Review: Illumi Arts LED Artwork is the Hottest new thing in Luminous Smart Art Panels

Michelle from Modern Architecture Concept

Light up your home’s décor with light-up artwork that can change colors via Bluetooth! Meet Illumi Arts, a company that specializes in modern luxurious artwork that doubles as ambience lighting…

This season is all about great lighting, statement décor, and something we all love: uniqueness. It’s no surprise we stumbled across Illumi Arts, a company that creates LED art panels that light up and actually change colors via Bluetooth. It’s something a regular artist would have never though of, unless they had a strong background and knowledge in lighting and design.

Meet the Creative Director

Farah Barnes, the creative director behind Illumi Arts is a lighting design professional and knew exactly how to make a creative design and concept that would wow her clients. Farah is also a former architect and lighting expert that has previously worked on high-profile projects such as commercial buildings, bridges, museums and other interiors. After seeing how important and difficult it is to incorporate natural and artificial lighting into a space, she decided to specialize in lighting and create Illumi Arts.

Pop Inspired Artwork

Illumi Arts creates pop inspired modern artwork that features a backlit LED panel that lights up the design and also your room! It comes with important UL and CE certifications, which make it great for industrial and commercial use. Illumination is a huge part of interior design and can make or break your space if you don’t know how to do it right. We’ve seen tons of spaces instantly transformed just by switching up the lighting. It’s proven that lighting creates ambience in a space, sets the mood, and can also make your space look twice the size. Light up your home’s dark corners with Illumi Arts LED artwork and you’re bound to see a huge difference!

[su_note note_color=”#f5bac9″ text_color=”#000000″ radius=”0″]What is so great about Illumi Arts color changing artwork is that you can set the mood to whichever color you want! Feeling romantic? Use your mobile phone to connect via Bluetooth to your artwork and change the color to red! [/su_note]

Color Changing Art

What I love about Illumi Arts is their products are very dual purpose. They serve as beautiful pop art inspired works of art but also double as fabulous lighting sources. They can be placed just about anywhere in your home to create a luxurious interior: living room, hallway, bedroom or even a fun game room where I think they would fit in perfectly. The artwork can change colors via Bluetooth right from you phone, which makes a great conversation starter and a fun way to impress your guests!

Here is some of my favorite color changing art pieces from Illumi Arts:


Paris, Wall Art Light – Illumi Arts

New York, Wall Art Light – Illumi Arts
 

[su_note note_color=”#f5bac9″ text_color=”#000000″ radius=”0″]To make this post even better, we are offering a special promotion to get FREE Priority International Shipping! Just enter code: MODERNARCHCONCEPT in the checkout! Already ordered? Post your reviews and comments below – I’d love to hear about how you’re enjoying your new illuminated artwork![/su_note]

 

Know Where to Save and Where to Splurge on Your Bathroom or Kitchen Remodel

Michelle from Modern Architecture Concept

Give your bathroom and kitchen a new remodel for this season with some of these smart ideas and advice from home reno experts!


Photo: Laura Burleson

The bathroom and kitchen are two of the most common rooms when it comes to redecorating a home. As a homeowner, you should know where to spend and where to save while you learn everything you need to remodel your home kitchen and bathroom to make the process a success. Doing so goes a long way in making the most of your investment and your remodel.

Where to Splurge in the Kitchen

In regards to where to invest your money in the kitchen, since you’ll get a lot of use out of your appliances, you’ll want to spend money on energy-efficient designs that come with warranties. While you’re picking out appliances, make sure you think about how much you want to spend on cabinets so you don’t blow your budget on a new fridge that will likely need to be replaced in about 15 years instead of countertops that are likely to last longer. Watch end of season sales, and look out for coupons on Raise to ensure you get the best bang for your buck, and save a lot of money in the long run.

[su_note note_color=”#f5bac9″ text_color=”#000000″ radius=”0″]Speaking of countertops, you should splurge if your counter is the centerpiece of your kitchen remodel. Just make sure you’re fully aware of your countertop options and different materials to get the best buy.[/su_note]


Photo: FashionJazz.co.za

Where to Save in the Kitchen

Cabinet material is definitely one place where you can save in the kitchen. This is because home remodelling technology has advanced to a stage where it’s hard to tell the difference between actual wood and veneer. Drawer inserts are another aspect of your kitchen remodel in which you can scale back on the price. Theres no need to spend more than necessary on the pulls, handles and knobs on your kitchen cabinet doors.

