THE UNIQUE FOLDABLE KITCHEN

The foldable kitchen is a unique and exciting innovation that makes the traditional kitchen blush. In our ever changing world of people living in smaller homes, more urbanized interiors, and concentration on green living, compact kitchens are the way of the future. With their sleek exteriors, and nifty interiors, you may be surprised how much these foldable kitchens may turn your head as well!

 

SERVING MULTIPLE ROOMS

In many urban apartments and great room homes, the kitchen has to host several rooms – from the living room and family room, to the entertaining area for guests. The foldable kitchen is ideal for complementing the functionality and design of any room beautifully. When not in use the foldable kitchen can disguise itself as a sleek sideboard or banquet area, and meld seamlessly with surrounding furnishings.

KITCHEN FUNCTIONS

When the foldable kitchen is in use, it becomes the star of the home. Everything is at your fingertips with hidden cabinets and drawers, and state of the art cooking appliances. When storage, aesthetics and functionality come together, the entire cooking experience is made that much better.

DINING AND ENTERTAINING

One of the joys of open plan kitchens is the ability for the cook to entertain while their guests enjoy eating, mingling and engaging, all at the same time. The foldable kitchen is the answer to all of these. The cook can feel fully engaged in conversation while their guests help out, or hang out and enjoy a glass of wine and great ambiance.

BEYOND COOKING AND EATING

While the kitchen is where we focus on cooking and eating, it is also the one room that we expect to be well organized, and functional in order to perform at our best. Fully integrated drawers around the sink area to hold household cleaners, paper products, and kitchen essentials are a must. Just because the foldable kitchen houses unseen functions, doesn’t mean it lacks on ingenuity and clever storage solutions!

KITCHEN AMENITIES

What would a great kitchen be without all the whistle and bells amenities to sprinkle in with it’s great design? Foldable kitchens come with the ability to add updraft range hoods from the counter to tackle odors, and smoke from the cook top range. Small kitchen counter appliances can be housed behind cabinets to give your counters a sleek and uncluttered aesthetic.

From the beautiful integration of foldable kitchens in your home, to the functional and practical way the cook can entertain and feel comfortable engaging with their guests, these kitchen ideas are one to consider. Whether you have a small compact home, or you have sprawling interiors, but enjoy the integrated and modern design of foldable kitchens, there is an option for you. After all, who doesn’t love looking good in their kitchen, and enjoying what they cook at the same time?

 

 

 

 

 

 

A DAY AT THE ACROPOLIS MUSEUM

Greece is known for its historical architecture, ruins and culture. The Acropolis located in Athens, Greece is a tourism must-see. Beneath The Acropolis, lays The Acropolis Museum, which is considered to be one of the world’s best museums and is a destination spot for visitors from around the world.

The new Acropolis Museum is housed in a state-of-the-art building designed by Swiss-born architect Bernard Tschumi. With an area of 226,000 square feet - 10 times larger than the old museum - the new building feels open and full of light. Its design has received mixed reviews from locals, but there is no doubt it is a striking and highly functional work of architecture. The new Acropolis Museum opened to the public in June 2009.

The first Acropolis Museum was built in 1865 southeast of the Parthenon. For a more detailed and up close at this beautiful museum, look at this You Tube video.

 

A day at the Acropolis Museum

The new program ‘A day at the Acropolis Museum’ invites visitors to spend a day with us at the Museum enjoying a range of activities. Here are just a few things to enjoy while spending time at the Acropolis Museum.

Stroll through the galleries
Take a stroll through the exhibition and speak to a museum archaeologist - host available to answer any questions or queries you have. From the second floor balcony see a special and unexpected view of the Archaic Gallery. Visit the Parthenon Gallery on the third floor with its unique views of the Acropolis.

Conserving the Caryatids
The Acropolis Museum has commenced the conservation and restoration of the Caryatids, the Kore from the south porch of the Erechtheion temple. Visitors have the opportunity to watch conservators do the delicate work of cleaning the Caryatids with advanced laser technology.

Family backpacks
The Museum invites families to search for the 12 different representations of the Goddess Athena amongst the exhibits of the permanent collection. Families can borrow a family backpack from the Museum’s Information Desk by leaving an identification card. Backpacks are available on a first-in first-served basis. More information...

Film
Visitors can learn more about the Parthenon sculpted decoration from a video projected on the third floor at the entrance to the Parthenon Gallery.

