I grew up in the 80s, but one of my first introductions to interior design was through the 60s and 70s-era design books my mom would collect at garage sales. With their outlandish modern furniture, strange shapes, and unusual materials, these spaces were not quite like anything I had ever seen, and I was fascinated by the differentness of it all. I was reminded, a little, of those books by this concrete house that I stumbled across on World of Bea. It's full of modern design pieces that are both beautiful and unusual, but has a lightness to it that feels very now. 

I drool over high-end designer pieces as much as the next gal, but often their prices are more than what I could use to put together an entire room. The black marble and graphic silver base of this coffee table inspired a bold living area full of pattern and texture which includes a similar table and tallies up at a price almost equal to the collectible. Which would you rather have, the collectible, or the complete room?

Do the words "wood paneling" still make you recoil in fear, leaving bad memories of childhood decor and a bitter taste in your mouth? Where once wood paneling was merely a cheap way to quickly cover walls, we now see it as a creative antidote to blank, blah spaces. That's thanks largely to clever people who've figured out ways to make it interesting and fresh. Here are a few ideas and techniques to consider:

Name: Sophie Crocket, her partner Scott and kids Casey and Callum Location: Lymington; Hampshire, UK
Size: Three-bedroom house
Years lived in: 6 years

The pink flamingos standing sentry outside the front door give a clue to what lies inside this tiny 1960s red brick cottage tucked away in the English countryside. Sophie Crocket who owns vintage shop Pineapple Retro has transformed what was a dark, dated interior into a bright and cheerful family home filled with treasures found on eBay, at garage sales and thrift stores reflecting her passion for sixties and seventies design.

A quick peek at the nature-inspired Charley Harper wallcovering collection by Designtex that launched at NeoCon this week.

With the popularity of wedding blogs and Pinterest, cookie cutter weddings have been replaced by unique, creative, DIY extravaganzas. 

It was no surprise last week when Zaha Hadid was chosen to design the 2022 Qatar World Cup stadium. Far more interesting is that the country is planning floating hotels that can house upwards of 25,000 visitors for the global event. The hotels would sit offshore from Doha and be linked to the land by boats and new transit lines. 

In other news, robots allow you to virtually hang out in the office, and check out London Underground maps made of LEGO. See the headlines after the jump.

Purple, lavender, violet, aubergine, amethyst, lilac, plum, whichever shade of purple you prefer, it makes a vibrant statement. Purple is a color that shows confidence, as it was once the color worn by Roman Emperors and continues to be the color most associated with royalty. The color purple is used to attract attention — here are some bold and beautiful pieces that will become the focus of any room simply for their hue.

As its name implies, the eclectic collector style can cover a wide range of aesthetic tastes. From kitsch to classic, from vintage to modern, from vibrant to muted, there's an array of possibilities for those who love a variety of storied objects. Here are a few favorite interiors from our house tours featuring an eclectic mix of artwork and accessories.