Modern Home Tour-Austin 2012 Part 2

As a follow up to yesterday's post, I thought I would share a couple more trends we noticed at the tour.

Kitchens-Contrast is still in, though in a much cleaner and simpler way. Finishes are lighter (mostly white) countertops with simple medium to darker medium cabinetry were the leader. As far as materials go, solid surface/quartz seems to have nudged granite out of the lead. I believe this is in large part due to the desire for greener finishes. Back-splashes ranged from glass tiles, to penny rounds, or very subtle tonal ceramic tiles that blend seamlessly into the countertops. I am not a huge fan of the blonder wood, but apparently its making a come-back.

Above images courtesy of modernaustinhometour.com

One of the leaders in these types of countertops is Caesarstone. I have a love affair with Carrera marble and they happen to have a very similar look called Misty Carrera,that I am hoping to use in my house one day. All the beauty and none of the high-maintenance care that comes with marble.

Caesarstone-Misty Carrera, as from their website

Carrera Marble-Typical

Part 3-Bathroom Trends....tomorrow!

Modern Home Tour-Austin 2012

It's ironic that the last posting was this time last year, and we mentioned last year's Modern Home Tour. Well, this is our first post of 2012 and definitely not the last. As you can imagine with over 15 homes to tour, there was a lot to see.

You can follow this link to see more information about the houses we toured.

One of the trends that stood out to me was the bookcase. Not just one bookcase, but several built in's, in more than one room, and they were not only showcases for books, but for prized collections of arts/artifacts, and in one home, vintage children's toys that I remember playing with myself.

Above images courtesy of austinmodernhometour.com

So, the book is not dead!!! One home even utilized the Ikea Expedit Shelving Units along a 10' wall. Each was recessed into the wall, and looked like a custom built-in.A custom look for less than $200.00 a piece.

Photo courtesy of www.ikea.com

More coming tomorrow......

How the time flies....

Resolution to Blog more...so far not so good...so I thought I would post a quick update of where we are so far..

2011 began in the midst of an install, we finished our 2nd retirement project for Canyon Creek technically last week...but spent the week after Christmas trying to install a building that was currently still being built(this is not the best time to install art on the wall or try to breathe when inhaling various fumes)..we will have the spaces photographed in 2 weeks and will post some then.

a+ has set a wedding date...this summer and thus the planning begins,I am super excited as for me, it will probably be a long while before I personally get to plan my own wedding, as I don't even have my prince charming, though hers is more like a mad scientist prince...mad in so many ways, not the least of which is wicked humor and mad brain skills...
so with that..

a+ made it back from India in one piece and had an amazing time, she has yet to show me her 2000 pictures, but she will be blogging about this at some point, she even has a topic..it will probably be after I blog about my trip to Asia, but hey, its a start. Speaking of a start, yesterday began my series of bank breaking, and neck aching travel boosters, I was sure I would come out with less money spent than a+ on these shots, but nope, I win again and will now be protected from Typhoid for 5 years and Japanese Encephalitis for 2...thanks Ange!!
I have spent the last month finishing a bedroom and bath redesign, its amazing what one can do in a month, hope to post pics of those soon.

Now for the fun stuff...its the beginning of a new month and 2 new editions of my favorite shelter emags have been published...
Rue Magazine and Adore Magazine can be read by clicking on the links...there are so many great designed spaces and sources for amazing art, accessories and more. ENJOY!

If you are in the Austin area next week the Austin Modern Home Tour is going on, I am totally there.

Below...a picture of a place +k will visit this year...who doesn't love a beach vacation!!

courtesy of the mandersons via flickr

Merry Christmas, Happy Holidays & Happy New Year!!

I wanted to wish everyone that follows us(though I bet its just a handful of people and we thank you) a very happy holiday! 2010 has been a year of change, happy change and have seen wonderful firsts for myself and Ava(this time last year she got engaged...2011 should mark their start as a real married couple) we can hope!! We thank our families and friends for all the love, support and help though the year and I can say I have never been happier to be doing what I was born to do and am ever so thankful.

photo-unknown

We end the year being very busy, installing our next retirement project and hoping to get new clients and more projects. So, take some time over the next week to think of those things you have put off doing, and make a plan to do them. Thank those around you for all they do and all they are, and maybe if you can either take the time or spare the money, donate your time or money to a worthwhile cause.

We promise to post more next year, with one of the 1st posts by a+, herself about her trip to India. I myself have an adventure or 2 to come, Asia in March and the ICFF show in NYC in May.(in between a visit from my aunt and uncle,too) So we leave you with an image of one of my favorite places this time of year, and my hope for a visit again in 2011.

