Design Dilemma: Functional Desks that Are Cool, Too
Sensible desks are a bit like sensible shoes. In other words, they’re functional but not so pretty to look at. The design challenge: finding a desk that can handle a computer, office supplies, papers, cables, printers, and still look deliciously elegant. (Above, the Piu desk formerly offered by Design Within Reach beautifully fit our criteria but alas is no longer available). So here’s a few options that are still available:
If wires are your problem, we propose the Slot Desk (below) by Jennifer Newman. Red and shiny like a race car, this beauty provides a convenient slot that lets messy cables, computer and phone wires disappear directly into the table.
Or is your problem a lack of space? If a corner of your bedroom or living room also serves as a home office, check out Crate and Barrel’s Incognito Compact Office. Retailing for $999, the convertible desk also features a letter/legal file drawer, a storage drawer, an adjustable and removable shelf, as well as cut-outs for those darned cables.
The Jay Desk (below) by West Elm, is $199 and perfect for those who have only a small study or home office. What makes this desk cool is that a roll out extension can double your working space when you need it, but disappear when you don’t. The desk includes a shelf and small drawer for gadgetry and other necessities.
Finally, we just had to mention the Homework Desk by Robin Grasby. We’re not even sure if the desk of this London designer is on the market, but it meets home office needs beautifully and with great polish, providing bays for pencils and pens, felt storage slings and drawers, book support, an integrated wooden ruler, monitor shelf, cutting mat, whiteboard, space for vertical filing and charging ports for small gadgets. Now there’s a functional desk!
Solar Awnings-Plus for Commercial Buildings
So often buildings have huge view windows, but once the realization of the need for shade arises, they just get curtained from inside, blocking the views. It’s sad.
How much more useful it would be to use an awning to capture all that free sunshine, with adjustable solar shades. A shade that you could wind outwards from inside would be just perfect, like this Solar Awning design by xClinic to be tested at a pilot installation on the Bronx River Arts Center (BRAC) and NYU student housing.
But this design goes one better than a simple solar shade. It is a complete mini ecosystem…
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New Rammed Earth Design: Tough, Eco-Correct, & Very Chic
While people have built houses out of earth over the millennia, a new take on “rammed earth” building now makes it possible to make buildings out of earth that are both modern looking, elegant and extremely strong.
Rammed earth walls that comprise both interior and exterior face in one integrated piece makes this building technology waste-free and easy on the environment.
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Massachusetts Condos Tap Geothermal Power for Cool Summers, Warm Winters
Because the earth absorbs about half the energy it gets from the sun, ground temperatures about four to six feet below the earth’s surface remain relatively moderate and constant all year. In Massachusetts, summer temperatures can be very hot and and humid. Winters are chilly.With climate change, more extremes are predicted for the region.
But at Cold Spring Green, heating and cooling for each unit in these highly efficient condominiums will be delivered from wells dug into the ground at the front of the building during construction. The geothermal system will reduce the electrical energy that would normally be needed to heat and cool these units, offering up to 70% cost savings on the remaining electric usage.
The geothermal system at Cold Spring Green is supplied by Hydron Module Pumps Geothermal Technology located in the lower level of each unit. Geothermal units (sometimes called ground heat pumps to differentiate them from utility-scale geothermal power) are now eligible for a 30% tax credit in the US, as one of the green incentives in the Obama administration’s American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA).
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Design Dilemma: Help for Hallways
We lavish lots of attention on perfecting our kitchens, living rooms, and even our bedrooms. But there’s one space that ironically is the most used AND the most neglected: the hallway. Many of us simply forget to spend any time at all making it a more pleasant passage. Just a few touches, however, can make a dramatic difference that will have even more impact if a hallway begins at your front door.
1) Hallway as gallery. What about transforming your hallway into a home gallery of photos or paintings? Because many hallways are narrow, it usually works better to hang smaller works that require close-up viewing rather than huge dramatic paintings. However if the hallway is large enough (four or five feet wide) a colorful painting that reaches from floor to ceiling can have A LOT of impact, especially if the painting is situated at the end of a hallway.
