Dupli.Casa in Germany, Modern as Hell
What are those things that make a house
modern? Is it the
furniture or the
interior furnishings? Not always. Just take a look at the Dupli.Casa in Ludwigsburg, Germany, where architect Jürgen Mayer H worked on the footprint of a 1984 house to
create this beautiful shaped spatial villa. I still can’t decide what looks best. Is it the sophisticated large
spaces interior or the stunning contrast at the exterior between the white walls and the black windows? Or the fact that it avoids detailing using homogeneous transitions? Maybe all of them.
I’m not yet sure if these are
simple renderings, hybrid renderings (reality enhanced) or just real
images but I’d love to live there. Would you? - via Architect
Residence for an Art Collector
Today residence is
designed by Led
better Fullerton Architects and is in New Orleans, LA.The owner of this house, an art
collection, requested that the
interiors be
designed to highlight an extraordinary art
collection while not feeling like a museum. A palette of neutral
colors for
fabrics, rugs,
curtains, and wood paneling was chosen to
create a warm surrounding for the
collection of several hundred photographs and
paintings. Every attempt was made to
combine contemporary furnishings with European antiques in each room, emphasizing that the backdrop for the art is a
comfortable home.
Louis XVI arm
chairs and bergeres and Biedermeier side
tables and benches are
combined with both custom
pieces and
modern pieces by the likes of Warren Platne, Mies van de Rohe, Le corbusier, Paul Kjaerholm, Edith Norton, Karl Springer, Florence Knoll, T.H Robsjohn Gibbins, and Christian Liagre.
Designing A Kitchen: Let’s Get Started!
For those who want to know a little bit more about how to
design a
kitchen my friend Susan Serra wrote this awesome article. Susan Serra Associates, Inc. has
designed
kitchen interiors and other rooms for nearly 20 years in the Long Island/NY metro area, so here are some tips gathered in 20 years of experience, and they can
really open your mind. If you would like to learn more about
kitchen design feel free to visit Susan blog, a great resource for every
designer.
Everyone loves
kitchens! The
design process, the materials (so many materials), the
colors, textures; it’s a
remodeling adventure equivalent to your recipe with the longest ingredients! And, it is easy to be overwhelmed with the entire
design process, no doubt. So, let’s break it down…and focus!
Put aside the
advice, not from your
design professional, who cares about your life in the
kitchen, but from family, friends, coworkers, anyone who uses the word “
should” in regard to your
kitchen plans. Watch that word “
should!” Consider what others have to say, yes…but remember one thing: Do not think in terms of a “right way” or “wrong way.” Ultimately, you must do what is right for you, and no one else.
Think about a typical week. Who is in the
kitchen? When do they each use the
kitchen and what do they use it for? Who is the main cook? Is there an assistant cook? An
Occasional recreational chef such as a spouse or child? Does one or more do homework or other projects in the
kitchen? What activities take place in the
kitchen?
To
design your
kitchen, it is important to understand the full range of activities that take place, and when they take place. Do you need separate work
stations? A second sink, a larger island, a separate
coffee station or grilling spot? The goal is to
design your
kitchen so that it can be “expanded” when other
people arrive to do their chosen, or assigned, tasks, with minimum disruption to those working in the
kitchen.
Take a good look at your existing items stored in the
kitchen. Do you
really need it all? This is a critical piece to evaluate, as your
kitchen design depends partially on just how much
storage you will plan for. Do you want a
modern,
minimalist
design? Do you want much larger windows, which will eliminate wall
cabinets? Or, can you not part with your
kitchen possessions? Know yourself and your
storage needs. It impacts on your
design!
And,
cabinetry? What can you afford vs. what do you love? Do you have an interest in eco-
friendly cabinetry? Look at as many showrooms as you can to become familiar with typical
levels of
quality and cost. And, remember, your
cabinetry looks and functions only as good as the
designer who
designs it.
This is a most critical piece to remember. It is not so much about cost, it is about the creativity of your
designer. Your investment will be enhanced in value with a good
designer. Search for a talented
designer who you feel
comfortable with as well. You will be glad you did!
Be very aware of your aisles and traffic flow. Where are potential traffic tie-ups? Which appliances force one to cross a major traffic pattern? Is the island
designed too close to a doorway? Time of day and traffic flow have everything to do with good
kitchen design. Your
dining area
should also be of
comfortable size to allow
people to
easily move in and away from the table. Designing an eating area that is too tight will cause a feeling of confinement, perhaps not conducive to lingering around the table, chatting,after dinner or just to gather at. Island
seating should have adequate space between seats and space behind the
chairs for traffic to move past.
