As many of you are probably aware, there is a drive underway this April 1st, for bloggers to unite and donate to the organization Feeding America and Food Banks Canada. April Food Day is asking all those who write blogs and those who read them to donate $1.00 in April. One dollar is such a small amount, yet it equates to ten pounds of food, or seven full meals! If you wish, and are able, you may donate any amount. Please help us fight hunger.
Left: Dominio Canopy Bed Right: Anthony Todd Canopy Bed
To achieve the above DIY Canopy Bed treatment - mount curtain rods on the ceiling and hang your choice of draperies
The above drawing is from Blogger Erin at Elements of Style and this is her directions for creating your own Canopy Bed..... "You'll need two drapery rods and a very long length of fabric. If you feel up to it, I like the idea of sewing together a solid on one side and a pattern on the other (for the under side). install one bar right above the head of the bed and one at the foot and run the fabric behind the bed (you can tack it to the wall near the floor so it doesn't move). I think it's a beautiful and cheap way to create a very romantic and dramatic look for your canopy bed." Thanks Erin.
Dominio Canopy Bed Photo by Simon Upton Dominio Canopy Bed Photo by Paul Costello To achieve this DIY Canopy Bed: Screw 4 small hooks in the four corners of the ceiling above the bed and hang a length fabric.
Fancy up plain mosquito netting for a fun & whimsical canopy bed. India Hicks photo by Arthur Elgort as seen in Vogue, 1998 via Style Court
Almost every day I ask myself why more people are not taking advantage of this crazy building market. By crazy I mean this is a ridiculous buyers market. The answer seems to be fear. We can't seem to get away from all the bad news. Just turn on your tv or your computer and you get nailed with it. I cannot say if the fear is justified or not. Each persons situation is unique, and so it is up to them to determine for themselves. But I can tell you that right now there are some really good opportunities for those that choose to pursue them.
If you have been thinking of building a new home or remodeling your existing one I suggest seriously pursuing it. If not, you may just be missing the opportunity of a lifetime. I have been in this industry for more than a few years now, and I cannot remember any time that the market has been more favorable for the buyer / client. Here are a few of the big reasons:
Interest rates are ridiculously low.
Contractors and subcontractors are highly motivated. In many cases they are working with little or no profit just to keep their good people busy. And since they are not that busy, they have the time to dedicate to your project. An associate of mine has had a flood of very high quality contractors practically begging to bid on a bathroom remodeling project. I have had numerous local contractors request to bid on a project that is several hours outside of our traditional building area.
Lot costs have plummeted. Developers are looking to unload. Indeed the banks now own quite a bit of really nice land. Call up a few of your local banks and ask for their property listings. You might find a great deal by buying directly from the bank.
Many material costs are at 10 year lows. Since no one is building demand is very low and inventories are up. Classic over-supply and under-demand.
Everyone in the process is open to negotiation. Realtors, Land Owners, Architects, General Contractors, Sub-Contractors, Suppliers, etc.
Seriously this feels like the perfect storm - as in the perfect buyers market. A great opportunity to do a beautiful project at the best possible value.
How long will this last?
Nobody seems to know. But statistics are beginning to show an improvement in the sales of existing homes and once inventory is diminished construction costs will begin to rise again. Nobody knows how long this "window" will be open, but we all know it will not be open forever.
Don't Feel Guilty!
It is true that the current market allows the buyer to take advantage of the situation. But at the same time the builders, vendors, designers, realtors that are surviving are truly appreciative of the work. And if you pick the right team they are going to give you their best.
Build Smart!
If you decide to proceed with a project, make sure you do it smart. For instance "McMansions" have a bad name right now and the builders cannot seem to give them away. This might not be the type of home that will be in great demand even after the turnaround. Folks are starting to look for a more modest, smartly designed and quality constructed home. The type of homes as seen below designed by Larson Brenner Architects.
Be Smart!
Utilize the expertise of your professionals (architects / designers, general contractors, realtors, etc.). Don't try to design and construct the project yourself. You will get a better outcome and will carry less burden if you have a good team around you. And besides, right now you are practically getting their services for free!
This year, Earth Hour 2009 has been transformed into the world’s first global election, between Earth and global warming.