Accent walls

The debate continues on whether or not accent walls work. We believe that accent walls are a way to take a bolder color that one would not be comfortable in painting in a whole room. As designers we have a vision sometimes within seconds of seeing a space, and its taking that vision and marrying it to the clients style/taste/comfort. I cannot sing the praises of this practice more.
Today I recieved the latest issue of Stir from Sherwin Williams. There was an article that spoke to this continued debate.
People should not be afraid of color, accent walls bring a pop of color and dramatic flair in small doses. The colors do not have to "match" items, just be cohesive with whats going on in the space. People need to think outside the box of cookie cutter schemes.

And if you ever get bored, you can always repaint...

Late...

I realized its been over a month since I last posted...Shame on me!! We have had lots going on, not to mentione a+ being away in India for the last 2 weeks.
We have quite a lot going on, we just had a client move into their home that we have been helping do renovations on over the last 2 months, and we have another friend/client that we helped with a new paint scheme and redesign of her master bedroom. We will post some pictures in the next month or so. We have 2 new models being installed we hope at the end of this week and a major install happening the week after Christmas. So...I will probably not be posting for a bit, or here and there..
Hope all had a great Thanksgiving holiday!

Tardy

I have been BUSY....so no posts of late, I am sorry about that. I just wanted to give a few shout outs to the fabulous restaurants of the Yountville area. If you ever have the chance to go or are in the area, please stop by REDD, Bouchon, and Bottega.

REDD is Richard Reddington's interpretation of the California wine country's cuisine with various European and Spanish influences. For our lunch, we feasted on prosciutto pizza with fontina and arugala, crispy calamari, bread salad and one of the best desserts I have ever had a dark chocolate pot de creme, beurre noisette, and warm beignets.

Bottega is Michael Chiarrello italian resteraunt. He is known for his shows on Food Network and his Napa Style store. I again, had some of the best food ever. His crispy gnocchi and angry prawns were amazing, as well as his panna cotta. We were impressed enough to get his just released cookbook of the same name.

Have a super weekend, and more posts to come about color trends through 2012, and next month, Ava will blog about her trip to India(I am so excited to hear about that adventure).

Bardessono Experience

Below are details of some of the room features from documents from www.watg.com, the architecture firm.

Furnishings: John Wells of Seattle, designed and constructed bedside tables of reclaimed wood and steel. Evan Shively fashioned guest room desks of Bay Laurel.

Guestroom and public area concrete floor tiles are sourced from Sonoma Stone. Bath and dressing room floors are of orchard walnut milled by Shively.

Salvaged Monterey Cypress has been milled into siding, walnut trees uprooted by farmers at the end of their productive life have been milled into flooring, guest room doors and furniture, redwood wine barrels create ceilings and doors in public spaces, and salvaged California Bay trees were cut into slabs for guest room desks.

Taken by K.Lovett

 watg.com

My favorite part of the room would absolutely be the bathroom. The finishes are so simple and green.They have integrated massage tables for in-room spa treatments, large closet units for 2 people and in-room safe. The sinks are Duravit and the whirlpool tub has small pinhead size holes at the bottom of the tub that are controlled via a pad on the side of the tub. I much prefer this design, than that of the side jets.

 

Above are courtesy of bardessono.com

 You can see where there are no carpets, drapes or bedspreads. All lighting and blind controls are done via wall push button pads on the walls. By eliminating those 3 elements, there are less allergens. There is a duvet with cotton cover and these sheets were super soft. The bedding is all down or pseudo down filled. 

Tomorrow, I will write about the restaurants and spa, as well as the other activities in the area.

Behind the Green-Bardessono

Why Bardessono, well, I was for one very interested in what one of 3 Platinum LEED certified hotel properties in the world would look like and function, and I was looking for a place I could go for a couple of days for total rest and relaxation. This place ticked all those boxes. The LEED(system of certification is point based and to be platinum certified, you have to pass with 52-69 points. 


Bardessono was named after the family who owned the land, and much of  the stone used on the exterior came from the original family home/winery(Tufa stone). Many of the environmental initiatives are listed on the links above. I will list several of the items that were interesting to me. 


I will let you know that if you prefer more "comfy"/traditional surroundings, than this place is not for you. There is a distinct contemporary, zen spirit, there is no carpeting and most materials lack real color.The furniture throughout is thoughtful, but not necessarily soft(the fabric on the daybed/sofa was ArcCom Moonbeam(not exactly soft, but is eco and crypton finish(holds up to liquid).  The sheets however were SUPER soft and the bed, wonderfully comfy.

View from rooftop pool of entrance, main outdoor area outside Lobby/Restaurant, you can see overall design and use of natural materials, drought resistant landscaping. Water features are throughout grounds.

Magnolia section of rooms, there are 3 other sections(Cypress, Birch and Olive) each have those species of trees included in the landscape design, with other water features. I will post more of those photos tomorrow.

