LoftyWords

Modern designed baby causes work stoppage?

digicrom — Mon, 30 Jul 2007 16:20:15 -0500

Ladies and gentlemen, STOP the presses!

You may have noticed that Lofty editorial has been on hiatus for the last couple of months, no the site didn't fold, nor did it's editors fall off the face of the earth.

What has been happening is that I took off a few of the multiple hats I wear (metaphorically, that is - i.e: writer, publisher, engineer, etc.) for the birth of our daughter, and ultimately to spend the first couple of formative months being a new bumbling father.

But even in the midst of my newly minted fatherhood, I heard the distant call of my first child, this web site. In the coming days I expect to raise the bar , and offer even better content then what you have come to expect from Lofty.

I will have a run down on all the amazing loft activity happening in Austin, TX.
Possible news of a new loft development in a very old San Antonio landmark.
The downtown living experience of Chicago.
Q&A's with some of the best architects North America has to offer.

In the mean time, try visiting Modern Mother to see what all this kid fuss is about.

Image courtesy of: Modern Nursery.

Modern Furnishing on a Budget

CherMoynihan — Thu, 18 Jan 2007 19:33:33 -0600

The quest for the perfect modern piece of furniture can often be long and expensive. This makes some feel that modern design is out of their reach. Yes, there is Design Within Reach, but for the person with a lot of style who is just starting out, even DWR can be out of reach.
Fear not design aficionados, there is a way you can get the look without having to eat Ramen for a month or scrounge through hundreds of resale shops. Target now offers a wide variety of great pieces that are surprisingly inexpensive and well made putting great design at everyone's fingertips.
A simple search of the Target site revealed pieces under $300 that were clean and simple from the Weston bedroom collection that would lend a clean, elegant style to any modern home. My personal favorite collection is Thomas O'Brien's vintage modern collection. With the simple clean vintage feel, designed for today's lifestyle, it is a true combination of form and function.
Designers are jumping at the chance to challenge themselves by creating great furnishings on a budget. Even Todd Oldham has brought his unique sense of Modern Retro to Target. There is a look and a price for every home. Think about it, how long do you think you can pull off "I am a minimalist," as the excuse as to why your mattress is on the floor and you only have one chair?

Target.com

Let the Sun Shine In

CherMoynihan — Fri, 29 Dec 2006 12:49:40 -0600

One of the staples of modern living, especially loft living is an open, bright feeling. This can often be difficult to achieve, but a new twist on an old eyesore is putting natural light within reach. Glass garage doors used, not just in the garage but as a wall, floods any space with light and allows and flow from indoors to out with ease.

A clear glass door opening to an enclosed courtyard, complete with a fountain or koi pond would be the perfect finishing touch to any modern home striving to create a peaceful, inviting environment. If a little more privacy is in order the glass panels can be frosted, or even come with texture. There are many styles offered by numerous dealers. Prices vary depending on size and style so get a few price quotes and testimonials to make sure you are getting the best deal.

Here are a few places to find out more info but remember your mileage may vary :
BP Glass Garage Doors
Arm-r-Lite
Clopay

Into Every Modern Home a Little Elegance Must Fall

CherMoynihan — Tue, 26 Dec 2006 21:10:44 -0600

Every once in a while a product comes along that combines my love of the ornate with a penchant for the modern aesthetic. Erich Ginder brings modern ornate to life with the Mansion Chandelier.
The chandelier is made of laser-cut aluminum with halogen bulb lamps that creates a flowing, yet dichotomous, old-world ornamentation blended to a modern form. Adding to the simple aesthetic is the stencil like design. This was a perfect choice as the chandelier has such a grandiose feel with the design and construction that it didn't need added bulk to impress. When to add and when to simply stop is something a good artist, such as Ginder recognizes. It measures 11.5 inches in height and 36 inches in diameter.

Design Public has the chandelier available in six different colors: anodized black, anodized gold, anodized natural, citron, powder coated white and red. This chandelier would make a great discussion piece in any modern dining room, or for an even greater impact put it somewhere unexpected such as a bedroom or living room. At $3,700 you definitely want to put where it will earn it's keep.

Erich Ginder Mansion Chandelier at : [Design Public] [Erich Ginder]

Can the essence of a city survive progress?

