It is rare to find an architect designed luxury property from the 1970s still intact enough to look completely how it did in the decade when flares and disco were popular, and every shade of brown prevailed within the home.

But this incredible, four bedroom, funky detached home has been preserved to perfection to give us all a flavour of how high-end dream homes looked in the late 60s and 70s.

It's a retro gem.

This obviously much-loved home is arguably the ultimate retro step back in time and is on the market for the first time in its history.

The interior design will also take some of us straight back to our childhood, reminiscing about tones of brown, beige, green and orange, bulky kitchen appliances and open-slat staircases.

This immaculate showcase of style from the 1960s and 70s even has genuine examples of classic mid-century furniture inside to complete the journey back in time.

The high-pitched, asymmetrical roof so reminiscent of alpine homes, the large multi-paned windows and the pale brickwork are design elements that many mid-century homes with this stature can boast.

In its time, this abode would have been classed as a high-end dream home. An individual property that encompassed the best of property and interior design from the era within this price bracket; both inside and out.

Today, the house is a wonderful, light-filled, spacious family home looking for a new owner who hopefully appreciates and retains its retro-features.

For the new owners it is hopefully a restoration project rather than a renovation project - a chance to treasure the rare design from the past rather than trash it.

Stepping inside one of the two entrance halls of the home, a right turn takes you to the main living area of the property, an impressive double-height space that lifts up into the angled roof design of the building.

At one end of the room a large picture window encourages a cascade of light, as well as garden views, to flood in.

Above this lower window there is a quirky triangle shaped window that also has views of the sky above the mature garden hedgerow.

This space has a split-level, as many mid-century homes display, plus the eye-catching open-slat wooden staircase that could be argued is a piece of retro design artwork in its own right.

The room has exposed ceiling beams and a wall of exposed brickwork to add even more visual interest to the space.

This sociable and comfortable living room flows into the dining area through a large, open double doorway.

The current popular design term of "broken plan", that is semi open-plan living, is not a new concept at all, as here it is working well in this 1970s home.

These reception rooms provide a view into each space and shared light, but also retain an element of privacy. So, all the benefits of open-plan but with defined zones and the potential to be apart.

The dining area is again light-filled and spacious and showcases an original wooden floor and double glass doors, as well as some genuine retro furniture pieces that can be found throughout the home.

And so to arguably the most incredible room in the house - the kitchen.

Where to look first as the whole original interior design of the space fills your vision?

The two-tone green and white units are a classic design spilling over from the late 1960s into the next decade and would have been the height of fashion when this house was constructed.

The green and brown tiles feature a mesmerising and age appropriate design, and to find a mid-century cooker and hob unit still in situ is a joy.

If they still work, these appliances have stood the test of time far longer than their modern day equivalent.

Even the sink and taps look like they date back to the decade when the house was built.

As with the rest of the house, this room appears to be in immaculate condition.

The kitchen also has a glass door leading to the garden.

From the dining room is an inner hallway that leads to a spacious study which could also be utilised as a fourth bedroom, and a downstairs cloakroom.

And this lovely retro house is just as versatile as a modern equivalent, with a separate ground floor wing.

Currently a bedroom with an en-suite bathroom and potential to separate off from the main house via a secondary entrance hall, this area could be perfect as a guest wing, teenager zone or granny annexe.

The opposite side of the house is the garage wing, a large section of the building which offers space for two cars and an adjoining workshop.

As the driveway is a substantial size with ample parking space, a new owner might consider the many options for converting this space into a home office, a gym or cinema room or even another living annexe, making this house a truly multi-generational home.

Any changes would, of course, need exploring from a planning consent perspective.

Upstairs to the first floor via the cool stairs in the lounge and into the high roof space, which has been designed to accommodate two bedrooms and a bathroom.

Of course, as expected with this interiors gem, the bathroom retro design is not only in place but in fantastic condition for its age.

It may not be the popular and iconic avocado shade of the decade, but will a warm beige be acceptable instead?

Currently, the house has potentially four bedrooms if the study and annexe are used as sleeping spaces.

If the next owner does not require as many bedrooms then this upper floor could be completely dedicated to creating a spacious master-suite, hopefully with incredible retro interior design to complement the rest of this very special home.

This funky four bed in Presteigne in Powys near Llandrindod Wells and north of Hay-on-Wye is on the market for 400,000, call estate agent Cobb Amos at their Knighton branch on 01547 529907 for further details.

