I Though You Knew ( Darwin's Frog)

In this weeks edition of 'I Thought You Knew' we will be discussing an unusual amphibian. Darwin Frog!

World’s Weirdest: Frog Father "Spits Out" Young

Darwin's frog is a small species of frog, native to the forest streams of Chile and Argentina. Darwin's frog is named after Charles Darwin who came across it on his famous "Voyage of the Beagle".

Darwin's frogs can be found inhabiting beech-tree forests and fields, in the cooler regions of South America. Darwin's frogs can also be found living near and in slow streams and swamps throughout Chile and across the border into Argentina.

Darwin's frog has a very distinct appearance, having evolved to look a bit like a leaf. This means that when the Darwin's frog feels threatened by approaching predators, it simply remains very still on the forest floor looking like a dead-leaf until the danger has passed.

Darwin's frog is a small, yet round species of frog that has a triangular shaped head and pointed snout. Despite having some webbing on their back feet, Darwin's frogs do not have webbed front feet as this helps them when moving around on the forest floor.

Like many other amphibian (and indeed frog) species, the Darwin's frog is a carnivorous animal that uses it's long, sticky tongue to catch it's prey. Darwin's frogs feed on a variety of small invertebrates including insects, worms, snails and spiders.

The Darwin's frog is well known for the way in which it takes care of it's young. The female lays her eggs, which are then guarded by the male for about 2 weeks. Once hatched, the male Darwin's frog carries the developing tadpoles in a pouch in his throat until they are tiny froglets and are able to hop away.

The male Darwin's frog is the epitome of daddy daycare. His tadpoles develop in his vocal sac. But things take a turn for the weirdest when he coughs them up as full-fledged frogs ready to survive on their own.

Today, the Darwin's frog is a species that is considered to be vulnerable from extinction mainly due to habitat loss in the Darwin's frog's native habitat, primarily caused by deforestation.

(Image credits: Google)

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Wardrobe Cabinets

Wardrobe cabinet in Sienna Calvado laminate

A wardrobe, also known as an armoire from the French, is a standing cupboard used for storing clothes. The earliest wardrobe was a chest, and it was not until some degree of luxury was attained in regal palaces and the castles of powerful nobles that separate accommodation was provided for the apparel of the great. The name of wardrobe was then given to a room in which the wall-space was filled with cupboards and lockers, the drawer being a comparatively modern invention. From these cupboards and lockers the modern wardrobe, with its hanging spaces, sliding shelves and drawers, evolved slowly.

The modern wardrobe differs in one respect from the historical one for its triple partitioning: there are two linear compartments on either side with shelves as well as a middle space made up of hanging pegs and drawers, the latter being a latter-day addition, besides a clothes’ press in the higher central space on level with a person’s chest.

Shoe rack and open shelves in Elemano Beech laminate 

Wardrobe cabinet with two layers of open shoe rack in Romana Cherry laminate 

Wardrobe cabinet in Wenge laminate

Wardrobes cabinet in Piemount Cherry laminate #3D

Wardrobe cabinet in Mahogany laminate 

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Small Kitchen? Sliding Cabinet Doors Save Space

In tight kitchens, even something so small as the swing of a cabinet door can feel intrusive and confining. One way to save space? Install sliding cabinet doors!

Sliding cabinet doors from Ellen and Greg's Renovated Loft Kitchen

In the first photo, which shows a custom project by Workstead, the kitchen and a nearby display shelf are designed with a mixture of open shelving and sliding cabinet doors. Holes act as finger pulls that mean no additional cost for hardware and no projections to catch on your clothing in close quarters.

Via Houzz

We love this streamlined look and wish there were more affordable, off-the-shelf options for sliding kitchen cabinet doors. What do you think of the prospect of sliding vs. swinging when it comes to kitchen cabinet doors?

(Image credits: Workstead; Lucy Hewett; Webber + Studio Architects, via Houzz)

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I thought You Knew! Brand name? Product name? What's your view?

We are going to be doing something very interesting on this blog every Friday and it will be tagged "I thought you knew". In this series we will look at topics everyone is well aware of and bring out stuffs about that topic we were not fully conscious of.

For our first 'I thought you knew' series we will be discussing Brand name and Product name.

I was having a chat with some of my colleagues recently when someone mentioned a brand name and when he was corrected, he kept on insisting that he was right. So we had to Google the name, he was surprised at the result.

A lot of people have been making the same mistake in calling a brand name the product name.  Below are few examples of common mistaken brand names. They are:

Flit
Flit is the brand name for an insecticide.
The original product, invented by chemist Dr. Franklin C. Nelson and launched in 1923[1] and mainly intended for killing flies and mosquitoes, was mineral oil based and manufactured by the Standard Oil Company of New Jersey before the company, now part of Exxon Mobil, renamed itself first Esso and later Exxon.