In regards to the backsplash in your kitchen, your priorities are where you can save. For instance, don’t make any changes to the mechanics, plumbing or walls, which adds more to the overall price. You should also stick to your original decision to avoid being stuck with the cost of returning materials.

Where to Splurge in the Bathroom


Photo: Bloglovin’

While you can save on the cabinetry in your kitchen, the same doesn’t necessarily apply in your bathroom. This is because your bathroom experiences more moisture than your kitchen, and you want cabinets that are made to withstand the rigours of that moisture and continue to perform. Plumbing fixtures like those from Tankless Water Heater Companies are another aspect on which you’ll want to make a solid investment. This is because high-quality fixtures can help you save on future water bills, and they’re much likely to last longer.

The floors of your bathroom are likely to be a bit of a middle ground in regards to spending and splurging. To stay balanced, opt for a slip-resistant floor to better avoid slip-and-falls, which can also cost you money on medical bills.

Where to Save in the Bathroom

The background tile of your bathroom is one place where you can save money. If you really want to add a bit of pop to your bathroom tile, you can add a few expensive tiles to your shower or a vanity backsplash. As long as you don’t do an entire wall, your overall expense shouldn’t be too scary. When it comes to bathroom countertops, you want something that’s going to be low maintenance. You can also get a laminate for your countertops that resembles a more expensive material like granite without paying a granite price.


Photo: Aimee Song

[perfectpullquote align=”full” cite=”” link=”” color=”#d4bf57″ class=”” size=””]If you don’t take a lot of baths, you may prefer to have a shower installed in your bathroom and remove the tub. That being said, if your home has two bathrooms, you might want to leave the tub in one if you later plan on putting your home on the market. Knowing where to save and where to spend in your bathroom and kitchen remodel better ensures you get what you want without compromise. Know that you don’t have to go broke to have the best design![/perfectpullquote]

Trying to sell your home? If you are tired off all the remodelling and renovations there are companies that will actually buy your home as-is and offer you are great sum upfront. See this link for more info on this subject: https://socalhomebuyers.com.

How to Incorporate Scandinavian Design into Your Bathroom

Michelle from Modern Architecture Concept

Learn how to add some Scandinavian flair to your bathroom for a fresh new look this season!


Photo: Domino

Anyone who’s ever seen the Scandinavian interior decor style will remember its sleek lines, the white color palette with just a touch of black, gray or metallic, and just a few decorative elements. Well, the same goes for the Scandi bathroom. It’s stress-free, airy, light, refreshing and its contemporary design always makes it look clean and inviting. So, if you’re a fan of the design that’s bold and dramatic, but at the same time calm and relaxing, you might want to give the Scandinavian design a shot. Its minimalist layout with a few bold details will give you just what you want. Now, let’s take a look at how you can pull off this seemingly simple yet tricky design.

The right color

White with a touch of black was always a signature element of Scandi design, especially when it comes to bathrooms. When cold white mixes with warmer timber and brass, a true Scandinavian look that made it so popular all around the world is achieved. However, in recent years, the all-white scheme has been replaced with a bit softer pastel and beige tones. Even if colors such as peach, gray or taupe are used for tiles, walls and furniture, you can still achieve that trademark Scandi look, only with a little twist. But, if you’re a die-hard traditionalist, white, black and cool gray paired with blue textiles definitely give off the right ambiance of a Scandinavian interior.

Make it interesting with different textures

[perfectpullquote align=”full” cite=”” link=”” color=”#fa698b” class=”” size=””]Tiles have long been one of the must-have details of any Scandi bathroom, but today we have the incredible tile-making technology that gives us many textures and shapes. This is why more and more Scandi bathrooms play with textures to break the monotony of white. You can experiment with tiles of different shapes, sizes, textures and colors, but don’t overuse them. Scandinavian design is all about making a statement rather than having one element overpower the space.[/perfectpullquote]


Photo: DigsDigs.com

Introduce wood

Scandinavians love and cherish nature, so it’s not a surprise how much wood they use in their interior design. Their favorite is light-colored timber, so make sure to incorporate it into your bathroom. You can choose solid, veneer or even recycled wood to construct or panel your bathroom vanity and storage space, or even create a statement wall. If you match timber with brass faucets or pendants, you’ll nicely complete the look of your bathroom.