Link:
The funky designer home stuck in the 1970s that will take you right back to your childhood - Wales Online

LifestyleHomes and GardensRedesigning some of the rooms at the Feversham Arms came with unexpected challenges for Laura Stubbs

Friday, 28th August 2020, 8:00 pm

Hotel rooms are up there with Pinterest and Instagram when it comes to finding inspiration for home interiors. Many visitors to Ham Yard in Soho go there to just marvel at Kit Kemps wizardry at combining colour, texture and pattern. The savvy Soho House group has cashed in on interest in its room design and now guests can buy some of what they see via Soho Home shops and at sohohome.com.

As a result of this shift, most good hotels have upped their game. Gone are the dull, identikit rooms and instead we now enjoy diversity, colour and interest as hotels employ interior designers to regularly revamp and update the look of their rooms.

For Laura Stubbs, pictured below, founder of Hessle-based Epitome Styling, this kind of commercial work is par for the course and she was looking forward to working with the renowned Feversham Arms in Helmsley when lockdown hit.

She had agreed to transform six of the guest suites at the hotel and spa and had just signed off the designs when the emergency measures were implemented. The deadline for the work to be completed was mid-July.

I knew I had to carry on somehow as the hotel had a short window to get some structural work and the redesign of the rooms done, says Laura. "Luckily, I had taken lots of photographs and dimensions so I had those to work within until the Government allowed building workers and me back on site.

The rooms were stripped back with only the fitted wardrobes remaining so she had everything from paint and wallpaper to furniture and soft furnishings to source. That was one of the hardest things to do as a lot of trade suppliers had shut down completely, adds Laura. I would send emails and they just went unanswered so I resorted to tracking down the directors of the companies I wanted to deal with via LinkedIn and they were amazing.

Inevitably, there were battles she couldnt win and so without some of the wallpapers she needed, she redesigned two of the rooms. With online shopping her only option, she made good use of it. Like many interior designers, she tapped into the great selection of homeware and accessories from La Redoute, bought some art prints from Desenio and chose from the vast selections of wallpapers on sites including http://www.ilovewallpaper.co.uk.

One of the biggest difficulties was that a lot of papers were out of stock because people were redecorating their homes during lockdown and the factories producing papers had closed temporarily, says Laura, who upcycled some items in the bedrooms, such as bedside tables, pictures and some of the headboards.

The bedside tables were solid and had a great shape so it made sense to include them, adds Laura, who taught herself to reupholster headboards. There was no-one else to do it during lockdown so I gave it a shot.

The new-look rooms reflect the Feversham Arms gorgeous Georgian architecture and its location in rural Ryedale, but Laura also introduced some contemporary style and plenty of diversity. I could have done six similar rooms but I wanted to give each one its own personality so they are all totally different. I think thats what people want, she says.

Adding panelling was one of her best ideas. It looks smart, is hard-wearing and it can be easily repainted. It also has the added benefit of allowing you to guide wires behind it, says Laura.

The starting point for room eight was the orange headboard and it prompted a scheme that features bold colours, a nod to country style and luxurious fabrics, including velvets plus bedside lights by La Redoute. Room ten has a more contemporary and elegant look with a fashionable soft grey scheme and pared back figurative art.

One of Lauras favourite pieces is the framed feathers she chose for room seven, which are by Yorkshire-based Maison de Plume, a specialist in feather art.

In room nine, she ran with a blue theme and used a high-impact, distressed blue and gold wallpaper from I Love Wallpaper. She also added brass bedside lights by La Redoute, along with panelling behind the bed that features wooden pegs for bathrobes.

Laura had to take into account the heavy footfall and wear and tear that come with hospitality businesses and chose hardwearing carpet for the bedrooms and luxury vinyl tiles for the bathrooms.

Her efforts were praised by general manager Ingo Wiangke, who said: We are really pleased with the textures and themes Laura has chosen. They have refreshed the spaces and given a contemporary country look to rooms in the oldest part of the hotel, without losing the authentic ambience. We are delighted to share them with our guests once again.

The Feversham Arms & Verbena Spa, http://www.fevershamarmshotel.com; Laura Stubbs, Epitome Styling, http://www.epitomestyling.co.uk

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Designer who beat the odds to bring a new look to the Feversham Arms - Yorkshire Post

Sarah Colburn, Special to the Times Published 10:15 a.m. CT Aug. 20, 2020

Katie Ballantine and her dog, Shire.(Photo: Photo courtesy of Katie Ballantine)

COLLEGVILLE TOWNSHIP Interior designer and artist Katie Ballantine has spent decades helping people make things beautiful through balancing art, space and natural light.

Now, with the COVID-19 pandemic causing many families to work and learn from home, Ballantine is seeing more people seek beauty through balance in their homes.

