Month: October 2018

Balancing Hers and His Style

Balancing Hers and His Style

It is a classic design dilemma — a few is prepared to make a house a home, only to discover their styles couldn’t be more distinct. When this Beverly Hills family of three was prepared to construct their dream home, they recruited architect and interior designer Tim Barber to create a cozy but spacious home that will balance her love for contemporary and also his love of traditional. “She is a really devout modernist, and he’s a really devout traditionalist,” Barber says. “So the inside layout was all about mixing the two.”

The couple already had a house on this lot in Benedict Canyon, close to downtown Beverly Hills. Although they originally wanted to remodel, they soon realized what they wanted required them to begin over. Barber demolished the first structure and functioned from the bottom up, designing a bright and open home that embraces the outside — and the couple’s reverse styles.

Tim Barber Ltd Architecture

Despite their differences in style, the couple agreed they needed a home that sensed open, clean, bright and comfortable. Barber frequently played more traditional fabrics with simple and contemporary furniture lines to integrate the husband and wife’s style sensibilities. However there were chambers that played toward a single aesthetic — such as the spouse’s study here. While the colour palette and feel ties this room to the remainder of the home, it’s decidedly more contemporary than the primary living spaces.

Wall colour: Benjamin Moore Chelsea Grey
Rug: Flokati from Aga John
Sofa: Mitchell Gold & Bob Williams

Tim Barber Ltd Architecture

“In the marriage of design and interiors in the home, the design is restrained while the insides let loose a little,” Barber says. The family needed an East Coast vibe outside, so Barber designed a shingled exterior and put in a slate roof. The slate roof is made of marginally smaller pieces than normal, reducing its weight. This stone roofing is fairly typical in Los Angeles because it will work well with temperature extremes.

Tim Barber Ltd Architecture

“You need to make the most of the outside when you reside in Southern California,” Barber says. “I love to encourage people to go outside.” To create a substantial garden space, Barber pulled the house closer to the road. This allows for a closed front for privacy and room in front for a pool, patio and spacious yard.

Like most Southern California hillsides, this specific area is part of a fire pit, therefore wood homes aren’t permitted. Barber used man-made shingles for fire protection on the exterior, but worked together with the spacing and robes of every piece to make it look as natural as possible. The chimneys are made of a lightweight manmade stone product to take additional weight from the roof.

Tim Barber Ltd Architecture

Emphasizing the organic light in this home was among Barber’s most significant priorities. At the end of every hallway, a wood window in the ceiling lets sunshine into the entry hall and foyer. Barber also put windows in any place that made sense, and designed every single window to be taller and higher. “I was looking for any way I could sneak light in,” he says.

Pendant: Custom designed by TimBarber Ltd

Tim Barber Ltd Architecture

The living room is the ideal representation of their homeowners’ drastically different styles. Each piece is a delicate balance of shape and colours that reflect numerous appearances. The customers wanted something which could make a statement, so that he developed this elegant seat design as a means to divide two parts of the living room. “Ultimately when a house has a certain personality, you become inspired to produce things,” he says.

Chair: A.Rudin in Laura Ashley Hemp
Arm chairs and coffee table: habit Tim Barber Ltd
Rug: layout by Tim Barber Ltd, made by Stark Carpet
Drapes: habit, cloth from Kravet; trim by Samuel & Sons Greek Key; components from Orion in Brushed Nickel

Tim Barber Ltd Architecture

A sitting area in the foyer invites the family members and guests to sit and revel in the backyard view. The blue Tufenkian rug complements the teal-toned doors, and a lavish custom made loveseat was embellished with cushions that highlight the colours in the rug and the wall art.

Rug: Tufenkian Implied Damask Midnight; loveseat: Custom Tim Barber Ltd; table: Antique from Novecento in Los Angeles

The husband likes to cook, so he wanted Barber to pull out all of the stops in the kitchen’s layout. “They let me play virtually every trick I’ve learned when it comes to kitchens,” Barber says. He installed a deep fryer beside the induction stovetop, pull-out shelving, spice and can racks, divided drawers and an extra-large refrigerator.

