Yes, I have a weakness for mountain chalets that remind me of home, especially when they’re unique in their modern alpine interior design. I just love architecture set in the mountains (and anything close to some kind of body of water), which is why I am showing you this example of a chalet in Montana. The architecture was done by Pearson Design Group, and Wick Design is to be credited for an amazing job on the interior design. I adore the whole concept of the chalet and how well the design is integrated in the surrounding landscape. One can enjoy the vistas from every room within the home. With that said, I will leave you to enjoy the pictures.
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Searching through Pinterest, I found this quote by Jim Rohn the other day: ”Whatever good things we build end up building us.” A great quote full of truth by itself actually lead me to something even more inspiring - a modern Pearson Design Group, an amazing architectural group based in Montana. When it comes to architecture and design, I very much believe in the craft itself, but also in the ideals and responsibilities one has a designer or architect. It’s clear that everyone of us has a different past, a different believe system, and simply a different way of how we function in our everyday routines; nevertheless, there’s a collective memory that we all share. It’s what I see when I look down into the crowded San Francisco Bay, it’s what I see when I gaze into the serenity of the ocean or the mountains. It’s always there, the history of the land and the memories that we share as people. I believe that good design and architecture can evoke these feelings in all of us if it successfully reflects the sensibilities of the property’s surroundings (among other things). The estate below does exactly that! Yes it’s very modern but it sure pays respect to its surrounding landscape. This modern mountain home has become my new favorite, and it embodies many elements any designer or architect strives for.
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Are you looking to remodel your home? The following chart shows you some of the most cost-effective home improvements according to the latest national market analysis by the National Association of REALTORS®. If you’re interested in more detailed regional results that offer a wider range of projects, you may want to take a look at the results of the Remodeling 2013 Cost vs. Value Report. Please keep in mind that even the projects that offer the greatest return, may not yield more than 85% of the remodeling costs. Make sure that whatever improvements you make for yourself and your family are fit to your individual needs and not merely geared to add value to your home.
If you’re thinking about selling your house or if you just like to give it a little makeover, here are a few general tips for you:
Think about CURB APPEAL;
Remove trees or shrubs that restrict the view of the front door but don’t invest in extensive landscaping just for selling your house as it may be a deterrent for some buyers (think of the time required for maintenance);
Remove weeds and re-sod;
Add simple graveled or mulched walkways to give your house a neat look;
Paint the front door with a contrasting color or replace it if necessary;
Replace any dated house numbers, light fixtures, and handle sets;
Stain or paint your entryway to make it stand out and appear more polished;
Think about UPDATES on the inside of your home;
Get rid off popcorn ceilings and old wallpaper;
Update outdated light fixtures (without the need for a professional electrician); and
Replace dated flooring, especially wall-to-wall carpeting.
I hope this information helps you. If you would like to know more about preparing your house for the market or if you have questions about your upcoming remodel, please contact me and I’ll be happy to assist you with your plans.
First of all, this project was bound to impress me – it’s by John Saladino, one of my favorite architectural and interior designers. He’s a designer that can successfully place ancient fragments and design components into minimalistic modern spaces. He creates homes that will have historical value.
In this project, the goal was to design a dream vacation house on a family compound in Kennebunkport, Maine. The homeowners wanted a retreat that conjured the African Safari Lodges they’ve visited in countries such as Tanzania, Botswana, Mozambique, and South Africa. John, the designer, recalls that his challenge was to take the homeowners’ romantic fantasies of Africa, the vernacular Maine architecture that is on the family compound, and his own style, and organize it all into a serene and timeless vignette. And he sure accomplished it.
If you like serene homes that are neutral in color but rich in texture, like me, you will love this home. The interior design will inspire you. Simple, elegant, and utterly relaxing! One of my favorite quotes is very fitting to this design in particular: “Simplicity is the ultimate sophistication.” (Leonardo da Vinci) It’s also one of my most important design principles.