Specializing in both residential and commercial interior design, Ballantine likes to bring in nature and work with artists to put the finishing touches on the spaces she creates. As a local artist herself, who works in clay and paint, she connects all her worlds.

The common denominator for me is conceptualizing space and describing space, said Ballantine, who operated The Ballantine Company Store until about 2006.

As parents across Central Minnesota begin to think about back-to-school Ballantine is seeing more calls from people wanting to balance their work, home and school spaces.

Recent interior design work by Katie Ballantine of The Ballantine Company.(Photo: Photo courtesy of Katie Ballantine)

School is coming and people are realizing this isnt going away, she said.

Though she said its a relatively new phenomenon, that balance is created using some of the same steps to good design that she always focused on in her business.

Her store carried essential oils, natural cleaning products, work from local artists and it encompassed a plant nursery.Ballantine has continued many of those same veins as she stepped away from the storefront and continued her company.

Home is a sanctuary in ways its never been before, she said. There are so many people working from home, creating home offices, they need to re-think how they use their space and how to get privacy. They need more sanctuary from their space than theyve ever had before.

Ballantine works with clients in a number of ways from color consultations to one- or two-hour consultations about a space that needs a new look, to landscape design and consulting on full-house builds. Some of her clients meet with her to conceptualize a space and then do the legwork themselves to save on cost.

I think everybody gets to have beautiful spaces, Ballantine said.

And thats why she works the way she does, letting the client talk about what they need from her and her services.

When Ballantine enters a clients space, she often focuses on orienting the room to optimize the natural light. She has conversations about how the room is used and sometimes, she said, she just sits in an area and watches how the family lives in a room.

When I leave a space, I want it to look like them, not me, she said.

She listens to people and reads them, understanding their vision for the space or helping them to create one if they feel completely lost.

Recent interior design work by Katie Ballantine of The Ballantine Company.(Photo: Photo courtesy of Katie Ballantine)

I want to surround them in a place thats safe and warm and comfortable and feels like home, she said.

Ballantine has a plant nursery and still grows the orchids shes known for in addition to vegetables and heirloom tomatoes she brings to the Minnesota Street Market in St. Joseph.

That connection with the earth, with growing things, is something she works to incorporate into her room designs between indoors and outdoors.

Sometimes, she said, that grounding connection is made through the use of plants and other times, when shes working on a new build, she envisions where the light would come into the home at different times throughout the day and how that particular space would be used during different times of the day,.

She works with architects as they draw up the space, she is available to assist with concept work and material selection, paint selection, furniture layout and artwork. She has not only been commissioned herself to create artwork for spaces, she makes connections between her clients and local artists when a project deems it a good fit.

Recent interior design work by Katie Ballantine of The Ballantine Company.(Photo: Photo courtesy of Katie Ballantine)

She has working relationships with artists who create in metal, those who build custom furniture and those who can make knobs out of stones, tree roots, wood or clay.

Its completely original, she said. Even if an artist did the same thing for two different houses it would be very different. Artists are innovators by nature so it brings a certain spirit into a space, it becomes a collective of those spirits that have created and collaborated to create this bigger than us thing.

To contact Katie Ballantine at The Ballantine Company, send her an email at ballantineco@gmail.com

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Interior designer brings balance to homes as families spend more time in them - SC Times

Thursday, Aug. 20, 2020

If youre stuck at home and looking for something to do, join the thousands of people starting home improvement projects. We get some tips on this trend and find out how to get the best return on your investment when you embark on your own improvement project.

The COVID-19 pandemic has a lot of us spending much more time than normal in our homes. Many are working from home. And all this time in the same place has given us an opportunity to really see where we live.

Evidently, a lot of people dont like what they see because right now there is a wave of folks who have decided they need to spruce things up. Yes, home improvements and renovations are on the uptick.

But how do you renovate safely during a pandemic? If you plan to sell in the future, what colors and textures and trends will help? And which home fix-up projects give you the best return on your investment?

We talk to some pros about that and more.