Countertops: Absolute black granite on island, Carrara Marble on countertops
Cabinetry: Lotus Woodworking, Canoga Park, Calif..
Backsplash: American Slate, Cloud Green & China Grey
Pendants: Antique, Blend Interiors
Barstool: Design Within Reach, Kyoto Counter Stools

Tim Barber Ltd Architecture

A breakfast nook off the kitchen is the perfect casual eat-in space for your household. A custom-designed table and cushions lend a personal touch to the cheery, sun-drenched place.

Chairs: Hickory Chair
Pillows: habit, made from Raoul Fabrics and Peter Dunham Textiles
Lighting fixture: customer’s existing fixture

Tim Barber Ltd Architecture

The simple furniture within this space speaks to both a traditional and contemporary decorative, but the vivid colors definitely produce the dining room feel much more contemporary. Customized leather chairs lend a touch of luxury, but the pendants have been bought at Restoration Hardware. “There are not a great deal of valuable pieces. We customized a great deal of furniture, however it’s mixed right in with store-bought pieces also,” Barber says.

Chairs: habit Tim Barber Ltd in Duralee Leather; de endants: Restoration Hardware; table: customer’s present, classic; wall colour: Benjamin Moore Quincy Tan

Tim Barber Ltd Architecture

The son’s playful but sophisticated suite is Barber’s beloved part of the home. Blue-toned map background includes a fun but timeless quality, and dark blue and brown fabrics complete the colour scheme. Rather than a typical workplace setup, Barber chose the son’s multitasking personality into account and created three individual workspaces for him. This way, he can work on multiple projects at once and divide desk space up based on action.

Wallpaper: Hinson Blue/White Map; desk chairs: CB2; window treatments: habit by Valley Drapery, LA

Tim Barber Ltd Architecture

The high ceilings and beautiful windows in the boy’s toilet allow it to be another of Barber’s beloved rooms. Natural light reflects from honed Carrara marble counter tops, while simple steel sconces keep the room lit up in the night.

Floors: Hex Carrara Mosaic by Walker Zanger, Mini Brick Marble tile by Walker Zanger in Flat Iron Grey
Countertops: Satin Honed Carrara Marble
Sconces: Restoration Hardware

Tim Barber Ltd Architecture

Soft grays and browns tie the calming guest bedroom to the rest of the house’s decor, while clean furniture lines and much more traditional fabrics represent Barber’s approach to the couple of distinct styles. Hotel-style bedding retains the room looking clean and fresh, even though a blend of textures in the accents warms up it and gives it a contemporary flair.

Bed frame: habit Tim Barber Ltd
Mirrors: Carvers Guild
Nightstand: Mitchell Gold & Bob Williams
Interior colour: Benjamin Moore Grey Owl

Tim Barber Ltd Architecture

The master bathroom is a place of pure serenity. Soft white marble countertops and floors contrasts with the dark dressing table. Custom mirrors were set up with added storage and stainless steel pendants and sconces add a touch of glamour.

Shower: Custom Mosaic using Walker Zanger Carrara, Flat Iron and Thassos
Countertops: Honed Carrara Marble

Tim Barber Ltd Architecture

A pub, lounge and media room were united into a multidimensional entertaining space. The pub is the perfect place to serve after-dinner drinks, and the pool table and press room supply entertainment for adults and kids.

The cellar of the house carries a pantry and a garage, with an elevator leading to the additional floors — a fantastic way to make carrying bundles in and outside of the car somewhat simpler.

Barstools: Hancock & Moore, fabric Pindler & Pindler
Pendant: Urban Electric, Carlyn Fixture

Photography by Karyn Millet

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Celebrate the Season with Hanukkah's Colours

Celebrate the Season with Hanukkah's Colours

The Jewish festival of lights, Hanukkah, will be celebrated next to Christmas this year: from Dec. 20 to Dec. 28. It’s easy to be influenced by the vivid red, greens and golds we see that this season. But remember that blue, white, and silver are a gorgeous combination not only for your holiday decorating, but all year around. Some say blue signifies water; white is the skies and creation all around us silver adds a festive glow. Let us look at some royal rooms which come to life with this particular mix.

