Kichler’s Pro LED

Monday, January 26, 2009

Pro LED under cabinet lighting features an ultra-thin, half-inch profile

A new product on the market.


For use inside a curio, below a cabinet or in a variety of other areas, these energy-efficient fixtures use 75 percent less electricity than typical incandescent lighting. Plus, they’re so thin they’re nearly invisible -- just 3/8” thick. In addition, the Design Pro LED discs offer a warm white color rendering and a lifespan of 20 years. A variety of finishes are available to blend into any surrounding.

For more information: go to
Kichler Lighting

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Razzle dazzle us, if you please...

Saturday, January 24, 2009

Concetto Sfumato (backlighted) seen here in Center Cut Steakhouse, New York. Photography: Sam Horine


Ok, when we need a little over the top creative design inspiration, look no further than Concetto.

Shown at the right and the picture above, this semi-precious stone is backlit for added effect. What a vibe!
Imagine doing a a little powder room vanity top in Concetto Sfumato backlit. Stunning.

The newly launched Concetto website is a spiritual tour for the eyes and soul that will remind you about the unique and powerful world of crystals and semi-precious stones. The site explains everything from the essence and energy of the crystals to the process of Concetto creation to its care and maintenance.

To see the dazzling new website that shows off the even more dazzling Concetto Surface Art, just go to www.ConcettoUS.com


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Friday detour: Rewind to groovier days

Thursday, January 22, 2009

Oh, you have to love this post brought to you from Retro Renovation! Take a trip in time with more kitchen and bath trends from 1968. Blues and greens were hot then and they are still hot now. The shades of blue and green have changed a bit, and the names have changed as well. But as trends come and go, contact paper on appliances is a trend I hope never to see again.

Blue and green accents in the kitchen. Circa 1968.
Remember when contact paper was the material of choice to line cupboard shelves? Contact paper on appliances? Ugh.

Homeowners still love their blue.
Powder Blue, circa 2008.
Lapis Blue, circa 2008.

Not to mention Thermador Blue knobs on their ranges.

Or we keep it blue concealed behind the oven door.

And when was there a time when we did not love green?

Avocado Green, circa 1969.
We loved our green, even in paneling.

Or this Apple Martini Green from Caesarstone, circa 2006.


Wasabi Green, Circa 2008

As we see, muted greens and vibrant greens are still popular today.
This door shown in Tea Green, by Durasupreme, circa 2009.
A variation from the old avocado green we saw from 1969.

Or my favorite, updated version of blue and green.
A much more subdued, almost muted blue shown in
Lagos Blue by Caesarstone with a lemon green wall accent color. Circa 2008.

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Communication with your Contractor


Successful remodeling companies have a pre-construction meeting to clarify the construction logistics before construction begins. Once a project begins, you will be living in a construction zone. It is so important that homeowner and contractor have a game plan in place for the logistics, parking, deliveries, work hours, primary contact phone list, and discuss expectations for the project.

Written procedures must be in place for a successful outcome to your project. When you hire a contractor, insist you have this meeting at your home prior to demolition. My firm has an excellent written Pre-constructon Meeting Checklist we implement for all our projects. The meeting takes about an hour and all the logistics are discussed. The client gets a copy and another is kept in the lead carpenter's job binder and one copy goes back to the office.

As new home construction sales are on a decline, it is not uncommon to find new home construction contractors competing for the jobs in the remodeling sector. A construction zone differs greatly when the homeowner is living in the home during a remodel. It's important to find a contractor that specializes in remodeling and will be able to set standards for his crew to abide by while they are in your home. The attitudes can be relaxed in new new construction where there are no children and pets to be aware of, and no one sleeping or changing for work under the same walls.