Guests

Melissa Lee, principal designer, New South Home, an interior design firm in Charlotte

Kim Trouten, real estate agent with Allen Tate SouthPark

Chris Duncan, partner with Four Oaks Builders, a home building and remodeling company in Charlotte

Go here to read the rest:
Charlotte Talks: Home Improvements Projects On The Rise In Quarantine - WFAE

Waltham-based fashion designer extraordinaire David Josef has always incorporated philanthropy into his work, but the COVID-19 pandemic has led him to take that segment of his business to a whole new level through his creation of unique, often sequin-embellished face masks. The Providence native has swapped out wedding dresses and ball gowns for face coverings that he donates to hospitals, nursing homes, and first responders. He also sells masks to customers, who he said cant get enough of his Ruth Bader Ginsberg design, or his seemingly innocent floral pattern that, upon closer inspection, has verbiage warning people (in very direct language) to keep their distance. I remember the day everything came to a halt: March 15. In one day I received 25 texts/e-mails from clients saying their events had been canceled, said Josef, 62. I didnt see things going in this direction, but this is [where we are], and were having a blast making the masks. Lets face it, they are the must-have fashion accessory. Josef creates the masks with his husband, Daniel Forrester (Its a real team effort, he maintained), with whom he lives in Waltham. We caught up with Josef to talk about all things travel.

Favorite vacation destination?

Being a moon child and a big queen, I have different places in the world that I love (depending on my mood). When I need to stop, relax, and rejuvenate, its Nantucket. When its going to be a lovely two-week vacation, my favorite place is Paris. But New York City gives me everything I need. I can hibernate in a hotel room, fabric shop, and see all of my friends and their Broadway shows. New York is simply the greatest city in the world.

Favorite food or drink while vacationing?

This is a loaded question. Currently, I am weighing in at an even ton, so eating and drinking is something I thoroughly enjoy anywhere. From the hot dog stand in New York City to the most fabulous five-course meal in Paris . . . Im happy eating and drinking anywhere in the world.

Where would you like to travel to but havent?

I am embarrassed to say that I am full-blooded Italian, but Ive still not yet traveled to Italy. In fact, we were supposed to be in Italy right now, in this moment. But the pandemic rules and, instead, we are home, making and shipping thousands of masks.

One item you cant leave home without?

I cant leave my husband, Danny, home when I travel. Other than that, Im a very, very light packer. No matter where were going, I am a light packer. However, my husband travels like Elizabeth Taylor with steamer trunks if were going to New York City overnight.

Aisle or window?

Always aisle. In the very early days of my career, when I was about 19 years old, I would have to fly to New York City for fabrics, meetings, etc., regarding my designs. That was back in the day of the Delta shuttle. I was a very nervous flyer [and] found that looking out the window was soothing. Now, or shall I say before the pandemic, I would be on planes once a month going here and there and everywhere for my work. Its amazing how our bodies become used to any situation. Now I sleep through every takeoff.

Favorite childhood travel memory?

Its kind of funny how life comes full circle. When I was about 12 years old, before my parents divorced, my mother, father, me, and my two brothers took a trip to New York City. I remember it like it was yesterday. We stayed at the City Square Hotel on Sixth Avenue and a rock n roll band, the Buckinghams, were staying on the same floor as us. I got a taste of what it was like to be famous by watching these guys navigate the endless crowds that were waiting for them on [our floor] and in the lobby of the hotel. It was cool.

Guilty pleasure when traveling?

I am a very strange traveler. I am not [someone who is] gung ho, lets get out of the plane and go shopping or sightseeing. My guilty pleasure when traveling is as follows: Check into the hotel and go to bed! Im a real jerk with hotels, too. I like all the upgrades and the amenities, as anyone would. I like to relax in my hotel for the first day and a half to get my bearings, get my footing, and then I will venture out to sightsee, or do whatever it is that needs to be done.

Best travel tip?

Danny and I have rediscovered Amtrak and train travel. Its truly glorious and incredibly relaxing.

JULIET PENNINGTON

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David Josef was supposed to be in Italy right now, but hes making masks instead - The Boston Globe

Tucked into the foothills outside of Fort Collins, this minimalist mountain home is the ideal base for a screen-free getaway. Photo courtesy of Andrew Michler

A Q&A with the designer of this 1,300-square-foot, certified International Passive House tucked into the mountains outside of Fort Collins. And, yes, you can rent it.

Escaping into the wilderness has long held appeal for Coloradans, but as we face another month of pandemic life, getting away to a place far from others sounds even more attractive.

Enter Off Grid Hideaways. The Switzerland-based startup partners with homeowners around the world to rent out their beautifully designed and remote properties. There are currently 13 homes in Off Grids portfoliobut just one is in the United States, and its right here in the Centennial State.

The Colorado Hideawaynicknamed MARTAK, an acronym of the designers familys surnamesis a 1,300-square-foot, two-bedroom, one-bathroom home in the mountains of Larimer County, about 30 minutes from Fort Collins. The minimalist and open-concept space incorporates plenty of natural, eco-friendly materials (like Forest Stewardship Councilrated timber and recycled-newsprint insulation) and is the states first certified International Passive House. But dont let that scare you: There is electricity and indoor plumbing (and wifi, too, though you can ask to shut it off for a true digital detox). Its a regular house. You wouldnt even notice it as being anything different at first, says designer Andrew Michler, who lives in his own off-grid abode next door and runs the architecture firm Hyperlocal Workshop. We talked to Michler about MARTAKs aesthetic and what Passive House really means.