Tracy Murdock Allied ASID

Some blue-and-white rooms are mostly white with a touch of blue. Other people speak volumes by being mainly blue with a touch of white. The deep azure of those walls is extended through the tall blue curtains, creating a majestic jewel box of a room. A simple white couch shines from the rich background.

Ziger/Snead Architects

Hanukkah is the festival of lights, during which candles are lit for each of the eight consecutive nights. A room with light blue, white and yellow accents reflects the season with an inviting and invigorating glow.

Austin Patterson Disston Architects

Crisp linen-white upholstery with navy piping, classic white-and-blue stripes and gingham patterns choose a seaside feel.

Garrison Hullinger Interior Design Inc..

In a white room, even only 1 accent wall of deep azure does the trick. The chrome (silver-tinted) sawhorse legs bring surprise and course to a just designed office.

Ten June Designs

Here is another example of using a midnight dark blue without committing to each of four walls — or even one full accent wall. Painting the wall region above white wainscoting a midnight blue enables for the same play as a black mix, but one degree lower compared and possible abrasiveness. The yellow-and-white kilim carpet provides warmth and brightness.

Imagine Living

I love this stylized entryway. Royal blue as far as the eye can see feels rich and can be an unusual (read memorable) alternative.

The Baroque white console table and styled mirror which provide loads of flavor and character to the area, which feels grander than it is due to the colour and furnishing choices.

Scheer & Co..

Thick horizontal stripes supply a refreshing and daring approach to incorporate the colour scheme into a little entry.

Dijeau Poage Construction

Thinner vertical blue-and-white stripes in a little powder room are alike jazzy, yet feel reserved and tidy with the white dressing table. There’s a lot happening in this little room, however, the simple and classic colour scheme keeps things from feeling occupied.

Beth Dotolo, ASID, RID, NCIDQ

Little rooms such as entries or powder rooms are where you need to dream big and take risks. This is only the ideal spot for this provocative lattice-design silver-and-blue wallpaper.

Voila Design Home

You don’t have to commit to painted walls or backgrounds to try out this colour combo. As we have seen, furniture pairings are only enough to get the work done. This dark blue couch paired with a silver ottoman appears modern, yet timeless.

Niche Interiors

Lovers of mid-century modern design can rejoice in this colour combination that feels natural one of sculptural Danish timber furniture. The stylized white ceramics are a divine pairing together with the deep blue fabric of the couch. And the abstract geometry in the blue and white carpet brings all together.

Kasey Buick

Vintage lovers can appreciate this pale-blue wall, a collection of utilitarian white ceramics, along with a silver-leafed mirror with just the ideal patina. The room has a country-casual charm however manages to illustrate the appeal of this color palette.

Restyled Home

We maintain referencing the Jewish legacy of those colors, but what I find amazing is that blue, silver and white seems as natural and fresh as a Christmas palette, too. This mantel shows the perfect interfaith balancing act.

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Extend the Roof for Color and Shelter

Extend the Roof for Color and Shelter

We’ve noticed how pitched roofs with gable ends can look contemporary, even though they are suspended from vernacular buildings and structure. A departure from that traditional type are”brows” — roofs that extend well beyond the exterior wall.

These magnificent extensions color the interior, define exterior spaces, offer exterior lighting, and offer other uses. The following examples show this technique for a fairly contemporary expression that is nevertheless rooted in the modern design of Le Corbusier, Frank Lloyd Wright, and others.

Read more contemporary layouts | Find an architect

Feldman Architecture, Inc..

Feldman Architecture’s Caterpillar House is sited on the rolling hills north of San Francisco. The plan opens itself up to the south with expansive glass walls shaded by the heavy overhang of the curving roof.

Feldman Architecture, Inc..

This roof, supported by slender columns in the exterior porch, gives the Caterpillar House a strong expression, swooping like the mild pitch of the hills.

Feldman Architecture, Inc..

From inside we can see the way the roof’s expansion shades the interior once the sun is large, letting it in through the winter, once the sunlight is low. The pitched roof also serves to catch rainwater that is utilized for irrigation.