Flit Early 80's

Some folks even call it shelltox till date.

customer: madam i want to buy flit.
seller: which one be flit again.
customer: i mean shelltox
seller: oh, i see....which one
customer: which ones do you have
seller: em, Mobil, Raid, Baygon em, em, Total sef dey

Flit 2013

Shelltox

Generalized name: Insecticide spray

Maggi

Maggi is an international brand of instant soups, stocks, bouillon cubes, ketchups, sauces, seasonings and instant noodles. Owned by Nestlé since 1947, the original company was founded in Switzerland in 1872 by Julius Maggi.

Generalized name: Seasoning cube

Indomie

Indomie is a brand of instant noodle by Indofood, the largest instant noodle manufacturer in Indonesia with 72% of market share. It is distributed in Australia, Asia, Africa, New Zealand, the United States and European and Middle Eastern countries. Indofood is one of Indonesia's largest pre-packaged food companies, and was founded in 1982 by Sudono Salim. Outside its main manufacturing plants in Indonesia, Indomie is also produced in Nigeria since 1995 where it is a popular brand and have the largest instant noodles manufacturing plant in Africa.

Generalized name: Instant noodle 

When I was younger, every insecticide spray was flit to me, because I thought I is the generalised name for all insecticide spray. Even when I am sent to get seasoning, I will ask the seller for maggi wether I was sent to buy knorr, royco, or any other seasoning. I am sure most of us still confuse this.
This was my experience with product name and brand name. What's yours? Share your experience in the comment section.

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Beds and Bedding

Luxury 6 x 7 King size California Bed in Sienna Calvado laminate 

A bed is a piece of furniture used as a place to sleep or relax, or ......the list goes on and on.

4 x 6 Panelled Headboard with 1 bedside in Sienna Manhattan laminate

Early beds were little more than piles of straw or some other natural material (e.g. a heap of palm leaves, animal skins, or dried bracken). An important change was raising them off the ground, to avoid drafts, dirt, and pests. Bedding dated to 77,000 BC was discovered in Sibudu Cave, South Africa. The bedding consists of sedge and other monocotyledons topped with the leaves of Cryptocarya woodii Engl. Beds found in a preserved northern Scottish village, which were raised boxes made of stone and likely topped with comfortable fillers, were dated to between 3200 BC and 2200 BC. The Egyptians had high bedsteads which were ascended by steps, with bolsters or pillows, and curtains to hang around. The elite of Egyptian society such as its pharaohs and queens even had beds made of wood, sometimes gilded. Often there was a head-rest as well, semi-cylindrical and made of stone, wood, or metal. Ancient Assyrians, Medes, and Persians had beds of a similar kind, and frequently decorated their furniture with inlays or appliques of metal, mother-of-pearl, and ivory.

                                            

6 x 7 bed in Elemau Beech laminate

Most modern beds consist of a soft mattress on a bed frame, with the mattress resting either on a solid base, often wooden slats, or a sprung base. In North America many beds include a box spring inner-sprung base, a large mattress-sized box containing wood and springs that provide additional support and suspension for the mattress.

Most beds have a headboard for resting against, with others also having side rails and footboards (or "footers"). "Headboard only" beds often incorporate a "dust ruffle", "bed skirt", or "valance sheet" to hide the bed frame.

Bedding, also known as bedclothes,refers to Toni e materials laid above the mattress of a bed for hygiene, warmth, to protect the mattress, and for decorative effect. Bedding is the removable and washable portion of a human sleeping environment. Multiple sets of bedding for each bed will often be washed in rotation and/or changed seasonally to improve sleep comfort at varying room temperatures. In American English bedding generally does not include the mattress, box spring or bed frame,[ while in British English it does.

6 x 6 bed in Romana Cherry & Tobacco Aida Walnut laminate #3D #PaletteCad

A set of bedding usually consists of a flat or fitted sheet which covers the mattress; a flat top sheet; either a blanket, quilt, or duvet, sometimes with a duvet cover which can replace or be used in addition to the top sheet; and a number of pillows with pillowcases, also referred to as pillow shams. Additional blankets, etc. may be added to ensure the necessary insulation in cold sleeping areas. A common practice for children and some adults is to decorate a bed with plush stuffed animals, dolls, and other soft toys. These are not included under the designation of bedding, although they may provide additional warmth to the sleeper.

6 x 6 bed in Romana Cherry laminate #3D #PaletteCad

6 x 7 bed in Piemount Cherry laminate

4 x 6 Bed in Romana Cherry & Platinum Grey Laminate

6 x 6 bed in Wenge & Grey Laminate

A bedroom model in Fino Bronze Laminate

Which of these beds will u rather sleep in? Contact us now to make your beds in distinct designs and laminate colours.
  

