Architecture | MYD studio

Happy St. Patrick's Day!

2012-03-17T11:41:00.000-07:00

Chicago goes green for Saint Patrick's Day...

Have a great weekend!

Cheers, L+J

Thinking of Japan

2012-03-11T18:11:00.000-07:00

One year later...

Finishes + Fixutures: Chrome's Comeback

2012-03-10T11:13:00.000-08:00

When it comes to doing work on homes, it can seem like the decisions required and options are endless. One example of this problem is attempting to match finishes and materials- it can be overwhelming (and sometimes impossible) to achieve the desired appearance.

That said, a debate continues: when it comes to finishes and fixtures... brushed metal or chrome? Not too long ago, the answer for many contemporary architects and designers would have been simple: brushed stainless steel preferably.

But lately, we've been seeing more polished products in kitchen and bath design, as well as at door hardware, fixture finishes and other details.

Perhaps it's the influence of recent trends in contemporary kitchen design, where high-gloss, lacquered finishes are becoming more mainstream, with modular European designs installed more and more, with an increased influence on custom cabinetry design. For a couple beautiful examples of this aesthetic, check out Boffi or Porcelanosa, a company whose products we use quite often.

We've recently installed chrome fixtures and hardware in several projects, and when incorporated thoughtfully, they can add interest and a bit of sheen to any space. And don't fear combining the two finishes- it can work well and create some sparkle to your kitchen, bathroom, what have you... So, have fun with these details and explore what's out there!

Sydney Opera House: LEGO Architecture

2012-02-29T23:48:00.000-08:00

For anyone who may be a fan of LEGO and/or architecture, March brings quite a treat, with the release of the latest model in its Architecture Series. As revealed in ArchDaily last week, the newest building to join the prestigious lineup is the beautiful Sydney Opera House, designed by Danish architect Jorn Utzon.

For those unfamiliar with the Architecture Series, it consists of a number of well-known and iconic buildings from across the globe, including Frank Lloyd Wright’s Falling Water, Mies van der Rohe’s Farnsworth House and the Empire State Building by architectural firm Shreve, Lamb & Harmon Associates. For more on the Series and the design process, check out our post on the Farnsworth House model released last year.

For the Sydney Opera House, the design team was definitely faced with a unique challenge in recreating the dynamic building, known for its great curving ‘sails’ that have come to define Sydney’s skyline. Addressing these critical elements in a modular format that can be assembled and re-assembled, while maintaining the very distinct character of the famed structure, is no simple task...

Fortunately, the talented Architectural Artists at LEGO have done the hard work, and as long as you are above the recommended age of 12, you can construct this striking building (or any number of others) without leaving the comfort of your home or office. Not to mention, the construction process should be a far smoother one than that associated with the full-scale version, which took 15 years from inception to completion, and not without quite a bit of controversy. For more details on the actual building (and a peek into our personal photo collection), check out this post, and enjoy!

Sustainable details: Reclaimed wood mantle

2012-02-26T16:24:00.001-08:00

Though we've wrapped up our contemporary cottage in Laguna Beach a few weeks back, there are always a few final finish details that make a home. So, we thought we'd share some recent images of the newly installed reclaimed wood mantle above the natural gas fireplace. It adds a bit of warmth and texture to the space and is the perfect size and scale for the interior of this open plan design.

The natural material enhances the minimalist aesthetic while providing visual interest, directing the eye towards the feature wall with the fireplace.

We're looking forward to the installation of another significant interior feature- a sliding glass wall system to create a sense of privacy at the office, while still allowing light to filter through to the main living space. That should be moving forward next week, and photos will soon follow!

As always, many thanks for stopping by...

Remodel in Laguna Beach: Latest Photos

2012-02-21T15:30:00.000-08:00

Hope you've had a lovely holiday weekend and the week is going well so far...
We're back to share a few images of a recently completed project in Laguna Beach. For all the details, stop by our website and check out the project's design page for the complete set of photos and renderings.

For more information, read the expanded post here, and thanks for stopping by!

XOXOXO...

2012-02-14T13:31:00.000-08:00

Happy Valentine's Day from MYD studio!

At the Schindler House

2012-02-10T18:45:00.000-08:00

Not too long ago, we headed up to West Hollywood to visit the R.M. Schindler's Kings Road House, which was featuring an exhibit for Pacific Standard Time, Southern California's regional collaborative art event we've discussed in previous posts. Sympathetic Seeing: Esther McCoy and the Heart of American Modernist Architecture and Design paints a vivid portrait of the modernist movement in California, from the perspective of an architectural critic based in Los Angeles, Esther McCoy.