CG&S Design-Build

The photo of this energy-efficient house in Austin, Texas, reveals not only the expansion of the roof but also the way that it aligns with the patio below. The roof colors but in addition, it can help define a large outdoor area that wraps around to a seating area adjacent to an outdoor fireplace.

Sutton Suzuki Architects

Roof”brows” can also work to frame and direct opinions, like this large residence that overlooks the San Francisco bay.

Gardner Architects LLC

This”Sixties Solarium” at Washington, DC was renovated to improve the thermal performance of a 1969-era accession to a 1929 house. Translucent panels comprise the second floor wall above glass doors, all capped by a projecting roof that offers some shade but also features down lighting to the patio below.

Gardner Architects LLC

Inside, the Sixties Solarium is punctuated by skylights along the translucent-panel wall.

Lane Williams Architects

The dusk shot of this house in Seattle illustrates another aspect of”brows”: the ceiling and eave frequently appear constant, linking outside and indoors together. That effect is very evident here provided the full-height glass exterior walls, which probably necessitate the massive overhang.

Warmington & North

This house, also in Seattle, includes a dramatic overhang on the next floor that extends over a patio adjacent to the spacious living room below. Notice the way the lighting is placed on the exterior wall, highlighting the roof’s wood structure.

Coates Design Architects Seattle

Another Seattle residence illustrates how roof overhangs are usually linked to abundant glass in the exterior wall and outdoor area below. This instance is pint-size when compared with the preceding two Pacific Northwest ones, so it is very good to find that these roofs can happen at different scales.

The construction zone, ltd..

The desert of the American Southwest is a circumstance that is perfect for deep overhangs, especially when the client and architect opt for large glass walls to catch desert views.

Andre laurent

This photograph angle gives the impression that the roof overhang is more striking as it is, but it is apparent that it is thicker than the roofs to either side. This centre roof defines an outdoor seating area connected to the interior via a wide opening with folding doors.

Andre laurent

Under the eyebrow, we can feel the enclosure created by the deep overhang.

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Fantastic Home Accents: Antiqued Mirrors

Fantastic Home Accents: Antiqued Mirrors

Whether they get their distinctive mottled finish during age or artful painful, antiqued mirrors offer a sense of background and worldly sophistication. Here are 8 great ways to integrate them in a room.

Studio William Hefner

Everything about this room says”lush” (don’t you want to run a hand over these embroidered chairs?) . The scale and form of the mirrored market call to obey a grand European salon.

Elizabeth Dinkel

Antiqued insets in an armoire both blend and contrast with the mirrored vanity table.

Jerry Jacobs Design, Inc..

The panes of these arched door frames visually extend a narrow corridor.

Tracery Interiors

An antiqued-mirror backsplash in this kitchen is a welcome change of pace out of tile.

Here is another take on the backsplash idea. The stainless steel range hood does not stop the eye at the mirrored focal point.

Olga Adler

Only the framework of this bathroom mirror is antiqued — a great solution if you like the look but want to preserve reflectivity.

A heavily antiqued display anchors an otherwise lively dining room.

Craig Denis

A routine of beveled, antiqued mirrors lends jewel-like glow into a wall market.

Tell us: Do you get a gorgeous antique mirror? We’d love to see it. Share your photo below!

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Pattern Play: Modernized, Masculine Ruggedness

Pattern Play: Modernized, Masculine Ruggedness

Using patterns is often close to the top of the list of homeowner design issues. Suggest using numerous patterns together and some almost have an anxiety attack! There are a few straightforward principles you can follow to ease the scare factor of blending patterns.

1. Start with a single print you love. The more colour in it, the easier time you will have pulling other colours and patterns. Let it guide you!

2. Use your initial print for your colour palette. If your printing has gray, blue and green in it then for another print look for a white and blue or a combination of just a couple of the colours. Colors don’t have to match precisely they just have to blend well with the attention.

3. Vary the style of the patterns. In case you began using a floral then your next pattern might be a stripe, plaid or geometric. You might also still mix another floral in but they need to be distinct types of florals. By way of example, a two toned floral using a mixed colored floral.