Make it light and airy

[su_note note_color=”#cffdc1″ text_color=”#000000″ radius=”0″]Every Scandi-style space is very light, airy and full of clean lines, and bathrooms are no different. The best way to achieve that feeling is by using a lot of white on white. To break the monotony, you can contrast white with some dark or metallic fixtures and lighting features. Black, gray and metallic look amazing in Scandi bathrooms and create a perfect contrast to cool white and warm timber.[/su_note]


Photo: Katelavie.com

Create an atmosphere of a spa

Nothing says Scandinavia quite like a good spa experience. If you have a lot of space in your bathroom, make sure to make the bath the center of attention. This way, you’ll have your own spa experience every time you step into the bathroom. Your perfect match would be a sleek freestanding bath that will give you that clean and minimalist look and feel. To finish off your Scandinavian bathroom, add a small wood-burning stove and some wood that will keep you warm and remind you of long and cold Finnish winters.

Feature greenery

If you want to add some color and life into an otherwise fairly monochromatic space characterized by the Scandinavian style, you can do that with greenery. There’s something very interesting and exotic, yet natural in having a real plant in your bathroom that’s why Scandinavians usually decide to spruce up their space with greenery. You don’t have to go too large to make a statement. A small potted plant, such as a fern, peace lily or begonia, will still catch the eye every time you enter the bathroom.

Organize and Declutter Your Garage + Make Some Money too!

Michelle from Modern Architecture Concept

Put your garage to good use this season by decluttering and organizing! Here’s how you can do it and make some money while you’re at it!


Photo: Traditional Home

The primary use of a garage is of course to have a place where homeowners can put their cars safely in. In contrast, many American garages lose their purpose because we tend to put a lot of things in there to a point where our cars can’t fit already. Most of the things we put there are items we do not need anymore but still valuable to just be thrown away. If you are one of the many Americans who suffers from the same problem, it is probably the best time to declutter your garage. Not only it can help you have space for your cars and have an organized garage, it can also help you earn cash from it.

Here are the things you must consider so you can make the best out of cleaning your garage:

Call a Friend

If you have an overcrowded garage, additional hands can be very handy. Pun aside, having someone to help you can make your work much easier. It can also be a great bonding time between you and your friend. If you are having a lengthy conversation, time will fly very fast and you will not notice that you have done so much for the day. Also, you will just have to spend a minimal amount to pay him/her or you can just treat him/her to a dinner or you can just help your friend to do some repairs in his/her home in return.

Creating specific place for similar stuff

Taking away all the things in your garage and just putting it elsewhere will not solve the problem entirely. The next place where you will put your things will get messy. You have to assign a specific space or box for every similar thing. If you establish zones, the order will follow. If you will need 10 bins to fit all your stuff in your garage, don’t just put everything there randomly. Classify things so you can easily remember where to find them and how to put it back. Additionally, labeling boxes can be very helpful to be more systematized.


Photo: Do it Yourself Samples

Weighing the Value

Although most of the things you put in your garage are probably seldom used items, there are still some things in there that are very valuable. You should be able to decide which things have big sentimental values to you or your family. If you are having a double heart for some stuff, use the one-year-question. Ask yourself, have you used the item for the past year? If you did not, you might as well not keep it. If an item is really important that you can’t part with it, you might as well get it out of the garage and put it somewhere else where it can be more dignified.

Separate Valuable ‘Junk’

Before starting your decluttering, prepare at least 3 boxes labeled ‘trash’ box, ‘sell’ box, and ‘donate’ box. This is important so you can directly put your stuff into the right box. For instance, things like DVD’s, electronics that are still in good running condition, well-kept clothes and shoes, and other stuff can go straight to the ‘sell’ box. Also, those old and worn out clothes can just be donated because it can’t be sold with so much value anymore. While those electronics that are in bad shape can still be sold to the right buyer since some people are looking for old things to restore. If you are not sure whether an item will sell, you can still post it and just get rid of it later if no one wants to buy it.


Photo: A Bowl Full of Lemons

Sort Your Sell Collection

After throwing all the trash and donating some of your things, it is time to sell. But before you do that, it is vital to classify them first so you can be able to reach the right buyer. For instance, books, DVD’s, and video games can be best posted on Amazon. High-end and quality clothing, collectibles like limited edition toys, smaller electronics, can be sold better on eBay. Lastly, items that are too big to ship and some other generic items like baby or toddler items are best for Craigslist. Categorize them where you’ll sell them: Amazon, eBay, and Craigslist.