2) Hallway as library. Books are so cozy, and a hallway filled with them automatically feels warm and inviting. If you go this route, opt for built-in shelves that naturally flow with the space. Consider bookshelves that run from floor to ceiling and include doors to help keep the hallway feeling clean and uncluttered.
3) Hallway as lounge. Hey, if you’ve got the space, why not lounge around in it? A hallway, especially a hallway with a window or good light, can be the perfect place to set up a narrow bench, a few chairs or cushions which can serve as a place to sit while you’re putting on shoes, reading a good book, or sipping tea.
4) Hallway as storage room. Don’t have enough closets in your house? Use your hallway as extra storage space. You’ll want to provide closed storage in most instances to keep the hallway from feeling cluttered. If you have open shelves, remember to keep them well-organized and not too packed with knick-knacks and tchotchkes. The hallway below incorporates closed storage bins that can also function as seating, as well as open shelves for displaying artwork and books.
5) Hallway as elegant transitional space. Two or three simple steps can make a hallway stand out in elegance. These include pendant lamps, which can serve as a simple but dramatic focal point, as well as bold paint colors and wallpaper. Paint the moldings the same color as the walls and ceilings if you want the hallway to seem larger. Paint the ends of the hallways a darker color if you want the hallway to appear wider. Go for dark colors if you want the hallway to seem cozy. As these photos prove, there’s no reason why a hallway has to be simply a bland, boring way to get from one room to another!
Images: via Apartmenttherapy.com, Notebook Magazine.com, LivingEtc
Serious Materials Could Cut US Carbon Footprint
If Serious Materials made every interior wall and window in the US, it would make a real dent in the national carbon footprint, because the company turns out an 80% more energy efficient drywall or sheet rock that does not emit greenhouse gases in production, and its Serious Windows are better insulated than most US walls.
Gypsum mining is a major source of carbon dioxide emissions because manufacturing it requires that it be intensely heated using fossil fuels. Every building in the US has gypsum in its sheet rock or dry wall. A typical gypsum drywall plant can consume up to two trillion BTU’s of natural gas a year.
By comparison, Serious Materials EcoRock needs no heat to cure. It is made using 80% post-industrial recycled waste, even waste from steel and cement plants. These changes cut EcoRock’s carbon footprint 80% over the ubiquitous gypsum dry wall. Read the rest of this entry »
Here’s a Building That Makes Money Selling Electricity
Sipéa builds and runs social housing in Poitiers, central France. The buildings are very green, so much s that their use of energy is actually net-negative. In this way the building actually earns a little income from selling its excess power from the solar roof. This little extra comes in handy when when you are running a non-profit.
This new building houses Sipea headquarters. It was designed so that…
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Design Dilemma: Choosing A Leather Sofa
Buying a couch is already daunting enough, but when that couch is leather, things get even scarier. Leather is so expensive. Is it worth the expense? Will leather really be more durable and practical than fabric? Will it be comfortable or cold to the touch in winter and hot and sweaty during the summer? Following, a few of your questions, answered:
Is leather practical?
Yes and no. It’s true that leather can wipe clean with a damp sponge, thus eliminating the costly upholstery cleaning bills that are just part of life with a fabric sofa. On the other hand, leather can easily scratch, depending on the quality of the leather. (Some of the highest quality leathers are actually more vulnerable to scratching than those that have been treated.) Before purchasing a leather couch, evaluate your needs and choose your leather accordingly. If you have pets or children, choose a coated leather that is resistant to scratches. It may not feel as soft as uncoated leather, but it will likely stand up to a beating. And if you’re looking for that aged and distressed look that comes with time, purchase a high-quality, uncoated leather and rest assured that your leather couch will only look better with time.
What kind of leather choices do you have?