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I love this kitchen with its wood textures and neutral colors. The window placement saves usable space and allows for plenty of light to penetrate into the kitchen and dining area. It also features a La Cornue range/stove. The sink and fittings are by Waterworks; the stools by Artiors, and the pendants by Steng Licht. I really like how the cluster of delicate pendant lights floats above the kitchen island.
According to public records, Darrell Becker and Kirsten Kemp Becker, purchased this 1960s ranch home in Santa Barbara, CA, through a limited-liability company for about $1.7 million in January. In July, the home was listed for $4.975 million was reduced to a price of $4.695 million, and has since been sold through Riskin Associates of Village Properties Realtors. The home measures about 3,650 square feet and includes four bedrooms and 4½ bathrooms. The master bedroom opens up to a newly renovated yard and pool area. An outdoor area features a repurposed trellis above a herringbone brick patio and stone fireplace. The property also includes a 18-by-40-foot pool and a separate spa.
The couple co-own Becker Studios, a real-estate design and construction company that works on both residential and commercial projects. They purchased this home as an investment property. When they did their first walk through of the home, they knew exactly how they wanted to redesign it. “We both walked out, looked at each other and said ‘contemporary hacienda’,” said Mrs. Kemp Becker. Much of the property was ‘just weeds’ when the couple began their extensive renovation. They added landscaping across the property, including 15 mature olive trees, which “immediately gave it a sense of time, said Mr. Becker.
“The most compelling component of the house is the siting on the parcel,” Mr. Becker said, noting that it creates a “very bright and inviting home.” The living room, like the rest of the house, was renovated “down to the studs,” Ms. Kemp Becker said, including new heating, plumbing, electrical systems and finishes. They estimate spending $2 million on the renovation, not including architectural and design fees. The couple added aged wood beams on the ceilings of some rooms that were inspired by their travels to the Yucatán in Mexico. “We really wanted to infuse a lot of that Old World, Mexican-Spanish feeling,” Ms. Kemp Becker said. The fireplace was existing, but they installed a corbel detail above it that creates more visual interest, they said. In the dining area, they painted the wooden ceiling beams white and used rough fabrics to create a look with more ‘pop,’ Ms. Kemp Becker said.
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The above photo shows what the kitchen looked like before the couple began their renovations.
The kitchen as it appears now. They added wide-plank oak flooring throughout the home and used imported Spanish stone countertops in the kitchen and some bathrooms. Rolling barn doors, which aren’t pictured, can be closed to separate the kitchen from the great room, or left opened for a flowing space. Antique light fixtures were also brought in and installed throughout the home.
The recent completion of a massive bookshelf gave me the opportunity to look into all kinds of display options. I thought it’s time to write a blog about some of my favorite display items. The following pictures show only a small selection of products out there. The ones I picked for this post are the kinds which I like to use in some combination or another. Glass displays such as the boxes and cloches are beautiful because they are light in their appearance and the display can be changed at any time. They also function very well as bookends. I love antiques, so you will see a lot of those below. I am especially in love with the art deco sculpture. One item that was a recent find and I had never seen before is the SOMA light sculpture by Ayala Serfaty, which is just one of the many light sculptures included in the SOMA collections of the Metropolitan Museum and the Museum of Arts and Design in New York. Each light sculpture from the collection is hand-made out of thin glass rods that are blown in Italy and completed in Ayala Serfaty’s workshop in Tel Aviv to form an ethereal structure. After the form of the sculpture is finished, the piece is sprayed with a unique clear polymer to generate a skin-like membrane. These are truly unique pieces of art.
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The Mediterranean Revival - one of my most favorite architectural styles in American residential architecture. There a lot of homes out there these days that are trying to follow the characteristics of traditional Mediterranean architecture, but the following pictures certainly show some prime examples of successful design. What draws me most to the Mediterranean style is the character and texture of the building materials, and the emphasis on creating outdoor living spaces.
picture from Saint Dizier Design
picture from William Hefner Architecture
picture from Summerour Architects
picture from Vanguard Studio
picture from Jauregui Architecture Interior Construction
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