Top tips for a beautiful bathroom

What makes a perfect bathroom:

1) Simple tiles or finishings
Keep the colours light and design simple, most bathrooms are not gigantic and this will keep the room feeling spacious.

2) Carefully thought out layout
Layout makes a lot of difference as it can make a smal space more efficient. If needed get a professional opinion for the best layout. make sure there is enough storage space and enough space to move around freely.

3) Great lighting
Whether you have a naturally well lit bathroom or not, artificial lighting will make a big difference to the comfort of the room. Make sure you have a central light as well as one above or integrated in the mirror.

3) Colour coordinated towels and accessories
Look in magazines and online to see what colour towels and accessories would suit the colours of your bathroom. These elements should go well together and create a pleasant feeling.

4) Free from clutter
Although there will occasionally be some clutter in the bathrom, try to plan storage spaces and keep supplies to a minimum. Keeping surfaces bare will make the bathroom easier to clean and the space more pleasant to look at.

via Pinterest

via Pinterest

via Pinterest

Bathroom tiles by Mutina

Bathroom tiles by Mutina

Ovvero, 3 piastrelle di design per un bagno sui toni dell'azzurro.

1. Azulej by Patricia Urquoia per Mutina

2. Tex by Raw Edges per Mutina

3. Tratti by Inga Sempé per Mutina


Nota: tutte le immagini contenute in questo post sono di Mutina.

Light up my breakfast table

Over the past few weeks I have been designing a kitchen for a couple who specifically requested an island to use as a breakfast table, work surface and storage.

If you are thinking of redesigning your kitchen so that it includes an island where you can have a snack here are my three top tips:

1. Make sure the island is the right depth and height. You want to be able to use the surface to work standing up, as well as eat sitting on a stool. Also think about the size of the cabinets and/or shelving.

image via Pinterest

image via Pinterest

2. Choose nice stools, simple wood ones or colourful to match a detail in the tiles or lighting. Make sure you try them out to see if they are comfortable before you buy.

Svelto bar stool, Ercol

Sinnerling stool, Ikea

3. Pay attention to the lighting. Eating in the dark or in dim lighting is not pleasant. Plus you will often use your breakfast table to sit and read the newspaper or a magazine. So make sure you plan the lighting so it is directly above the island. Small pendant lights (25 to 35 cm diameter) are ideal and can add a touch of colour and style to your kitchen.

Browsing around the web I found these simple but elegant lamps by Muuto.

Ambit by TAF architects for Muuto

Unfold, by From us with Love for Muuto

There. This is my first three tips post. It's going to be a monthly feature in my blog so let me know if there is any Interior design topic you'd like me to cover!

Have a great week!

lx

More Illustrations and Inforgraphics

My latest infographics for Genitori e figli.

More illustrations

 Here is my latest illustration for 'Genitori e figli', the television program I took part in a couple of months ago.

This episode was about how to talk about sexuality to children and young people..

And this one was about how parents should approach their children when they are exposed to sexting...

Check out more of my illustrations here!

New series of cards: the fish!

Here is a selection of cards from my Etsy shop!
You can also request a custom made card and add a personal message, names and dates!

https://www.etsy.com/shop/laurastratta

Illustrating live number 2

Last week I posted the first illustration for the television program: Genitori e Figli - istruzioni per l'uso.
Here is the second illustration, about games to play at home with your little ones!

You can follow Genitori e Figli on facebook and see the television program on youtube.

Illustrating live!

Here is my latest illustrating adventure. I have been asked to take part in a television program about parenting as part of the audience and as a guest illustrator!

This is the first illustration of a series of 11.

sketching in a café

Had a really nice time sketching this window sill in a café in the mountains.