The Beauty of Eco-Haus

OK, so where have I been?  Literally, I've been cranking out design school projects and going to my internship at one of the  SFDC showrooms like nobody's business, and have had little time to focus on this blog.  Hope to rectify that during my semester break!

Metaphorically, I've clearly been out to lunch because I've only recently become aware of Ecohaus, the green building supplies and home materials store that's been around since 2006.  The San Francisco store opened this past May and it's chock full of everything you'd need to make your next remodeling/design project more eco-friendly.  Think of it as Home Depot with a conscience! 

That said, there do seem to be some noticeable absences in their inventory:  with Title 24 such a huge factor in California, why don't they carry efficient lighting?  Their countertop line doesn't include Vetrazzo, a local provider of recycled glass engineered solid surfacing.  There are likely good reasons for the omissions and with this store so new, perhaps they are still lining up additional suppliers.

This is a minor quibble, I think, given that they are certainly promoting the right idea in making these supplies more generally available. I'd be curious to know if anyone out there has purchased anything from Ecohaus, both homeowners and designers alike.  How was the experience?  Do they give trade discounts to designers and builders?  Please share your stories.

Meantime, you can check out their fan page on Facebook to have the latest and greatest news about the company and shopping specials delivered to your newsfeed.

More Flea Finds

Went to the Candlestick Antiques and Flea Market again today.  Not as many vendors this time around which I find a bit distressing; could mean there aren't enough people attending making it tough for these folks to make money.  But be that as it may, there were still some gems among the knick-knacks.  Here are some photos of what I found. Let me know what you think!

 Pottery, particularly in groupings, always adds warmth to a room.  Love the shades of green in these very simple designs.

 Fantastic collection of kilim rugs at this booth, in a huge range of colors.  The earthy tones and geometry of this one caught my eye.

 Spruced up with some new paint and this could be a great addition to a baby's room to hold decorative pillows, stuffed animals, or antique dolls.

 OK, nothing terribly special about these glass beads, but I just love the colorful display!

 Don't you love metal sculptures made of found objects?  This artist uses old tools to create these creatures.  Nice garden addition.

 LOVE these hand-painted parasols.  You could make a great semi-flush mounted light fixture from one of these that would be beautiful and eye-catching.

 Some handy trays for serving, or simply creating a nice display.  They're not old, but I thought they were kind of fun.  Perfect for the right French bistro inspired kitchen.

 These antique typewriters are simply amazing art objects. Great conversation piece in a room with an industrial design scheme.

 What is it about Mason jars that are so uplifting?  Is it the promise of putting something yummy inside, or just that their shapes are so appealing?  I particularly like the turquoise tint of the glass.  Great for storing office supplies like paper clips and rubber bands, or for storing craft items like buttons or scrapbook embellishments.  Hmm, should have bought some myself!

 Great Danish modern chair, awful upholstery.  But that's easily corrected.  Would love to see this updated with one of the bright new Ikat prints that are so in vogue.

 And speaking of awful upholstery, another classic mid-20th century chair with potential.  Wouldn't it be fun to  re-cover it with the new candy-colored shiny vinyl that's out there?  I'm thinking hot orange.

 I don't know why I'm such a sucker for architectural salvage, but so be it.  Terrific in a living or dining room used either as a pedestal for art or even on its own next to a fireplace.

 Great antique trunk!  Side table potential or an anchor for the foot of a bed.

The next show is schedule for October 24.  Check out their web site for hours and entrance fees.

Texture, texture, texture

There's something about interiors that use a lot of texture that I find really inspirational.  Give me some great looking rough-hewn beams, some fabulous woven seagrass furniture, or stone facing on a fireplace and you've got the makings of an architecturally interesting and comfortable space.  I do appreciate sleek, minimal, Euro-design, but the minute it starts to get too hard-edged, gallery-like, and reflective, they've lost me.   

So it's great to know all of these texture-enhancing design elements are available from resources who care about the environment and take great pains to ensure their processes are earth-friendly. Take Restoration Timber, for example.  They make custom flooring, cabinetry, siding, doors, and beams from old salvaged barns and warehouses, reusing wood cut down over a century ago instead of new wood.

  Eldorado Stone is a stone veneer manufacturing company of products that can be used indoors or out, and for both residential and commercial design. Their factories are located throughout the U.S., which reduces the distances of shipping products, and thereby reducing the carbon footprint, and their use of recycled materials makes them a good resource for LEED certified projects.

  

And finally, there's a site from the UK called Cyan that has an array of woven furniture for both indoor and outdoor use.  I particularly like this chair that combines great texture with clean lines.

 

 

I'm Baaa--aaak

Apologies for the radio silence--big family event this past weekend that I was in charge of pulling off which occupied an extraordinary amount of time.  A good time was had by all, but I'm glad it's over! 

