architecture

  • Dream Home Dilemma: To Build or Not to Build?

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    TV programmes like Grand Designs have seen people around the country taking on the challenge of building their dream homes. As a result, more and more people are custom designing their houses, and there’s no reason why you couldn’t do the same. If it sounds like something you fancy getting your teeth into, here are a few things you need to consider, whether this is your first time building – young dot-commers addressing their quarter life crisis, for example – or even if you’ve gone through the process before.

    Learn from Other People’s Mistakes

    The first step is to talk to other people who have been through the process of designing and building their own homes. Getting to know the problems they faced and whether their budget was accurate will help you with your own project. You might even decide that a self-build isn’t for you, but either way, having the advice of someone who has experienced it will be invaluable.

    Utilise Your Skills and Contacts

    Are you proficient in a certain trade or do you have a family member who could help out with some of the work? Any practical tradesmen you can rope in to save cash will be a huge help, so start thinking about your options. If you’re a builder or know somebody who is, you’ll probably be able to do a lot of the work yourself and will already have the equipment.

    If you work for a construction company, ask if there’s any old or broken excavating machinery you can take off their hands to repair with Scot JCB parts & spares. Utilising your existing contacts can be one of the best advantages you can have when it comes to building your own home, so think about who you can rope in to help before you start budgeting for builders and architects.

    Budget, Budget, Budget

    If you’re a Grand Designs fanatic, you’ll already know that most self-build projects cost far more than expected. Your budgeting needs to be tight and you need to have enough spare cash to rescue anything that goes wrong or pay for extra materials. To get some idea on how much individual aspects of the build will cost, check out this guide to creating a budget for your project.

    Building your own home will be stressful, it will be difficult, but ultimately, it will be worth it. Not many people get the chance to build their dream home from scratch, so if you’re in the lucky position of being able to do so, you’ll end up with the perfect house that you and your family will spend many happy years in.

    partnered post • CC-licensed image by Jeremy Levine

  • How to Create a Modern Bedroom

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    Note: this is a guest post and consideration was received for its publication. Creative commons licensed photograph by Jeremy Levine design.

    If you are tired of looking at your outdated and even traditional-style bedroom, you may be interested in revamping the entire room and turning into something unique, beautiful, and modern. If you are thinking about a modern makeover for your room, you should always look for modern ideas for your room beforehand. There are tons of images that you can find online to get the inspiration you need to turn your room into something magnificent. In little to no time at all, with just a bit of effort, you can completely transform your bedroom.

    Get Inspired

    Grab a modern bedroom magazine and get inspired. You can look around at all the different and creative ideas that are pictured in the magazines. Of course, this does not mean that you have to copy exact ideas. However, pictures can help you to become inspired on the type of modern theme you want to have for your updated bedroom. Aside from looking at magazines, you can get your inspiration from just about anywhere. A walk in your neighborhood may give you the inspiration you desire for changing your bedroom around and improving its appearance so that it is more modern.

    Consider Contemporary Bedroom Furniture

    Modern rooms tend to contain a whole lot of contemporary furniture, which includes furniture that you may consider out of the ordinary. There are armories, benches, and even bedroom vanities that are made using different materials. These different products are often shaped with a modern look and feel. You will want to add these accessories to your room to give it even more of a modern appeal. When it comes to bedding, look for down alternatives to get the modern look of down without the allergies. Modus Furniture has become a popular choice amongst buyers looking for modern bed frames. There are many styles to choose from, especially from the different collections that they have available. Check out the collections and determine which meets your personal preference and ultimately has the modern look and feel that you like the most.

    Use Modern Colors

    Modern colors come in such a wide variety. Brighter colors are commonly being used, which includes bright shades of blue and green, along with shades of red and purple. As you are planning out the customization of your bedroom, you can jot down alternatives for the colors of the walls. For example, instead of painting the walls one solid color, you can choose a solid color and a design. There are many designs that are being commonly used in modern bedrooms. Some of these designs include damask patterns, argyle patterns, and stripes. Adding a splash of color to add an extra touch is also a good idea. As an idea, if you paint the walls a shade of purple, you may want to buy an even brighter piece of furniture. A chair in the room could be lime green and it would still look well in the room.