Open an Online Store

If you want, you can just open an online store to sell your clothes or some of your old stuff from your house. This online store can eventually be turned into a legit store after you sold all of your items in your garage. To be successful, you can consider selling your items in lots. For example, instead of selling collectible toy cars individually, you can sell them as a group to be able to move your things faster. Be straightforward to your description, make sure you state the real and current condition of the products you are selling. Lastly, since your customer will only rely on the picture, try to include lots of it. Show any flaw, even if it is just minor to show that you are really an honest seller.

10 Easy Ways To Make Your Living Room Look Elegant

Michelle from Modern Architecture Concept

Check out these 10 easy ways to make your living room look designer decorated and elegant!

 


Photo: Citrine Living By Tamara Anka

True to its name, the living room is one of the most important places in your house – where life happens. Mostly, it is one of the first places you see upon entering your home. It is where your visitors gather, where you spend lazy days and evenings watching movies or playing video games. On most homes, living rooms consume a big part of the total space. For these reasons, don’t you think it’s about time to revamp your old and boring living room and make it more elegant and luxurious? How? Scroll through our 10 easy ways below. You’re welcome! 

A Clean, Uncluttered Home is a Must

Gone are the days that a living room filled with antiques and decorative stuff are in. The truth is, an over-accessorized room can look messy and disordered. Ditch most of your decorations and only leave those which have sentimental values for you. If you can keep your space simple and clean, it will look more cozy and comfy.

Hardwood is Preferred over Carpet

You should also get rid of that dusty carpet and replace it with hardwood. While it is true that carpets can bring in that soft and warm feeling, hardwoods can provide a more elegant appearance. Purchasing a hardwood is really a good affordable investment not only because they look good and they last a long time, they can also make the reselling value of your house higher.


Photo: Domaine Home

Embrace Your Vintage Style

[su_note note_color=”#fdc1df” text_color=”#000000″ radius=”0″]Classic decorations can instantly upgrade your place’s look. Whether it is a real antique or it just looks old, it doesn’t really matter as long as it looks historic, it will give a timeless feel to your living room.[/su_note]

Camouflage Your Television

A huge rectangle television placed in the center can really bring the luxurious impression in your living room. You can use mirrors to hide your TV but if it is not fit in your budget, you can reduce its presence by letting it blend with a gallery wall.

Use an Interesting Textile

You can use custom textiles in your throw pillows or you can use small pieces like seat cushions as coverings to add a vintage mood to your things in the living room. Using these types of fabric will make your room have a unique element and elegant aura. You can also consider rolling out a oriental rug. There are hundreds of styles of Persian rugs available making it easy to find one that matches your style and decor.


Photo: Style Me Pretty

Hang a Large Scale Art

The easiest way to makeover a room from top to bottom is by using a grand piece of artwork. You can give your space a wow factor by placing an enormous wall-painting at the center of your living room. It will give a big impact on your room and you do not have to exert too much effort because all you need is one big piece. You can look at different shops to find one at an affordable price or you can just do it yourself if you are into painting.

Include a Piece with History

Put something with a historical value in your living room. It can add a sense of wisdom to the place. Anything from a mirror or side table figurines will do. Just remember that the older it looks, the better.


Photo: Freshideen

Lighting Makes a Difference

Forget about the traditional lighting if you want an elegant looking living room. Designer lights are now widely available almost everywhere and it is much better than your standard chandelier. If done right, this lighting can impact the look of your room and it can be the difference between just-another-living-room and a luxurious looking one.

Fortunately, you don’t have to spend a lot of money to get this designer decorated look. You can try looking at some flea markets or garage sales for second-hand items or shop at Halcyon to have more design options. You can save money but be sure that all the things you will buy are still working. Additionally, some lighting can be more effective if you will do some paint jobs to buff and improve your place.

Incorporate a Sculptural Item

[perfectpullquote align=”full” cite=”” link=”” color=”#0abf8c” class=”” size=””]Try to avoid a boring sea of straight lines by adding something with an interesting shape or a distinctive silhouette. For instance, a tree root coffee table or a unique side chair will make the ambience more artistic. Feel free to put anything that is exceptional and uncommon.[/perfectpullquote]


Photo: Sophie Robinson

Simplify Your Styling

A popular saying goes like this: Simplicity is a beauty. It is also true when it comes to living rooms. You don’t have to put too much stuff in your room just to make it look beautiful. If you have a lot of decorations in your room, it may otherwise look cheap.