For the first time in history, people of all ages, nationalities, race and background have the opportunity to use their light switch as their vote – Switching off your lights is a vote for Earth Hour 2009 or leaving them on is a vote for global warming. WWF are urging the world to VOTE EARTH HOUR 2009 and reach the target of 1 billion votes, which will be presented to world leaders at the Global Climate Change Conference in Copenhagen 2009.
This meeting will determine official government policies to take action against global warming, which will replace the Kyoto Protocol. It is the chance for the people of the world to make their voice heard. Earth Hour 2009 is aiming to reach more than one billion people in 1000 cities around the world
The Ice-Bag Wine Chiller is a new product that has just hit the North American Market. It is a clear plastic wine tote and chiller that is reusable. It is completely water tight and portable. With it's sleek design and trend-setting appeal the Ice Bag Wine Chiller is an alternative to the ice bucket. And talking about trend setting, this Ice-Bag Wine Cooler has been used at venues such as the Ascot Racetrack, to high profile concerts (Madonna, Elton John, George Michael). How fun to display your wine or champagne in this Ice Bag Wine Chiller. I think that it would be great to use for weddings, special events, or your next party. It is even customizable with your own logo.
For the coolest drinks in town, re-usable Ice-Bag Wine Chiller. My friend Joyce is distributing these. Please contact Joyce for ordering information for Canada, South America, and the Americas here.
As this week marks the beginning of Spring and pink is a color I associate with spring as the cherry trees are starting to blossom, I have two favourite Benjamin Moore Paint colors to share with you that are season appropriate: 1. Benjamin Moore Spring Azalea & 2. Benjamin Moore Springtime Bloom. The color Spring Azalea has a little more of a purple cast to it than the Springtime Bloom and is a closer match to the color on the wall of this beautiful room. Benjamin Moore has a neat product on their web-site that you can see color samples on line. This living room is in a house is located on the island of IBIZA and has been designed by the German architect ERWIEN WACHTER in the style of Mies van der Rohe. It is available for rental. If you are interested Contact MONIKA BORCHERT for information. I will be posting more photos of this house, but for now this is just a little teaser. Be sure to check out Benjamin Moore Virtual Fan Deck Happy Happy Spring
Here is another post on Pink you might be interested in: Think Pink
A few weeks ago a package arrived in the mail, and to my surprise when I opened it, there was a box of chocolates in shiny brown wrapping tied with a red satin ribbon accompanied by this photo of the new Miele Limited Edition Chocolate Laundry.
This new "Limited Edition" Chocolate Laundry claims a patented honeycomb drum, which is engineered not only to clean clothes better, but also to make clothes last longer by reducing fabric strain and wear. The dryer uses moisture sensors rather than timers.
Luciteand acrylic (which is the generic name for this plastic),have become popular materials for furniture,tables, lamps, hardware, trays etc. It is important to clean and care for lucite properly from the start as it is a somewhat delicate material. Proper steps should be exercised in cleaning lucite.
Clean lucite with hot soapy water using a soft cloth. The type of polishing cloth you use will make a difference. The ideal cloth is nonabrasive, absorbent, and lint free. To eliminate any chance of scratching lucite , use only disposable cloths. Reusable cloths can retain abrasive particles, but you won't know for sure until the damage is done.
Do not use sprays such as Windex or Fantastic on lucite.
This kit from from Novus Polish is great to have on hand.
1. Cleans all plastics(lucite) without scratching. Leaves a lustrous shine that resists fogging, repels dust, and eliminates static. 2. Removes fine scratches, haziness and abrasions from most plastics(lucite). Repeated use restores faded and discolored plastics. 3. Removes heavy scratches and abrasions from most acrylic(lucite) surfaces.
Simply Elegant Home Designs is now using Google Sketchup to better describe the interior design elements of their house plans.
Ron Brenner of Simply Elegant had this to say. "Better visualization of the product results in more thorough understanding of design intent and better translation by the builders. We have been using 3d visualization for some time to illustrate building exteriors, and have discovered how valuable that visualization is. It seems a logical next step to illustrate the interior design elements of a home with 3d. Nowadays Architects have so many good tools to work with, and so why not use them? The idea is to use the tools available to us to create a better product and a better service. I think that some day we may not be issuing 2d plans, sections and elevations, but we will be issuing 3d virtual models. And some day builders may have a television monitor at the job site in lieu of a plan desk."