4. Limit the size of the patterns. You would like a mix of small, medium and large scale when blending patterns. If all of your prints had exactly the same sized scale on it, your attention wouldn’t know where to look and nothing could stand out.

Jennifer Bishop Design

Different designers have different ways to approach choosing cloths. Some like to utilize more solids; others utilize more pattern — or a blend of both. I love patterns, therefore I tend to shy away from solids and make use of textures in their place. I also like comparison, so that I change my cloth from mild, to medium, to dark.

Here is how I employed my own rules of thumb to develop with this pattern palette:

1. My starting print. I began using the snake-chain pattern, then picked the big polka-dot pattern. Both are large scale patterns, but there is still enough contrast between the patterns since the scatter is dark, with a thick texture, and the snake has a mild linen texture and color.

2. Construct the colour palette. The snake-chain pattern has a very subtle caramel colour in it. This gave me the capability to pull that colour in utilizing the diamond pattern and the crocodile. I love mixing in certain heat whenever I use grays.

3. Vary the design. The crocodile pattern almost reads as a sound rather than pattern but its texture adds interest and depth. I originally tried this using a more uniform snakeskin pattern, but it just appeared flat. The croc added more richness.

4. Limit the size of the pattern. The houndstooth I discovered last. This gave me a much smaller pattern to blend in. I also liked it because it was a little unexpected and it had a nice range of grays. There were darker colors to pull my polka dot and lighter to pull in my snake-chain pattern.

I also like to think in terms of contours when picking fabrics. I did use a lot of geometrics, but in this situation they appear to work well. The snakes have a milder curve, the polka dot a more solid of a curve and then the bead a very straight angle which acted more as a texture.

Jennifer Bishop Design

The combination reads slightly masculine to me, and that’s the look that I was going for with this set.

Try to think about what your prints are saying. Are they reading feminine, conventional, or whimsical? Is your floral looking more island much like than country cottage like?

Next, see these patterns up close.

Layla Grayce

DwellStudio Fabric Snake Chain Dove – $60

The subtle snake pattern at first reads more as a trellis.

Layla Grayce

DwellStudio Fabric Plush Dotscape Dove – $77

The plush dot included a bit of sheen that I adored contrary to the mattes of the other linen-like fabrics.

Jo-Ann Fabric and Craft Store

Home Decor Signature Series, Vinyl Crock Desert – $39.99

Though this croc pattern could be used as pillows, it’d probably match and ottoman or seat better.

Jo-Ann Fabric and Craft Store

Jaclyn Smith Jasso, Oatmeal – $59.99

Rather than employing a solid cloth, I picked these diamond stitched pattern with small bead for only slightly more interest.

The colour I used in the photographs was really Caramel in which this link shows Oatmeal.

Jo-Ann Fabric and Craft Store

Croscill Abilene, Cliffside, Heather – $49.99

The houndstooth has a great blend of grays with a little a warmer taupe-like tone.

Next, visit a room in which this pattern blend could do the job well.

Elizabeth Gordon

Here’s an illustration of the sort of room in which the aforementioned pattern blend look could do the job very well. It’s a gorgeous space that may read both masculine and feminine.

Let’s imagine using our cloths in a distance such as this:

Crocodile: Would work well on the seat at the close of the mattress.
Snake-Chain: Could be very interesting to use as the drapes on the other side of the bed.
Diamond: Could work well on the Roman colors
Polka Dot & Houndstooth: Would look great used as throw pillows.

Next, see more great uses of layouts in interior design:

Michelle Hinckley

Here is a great mix of a large scale floral using a medium-scale geometric. The quilted fabrics provide a small pattern and texture.

Brian Dittmar Design, Inc..

Initially you see a lot of solid used in this room, but at a closer look, you will observe that the sheets have a small pattern. The accession of the camel brick and throw bedside lamps inserted just enough heat to a largely gray room.

Andrea Schumacher Interiors

Repeating a pattern in the drapes and toss pillows save this space from pattern overload. The large scale medallion print on the benches was just the right number of additional pattern mixed in.