Reading area and wi-fi
The Museum offers the reading area with free wi-fi internet access on the second floor outside the restaurant. Visitors can browse through books relating to the Parthenon, relax or use their laptop.

Museum gifts
Treat yourself to a small memento of your visit or one for friends and family. Select a gift from the wide range of goods available from the Museum shops. Find books in the second floor shop and gifts and stationary on the ground floor.

Friday nights at the Museum
Every Friday the Museum is open until 10 p.m. every Friday and the restaurant is open between 8 p.m. and 12 midnight serving a special menu, beautiful night views of the Acropolis and great value for money. For reservations, please contact the restaurant during Museum opening hours on +30 210 9000915 begin_of_the_skype_highlighting +30 210 9000915 end_of_the_skype_highlighting.

This atrium area at the entrance of the museum shows visitors the excavation beneath the museum. The connection of history meets modern architecture is a sight to see.

The Gallery of the Slopes of the Acropolis

After crossing the ground floor lobby towards the turn styles of the Museum, the first collection lies before the visitor. An ascending, wide glass-floored gallery houses finds from the slopes of the Acropolis. The occasionally transparent floor provides a view of the archaeological excavation, while its upward slope alludes to the ascent to the Acropolis. 

The Gallery of the Slopes of the Acropolis houses finds from the sanctuaries that were founded on the slopes of the Acropolis, as well as objects that Athenians used in everyday life from all historic periods. On the left hand side, finds from some of the key sanctuaries of the slopes are exhibited. On the right hand side, finds from the smaller sanctuaries and settlements that developed on the slopes of the Hill are displayed. In antiquity, the slopes of the Sacred Rock constituted the transition zone between the city and its most famous sanctuary. This was the area where official and popular cults, as well as large and small sanctuaries existed alongside private houses.

The Archaic Gallery 

Archaic is the period throughout the 7th century BC, until the end of the Persian Wars (480/79 BC). This period is characterized by the development of the city-state and the transition from aristocracy to tyranny and, eventually, democracy. It is also characterized by great achievements in the economy, art and intellectual life.

In the Archaic Gallery, for the first time, visitors have the opportunity to view exhibits from all sides as three-dimensional exhibits. With the benefit of the changing natural light, visitors can discern and discover the delicate surface variations of sculptures and select the vantage point from which to observe the exhibits. 

In the south side of the Gallery, depictions of young women (the Korai), the horse riders (the Hippies) and many others provide a striking picture of the Acropolis in the Archaic Period.

The Caryatids from the south porch of the Erechtheion.

The area around the Erechtheion was considered the most sacred of the Acropolis. The Erechtheion was a complex marble building in the Ionic order, an exceptional artwork. The eastern part of the Temple was dedicated to Athena, whilst the western part was dedicated to local hero Boutes, Hephaistos and other gods and heroes. Thus, the Erechtheion was a temple with multiple functions, housing older and newer cults, and the site of the ‘Sacred Tokens’, the marks made by Poseidon’s trident and the olive tree, the gift of Athena to the city of Athens. 

Several interpretations about the Caryatids have been put forth. The most convincing one supports the view that they constituted the visible portion of the grave of Kekrops and were the choephoroi who paid tribute to the glorious dead. The main building and the north porch were surrounded by a continuous Ionic frieze decorated with images of gods, heroes and mortals, in scenes related to the ancient cults of the Erechtheion. The figures were separately carved in Parian marble and affixed on slabs of grey Eleusinian limestone.

The Parthenon Gallery

In the centre of the Parthenon Gallery on the 3rd floor, the visitor can observe a video presentation about the Parthenon and the sculptural decoration of the monument. In the same area are presented ancient marble inscriptions recording detailed cost records of the construction of the Parthenon and the statue of Athena Parthenos. As a result, visitors are informed on how democratic bodies functioned in the 5th century BC.

The installation of the frieze of the Parthenon on the rectangular cement core that has exactly the same dimensions as the cella of the Parthenon enables a comprehensive viewing of the details of the frieze, as one takes the perimetric walk of the Gallery. The narrative of the story of the Panathenaic Procession is pieced together with a combination of the original blocks of the frieze and cast copies of the pieces in museums abroad, such as the British Museum and the Louvre.

What to See

The Acropolis Museum houses all of the portable objects removed from the Acropolis since 1834, with the exception of a few bronzes displayed in the National Archeological Museum and inscriptions in the Epigraphical Museum. The museum's artifacts are primarily religious in nature, including a fascinating collection of ancient statues used in religious ceremonies, and they provide a fascinating visual history of Greek religion.