Be careful when you look at appliances, they can be very sexy! They will beckon to you and not let you out of their grasp! Even now, the large, commercial appliances send a message that only a “real” chef need apply. Which, of course, is a challenge to all who cook. You will need to consider if your appliances will do the “talking” in your
kitchen or if they will be mostly unobtrusive or even
hidden. When you enter the
kitchen, do you want to feel that yours is a serious chef’s working
kitchen, or, rather, a
comfortable environment to spend time in, and by the way, where are the appliances? Or something in between?
Secondly, spend time learning about all of the current
models and
features and most of all, the incredible
design flexibility that appliances are offering now. New appliances include a
coffee station, high speed ovens, new sizes for dishwashers and under
counter refrigerators, wine
storage in every size imaginable, and much more. Take time to become aware of new appliances and their dazzling technology!
Design the “look” of your
kitchen. First, take a look at your home. What is your style? What is the architectural language of your home, it’s theme? Use that as
inspiration, then look deeper…consider your taste in color, texture, decorative details. What style of furnishings do you have? What makes sense? What do you want to “drive” your
design? You need not be a
purist with one style. An eclectic look can be exciting and innovative.Modern, sleek,
kitchens can coexist beautifully with rough textures. Collect
images of
kitchens that “speak” to you. Most of all, be open to new ideas.
Take your time (there is no substitute) throughout the entire process, make each decision carefully, and reevaluate from time to time. There are literally hundreds of decisions to make! Be focused, and most of all, have FUN! It’s
really all good, isn’t it?
Extension Cord Idea To Solve Messy Cables Problems
I’m sure that I’m not the only one who hates messy cables, and in these days we become more and more depended on energy and everything has a wire. For example you might have 2 cellphones, laptop, digital camera, computer, tv, etc …There are a lot of cables, and of course a lot of mess. To solve this
problem, and keep things
looking neat and tidy here is this interesting compact retractable
extension cord. It
features 2 ungrounded outlets on the base, which is unfortunately another limit when it comes to how and where you can use it. But with a price tag of $12.98 I think is quite good, and who knows maybe in future we will see
extension cords with more than 2
places to plug your stuff. - Via
Stockhaus Modern Computer Desk and Storage Shelf
Today's "computer
furniture" has finally caught up to the new smaller and less space consuming computer hardware that many of us already have in our homes and offices. The lap tops and wireless
systems with routers have allowed us to hide the ugly components away leaving the need for smaller desks and work
stations. The Stockhaus
modern glass desk is a nice compact computer desk that offers a
minimalist styling with an ergonomic
design, and open light weight look. For a complete office setup with
storage add the Stockhaus
bookshelf also available from. Desk $549 File Drawer $269 Book Shelf $359 Ships in 4-6 weeks
Batti’s Placentero Chair
Batti’s Pla
centero Chair is
designed by an Argentinean
designer named Batti. The outside sphere plastic surface is fiberglass and is
finished with coat-gel which helps to erase scratches using polish paste. The seat’s
leather comes in multiple
colors. The bad part of this chair is his weight [ 70 Pounds (32 Kg) ], just imagine moving this chair. The name of this chair come from a combination of two words linked to the pregnancy period, “placenta” and “pleasure”, is quite strange. From the
picture this chair also look like a combination
lounge chair, part egg chair, part rocking chair ..I hope he is quite
comfortable. - Via - Thisisnext
So not your Grandma’s Sofa - Star System Collection
Remember your grandmother’s Chesterfield couch? Old fashioned
floral fabric and frills may have put you off but those buttons were a nifty
design feature. Well, now you can have your own updated button couch. The Star System of
modern sofas shown here were
designed by Enrico Buscemi and Piergiorgio Leone and were recently presented at the Milan Furniture Fair. They are part of the Giovannetti Collezioni, known for their innovative
furniture design. It is easy to see why they called their
collection the Star
system because those buttons are reminiscent of stars at night.
The
furniture pieces are constructed from double density polyurethane foam. The wide
patented steel buttons are
removable to allow easy laundering of the stretchy
fabric cover- something you cannot do with traditional chesterfield sofas. Five stars for this innovative feature! - Via
