Blog – Twice The Style

Infographic: Connecting with nature to increase productivity

23/04/2020 / ECO-FRIENDLY / No Comment

Coronavirus is changing the way we are designing offices

Before the Coronavirus there were many studies showing that plants can add more to an office than a decorative touch. So now more than ever we need to change the way we design offices that we can create healthier spaces.

Indoor plants can improve your memory and concentration. The College of Agriculture and Life Science at Texas A&M University found that, “Work performed under the natural influence of ornamental plants is normally of higher quality and completed with a much higher accuracy rate than work done in environments devoid of nature.”

Research consistently finds adding plants to the workplace decreases stress and increases productivity.

A UK study found bringing plants into the workplace increased productivity by 15%. Meanwhile, a US study found 10% of employee sick days could be explained by a lack of nature and natural light in the office.

Just being able to see nature has proven impacts too. In an analysis of 10 UK studies, every paper found greenery had a positive effect on mood. It also found being around nature gave a big live to self-esteem, especially in young people.

To choose the right plant for your office, you should first assess how much light the space gets. You identify if the windows are west-facing (which will get plenty of sunlight) or if you should be looking for varieties that cope well in the shade.

Next, decide what you want your plant to bring to the workspace. Aesthetically, plants play three main roles: “They can fill a space, they can frame a space or they can follow a space.” This will help determine the size, shape and density of foliage you should go for.

If you need advice just contact us!

Infographic: Connecting with nature to improve health and well being

18/04/2020 / ECO-FRIENDLY / No Comment

Coronavirus is changing the way we are designing homes

Before the Coronavirus there were many studies showing that plants can add more to an office than a decorative touch. Now with the promise of more indoor time you might want is getting a bit more of nature in our homes.

There are studies that suggest that we all have a genetic connection to the natural world built up through hundreds of thousands of years of living outdoors.

Incorporating direct or indirect elements of nature into the built environment have been demonstrated through research to reduce stress, blood pressure levels and heart rates, whilst increasing productivity, creativity and self reported rates of well-being.

If you know me, this is what I do, I reconnect my client’s spaces to the natural world! If you are interested to create a healthier and more productive habitat just contact me!

Here are five ways houseplants can help you maintain your health!

Reduce, Reuse and Recycle

04/04/2020 / DESIGN - ECO-FRIENDLY / No Comment

We don’t have to wait until April 22nd to celebrate Earth. Every day, we can reduce, reuse, and recycle.

Plastic is an amazing, lightweight material that can be made into all sorts of things. But when we use plastic items once and then throw them out, we create a huge amount of waste. People create about 2.6 trillion pounds of garbage each year. That’s heavier than 225 million adult elephants. In the United States, we throw away 250 million tons of garbage every year. That’s enough garbage to cover the state of Texas entirely with trash—twice. On average, each person in the United States makes 4.5 pounds of trash each a day.

Each of us can make a difference by using good judgement when we buy and discards things.

When we reduce, reuse, and recycle, we:
Save natural resources
Save space in our landfills
Save energy
Reduce pollution
Save money

Design with Earth in mind

01/01/2018 / DESIGN - ECO-FRIENDLY - TRENDS / No Comment

Using reclaimed wood is a very sustainable approach. Old wood, such as barn board can be re-finished and cut to make new wood flooring, kitchen cabinets, or cladding.

You could also choose to use recovered wood from trees that have been cut down for other purposes; for example, clearing forest for building land. In this case, you can achieve perfect consistency in your finished product while knowing that the wood you’re using would otherwise have gone to waste.

Of course, both the options above are likely to be limited and harder to find than wood that comes from trees specifically harvested for that purpose. The next best option is to look for wood that is guaranteed to be sustainably sourced, and ideally, is sourced locally. The Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) and Sustainable Forestry Initiative (SFI) both have certification schemes for wood from sustainably managed forests.

An oasis in Paradise

26/12/2017 / DESIGN / No Comment

An oasis in paradise

Architect Mauro Cid of CID Arqitetura renovated an old house in Manguinhos, Brazil into an oasis.

