Trend Watch: Designing a home in 2017

It could be said that 2016 was a great year for interior design. It was a year long celebration of style as neutral colours took prominence in design and open floor layouts became more popular dissolving the borders between the living room, dining area and kitchen while the kitchens themselves featured cabinets with mismatched designs. So, what does the future hold for us this year?

Let’s take a look at the emerging interior and home design trends in 2017.

Go Green

If you’re looking for colour inspiration, Pantone’s Colour of the Year is a safe bet. The Pantone Color Institute has announced their choice for 2017 and it is Greenery.

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The colour represents refreshment, rejuvenation and rebirth, which is perfect for a new home design for the new year.

Industrial Lamps

Accessorize your home with quirky choices for lighting to add character. In addition to lighting up your home, industrial lamps also become part of the decor.

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Colour Blocking

Colour blocking is an emerging trend in kitchen cabinet design this year. Monochromatic colour blocking adds elegance to the kitchen cabinets and is timeless enough to not go out of style anytime soon.

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The Ebony, Ivy and Azure ranges of modular kitchens from Atom Interiors feature themes and styles, including colour blocking, for your custom designed kitchens.

Intelligent by Design

Will 2017 be the year of the Smart Home? As the world has moved on to using smartphones, it’s only a matter of time before Smart Homes become equally popular and commonplace.

Smart home technology can seamlessly blend into the decor of your home, without major changes to the design and construction.

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Artisanal Comeback

It appears that the DIY (do it yourself) trend of 2016 is slowly giving way to artisanal designs. Craftsmanship is taking prominence yet again with artisanal furniture becoming popular again.

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Solar Sustainability

With increased awareness about the damage caused by urban lifestyles to the environment, there is a growing demand for sustainable living. Going solar can generate extra power, reduce costs and save the environment.

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Are you ready to give your home a new look this year?

 

Atom Design Files: Introducing the Bespoke Wardrobe

Previously, we covered the different features that work together to define the perfect wardrobe: Functionality, Aesthetics and Workmanship.

Like your clothes that are tailor-made for you, your wardrobe should also reflect your personality. This month, we’re exploring the Ivy range of bespoke wardrobes from Atom Interiors, with its wide variety of themes and styles for customization.

Based on your storage space requirements, home décor and, most importantly, your personality, you can choose the type and theme of the wardrobe that’s the perfect fit for you and your home.

Movable Wardrobes

Also known as free standing wardrobes, this is the most popular type of wardrobe around. It allows for you to play and explore with the space available and try different ways in which to position furniture and decor items in your room.

If you’re a nomad who loves shifting base frequently, the movable wardrobe can be your constant companion.

Modular Wardrobes

Unlike the movable wardrobe, the modular wardrobe is designed to save on floor space by using sliding doors instead of doors that open outwards.  The wardrobe can be built from floor to ceiling for extra storage space.

Design your wardrobe with a range of finishes from Natural Wood to Polyester and Veneer to match the décor of your home.

Built-in Wardrobe

Also known as a wall mounted wardrobe, it forms an integral part of the layout of the room. The wardrobe can be aesthetically designed to enhance the decor of the home and save space too.

With the Ivy range of wardrobes from Atom Interiors, you can customize the design based on your preferences. The wardrobe unit can even double as an entertainment unit to display your television.

If you love thinking out of the box, customizing wall-mounted wardrobes is the way to go.

Corner Wardrobes

Also known as the L-shaped wardrobe, it can be designed to fit into the corners of the bedroom, which is usually an underutilized space.

If you’re an artist who loves adding a quirky touch to your home, a creatively designed corner wardrobe can be your next masterpiece.

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Walk-in Wardrobes

A walk-in wardrobe adds a layer of luxury and sophistication to your home decor.

If you have extra space or an extra room, design a walk-in wardrobe to organize and display your clothes.

If you’re a shopaholic and a fashionista, the walk-in wardrobe can be your happy place.

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With different themes and styles, the Ivy range of bespoke wardrobes from Atom Interiors can be customized to be a perfect fit for your home. Give us a call.

 

 

 

Hosting the perfect Christmas and New Year party

 

The festive season is upon us. It’s that time of the year when you invite your friends and family over to celebrate Christmas and the New Year.

