Outfitting a play space for children might consist of nothing more than setting up a few old furniture pieces, plastic storage bins and the extra TV.

But some parents want the play space to reflect their design aesthetic. Does the rest of the home read more Eero Saarinen than Superman? More Verner Panton than Pokemon? Is the vibe less Nickelodeon, more George Nelson? If so, youll want to try balancing kid-friendly with cool.

Some options:

Mod Mad

Lots of decor from the 60s and 70s works well in a play space: mod lamps, modular furniture, pop art, and fun, space-age prints for wallpaper and textiles. Hues popular back then orange, yellow, teal, green, white add energy to furniture, cushions and rugs.

New York-based designer Amanda Nisbet used a Roy Lichtenstein print and a chrome-trimmed bubble chair in one of her childrens space projects. Victoria Sanchez, a designer in Washington, D.C., used colorful Missoni fabrics to liven up a teen lounge.

Check out Modshop1.com and Designpublic.com for pieces many of them kid-size that fit the style.

Hip, retro-style robot, typography and animal patterns designed by New Yorker Nancy Wolff are at AllModern.com.

And chocolate, tangerine or red knitted poufs and flat weave rugs with zingy geometric graphics are part of the signature line at Fab.com. For a low-key look that still fits the aesthetic, think smooth-edged Danish modern wood furniture. Armless upholstered club chairs look smart and are perfect for lounging; find new ones at Overstock.com and vintage ones on Etsy.com. Or take a cue from Australian designer Anna Williams and use mid-century credenzas for toy storage check out ThriveFurniture.com and OneKingsLane.com for options at various prices.

Accent with Mad Men -era posters or toy ads, and add floor pillows covered in patterns drawn from the era. Soothing hues like umber, avocado, mustard and sky blue keep the energy relaxed.

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At Home: Cool but kid-friendly playrooms

By DAVID SHARP/Associated Press/January 4, 2014

PORTLAND, Maine (AP) Hundreds of utility line crew workers and tree trimmers left the state when they finished their work for Central Maine Power instead of staying after the Christmas week ice storm because Bangor Hydro Electric Co. waved off the extra help even as hundreds of customers remained in the dark for four to five more days.

But the Maine Public Utilities Commission consumer assistance division received only 10 to 20 calls from people who were concerned about the length of time they were without lights and heat.

Bangor Hydro had already called in reinforcements and couldnt provide logistics for extra workers as the utility raced to finish its own power restoration in eastern Maine, said spokesman Bob Potts.

By the time we got additional crews, got them briefed, got housing, by the time all that happened, we felt we'd have people in those areas and have power restored. Theres a lot of logistics of getting them up here, Potts said, noting that all hotel rooms in the Ellsworth area were already booked.

The ice storm began on the weekend before Christmas, and by Dec. 23, utilities were beginning to see power outages increase as the ice accumulated on power lines and tree limbs.

Before it was over, more than 160,000 homes and businesses were in the dark for some time. Some customers, especially around Ellsworth, lost power for eight to 10 days. Highs were in the 20s and 30s that week.

George Elias, owner of Rooster Brother, an Ellsworth store that sells kitchen items, cookware, wine, cheese and baked goods, said it was a bad time to lose electricity.

This was a really a hard one for a lot of people. People had no heat or power for days. They had family coming. They had to cancel all their family gatherings, he said.

Central Maine Power called in an additional 370 utility crews and 320 tree-trimming crews, some from as far away as Pennsylvania, bringing the total number of line crews to 455 and tree-trimming crews to 450, said spokesman John Carroll.

See the article here:
Line workers sent home as Mainers remained in dark

PONTIAC The recent cold weather isnt doing much to help volunteers restoring the Strevell House, but the president of the Livingston County Historical Society said work on the home that once hosted Abraham Lincoln will resume full scale in the spring.

A lot of our volunteers head to warmer climates for the winter, Bob Sear said. It gives us a chance to focus on some other aspects such as fundraising.

The outside restoration is complete, Sear said. It includes a new roof, restoration of doors and windows and the replacement of ornamental fretwork. The foundation has been repaired, and the exterior has been painted in a historically accurate scheme.