The exhibit also told stories about Rudolf Schindler in a more personal light, which was interesting to see, especially when viewed from the living room of one of his most famous buildings: the Kings Road House.

For more information and images, visit our website, and thanks for stopping by!

Social Media Spotlight: Google+ - MYD Blog

2012-02-03T11:43:00.000-08:00

Social Media Spotlight: Google+
It's been a few months since we last posted about social media, and in particular, Google+, which made pages for businesses, organizations and topics available in November. We're back with an update on what has become possibly a favorite new means of connecting, sharing and finding new and interesting content... Google Plus is up there with another new favorite- Pinterest, the virtual pinboard that's getting a lot of press lately (more on that in another post).

For the complete post on how we use google+ and thoughts on circles, profiles and plusses, visit MYD blog, and thanks for reading!

'via Blog this'

EAMES WORDS at A+D Museum

2012-01-26T23:47:00.000-08:00

As promised in last week's post, we have some great images from the EAMES WORDS exhibit at the Architecture and Design museum in Los Angeles. 'EAMES WORDS: Eames Designs: The Guest Host Relationship', refers to the famous quotation of Charles Eames about a fundamental design philosophy, one where 'the role of the designer is that of a very good, thoughtful host, whose energy goes into trying to anticipate the needs of his guests.'

The resulting curated assemblage of objects, images and quotations convey a high regard for simple, everyday objects and highlight the influence these items had on their work, projects, and innovative spirit- a true celebration of the 'uncommon beauty of common things'.

Words juxtaposed alongside the humble objects that Charles and Ray found so inspiring reinforces an approach to design as a way of life and broad view of the world...

For more information on the exhibit, visit A+D's website, or learn more about Pacific Standard Time, the arts collaborative currently ongoing throughout Southern California.

A Red Envelope from MYD

2012-01-24T21:08:00.000-08:00

Happy Lunar New Year!

best wishes, lauren + jason

Eames, Revisted

2012-01-20T09:42:00.000-08:00

Since couple upcoming posts will feature Charles and Ray Eames (and the great exhibit currently at the Architecture and Design Museum in Los Angeles), I thought I'd revisit a guest blog post I wrote for Inspired Design Daily a few months back. So, keep reading for an overview of Charles and Ray's history and philosophy, and keep an eye out for more updates, images, and our take on the innovation of these two iconic American designers in the coming week!

In the past few years, we've seen the proliferation of modular structures, from shipping container shelters to pre-fabricated homes, but the mass products began decades ago, and the prolific use of these designs today is a testament to high-quality design and construction, as well as a visionary spirit. I'm referring to the work of Charles and Ray Eames, pioneers in the mass-production of furniture and mid-century design.

Husband and wife teams are fairly prevalent these days, but this wasn't necessarily the case early in the twentieth century. However, when partnerships were formed, they enabled women to participate in the modern design movement. This was the case for the Eameses, who are considered by some to be the most influential American furniture designers of the century.

Ray's background was in painting and sculpture, while Charles was trained as an architect. Collaborating since their marriage in 1941 until Charles' death in 1978, they created designs still produced and widely used throughout the world decades later.

The first to experiment with molded plywood, their interest in the material began with a contract from the U.S. Navy to produce splints during World War II, which led to the generation of furniture protoypes, later mass-produced by the Herman Miller Furniture Company, who continues to manufacture their designs. These plywood innovations won numerous awards from MoMA for low-cost furniture and made good design accessible to a much greater demographic.

In the late 1940's, the couple created another game changing innovation: the molded fiberglass collection of furniture, also fabricated and distributed by Herman Miller, including the chaise (above), along with chairs and rockers.

Things have certainly changed since then, and today, almost everything we use is mass-produced, which has spurred a recent movement back towards the handmade. However, next time you see an Eames rocker, chaise or plywood chair, consider the spirit of innovation and experimentation that led to its creation.

And make sure to have a seat; they are not only beautiful and iconic, but are some of the most comfortable pieces of mid-century design...

Cheers! Lauren

On Houzz...

2012-01-17T08:30:00.000-08:00

One of our projects (Dove Canyon renovation + addition) was featured on Houzz this week! Check out the second image in the slideshow below, or visit MYD's profile on the popular residential design site, where you can see more of our work, as well as our own ideabooks, where we collect images for inspiration and design concepts...