If you have moved into a new house or renovated recently, here are a few tips on hosting a party that becomes a memorable occasion for you and your guests.

Tree of Life

The first step will be to establish a Christmas theme for your party. Begin by setting up the Christmas tree in the living room. An artistically decorated Christmas tree adds life to the room instantly.

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If your living room furniture is arranged to focus on a statement piece like a coffee table or the entertainment unit with the television, rearrange the furniture to put the focus on the Christmas tree, to make it a topic of conversation.

Set the Tune

With the focus now on the Christmas tree, the entertainment unit can be used for its primary purpose. Equip your music system with the latest music to turn it into a DJ station.

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Your musically inclined guests can take command of the station and keep the music going till the party ends.

The Playground

Your young guests will need entertainment of their own. Set up a kid’s table with books and toys to keep them occupied.

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The older children would prefer a television and music system which can be set up in one of the bedrooms.

What’s your Poison?

To cater to your older guests, set up a self-serve cocktail bar at your bar unit, which can be stationed in the living room or the dining room.

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Stock up on the alcoholic beverages and offer your guests the chance to mix their own drinks.

Dinner is Served

Use the table in your dining room as a buffet table where your guests can serve themselves. Clear up space in the dining room for walking space by moving the chairs to other parts of the house.

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Use the console units as additional tables to hold appetizers and soups.

Kitchen Conversations

And finally, open up your kitchen to your guests where more food can be placed and served. For food that will continue to be prepared as the party goes on, keep your ovens and stoves accessible and ready to be used.

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An open kitchen offers more space for socialising outside of the living and dining rooms.

 Find out more about console units, entertainment units and modular kitchens from Atom Interiors. Give us a call.

 

 

Is your house ready for the holiday season?

Once again, it’s that time of the year when you get ready to open your house up to friends and family, entertaining, throwing parties and celebrating the festive season. From dinners to stay overs, your house should be ready to host your loved ones.

Let’s take a look at how you can prepare your home for the holiday season.

Liven up the living room

Since the living room will be the space where most of your guests will spend their time, bring in more furniture for extra seating.  Avoid large furniture though as they can take up a lot of space. Go for smaller, ergonomic pieces of furniture that can make the living room appear larger and spacious and add to the aesthetic appeal of the living room.

Plan the layout of your living room to create walkways and open spaces around your furniture so your guests can sit and move around easily. Keep the number of tables in the living room to a minimum as they can block walkways and the open spaces.

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Invest in a good entertainment unit since it plays an important role during the holiday season. If you have children staying over, make sure the entertainment unit is well equipped with a good television, gaming systems like the Playstation and Xbox, a sound system and a collection of the latest movies and music.

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If you’re planning to host dinner parties, a bar unit can be quite useful in the storage and preparation of alcoholic beverages. Bar units add a touch of class to your parties and let you and your guests prepare drinks and cocktails and have conversations around them.

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Freshen up the bedroom

If you have guests staying over, prepare the guest bedroom for an enjoyable stay. Bring in fresh pillows and bed sheets to give a welcoming touch to the bedroom. Add a personal touch by keeping a small selection of books based on your guests’ tastes.  Also, add an alarm clock, a night lamp and toiletries.

In addition to the bed, chairs can be placed in the bedroom for your guests to spend their day in.

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For more storage, wardrobe units can serve as a place for your guests’ clothes. Maximise the storage space in the guest bedroom by using lofts for keeping luggage and drawers under the bed where your guests can store their belongings.

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Stock up the kitchen

Prepare for the holiday season with a well-stocked kitchen. If you’re having family staying over, organize the ingredients and utensils in your kitchen to make it easier for them to help with the cooking or even cook something for themselves when you’re not around.

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For the extra food and supplies, add storage space with kitchen cabinets and drawers.

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If you like to entertain your guests in the kitchen, especially children, convert your kitchen island into a seating space with extra stools and chairs. Create a child and pet friendly atmosphere in the kitchen by keeping the utensils and appliances in their allocated places.

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Get your house ready for the holiday season with bar units, entertainment units, wardrobe units and themed kitchens from Atom Interiors. Give us a call.

 

Atom Design Files: Defining the Perfect Wardrobe

What should you look for when buying or designing a wardrobe for your home?

