Thinking beautifully from Angroda designs, Mariana Betancourt, a Miami interior designer, shares her experience in the industry with us.

Mariana, where did you start?  I always knew that Interior Design was one of my passions. After working as an Image Specialist designing Trade Show Booths, one of my clients asked me to decorate her house and that was the beginning of my career as an Interior Designer after studying Mass Communication at Florida International University.

How would you describe your design style? My style is very eclectic. Contemporary – Naturalist – Modern – Minimalistic – Vintage

Who/what inspires or influences you? My clients inspire me a lot! Their stories, family, backgrounds… I always think about them when I am decorating. I get a lot of inspiration when I travel… I like to touch the materials and visualize them in my projects.

What do you see as the top design trends/styles/colors for 2012? I see a combination of modern, classic and vintage pieces.  The use of 1 or 2 bright colors as the main focus and the rest to be kept in white, nude, grey or sand colors.

What are good suggestions for someone trying to design for a new home? Always think about the use of the space. Expensive doesn’t mean comfortable. Elegant and simple spaces are always in style.

What are some tricks to coordinating colors to create the right look? Don’t combine more than 3 bright colors in the same space. Always use neutral colors to balance the energy in the space.

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Outdoor Furniture

Sometimes you just don’t know what you will read. It started innocently enough discussing the effects of gardening and digging in fresh black soil that usually makes most people happy however, this article went on to discuss the benefits of a microbe geosmin that naturally occurs in compost piles that acts essentially as a natural happy pill. That smell of fresh earth after a rain is the essence of feeling good. In keeping with this thought, enriching the garden so we can bloom just as well as our plants, it is important to make this space work so we can enjoy its bountiful environmental and health benefits.

Getting a handle on how much space you have, first consider how you would like to use it then immensely useful for keeping projects on track, create a sketch of where, what, when and how. Since working in soil is beneficial to our well being be sure to include either in ground plantings or pots filled with medicinal plants such as aloe vera and edible plantings. It is not necessary to choose between flowering plants and edible ones as many produce beautiful intermittent flowers that presage vegetables as well as edible flowers themselves; case in point nasturtiums. Plan to design the garden in layers taking into account the size of mature plantings to ensure that there is adequate space for growing plants.

Taking a cue from such a healthy s/pl/ace, modern outdoor furniture should be situated to maximize both interactive engagement with the garden plants as well encourage reflective musings under the dappling of leaf filtered sunlight and gentle breezes slightly perfumed with what else, dirt!

Keep sectional sofas within easy reach of ripening tomatoes and fresh herbs spilling over the edges of scattered pots. You can decide to go with the typical wicker furniture however, there have been some recent intriguing design initiatives elevating plastic outdoor patio furniture to almost theatrical levels with eccentric baroque lines and vibrant colors that rivals the best that Nature has to offer. The “Design of Love” series offers high design in easy to take care of plastic along with colors that will double your happy level with a color selection that is definitely eye catching. Nestled next to blooming orange trees and tropical banana trees, they will compliment any garden design that champions vibrancy. Feel free to mix them with some more traditional patio furniture and wood deck chairs for an eclectic, one of a kind space.

While you are busy adding modern patio furniture pieces as your happiness level dictates, take a moment to make sure that this space is really your space. Including and highlighting those items that you zealously protected to bring home from vacations and perhaps challenged both nature and man to retrieve is the stuff of story making and good times to share. A treasured rock placed atop a cocktail table, adds both weight so on a windy day it won’t blow away as well provides that therapeutic feeling of connection. Why not use the collected beach glass as the mulch around the plants. Sea shells can serve similar duty.

A happy habitat is one that lets us celebrate our life and gives us meaning. Design also is ultimately very personal and should express us in the way that we live each and every day. Once the concern over whether we got it right or not is dispelled, we find the relaxation and comfort that good design, personal design should bring to our lives on a daily basis providing nutrients for our soul in the same manner that rich, black soil does for plants.