The National Kitchen and Bath Association's Professional Resource Library sets forth a good sample as outlined below. As a homeowner here are some questions to ask during the pre-construction meeting:

  1. What are the contractor work hours?
  2. What days will the contractor work?
  3. Will the contractor provide a construction time line?
  4. What areas of my home will be protected?
  5. What will be the path of entry?
  6. What type of floor protection will be used?
  7. Will the contractor use plastic zip walls?
  8. Will the contractor cover the vents in the construction zone?
  9. Will the contractor use air scrubbers to filter air-borne particulates that are kicked up during construction?
  10. What type of covering will be used for the newly installed tub, the new cabinets, and will plywood/cardboard coverings be used to protect my new counter tops so that no tool is set down on a finished surface?
  11. Who will be responsible for moving and storing any precious possessions, (the grand piano or art collection) adjacent to the kitchen or bath.
  12. Will the contractor need special permission to enter certain areas of your home?
  13. Discuss security alarm system and procedures.
  14. Will the contractor provide a lock-box system during the project?
  15. Will a mailbox be set up inside the job site for homeowner and contractor to leave messages, and other important documents such as owners manuals and warranty paperwork that should be provided to homeowner.
  16. If the home has wireless connectivity, may the contractor have access to your wireless network? If not, is there a high speed internet line available to use in the work zone? (Laptops are now carried by some contractors for downloading specs or expediting e-mail communication or schedules.)
  17. Regarding children: what is their schedule, who is responsible for them if they return home when parents are working?
  18. Are there any pet considerations?
  19. Are there any neighbor concerns?
  20. Regarding lunch time, will the crew have permission to eat their lunch in a designated area on your property? Will the crew take their lunch trash with them and not place food in the dumpster to avoid rat infestation?
  21. Does the contractor have rules in place for the crew members and sub- contractors that respects your home from loud radios, cursing, smoking and from using any of your personal tools, trash cans and household equipment?
  22. Where can the contractor drop/store deliveries, notably the cabinets and or/crated, over sized bath fixtures?
  23. Where can the contractor maintain a staging area and a place to store his tools?
  24. What do you want to salvage from demolition, and where do you want it stored?
  25. Where can the dumpster be set up?
  26. Where and how will trash be collected? Are they any community regulations about it's location.
  27. Where can the portable toilet be set up? (Or, which of your bathrooms can the contractor use?)
  28. Will the contractor provide a temporary kitchen? (On loan temporary table, microwave, toaster oven, hot plate, temporary sink.)
  29. Where can the contractor and subs park vehicles?
  30. Where may the contractor post a company sign?
  31. Where are the utilities (gas, electric, septic, communications)?
  32. What furniture or shrubbery needs to removed?
  33. Who will be the primary contact person (husband or wife) for the contractor to communicate with?
  34. What hours can the contractor call you, and what numbers should they use (home, work, cell, other)?
  35. How often do you want the contractor to meet or contact you?
  36. Do you and your family understand that no family member or other unauthorized individuals spend time in the work zone, and that all communication is best maintained between your lead project manager or designer and the homeowner.
  37. Will the contractor provide professional cleaning service at the end of the project or provide a "broom clean" service?
Well, that's it. It's important to know that construction is not a perfect science. Expect that things may not go perfectly, but as long as you and your contractor have a clear understanding of procedures, it helps make the project run smoothly.

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Post Modern Update: The Pasinetti House

Monday, January 19, 2009

Simplicity and elegance in a modern setting.

A kitchen remodel even a dog could love.
(I believe all dogs check out what's on the counters when we are at work. )


These photos are from an LA Times article,
Haralamb Georgescu's midcentury Pasinetti house renovated:
Kitchen Notes on the Pasinetti Renovation.
  1. What had been a small galley kitchen was opened to allow a greater social flow to the dining room and living space.
  2. The Formica counter tops were replaced with a smooth white quartz.
  3. To reduce the scale of the kitchen appliances, the refrigerator and freezer were placed in separate drawers with cabinet fronts that match Georgescu's cabinet design and proportions, and a new mahogany finish connects them to the bookcases in the main living area.
  4. My one reservation: The paneling behind the range is mahogany. As beautiful as it is, grease splatters on a wood back splash will discolor the wood. I would have liked to see milk white back painted glass just behind the range. It would have been appropriate for the style and also it would make the quartz pop.
The photo was taken on day 206 of the renovation.
Stark Ghost Chairs. Morredi of Denmark Dining Table.