It looks really good when you drive past it, Sear said. We still have some yard work and things like that to do, but it looks much better than it did.

Now, the focus has switched to the interior of the home at 401 W. Livingston St., which had been an apartment building in recent years.

There is still a lot of work to do there, said Ellie Alexander, director of Pontiac Tourism. A lot of progress has been made, but its going to take a lot of work and a lot of time.

The Historical Society acquired the property in 2009, and about $60,000 has been spent so far on the project, Sear said. Most of that money has been spent on the exterior, but the interior restoration and repair will be even more expensive, he said.

Sear said several businesses and volunteers have contributed labor and, sometimes, supplies.

The inside is pretty much gutted out, he said. We have some electrical and plumbing work to do, but things have slowed down a lot and will remain that way until the weather gets warmer.

The 1850s home of Jason Strevell is the last existing structure in Livingston County known to have hosted Lincoln.

Excerpt from:
Restoration of historic Pontiac house to pick up in spring

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Complete Log Home Repair and Restoration Services for Log Home ...

History is one of the favorite channels in our home. I particularly enjoy the shows where they rescue the rusty gold and send antiques for expert restoration. The transformation of various vehicles, toys and other items present amazing before and after stories.

There seems to be plenty of need for restoration in our lives and in our country. I could sure go for some restoration of separation of powers in our national government.

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Michael Zimmer: Embrace restoration in the new year

The social gospel preachings of Pope Francis are starting to ruffle rich American Catholics, according to Home Depot founder Ken Langone, who is leading an effort to raise $180 million to restore St. Patricks Cathedral in New York.

The first Jesuit pope has taken aim at trickle-down economics and warned about creation of a culture of prosperity that is incapable of feeling compassion for the poor. Francis issued a November exhortation on the world economy, which said in part:

Pope Francis: He has warned of unfettered capitalism which tends to devour everything which stands in the way of increased profits, whatever is fragile.

In this system, which tends to devour everything which stands in the way of increased profits, whatever is fragile, like the environment, is defenseless before the interests of a deified market, which becomes the only rule.

Langone told CNBC that one potential seven-figure donor to the St. Patricks restoration has become upset at the popes words. Langone took his concerns to Cardinal Timothy Dolan of New York.

Ive told the cardinal, Your eminence, this is one more hurdle I hope we dont have to deal with. You want to be very careful about generalities. Rich people in one country dont act the same as rich people in another country.

CNBC talked to Cardinal Dolan, whose soothing sound bites have become ubiquitous on network TV programs from 60 Minutes to the Today Show.

The pope loves poor people; he also loves rich people, said Dolan. So I said, Ken, thanks for bringing it to my attention. We gotta make sure this gentleman understands the Holy Fathers message properly. And then I think hes gonna say, Oh, OK, if thats the case, count me in for St. Patricks Cathedral.

Dolan is frequently pictured by The New York Times Sunday Style section at gala Manhattan fundraisers in the company of the rich and famous.

Langone also reported telling Dolan, You get more with honey than with vinegar, and pointed out, There is no nation on Earth so forthcoming, so giving as the United States.

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Home Depot founder: Pope Francis ruffling rich donors

A decade ago, it took John McArthur and his crew of craftsmen about a year and a half to completely restore the century-old family home of Colorado Agriculture Hall of Famer Chuck Sylvester.

It took September floodwaters just minutes to undo their work on the Weld County farmhouse, smashing a window to flood the basement and filling the ground floor with 6 inches of mud and 17 inches of water.

(McArthur) did a total restoration to keep the integrity of this 100-year-old girl, said Sylvesters wife, Roni. Now shes 110 and hes back again. Hes mad as hell.

McArthur and the original crew many of whom were born in the same year crack jokes as they work to restore the 110-year-old, two-story house.

We arent doing this again, McArthur said with a chuckle.

McArthur and Chuck Sylvester said they take great pride in their backgrounds as they come together in this old house that represents the history of both agriculture and fine carpentry, both of which, they say, are fast-fading trades.