Most leather couches will come in a variety of grades. Aniline is the most natural form of leather with a soft, supple feel that will retain all the natural characteristics of the hide. Just the best hides are used and the leather receives no chemical treatment or pigmented finish. Semi-aniline leather is a soft top grain leather combining the supple feel of untreated hide while providing some stain protection through a light surface coating. Semi-aniline leather is dyed in a dyebath to acheive an even coloration and is finished with a thin layer that keeps the hide feeling soft. Coated leather or “corrected leather” has been sanded, treated and embossed to correct blemishes and often has a high-gloss finish resulting from the application of a film of colored polyurethane. This coating makes the leather more resistant to spills. “Corrected” leather is usually less expensive than uncorrected leather because hides must not necessarily be of the highest quality for a uniform, beautiful look.
How is leather maintained?
Some people are under the impression that leather requires no maintenance whatsoever. That’s not true. In fact, most leathers benefit from regular treatments with leather conditoners to keep the leather from drying out. Before applying a leather conditioner it’s probably not bad to swab down a couch with a gentle barely damp sponge. Commercial leather cleaners also exist for the same job. Avoid oil soaps that can stain and darken leather and be aware that dishwashing soaps can change the color of the leather. When you purchase your couch, be sure to inquire about recommended cleaners for the type of leather you’re buying.
Is leather cold… or too hot?
Leather will definitely feel colder than fabric in a cold room, and is likely to feel hotter when the temperatures rise. Usually, however, those temperature adjustments last just a minute or two and the leather will warm to your body temperature, or feel cool even on a hot day. Vinyl and faux leathers, however, are a whole different story. Be sure to keep your leather couch out of direct sunlight, which can lead to cracking. Also, avoid placing leather couches near extreme sources of heat or cold like radiators or air-conditioners.
What color choices are most practical?
If your home is filled with children and pets, or if your couch will get heavy use, you’re probably better off sticking with darker colors. A cream or white leather couch will show dirt with time and can be vulnerable to stains. On the other hand, you don’t necessarily have to go with dark brown or black to gain a measure of camouflauge from dirt. Any color beyond stark white or cream — particularly tans, olive greens and taupes — will provide more mileage as far as dirt and stains go.
Can leather be repaired?
Yes, rips and tears can be repaired, but it doesn’t come cheaply. You can try it on your own with a leather repair kit but it’s not easy to do well unless you have lots and lots of practice. Clear liquid compounds on the market can be used to repair small rips and scratches. These sorts of repairs are not lasting, however, and the rip will open again in time. Larger repairs are best handled by a professional. Photograph the rip and send the photo to a leather repair professional for an estimate of repair costs.
What are the best style options?
Because a high-quality leather sofa is a durable choice that may last you years — or a lifetime — you’re better off choosing classic, elegant shapes that will endure for the ages. Beware of ultra-trendy two-toned models or shapeless couches that will lose even more shape with time.
MyFab.com – R & D Made Easy for Design Biz Startups
MyFab has an innovative idea that solves a real problem. One of the scariest things for anyone starting out in product design businesses is not knowing how many to make of any new product design. It’s always a leap of faith that your brilliant idea will be appreciated and actually sell. Especially if you make very high-end designer furniture; each piece can be quite an investment in time and money.
A possible solution is in MyFab’s new site that is launching in California next month and will provide an online venue for start-up designers to get feedback on the popularity of high end furniture designs before committing to production runs.
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Solar Villagers Would Only Pay $300 a Year for Energy – in Masachusetts!
Rural Development Inc worked closely with engineers at Steven Winter Associates and architects at Austin Design to plan the community that won an award this year at Zero Energy Challenge.
The Wisdom Way Solar Village homes show just what can be done: you can have a $300 a year energy bill, even in Massachusetts. The solar equipped Zero Energy homes will be certified through the EnergyStar Homes program and DOE Builder’s Challenge.
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Home Design Find (HDF) is your daily guide to products, trends, and ideas for your home. Our team finds the best furniture, kitchens, bathrooms, interiors, and design online. Send us your tips
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