An Illustrated History Of Interior Design

From shag carpeting to shabby chick to IKEA, this interactive infographic visualises a history of interior design.

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1950s interior design was characterized by modernism and influenced by the Danish design movement, with crisp, sweeping lines and vivid coloring.

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During the free love movement of the 1960s, interior designers reacted to the wholesome, traditional family values of the ‘50s with post-modernist riffs on elements of the past (Victorian and Georgian-inspired furniture) and the imagined future (groovy lava lamps).

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The 1970s saw the birth of DIY culture, Space Age-influenced styles (like that pod chair), and the hippie movement’s preference for rustic, “natural” furniture of teak and pine.

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The 1980s saw the birth of “shabby chic” and the avant garde Memphis Group in Milan, with furniture in bold geometric shapes and colors. The decade of excess also brought plenty of chintzy, ostentatious interiors.

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1990s interior design reigned in the excess of the '80s, opting for more minimalism and lots and lots of pine furniture.

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The 2000s saw the Ikea flatpack furniture takeover and a bigger integration of tech into interior design, with flatscreen TVs channeling home cinema.

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In the 2010s, self-expression has come to define the approach to interior design. So has economizing–the recession has led to smaller furniture with built-in storage.

Inspired by FastCoDesign; Images from Harvey Water Softeners

Top 8 DIY Design Ideas Found On Pinterest

1. Print vintage labels and stick them to old cans for retro storage baskets

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2. Sew a pocket onto your couch cushions for television remote storage

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3. Paint wooden stairs two different colors to add detail and depth

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4. Use blackboard paint on kitchen cupboards

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5. Make your hat rack an artwork

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6. Fill a tray with pebbles for a practical and pretty shoe rack

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7. Use a plank of wood as a tea light holder

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8. Make a rope basket

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Inspired by thenewdaily; Images from Country Home, Good House Keeping, House and Garden UK, House Beautiful, Lushome, Martha Stewart, Coastal Nest, Cupcakes and Cashmere

15 Absolutely Brilliant Ways To Hide The Ugly Stuff In Your House

Use these genius ideas to help de-clutter and hide eyesores in your house.

1. Fancy storage boxes to conceal your router

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2. Add wallpaper to the fridge

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3. Or give it a coat of chalkboard paint

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4. Create a drawer for your printer

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5. Use wall art to turn add character to your wires

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6. Or build an equally awesome mini-fence

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7. Transform a plain door with paint and masking tape

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8. Turn a low drawer into a pet-feeding hutch

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9. Create a ceiling rope-hung rack instead of your standard garment rack

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10. Make over your washing machines with electrical tape

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11. Add a fresh coat of paint to your garage door

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12. Turn your balcony into a yard with astroturf

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13. Spray-paint your folding chairs

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14. Stash peek-a-boo plants in your cinder blocks

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15. Buy or sew your own crate cover for the pup

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Inspired by BuzzFeed; Images from sweetsanitydesigns, erinlauray, amazon, houzz, freshome, kellysmoonlight, apartmenttherapy, abeautifulmess, bhg, neturagrass

5 Chairs That Changed The World

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What is it about a chair that can make our hearts flutter?

It’s really just something to sit on, yet it is so much more than that. Chairs have never been defined just by their functional roles, think of the difference between a throne and a bench. A good chair will have you stand back and admire it’s beauty, yet immediately want to walk up and have a seat.

Here are five chairs that have obtained ‘classic’ status, and blur the boundary between furniture and sculpture.

1. Michael Thonet’s 214

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When Michael Thonet first introduced his bentwood chair in 1859, little did he know that over 150 years later it would still be in production. The ’214′, also called the coffee-house chair, became the first mass produced chair in the world. It has been in continuous production since, with over 50 million chairs produced to date.

2. Marcel Breuer’s Wassily Chair

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This revolutionary chair is named after the painter Wassily Kandinsky. The tubular steel frame design was revolutionary and Breuer first got the idea from his bicycle. Made in 1925, this chair became even more popular when 1950′s mass production brought the cost down.

3. Ludwig Mies Van Der Rohe’s Barcelona Chair

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In 1929, Mies van der Rohe designed this chair for the German Pavilion at Barcelona. It was intended as seating for the King and Queen. Today this chair is seen in many corporate lobbies and ultra modern homes.

4. Eames Lounge Chair

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Designed for Hollywood film director Billy Wilder in 1956, the Eames Lounge Chair blurs the boundaries between office and home. It is a beautifully comfortable chair, while being simply splendid to look at. Made of luxurious materials, it still is a favourite with many today.

5. Arne Jacobson 3107 Chair

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Arne Jacobsen was one of the most important contributors to Danish design and Danish modern architecture. He enjoyed worldwide success with his simple but effective chair designs. This chair was inspired by Charles and Ray Eames’ designs and is now one of the most copied chairs in the world.

Always surround yourselves with things that you love. Don’t forget to look for beauty in everyday items, like the simple chair.