Pot Of Love Price: $119.00
Duke Of Love Price: $595.00
Joker Of Love Price: $395.00
Little Queen Of Love Price: $495.00
Queen of Love Chair Blue Price: $895.00
Queen of Love Chair White Price: $895.00
Deckchair White Price: $219.00
Outdoor Canopy Bed White Price: $989.00

Ball Outdoor Sofa Set White Price: $989.00

Outdoor Dilido Table White Price: $889.00

Tripoli 360 Large Umbrella Price: $550.00

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Some tips provided by design experts for making small backyards seem larger are simple, straightforward and will make the difference between feeling deprived and fully enjoying your outdoor space.

One of the first things you can do is to create varying levels creating visual interest as well as providing for additional seating. This allows you to maximize the yards available space by perimeter plantings. These can be storage boxes or planters that provide storage, easy access to flowers, herbs and add an additional element of establishing distinct spaces which leads to the next recommendation…

Create at least two outside “rooms”. This definition between the spaces, especially in a small location, provides the sense of being able to travel even if it is around a planting of tall grass giving a sense of motion and “arriving” at a place of destination. Modern deck furniture is well suited to form groupings that informally invite conversations and help to define areas. Even a well placed umbrella or a cluster of them creates areas of interest, a focal point. In a small space these shouldn’t be too large or they will overpower the space but they also should not be so minimal that the effect is lost. Taking the time to develop a design concept for each room will increase the sense of having moved from one environment to the next. Try mixing sectional sofas in one room with a modern outdoor dining room in the other. In this way you have created defined areas along with great functionality. Be playful and look for color schemes as well to distinguish one room from the other which leads to the next recommendation…

Keep bright colors to the foreground in plantings. This keeps the eye returning to a position away from the back so the boundary of the space has a tendency to recede, again making the yard look bigger. Adding one continuous deck around the pool area provides for easy clean-up and the furniture should be both practical and fun. The “Queen of Love” is a recently released oversized colorful, baroque inspired outdoor chair that just begs for attention, ample use and inclusion as a made-to-order conversation starter. With delicious colors ranging from pink to yellow, white to black, surely you can find inspiration from the inclusion of this piece or get adventurous and consider the entire line, “Design of Love” which includes additional pieces that will add sparkle and uniqueness to your backyard.  Outdoor cocktail tables, champagne urns and storage ottomans with the ultimate in modern design will provide for lots of design possibilities.

Another consideration is to use tile. An excellent non-slip material, it allows for the flow through of water and supports wicker chairs and deck loungers, avoiding nasty gouges in the ground. A technique to visually fooling the eye and making a space seem larger than it is is to lay the tile down diagonally. This creates a sense of the space being larger than it is.

Source: http://www.landscapingnetwork.com/landscaping-ideas/small-yard/design.html

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It is clear that today’s top modern furniture designers have gone through the rigors of professional design training,. While they will most likely be the first to acknowledge that training has a lot to do with their success, they will also be likely to admit that there is also the intangible element of inspiration. That undefined element that transcends training, allowing the whole to become larger than the sum of its parts. Utilizing the relationships between volumes, colors, materials, textures and more in a design challenge is more readily understood by professionals because they have put in the time and have learned how to recognize and develop patterns, contrasting and complementing elements; a conscious rather than an unconscious process. With all this said, just what can the novice do to pursue also having the design performance experience?

An easier arena to start with is perhaps the outside living area. In places like Miami, the patio experiences as much exterior living as interior spaces due to its wonderfully subtropical climate. With less upfront dollars invested and with furniture more forgiving, this is the perfect place for creating an outdoor space that speaks to you.

Not quite sure how to begin? Visit a few modern furniture showrooms. If you happen to be lucky enough to live next to major design centers such as Houston, Los Angeles, Miami or New York City finding a location with the up-to-the-minute selections fresh off the hottest world designers’ drawing boards will be more readily available. If not, fret not and get online. There is much to choose from. Don’t be timid to mix and match seemingly unrelated pieces or styles. Now, take one of the lessons from professional designers, look for a unifying element. It can be an element that is similar or the link is in its difference.

An all white palette will look unified simply because it is all the same color. Just as much, a highly contrasted unifying theme like black and white is simply the repetition of contrasting color. Try to avoid overdoing any particular element as it can seem stiff and start to become counter to the intend experience and outcome of flow rather than only conformance to a design concept.