5280 Home: How would you describe the design of this house?Andrew Michler: Its kind of a Colorado contemporary cabin. It has a lot of inspiration from Japanese architecture in its use of materials and the space-making. People respond to two main things: the materials of the house, which are really quite simplepicket fencing for siding, plywood for the flooring, plywood boxes for furniture and stepsand the shape. Its a big, strong triangular motif inspired by hogback mountains here on the Front Range. Its almost like being inside one of those hills in a way.

Is there a spot in the house that guests gravitatetoward most?The most popular part of the house is the net (pictured above) at the very end of the loft space. Its 10 feet off the ground. [Overlooking] the main living area, it serves a few functions: We needed to make that space feel less cave-like, and it brings daylight in. Acoustically, it connects the two living spaces as well. Its just a lot of fun to do a surprise element in the house.

Tell us about the furnishings.Almost everybody responds to the minimalist aesthetic. People are feeling a little bit cluttered in their lives now that theyre working from home, and that decluttered-ness really speaks to them. The trick was trying to find the balance between creating a space thats completely uncluttered but still has the amenities you need to be comfortable. Its very much about getting people to engage with the space. [For example,] the windows are fairly deep, so [the sills] act as benches.

What does it mean that this house is a certified Passive House?This is the first certified International Passive House in Colorado; thats a very strict and rigorous energy-efficiency standard. The goal is to achieve buildings at any scale that use about 10 percent of the heating and cooling that a typical building would use in that environment. Its a massive leap from what typical buildings do. Its naturally comfortable.

I think its important for us to start focusing on the long-term quality of buildings, which goes beyond what we typically talk about: just the aesthetic component. Passive House has put a tremendous emphasis on the well-being and comfort of people. You cant take photographs of it, but a lot of people express how it feels to them. They feel protected. Its quieter. The temperature range is more stable. From a human point of view, our buildings havent been able to provide quiet spaces, constant fresh air, and really comfortable environments before. Thats something we can emphasize in parallel with the reduction of the carbon footprint of buildings in general.

So, no air-conditioning, then.Because Im off-grid, air-conditioning is not really an option. We use Earth tubesair is pulled through tubes that go through the ground, which helps to temper the air before it comes into the house. But primarily its just night cooling: Open the windows at night and close them during the daytime. In the wintertime, the main heating system is the sun, or passive solar; the secondary heating system is our everyday activities in the house, from cooking to taking showers. A small supplemental heating system makes up for the rest.

Whos making reservations?Lots of families; a lot of design-oriented people; people who are looking for a unique place to spend time for a few days or a week. Especially with COVID-19, everybody feels locked in. Theyre looking for something serene.

The Colorado Hideaway sleeps four and is available to rent for $250 per night; pets are not allowed.

Daliah Singer is an award-winning writer and editor based in Denver. You can find more of her work at daliahsinger.com.

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This Colorado Getaway Is the State's First Certified "Passive House" - 5280 | The Denver Magazine

Following the popularity of a riverside house that an architect and designer built for themselves in Australia, we've rounded up 10 other original self-designed homes by architects and designersfrom around the world.

Home Farm, UK, by John Pawson

Home Farm is the clutter-free second home of John Pawson, the British designer best known for his minimalist style.

Built within a 17th-century farming complex in the Cotswolds, the dwelling is fitted out with limited furniture and a deliberately simple material palette of pale lime plaster, elm and concrete.

Find out more about Home Farm

House in Samambaia, Brazil, by Rodrigo Simao Arquitetura

A large, sweeping rooftop shelters the stripped-back House in Samambaia that Brazilian architect Rodrigo Simo designed for himself, his wife and children.

Floor-to-ceiling windows wrap its exterior and frame its tactile, open-plan interiors, which feature various recycled elements and an exposed structure of white-painted steel pipes, beams and board-marked concrete.

Find out more about House in Samambaia

House in Tokiwa, Japan, by Makoto Suzuki

Makoto Suzuki designed the fragmented House in Tokiwa to facilitate communal living accommodating living spaces for himself, an office for his wife, a remote retreat for his father and a studio for the sculptor Takenobu Igarashi.

It is made up of individual blocks that are interlinked and unified by the same vertical timber cladding, which Suzuki left unpainted to mimic the trunks of the surrounding trees.

