Luxurious Residential Transformation Expanding Architectural Horizons

Located in Johannesburg, the Brian Road Residence underwent extensive transformations that took the 1970s house to a contemporary level. Nico van der Meulen Architects imagined an atrium and moat surrounding the hall and dining room, while a water curtain falls past a cut-out in the atrium wall, shaping a breakfast garden to the east of the kitchen. The double-height living and dining space open to a spacious lanai extending the entertaining zone into the garden. Opulent social interiors adorned with Tom Dixon spherical copper lamps were divided into activity zones, creating an open floor plan combining family and entertaining possibilities. Luxury can be also recognized in the color choices: rich rust and copper hues meet bright natural light in a spectacular space arrangement. These modern South-African interiors were designed by M Square Lifestyle Necessities, who also transformed the private spaces into inviting indoor/outdoor splendors. Opening onto balconies and atriums, main bedrooms and bathrooms compete with the guest quarters, which lead out to the garden through frameless doors. A myriad of exceptional details compose this residential space, upgrading it to suit a luxurious 21st century lifestyle.

Creating a Games Room

If you have a spare room in your home and some fun friends and family members then what you may in need of is a games room!

A games room makes a great addition to the home, whether you have a large family or live alone, it provides fun and amusement for all. Today we are going to go through the game room essentials to make sure you have covered all of your basics to make your games room one to be enjoyed all year round!

1.) Jukebox

Every games room needs a jukebox, because it needs to look and feel like a playful atmosphere. Juke boxes come in various styles and shapes and so you can choose one that is customized to the look at that you want it to have.

You can also buy jukeboxes that are coin operated, or have a stereo that looks and operates like a jukebox, but doesnt require coins to get starteda games room must!

2.) Bold Colours

A games room is unlike any other room in the house, in that it is designed to be stimulating rather than relaxing. For this reason, bright bold colours, (often more than one) in reds, greens and yellows mixed with blacks make excellent shades for a games room.

3.) Pool Table

A games room is not complete without a pool table, and pool tables come in a variety of shapes, sizes and styles. UK pool tables tend to be smaller and so will leave you more space for other things, whereas American pool tables are bigger and brighter.

If you do need a pool table for your games room, you will also need pool cue hanging which can be fixed to the wall, or sit on the side like a stand. The one you go for is really up to you.

4.) Play centre

Whether you are more of a Nintendo Wii, a little bit Xbox, or 100% Playstation in your gaming styles, there is nothing more enjoyable than a dedicated gaming space to play on with mates. Games rooms that have a dedicated corner or space to computer games can look and feel fantastic all you need is a decent flatscreen, or projector with some comfy bright coloured bubble sofas and off you go!

Computer gaming areas in a games room work best when they are modern: so you will need sofas that are close to the ground and allow sitters to lean forward, and a good spongy matt on the floor between the seats and the screen to make sure that you can jump out of your seat and rock around whenever necessary.

5.) Lighting

Games rooms have lighting that highlights the entertainment parts of the room, and the more control you have over the lighting the more favours you do to the mood of the different parts of the room. This means pool table lighting over your pool table, spot lighting over your play centre and general lighting for the rest of the room.

6.) Drinks

You cannot and must not have a games room without refreshments nearby, as the last thing you need whilst you are playing is a reminder that the rest of the house and all of the associated chores that go with it is still there. Keeping some drinks in the games room is a great way to enhance the room.

Whether you install a full blown bar, or simply add a large, brightly colouredoversized SMEG fridge: drinks have to be present in all games rooms.

About:

Ben writes about decoration and home improvements, he currently works for an equipment hire company and loves to renovate his home.

10 Most Popular Projects Presented in August 2012

Dear Freshome readers, it is time to draw the line and see the posts that got most of your attention in the month of August. From clever furniture to exquisite resorts, this list is likely to surprise you. Remember that by clicking on the pictures, you can see more photos and details about each project.

#1. Making an urban space feel more welcoming is easy to achieve by putting a "colorful" idea into practice. Today we would like to introduce you to the Rainbow Bridge, an unusual elevated pedestrian walkway located in Magong, Penghu County, Taiwan. By simply adding a thin neon band to the massive construction, a wonderful visual effect is achieved.

#2. Provoking travelers to indulge in this combination of pure luxury and breathtaking beach side panoramas, Velassaru Maldives is located at the fine line between the sky and the ocean, in the paradise we call the Maldives. This expressive island hotel holds details inspired by local architecture, while the finishes are luxurious and invite to a world of indulgence.

#3. Designed by illustrious architect William Stephenson and located at 1705 Angelo Drive in Beverly Hills, this stunning villa was built back in 1956 and renovated to compose a modern environment for a relaxed contemporary lifestyle. Flooded with natural light through tall windows in spaces with 12 foot ceilings, the house opens towards a perfectly manicured back garden with an inviting wood deck surrounding the irregular swimming pool.

#4. Simplicity and originality define the new Jumpseat, a chair especially developed for auditoriums, perfectly blending style and function. According to the creative team at Ziba, the project is a result of the company's efforts to maximize space. The 200 seat auditorium for company meetings and community events in the photos below couldn't have been achieved without a clever chair design.Just click the photo for more details.

#5. Spiced up with random vivid color additions, exposed beams and slim metallic details reminding one of an industrial setting, this lovely contemporary Scandinavian apartment found on hemnet is inspiring to say the least. One look at the photos below and it seems incredible that the designers managed to do so much with a space of just 54 square meters.

#6. Starting from the idea of having more room within crowded spaces, this new space-saving solution from designer Orla Reynolds brings functional modern design in the spotlight again. Hinting towards its usefulness, the "As if from nowhere…" furniture concept marries a bookcase, four dining chairs and two tables in a one-of-a-kind design.

#7. Entertaining dinner guests can be easy and fun for them and for you at the same time. The challenges encountered while trying to make guests as comfortable as possible transform into a fun evening with the TrackTile Table. Imagined by Three Foot Three Design, these fun tables combine railroad patterns to shape modern entertaining possibilities.

#8. Leading companies like Google can't afford not getting noticed. The company's new London headquarters occupies the Central St. Giles Building in the city's Covent Garden area. Welcoming employees with a true London feel displaying Union Jack-covered walls, this themed fresh concept spreading over 160,000 square feet offers London-inspired design alongside beautiful city panoramas.

#9. Part of the Seychelles island collection and located four degrees south of the equator, Frégate Island Private stretches its protected tropical influence over a total of seven white sand beaches and luscious green surroundings. The small number of villas – 16 and one Presidential Villa to be exact – ensure a private experience, surprising the need for seclusion from stressful times.

#10. Fun, comfort and luxury go hand in hand in this special residential project found in New York City. The owner's excellent idea of uniting two new penthouse levels in the city's East Village took shape under the attentive supervision of Turett Collaborative Architects (TCA). Sliding down from one floor to another seems to be a luxury not only children can afford.