I love the open space and the amazing views..!

The Color of the Year 2018 … Is Here!

06/12/2017 / TRENDS / No Comment

Color authority Pantone just announced its selection for the 2018 Color of the Year: Ultra Violet, a purple shade that is sure to prompt passionate discussion among design pros and enthusiasts. Pantone says the color “communicates originality, ingenuity and visionary thinking.”

Mauritius Beach House

26/09/2017 / INSPIRATION / No Comment

Would you like to have an Indian ocean environment all the time inside your very own house? We will give you the idea on making a Mauritius Beach House Design that you can do to make your own house looks like you are forever in Mauritius, the beautiful and tropical place.

Its very name of conjures up images of tropical luxury and stupendous extravagance. While in many destinations famed for cobalt-blue seas, white sandy beaches and luxury hotels, the island is loaded with historic sights, cultural diversity, but perhaps its single biggest asset is the relaxed charm of its warm and welcoming people.

The island of Mauritius was apparently uninhabited until 1638. It was then that the Dutch, under the Dutch East India Company, made their first attempt to colonize the land, named after the prince of Denmark, Maurice of Nassau. The people of Mauritius are descendants of European (mostly French) settlers, the Franco-Mauritians; African slaves and creoles, the Afro-Mauritians; Chinese traders, the Sino-Maurtians; and Indian laborers, the Indo-Mauritians. Such cultural diversity and geographic isolation have led to a nationalized sense of pride. There is unity in being a Mauritian despite not having a shared language and customs. For this reason Mauritius is often considered a global example of successful cultural integration.

A Mauritius style house is a beautiful way to bring Indian Ocean architecture into the home. Their unique architecture is known for sharp roofs, long balconies, and canopies. Many of the traditional creole houses have been replaced in places by newer materials and designs. The government, in recognition of the heritage of the older houses, has campaigned to save their designs.m.

Greek Beach house

26/07/2016 / INSPIRATION / No Comment

Summer time is beyond our eyes. And it always exciting when we are talking about summer since we will have a very long holidays and we can spend that holidays time with family to a vacation or just stay at home, chill in the pool house. So, this is why we are here today. Of course you are all known Greece for sure. It is indeed a great place to spend your summer holidays. But how if you do not have enough money to go there? Or how if you wanted to have that environment all the time inside your very own house? We will give you the idea on making a Greek Beach House Design Plans that you can do to make your own house looks like you are forever in Greece the beautiful and exotic place.

Looking at buildings around the world, both old and modern, the influence of ancient Greek architecture easily catches the eye. Reflecting basics of the original Greek love affair with balance and symmetry, these edifices typically combine Ionic, Dorian or Corinthian columns with a pediment (triangular-shaped portico held up with three columns), dentil (scalloped designs along a roof edge) or frieze (carved-relief depicting a scene) design feature. Spanning porches or entrances are decorative entablatures held up by columns. Private homes still use this architectural feature founded in Greek building. Students of architecture not only study the archaic Greek influence for its beauty but also for the practical dynamics it brings to lasting and sturdy building construction techniques. The U.S. Supreme Court building incorporates all these classic elements of Greek architecture.

Modern Industrial Style

26/03/2016 / DESIGN / No Comment

Industrial style was born within the commercial market when old, bare warehouses and similar structures became new shops, offices, restaurants, even apartments. Rather than demolish the remaining essence of the warehouse, designers began to embrace the rawness and conscientiously construct a style around it. Industrial style is known for its utter lack of pretense, for its salvaged utilitarianism, and for its exposed architecture.

The architecture of industrial style emphasizes a stripped-down infrastructure – the more exposed and raw, the better. Unfinished walls, aged brick, metal ductwork, bare windows, and exposed beams pay stylistic homage to the skeleton that supports the structure overall. Often, industrial-type floors (think concrete, wood, or other pragmatic, non-flashy surfaces) are kept bare.