Small homes return to popularity

This story Home Sweet, Cozy Home ran on July 2 in the Seattle Times real estate section. The sensibilities of living in small homes are coming back into vogue again. Happiness!

Small Innovative Homes | environment + design + symbiosis (Lindal Cedar Homes)

environment + design + symbiosis

In the 60s Walter Lindal was granted a patent for the A-frame. Lindal Cedar Homes introduced this design, bold for its time, that’s likely influenced the design of vacation homes worldwide. Lindal Cedar Homes celebrates their 65th anniversary this year. They have over 14 new modern A-frame designs using predesigned blocks in three different sizes that are worked together in various ways. Some of these homes have a mid-century modern look but they’re all a contemporary spin on the traditional A-frame. Lindal homes can be finished with whatever energy and water conserving appliances and green and sustainable materials that you’d like.

 
A1-12001200sf. This is a single cube with a one-story bay. Clean, crisp lines make the most of a small footprint with a flat roof. Located off the great room, the bay is devoted to a light-filled dining room with SunWalls of glass on three sides. A flexible space off the main entry can be used for an office or guest room. Upstairs, the loft is devoted to an open master suite. Whether you build this home as a vacation home or primary residence, the open floor plan creates a sense of spaciousness that’s a daily pleasure to live in.
 
A2-15001500sf. Who knew a simple geometric formula could be so beautiful? This design brings together two building blocks with moderate-pitch roof lines setting off each block. Created in the spirit of the original A-frame, this design features a wall of glass that can be positioned to make the most of your view. Drama and comfort come together in the main-floor master suite. An optional deck extends your living space outdoors. The additional bedroom suite in the loft has an outstanding view to the main floor and beyond.
 
A3-12001200sf. This three-cube home packs a lot of punch into the luxury of a one-floor design. Two building blocks are brought together by a third smaller block which is devoted to a generous-sized entry. The master suite claims its own wing, the opposite wing includes the cathedral-ceilinged great room together with the kitchen, dining room and two additional bedrooms. A storage loft is located above the master suite and one of the other bedrooms.
 
 
 
A4-1700This home brings together four building blocks to create a home that offers liveability on every floor whether vacation retreat or full-time home. The master suite, complete with luxurious bath, has its own wing on the main floor. Above, a second spacious bedroom suite is located in the open loft. The generous sized kitchen is located under the loft, opening onto living and dining areas that share a soaring cathedral ceiling. 1700sf.
 

A5-1900Their largest home at approx. 1900sf is made up of five pre-designed building blocks, graced with a contemporary flat roof. With 2 bedrooms and 2.5 baths, this home provides generous living spaces. The master bedroom is in its own sanctuary wing while the open loft bedroom is positioned to take advantage of the view. All home designs can be modified to accommodate a low-pitched roof.

And there’s always their traditional A-frame designs which can be functional and wonderful small urban homes that don’t need to be reserved for a country, wood, or lakeside vacation setting.

What cars were doing when they were involved in a fatal crash

From the Dashboard in the July issue of Wired Magazine here’s what cars were doing when they were involved in a fatal crash:

Going straight 68.8%
Negotiating a curve 14.9%
Turning left 6.1%
Unknown or other 4%
Passing 2%
Merging or changing lanes 1.9%
Starting, slowing, or stopping in traffic lane 1.5%
Turning right 0.8%

(date source: National Highway Traffic Safety Administration)

Chromatherapy - Using Color To Affect Mood, Feeling, Emotion

 Color is one of the most pervasive qualities around us. Artists and interior designers have long understood how color can dramatically affect mood, feelings, and emotions. -Kendra Van Wagner

What about a deeper significance of the effect of color (or lack of color) on the physical human condition? Now we’re talking about Chromatherapy: using color to heal.

It’s a holistic practice dating back to the civilizations of Atlantis and Mu. Were you to ask the ancient mystics from China, India or Egypt about the healing power of color they’d tell you there’s something to it. Pointing to the seven chakras in the human body, deficiencies were identified and therapeutic colors engaged to bring the whole being into balance.

As a colorist, sensitive to the nuances and combinations of colors this is something of an innate sensibility. Obvious to you and me that the following category generalizations would ring true:

Red, Orange, Yellow: Energizing, warm
Blue, Green, Violet: Calming, cool

But there’s much more to it. Holistic beliefs, past and present, run much deeper and investigate the influence of color on the healing of mind, body and spirit. For example:

Red is thought to stimulate and boost physical energy, strengthen willpower, increase circulation and clear congestion.

Orange is thought to encourage joy, socializing and optimism, which is why it’s considered useful for depression or sadness. 