Just like a design performance, the goal is to allow the design to become an organic process that balances the needs of the practical; I am creating a sectional sofa to the artistic expression that allows for perhaps a grouping of outdoor storage containers in varying heights to create en masse seating that allows for opening and grouping the pieces as desired.

Gather together elements that appeal to you perhaps a low synthetic rattan table with large, oversized umbrellas arching over the seating area for an instant party like atmosphere. Adding lights always brings out a special element. Play with color to allow for exuberance or for a quiet interweaving of the natural with the manmade. Let what you like, what you enjoy be a part of this process. It is not necessary to over commit to the final design. Don’t like it? Do it again!

There are times when professional designers collaborate on a design so consider making it an afternoon activity where you and your family become the stars of your own design show. Take turns designing for each other voting and keeping the best until the next time.

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Comfortable, clean and easy to design around, the Oria Dining chair is the perfect modern complement to your dining room set. Original price: $190 Sale price: $169 Pair these dining chairs with the Alina Dining Table also on sale for $690.

Create the backyard oasis you’ve always dreamed of with Modani Furniture’s cushy outdoor Bonifacio two-seater sofa. Save $50 on this purchase during Modani’s 7-Day Sale.  Add the coffee table for $290 or the matching armchair, also on sale, for $440.

Go bold this spring with Modani’s Calypso Rug. Bring the energy of the islands to your home with this vibrant mini carpet. During Modani Furniture’s 7-Day Sale, save $100 by purchasing for only $290.

Bring the glitz and glamour to your home with this specially carved mirror from Modani Furniture. Oversized with decorative accents, the Malipiero Oversized Mirror  is $150 off for a price of only $840. Feel the old-world romance and add this to your modern collection today.

Modani Furniture has three showrooms nationwide in Los Angeles, Miami and New York as well as three new showrooms opening in 2012. You can also visit www.modani.com to see the latest in modern, stylish and affordable furniture.

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A critical point is taking a proper measure of the space. If you have low ceilings, than a platform bed might be a better choice so that you can maximize the space available to make your bedroom appear larger than it actually is.

One really good tip when looking at how to layout your bedroom is to make sure you maximize the view. If you have a gorgeous bay window overlooking the bay in Miami or a high-flung loft in New York overlooking the city, then as HGTV points out in their tips for arranging bedroom furniture, maximize the view. Instead of trying to buy bedroom sets that overpower or divert the attention, make the view a natural part of the bedrooms décor.

As part of redesigning your bedroom, after looking at layout and space, you will need to look for ways to remove clutter. Adding contemporary dressers might give you more storage space to hold items to help them from spreading all over your room.

“I always start with the bedroom,” says feng shui consultant Andrea Gerasimo of Menomonie, Wisconsin in this Natural Home and Garden article. “It’s your sanctuary.”

Gerasimo cites studies showing that what you’re thinking when you nod off affects how you sleep and your mood when you wake up. So if your last mental image is of chaos and clutter, you’re not setting the right stage for quality sleep.

As Gerasimo notes, many designers recommend starting with a bedroom first because it can become your sanctuary. If this is a new home, your bedroom furniture will be a part of your success in your new home, so make your decisions with care.

Once you’ve removed the clutter and have measured the layout, it’s time to start looking for bedroom furniture that matches your taste. Modern beds come in all shapes and colors these days and modern bedroom sets also make it easier to buy a cohesive look.

Most of us won’t have that stunning view, so as noted in this article here, the bed becomes the focal point. And the Freshome writer advises that new home owners scale décor based on the size of their bed. “Depending on the size of your bedroom, your bed will most likely be the focal point.  If you have a large bed in a small room, you will instantly feel cramped and uncomfortable,” said Freshome.  “Consider having a smaller bed, and size your table lamps and decorations in the same proportions.  If you are going through the effort and scaling down the bed, so should the accessories that surround the room.”