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Between Sea and Sky on Raft Island

Between Sea and Sky on Raft Island

An artist enclave on Raft Island overlooks Carr Inlet in the southern end of Puget Sound, Washington. About one hour in Seattle, this modern architectural wonder was designed and built by the owner’s son, Randall Lanou, from BuildSense from North Carolina. Barbara Lee Smith and her husband, Mel, were hands-on all the way, creating a masterpiece both inside and outside.

Tucked between the ocean and the sky, and surrounded by evergreens, two constructions constituting a home and art are a careful combination of pure timber, corrugated metal and steel. Nearly 95 percent of the timber from a current 1968 A-frame has been repurposed in everything in the floors and decks to the stairs, closets and wine cellar. Artwork by Barbara hangs as comfortably here in her home as it does in museums and galleries around the world, although Mel’s intricate wood designs are integrated into hand-hewn tables and wall hangings.

at a Glance
Who lives here: Mel and Barbara Lee Smith, married for 41 years
Design and location: Modern Loft on Raft Island, Gig Harbor, Washington
Size: Main house, 3,200 square feet; independent artist studio, 900 square feet

Wendy K. Leigh

Having a distinctive style cultivated by their own son and architect, Randall Lanou, the most important home has complete views of Puget Sound. Carefully honoring the first A-frame constructed by means of a boat builder, the Smiths and their general contractor Willie Tompkins returned the structure to its base, then reused nearly every piece of the first cedar planks, beams and shingles.

Wendy K. Leigh

Mel fashioned an great piece of Sequoia into a desk weighing approximately 200 pounds following the timber dried. It took nearly six months to build, and breaks down into two pieces for smaller, more intimate dining when the couple is home independently. Though the home was only finished in 2008, their four grown children have all made their marks on the inside and exterior spaces with assorted pieces of artwork, design, and photographic collections.

Wendy K. Leigh

Rooms flow into one another, with all the kitchen framed by bamboo topped with little frosted supply closets. Cubbyholes for displaying artwork are carved into the walls. The neighboring living room includes built-in bookshelves and a fireplace.

Wendy K. Leigh

Natural splits from one slab of Sequoia are combined together using a Japanese method known as bow tie or butterfly repair.

Wendy K. Leigh

A wood and metal walkway overhead permits views of the open-concept alive, diningroom, kitchen and living room spaces. Original artwork by the Smiths and their peers is strategically positioned throughout the home. Wooden ducks parade throughout the street in memory of Barbara’s dad, a lifelong decoy collector and maker.

Wendy K. Leigh

Spice racks are built into the kitchen cabinets and roll out for use. Floors in the kitchen, as well as through the house, are re-milled cedar in the first home.

Wendy K. Leigh

The guest bathroom is a work of art in itself, with antique metal linotypes placed above ceramic tiles. Barbara and Randall pictured the layout and worked together to create this spectacular montage in what would be failed wall area in many houses.

Wendy K. Leigh

The counter of the guest toilet is lined with antique linotype as well, and set into a concrete slab poured by the owners.

Wendy K. Leigh

A counter in the master bath includes genuine ammonites carefully placed into limestone. Ammonites are extinct, fossilized marine animals whose shells are collector’s pieces. The floors are created from walnut, while showers feature marble and combed bluestone.

Wendy K. Leigh

On the master bedroom , an intricately designed coat is lovingly mounted. Barbara’s middle name, Lee, takes following the man who wore this garment to his marriage.

Wendy K. Leigh

Layered vertical columns varying in heights from 7′ to 8’5″ stand guard midway up a flight of stairs. They are a part of a tapestry art installation by Barbara. She says the layout came to her in a dream when she was a young girl, and went on to garner acclaim in exhibitions in London and Poland.

Wendy K. Leigh

At a nod to the past and present, Mel constructed a dumbwaiter to transfer objects from the top floor to the reduced, emerging into the kitchen space. Even more often associated with earlier time intervals, these easy”lifts” are non-motorized and easy to assemble, using pulleys and ropes to take things down and up the stairs through the day.

