bltd

Remodelista did a post recently on blackboard walls; some of the pictures have me wishing I had more wall space to play around with.

Also, they give a great link to Abacus Construction Index which provides a great overview of different chalkboard paint suppliers.

Pamela Bell invited her daughter’s class to decorate their muslin covered sofas with fabric markers (and maybe some paint by the looks of it). While it might not be for everyone, it’s a great way to personalize a piece of furniture and make your home a little bit edgier. Also, check out the super wide fridge with the magnetic chalkboard cover.

[via nytimes]

Nina Tolstrup of Studiomama has designed a beach house that’s fit to post on all the blogs today. Within the confines of a very tiny plot of land, the cabin takes advantage of the view and provides sleeping arrangements for a family of four. Nicely done.

(more…)

Check out the pool/water tank from this cabin by Olle Lundberg of Lundberg Design. It’s the perfect example of how a little elbow grease and a lot of creative thinking (and, uh, also some money) can make a delightful weekend home.

…Aside from his original purchase, his only cost was materials, which came to about $150,000, Mr. Lundberg said; to have the cabin built would have cost roughly $750,000, he estimated.
Mr. Lundberg has built most of the cabin himself, but his staff has contributed plenty of work. Three or four times a year, Mr. Lundberg holds “building parties,” in which employees help Mr. Lundberg with tasks like pouring the foundation, putting up wood framing and installing windows.
It may sound like forced labor, but it’s accompanied by kegs of beer and golf outings, and Mr. Lundberg and Ms. Breuer make the cabin available to employees when they aren’t using it. – Raul A. Barreneche

[via AT]

(I think I’ve spied that interior fireplace/living room in one of DWR‘s product placement shots too…but I can’t remember which one)

This pattern is lovely with the dark grey and hot pink…a nice color combination.

(more…)

Audrey over at the Dwell Blog wrote a short article about green roofs that’s worth a look. Installation is not as simple as I’m sure we’d all like to believe, but when done right, green roofs can have important economic benefits that add up into one smart investment.

When looking through some of the companies offering green roof systems, there was some impressive photos of Green Wall Panels by G-SKY that had me imagining my second floor patio walls completely covered in greenery. Might be just the thing for those of us who can’t quite commit (or afford) to redo our roofs yet, but still want to scratch that itch of ‘green-ing’ our home a little bit more. Pricing depends on plant selections, wall type, and overall size.

There’s also ELT Living Walls (not shown), which are a bit more accessible (and affordable, starting at $189.00).

(photo on upper left
[via Dwell Blog]

This apartment by Triptyque Architecture has a few excellent examples of minimal concrete pieces worth filing away for reference. Plus, the wrap around curvy bookcase is something special. (Note: this particular cantilevered concrete kitchen island/table completely screams ‘hire a professional’…definitely not within a DIY realm. If proof exists otherwise, please let me know.)

[via (the always inspirational) dezeen]

Check out these graphic wallpapers by McFetridge, available at pottok prints.

all of us roll, 5 yards long:$125.00, Buy it here.
(sample: 25 x 15″, $12.00)

dead trees roll, 5 yards long: $140.00, Buy it here.
(sample: 25 x 15″, $12.00)

aquatic roll, 5 yards long: $150.00, Buy it here.
(sample: 25 x 15″, $12.00)

lines forest roll, 5 yards long: $140.00, Buy it here.
(sample: 25 x 15″, $12.00)

[posted by katie]

If I lived in a studio apartment I could cope with this kitchen just fine, thank you.

Hansen Living won the kitchen and bath award at the ICFF Exhibition 2004 in New York. This experience inspired the design of the Hansen Living Instant Kitchen. It’s a kitchen unit particularly suited for small, studio-type dwellings.

Place it anywhere, all you need is to hook it up to a water supply and connect the electricity. The kitchen unit contains everything you need: oven, gas jets, electric power, refrigerator and water. To find a suitable name for it was easy: Instant Kitchen.

(Thanks Adam!)

Price depends on size and configuration.

There’s something to be said for stepping outside the box, and this home by Tom Kundig certainly makes a statement. The extreme slopes and angles are pretty spectacular.

[via nytimes]

[posted by katie]

Check it out, the innovative Wall House has drawing kits available for purchase.

Both an environmentally sensitive and spatially intriguing house, the Wall House breaks down the idea of the “traditional” exterior wall of a house and instead plays with new material layers to create dramatically differing aesthetic, sensorial and climate-based experiences within the house. Through the juxtaposition of these layers –folded exterior sheets of high-performance gauze-like netting (“Soft Skin”), an insulating translucent climate barrier of polycarbonate panels (“Milky Shell”), a rigid stacked wood truss structural system doubling as exposed shelving and storage (“Stacked Shelving”), and an inner nucleus of exposed concrete (“Concrete Cave”)– multiple views and relations to the surrounding nature, light, temperature and domestic objects are pleasantly experienced from both inside and outside the house.

• Schematic Drawing Set: Schematic drawing set of the Wall House project, including the right to use the plans to construct a single unit. EUR $1.499 – USD$ 2.335.

• Detailed Drawing Set: Detailed drawing set of the Wall House project, including the right to use the plans to construct a single unit. EUR $4.999 – USD$7.788.

• Detailed Drawing Set w/ Custom Climate Concept: Detailed drawing set of the Wall House project together with climate simulation for the location of your choice with recommendations and custom material specifications. The set also includes the right to use the plans to construct a single unit. EUR $7.999,00 – USD$12.462

FAR frohn&rojas website

[via Arch Daily]

If you haven’t heard of
planetreuse.com, it’s worth checking out.

“Planet Reuse is the world’s first website that connects buyers and seller of reused and reclaimed construction materials and equipment from around the world and allows them to purchase products online.”

Check out this interior of the first London outlet of Aesop designed by Studio Ilse. Despite the weird-ish green walls, I’m really liking the clean antique/apothecary feel. There’s also an amazing mirrored cabinet (not pictured) that I might want very badly.

[via dezeen]

These pictures have me thinking about expanding my horizons when it comes to kitchen and bath surfaces.

“DURAT is a solid polyester based material used for custom made surfaces in public and private interiors. It contains recycled plastics and is itself 100% recyclable.

The sophistication of the DURAT material lies in its silky warm feeling and the interesting impression of depth in its finish.

DURAT is extremely durable and can be renewed by slight sanding. The material is very resistant to wear, humidity, and various kinds of chemicals.”

Check out the massive skylight/window and polished concrete surface…I’d move in there, no questions asked.

“Extension of a small semi-detached family home on a large plot in Blackheath. The modular timber extension wraps around the side of the semi-detached house; it peeps through the adjacent trees of the rear garden and provides access onto the side terrace.

The extension provides a fourth bedroom and second bathroom on the first floor. The ground floor has been dramatically reorganised providing a new playroom and a library for the client’s extensive collection of books and fine art prints. The kitchen and dining area is re-housed in the extension and benefits from unobstructed views of the garden. The interiors are fitted with bespoke furniture and storage space designed by Turner Castle.”

[via below the clouds]