Wooden bathtubs are an excellent choice for a dream interior. Every bathtub in this collection by Unique Wood Design has its own unique character and makes for a perfect match for both modern minimalism and classic decors.  We were surprised to find out that Poland-based Unique Wood Design is a family company initiated in year 1979, known for building wooden boats and yachts back in the days. The wood working experience, modern coating technology and design creativity propelled the company into delivering top-quality designs for the home

Bathtub designs are meant to be simple, harmonious and coherent and the company’s main priority is to provide a high amount of comfort. Multilayer coating, adapted from boat-building, is fully waterproof while having an excellent mechanical and chemical resistance. Aside from reliability, it provides an aesthetic effect which satisfies even the most demanding clients. Enjoy the beautiful bathtub models below and let us know what you think! Photos and information provided via e-mail by Unique Wood Design

 

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In our modern design world there is still a longing for living sustainably and to rekindle the nostalgia of how homeowners lived in earlier generations. Rural farming was and still is a major source of how we feed our families today and the barns and rural housing structures that once housed animals and livestock are being renovated into modern and contemporary homes. Barn conversions are a great way to revitalize old barns that otherwise would just sit in disrepair. Rustic barn details are showing up in more interior design trends, and whether you wish to renovate an old barn or just steal a few elements in style – here are 10 to bring rustic flair into your home

1-Reclaimed timber and wood elements for your home

One of the most distinguishing elements of old barns is their heavy use of natural wood timber in their structure. Many barns left the exposed structure visible as these building were for utilitarian purposes as opposed to being aesthetically pleasing. Today, many homeowners are using reclaimed timber and wood in their interiors and carrying out the exposed structure vernacular as a rustic note in their home. From exposed columns in your interiors to roof trusses and exposed beams, you will love the rustic appeal it brings to your home

2-Expansive windows make for gorgeous views :
The beauty of old barns is there wide openings to the outdoors. Whether they were used to bring supplies through or to be able to let sunlight in to the livestock, rustic barns have the ability to set the scene for full panorama views. Consider bringing these large picture frame rectilinear windows into your home. If you’re converting an old barn ensure the new windows are eco-conscious for winter and summer heating for your new home

3-Sliding barn doors to define your spaces:

Possibly one of the most popular design trends from rustic barns to cross over into contemporary homes is the use of the sliding barn door. Used in old barns because of the ability to close and open very large door openings without a large door swing pathway, barn doors and barn door hardware is ideal for rooms that need to be closed off without a intrusive door swing. Designers are finding new uses for these gorgeous doors for a kitchen pantry, bathroom doors, or to separate large rooms in your interiors

  

4-Ensure your home is insulated if converting from a barn
While the appeal of exposed walls and structure can be appealing from an aesthetics view, the insulation and how comfortable the temperature is in your home should be considered. Thermal panels, rolled batt insulation, and foam insulation may be options depending on how you decide to finish off the interior of your home. Seek advice from a professional heating and air engineer or consultant to help you ensure your home is comfortable all year around.

5-Soaring ceilings create voluminous space: 

If you like plenty of airy loftiness in your interiors, barn conversions or opening up your current ceiling to just the exposed structure is a great option. For homeowners that prefer the more finished look, dry wall can be applied to the underside of the structural members, still opening up the rooms below to wide open ceiling area. Many homeowners find opening their ceiling to the structure above makes their rooms feel larger and the opportunity to let more light through with skylights or windows is an option too

6Kitchens borrow farmhouse details for your modern home:

 If you’re trying to create a kitchen that shares many of the rustic details of barn living, look to farmhouse country style for inspiration. Butcher block countertops made from wood are a rustic characteristic that many love for food preparation. Rustic pendant lighting in Benson, School House or other industrial-country inspired fixtures can illuminate your kitchen beautifully. Also look to barn door options to close off pantries and other rooms of your home

7Rustic kitchen amenities to brighten your interiors:

Farmhouse wrap around sinks and matching plumbing fixtures can accompany your butcher block countertops for a kitchen that borrows rustic details from popular barn conversions. Play off of the exposed wood in your dining room and kitchen barn furniture to wake up your kitchen. Pops of color such as blue, yellow and red are often Americana colors that playfully get used throughout modern country homes