The animation below illustrates the interior cabinetry and millwork elements of "The Stillwater", a house plan offered by Simply Elegant Home Designs.
I have been tagged by the marvelous Maria.... soooo the rules of the game are to divulge 6 facts/habits and trivia about myself..... and try not to embarrass myself in the process. So here goes: 1. My favourite color is yellow and always has been ever since I can remember. 2. I like cotton candy and ballerina flats. I prefer wearing ballerina flats to heels. 3. I I love the Ocean and always thought I couldn't live away from it, that is until I visited Palm Springs. 4. I always carry my passport and 50 Euros in my change purse. That way I'm sure I'm going back. 5. I love dogs - all dogs and especially mine. She is a 4 1/2 pound Yorkshire Terrier named Nicole. 6. I love ironing. Yes strange as it seems I find it relaxing.
I pass this on to: Meade Design, Qerat, Domain Design, Brillante Home Decor, Nest Home The Rules: Tag 6 people after you have been tagged. Let 5 people know that you have tagged them. Let the 6th person wander blindly in the wilderness for 40 years, then tell them they have been tagged.
These are a few of my favourite pictures from my visit to Palm Springs. The weather was dry and warm. The Moroccan-inspiredColony Palms Hotel is an old landmark in Palm Springs that is a favourite spot for those who 'don't necessarily want to be seen'. It has been on the Condé Nast Traveller Hot List 2008 — 2009.The pool side bar-restaurant Purple Palm is the discrete meeting spot for locals and Hollywood's music and movie-industry elite.
This is the lucky Buddha at the Colony Palms. Legend has it that if you make a wish while rubbing his tummy your wish will be granted. My friends Sara and Paul from Vancouver were staying at the Colony Palms Hotel, which just happened to coincide with my visit. (PS.....I have gotten my wish!!!!!)
A view through the palm to the discreet and trendy poolside Purple Palm bar.
Shadow cast by cactus on the desert sand
View towards Palm Springs from the lookout point on Highway 74
Palm Springs Wind Energy - Increasingly popular as alternative sources of energy, wind turbine generators are a type of windmill that produces electricity by harnessing the wind. Wind turbine generators are much less harmful to the environment than burning fossil fuels, but they do require average wind speeds of at least 21 km/h (13 mph). The largest of these windmills stands 150 feet tall with blades half the legend of a football field. Windmill farms on the San Gorgonio Mountain Pass in the San Bernadino Mountains contains more than 4000 separate windmills and provides enough electricity to power Palm Springs and the entire Coachella Valley.
Every February for the past 9 years the big event to attend is the Palm Springs Modernism Show, which I missed by one week. Was I disappointed when I found out. I would have planned my trip differently. More than eighty of the foremost decorative and fine arts dealers convene to offer the very best of mid 20th-century furniture, paintings, sculpture, lighting, books and jewelry to eager collectors. Concurrently, Modernism Week surrounds the Modernism show with an events lineup offered during nine days that includes an always-memorable Saturday night gala, retro films, lectures, architectural tours around town (some on a double-decker bus), a classic car show, gallery openings and no shortage of martini soirees to rival the Rat Pack’s. A “don’t-miss” party (that I missed) this year was held at Frank Sinatra’s Palm Springs home, a sumptuous 1947 Mid-Century marvel with period décor, that rents out for $2,600 / night.
But all was not lost because I did a self guided driving tour of "Screen Block" houses. The tour was headed by my Dad in the drivers' seat and two really good back-seat drivers (Joyce & me) with the map, shouting out directions: turn left here! no maybe try turning right!...stop now!....back up! The tour was written up as: Palm Springs' Hidden Architectural Treasures and some of these treasures were really well hidden off the main track. Unless a visitor is fortunate enough to spend an extended time in Palm Springs they are unlikely to notice or appreciate the extensive use of a quirky building material known as"screen block", a pierced decorative concrete block most commonly produced in 12" squares. It had it's heyday from the late 1950s through the 1960s especially in climates where the challenges of sun protection spawned a host of architectural solutions including metal grilles and wood louvers. During this brief "golden era" more than 250 different screen block patterns were produced around the country. Palm Springs is remarkable for having at least 54 of those patterns documented within its city limits. Along with this popularity screen block inherited a cascade of synonyms including "breeze block", "grille block", "solar block", "veil block", perforated block", "vented block", and "pierced block". Manufacturers claimed that buildings using screen block were 10 degrees cooler. Screen block has its origins and is a close cousin of the wooden grilles found in Moorish and Hindu architecture. But despite these exotic connections, history shows us that screen block's functional versatility and design appeal was embraced as a uniquely American product, forever linked to the space-age optimism of the late 50s and 60s and to the Sunbelt lifestyle.
