior design of any office. However, it is vital to choose the most appropriate and durable option for the space in which it will be installed as well as the most attractive and cost effective type of floor covering.

Tuesday, January 4, 2011

Drawings that Jump Off the Wall

West Elm's COLLABORATION WITH THE ARTIST, JASON POLAN.
They first met Jason Polan outside the Museum of Modern Art where he was in the midst of a typically ambitious endeavor – drawing every person in New York. Jason is a self-described "freelance artist" who sketches random New Yorkers in subway stations, museums and restaurants each day, and posts them that night on his blog, everypersoninnewyork.blogspot.com. He's also the creator of a cult-hit book, "The Every Piece Of Art in The Museum Of Modern Art Book". Included in the deluxe edition of this remarkable volume is a guided tour of MoMA – conducted by Polan himself – and a hot dog or pretzel after the tour. We went for the hot dog.





GREAT ART FOR WALLS, SOFAS (AND ONE LUCKY CHAIR)
Jason also spends a lot of time at the American Museum of Natural History. He showed us his simple line drawings inspired by the natural world, and we were instantly captivated. In collaboration with Jason, we printed some of these images on watercolor paper and framed them in solid ash with acid free mats. We also printed his images on a collection of room-changing pillows and the upholstery of a fortunate chair – the Oliver.

SHOP the COLLECTION

Visit Jason Polan @ jasonpolan.com 





SIMPLICITY IS THE ESSENCE OF MODERN LIVING
We like clean lines, natural textures, and sensible proportions. Our inspirations include things like nature, color, art and ancient cultures, and we interpret these into classic pieces and decorative accents that make rooms calm, comfortable, and easy to live in. Complete your modern style house with beautiful contemporary accessories and modern furniture at a great price.

Saturday, January 1, 2011

HAPPY NEW YEAR 2011


First of all we wish you a HAPPY NEW YEAR! May the year 2011 be one of the most prosperous years ever!


This time of the year is usually a time when I look back and see everything that we accomplished and plan for the new year ahead to achieve even greater success.

I am amazed how much we already accomplished as a team, when I look at our humble beginnings when we did not even have a website. This past year was filled with step by step progress in almost every month. Some of the major developments include the following:

1. We re designed our main page http://www.designstyleguide.net/index.php where we are highlighting the listings that are paired up with a coordinating room – otherwise known as ADD ON Feature.
2. We added an ability to add your FaceBook, Twitter and Blog links to your profile page, so your fans can follow you with one click of a button.
3. We developed our ADD ON Feature where we can add a coordinating room to your listing. This feature was designed to inspire our readers as well as promote the Interior Designers that can now have an integral part on our website.
4. We added an additional Log In for Interior Designers where they will too be able to become members of our team and have a separate portfolio on our site – connecting their room listings with your listings through our ADD ON Feature.
5. We created a new Gallery that lists all the listings with ADD ON Feature http://www.designstyleguide.net/gallery.php
6. We also added directories for DSG members http://www.designstyleguide.net/directory.php as well as Designers http://www.designstyleguide.net/designerDirectory.php and they are search able by key word or locations, thus it is easy to find both from certain state of city.
7. We also added a voting system to our Treasuries http://www.designstyleguide.net/treasuryList.php where you can add up to 5 stars for each Treasury once you click on each Treasury’s link.
8. We started our new team blog/community http://designstyleguide.net/community/ where we can network with each other and highlight listings and members of our team. We currently have 4675 followers.
9. We also started our FaceBook Page http://www.facebook.com/DesignStyleGuide with 1051 followers as well as our Twitter page http://twitter.com/dsgnet with 835 followers.
10. We also passed 5000 listings on our site.

So with all that what is our nest step?

Our Next Step is to move forward in full force inviting Interior Designers to come and join our team, promoting our team in various ways using everything we have created, creating many new YouTube Videos, promoting members on our blog and growing our collective portfolio. The Sky is the Limit!

HAPPY NEW YEAR ! May all your dreams come true!!!

What are some of your New Year’s Resolutions? Let us know in the comments bellow.