There are three features that define a wardrobe: Functionality, Aesthetics and Workmanship. The perfect wardrobe performs its primary function of storage, enhances the beauty of your home and has a long, maintenance-free life.

Let’s take a look at how the three features work together in the Ebony range of wardrobes from Atom Interiors.

The Interior

The interiors of the wardrobe should be designed to maximize storage space.

Using drawers, you can organize your clothes more efficiently. And drawer dividers can be used to arrange different kinds of clothing by type, colour, etc.

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A rack, either pull-down or pull-out, can be used to organize your trousers, saving space and improving accessibility.

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An efficiently designed wardrobe can also be used to keep your shoes, eliminating the need for a separate shoe rack. With pull-out drawers, you get more space to store the footwear.

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 The Exterior

Along with the primary function of storage, the wardrobe also contributes to the decor of the home. It quite frequently takes centre stage as the signature piece of the room.

For an aesthetic look, try a two-tone finish for the doors and body of the wardrobe.

To add a splash of colour to your room, go for a colour block design for your wardrobe.

Workmanship

In addition to the two features, the workmanship determines the longevity of the wardrobe. The handles and hinges have to be of impeccable quality to ensure a user-friendly design.

Handles, in particular, can enhance the aesthetic appeal of the wardrobe. Ornate designs can be distracting, so choose a simple, minimal design for the handle. On the other hand, recessed handles are unobtrusive by fitting into the design of the door.

The workmanship of a wardrobe can also be seen in the finish. The doors and body of the wardrobe can be made from MDF panels with a laminate finish. The range of finishes includes glossy, matte and textured options.

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To ensure a long life for your wardrobe, the skirting of the wardrobe is essential. Often ignored, the bottom of the wardrobe is exposed to damage by wear and tear and stains. A good skirting, preferably in aluminium, helps the wardrobe last longer with almost zero maintenance.

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Ebony wardrobes can be customized to your preferences with a harmony of these three qualities by focussing on its value for worth, resilience and dependability.

Try the Ebony range of wardrobes. Give us a call.

 

Maximize style (and storage) with furniture

Furniture design is an art and a science combining a focus on aesthetic and function. But instead of going through the motions of picking furniture for our homes, just because we know we need it…why not rethink the obvious? Sure, we may need an entertainment unit for the television set, but do we really need the bookshelf/curios shelf too? Or would that beautifully designed minimal entertainment unit have the space to house your prized shell collection?

And there’s a whole bunch of other functional factors to consider too. Efficient usage of floor space. Ergonomic design. Let’s take a look at how different types of furniture achieve a balance of aesthetic and function.

Entertainment Unit

Storage:

Look for an Entertainment Unit that displays the television prominently with adequate space and wiring for associated devices like a Blu-Ray player and, for gamers, Playstations and XBoxes. For readers, it can even hold your favourite books.

Style:

Look for units that are designed to focus your attention on the television instead of distracting from it. With a natural wood finish, the entertainment unit looks elegant and yet does not draw too much attention to itself.

Bookshelf

Storage:

While there are many bookshelves that look great and can surely enough house your books, look for the accessibility along with the functionality of space. The bookshelf can also feature space to display paintings or sculptures along with your books, to express your tastes in both literature and art.

Style:

Books are great conversation starters and the living room can be a great space to place it in. Look for designs that are inviting and showcase your books well. An open design helps in housing books of different shapes and sizes. Minimalistic structures also help reduce the feeling of clutter in the room.

Bar Cabinet

Storage:

While it’s primarily a functional space with storage for bottles, glasses and decanters, a counter that’s easy to pour and mix drinks on can suit your bartending style when you’re serving as a bartender at your own parties.

Style:

As alcohol preferences differ, it can be an extension of your personality. A dark wood look and an elegant frame design can add class and finesse to your bar cabinet.

Shoe Rack

Storage:

A wall-mounted shoe rack saves floor space and keeps the footwear out of sight. The shoe rack can be pulled down to place the footwear. The shoe rack is mounted at the right height for accessibility.

Style:

While most shoe racks or shoe cabinets are extremely functional in nature, there’s no reason why it cannot be aesthetically designed. Traditional shoe racks are placed on the floor, close to the door, but shoe racks can also be designed to efficiently use floor space by being mounted on the wall.