This includes your contemporary dressers as well, even if you need the storage space. Pick furniture that will grow with your needs over a few years. White and black is always a classic and can easily be mix and matched with interior designs around the room. Whether you want to add this year’s color, tangerine tango, to the sheets atop a white platform bed and a black shag rug for contrast or you want to keep it minimalist with all white furniture and sheets, it’s your new home and your bedroom.

Just remember to keep to the basics in size, so that you don’t overpower the room with a large modern bed. When in doubt, seek the advice of an interior designer who will best know how to incorporate your tastes and color preferences into a gorgeous design. Even visit a local showroom for a modern furniture store for inspiration before you decide. Take a look at images on the internet and use that as a guide in how you design your new bedroom.

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But why contemporary furniture over other styles?

Contemporary furniture is modern, it’s modular, it’s easy to move around and it’s easy to design with. Contemporary furniture designs come in many different colors and styles and like fashion, the trends can change regularly with the season, but it doesn’t mean it has to be complicated.

For those who don’t like the classic approach of minimalist design, contemporary brings warmth and creation and colors to a room. Contemporary dining tables for example, can feel sterile in a minimalist approach though the same materials are used in contemporary design. White, black, steel, glass, wood are all mixed to make contemporary furniture. Contemporary sofas might use other types of fabrics, materials or colors to create a look such as polycarbonate and even a tempered glass that brings a modern edge to a dining table or coffee table made of wood.

“Fundamentally, simplicity, subtle sophistication, texture and clean lines help to define contemporary style decorating,” says Coral Nafie, in an About.com article. “Interiors showcase space rather than things. By focusing on color, space, and shape, contemporary interiors are sleek and fresh.”

According to HGTV.com’s style glossary (one of our favorite sites!), contemporary furniture “encompasses a wide range of styles developed in the latter half of the 20th century. Pieces feature softened and rounded lines, as opposed to the stark lines seen in modern design. Interiors contain neutral elements and bold color and focus on the basics of line, shape and form.”

In their contemporary style 101 article, HGTV authors go on to say that contemporary interiors feature tone-on-tone color palettes relying heavily on brown, taupe, cream and pure white. Shots of color are sometimes found on a single wall, in a striking floor rug or in a special piece of art.”

And it is exactly those pieces complementing a modern leather sofa that make up the rich tapestry of contemporary furniture design. By finding the right rug, the right painting, the right accessories to complete the design, you truly make the contemporary furniture come together.

Remember, furniture such as a contemporary sofa can really make a lasting impression in your living room. In addition to the browns and whites or blacks, interior designers can really add color and patterns to your basic contemporary sofa by using it as a palette to paint their design. This allows your larger pieces of furniture to have a longer shelf life. By maximizing new colors each year, you can create the epitome of modern design in your home.

The reason you should prefer to choose contemporary furniture is the flexibility that allows it to be used with a variety of colors and even designs as you experiment with the right look for your home. How you mix and match can really change a room. Think about it. If you walk into a room designed in all oranges and yellows, you will feel very different than if you walked into a room designed in all purple, for a vivid contrast.  How you design and how you decorate can really affect the feel of your contemporary furniture, from your leather sofas to your contemporary dining table.

Choosing contemporary furniture is easy – it’s diversified, varied, colorful and vibrant. From your contemporary dining tables to your contemporary bedroom set, pick from a myriad of designs and colors to create your ideal look. You’ll be glad you did.

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When you come home to a living room that perfectly suits your tastes and needs, your home becomes a haven for family and friends to visit you. The living room is likely one of the most used rooms in your home so you want to make sure you get the most out of your living room furniture.

Central to your living room is the focal point or area of distinction. The layout of your living room is critical because this focal point such as a television stand, painting, fireplace or other creative space will become the gathering point of the room.

The goal is to encourage your guests to engage, or as HGTV points out in this article about creating a focal point, the goal is “sociopetal”. Sociopetal is the means of “arranging furniture to encourage a conversation.”

If you read further, HGTV explains how to arrange furniture in the living room with very specific distances apart and focusing on the shape of the furniture.

Make sure that you have natural pathways available so that you don’t have people crossing in front of the “conversation area.”  Position furniture carefully with traffic in mind so that it flows smoothly, especially if you have a large family and a lot of people in and out of your home.