Yellow is associated with the intellect and mental processes and is uplifting, stimulating the nerves and purifying the body.

Green is a color that’s thought to encourage emotional stability, purity and calmness.

Blue is thought to enhance verbal expression and communication, artistic expression and willpower.

Indigo is said to encourage greater intuition and strengthen the lymph system, immune system and help purify and cleanse the body.

Purple is thought to encourage spirituality, intuition, wisdom, mental strength and focus.

As with all things, TOO much of a good thing can have detrimental effects. For example:

Too much red may over stimulate and possibly promote anger or aggressiveness.
Too much orange is thought to lead to tiredness, pessimism and confusion.
Too much yellow is believed to lead to poor concentration and hyperactivity.
Too much purple is thought to promote pride and arrogance.

Where is my belief system in all this? From what I’ve studied, practiced, and witnessed the effect of hue, tone, and intensity of color can indeed adjust mood, attitude, perception and behavior. These adjustments, in turn, factor into and tip the scales when it comes to our comfort, energy levels, and general well-being.

Written by: Kelle Boyd | Landsview Interior Design | Seattle, WA | (206) 938-4796

Having a Businesses In Your Seattle Home – the rules

Thought I posted this earlier but just can’t find it :-\ The City of Seattle Department of Planning and Development has posted this 3-page client assistance memo (CAM) titled Businesses in Your Home: Home Occupations Allowed in Residential Zones explaining the conditions in which a home business is allowed in residential zones. If you need further information the department is located at 700 5th Avenue #2000, Seattle WA 98124 (206) 684-8600.

GE's new Two-Way Talking Touch Screen Security Panel - secure coolness

GE just introduced their new 2-way Talking Touch Screen Security Panel which easily and effectively controls and manages your home’s security systems including lighting, HVAC units, and it even provides a 4-day weather forecast. Via functionality through Alarm.com homeowners can control and manage their home systems from their smart phone. The design is wireless so it installs quick and easy. The site is useful and provides pertinent information on all the panel features (home status, emergency, window/door sensor, alarm status, keypad, thermostat, lighting, weather).

If you need a GE dealer around Seattle I recommend Tim Burdick at Burdick’s Security.

Pantone selects Turquoise (aka 15-5519) as Color of the Year for 2010

What a delicious description for the 2010 color of the year http://www.pantone.com/pages/pantone/pantone.aspx?pg=20705&ca=4 – ” combining the serene qualities of blue and the invigorating aspects of green” “a color of faith and truth, inspired by water and sky” “a color of deep compassion and healing.” It certainly does inspire thoughts of escape, tropical goodness, and serenity for me and water always restores my sense of wellbeing. There’s a reason Calgon chose this color to “take me away.” I always notice Turquoise used well in a staging, and I notice it over used (so don’t do that.) Here are some tips http://www.realtor.org/rmohome_and_design/Articles/2010/1006_home_turquoisestaging from stagers in Realtor Mag.

It’s been my experience that both men and women do find Turquoise appealing in interiors and in fashion. Turquoise just seems to pep up everything around it. If you wake up feeling a little funky, slip on a sexy Turquoise tee and see how things shape up. Works for me.

If you’d like a color consultation with an excellent Interior Designer around Greater Seattle I can recommend Kelle Boyd of Landsview Interior Design.

Need a thoughtful gift? Consider giving a tree.

If you’re looking for an earth-friendly and thoughtful gift to give someone consider having a tree planted in their honor by the US Forest Service. At http://www.treesforachange.com you can affordably gift trees for all sorts of occasions (graduations, memorials to people and animals, marriages, divorces, birthdays, retirements, congratulations, housewarmings, etc.) Check out the ideas and options at their website. Mother Nature and Mother Earth will love you.

Modern furniture design for the wealthy ... and bored?

I love ingenuity and exercising the creative spirit yet at the same time I’m perplexed about how much money people will send on, well, sorta weird stuff.

Example. A piece of furniture designed by Marijn van der Poll. It’s a substantial stainless steel cube. http://www.droog.com/products/studio-work/do-hit-chair It’s very shiny and blingy. It comes packaged with a large hammer mallet thingy. And it’ll cost you nearly $10,000. When you receive your shiny cube, you use the hammer to smash the hell out of it. Hopefully your smashing has some strategy behind it because you’re going to be sitting in whatever you end up with and it’s not like you can undo any of it. The idea is you co-create your swank new chair.

Ok, seriously, who the heck is spending 10 grand on this?

King County peeps, it's ez to recycle your plastic bags

King County responsible consumers unite and let’s recycle our plastic bags! This site http://www.bagyourbags.com makes it easy to do it. Find participating drop-offs by city and even watch a video about the benefits of recycling plastic.