CherMoynihan — Tue, 12 Dec 2006 18:51:08 -0600

Here in Austin we have like to keep a certain feel to the city. With a motto of "Keep Austin Weird" you can only guess that it is a somewhat un-traditional place full of strange shops, relaxed people and a strong sense of community. One of our weird little venues is an RV park in the middle of an affluent part of town. This isn't your normal RV park. It is quirky, stylish and surprisingly affordable in an area of town that forgot affordable ages ago. It also has an incredible downtown, lakeside location. This of course means it is a big juicy steak sitting on the counter for developers.

Yep you guessed it, this small quirky oasis will sport a gleaming set of condos sometime after 2008. I like the condos. They are stylish and the developer is making an attempt to keep the feel of the place, even allowing public access to the lake.

The concern many people have is that as space dwindles in many of our up and coming cities, off beat locales, such as the Shady Grove RV park, will fall to the high demand. So far Austin has been doing a fairly good job of retaining the "weirdness" but is there a point when too much is lost and the essence of the city takes it's last gasping breath then slowly fades away? What will happen to these cities after their uniqueness is lost?

Some feel that progress is unstoppable, a necessary evil, if you will. I love progress but I also love the quirks that make the city feel special. Is there a way to have our cake and eat it to? Obviously I don't have the answers to my own questions. If I did I would make thousands of dollars helping the cities survive and quirky little locales would worship me as their goddess. Well OK maybe not
that far. One way we can help preserve the essence of our beloved cities is to be diligent. Monitor the new projects and really delve into the issues behind them. And we must recognize that yes, sometimes that new high rise or condo really will be good for the city. And those of you who are all progress all the time, remember, that funny little essence maybe what gives you the bond to your city, makes it feel like home instead of a mess of concrete and traffic. Yin and yang, the eternal balance brought into city planning.

To read more on this project:

http://www.bartonplaceaustin.com/

http://www.statesman.com/business/content/business/stories/realestate/12/02/2barton.html

Continuing coverage from the
2006 AIA Homes Tour
Emily Little, Architect!

digicrom — Sun, 22 Oct 2006 20:31:14 -0500

With the pending arrival of our newest and smallest family member my demands in the home have changed. Now not only do I want a stylish, elegant space, I also demand that space to actually function for living. Yes, I know this is a novel concept that flies in the face of many but when I envision the pitter patter of little feet I also see, spills, falls and toys everywhere. This years Austin AIA show shined a spot light on one architect who has managed to create a home that is not only aesthetically pleasing with a casual elegance but she also made the home a welcoming family friendly environment.

Emily Little’s renovation of a duplex into a single family home was complicated but...

...she met the challenge. Little used durable materials and bright colors to give the home a bright inviting feel. Apple green trim, burnt orange counters and a built in diner-style table make this house able to stand up to anything a growing family can throw at it.

The house opens to a dining room separated from, what can be called a true conversation area, by Asian inspired wooden screens. The screens are simple geometric shapes on tracks so they can slide and be rearranged to work with the family’s changing needs. The conversation area is not large, but it doesn’t need to be. With just enough room for a crescent shaped mid-century modern sectional the space allows ample flow and intimacy, perfect for an adult conversation over cocktails. The kitchen is large with plenty of counter space for multiple cooks. The one oddity is the shape. Instead of straight lines of counters, the kitchen narrows in the center, almost creating two kitchen spaces. The kitchen also doubles as an inviting living space. With a diner style booth, a large bar and a built in window bench covered in plush durable cushions the kitchen has plenty of room for guests to get cozy while the food is prepared. A small entry nook right off the kitchen has built in shelves and a large chalkboard for family notes, and childrens’ toys to keep the rest of the home organized.

Moving from the kitchen to the upstairs area you climb the bright staircase painted Granny Smith Green and flooded with light from windows at the top of the ceiling. The staircase opens to a alcove. The children’s rooms were kept simple and clean with plenty of windows to make up for the small size. The true gem of the upstairs was the master bedroom and bathroom. The master bedroom was pure Asian inspiration with a platform bed covered in Japanese sleeping mats and painted fabric hanging from the ceiling on tracks at the foot of the bed to obscure the view of the bed from the hallway. The bathroom is an escape. It is small but with a large soaking tub made of poured concrete that bathroom could easily entice a person to stay forever. The spa feel created by the tub is continued with wood and grey stone accents. The natural materials and colors create a soothing environment perfect to relax in after the kids have gone to bed.

The house blends perfectly with the family’s own Asian and mid-century modern pieces to create an eclectic yet soothing space full of energy and playfulness. That is the true test of an architect, their ability to blend what is already there with the family’s needs and possible future needs.

