owning the space that you're in

it is monday morning and i am sitting in my office for the first time this year!! up until now i have been working from our dining room as i just haven't gotten round to organising and sorting out my space! its funny how you put yourself and your own needs last when there is a husband, a toddler and a growing little one inside of you!

i had a quick checkup with my doctor this morning and so far all is set for next week thursday, i am most eager to meet the little guy and find out what secrets he has been hiding from us the past nine months!

i must admit its nice sitting in my own space again - it feels like i am twice as productive in here and like i am a lot more focused on the various tasks at hand. lesson learned and a little advice to pass on - if you are working for yourself or from home, create a dedicated workspace for yourself, it will ensure more productive work sessions and create a stable work ethic. possibly a bit late to only realise all of this now, but now that i know this i don't think i will forget it again.

have a look at my "thinking about my home office" pinterest board for some great and clever inspirations.

"Inspiration exists, but it has to find you working"

Pablo Picasso

have a great week all you lovelies xoxo

Learning a new dance

After my extended absence from my, what used to be, normal life I am focusing on a new dance. Currently I am busy figuring out how to juggle work, life, family and love in a balanced manner and  one of my main aims is to get a decent grasp on my work again.What started out as stolen moments when Anton was napping or entertaining himself is now becoming a bigger part of my everyday again. At least I am working from home so although I am spending more and more time in front of my computer I do not feel like I am neglecting time with my precious son.

My work load is slowly picking up, but my main focus is currently on a residential project that is already under construction - a very exciting adventure for me and some close friends. I will post a bit more about this project soon.

For now, some inspiration for myself while I am learning the steps of this new dance I call life...

From here

From here

Something I strive for! From here

Making a space that works for YOU

We all swoon over beautiful spaces and interior designs and wish that we had exactly that in our own houses or offices, but I think we sometimes forget about what we really need and we neglect to ask the important questions:

Is this design practical and will it suit my lifestyle?
Is this really what I need?

Will achieving this look and feel break the bank or will it suit my budget?

These are all important questions to ask before embarking on a new interior design project! But this definitely doesn't mean we should stop dreaming.

Current dream projects that I drool over include:

The awesome home office, from here

This stylish kitchen, from here

This awesome patio entertainment space, from here

This great mirror gallery, from here

Find your inspiration in the things you need and not in what others do... Have a lovely day dear readers!

Architectural Inspiration_ Making something of nothing

So often we are stuck looking at the problem rather than finding an "out-of-the-box" solution. Who would've thought that you could convert this dilapidated double garage into a contemporary home?

French architectural firm Fabre | de Marien transformed this small 441 square foot garage into a convenient and stylish residence for a individual or even a minimalist couple. The new dwelling boasts with all the conventional amenities needed in a residential unit, applied in unconventional and clever space-saving manor.

A clever and unconventional method to consider how we have to translate that which already exist into that which we may need.

The new facade reads as a more formal, contemporary design:

 

The minimalist interior do not feel cramped due to the use of clean lines and clever 

furniture and colour choices:

Photography by Jérémie Buchholtz, Via HomeDSGN.

All information and images from here

Have a wonderful day dear readers and may you find inspiration in the everyday things all around you.

Architectural Inspirations

Some architectural inspirations to swoon over today!

Exterior:

Interior:

This reminds me of my own kitchen - loving it!

All images from here

Interior Inspirations

As mentioned previously, I am working on a residential project at the moment. We are now at the stage where the basic planning is just about done and we are moving into the detail and finishes design of all elements. I found some great interior inspirations and thought it would be nice to share, perhaps I inspire some of you.

Great kids-room inspiration from here

An amazing bookshelf! From here

Kitchen inspiration, from here

Bedroom inspiration, from here

Have a lovely week dear readers!

Architecture that inspire

Some jaw-dropping, inspiring, out-there architectural projects from around the world.

 The Drents Museum in Assen, The Netherlands by Erick van Egeraat.

Images from here.

The Conrad Hotel in Beijing, China by MAD Architects.

Images from here.

The University of Groningen Medical Faculty in Groningen, The Netherlands by RAU.

Images from here.

Galaxy Soho in Beijing, China by Zaha Hadid Architects, 2012 (under construction).

From here.

I especially like the Spain Pavilion -- "Living Nature" -- at the Floriade 2012 World Horticultural Expo in Venlo, The Netherlands.

Images from here

Architectural Inspirations

I have just started the very exciting journey of designing a new residential project. FUN!!!

I have been working on the project for almost 2 weeks now and it seems like yesterday the creative juices finally started to flow - as this project has a clear brief and design direction it is easy to know which path to take, but some visual inspiration can go a long way!

Here are some amazing houses for inspiration... drool!!

Luxurious and Contemporary Home Design with Internal Garden green inspiration.

From here

I love the clean lines and uncluttered planning of this Contemporary House by Dom Arquitectura in Menorca, Spain. I especially like the timber deck and the pool!

Both images from here

Some interior inspiration; I LOVE this mezzanine level / bridge with the expressed exposed timber detail!

From here

The combination of a white plasterboard and strip timber ceiling brings great dimension to an open plan room.

From here

There might be more of this type of post to follow in the coming weeks and months, but as I dig deeper into the design of the house the detail and topic of discussion will definitely change!

Have a good day dear readers!

A daily dose of architecture

Inspiration to do more with less? I find this Dovecote Studio by Haworth Tompkins very thought provoking and complex in the simplicity of the design.

Interiors

All images from here

This makes me wonder about the possibilities for all the many dilapidated and broken buildings in our South African countryside landscapes.

Then and Now

As an architect I form part of a team of people who are responsible for shaping, developing and ultimately changing our landscapes. A responsibility that should not be taken lightly!

Look at these then and now shots of famous cities to fully grasp what can be done in only a few years, I actually find it quite scary!

All images from here

San Francisco then and now

Dubai then and now

New York then and now

Probably the most astonishing, as this was done in just 20 years!!

Shanghai then and now