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Design Space Limited

Design Space Ltd, Abuja
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Kitchen Accessories

You want your home to be lovely. As the heart of the home, the kitchen is essential in making your house feel more like a home. While you may have phenomenal kitchen cabinets, the room is not tied together without appropriate accessories.

You can improve the aesthetics of your kitchen and manage your space more efficiently with Kitchen cabinet accessories.

Below are some accessories which you can use to enhance your kitchen cabinets.

Blind Corner Optimizer (Magic Corner) 

A mechanism incorporating full extension runners allows the whole unit to extend out of the cabinet enabling easy access to all baskets. Base mounted with no fixing to the door required, installation is fast and simple enabling retro fitting into an existing cabinet.

No assembly to door required

Easy installation, effortless operation

Full extension of all baskets from cabinet

Optimum usage of space with ease of access

Can be used with or without corner post

Basket capacity 15kg

Total capacity 60kg

Minimum internal depth of 460mm required (at the narrowest point)

Dish Drainers

Dish drainers can be mounted directly above the sink without the need for a shelf underneath.  The water drains off them into the sink or a shallow tray, and plates can easily be placed in the rack and retrieved without letting them clutter up the cabinet.  The dish drainer comprises two racks: the bottom rack for plates and a flat rack above it for glassware.

These cabinet plate racks are a great solution for drying plates and glasses in the dead space above the sink, keeping them well away from the workbench and lessening the chances of them getting damaged. They are the obvious place to store frequently used plates and glasses instead of putting them away in cupboards, and the rack itself is an attractive design feature in the modern kitchen.

Moovit 30kg pan drawer system 

• Silver grey powder coated steel 92 mm high drawer sides 450 mm deep
• Supplied with synchronized galvanized steel roller runners

• Aluminium coloured MFC chipboard base and back, 16 mm thick and gallery rail.

• Back panel and gallery rails are supplied un-assembled

• Drawer front and accessories not included

Solid Base Soft Close Pull Out larder 

Full height soft close larder with solid base shelves and full extension Fulterer runner, to suit 300mm - 600mm wide unit. Which can be used to store wine, cups and other kitchen utensils which will fit into the fridge-like cabinet.

  

Kitchen Mini Larders are perfect replacement for a traditional shelf arrangement inside standard kitchen cabinet.

They allow easy access to all items and increase available storage space.
Suitable for 300mm - 600mm kitchen base cabinet units.

Whether you are looking to simply enhance the style of your kitchen or add a little more functionality to your cabinets, spicing up your kitchen cabinet with various accessories is a great way to accomplish both. 

Feel free to contact us for any questions regarding the usage of these enhancements.

All these accessories and many more are available at affordable prices. Contact us now. 

Design Space Ltd, Abuja

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How to Push Yourself to Try New (& Brave!) Activities

Part of exploring your surroundings means also exploring your own fears and limitations. Whether you've lived in a city for a long time or have just recently moved to the area, pushing yourself to try a new and fun activity will not only show you a side of your city you've never seen before it'll show you a new and fresh side to yourself. Here are some ideas to think about.

The trick is to choose something you've always been curious about trying but been a little too scared to take the leap not something you have zero interest in ever trying.

This is a great way to reconnect with past interests that you've forgotten or neglected. Used to paint when you were a kid? Enroll in some painting classes! Used to love ballet? Find an exercise class that uses ballet moves. The point is to push yourself a bit and find a sense of pride after you take that leap!

Want to increase your chances of actually taking a chance? Do these things first:

Gather all the information

Knowing as much info as possible like how early to show up to your event or class and what to bring will help cut down on the nerves.

Pay ahead

Knowing that you've already plopped down dough for a class or activity will make you more likely to show up.

Drag along a buddy

A friend by your side might make finally taking that yoga class a little less scary!

Brag about it beforehand (publicly)

Then you've got to do it, if you've Facebooked about it!

Below is a list of ideas just to get you started we'd love to hear in the comments below your favorite activities in your city that are worth joining in.

Take dance lessons

Nothing will break you out of your comfort zone faster than learning how to salsa. And getting a move on things is always a way to have fun and forget that you were essentially terrified to join up.

Try that Pilates/spin/yoga class

Tired of doing the same machine day in and day out at your gym? Join the enthusiastic group of gym-goers who know the secret to a good workout and a good time — take a workout class! Or find an outdoor yoga class or one that meets at an art museum to get a sweat on and see a part of your city from a new perspective.

