Ever-Changing Eateries – The Electrolux Cube Pop Up Restaurant is a Traveling Wonder (TrendHunter.com)

April 22nd, 2011

Appliance giant Electrolux is bringing its talent across several European countries with its temporary locations, dubbed as the Electrolux Cube Pop Up Restaurant. Fashioned across Belgium, Italy, Russia, Switzerland and Sweden, the restaurant will feed the public at three months per location. The Cube is created out of laser cut aluminum and will sit at the top of monuments and water platforms.

The endeavor is not made to generate a bundle of revenue, but to bring together families and friends over great food in a unique dining experience. The Electrolux Cube is an architectural wonder, where the concealed dining table would drop from the ceiling to bring the public together over great food. For the most creative and fun in dining experiences, the Electrolux Cube will gather the best of the best in socialites and the European public for an event unlike any other.

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Tags: Cube Pop, Electrolux Cube, Electrolux Cube Pop, Restaurant

2011 Residential Design

April 17th, 2011

What is happening for residential design in early 2011 is this: while there are some projects over 7,000 to 8,000 square feet, there are more in the 2,500 to 3,500 square foot category these days.  Some clients nearly double the size of their residence by adding a basement.

Simpler seems to be better today, as simpler = lower cost and that drives a lot of projects.  We used to offer dozens of options, but that appeared to confuse contractors.  We try to keep the options list down to about 10 items these days.  Little options don’t do much to control cost.  Big things do.  Of course, everyone would like to have everything up front, and for less money.  The trick to making this happen is for the Owner to be careful to prioritize their wish list and be prepared to have the base bid items contain the major must-haves and the options contain the “would like to have if possible within the budget.”  Something has to give, usually.

Your residential architect can help you prioritize these items.  You will be your own worst enemy during this decision making process, because to want it all and you want it for less than anyone else is paying for it.  While these are still good times for buyers, contractors will not necessarily give things away.  That’s why you need to listen to what your architect has to say regarding your wishlist and what that is likely to do to your budget.  If you insist on many expensive things , you are likely to end up with higher prices from contractors.

If, however, you take a prioritized approach to have only the most important things in your main bid package, then you might just have a chance at getting what you need for a price within your budget.  You also may have a shot at receiving some prices for several options that might work for you.

Your residential architect will design your house for you, with the features and size you want.  You, however, are the one that is ultimately responsible for how expensive your house will cost, because of the room sizes, materials, and other features you insisted upon during the design.  It is critical to ask your architect what items are more expensive than others, so that you can determine what to have in the basic documents and what to put into options.

Tags: Design, Residential Design

Upcycled Cutlery Illuminators – Jesse Dirk’s Silverware Chandelier Puts Old Silverware to Good Use (TrendHunter.com)

April 17th, 2011

A kitchen truly isnt a kitchen until it has a Silverware Chandelier lighting it up. The Silverware Chandelier is handmade out of a variety of forks, spoons and knives.

Each chandelier is handmade out of 45 to 60 pieces of vintage silverware. The chandeliers can be either oval or rectangular and are delightfully low-tech, being powered by only four regular incandescent light bulbs. I like this design, but more from an eco-conscious standpoint. I dont know how much silverware gets thrown out a year, but I bet it is a substantial amount. Designs like the Silverware Chandelier could help keep metal from taking up valuable space in landfills. Currently, each chandelier costs $325 with custom orders available for an additional price.

Tags: Silverware, Silverware Chandelier

parallax design offices

April 13th, 2011

One of my favorite things about contemporary office design is that there seems to be a real focus on creating spaces spaces right now. Most of the more creative office designs Ive seen lately seem to include tiny niches or environments where employees can work, meet or relax away from the monotony of cubicles or other, more public spaces. This office tackled the idea of a space within a space by bringing in a vintage trailer. After outgrowing their previous office space, Parallax Design of Adelaide, Australia, decided to move into a new studio that they customized with the help of Space Craft Joinery & JPE architects. I love the exterior of the building and the way it (and the trailer) seem to seamlessly blend a retro and modern vibe.

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Tags: Design, Design Offices