 8-Worn and weathered wood flooring to recreate vintage barn aesthetics

Another amenity along with barn doors that is trending in the design community is using knotty wood flooring planks that are weathered and worn looking. You can use reclaimed wood flooring from older barns for your home and get faux varieties that give a similar aesthetic. Look to natural pine, oak, and maple wood floors that have imperfections; dents, knots and strong wood grain are the perfect rustic wood flooring to get the desired look

9Consulting with a design professional before converting a barn

So you found an old barn that is in disrepair but you’re sure it can be converted into a great home for you and your family? Before you envision yourself moving in, consult with an architect or general contractor to determine what design modifications will be necessary to complete the project. Plumbing, electrical, structural and heating and air conditioning could be expensive and extensive. Know what is involved to make your newfound barn a reality.

 10Restoring old buildings is an eco-conscious way of living
Whether you decide to bring rustic barn details into your home, or you plan to convert a barn into your new home, remember that reusing and repurposing old barns is a great way to make use of what is existing. In our world of new buildings being erected, it’s always nice to renovate the old and preserve its character and history for generations to come.

architectday readers what are your favorite rustic barn details that you would love in your home

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Jessop and Cook Architects, an Oxford-based architecture studio carefully committed to innovation and quality, brings design to a whole new level. Forget about the dull rectangular school buildings that lack personality and enter into a playful space with an identity of its own. The recently renovated St Mary’s Infant School located in Oxfordshire, England puts value on warmth and friendliness. Three new offset elements totally transform it, from regular to impressive. “They reflect the form and multiple pitched roofs of the main school in a playful manner, breaking up the linear aspect of the site and creating an enclosed secret garden.” The kids can finally learn while playing in a neat and playful environment

The first element consists of the buff brick main classroom, the second of an additional teaching space and amenities, and the third of the cedar clad external covered play area accessed by a set of bi-fold doors to link the class and play space.” Each section of the building has a different function. The “detail” that connects them all is the fresh layout. Photo credit: Nikhilesh Haval

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Discovered on a beautiful mess, this funny sympathetic honeycomb style shelving unit is a DIY project which adds a sense of texture to any living room. To those of you who spend their time thinking how to innovate their interiors, this is actually a very nice idea that can be easily put in practice and bring a “natural” buzz. This will not only fill the free space on your wall, but also bring a smile on your face whenever seeing it. Here you can find out more about the steps to craft your own “bee-friendly” shelf

 

In case you wonder about the practical aspect, you might already know that the hexagonal design is the sturdiest building block from nature. This ingenious storage space is a good way to express your personality: you can stock collectables or antiques, exhibit your “art” or let your flowers bloom within the “hive”. Starting from a standard three-comb shelf you can add as many “rooms” as you’ll like. Feel free, open your imagination while combining items in the most playful manner

 

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Mimosa Road was recently completed in Singapore by the creative team at Park + Associates. The daring residential complex aimed to “capture modern design through clean straight lines and massive forms compensated by meticulous and creative selection of materials to keep a warm rustic touch to the feel of the house. One of these materials is burnt orange brick that evokes the history of the original house having exposed bricks all throughout“, the architects asserted

The building consists of several volumes, surrounded by generously-sized outdoor areas. Extensive glazing allows unobstructed views from each room.  The core of Mimosa Road house is a double-height living interior, connected to the terrace and swimming pool on one side and to the dining room on the other. Lighting is ensured by imposing chandeliers and modern wall spots. The overwhelming scape of the project is slightly mellowed by the use of wood, brick and inspiring decorating items. Photography: Edward Hendricks

 

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Feng Shui is an artform based on a series of guidelines derived from ancient Eastern philosophies that is designed to create a sense of balance and harmony in the home which therefore creates a sense of balance and harmony within oneself. The thought being that if one’s home is healthy, then the individual can be healthy. When a this perfect balance is achieved in the home a positive energy is therefore created. There are many factors in a home that can block this positive energy, the most important perhaps, is organization