Palm Springs Modern Architecture
1. The first example was the Resort Realty Building 190 E.Palm Canyon Dr. The exotic three dimensional block (today painted turquoise a colour that works wonderfully in the clear desert air of Palm Springs) was designed by Austrian-American sculptor Erwin Hauer. It was far more expensive and difficult to produce than standard screen block and surviving examples of Hauer's blocks are extremely rare.
Palm Springs Modern Architecture This building was hard to get close to, as it was at the intersection of 4 busy streets with lots of traffic. But I am glad that I persevered to get close enough to take close up shots of the way the sun cast these interesting shadows.
2. The next location was rather hard to find, Twin Palms Apartments 495 Twin Palms Drive, and I would have driven right by without stopping to take in the beauty of it. A different colour has been used for each of the sections and the screen block is called "Venus" because they create imaginative "Martian-like figures.
Palm Springs Modern Architecture In the pictures you can see that windows are right behind the screen block.
Palm Springs Modern Architecture
Palm Springs Modern Architecture
Palm Springs Modern Architecture
Palm Springs Modern Architecture
3. Then to my delight we went to Canyon View Estates, an absolutely gorgeous neighborhood of detached condominiums built in the early 60s, designed by architect William Krisel who was commissioned by the developer Alexander. Alexander changed the face of Palm Springs with the construction of more than 2,500 homes in the modernist idiom. Krisel also designed the private home of the Alexanders' - "The Alexander House" which was dubbed The "House of Tomorrow". It was conceived as an experiment in modern living. It gained fame as the honeymoon home of Elvis and Priscilla Presley.
Palm Springs Modern Architecture Alexander Residence1957 Photo: Julius Shulman
William Krisel shaped the look of Palm Springs 50 years ago and now a new generation is resurrecting his classic designs, and it was so apparent upon driving into this subdivision, where you could see that it is becoming the hip and happening area.
Palm Springs Modern Architecture The screen block on this house (above & below) is called 'Maltese". I love how the tree is growing up and through the architecture.
Palm Springs Modern Architecture
Palm Springs Modern Architecture How wonderful to have an orange tree in your front yard
Palm Springs Modern Architecture
Palm Springs Modern Architecture The landscaping for this community of 164 homes was immaculately maintained. The trees were works of art - living sculpture.
Palm Springs Modern Architecture I think this is called "Mei Ling" pattern pattern (above & below)
Palm Springs Modern Architecture
Palm Springs Modern Architecture This screen block isfleur-de-lis and was one of my favourites (above & below)
Palm Springs Modern Architecture
Palm Springs Modern Architecture This house with the Japanese inspired "Starburst" pattern was being renovated and I was able to slip inside and take a few photos. The wall between the kitchen & living room was taken out and this interesting glass mosaic tile was put on the backslash of the all-white kitchen (that's me in the reflection taking the picture).
The shower in the Master Ensuite was sunken about 12"
Double molded sinks in the Ensuite
The tilers at work in the Main Bathroom
Palm Springs Modern Architecture The view from the back patio
Furniture and the remains of the workers lunch in the dining room. Great Chairs - vintage to match the era of the house. All the floors throughout the house including the outdoor balcony and the carport were tiled in white Mexican pavers.
Palm Springs Modern Architecture
The living rooms in these homes feature vaulted ceilings and clearstory windows
Picture taken from inside living room. The windows are on all four sides of the living room which is a really effective way of getting light into the interior of the home without the effects of the heat from the sun.
4. Last stop Parker Hotel 4200 E. Palm Canyon Dr, recently re-designed by Jonathan Adler. This vast wall of is made of "Vista-Vue" pattern screen block. Both beautiful and functional. Don't you love the Bell Hop's pink jacket? It is so Jonathan Adler.
I hope you enjoyed the screen block tour. We are off to have drinks at the Viceroy.
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