Quick Tip to Find Your Ideal Height Desk

You still need to figure out your ideal desk height. We've got a trick that will instantly tell you if your desk is the right height for you—even if you've got your eye on a tricky standing desk. Shopping for a new desk can be pretty overwhelming. Even after you've figured out the style and layout of the desk you want ( here's a great guide to help you choose a great shape)


Discovering your individual ideal desk height can be a tough task if you're shopping for something unconventional (like a standing desk) or building your own (maybe hanging a shelf-desk).

But we've got a trick that's never failed us: When you're seated or standing in the position you'd use the desk, rest your arms at your sides, keeping your elbow at a 90 degree angle and your upper arms in line with your torso. If the desk is the right height, your hands should rest comfortable on the desk.

If it's not just right, you're signing yourself up for a lifetime of back, neck and shoulder strain. Better to get the right desk now than regret it as you're cursing your sore shoulders later.

But if you're finding that your desk at home doesn't fit the bill, don't stress. If you can't change your desk, change your chair. Mess with your desk chair's adjustments or shop around for a new one that puts you at the right height for your office.

Quick Tip to Find Your Ideal Height Desk

You still need to figure out your ideal desk height. We've got a trick that will instantly tell you if your desk is the right height for you—even if you've got your eye on a tricky standing desk. Shopping for a new desk can be pretty overwhelming. Even after you've figured out the style and layout of the desk you want ( here's a great guide to help you choose a great shape)


Discovering your individual ideal desk height can be a tough task if you're shopping for something unconventional (like a standing desk) or building your own (maybe hanging a shelf-desk).

But we've got a trick that's never failed us: When you're seated or standing in the position you'd use the desk, rest your arms at your sides, keeping your elbow at a 90 degree angle and your upper arms in line with your torso. If the desk is the right height, your hands should rest comfortable on the desk.

If it's not just right, you're signing yourself up for a lifetime of back, neck and shoulder strain. Better to get the right desk now than regret it as you're cursing your sore shoulders later.

But if you're finding that your desk at home doesn't fit the bill, don't stress. If you can't change your desk, change your chair. Mess with your desk chair's adjustments or shop around for a new one that puts you at the right height for your office.

10 Most Popular Projects Presented in February 2011

Last month, many designs shown here on Freshome were greatly appreciated, so the decision to present the 10 Most Popular Projects Presented in February 2011 was easy to come by. Ranging from comfortable residences to astounding villas, the projects surprise artistic interpretations of spaces, shapes and colours. Don’t forget that by clicking on the pictures, you can see more photos and details about each project.

#1. The Meera House, designed by Guz Architects, is located on the island of Sentosa, in Singapore. It is a daring and original project that features green spaces for every floor of the building. Because of the neighbouring buildings being so close, walls were constructed on each side, protecting the privacy. Each storey has visual or actual access to greenery and the layered effect makes each floor feel like it was a single storey dwelling sitting in a garden.

#2. With the help of thousands of screws, Andrew Myres, a 31-year-old artist from Orange County, California, manages to create mind-blowing portraits by drilling screws into wood and some of them have 1.2m (4ft). The idea struck Andrew while working in a church a few years back and he started working on the first portrait. He was doing bronze reliefs depicting the life of Saint Catherine and thought about how it would be like to create them entirely out of screws.

#3. The PONS + HUOT Offices by French architecture practice Pottgiesser was designed to shelter the headquarters of two companies: Pons and Huot. It is compartmented into two horizontal planes, with a solid oak platform that serves both as ceiling and as desk surface. The four lateral sides feature spaces for archives, cloakrooms and the kitchen.

#4. Designed by Cape Town’s most beloved architect, Stefan Antoni Olmesdahl Truen Architects (SAOTA), the rental building was named First Crescent Villa. A large outdoor skylight connects the building to the landscape and the huge windows allow the natural view to contrast with the impressive, contemporary interior.

#5. Located atop the coveted “Bird Streets” area in Los Angeles, California, the 4,000 square foot property is for sale at 9010 Hopen Place. It features four bedrooms and five bathrooms, a breathtaking infinity pool within an interior courtyard that offers unequalled panoramas of the city. Worth almost 10 million dollars, the residence has custom made super slim framed slider doors that open the living space to the interior courtyard.

#6. The residence in Cabrera, Dominican Republic, named Casa Kimball was designed by the architects from Rangr Studio. The building features astounding panoramas of the Atlantic Ocean from all points of the building and garden. Having over 20,000 square feet, the villa features eight full suites are available for rent.

#7. The luxurious 5- star Pimalai “refuge” blends with the natural environment creating unforgettable experiences for the tourists who decide to spend their holidays here. The impressive resort and spa is located in the beautiful Thailand. Located away from crowded beaches, within the rainforest, it meets the silver ocean strand and occupies 100 acres of tropical vegetation with direct access to a 900 meters stretch of pristine sandy beach and offers 121 accommodation units.

#8. The WhitePod Alpine Ski Resort is located 1700 meters above sea level in the village of Les Cerniers and consists of 15 original accommodation units in the shape of igloos. The cabins feature a fireplace, a king-sized bed, a wide window for unobstructed views of the valley and plenty of comfort. The ski tracks are at walking distance and the tourists can always take a short walk to a common entertaining building, where they can purchase food and drinks.

#9. Designed by SouZou Creations in Japan, the cute handmade food rings can be bought online from Etsy. The rings are highly original, featuring various food courses and drinks, from pretzels to spaghetti and from the worldwide consumed Coke to milkshakes. Little details like the intricate plate designs or the decorations in the shape of small umbrellas and fruit are gorgeous and seem very real.