But to make up for my lapse, I came across a great designer who's making chairs and tables out of old traffic signs.  His name is Boris Bally and his work is both modern and playful.   Would love to see these seating-as-sculptures around a stainless dining table, or even strategically placed along a long gallery wall. 

Do you think of these as art or functional pieces?  Would love to hear your feedback.

 

Pre-Fabulous

I've been fascinated by the strides in pre-fab housing ever since I saw The Glidehouse at the Sunset Magazine annual Celebration Weekend in 2006. Aside from how warm a modern home could be, I was impressed with the attention to green detail paid to the design. 

Could this be the solution to our empty nest goals (several years away, mind you) of having a pied a terre in San Francisco and a place near the ocean? My husband and I are both beach lovers--he's a recreational surfer and I just love the mesmerizing and relaxing beat of crashing waves--and the pricing on these pre-fabs are just, well, fabulous.  Compared to buying an existing home on the California coast, it's pretty amazing.

The folks who created the Glidehouse, MK Designs, have now created several new sets of pre-fab, ecologically sound, home plans of varying sizes.  While the pricing of these have yet to be determined, the architect is also working with Bluhomes to create some pretty modestly priced plans that are also quite lovely.  Here's just a smattering of some of the designs they're creating:

 

Faux Sho'

I picked up a couple of magazines on Friday that are all about designing with flea market finds, the ultimate in reusing and recycling.  But don't assume that flea market hunting has to be synonymous with overly frou-frou Victoriana, Louis XIV, or a page out of Country Living magazine. My style preferences lean toward contemporary eclectic (for lack of a better descriptor) and so my key criteria for vintage finds are as follows:

1. Does it have an architectural or sculptural presence?  That's important because any object that has that kind of integrity can work in any decor.
2. Can it be re-purposed into something other than its original intent?
3. Can that "repurposing" be done inexpensively and with not too much labor?

I bring this up because those fabulous antique printers type trays I found at the Candlestick Flea Market a couple of weeks ago (see below) have been quietly leaning up against my living room wall waiting for me to figure out what to do with them. And by golly, I think I have.

You've seen people make mirrors out of old window panes; well I'm going to do the same with these, then faux finish them in a paint wash made of two shades of turquoise. Why turquoise?  It's one of the accent colors in my largely red and gold oriental rug. I'm taking the trays to The Painter's Place on Hayes Street to see if they can't remove the wooden backs for me and replace them with mirror glass. 

This project will probably take a few weeks or so all told, but stay tuned for the Before and After, which I'll post here.

3-Form is Good Design Form

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Don't you love finding materials that make you smile? The folks at 3-Form are creating sustainable laminates with a zillion applications. Some of the interesting ways you can work them into your residential designs are shown above--backsplashes, headboards, room dividers--the possibilities are truly endless. With LEED certification, 3-Form is a favorite among architects doing green commercial projects, so homeowners can be confident they're choosing a material with a low environmental impact.

Would love to do a kitchen remodel  with natural bamboo cabinets and 3-Form inserts like the ones above, or even create sliding shoji-like panels to demarcate space in an open loft.  And these clever people not only provide custom fabrication, but also their Ready-To-Go off-the-shelf packaged applications.

Title 24: not a lighting design curse anymore

If you've done any remodeling in California during the last few years, the dreaded Title 24 , California's stringent energy standards for residential and commercial applications, may have put somewhat of a cramp in your style. We all know it's the right thing to do, and good for the state government for making us commit to using less energy.  That said, the kitchen remodel we embarked upon four years ago prompted my gut reaction of "Ugh. Recessed CFL's?  Really?" 

Thankfully, much has changed in four years' time in terms of the stylish options available.  Check out today's article in the SF Chronicle for some great lighting design ideas that include LED's and yes, even CFL's.  Compact fluorescents have made great strides; make sure you pick one that's in the 3000 Kelvin range with at least an 80 Color Rendering Index to avoid that funky blue-green tone.  Sadly, you probably won't find a large range of CFL options at your local Home Depot, so you may have to go a bit further afield to buy efficient lighting that looks good.

Tile Crazy

Don’t you love walking around a tile showroom? Heck, I even love walking around the tile aisle of Home Depot! Nothing like glass, stone, and ceramic tiles to inspire your creativity. Subway tiles are still hugely popular for bath and kitchen remodels, as are the wide variety of glass mosaics. But the great news is that manufacturers of modestly priced materials and the super high-end luxury materials alike are creating more products that are recycled and sustainable. Some of my faves from Modwalls Veridian line, Ann Sacks’ Trend and Clodagh lines, and Fireclay’s Debris and Claymonde series are shown below.

What have you seen finished in tile recently that has impressed you? I like the fireplace surrounds I’m seeing of late.