Photo from demolition.
Note the wall up, jalousie windows, formica tops,
lipped cabinet doors, awkard cooktop location.

Day 225. What a difference!
Appliances by Sub-Zero, Miele and Bertazzoni.
Fixtures by Dornbracht and Blanco.

Notes from LA Times Article:

Architect Haralamb Georgescu (1908-77) is considered one of Romania's most important architects. Today many of his modernist buildings in Bucharest are landmarks. Despite designing dozens of buildings in Southern California, Georgescu never gained the same level of fame as his midcentury contemporaries. The Midcentury Modern Pasinetti home, built in Beverly Hills in 1958, was for sale as a tear -down in 2007. The idea was to replace the home with yet another over done, ridiculous behemoth Beverly Hills Tuscan style McMansion. Krikey! Was I descriptive enough?

Vision
The developer Tim Braseth says "developers do not need to replace a house in order to gain a maximum return." Braseth saw the beauty in the post modern structure and had the Pasinetti home restored with updated conveniences, improved building methods and energy efficient materials and technology that brought the home up to date while still respecting the integrity of the home's important design elements. The Pasinetti house is now being designated a Los Angeles Historic Cultural Monument.

For more information: click here for the LA Times article.
For a press release: click here.
For more inforation on the developer: click here

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The World's First Environmentally Friendly Home Water Filtration System

Sunday, January 18, 2009



Consumers are most definitely interested in "good for your health and good for the environment alternatives." It is with great pleasure that I am able to report news about manufacturers that have stepped up to the challenge. We have all seen news reports at one point or another on the state of the Pacific Ocean. If you have not heard, there is a section of the Pacific Ocean twice the size of the continental United States called the Great Pacific Garbage Patch. Within it, 100 million tons of plastic swirl in a vortex of currents. There is so much plastic in the water that it outnumbers zooplankton by six to one! Say what? To put a size landlubbers can identify with, marine biologists say the heap of debris floating in the Pacific is twice the size of Texas.

This plastic ends up in the stomachs of marine birds and animals. In fact, one million seabirds and 100,000 marine mammals die globally each year due to ingestion of or entanglement in plastics. What can you do? The simple act of reduce the amount of plastic bottles you use on a day to day basis. Fill up your glass or reusable bottle every time you need a drink. Now that is simple fact we can all manage to do.

Photo credit: The Ferris Files.

Body Glove, known as the ultimate water sports brand, has stepped into the kitchen with Water Inc., launching the first ever environmentally friendly 3M Manufactured Body Glove Water Filtration System. The Greenest Alternative in Water Filters.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Water, Inc. Partners with Body Glove to Introduce a 3M Manufactured Body Glove Water Filtration System - the Greenest Alternative in Water Filters

Water, Inc’s Body Glove Water Filters can save up to 9,000 plastic bottles annually


CARSON, Calif. -November 17, 2008 -
Water, Inc, along with Body Glove, introduces the Body Glove Water Filtration System the most advanced and eco-friendly water filtration products on the market. Manufactured by 3M, a leader in green innovative technology and the highly environmentally-conscious Body Glove, the Body Glove water filters are proven to provide the healthiest drinking water for your family, while reducing the overfilling of landfills and protecting the ocean from toxic pollutants.

"We are extremely excited to partner with Body Glove, a leader in green technology and environmental protection, with a 3M manufactured product,˝ says Rick Tarantino, Executive Vice President, Water, Inc. The launch of the Body Glove Water Filtration System will truly redefine the way homeowners consume healthy drinking water, while doing their part to protect the environment."