    There are lots of easy ways to create a modern bedroom. It is best to start off with some inspiration, jot down a few ideas, and ultimately go from there. Remember that bold colors are considered quite modern and contemporary furniture has become a huge hit. All it takes is the right supplies, some paint, and a little patience because you will likely be remodeling your room on your own or with the help of a friend or family member.

  • Frank Lloyd Wright gallery opening

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    It's a bit off the beaten path, but if you find yourself anywhere near Racine, WI (just a bit south of Milwaukee) you could not do better than to stop at the SC Johnson headquarters, where a new gallery devoted to the work of Frank Lloyd Wright is opening this week. The initial offering – a broad meditation on Wright's most popular Prairie-style work – will run for a year, to be followed by other exhibits focusing on various aspects of the architect and designer's work.

    Several buildings at the SC Johnson campus are Wright creations, so you'll want to schedule a tour to see those as well.

  • Arroyo’s Edge: Greene & Greene interiors 2012

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    a tour of six Greene and Greene-designed properties in Pasadena’s historic Park Place neighborhood
     
    This coming Earth Day, architecture buffs are in for a Greene and Greene (and green) treat. On Sunday, April 22, 2012, The Gamble House will present Arroyo’s Edge: Greene and Greene Interiors 2012, a rare opportunity to visit six privately-owned properties designed by Charles and Henry Greene between 1902 and 1915. Featuring acclaimed architectural features and design by the masters of the American Arts & Crafts movement, the five private homes and one private garden will be open for touring along Arroyo Terrace and North Grand Avenue in Pasadena, all within easy walking distance of The Gamble House.
     
    It has been twenty years since a “Greene and Greene Interiors” tour featured the interiors of houses in the historic Park Place neighborhood.  On April 22 from 12 noon to 5 p.m. (last entry 4 p.m.), this remarkably intact enclave of the Greenes’ work – once known as “Little Switzerland” for its woodsy, chalet-style structures – will once again be the focus of a tour to benefit The Gamble House, a National Historic Landmark designed by Greene and Greene in 1908 and operated by the University of Southern California School of Architecture as a public site since 1966.
     
    Thanks to the generosity of six property owners, the Arroyo’s Edge tour will feature: the Duncan-Irwin house(1906-08), the Mary Ranney house (1907), the F. W. Hawks house (1906), the Van Rossem-Neill house (1903-06), the Louise T. Halstead house (1905-15) and the James Culbertson garden (1902-14), and will give participants a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to see Greene and Greene interiors that are rarely, if ever, opened to the public.
     
    tour details:
    date: Sunday April 22, 2012
    hours: noon – 5 pm (last entry at 4 pm)
    general admission: $85 per person; $50 for children under 12
    member admission: $75 per person (to join Friends of The Gamble House visit gamblehouse.org or call 626.783.3334 x16)
    Off-street parking is available to ticket holders. We regret that these private homes and gardens are not wheelchair accessible. Visitors should plan to wear sturdy walking shoes.
     
    proceeds benefit The Gamble House, a National Historic Landmark in Pasadena, CA
     
    about The Gamble House: Built in 1908, the Gamble House is the most complete and best-preserved example of the work of renowned Pasadena architects Charles and Henry Greene. The Gamble House is an internationally recognized National Historic Landmark in the style of the American Arts and Crafts movement. Owned by the City of Pasadena, the Gamble House is operated by the University of Southern California School of Architecture.
     
    The Gamble House is open for public, docent-led, one-hour tours Thursday – Sunday, noon – 3 pm, closed on national holidays. For more information, visit gamblehouse.org.

    photograph: Exterior detail from the Duncan-Irwin house (which is part of this tour). Photograph by Alexander Vertikoff.

  • Tree Kindergarten

    At the Fuji Kindergarten in Japan, Tezuka Architects created a unique environment that, as a tool for learning, promotes freedom of movement. "Ring Around a Tree" is the extension of an existing kindergarten that consists of a wood and transparent glass volume spiraling upward, enveloping a Japanese Zelkova tree. The project creates spaces for play and foreign language instruction, while also providing a fun area for the children to wait for the school bus.

    read the full article at mymodernmet.com