I cant find anybody who wants to work, McArthur said. When we were young, people would fight for the construction jobs.

Sylvesters family homesteaded the land just north of LaSalle 145 years ago. His grandfather built the white farm house, settled next to a big, red barn.

Roni Sylvester said her husbands hope in restoring the home is not to pass it on to family but to pass along the history of his ancestors who settled there and worked the farm.

He wants to really preserve the integrity of this home so that maybe there will be an opportunity to help our upcoming generation have authentic history they can look at, she said.

More:
Crew returns after a decade to restore historic Weld County home damaged by floods

According to Cardinal Timothy Dolan, Home Depot founder Ken Langone has voiced concerns that Pope Francis recent rhetoric about income inequality was causing at least one high-level donor hesitation.

Langone is involved with Dolan in a $180 million restoration project of St. Patricks Cathedral in New York City, but informed the cardinal that one potential seven-figure donor was unhappy with the pontiffs criticism of free marketscomments which have already angered conservative pundits and been called Marxist by Rush Limbaugh.

Ive told the cardinal, Your Eminence, this is one more hurdle I hope we dont have to deal with, Langone said to CNBC. You want to be careful about generalities. Rich people in one country dont act the same as rich people in another country.

Dolan said Langone approached him recently about the remarks, saying, You come to us who have been blessed, who are wealthy, and yet we sense that perhaps the Pope is less enthusiastic about us. We need to correct that.

Dolan said he responded, Well, Ken, that would be a misunderstanding of the Holy Fathers message. The pope loves poor people. He also loves rich peopleWeve gotta make sure this gentleman understands the Holy Fathers message properly. And then I think hes gonna say, Oh, OK. If thats the case, count me in for St. Patricks Cathedral.

In a separate interview with George Stephanopoulos, Dolan praised Pope Francis for shattering the caricature of the Catholic Church.

Watch the full clip below, via CNBC:

[h/t Raw Story]

[Image via screengrab]

>> Follow Evan McMurry (@evanmcmurry) on Twitter

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Home Depot Founder: Pope’s Rhetoric on Economy Worrying Rich Donors

pixelmon #2 (w/ turtlemaster 47) home restoration
Sorry about this video being before 1 something glitched.

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pixelmon #2 (w/ turtlemaster 47) home restoration - Video

Monday, December 30, 2013, by Lily di Costanzo

Photo via Paul Barbera / Herman Miller

In the 1950s industrial designer George Nelson, a founder of American modernism, created for his close friends Sally and James Kirkpatrick a home that would become a time capsule and dollop of midcentury modern deliciousness in Kalamazoo, Mich. Thanks a meticulous, 10-year renovation at the hands of the current owner, the 1958 Kilpatrick House looks just as inviting as it did when it was first built. As it stands today, restored right down to the original paint colors and filled with current and vintage Herman Miller pieces (including almost all of the original living room furniture), the place reflects the "livability" Nelson strived for. Back in the day, letters between Nelson and the Kirkpatricks served as a blueprint for the highly personalized home design, combining Nelson's modernist vision with the Kirkpatrick family's day-to-day lifestyle.

"We are using your house as a kind of guinea pig for our furniture projects, and we are going to try to work out all the furniture for the house without recourse to stuff now in production," wrote (very good friend) Nelson of the endeavor, "the beauty of this scheme is that the furniture design gets paid for anyway out of the furniture budget, and we can obtain the finished samples at a cost which would be no greater than that of production items. If this doesn't add a great deal of entertainment value to the interiors, I would be greatly surprised." Despite the fact that the place was completed during "the creative peak of his career" some 55 years ago, Nelson's stylish experimental home is still a treat to peek at todaywhich serves as a testament both to the designer and to the masterful restoration job.

Photo via Paul Barbera / Herman Miller

Photo via Paul Barbera / Herman Miller

Photo via Paul Barbera / Herman Miller

Fully Nelson [Herman Miller] All George Nelson coverage [Curbed National]

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Restoration Watch: After 10-Year Reno, a George Nelson Home Gets Back to '58