Wendy K. Leigh

Mel is proud to point out that his wine cellar cost $7.86 — to the claws. The wine rack is constructed from sticks of cedar in the first home, when it had been milled to make the tongue-and-groove for the new floors. The timber which has been trimmed from the ends now retains their impressive wine collection, which is largely comprised of”barters” with individuals that are faking to have a piece of Barbara’s artwork for their home.

Wendy K. Leigh

Though this Raft Island home is a digital museum holding outstanding pieces of art within its own structure, the private work of the proprietor herself provides the most intimate glimpse into the philosophies at work behind this architectural gem. Hidden details reflect a world view that is not immediately apparent. Barbara is a fiber artist, working with non-woven industrial materials that belie a hot, earthy approach to living. The piece atop the Mexican desk is an archetypal boat design common in Indonesia and Africa.

Wendy K. Leigh

Roaming concerning the upstairs, various objects call out using their own narrative. This table was recovered from an architectural store, in which the Smiths learned that it was built by Floyd Gompf, a master furniture maker who produces functional”sculptures” from sterile materials.

Wendy K. Leigh

A framed lithograph by Robert Stackhouse has been the inspiration for the layout of the outside deck, which is viewable directly below an adjacent window. A fire pit onto the deck is constructed of bricks which once lined the base of the first house’s fireplace.

Wendy K. Leigh

Raft Island is a tiny community of about 750 residents, joined by a quaint bridge crossing Henderson Bay across from Gig Harbor. The Smiths needed their home to adopt the natural environment that is so vital to the lifestyle here, for instance, towering evergreen forest property next to their property. They discovered a way to enhance the gardens while staying true to the landscape by integrating the work of local artist Tom Torrens. A gong along with a birdbath are a part of the collection of his creations.

Wendy K. Leigh

When you first approach the house after following a winding driveway, Barbara’s art studio is the very first thing that pops into perspective. It’s joined to the main home farther down by a wood and steel walkway, mixing two constructions into natural extensions of home and work. Red corrugated metal frames the entryway of the studio; the whole lower side overlooks the water.

Wendy K. Leigh

From the adjacent art studio, Barbara functions with an intricate process involving painting, stacking and layering with bits of non-woven fabric that are stitched into patterns, resulting in a fluid landscape which at first seems like a watercolor painting.

Wendy K. Leigh

Though her studio is grand, with lots of levels of design and creativity inherent in the open spaces, Barbara invariably starts each day before sunrise, sitting in a comfy window seat, surrounded by her books and sketches. Facing her diagonally is a wall in which she pins her ongoing bits, placed so her attention could collapse upon them by an area, to ascertain how every one needs to progress.

Wendy K. Leigh

As if the baths in the primary house weren’t esoteric enough, the one from the art studio takes the cake. A wall constructed of Lutradur, her signature working cloth since 1983, is decorated with a montage of exotic art pieces and suspended out of hardware which once graced a barn door. Barbara’s new interpretation of a door slides back and forth to show (and hide ) a tiny bathroom.

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Architect's Toolbox: The Open Corner Window

Architect's Toolbox: The Open Corner Window

The traditional way of producing a room would be to build four partitions, each connected and vertical to the adjoining wall. Doors and windows are then”cut” or”punched” into the walls to join rooms and present views and light.

In the late 19th century, architects at the upper Midwest started to experiment with producing rooms that flowed into another and from inside to outside. They did so by removing the corners rather than linking wall to wall. Opening up by simply taking the corners of this room was like removing the corners of a rectangular bowl. The space within the room, like the water within the bowl, would flow freely, spilling out to the adjoining rooms and the exterior.

The outcome is that the open corner, like the flat roof, has become a signature of modern design.

Dick Clark + Associates

The lack of any structural assistance in the corner has the effect of flattening the space, transforming the perspective into what seems to be a large landscape painting.

Kanner Architects – CLOSED

The space of this room spills out into the mountainous landscape beyond, and the tree becomes part of the room.

Sutton Suzuki Architects

Glass wraps the corner, and the wall is almost nonexistent. The horizontal muntin bars form a residual corner and join the two walls. The space of this room is simultaneously contained and allowed to spill free, a great duality.

Bertram Architects

There’s not anything in the best way to impede the perspective whilst producing the next great piece of literature.

