From HGTV Front Door comes these great tips for buying urban:
Tired of long commutes and suburban sprawl? Join the thousands of homebuyers flocking to the urban core. Find out what it’s like to live downtown, tour urban areas across the country and see how city dwellers spend their days, buy a loft or condo and squeeze into small spaces.
Posted in buying guide, decor, design, furniture, home prices, real estate, realtors, urban living
If you want some inspiration on some eye-popping, amazingly awesome urban rooftops, check out the 11 profiled recently on Web Urbanist. The top image is a LoftCube: an all-in-one dwelling designed to be easily dropped into place on a rooftop via a crane. This modern design lets in plenty of natural light and would look perfect atop a tall building.
When more living space is needed in urban cities where every last square foot of land is spoken for, there’s literally nowhere to go but up. Luckily, flat city rooftops offer the ideal space for creative lofts, pods and unusual additions, whether temporary or permanent, prefabricated or carefully custom-designed to fit in with older surrounding architecture. These 11 rooftop additions & expansions make a sharp juxtaposition perched atop museums, Victorian warehouses and metropolitan skyscrapers.
Posted in architecture, design, prefabricated, urban living
Tagged rooftop architecture, rooftop living, rooftops
A recent New York Times article looked at staircases in urban properties. Once thought primarily a waste of space and with very little real estate value placed on it, the lowly staircase is transforming. As the article states:
Click the photo for a slideshow at the NY Times
Stairs create separation. Stairs take up space. Stairs mean work. There are buyers out there, though, who seek a duplex. They like the separation of public and private rooms. They don’t mind losing a little space, and a bit of exercise isn’t a bad thing, either.
At the lower end of the market, duplexes typically have tight spiral staircases, and property values aren’t necessarily increased beyond the sum of the two parts. But at the high end, in penthouses and apartments with three or more bedrooms, Jonathan J. Miller said, “there’s a definite premium on duplexes, because it’s more like a house, with a real set of stairs.”
Developers in recent years have added duplexes to their apartment mix, some creating buildings made up entirely of duplexes. Brokers and developers say that duplexes attract certain buyers, and that if anything, their popularity seems to be on the rise.
Posted in architecture, design, expense/cost, livability, trends
From one of my favorite Austin blogs, the Republic of Austin, Rachel Naugle shares these 5 great, simple things you can easily do NOW to make your home feel more modern.
1. Paint your walls white–and let your accessories do the talking.
White walls help frame and spotlight your artwork, furniture and accessories. Add splashes of color using vibrant rugs, throw pillows, lamps or other accessories to really make a statement. This also helps you easily change the feel of the room with each new season or design trend by just trading out the accessories.
Photo by Doug Naugle
2. Glossy glass tiles EVERYWHERE!
On the Austin Modern Home Tour, kitchens and bathrooms gleamed with glossy glass tiles. Some were just clear glass, while others were subtly tinted. Still others were bright with blues and bold reds. Glass tile is also making appearances in unexpected places, like around fireplaces and trimming staircases.
3. Become a bookworm.
Obviously modern home owners are readers (or they want you to think they are) because every home on the tour used books in the decor. Stack your books in a single column,on low vintage bookcases, or on a coffee table–just about everywhere there’s a flat surface.
4. Get rid of your grass and put in rocks instead.
Let’s face it: You hate mowing the lawn–so why not create a modern entrance by replacing the traditional grass with rocks? To add a more dramatic effect, combine both light and dark rocks.
5. Salvage some old wood.
Sometimes modern homes can seem cold and stark, and this year designers are warming up interiors with salvaged wood. From floors to tables and bookcases, salvaged wood creates a sense of history in places that don’t have any.
Photo by Doug Naugle
If you have been to Europe, or even New York, you have experienced something of what sustainable urban living can be.
You may have stepped from your hotel to an open-air market, then walked to an outdoor concert, dropping your empty bottle into a recycling bin along the way. Maybe you enjoyed sitting under the shade of a tree, and perhaps you even got to talk to someone you encountered while walking around. You interacted with people because you were on foot, not isolated in your car, and you got fresh air, which is good for you.
Why can’t Houston be more like that?
Why not make a village in Houston out of recycled steel shipping containers? Why not build a whole community out of them?
The HIVE mission is to design and build an affordable, inhabitable work of art as a community. By recycling the humble and strong steel shipping container, nearly 500 of them, we propose to create a beautiful, sustainable, walkable, safe, and secure village for thriving cultural exchange and enterprise.
Inspired by artists, creative professionals and environmentalists, we will work in partnerships with individuals and organizations to experiment and discover the next generation of responsible building and living practices. We plan to offer an increasing variety of tenant uses, including office, studio, retail, restaurant, entertainment, and residential opportunities. There will be gardens and places to play and the chance to come together as a community.
Heidi Vaughan is executive director of HIVE, a non-profit group whose mission is to design and build an affordable, inhabitable work of art as a community. To read the entire story about Houston’s HIVE project, click here.