Study Table

Storage:

The storage space in your desk can be designed along with the other furniture in the room to serve multiple purposes. For example, it can double up as a night table for the bed in the bedroom. In this way, spaces in the room that are usually wasted can be used for extra storage.

Style:

Look for a clutter free, minimal study table which is essential to stay free of distractions. With concealed handles and a wood finish that matches the walls and floor, the study table seamlessly fits in to the overall design of the room.

Pooja Unit

Storage:

Look for pooja units that feature a prominent display space for the deities and also serve a functional purpose to store the necessities for rituals like camphor, incense sticks, etc.

Style:

Pooja units can be aesthetically designed in accordance with cultural traditions and the theme of the overall design of the house. The design can be immersive to draw you in, while you settle into a sense of calm and tranquillity for a spiritual experience.

Chest of Drawers

Storage:

A chest of drawers serves the purpose of storage and can be used for efficient organization. With different drawers and the compartments within, you can segregate the items that need to be stored inside.

Style:

A chest of drawers instantly adds to the aesthetic appeal of your home. It can give a stately look to your living room with a charming old-world finish.
Choose colours or a natural wood texture to define the look of the chest of drawers. Blend that with a metal look with handles and support and the chest of drawers instantly stands out as a statement piece in your living room.

With a balance of function and style, the Atom range of fixed furniture enhances your home. Give us a call.

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Atom Design Files: Kitchens of essence

As a design philosophy, Minimalism retains the essence, removing the unnecessary. At Atom, we believe that the kitchen is the ideal minimalist space.

Let’s take a look at how our Azure range of kitchens are crafted using this philosophy to ensure perfection.

“Less is more”

Celebrating the sheer elegance of simplicity, minimal kitchens are modern and contemporary, eliminating frills and embellishment.

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“Simplicity is about subtracting the obvious and adding the meaningful”

Kitchens, such as the Azure range, can be tastefully designed and dynamic.

The beautifully bare aesthetic eliminates clutter by using storage spaces that are integrated into the design. Nothing feels out of place in the Azure kitchen.

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“Good design is obvious. Great design is transparent.”

In the Minimal kitchen, great design is unobtrusive and seamless.

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The streamlined design of the Azure range enhances the efficiency and aesthetics of the kitchen, while remaining transparent.

 “The details are not the details. They make the design.”

With a fine attention to detail mastered through quality workmanship, the Minimal kitchen uses premium finishes and ergonomic design motifs.

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The Azure range offers a range of finishes from Natural Wood to Polyester and Veneer to create different themes based on a person’s preferences.

Celebrating the elegance of simplicity, the efficiency of streamlined design and an attention to detail, the Minimal kitchen adds a sense of calm to cooking.

Try out the Azure range of kitchens. Give us a call.

 

Atom Design Files: Introducing the Social Kitchen

The 21st century kitchen looks very different from the kitchens of the 20th century.

This is because the very idea of a kitchen has undergone a radical transformation. It is no longer a space to just cook and store food. The kitchen has become a social space, where family and friends get together.

At Atom, we believe that the kitchen should reflect one’s personality and lifestyle. Let’s take a look at how our Ivy range of kitchens can be designed to reflect those qualities and also enhance them.

Free the kitchen

If you love having people over, the first step is to open up your kitchen. In the past, kitchens were isolated spaces in separate rooms. However, kitchens are now designed to be an integral part of the home with no walls between the living areas and the kitchen.

With open floor plans, the Ivy kitchen seamlessly blends in with the other areas of the home, creating the perfect ambience to entertain your guests.

Make the kitchen family-friendly

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On the other hand, if you like having your family around in the kitchen, you need a more intimate ambience. A kitchen island or a large dining table in your kitchen can seat your entire family.

With the Ivy kitchen, cooking can become a social activity with others joining in. It’s easier to encourage your children to take up cooking if they already love spending time in it.

Modernize the kitchen

If entertaining friends or family is not your forte and you prefer your own company, cooking need not be a boring, monotonous activity. Bring in your TV, computer, tablet or phone for entertainment.

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Watch television or listen to music while you cook in an entertainment-friendly kitchen. Make place for your favourite gadgets while you design your kitchen.