The Body Glove product line includes four models to suit all lifestyles - BG-1000 (1,000 gal capacity), BG-3000 (450 gal capacity), BG-12000 (1,000 gal capacity) and an upgrade cartridge, the BG-3000R (350 gal capacity). Using a unique and patented Tri-Stage filtering design, the BG-1000, BG-3000 and BG-3000R combine three powerful filtering processes into one recyclable polymer filter housing. Water is first treated by KDF-55 media for bacteriostatic and scale control. Next, a Micro-Filter Wrap more evenly traps sediment particles while maintaining overall flow rates. Lastly, water flows through the patented carbon block filter. The most powerful of them all, the BG-12000 takes filtering one step further by running the water through a patented 0.2 micron pharmaceutical-grade membrane. Each of the Body Glove systems have a 50 percent increased flow rate over competitive systems.

While providing a safe and healthy drinking water alternative, the Body Glove brand also promotes protecting the environment. Each Body Glove water filter uses a patented corn-based biodegradable label, along with a 100 percent recyclable polymer filter housing. This product also helps eliminate the need for 2 million tons of plastic water bottles that end up clogging landfills annually. The Body Glove Water Filtration Systems have been developed with a built-in cartridge recycling program that allows filters to be recycled conveniently by calling 1-888-62-REUSE (73873). Fully committed to helping protect the world's oceans, waves and beaches, Body Glove and Water, Inc. are donating a percentage of every sale to the Surfrider Foundation.

About Water, Inc.

Water, Inc., a premier distributor of luxury water products, decorative plumbing and high-end appliances for the home, specializes in the distribution and sale of premium brands including Asko, Perlick, Eurotech, HousePure, Enviropure, EverBrew, Brew Express, EverCold, EverHot and Body Glove Water Filtration Systems. For more information about Water, Inc., call 800-322-WATER (9283) or visit www.waterinc.com

About Body Glove

Founded in 1953, Body Glove is a leading, worldwide action sports brand specializing in wetsuits, swimwear, clothing, footwear, accessories, and technology accessories. The company sponsors one of the most respected surf and wakeboard teams in the industry with such powerhouse names as pro surfers Bruce Irons, Mike Losness, Alex Gray and Holly Beck and wake boarders Rusty Malinoski, Shelby Kantar and Jeff McKee. Through reef Check, SIMA's environmental fund, and the Surfrider Foundation, Body Glove works to preserve the purity of the waters it loves. Body Glove products are sold in the U.S. by a network of independent retailers. Body Glove is also sold in approximately 50 countries internationally.

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More on Pre Fab Housing

Monday, January 12, 2009

I think I am a true convert to prefab living after viewing this.


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Prefab? FABULOUS

When architect Michelle Kaufmann and her husband set out to purchase an affordable green home, to no avail, they decided to build there own. Thus a new company was born out of a need for clean, affordable green living.

Prefab has never looked so good. Michelle Kaufmann's prefabricated homes are a far cry from what we are used to seeing. Her designs are unbelievably cool and modern and affordable. If you are a fan of Frank Gehry and Michael Graves, the influence may be present as Kaufmann previous architectural experience included working for both architects.


Kaufmann's designs bring modern, affordable sustainable living to a new generation of home buyers. The beauty of the design is in the eco-friendly materials used. What's more, Kaufmann makes a reasonable argument for prefab designs. She is quoted as saying, "In countries like Japan, many homes are factory made, resulting in 50 to 75 percent less waste than is generated by building the typical American House. When you think about custom homes built on site, it doesn't make any sense, it's like asking to have a car built in your driveway."

There are six exclusive models from which to choose from. Home sizes range from a mere 725 square feet to 2,400 square feet.

Home costs typically start at $250 to $300 per square foot. Custom built homes start at $400 per square foot. Costs include all construction costs aside from the cost of the land. Typical construction time: 12-14 months.


What's more, you can try before you buy. The Reid House, located at Lake Chelan as a vacation rental, and featured in "Sunset & Dwell" magazines, offers an opportunity to experience green living in a tranquil environment and modern prefab structure with luxurious amenities. Rates vary seasonally, from $175 per night to $300 per night.