Little’s use of space to create subtle definitions keeps the house from feeling formal or too structured. This flexibility is vital for an evolving family. This house was pure family funky.

Little herself is a friendly, intelligent woman who looks forward to a challenge to stretch her skill. In addition to this home and her wealthy body of pre-existing work, Little has put her talents toward designing homes for the forward thinking green subdivision, Agave (

Austin

[Emily Little web site] [AIA

Austin

] [Agave]

Ed Note:

This piece introduces a new writer to LoftyWords.com, Cheryl Rowley. Cheryl is a veteran print writer currently writing for a large daily newspaper in central

Texas

, as well as her own successful book revue blog, AverageReader.com. Cheryl’s task will be to bring a softer tone to LoftyWords.com, writing on topics ranging from design to architecture from a women’s, point of view.

Congratulations Cheryl!

Drew Moynihan
Publisher
B2 MediaNet

AIA Austin 2006 Homes Tour

digicrom — Thu, 05 Oct 2006 10:08:36 -0500

This weekend, AIA Austin will hold its 21st annual Home Tour. The tour will include ten one of a kind homes designed for the real world and real world clients.

From the AIA Austin website, "Presented by AIA Austin (the Austin Chapter of the American Institute of Architects), this year’s tour will feature an intriguing collection of 10 one-of-a-kind homes designed by professional members of AIA Austin for real clients representing a wide range of lifestyles. The featured firms have truly demonstrated the abilities of an architect to translate the needs, the lifestyles, interests and the dreams of the client into a beautiful solution!

Great new products, finishes, furnishings and design techniques will be highlighted. The self-guided AIA Austin Homes Tour is one of the most popular fall weekend events in Central Texas, and AIA Austin’s most dynamic community outreach program."

The architects on this year's tour are: Barley + Pfeiffer Architects, Brian Dillard Architecture, Christopher T. Cobb, Architect, Cornerstone Group Architects, Dick Clark Architecture, Emily Little Architects, Hugh Jefferson Randolph Architects, Manning Architecture, Rhode Hurt Architects, and T. McIntyre Associates.

The self guided tour will be held on Saturday and Sunday (October, 7th and 8th), from Noon - 6:00 p.m. each day, tickets are $25.00

For more info visit AIAAUSTIN.ORG.

Hayden Vitera Live tonight

digicrom — Wed, 12 Jul 2006 23:04:22 -0500

Every once in a while a great entertertainer gets a chance. Thankfully Hayden Vitera got his chance through a series of gigs playing a LatTV kick off parties around Texas. Now you too can hear this talented entertainer tonight at a local Austin staple, the Saxon Pub.
The Saxon Pub is located at 1320 S. Lamar Austin Tx.

Modern Platform Bed

digicrom — Tue, 13 Jun 2006 14:06:19 -0500

Recently my wife and I have been on a quest to find a modern platform bed to replace the aging bedroom set we currently have. After spending and inordinate amount of time searching online and in many specialty modern furniture stores we came to the conclusion that most modern beds lack functionality, something we need. You see, both my wife and I are readers and TV watchers, often doing both at the same time, so a platform bed would need storage, and it would need to have a comfortable head rest for reading, yet most modern beds lack these two ingredients, having just one or the other but rarely both, and when they did they lost that modern clean edge.

Solution? The Zoe by Poliform, imported by EUROPE by NET. Designed by Paolo Piva (info), the Zoe's adjustable headrests make it an ideal solution. The sleek bookshelf unit which runs behind the bed is included, with an optional one-drawer or two-drawer units which sit inside the bookshelf are available seperatly.

The pictures show the headrest cushions in fabric, but leather is available as an option. The bed comes in wenge, ovangkol, or in the full range of Poliform matt lacquer colours. Available in two sizes, to fit mattresses sized 160 x 200 or 180 x 200 cm.

Austin Agave Update

digicrom — Tue, 13 Jun 2006 13:32:39 -0500

It looks like there is a lot of movement in Austin over at the new Agave neighborhood, with quite a few houses that have either sold or are in the process of selling. Also the Green Mango Real Estate website has a number of the home plans available to peruse.

Austin - New Mod Downtown Loft For Lease

digicrom — Thu, 06 Apr 2006 15:16:05 -0500

1 bedroom, 1.5 baths, with dedicated office and covered parking available for immediate move-in, located in downtown Austin!