#10. Located on the Island of Maui, Hawaii, between Kaanapali and Kapalua, the residence was designed by Californian architecture studio Arri LeCron. It covers over 9,200 square feet, compartmented into 7 bedrooms each with a luxurious bath, wet bar and attached oceanfront ohana, 3 half bathrooms, a large open living space with a fully equipped kitchen with separate enclosed butler’s kitchen, sport bar with pool and games tables on a floating mezzanine, a spa and waterfalls and a garage that can fit three cars.

iPad 2 Shows Off New Features and Design

How many of you consider technology as a necessary every day help? And how many of you love the intriguing, state of the art designs that make technology and art part of our daily lives? With an exquisite design and powerful features, the new iPad 2 from Apple steals the market. If you haven’t already seen it, be prepared to be amazed. Its slim look and clean, modern shape makes it the perfect candidate for a home decoration project: wherever you place it, it gives a modernist vibe to the surrounding space. The iPad 2 is an upgraded gadget that is lighter, more independent and has many new features. Incorporating two cameras, one in the front and one in the back, the iPad 2 upgrades the user interaction. With its 10 hour battery time, the gadget is clearly more independent than the previous version. A Smart Cover with built-in magnets protects the screen from external factors and detects when it is removed, so that the iPad 2 can start immediately. Available in 10 colours, the cover also folds in certain places to become a supporting feature for watching movies or playing games. Improved technological features will accompany you in any action: two powerful cores in one A5 chip bring twice the power and it has up to nine times the graphics performance, making it faster and smarter in every way. Enjoy the introductory video for the beautiful iPad 2 below and let us know what you think about it.

Unique Bedroom Design by Steve Kuhl Featuring a Pirate Ship

Designed by Steve Kuhl, this amazing pirate inspired bedroom accomplishes a dream for pirate enthusiasts of all ages. Ingeniously constructed, the unique bedroom can be accessed by letting go of all fears and becoming a child again: at a superior floor, a hole in the wall takes you sliding down a slide to a comfortable pillow located in the actual bedroom. Once you get up, the eyes immediately rise to meet a wonderful, fairy tale structure: a large pirate ship high on the ceiling. A wooden rope bridge is used to access the ship, where the crow’s nest reigns, alongside a second bed, for guests. The crow’s nest was made using a ten inch hand-hewn timber for extra strength and a rope connects it to the dressing below. The structure of the ship was carefully created: “We used 2×12 ribs to construct the hull of the ship, covering them with layers of 1/2 inch plywood to act as the planking. Our genius faux finisher developed a bomb-proof blend of plaster and epoxy with integrated colouring to simulate an old ship’s hull.” There is another way to access the bedroom: through a door that also hides the magic kingdom of the sea. A jail cell with a custom steel door meets whoever enters the room. It also serves as the base of the rope bridge. This astonishing interior design will help the child grow up in a creative environment, don’t you think?

NAHB: Ten Tips to Sell Your Home

Photo courtesy of NAHB

Are you building a new home but need to wait until you sell your current home?  If so, you’re not alone.  Here are ten tips to selling your home, provided by the National Association of Home Builders:

You may think your house is perfect just the way it is, but a prospective buyer may not see it that way. To give your home "curb appeal" and make it more attractive to buyers, there are some tasks you should see to before you place that "For Sale" sign in your front yard.

Many of these suggestions are simple, common-sense items; others will require some time and investment. But you'll reap the rewards when a buyer walks into your house and exclaims, "This is the home I've been waiting for!"

1.   If your home needs to be painted, this is the time to do it. The interior paint job should be fresh and clean and in a single, neutral color throughout. This is not the time to experiment with lilac walls in the bedroom. The same goes for the exterior. Don't forget shutters and windows. If your home has vinyl or aluminum siding, be sure it's clean. Moldy, dirty siding will tell a buyer that your home has not been taken care of properly.

2.   The green shag carpeting still gracing your floors should be replaced. Old, matted carpeting will be a detriment to your home selling. Real estate agents all have a dozen stories of a home that sat and sat on the market until the old carpeting was replaced. Then, it sold immediately. If you have hardwood floors under old carpet, tear up the carpet to expose them; today's buyers love hardwood floors.

3.   Make a list of all those little repairs you've let go. Then fix each one. The hole in the screen, the loose doorknob, the doorbell that doesn't work and the leaky faucet must all be repaired before buyers start looking at your home.

4.   If your home's appliances, like the dishwasher, oven, refrigerator and washer and dryer, are old and outdated, it could pay to replace them. Buyers do not want to be faced with the possibility of having to replace appliances upon moving in to a new house. Shiny, new appliances already in place will be a big selling point.

5.   Clear your house of clutter and debris. Get rid of piles of old newspapers and magazines, the old clothes that don't fit, the closet full of small appliances that don't work, dust-filled collections of knickknacks, etc.  Clean, open spaces make your home look bigger to prospective buyers.

Continue reading here

When you are ready to start thinking about building your new home, the first step is to hire an architect.  Bonin Architects is licensed in New Hampshire, Vermont, Maine, Massachusetts, Rhode Island, Connecticut, Pennsylvania and New York (inquire as to other states).  We're happy to talk to you about budgeting and costs, green building materials, and sustainable home design!

The Art of Display

Gorgeous jewelry in a vintage tray... yes please!

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