How feng shui can boost your energy level

We all have days where we drag, when we wonder how on earth we will stay awake until the day’s end. The thought behind feng shui is that your energy level may be directly correlated to your own space, both home and office. We’ve all become victim of being overworked and over scheduled. We’ve been pulled in more directions than we often can handle and the result of this is that we become overstressed to the point of exhaustion. The best way to destress is to rest. But often, and for a myriad of reasons, this is impossible. Perhaps the single most important thing we can do to rest is to declutter

The Art of decluttering

Many people have a hard time decluttering. It can be a monumental task that can take up to days, even weeks to get under control. The best place to start is slowly, one room at a time, focusing only on that particular room until you get to the next. The most important room to declutter is the bedroom. But clutter often lies where it is unseen. According to feng shui, even unseen clutter will crowd prevent positive air and energy from flowing. So, as you declutter your bedrooms, you must also take a good look at what lies behind your bedroom closet. If you have a master bathroom that is directly attached, you will want to declutter that as well. Regardless, any and all bathrooms should be decluttered to create an environment of peace and relaxation, which is exactly what you want your bedroom to be.

As you declutter make three piles:

1. Things you no longer need, want, can use
2. Things that matter and are important to you – have significant meaning or those items that you have inherited.
3. Things you need

1. Goes to garbage, donations
2. Set aside the things that matter, for now
3. Find homes for all the things you need, then back to
4. Make homes for the things that matter but do not create clutter as you do this

How to create flow and positive energy in your home

Walk around your home freely. Do you stumble on furniture or rugs? Do you have a hard time opening doors? Air should flow around everything in your home. Move furniture away from walls, even if just a couple of inches. Pull furniture pieces together to create an area where air can flow around. Use your windows. Natural light is very important and brings with it tremendous energy.

Windows should never be blocked. In the practice of Feng Shui mirrors are often used to reflect this energy into other areas of the home, but you do not want to bounce the energy back out doors. Mirrors are called the aspirin of feng shui and with proper placement, they can dramatically shift the flow of energy in any given space. Mirrors also bring a sense of refreshment and calm

The five elements of feng shui

There are 5 elements of feng shui: Fire, water, earth, metal, and air. Each of these elements works independently and collectively to restore calm and bring energy to your space.

First there is wood which is used to harness the power of creativity and expansion. Wood also represents such aspects as birth, strength, flexibility and intuition. There must be proper balance in the use of wood in your space as too much is apt to make one feel overwhelmed, stubborn and inflexible. Not enough wood may be responsible for lack of creativity,  ambivalence and depression. Add wood to your space by incorporating plants, paper, furniture and textiles .

Then there is fire. Fire increases enthusiasm and leadership skill. In the home fire is used to encourage expressiveness, inspiration and boldness. With fire a perfect balance is essential.  Too much fire isn’t good and an overabundance can show itself as anger, aggression, irritability and impulsive behavior. A lack of fire is often associated with emotional coldness, lack of vision, inexpressiveness and low self-esteem. To add fire to your space add some candles, incandescent lighting and make sure you take full advantage of natural sunlight. Additionally, electronics, animal prints and “hot” colors, such as red, pink or purple will also serve as a fire element.

Earth affects our physical strength and order while generating an overall feeling of grounding, balance and stability. An overabundance of earth in a space, can create a sensation of boredom, sluggishness and seriousness. Too little earth, often leads to disorganization, chaos and lack of  focus. Add earth elements to your space by using the colors green, brown and sand. Images of landscapes and square and rectangular shapes will also bring these elements into your home.

Metal affects mental clarity and logic. Metal affects one’s organization, focus, righteousness and analytical abilities. Too much metal, can result in chattiness, overly critical thoughts and speaking without thinking. Too little metal often leads to quiet, cautiousness and lack of focus. To enhance a space with metal add round or oval shapes; anything made of metals, including iron, aluminum, gold or silver; rocks and stones and white, gray, silver or light pastel colors.

