Sometimes referred to as the heart of the home, the kitchen is a place to prepare and cook food and, depending on the size, can be used to eat and entertain guests. In Ancient Greek homes, this room was a central open air patio but it was not until around 1800 that the stove, which enclosed fire completely, made cooking indoors possible. As technology advances, so do kitchens' design and efficiency. The introduction of the kitchen island has lent more flexibility to the positioning of the kitchen cabinets and kitchen sink, and helped make open plan kitchens and dining rooms a reality.

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The literal translation of "a room with a bath" has evolved into a more technical description where a "full bathroom" must comprise four plumbing fixtures: bathtub, shower, toilet and sink. After these four essential elements, it is all up to us to mix and match materials to transform a utilitarian room into a peaceful private spa, a glamorous spot to put on make-up or an eco-friendly place to shave. Bathroom cabinets and bathroom vanities store the ever increasing number of necessary products. Today, well designed bathrooms are beautiful, durable and highly functional.

Known as parlors in the 19th century, in the 20th century this space was renamed the "living room" where one can entertain guests, watch television, read, and practice the art of living. The living room is sometimes a rarely used room, without a television or other media, where visitors are formally entertained. Either way, living rooms provide a design set piece for you to display your signature look from a stylish combination of living room furniture.

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For a child, a bedroom is more than just a place to sleep. It is a place to do schoolwork, listen to music, play games, sprawl on the floor, rough-house, read, build models, daydream, visit with friends and keep innumerable possessions. You’ll need to plan carefully to create a room that serves all those functions, is comfortable and inviting — and has enough staying power to require only minimal redecorating every few years. The ultimate experts on what kids like best are kids themselves. Make kids feel involved in the design process by letting them help with selections for the room. Include the children’s interests and ask for their opinions as you create a decorating scheme. But don’t go overboard: Children’s interests change often, so use accessories that can be easily replaced when interest wanes. What you want is a room that both meets your needs and pleases your child. The furniture and accessories should be appropriate for your child’s age, but they should also be adaptable, not trendy. Pick baby and children’s furniture that can grow with your child — and any siblings who might be sharing a bunk bed. Also, plan to provide space for the many activities that may take place in a child’s room. This includes space for visiting friends and sleep-overs, a place for play (remember to have room for a train set or dollhouse), and a spot with a desk and good light for doing homework. Children should have a sense of control over their environment. They should be able to hang up clothes, reach toys and books, and sit in chairs that suit their size. An added benefit: They’ll learn early that they can do things for themselves.


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Our private sanctuaries where we retreat to every night and escape the stresses of the outside world. Throughout our lives, our bedrooms are intimate and personal spaces where we first learned to sleep alone, where we first learned to not sleep alone, where we wrote our deepest thoughts and hid them under the mattress, where it was ok to talk to ourselves out loud and where we all probably made our first design decisions. Beyond bed skirts and bolsters, see how great design decisions turn into great design ideas.

Bedroom

Bedroom

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