The permanent collection includes the following exhibits:

·       Slopes of the Acropolis - including a look at an ongoing excavation beneath the museum

·       The Acropolis in the Archaic Age

The Parthenon Room - display of all friezes remaining in Greece (including 

·       portraits of Poseidon, Apollo, Artemis, Aphrodite, and Eros) and a sweeping view of the Partheon through a glass wall

·       Other Monuments of the Classical Acropolis

·       The Temple of Artemis Vravrona

·       Classical and Hellenistic Offerings

·       Roman Offerings

In addition to the Parthenon frieze, notable highlights of the collection include several statues and offerings from the Archaic Temple of Athena and the original Caryatids salvaged from the Erechtheion Temple (replicas are displayed on the original site). 

The Acropolis Museum is a treat in itself and I hope you enjoyed this tour through it. Whether you are able to see it in person, or can just peruse it here, all can share the rich history and culture of this historical attraction.

 


 

DECORATION STARTS AT YOUR FRONT DOOR!

 Country Casual

Your front entry of your home is the welcoming area for guests and invites strangers instantly into your home. Often overlooked is the doormat that graces your front door. Whether you choose one for function, aesthetics, or both, here are some creative ideas for your front door. 

SEASONAL DOORMATS

 Interiors Online

 Gear Patrol

 Tele Outlet

7 Gadgets

Seasonal doormats are a good way to keep your outdoor home changing with the seasons and holidays. Whether you change your doormat for the upcoming festive celebrations of a holiday, or you want to welcome guests in a different language or use a whimsical saying, there is a variety for you.

PERSONALIZED DOORMATS

Personalized doormats are a great way to tell more about you and your family. Many doormat manufacturers have personalized options from monograms and family names, to custom pictures and family crests. Welcome guests with a personalized mat. A perfect gift for family with a new home or a newlywed couple is a custom doormat!

 

 Great Mother's Day Gifts

 Christmas Doormats

Amazon

Personalization Mall

Personal Creations

PET LOVER'S DOORMATS

Who says the only family members have to be people? Show off your love for your furry friends with lovable mats that are playful and functional. Whether you love cats, dogs, or any other animal, there is a plethora of doormats to grace your front door. Look at these creative ones:

  E-Forwards

Baci Gifts

 

Houzz

ARCHITECTURAL DOORMATS

For a more traditional home, consider using a doormat that uses alternative materials such as wrought iron, aluminum, and other metals for a beautiful and refined look to your front door. The beauty of these types of mats is their durability and they will look great day one and years into the future.

  

Sculpture China

Remember, your front entry sets the tone for welcoming guests the second they arrive at your front door. Ensure your doormat conveys the warm home that lies behind the door. For a fresh look to your home, consider changing your doormat regularly for an inviting way to say, “Welcome” without even opening the door!

 



 

TEEN’S ROOM IDEAS

This post is for my young Facebook friend who asked me to give her inspiring ideas for teenage bedrooms.

Teen bedrooms are versatile room because they allow you to incorporate youthful touches, with a grown-up appeal. Depending on your teenager, if they are still a “kid at heart” or if they want a “grown-up feel” to the room will help you design your teen’s room.  If your teen shares a bedroom with a sibling it is fun to have matching or coordinating bed linen, headboards, and accessories for a gorgeous ensemble.

For a modern appeal to your teen’s rooms consider using furniture that reflects the design style of the rest of your home. Minimalistic and streamlined furniture from Ikea or other kid-oriented furniture stores can give you ideas too. Consider matching organization areas, bookshelves, and display areas throughout the room to give your teen plenty of room to store ‘stuff’! 

Boy’s teenage rooms are often forgotten about, and can have the same designer appeal as girls rooms. Ask your teen what colors they love and incorporate them throughout the room. If using a bold color on the walls, use furniture that is neutral to avoid over saturation of color and patterns.

Gender neutral rooms are great for teens that are transitioning from one style to another. For siblings that share a room, gender neutral colors such as yellow, purple, green and orange can be used for either gender. Playful colors paired with each other can set the tone for the rest of the space. For a younger girl and teenage girl, orange with hot pink for the younger, and orange and chocolate brown may be the perfect combinations!

Teenage rooms are a jump from being a kid and aren’t too fussy before being an adult! Create the perfect teenage room with these inspirational ideas. Remember, get your teen in on the design decisions too, you will be surprised how much more they enjoy their room if you make it fun for them too!