Dick Clark + Associates

The corner window gives this shower the illusion of being outside.

Rossington Architecture

Here is a fun and colorful version of the open corner, proof that this instrument may be used across any style.

SDG Architecture, Inc..

Like individual frames of a film, the windows capture increasing quantities of treetop and sky, while the open space keeps the progression going.

Laidlaw Schultz architects

Walls of glass with no visible way of support blur the distinction between outside and inside.

Sagan / Piechota Architecture

The large piece of glass turns the corner to create an uninterrupted view of the landscape, while the large expanse of wall over the glass creates a tough edge to the space, simultaneously weathered and expansive.

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Storage With Character: Vintage-Crate Shelves

Storage With Character: Vintage-Crate Shelves

It is amazing to consider packaging has changed through recent years. We drink our milk out of cartons and (preferably ) recycle unlimited numbers of plastic soda bottles. But back in the day, glass bottles and timber crates packaged up milk, soda and more. These crates have hung around for decades, and they are now considered classic paintings for decorating with an industrial edge. I love the notion of repurposing vintage crates as shelves. Reusing some thing in a brand new way is the ultimate form of recycling. Here are a lot of ways to place those timber crates to great use.

Little spaces: Shops must make smart use of every inch of space to exhibit their products. I love this smart display at Caribou Baby in Brooklyn. The shallow timber crates are the perfect shape and dimensions to exhibit their apothecary selection of products.

Nested together: The proprietors of Caribou Baby discovered their classic crates at Brooklyn local source Kings County Salvage.

Apothecary display: If you are lacking a medicine cupboard, you could use a couple of wood crates as wall shelving to house the collection of lotions and potions. I love the way pots of cream have been stored in the slotted soda cage at Caribou Baby.

Baileys

Crate storage out of Baileys Home and Garden – EUR 24

The fantastic grid: If you can score an entire lot of fitting vintage crates, make a wall grid with them for a single eye catching storage bit. I love the thought of storing your shoes in these timber crates — the alternative would look fantastic in a mudroom. UK shop Bailey Home & Garden sells those classic crates, but they are easy enough to find stateside. Etsy is a great online source for searching down classic crates.

Urban Outfitters

Classic Pop Shop Shelf out of Urban Outfitters – $24

Kitschy display: Many classic crates arrive branded with a symbol that definitely adds to the kitsch appeal. Fasten one crate to the wall within an instant display case for your collection of glass bottles, trinkets, classic postcards — you name it.

Etsy

Old Crate Sign Box 3-in-1 Upcycled Wood Screen by polkadotHOME – $68

Modern minimalist: Wait, did I mention modern? Yes, we’re talking classic crates, and people are traditional terracotta pots. But if you choose a classic crate and simply put in a few plants with a single diverse object you love, the spare fashion feels really contemporary-cool.

Etsy

Repurposed Jewelry Screen by stealthfox on Etsy – $40

Antiques keeper: Many of those classic crates include a grid of timber slats inside to maintain the glass bottles from breaking. Turn the crate on its side and you immediately have small shelves inside the box. Add a couple cup hooks and your imagination, and you’ll create a pretty display piece for all your jewelry — from bangles to necklaces.

Window box: In my last apartment, I had a enormous sunlit windowsill. So I decided to turn my classic soda cage into an instant window box. I loved the way the plants seemed peeking out of the cage.

Etsy

Medium Sturdy Wooden Rustic Reclaimed Classic by rustynailvintage – $28

Open pub : A worn classic crate makes the perfect container for storing your favorite liquors. You’ll instantly create the sense of a classic speakeasy with a rustic wood cage maintaining your bottles at attention.

Three Potato Four

Dairy Crates – $105

Construct a bookcase: If you are a tenant and wish to lessen the holes you put in your walls, then you can create freestanding shelving with timber crates of the boxy variety such as these classic crates with metal borders.

Etsy

Classic Wood Beverage Crates – $48

Unexpected colors: You’ll occasionally find classic wood crates (often old soda crates) in another colour. These classic Seven-Up crates are among my favorite examples — the red typography on white seems rad.

More: How to Create a Rolling Storage Crate

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