Go see a movie or eat out at a restaurant by yourself

If you haven't yet enjoyed the pleasures of a solo trip to a movie theater or a restaurant by yourself, I highly recommend it. And leave that phone at home so you don't use it like a lonely crutch. You'll be surprised by how much more you notice when you don't have a screen or a conversation taking up your attention.

Learn how to do something with your hands

Finally learn how to use that sewing machine that's been gathering dust on a shelf in your closet by taking some classes! Or join an informal knitting group at a coffee shop to finally make a sweater. Go to your local hardware store and learn how to fix something around your home.

Don't forget about volunteer opportunities

Always wanted to learn how to do something or try something but they don't teach classes in your area? Look for volunteer or apprentice opportunities. Just offer to do the work for free to learn from being a pastry chef to gardening, if there's something you've always wanted to know more about, do it! And use your beautiful city as the backdrop.

So how do you get out of your comfort zone in your city?  

What Brave or fun activities have you tried that are now one of your favorite things to do? Let us know in the comments below!

Image credit: Google
Article credit: Apartment Therapy

Design Space Ltd, Abuja
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Dining Tables and Sideboards in 3D

Panelled Dining table (Yola) in Romana Cherry & Grey laminate 

Dining table (Lokoja) in Romana Cherry & Tobacco Aida Walnut laminate

Dining side board (Akure) in Pear White & Tobacco Aida Walnut laminate

Dining side board  (Ibadan) in Fino Bronze & Light Concrete laminate

Dining side board (Bauchi) in Light Concrete & Tobacco Aida Walnut laminate

Design Space Ltd, Abuja
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Limited Space? No wahala

It is a problem when you live in an apartment which provides you with small space when you want to have a clean and comfortable kitchen. It is surely a challenge to design a kitchen with limited space. How do you suppose to design a decent and beautiful kitchen where you can cook and prepare your meals for your family every day?

If you are the person who has the exact problems stated above, then you come to the right place. Below here, we have some tips of how to design a kitchen with limited space.

Kitchen cabinets in White & Red laminate

Even though it seems to be a very difficult task to carry on, it is very possible to design your small kitchen effectively, functionally, and ergonomically. The first thing you should have is a good planning to use every area in your kitchen effectively without overcrowding it. You need to measure the height, width, and length of your kitchen to know what you work with. Then, measure your kitchen cabinet if you already have one and see how it can fit your kitchen. If you have not yet any kitchen cabinet, then contact the Design Space Ltd #SpaceManagers to do what they do best.

Modern cabinetry and accessories are the best choice for a kitchen with a limited space. They tend to be of simple design so it won’t take much space. They also give the impression of neatness that your kitchen will need.

kitchen cabinets in Mahogany & Oak laminate

Tall larders or freezers are good option to optimize your vertical space. It means that there is more storage space for your food. Tall kitchen cabinets can save more cooking appliances and they can help your kitchen to look less cluttered. Remember, with limited space, it is important to keep everything in order. Integrated kitchen appliances are another way to save some space in a small kitchen. Choose your appliances carefully and always go for the smaller size of every option you have. Of course, you do not need to sacrifice the quality in doing so. Fortunately, now more and more manufacturers produce smaller appliances to accommodate this. 

Kitchen cabinets in Baltic Blue laminate 

kitchen cabinets in Mahogany laminate

Kitchen islands would look really beautiful in a large kitchen and be really useful too. However, with the limited space you have, this is not an option. As the replacement, you can use a small round table in the middle of your kitchen. If this is even still impossible to do, you can use a drop table that can be tucked into the wall whenever it is not used. To complement the table, you can have small chairs that can be pushed into the corner when it is not needed too.

kitchen cabinets in Burgundy Glossy laminate with fold-able table

kitchen cabinets in Oak laminate

kitchen cabinets in Wenge laminate

 The last but not least thing that a small kitchen needs is an illusion of a bigger space. White color does this job the best, so choose white or very light colors for your wall and cabinets. Mirror is also good device to create an illusion that your kitchen is bigger that it is. Proper lighting is another good tool to create the illusion. Under cabinet and under counter lightnings do make your small kitchen to appear more spacious indeed.

kitchen cabinets in Ocean Blue laminate 

kitchen cabinets #3D #Sketchup view more here

Do not be discouraged if you have a small kitchen space. With a proper planning and right choices of cabinetry and appliances, we can design your kitchen to be as beautiful and efficient as any kitchen with bigger space.

Why do you need to do all go through all these stress when you can just contact us here to transform your limited space to your dream kitchen.

watch out for our post on how to design a kitchen with limited budget!

References:

www.fullhome.com

www.google.com

Design Space Ltd, Abuja
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email: designspaceltd@gmail.com