1,500 homes burned. Nine lives lost.Half a million acres scorched.

: : I came across this poster on the top, and fell in love with it. Turns out it's all for a good cause. I decided to buy it .here.

"Donated by designers and artists around the globe, posters sold at the So-Cal Fire Poster Project raise funds for victims of the wildfires that devastated Los Angeles, Orange, Riverside, and San Diego Counties. All proceeds will be given to the Salvation Army, for the 2007 California Wildfire fund."

marimekko-sanna annukka

: : I love .sanna annukka's work. Now she has a series of textiles out with .marimekko. What a great combination. Lovely idea.

doilies

: : anyone who's been to our house in the recent weeks, has observed my fascination with paper doilies. doilies are so delicate, feminine, almost magical and there are so many things you can do with them (currently I'm using them as place mats). We don't have doilies in Sweden. Maybe it's because I didn't grow up painting on doilies and using them for craft projects as a child, that I like them so much. I really do. people laugh at me here.

I love the idea of using doilies as art, stenciling on the doily (via .ohjoy.), or placing doilies of different sizes on the wall (via .apartment theraphy.)

kurbist inspiration again

sweetheart pillow by .lucky fish. via .nonchalant mom.


.moustache ape. skateboards with kurbits, via .below the clouds.


alexander girard illustrations on bikes, via .below the clouds.

: : I can never get enough of kurbits! and finally I've set up our studio at home, and am hoping to get back into designing some new patterns. while browsing the web I came across pieces of inspiration in several different places. hope you like kurbits as much as I do!

esthex

: : and of course the .esthex. dolls and musicboxes are irresistible!!

brio

: : there are little ones on the way among family and friends (one due any day now).
it's hard to stay away from browsing for baby stuff. .Brio. is a Swedish company. I used to play with their wooden trains when I was little. they have a new series called .my first. stuffed animals and trains. happy, colorful and playful.
(via .below the clouds.)

sköna hem

: : oh no, it's happened again, work has taken over my life. and when I'm not working I'm outside enjoying the glorious sunshine. my bike ride in this morning was so, so nice. it's days like today that gets me through freezing cold days biking through the snow in the winter.

on the topic of summer, here is my 3rd magazine that could potentially fill the domino void. it's another Swedish magazine,. sköna hem. My mom always buys a few issues for me when she comes to visit. they have a great gallery section, and a good range of different types of homes and styles.

I chose a few pictures of balconies. We have two balconies at home, the one in the front has been filled withpotted herbs, veggies and flowers ( a very special rosebush) and is our favorite place to hang out. for the balcony in the back we are planning to build a bar, put up lights and add a barbecue. maybe it will happen this weekend, we'll see....

Defining Space in an Open Floor Plan

Many of today's home designs incorporate open floor planning - with kitchen, dining and living areas all very open to one another.  Open planning is great for entertaining and family gatherings because it allows people congretating within these "zones" to remain connected with one another. 

One problem with open planning however is that sometimes the combined space becomes too large and begins to lose a sense of intimacy.  Also, how about that kitchen clutter?  Many clients want to remain "connected" with their guests while in the kitchen, but do not necessarily want all of that kitchen clutter exposed to their guests.

There are a number of ways to combat these issues.  I will try to illustrate in the following examples designed by Larson Brenner Architects in Stillwater, MN.

Photo below illustrates dining area and adjacent front foyer.  A dropped soffit in the foyer and hallway helps to define the edge of the dining space (ceiling elevation changes are a great way of defining space).  Cabinetry placed between the hallway and dining serves as china cabinet and buffet counter.  The position of the cabinet also reinforces the edge of the dining area.  Windows on two adjacent walls help to define the center of the space, where the dining table is positioned.

Photo below illustrates a dining area and adjacent front entry foyer beyond.  The cabinetry is now engaged between walls.  This method provides a little more "enclosure" for the dining space.  Double thick wall with "bulkhead" opening provides space for ductwork and creates a more dimensional separation from the adjacent kitchen and stair.

Here you can see that double thick wall opening between the dining and kitchen areas.  Kitchen island has 3 surface heights.  The 42" high eating bar and 48" high display cabinets conceal the primary kitchen work / clutter surfaces behind.  The island itself defines the long edge of the kitchen.

In this example a kitchen is separated from the dining room with a full height cabinet.  The cabinet has a "hole" in the middle to provide space for a serving counter and to maintain visibility between the spaces.  Circulation flows around either side of the cabinet.  The cabinet engages at the top with a bulkhead which further helps to define each of the two spaces.

View from kitchen side.  Again the raised serving bar helps to conceal kitchen clutter from the adjacent dining space.

Simple,Unique, Creative and Green House Plans

jobs textiles

: : Swedish textile company .jobs. is a true source of inspiration for me. they represent both traditional and modern Swedish pattern design. But beyond their beautiful designs, their patterns speak of our culture, the fauna of Sweden, of colors and traditional folklore. The company originated in Dalarna, the very center of traditional Swedish folkart. All their textiles are hand printed in Dalarna, Sweden.

I came across their patterns today again, my mom reminded me of them just a few weeks ago and my friend .tina. mentions them to me over and over again. I don't know why I haven't share until now. I could spend hours just studying these beautiful patterns. I'd like to bring more of them into our home. enjoy!

Not So Big 10 Year Anniversary

It is the 10 year anniversary of "the not so big house".  This was the first book in a series published by Residential Architect Sarah Susanka.  This series of books touts the virtues and benefits of great design, clearly illustrating with beautiful  and thoughtful examples that modest spaces can be as functional and more intimate than large ones.  

The book series has been exceedingly popular, and Ms. Susanka has tirelessly promoted it.  In the process she has single handily done more to promote the value of an Architect than any efforts I have witnessed over my career by the American Institute of Architects.  For this I say - Thank You Sarah Susanka!

Her book series can be found at Amazon.com 

Simple,Unique, Creative and Green House Plans

New Interior Video of Stillwater Craftsman

Simply Elegant Home Designs has added an interior animation of their "Stillwater Craftsman" house plan.  The animation can be seen below.

Simply Elegant intends to publish more interiors information on all of their home designs.  The idea is to provide customers with better information so that they can make more informed buying decisions.