Inspired by KarenFron; Images from Karenfron, Hawksworth Interiors

Singapore Hotel Unveils Chanel & Warhol Inspired Rooms

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When the worlds of contemporary art and high-end fashion collide you know the result is going to be high-octane and glamorous.

Earlier this year, luxury hotel Naumi in Singapore spruced up its guestrooms with Coco Chanel and Andy Warhol inspired themes.

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The chic 73-room hotel, which is located slap bang in the middle of Singapore’s central business district, is a stone’s throw away from the Suntec Convention Centre, the Formula One Track and a myriad of inner-city shopping centres.

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With chic monochrome and pale green hues, both rooms are decked with designer furnishings, featuring an origami pendant lamp. Artistic interpretations of Coco Chanel’s iconic flower the Camellia grace the walls, alongside lush floor-to-ceiling silk curtains.

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The stylish rooms also feature large bathrooms with a powerful rain-shower, and a smokescreen bathroom glass panel that switches from clear to frosted at the touch of a button – how cool! We love the colossal freestanding bathtub.

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If high-end fashion is not your thing then the equally glamorous art inspired rooms may just tick the right boxes. A combination of quirky and fun, the rooms bring a playful and urban ambiance.

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“Art is what you can get away with,” said Andy Warhol. And artistic license reigns in the Andy Warhol inspired rooms, Eden and Nirwana. Decadently and stylishly designed, with standout furniture featuring the Andy Warhol themed rooms feature interesting shapes and dramatic pops of colour. Specially commissioned artwork by Olivier Henry of the Singapore skyline and Thai artist Pariwat has been sourced to make the rooms standout. Decked out to resemble a swanky New York penthouse, the oversized bed takes centre stage, with a fabulous circular bathtub hidden behind a revolving screen.

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Other designer furnishings in the Coco Chanel and Andy Warhol themed rooms include Apple TVs, toiletries by Malin + Goetz, high-speed WiFi and Apple’s AirPlay Mirroring.

The luxury hotel’s Coco Chanel and Andy Warhol inspired rooms are fun, stylish and ideal if you’re looking for a special experience in the heart of Singapore.

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Naumi Hotel, 41 Seah Street, Singapore 188396, naumihotel.com

Inspired by Adelto; Images by Adelto.

Banksy Masterpieces Reimagined in Lego Form

We love LEGO. And we love Banksy. So what happens when you put these two together? As photographer Jeff Freisen has shown, the answer is a whole lot of awesome.

Frisen reimagines Banksy’s world-renowned images by giving them the minimal look of Lego bricks. Fans can chuckle through more of Freisen's Bricksy collection by visiting his website, A Brick Fantastic, or Instagram.

1. Balloon Girl

“There is always hope. Especially if you tie it to your wrist.”

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2. Paleo Diet

“Follow your instincts: devour sugar, carbs, and mystery meat whenever you come across them.”

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3. Just Following Orders

The Royal Urban Stencil Regiment is a secret branch of the Queen’s Guard. Their ritual "nicking of the spray paint” is a rarely photographed ceremony in London hardware shops.

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4. The Mother of Anarchy

Raising a well-presented anarchist has never been easier in these tumultuous times.

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5. Haring Terrier

Keith Haring’s successes as a dog breeder are overshadowed by his achievements in the art world.

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6. Hanging Around

Tightey-whiteys are not Frank’s first choice for public display. Perhaps parachute pants will be a better choice for next time.

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7. Banana Pulp Fiction

Never bring a gun to a fruit fight.

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8. Photo Opportunity

There’s got to be an angle of Big Ben the world hasn’t seen, though it’s not for lack of trying.

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9. Bouquet Thrower

Strong-arm Flower Delivery specialises in tragically forbidden love.

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10. Keep It Real

"Say yes to your inner monkey.”

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11. Like A Rat On A Wire

Experts say that in London you are never less than 12 meters away from a tightrope-walking rat.

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12. Kissing Coppers

The police are enthusiastic supporters of stop-and-frisk policies.

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13. Old Skool

You never really know who your future self is going to be. It’s probably better that way.

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13. Maid In London

“Secret Sweeper.”

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Images from Jeff Friesen: The Brick Fantastic

Our Favourite Quentin Tarantino Production Designs

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Damn son, Quentin Tarantino and Uma Thurman are finally a pair.

To celebrate, we’ve picked out our favourite sets from his movies, starting from the warehouse scene in Reservoir Dogs, to the home of Calvin Candie in Django Unchained. Do you agree?

1. Warehouse in Reservoir Dogs

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2. Jack Rabbit Slim’s in Pulp Fiction

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3. House of Blue Leaves in Kill Bill Vol. 1

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4. Bill’s house in Kill Bill Vol. 2

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5. Le Gamaar in Inglourious Basterds

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6. Home of Calvin Candie in Django Unchained

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Images from Posh24, Dvdactive, ScreenRobot, BuzzSugar, Tarantino Wiki.