When looking for a modern sofa store to setup your living room, consider how the layout will impact the room. City Living Magazine offers great layout tips in this article.

Central to their article is this statement: “Rather than investing in a large sofa and a loveseat, consider purchasing just the sofa and a couple of light-weight ottomans and club chairs for the space instead. The ottomans serve double duty: operating as trays or additional seating when you need to accommodate a fair number of guests. The club chairs can also be easily moved around to fit your needs a lot easier than an oversized couch.”

By diversifying your arrangements you create opportunities and make the most out of your living room furniture.  However, when considering placement, consider the size of your sofa.

A large living room can accommodate oversized furniture but sometimes, simpler is better, especially in small or tight spaces. A modern sofa can be found in a wide variety of colors and sizes, including large sectional sofas and small sofa beds.

By shopping at a modern sofa store, you can find the best quality and selection, particularly when looking for a leather sofa.

Leather or leatherette is a nice material to use in your living room furniture because it is durable, not easily stained and looks better over time.

This article  on the Sofa Blog outlines some great reasons why leather is a great material for your sofas. According to the writer, not only is it more durable and supple, but it has a higher fire resistance capability.

Now, the modern sofa is important to your living room, but equally critical is how you use the accent pieces such as coffee tables and side tables. Where does your lighting go? All of these little pieces are part of the bigger picture and influence the feel of a room. Do you have a second focal point? Finding the right accent pieces will be critical to making the most out of your living room furniture. Using a rug creates a location and truly adds to your room’s arrangement. Keep it simple so that other parts of the room can stand out, or use the rug to add color to your arrangement.

By shopping at the right sofa store that pairs matching accessories, you are sure to create a haven for family and friends.

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Sale items include:
Dec. 13 – This Onyx sofa bed is made with clean, minimalist lines and black tufted leatherette upholstery. Sale price $690.

Dec. 14 – Softly brightening up a room, the Galiano white dining table is ultra modern. This simple dining table can be mixed and matched with almost any room décor. Sale price: $690.

Dec. 15 –  Crafted of a fine leather with chrome legs, grab two Nova Dining Chairs for a small dinette or use them as stylish chairs in your office waiting room. Sale Price: $129.

Dec. 16 – Made of solid wood, this unique low lying platform perspective bed is designed with an additional boarder to create the illusion of a large bed frame without taking up space in the bedroom. On sale for $690.

Dec. 17 – Compartmentalize your modern TV stand. By using this sleek-lined console you remove all the typical clutter in a modern tv stand by hiding the movies, CDs and other items inside this tv stand’s three cabinets. Buy the Luciana TV stand for only $390.

Dec. 18 – Keep your interior clean and neat with this revolutionary new nylon rug! The fashionable grey flooring makes matting nearly nonexistent due to its durable fibers. The soft surface stands up to daily wear and tear and is also very affordable! White and grey on sale today for only $290.

Dec. 19 – Add a touch of class to your dining area with the black Bellini stools. Sleek, crisp and modern, the black Bellini chairs are great for the modern home and the modern bar or restaurant. On sale for $190.

Dec. 20 – Sleek-lined and very simple, the Armando Buffet will complement the modern living room with its basic brown color that is perfect for pairing with accessories on top. Also available in white. On sale for $590.
Dec. 21 – The stylish comfort of this two person outdoor couch is perfect to create a backyard haven. Made of a synthetic rattan, this durable outdoor sofa will become your favorite place to lounge. The Bonafacio two-seater couch is on sale for only $690.

Dec. 22 – The luxurious love seat fits up to three people.  A retractable roof covers the seat, shading its plushly padded cushions from the sun. Available in several colors, the love cap is on sale for only $890.

Dec. 23 – This metallic ceiling fixture is the perfect addition to any home where you can combine moder
n metallic with classic elegance. Buy the gold Mandrino Ceiling lamp for only $49.

Dec. 24 – The ornate design of hand carved wood boldly surrounds pure glass and is coated with solid black for the ultimate masculine finish. The presence of femininity is enhanced by the floral carvings and elegant reflection of this oversized mirror. Caravaggio mirror on sale for $590.

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