Dreaming of a Fireside Soak

Houzz- Kitchen Remodel, Bathroom Remodel and More»

Browse Outdoor Products on Houzz- For Example:

Fencing · Firepits · Birdhouses · Outdoor Playsets · Outdoor Umbrellas · Outdoor Sofas · Outdoor Stools And Benches · Outdoor Tables ·

Pencil Personalities

2012-01-15T14:53:00.000-08:00

For a bit of weekend humor-
check the box that applies...

via

Laguna Construction Update

2012-01-08T21:37:00.000-08:00

If you haven't stopped by our website lately, check out some of the latest photos of MYD's project in South Laguna, a contemporary cottage, just a short walk to the beach. It's been a long road from schematic design through the Design Review process to the construction phase, but a truly rewarding one, and we couldn't be happier with the progress made during these past few months.

Head over to our site for more details and images and thanks for stopping by!

Happy New Year!

2012-01-01T22:51:00.000-08:00

Wishing you a very happy new year from MYD studio...

Cheers, Lauren + Jason

iPhoneography

2011-12-29T19:24:00.000-08:00

This week, stop by Inspired Design Daily, where I'm writing about the growth of iPhoneography and digital phone art... It's an art form that's been around for a while, but with technological advancements, a host of new photo editing applications, and heightened communications due to social media and the internet, camera phone art has garnered enough attention to create international competitions and gallery shows across the globe.

So, check out my post to see some of the examples and accessories available to enhance your smartphone photos, and start shooting your own works of art! (and if you're an Instagram user, connect with us @myd)
Best, Lauren

A Christmas Card from MYD

2011-12-23T18:40:00.000-08:00

and a bright and bountiful new year!

* * *

P.S. If you missed our holiday post a couple days ago, feel free to stop by and read about the fantastic holiday gingerbread village we helped build last weekend...

Happy (belated) Birthday to Oscar Niemeyer...

2011-12-16T15:26:00.000-08:00

Decades of work in both his home country of Brazil and internationally makes Oscar Niemeyer one of the most well-known architects today. And at age 104, as of yesterday- his birthday, he's still designing...

So, this is a birthday card to Mr Niemeyer:

Much appreciation for the inspiration... (sketching in Brasilia)

Ice Cube, Los Angeles + Eames

2011-12-10T13:31:00.001-08:00

'It's not about the pieces; it's how the pieces work together. Taking something that already exists and make it into something special.'

For some Saturday fun, watch this great video of Ice Cube discussing LA architecture and the legacy of Charles and Ray Eames.

For more on the exhibit and other gallery events, visit the official website for Pacific Standard Time.
Have a great weekend!

Photo Page Update

2011-12-07T19:20:00.001-08:00

Our construction page is up and running! Stop by and check out the latest progress as we wrap up a three-year project... It's a great little cottage, and we'll try to post more about the process when things slow down.
Thanks for stopping by!
MYD

Construction Progress

2011-11-30T11:30:00.000-08:00

Hello from MYD! Thought we'd share a sneak peek of the latest construction progress at our project in Laguna Beach. We'll be uploading and sharing more project images soon, along with some new concept designs currently in the works.
In the meanwhile, here's the latest on this lovely contemporary cottage in South Laguna...

Cheers!
Lauren + Jason

Form, Function + Concrete

2011-11-26T07:30:00.000-08:00

Greetings from MYD, and hope the weekend has been going well... Just in case you missed our post at our website, we thought we'd share the beautiful and functional art that will be installed at a project in Orange County in the next few weeks...

If you've never seen Gore Design Co.'s Erosion Sink, it is not only incredibly unique, but exemplifies the architectural potential of thoughtful applications of material, craft and design. For more images and information on Gore Design and this great custom GFRC sink, read the complete post at our website, and have a great week ahead!

Architectural Numerology

2011-11-22T13:53:00.001-08:00

What's your number..? Stop by Inspired Design Daily today, where I'm guest blogging about how to add a bit of design interest to the exterior of your home in an unexpected, but highly visible location: address numbers! We'll look at a few examples of interesting and fun ways to update your entry with a unique array of designs- with all the options available, there's sure to be one that fits your style, budget and aesthetic.

So, make sure to check out the post, and share you thoughts or images of favorite applications, and enjoy!
Thanks, Lauren

+Architecture | MYD

2011-11-15T22:52:00.001-08:00

So, we're up and running on Google+ and MYD studio's page is starting to take shape. This new format for connecting and sharing content should be an interesting platform, and we look forward to seeing how things develop. Join us there at +Architecture | MYD...

In the meanwhile, if you're sticking with Facebook for the time being, we'll be maintaining our page there, and feel free to stop by for more albums of project photos, along with articles we like and noteworthy images and links.

Either way, look forward to seeing you online, and thanks for stopping by!

Lauren + Jason