Find out more about House in Tokiwa

Ceiba House, Mexico, by Jorge Ramirez

Ceiba House is the 1930s family home of Jorge Ramirez, which he refurbished and extended with a white rooftop yoga studio for himself and his wife.

Located in Aguascalientes, the small home retains as much of its existing detail as possible, including weathered mud-brick walls, crumbling render and a small courtyard with a ceiba tree after which the house is named.

Find out more about Ceiba House

Hytte Ustaoset, Norway, by Jon Danielsen Aarhus

Framing the view of the nearby lake was the priority of Jon Danielsen Aarhus when designing his family's remote timber cabin, located on the mountain plateau Hardangervidda in Norway.

The pared-back dwelling is otherwise built to merge with its natural setting, clad entirely in pinewood that will grey over time and mimic the colours of the surrounding trees and rocks.

Find out more about Hytte Ustaoset

Blythe Road, UK, by Alex Michaelis

Alex Michaelis' self-designed sculptural brickwork house in London slots into a long, narrow site that was previously occupied by a disused garage.

Complete with rooftop gardens and a swimming pool, the design is Michaelis' "contemporary take on Corbusien modernism" and intended to offer a "unique and unparalleled experience of city living".

Find out more about Blythe Road

Dodge House, Portugal, by Daniel Zamarbide and Leopold Banchini

Daniel Zamarbide's Lisbon home is fronted by an opaque facade that opens unexpectedly into a bright, full-height living space, overlooked by staggered glass-walled rooms.

Its distinctive stepped section squeezes a kitchen, bathroom and three bedrooms into a footprint of less than 40 square metres and is designed to maintain a visual connection throughout the home.

Find out more about Dodge House

House in the City, Japan, by Daisuke Ibano, Ryosuke Fujii and Satoshi Numanoi

A stack of staggered white boxes makes up Daisuke Ibano's House in the City, which he built for his growing family on a compact site hemmed in by other buildings in Tokyo.

This characteristic form reflects its unusual interior layout, where the rooms are arranged as one "helical continuous space" without doors to help maximise light and space.

Find out more about House in the City

Le Pedrera, Uruguay, by Alejandro Sticotti

Le Pedrera is a coastal holiday home that architect Argentinean Alejandro Sticotti designed for his family using textural board-marked concrete and weathered-wood cladding.

The interiors were designed largely by his wife Mercedes, a graphic designer, and have a complementary material palette dominated by tactile wooden flooring, ceilings and furnishings.

Find out more about Le Pedrera

Basic House, Thailand, by Korn Thongtour and Nartrudee Treesaksrisaku

An indoor garage containing a vast collection of cars is the centrepiece of Basic House, the "clean-cut" home of architects Korn Thongtour and Nartrudee Treesaksrisaku in Bangkok.

Developed with their studio, Brownhouses, the dwelling conceals all its storage behind walls to enhance the pared-back aesthetic and retain focus on views of the garage throughout the home.

Find out more about Basic House

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Ten self-designed homes that reflect the unique styles of their owner - Dezeen

Thursday, Aug. 20, 2020

If youre stuck at home and looking for something to do, join the thousands of people starting home improvement projects. We get some tips on this trend and how to get the best return on your investment when you embark on your own improvement project.

Are you considering a home remodel project? Are you in the middle of one? What questions do you have for our experts? Email charlottetalks@wfae.org

The COVID-19 pandemic has a lot of us spending much more time than normal in our homes. Many are working from home. And all this time in the same place has given us an opportunity to really see where we live.

Evidently, a lot of people dont like what they see because right now there is a wave of folks who have decided they need to spruce things up. Yes, home improvements and renovations are on the uptick.

But how do you renovate safely during a pandemic? If you plan to sell in the future, what colors and textures and trends will help? And which home fix-up projects give you the best return on your investment?

We talk to some pros about that and more.

Guests

Melissa Lee, principal designer, New South Home, an interior design firm in Charlotte

Kim Trouten, real estate agent with Allen Tate SouthPark

Chris Duncan, partner with Four Oaks Builders, a home building and remodeling company in Charlotte

Original post:
Charlotte Talks: Home Remodels And Improvements On The Rise In Quarantine - WFAE

Barcelona-based designer Sanna Vlker has curated a collection of seven furniture and homeware pieces, which were created during coronavirus lockdown to reflect the unique limitations and opportunities of the current moment.

The pieces in the project, called Km Zero, include two benches and stools, a teapot and ceramics set and a trio of vessels, and were created by seven different Spanish design studios.

Each product was crafted within one kilometre of the designer's home. The materials were sourced from within the same radius in order to explore the possibilities awarded by local production.