Photos below from Reid House.



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New Year ~ New Vibe

Sunday, January 11, 2009

A door knocker from Atlas Homewares.
Hello 2009!
What do you have to say for yourself?

2008 was in short, a sticky wicket of a year leaving most of us uncertain of a lot of things.

2009 is starting off lean but hopeful. I predict that more people will turn to cottage industries brought to life through the internet to bring in new forms of income. There are stories all around us of people who are reinventing themselves. I love that!

Here is one story that is close to my heart. The LA Times has a story that peaked my curiosity: An Eichler house in Granada Hills gets restored on a budget. I grew up near the Eichler's in Granada Hills and I remember the first time I fell in love with modern architecture and Eichler Living.

My 3rd grade friend Michelle S. lived in a Eichler Home on Jimeno Avenue in Granada Hills. Here is the thing: When you are a kid, everything seems so much bigger. I am sure now, if I go back the rooms would seem smaller and I probably would want to rip out all of the horrible remodeled kitchens and restore them to the purist form of the Eichler. But it was an impact on me nonetheless. It was then, stepping through for the first time to the inner courtyard, viewing with awe, from a third graders vantage point, the glistening floor to ceiling glass walled courtyard, that I knew I loved modern architecture. Putting together our homework projects in her Eichler home were good times. Her house was much different than my 1960's long and rambling ranch style home I lived in. It was then I developed a love of architecture and identifying period styles. It was the early 70's, still a fairly new neighborhood at the time, in the era of the Brady Bunch before they went into re-runs. Speaking of the Brady's, the Eichler's used a lot of Walnut paneling. I kind of felt like I was in Mike Brady's den.

Van Gogh elementary school was the brand new elementary school, also post modern in it's design, where all the neighborhood kids attended. As a kid, I had many great memories of the Eichler neighborhood: the slumber parties; the girl scout crafts we made at another school friend's Eichler house on Nanette Street; on Lisette Street where the very nice retired school teacher who's name I can't remember, but I will never forget that she taught us, the neighborhood kids, how to make s'mores on a bar-b-que from her Eichler backyard deck overlooking the Van Gogh playground. Halloween nights winding our way through the steep hills thoughout the whole neighborhood; This was a care-free time, when kids ran free in neighborhoods, played outside until the street lights went on at dusk. I lived around the corner from the elementary school and the Eichler neighborhood was above us in the hills, referered to as the Balboa Highlands, I remember looking up from my backyard, where I could see the Eichler Homes on the hill and looking at the lights coming on inside from these modern glass walled homes and wishing I lived there. I am sure today that the trees have grown tall, obscuring the views but my fondness for the Eichler has never left me.

Fast forward to today, it's great to see an Eichler home restored. Thanks to the LA Times, we get to see a story of an Eichler tastefully restored on a budget and even greater story of watching one person transform her love for modern design into a viable business. Click on the link to Cindy Epping's web based mid century modern furniture store, and see how she has parlayed her hunting and gathering into a phenomenal website for period furnishings, www.onestopmodern.com.
Bravo Cindy! Ingenuity is the mother of invention.

Here are a few of my favorite shots from the LA Times Story.
All photos by (Jay L. Clendenin / Los Angeles Times).

A detail of the casework: a fresh new look that preserves the period vibe.

Epping updated her kitchen, trying to preserve the original ambiance while adding modern touches such as the new faucet for the original avocado-green sink. The cabinets were sanded and restained.

Carpet tiles from www.flor.com form a rug in the kitchen.

A pair of Bertoia wire chairs from the 1960s take their place in Epping's atrium.

A little color in the living room: an orange-stiched ottoman from
Urban Outfitters and a blanket from Anthropologie.

Like many Eichler homes, the entrance to Epping's house is an atrium. She cleaned up the space, keeping the slat roof (not original to the design) but replacing the plants and adding a simple Primelite lamp.

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