Personalize the kitchen

As an integral part of your home where you entertain your guests or just be yourself, the kitchen should also showcase your personality. Express your tastes in art and culture while doing up the interiors. Paintings, sculptures and posters can add character to your kitchen.

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The decor of the Ivy kitchen can be personalized to match your aesthetic sense. Choose between different looks like the high gloss, wooden texture or satin. Or pick a customized finish that quite simply defines you.

Try out the Ivy range of premium kitchens from Atom Interiors. Give us a call.

Atom Design Files: Customizing Kitchens

A kitchen is usually seen as a functional space in a home but it should ideally be comparable to an artist’s studio. Cooking is an art and an artist needs a space to work his or her magic.

At Atom, we believe the kitchen is a personal space that is in sync with the artistic process of the cook. Let’s take a look at how our Ebony range of kitchens can be customized to enhance creativity and efficiency.

Organize your tools of the trade

Use angled drawer dividers to keep your most used cooking implements close at hand. It helps in increasing efficiency.

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Use dowel rods to keep the cooking implements in reach for easy access.

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Along with the cooking implements organized in drawers and on dowel rods, the Ebony kitchen provides additional storage space with a tall unit fitted into the corner.

Classify your condiments

Design a drawer to keep your condiments neatly labelled and organized.

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For even easier access, set up a spice rack under the cabinet.

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House your appliances

Appliances can take up a lot of place on your kitchen counters, affecting your cooking process. Keep them out of the way by housing them inside cabinets and take them out only when needed.

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With cabinets to hold both utensils and appliances, nothing is ever out of place in the Ebony kitchen.

Set up kitchen stations

Keep similar appliances and utensils together. A kitchen station for your morning coffee would have the coffee machine, mugs, ingredients etc., all within easy reach.

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Store your vegetables

Reinvent drawers to make them storage space for vegetables. Keep your most used vegetables handy for more efficient cooking.

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The dwarf unit in the Ebony kitchen holds ample space for multiple vegetable drawers.

So, what is your favourite method of organizing the kitchen?

For a perfect balance of aesthetics and modular, try out the Ebony range of kitchen designs from Atom Interiors. Give us a call.

 

What you’ll need when doing up your home.

When doing up your home, you’re faced with a host of choices to make your space truly your own. To have your home reflect your personality and your needs. To have your home become an extension of yourself.

But you are also faced with a series of obstructions that are bound to come up. Here are a few things you can use to deal with them:

1. A Giant Swatch BookKeep a notebook/folder/binder and stationery kit on the ready. With perhaps a camera to track improvements through stages. Save all your favourite swatches and file them ceaselessly. Take notes copiously. This is going to be your bible for the next few months.
2. Measuring TapeYes. The carpenter does own one. Nope. You can’t depend on just the one.While working with the unorganized sector, you may end up finding that a shelf is not quite at the right angle it has to be. Or that the cabinet that you wanted below the window seems closer to the floor instead. While you don’t want to be a micromanager (this won’t get you anywhere with your carpenter), be hands on with your project and ensure all measurements are noted right.
3. TimeRome was not built in a day. Neither was home!Of course it would be great to move in within a couple of months (and it is possible! Refer: http://www.atominteriors.com). However, keep in mind that you’re likely not the vendors’ only clients, and that they’ll likely need their personal days and festive holidays off too. More importantly there’s more to putting together a kitchen than what meets the eye…and that needs time.
4. A budgetAnd we don’t mean big budget. We mean a realistic budget. Knowing what you can afford may not seem like the tough part, but knowing what your possibilities are certainly requires attention. You may not be able to afford the moon, but you could possibly afford that gorgeous moon-sheen countertop. Keep a realistic budget-split in mind before you start spending. This will keep you from running out of money on your first purchases, and skimping later.
5. Access to a Yoga ClassWhile it’s a fun job, it’s also a stressful job, with unforeseen obstacles. So plan and follow-up by all means. But also, take time to breathe.So follow these measures to keep your home furnishing process (and your stress levels) in check.Or, meet with us at Atom Interiors, a place where your swatch book is pre-organized by Atom, where the measuring tape is handled by professionals, where time is equated with money, and choices are aplenty. Call us at: 94814 94815 or 95133 27308
   Visit our showroom at New BEL Road

http://www.atominteriors.com