"In Spain, as lockdown started to ease, we were allowed to go for walks in our immediate neighbourhoods," Vlker told Dezeen.

"We couldn't exceed the one-kilometre limit but we could stroll around our closest streets during a few restricted hours each day. This is the moment where many of us discovered workshops and artisans located just a few hundred meters away from our homes and studios."

Precht designs Parc de la Distance for outdoor social distancing

Several of the objects deal with the loneliness of social distancing and the ways in which the pandemic has reminded us of the importance of community and collaboration.

Industrial designer Marta Ayala Herrera created a wooden bench with two individual, round seats separated by protruding armrests, to reflect on the isolation of the individual in Western society.

"The context in which we live rewards and encourages this tunnel vision and the construction of everyone's bubble," explained Herrera.

"However, the arrival of a crisis in the space where we live has exposed the shortcomings and inconveniences that this type of society offers us.

That's why, although the bench might appear to allow users to sit separately, the seats are actually dependant on their shared base in order to stand.

Madrid-based Paula Clavera focused more on the materiality of her immediate surroundings and forged her No2 stool from abandoned rubble and granite pieces found on the streets of the La Latina and Lavapis neighbourhoods.

These are stacked on top of each other and cobbled together into a Flintstone-like, three-legged seat, designed to represent the bricolage of buildings that make up these districts.

Beyond curating the project, Vlker also contributed a teapot, called Presence, which consists of a cylindrical body and a strainer with an oversized, doughnut-shaped rim.

When water is poured into the strainer, it slowly drips into the main body of the pot through a small hole at the bottom.

UNIT Fabrications builds social-distancing furniture for London primary school

"Presence is an object that explores the personal experience of truly slowing down," said the designer, who created the piece in collaboration with a local ceramics workshop.

"Through combining the tea ceremony with the soothing sound of water, the project reflects on time and on staying present. The piece questions our constant search for efficiency and optimisation and invites a shared moment of stillness by focusing on sensorial information."

Barcelona's Turbina Studio contributed a series of bowls and plates, in which perfectly smooth, concave shapes are embedded into roughly textured bricks to create the impression of fossilised artefacts.

The series, called Future Archeology, is made from fired clay and cast stone and hopes to make us consider whether the way towards a more sustainable future might be to look towards the past.

Omayra Maym's 1927 stool features a seat that has been formed by wrapping a piece of rope repeatedly around its geometric frame. The rope was made by a local artisan from a type of grass fibre called esparto, which is native to Spain.

Also featured in the collection is a bench by Isaac Pieiro, fashioned from a piece of bent, laminated wood that had been collecting dust in his studio, and a series of vessels, created by Jlia Esqu using offcuts from a nearby metal workshop.

"Producing and consuming locally has been on our minds for years but sometimes, until we're forced to act upon an idea, we don't fully commit to it," Vlker said.

"Due to the current situation, we are finally doing what we have been wanting to do for quite some time now. And at least for some time ahead, we will have to make use of our local resources and opportunities."

Vlker, who was born in Sweden, has curated a group exhibition for the past three years, focusing on different pressing social issues each time. In 2018, Perception focused on the impact that Instagram has on our experience of exhibitions and came complete with a mandated social media blackout.

And last year, the Sisters show focused on female empowerment, femininity and social justice.

With this year's agenda dominated by the pandemic, a slew of other designers have unveiled furniture and home objects for a "new normal".

Mexican architect Enrique Tovar has designed a foldable desk that can be carried to different locations, while UK brand UNIT Fabrications has developed a series of mobile screens for a local primary school to enact social distancing.

Photography is by David Leon Fiene.

More here:
Seven designers share objects created within a kilometre of home during lockdown - Dezeen

Home Design

Local architect Stephen Chung reflects on how the pandemic has shaken up the industry.

A rendering of the 288-square-foot studio Stephen Chung designed for his home. / Courtesy photo

Architect Stephen Chung has approached the world of design from just about every angle. A masters in architectural design from Harvard? He earned one. Experience working alongside renowned industry leaders? Philippe Starck was one such collaborator. A gig as a TV producer and host? Think: PBSs Cool Spaces! The Best New Architecture. In recent years, though, hes spent his time dreaming up sleek, modern residences and hospitality projects in and around Boston and Sarasota, Florida, with the eponymous firm he started in 2015. That changed dramatically, however, when the coronavirus pandemic hit. For Chung and virtually every other architect, interior designer, and contractor, many projects came to an abrupt halt, transforming the industry in ways that are yet to be determined. Still, never one to slow down completely, Chung decided to embark on yet another new design pursuit: dreaming up a glass-walled, two-story detached home office, a project that may symbolize the COVID-inspired ingenuity well see in the months and years to come. I have tremendous concerns. I think in the short term [design professionals are] going to have a hard time, Chung says. But I think there are opportunities, too. Were going to see a lot of innovation.