Water’s domain is responsible for spirituality and emotion. A balance of water brings forth inspiration, wisdom and insightfulness, whereas too much water can create the feeling of unbalanced transition and the sense that you’re drowning emotionally.  It can make you feel overwhelmed and overly social. Too little water may result in a lack of sympathy, loneliness, isolation, and stress. Try incorporating water into your space by adding black or any deep, dark tones like blues, greens and purples; reflective surfaces, such as mirrors; free-form or asymmetrical shapes and any water  related objects such as aquariums and fountains

 

How to create calm and order in your home using elements of feng shui

The presence of Buddha creates instant tranquility. It is often suggested to bring a Buddha image or replica into your home.  Aroma therapy is another calming feng shui practice. The daily use of essential oils will help purify, relax, energize and also create a very sensual ambiance. Art is also extremely important in feng shui and is thought to improve the energy of both home and office. Make sure the art you select fits the needs of the room.

A bedroom or bathroom, for example, should have artwork that is sensual and soothing – watercolors of photographs of nature. Family rooms and offices fare better with art that energizes; filled with bright and vibrant colors and images. The tone of the art must fit the tone of the room. Candles support the fire element and are a must for every home. You may want to consider a small fountain for your home. The fountain supports that water element, with the soothing water energy thus creating a most tranquil and peaceful energy.

Bamboo is a very important feng shui element. It’s not only beautiful, offering up the earth element, but is considered to be a symbol of good luck. The plant is easy to take care of and is thought to teach the ultimate wisdom – how to be both flexible and hollow  as to allow the spirit to flow freely and heal your being

Using the colors of feng shui to achieve order and balance

Red is the color of passion, courage and romance and represents the Fire element.Vibrant red color brings into your home the energy of joy, excitement and stimulates sexual desire. Red is the Chinese color of luck and happiness, the marriage color in India, and the symbolic color of love and romance, courage and passion in the West. 

The feng shui color yellow represents sunshine, and happiness. It is cheerful and uplifting and brightens any home or office. Feng shui yellow in your kitchen creates energy. In living room and children’s rooms can create a coziness. From bright sunflower, to pale buttery yellow color tones, there are many shades from which to choose.
Blue  represents calm, peace and tranquility. It also represents the water element. It’s a magnificent feng shui color – with many hues and tones from the palest to the deepest, this Feng shui-wise, color blue is excellent for use in all areas of your home.

 Green represents growth, health, vibrancy. It is also the color of the Wood element. It’s nourishing to your health – mind, body and soul -  as it balances the whole body by bringing healing feng shui vibrations from nature. When bringing this color into your home, it is best to incorporate several different shades in order to maximize the feng shui energy effects.

Orange is social, optimistic and open. It is another color belonging to the fire element and perfect for those areas when red is a bit too intense for the home. Orange creates the necessary feng shui energy to promote lively conversations and good times in your house. Orange color reminds us of summertime dreams and  warm glow of log fires.

Purple is royal, mysterious and noble – also belonging to the fire element. Feng shui masters advise using color purple in moderation. As purple color is a very high vibration color, it might be best to bring it into your home with various decor elements – from pillows to art – rather than wall color.  The best feng shui spaces where you can freely use the intensity of color purple are a healing room or a meditation space.

Pink is the universal color of love. It is gentle, soothing and loving, also belonging to the fire element. Pink is a perfect feng shui color to soften the energy in any given space. Its gentle and delicate feng shui vibrations have a proven soothing effect on one’s behavior. While the beauty of this color is in the eye of the beholder, it’s one that suits any room in your home.

Gray scales represents clarity, detachment and neutrality. It is represents the Metal element.  While it can be considered as a boring color, it is also highly sophisticated and upscale. Gaay brings forth beautiful feng shui energy to any space.
By incorporating these basic philosophies, thoughts and colors you can create a peaceful, harmonious space, allowing the energy to flow in a positive manner. When your home is a relaxed one, your mood will reflect this, and you in turn will become more relaxed and less stressed. Stress is responsible for so many ailments. As the stress disappears, the ailments will too. Practice feng shui in your office to create a space that encourages relaxation as well as productivity
 

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