Lobby-Vertical garden installation by Seth Boor, Scott Smith and Flora Grubb of 800 tillandsia in 4 vertical niches, ilo of revolving fresh floral arrangements that you would see in most hotels. Tillandsia require no soil and minimal water to grow(known as air plants also.)

Some of the environmental impact features are that many types of wood used in the understated, flat-roofed structures were salvaged from lumber mills and all from within 100 miles of Yountville, accented by naturally rusted steel. Each building's roof is fitted with a concealed photovoltaic solar collector and reflective material which makes it possible for the hotel to provide a significant portion of its electrical energy requirement. Another aspect of the hotel's energy saving : motion sensors determine room occupancy and turn off lights and electrical devices, drop shades and adjust temperatures while it is empty. When you return to the rooms, all settings automatically return to what they were when you left.

There were many other green aspects to the hotel, including low water flow fixtures, drought-resistant landscaping and a kitchen garden that grows fruit, vegetables and herbs for the dining room.

• Eighty two 300 foot wells beneath the Bardessono as part of a geothermal system for heating & cooling rooms and preheating of domestic hot water
• Automated external venetian blinds on windows and occupancy sensors to turn off lights
• LED and fluorescent light fixtures
 • Recycled wood furnishings with eco-friendly fabrics
• Redwood ceilings from old wine tanks
• Glues, adhesives, paints, and wall coverings with low VOC
• Concrete with a high potash (recycled product) content
• Glass Tiles with a high recycled content
• Steel with a high recycled content
• Organic linens and terry
• Organic cleaning products
• Spa & Restaurant food use organic and local
• Recycled Uniforms
• Drinking water, filtered on site
• Vegetable waste composted for use in the gardens
• Laundry done with limited hot water and non-detergent cleaners
• Recycling throughout the hotel
• Recycled paper products
• Electric and bio-diesel vehicles for hotel/guest use

In Lucy's Garden-they even give you seed packets when you have dinner at the restaurant.

Tomorrow, I will post video of the room and talk about the hotel experience. Have a great Tuesday!!

Napa Style....Bardessono

Courtesy of dwell.com

This week I will be dedicating the blog space to my quick trip to Yountville, California, which is in the Napa Valley. Yountville is most notably thought of as the home of Thomas Keller's resteraunt The French Laundry(which by the way you need reservations made 1-2 years in advance, unless you are a regular or someone of celebrity status). Yountville is home to many wonderful resteraunts, REDD, Ad Hoc & Bouchon(the other 2 Keller Resteraunts), Pacific Blue Cafe, just to name a few.

I believe that some of the best memories in life are had over a meal that you can't possibly afford or on a trip somewhere. For me some of my best times are with friends and family both near and far and birthdays are the best times for these occasions.(for those who know me best, its rare to find me at home on a birthday, or better yet with someone else for theirs.)


Today, I have posted some of the pictures of restaurant row and the entrance to Bardessono. I will post tomorrow about what makes Bardessono so amazing, not the least for being one of only 3 hotels in the WORLD that is platinum LEED certified.  Later in the week I will post about the amazing restaurants and why you would ever want to visit this charming town.

Have a great sunday, don't miss Mad Men, love that show!!

Corner of Washington and California(All Photos Courtesy of K.Lovett)

Washington-old railway station, the remaining cars are an Inn and a Coffee Shop)

Bouchon Bakery-One of 3 locations in the US, this is the flagship, with one in Vegas and one in NYC.

Corner of Yount and Washington, entrance of Bardessono in the distance

Rue

I think I have mentioned in previous posts, my love of all things print.This includes magazines, books(printed and ebooks),etc. I have also become addicted to reading design blogs, I will try to add my favs, like everyone else on the side portion of the blog soon.

I have become addicted to the Flipboard app on my ipad and via designsponge this week, I was introduced to another online design magazine called Rue. Its great. Click on this and enjoy.

Happy Friday tomorrow to everyone!!

Anthology

Is the title of a new design magazine I found out today via designsponge. It will be published quarterly and you can see a preview here. I love me some magazines, its a weakness, like any other.

Have a great week!!

Stoney Brook of Belton Project

Here are just a few photos of the retirement project. Hope you enjoy... I will give you more information about each picture in the caption area below each one.

Main Dining Space, at meal times, there are white table cloths with full table service.

Neighborhood-One in each wing, common space for activities and tv viewing,etc.

Formal sitting area off main lobby

Another view of formal side, on other side of fireplace, people are watching tv(see previous post)

Another view of a Neighborhood, at TV viewing area

Fall, please come soon!!

I have been under the weather lately, so thus why I have not posted in a couple of weeks. Getting over a end of summer cold, hopefully my quota for the year is filled. Watching one of my favorite summer shows-The Choir on BBC America. Its like Glee, but for real and is set in various spots in England, as Gareth Malone sets up choirs with young and old, most of which have people that really think its a joke, and by the end, they are all involved and believe the experience life changing. Speaking of Glee, T-13 days until the 2nd season starts, I am so ready for it!!!