How did you spend your time during the states stay-at-home advisory?

Things were canceled, so with the combination of that and my kids being at home while I was trying to get things done, I said, Gosh, I wish I had an office where I could escape, but be on my property, so I developed this little [detached] home-office design. I called it my COVID-19 design studio. Id always dreamed of making a two-story fort for the kids and Id talked to a building inspector, so I knew what I could do on the edge of my property. So in my mind, I said, I could do a 12-foot-by-12-foot room on the ground floor, which would have a conference table and books. And then a ladder would take me to a second floor, where I would have a desk with a computer. It would be good for everybody because itd be quiet when I do my Zoom calls. I could get work done and go to the office, and my commute would be a minute. We should all really think about this home-office thing if were going to work at home. Just in terms of your well-being, I think having some space and air makes you healthier and more productive and optimistic. That sort of project makes sense for a lot of people, whether [the office is] detached or built into something existing.

The architect envisioned using inexpensive materials, including Sonotube foundation and plywood, to build the detached home office. / Courtesy photo

Whats another area of the home you foresee people rethinking in the wake of coronavirus?

Mudrooms. My brother is an ER doctor, and has a little portable sink attached to his garage. When he comes home, he washes his hands and puts his scrubs in a bin. So he has a makeshift decontamination zone before he goes into his house. If I were designing a house, I would think about an expanded mudroom where, [like my brothers home], there are places for disposing clothes, taking off shoes, and washing hands immediately. While many people have mudrooms, theyre not as expansive as what Im [imagining]. They need to be almost new entrances. Most homes have a symbolic front door, but [Ive found that] people rarely use it. Many use a secondary side entrance [instead]. Maybe we should consider that the main entrance, off of which would be a mudroom/transition space. Id be interested in exploring that with people.

How has the pandemic changed the way people feel about their homes?

If youre spending 98 percent of your day at home, youre really looking at every design. This should be a positive thing for design professionals because people [are wondering], Jeez, why is this like that? We have all become more aware and appreciative of good design and how it improves our health, happiness, and productivity. I hope therell be more people thinking through all these choiceseven details you dont normally see, like insulation between floors or interior walls [for sound proofing] so kids can go to school on Zoom and you can have a conference call. There are more good ideas coming from homeowners, too, because theyve thought, My kids are here, so I need this or The office needs to be farther away from this or My life is unique because of this. And thats good.

In addition to running his own firm, Chung teaches design courses at Suffolk University. / Photo by Raymond Forbes

Do you have any predictions for how hospitality design may also evolve?

There have been a lot of people in the industry speculating [about] how hospitality design will be affected going forward. Ive been thinking about the guest experience and how much more frictionless it will be. I think check-in will be automated and will require fewer staff to manage. Guest rooms will be larger to accommodate more activities. I could see each room having a kitchenette and a proper eating area, plus direct access to a private outdoor space, be it a garden or a terrace.

For dcor, easy cleaning will be a priority, and I would expect [to see] hard floor surfaces and washable wallcoverings. There may be more curved wall surfaces, which are easier to clean than right angles are. Interestingly, these changes may lead to an overall stylistic shift as well. For instance, guest rooms will lean toward modern and minimal with fewer surfaces, no crown moldings, and simpler base trims, handles, and doorknobs. Furthermore, there will be fewer knickknacks. There has also been a lot of talk about [incorporating] antimicrobial materials, but I dont think there is enough evidence at this time to go all in on its application.

What tools have you relied on to make designing during the pandemic easier for you and your collaborators?

Right now, I have clients from Ohio who want to build in Sarasota. Im in Boston, so were conversing [online] and Im using real-time animation software to walk them through the design. I can take it beyond blueprints and floorplans and show the building moving and the sun changing. I found this to be a really productive tool before [COVID], so when [the outbreak] happened, I said, Why not do it like this? Its more productive to have these kinds of meetings, where we go into buildings [virtually], walk around, change things, and [get a sense of] what its like to be in there.

Chung used real-time animation software to generate this rendering, which portrays daytime and views of a Florida project hes currently working on remotely. / Courtesy photo

Chung used real-time animation software to generate this rendering, which portrays nighttime and views of a Florida project hes currently working on remotely. / Courtesy photo

Originally posted here:
How Will COVID-19 Affect the Future of Home Design? - Boston magazine