This is the perfect place for an active professional, close to the Town Lake Hike and Bike Trail, less than a mile from 6th and Congress, and under a minute comute to downtown, this almost 1300 foot loft is located in the very cool Pedernales community (www.pedernales.com).

Features and amenities:

*Beautifully stained concrete floors

*Large balcony (approx. 22'x7')

*1 bedroom

*1.5 baths

*Walk-in closet

*Huge live in Living Room

*Modern kitchen

*Stainless steel appliances

*Granite Countertops Throughout

*High ceilings

*New washer, dryer, fridge, oven, and microwave

*Covered parking

*Secure, Gated complex

*Beautiful green-space

*High speed internet available

The Pedernales offers the rare combination of urban living with private community greenspaces. Offered at $1500 a month, plus one months deposit, the unit is available for immediate move in after April 20th, 2006. Cats and dogs are welcome, and the unit has a large greenspace located behind it, perfect for Rovers afternoon romp.

[Click to view Craig's List listing]
[Local Contact Information]

More Pictures after the jump!

Editorial: What loft designers and architects get wrong

digicrom — Wed, 29 Mar 2006 17:00:02 -0600

For a while now I have been writing on all things cool about loft and urban living, but often I get asked if it is so great why doesn't everyone do it? And the proponents of that questions are on to something, because in truth, there are a few things about loft living that are hard to get used to, and some things that urban loft designer just get wrong. Here are my basic two complaints that either need to change when designing loft spaces, or that architects and designer just get wrong, and they mirror the number one complaint from LoftyWords readers.

Parking

Parking is an evil, it chews up plantable land, it produces fields of multi-colored metal beast that can ruin the lines of even the most beautiful design, but it is a necessity. Most loft projects are designed with only one parking space per unit, never mind that almost 50% of the tenants and owners that purchase these types of dwellings are two person households, and as such have two cars. And before you think, well that isn't very green, I'll agree with you and say no it isn't, but it is also practical in todays modern world. Outside of a city that has a well equipped mass transit system such as New York, or Chicago, most cities don't have a developed urban mass population movement system in place, at least not to the extent that it makes a one car family practical.

Often I don't write about myself personally but today I will, as my wife and I fit the average loft dweller demo. I run a media consulting business as well as BAM 2 Media's websites, and as such often visit many clients in a given day, my wife is a journalist for the local newspaper, and her working hours and mine are skewed enough that we can't share a car going in as many directions as we do.

Another example is one of my neighbors, she owns a mod furniture, flooring, accessories shop in downtown Austin, and as such is often zooming between the shop, her clients, and her daughters engagements, yet her significant other is a designer, and he is doing his own amount of zooming from client to client, again making one car impractical.

But this is not limited to my community (it in itself is not the flaw per se), this is common with many designs built, being built, or are in the design phases today, one car parking is just a bad design principle, no matter how green it is.

And this doesn't even touch on visitor parking....

Storage Space

Lofts are designed to mimic the original open converted warehouse spaces of the early squatter pioneers of the east coast (mainly New York City during the late 60's and 70's). These spaces are large, open, and welcoming, but I have yet to meet a loft owner who says they have adequate storage space.

Most lofts these days are either constructed as such, or are converted spaces, designed by well educated men and women, yet we still can't seem to find a balance between interior usable living space and adequate storage space.

Some rugged individualist like there kayak or mountain bike hanging from the roof in their living room, but most do it because it is the only secure space large enough to adequately store it away until it's next use. Even if we disregard a space large enough for outdoor equipments, what does one do with all those christmas ornaments, the large collection of vinyl from your youth, or the carefully packaged wedding gown, dried flowers, and memorabilia that you intend on giving to your children?

Writing for this site, I get the opportunity to see a large array of designs for a whole host of great properties across North America, but I notice more often a lack of planned space to store the accouterments that follow us through the years. I see too many 1300 square foot, one and two bedroom lofts, with one postage stamp closet, and a lack of a qualified pantry. I see to many designs that do not have a storage area attached to the units parking space to store all of those outdoor toys that we really do use.

Designers, Architects, please don't read these words and mumble some unrepeatable phrase, these two items are the number one complaints that I get from readers, and these are the things that we need and want in our great spaces. You have done a brilliant job giving us the living space that has become our manna, now is your chance to improve the next generation of designs, and give us what we need in our practical day to day lives.