Okay, well my most important reason for the post is that I am going to show you a glimpse of our Stoney Brook retirement project. So...here goes.

Home Sweet Home

We made our last official visit to Belton yesterday for 1st retirement home project. It was bittersweet, but long overdue,but what made it even better was seeing the residents that are there now, enjoying the space. It was movie time, they were watching "My Big Fat Greek Wedding"(love that movie) and they were snacking on popcorn and chips with homemade guacamole. Where do I sign up, right?
It was a super cute moment...the couple you see below, are newlyweds and he is awaiting his soon to be 100th birthday.

Photo courtesy of a+k design

I will post some other pics of the main spaces in the next couple of days. Have a super weekend!

At your fingertips

Another, what will they think of next..Septembers T&L magazine features an article about how far vending machines have come, and wow have they.

If you ever had a hankering for fresh pizza in less than 5 minutes, then there is a machine for you, though at the moment, they are only in certain airports in Italy.(though as the image states, they are starting these in the UK...) You choose your toppings and watch as the dough is kneaded and baked, all in less than 5 minutes for about $6.00.

Image courtesy of letspizza.co.uk

There are several more interesting machines around the world where you can get gold bars, swimsuits, bicycles, fortunes,etc. See more on these at this site.

Wanderlust

Found out about a great new site that is British based for last minute hotel bookings in England and Europe. I read about it in the September issue of Travel and Leisure. http://www.laterooms.com/
Man, am I itching for a European jaunt....
Additionally, http://www.zoombu.co.uk/ allows you to calculate the best way from one city to another.

Happy travels!!!

Suncatcher Designs

What do you think of when you see beach glass, shells and other whimsical baubles....? Vacations..or more specifically beach vacations. Those are some of my favorite kinds. I think you always have memories of them, at the least as a child. There is nothing better than that of sun, surf, sand and the glorious sea.  I love the water, it can be rivers, lakes, streams, but really nothing is better than the sea.
Someone who has as much passion for the beach, is using that as a basis to design some of the most unique bracelets I have seen in years.

Suncatcher Designs utilize found beach glass and seashells, along with gemstones, beads, crystals, and other great baubles.(The beachglass mostly from Hawaii and shells from many places, as far as Australia by the designer herself).

One of my dear friends has been designing these bracelets for over the last five years and I had never seen them until earlier this month, and can I tell you, they are FABULOUS!!!! She is an Aussie that calls Austin home, by way of California, Connecticut and Hawaii. It was in Hawaii that she and a bunch of fellow military wives started collecting beach glass and designing jewelry. Each bracelet is one of a kind, as many of the items are not man made or were reproduced.

You can see pictures below of some she recently sold to a boutique in Turks and Caicos(British Virgin Islands).  I just had to have one, so I can't wait to see what she comes up with for me. Soon she will showcase her designs via  Etsy. If you are interested at all, contact me and I will put you in touch with her.

Photo Courtesy A.Sanchez

Photo Courtesy of A. Sanchez

Photo Courtesy A.Sanchez

Lonny

Just a quick note to say that the latest issue of the online magazine Lonny has just been published.
Enjoy!!

Will be posting soon--more about our project completion, beautiful beach glass bracelets designed by D. Estrin and much more!

http://www.lonnymag.com/Home.html

Isn't it ironic...we did not plan it...

Just had to share...as many of you know, we are working on the final touches to our main project this year so far. In doing so, we found out that something we had done as part of our art installation had put a smile on some very special people's faces.  As you can see below, there  is a darling couple standing in front of a photo wall we designed as a part of the buildings main activity area. Mr. and Mrs. Pittman happen to be the Pittmans of the sign you see above their heads, and to add to the story, they are going to be some of the first residents of our fabulous project.

Photo courtesy of a+k design

The sign is from their dry cleaning business in downtown Belton, which has been open for 64 years. What they may not know is that their sign was what started our inspiration for the photo wall. We fell head over heels for the sign, mostly due to our love of the simplicity of the sign design, the very vintage look of it, and the colors. That day the sun was shining, the sky had that blue color and against the sign, we loved it!! This began our series of photographs taken in downtown of various businesses that have been around for decades and some wall murals of various types. We did the series as a nod to all that we thought gave downtown Belton it's unique flavor, in hopes the residents would agree. Little did we know that the Pittman's would eventually be immortalized. 

Well it made us smile, so I just wanted to share.

It goes to show that you can take anything you have a passion for and turn it into art for your own personal spaces, it can be anything(flowers, people, places or just a series of items you love) I just takes a little time to shoot, and you can buy an inexpensive frame and pre-made mat, and wha-lah(original art)!!!