At the end of every year it is interesting to see what home interior trends have persevered and what trends look like they will continue into the New Year. This year has been exciting uses of bold prints and colors, repurposing interior decor, and maximizing outdoor spaces.
The International Business Times reports that in 2011, these trends will continue but also a need for eco-friendly interiors will escalate and interiors will continue to be shared and broadened worldwide. For the top interior home trends for 2011, here are their picks of what the New Year has to offer.
1.) The urban oasis: It was once thought that those who lived in urban environments had to live in lush penthouses to get a comfortable and sophisticated home in the city. With the onset popularity of urban lofts, the desire to live in industrial and chic decor will continue next year. Softer textiles may be brought in to soften hard finishes, while those that enjoy the exposed materials will still enjoy urban living at its finest.
2.) Home getaways: The New Year will bring on new ways to make your current home a getaway from the hustle and bustle of the world. From outdoor oasis areas with lush greenery, to recreating vacation memories in your décor. The trend will be to continue making our homes feel relaxing and serene.
3.) Repurposing will outweigh brand new: With the onset of finding better ways to re-use and re-purpose, being green in 2011 will outweigh buying brand new. While a shiny new glass table may be beautiful, the shift for décor to use glass from a previous purpose will prevail. We will not stop buying new décor, but the satisfaction of repurposing is always a better feeling, and will look great too!
4.) Natural environments: As our world gets busier and busier, the return of home environments giving us a place to escape has been well sought after for years. In the New Year, home owners will find more ways to bring tranquility to their interior and exterior environments. The use of natural materials and finishes will always be a trend that doesn’t go out of style.
5.) Family conversation areas: As families grow and the years move on, there is a steady incline of increasing family conversation areas and spaces. Kitchens now incorporate an eating island area so kids can do homework and watch mom cook. Living spaces are becoming more open to engage members of the family in different rooms. In the New Year, look for more ways for engaging in our interiors.
For the remaining five trends, read the full article here.
Posted in decor, design, downtown, trends, urban, urban living
Tagged home, home design, interior design, living, real estate, trends, urban
As more people filter into the city, open land to build on will become more and more scarce, and we may have to use every available bit of space we can, including empty bare walls, bridge pylons, and retaining walls. The Prefab Parasite, designed by Australia-based Lara Calder Architects, is such a structure — aiming to turn previously empty vertical surfaces into livable and attractive private space. Mimicking parasitic qualities, the home is designed for durability and adaptability, evident in its construction out of prefabricated panels so that the home can be affixed onto any wall or pylon large and strong enough to hold it.
Each dwelling would be specifically designed for each site. Its basic construction begins as the prefabricated panels are secured onto the wall with a mounting plate. Afterward, the floors and the internal ribs are installed, and finally the paneling is laid on top to provide lateral bracing and tie the building together. The paneling is an eco-solid surface material made of compressed bamboo and recycled paper.
Accessed via a retractable staircase, the dwelling is placed about 3 or 4 meters above the street level. Depending on the needs of the residents, the width could be wide or narrow, but would maintain a cross sectional area of 36 square meters (387 sq ft). Residents walk up to their one-bedroom home, and are first greeted by a home office located on the first landing. Next comes the bedroom, then the living area, the kitchen and dining, and finally on the top terrace is an open air balcony.
Since none of the structure really touches the ground, the footprint of the house consists of the service shaft that connects it to power, sewer and water. Don’t think too hard about the details yet or how it would all work, but do think about the potential of such a concept — especially how it might play into the movie version of your favorite graphic novel. The Parasite Prefab is a fascinating concept for hyper-dense and prefabricated housing, and could be the future of urban living.
by Christine Burn/Creators Syndicate
The new truth is that housing trends will be leading millions of Americans toward more compact living situations, which in turn will drive new emphasis on dual-use furnishings.
Petite housing is not a new idea, but the rise in popularity is definitely tied to current economic realities. There have been tiny models at other times in history. Have you ever seen a collection of small cottages built in a square surrounding a common patio?
Because these were popular in the 1930s and ’40s in Los Angeles, they have been a part of Hollywood films for what seems like forever. In the 1984 film “Swing Shift,” the character played by Goldie Hawn lived in just such a court.
Most charming is that these hut-like homes often share flowerbeds, trees and lawns. They often have names and appear to exist in a protected universe all their own.
Members of Generation Y, sometimes called millennials, are gobbling up unusually petite rental spaces that are only 500 to 600 square feet. As long as the place is wired for every possible electronic gadget and the building shares the more social functions, such as laundry, game rooms, exercise and juice bar, no one seems to care that they are living in closet-like places. It is fairly obvious that traditional furnishings will not work well in such pared-down living models.
In the photo is a coffee table/storage chest made from exotic wood that slides open for access and closed to hide items not currently in use. Designed by Jeffrey Braun, a film art director turned interior designer and furniture maker, it is called “The Hidden Agenda.” Braun is based in Seattle and has an affinity for urban living. He designed “The Hidden Agenda” with a nod toward the special effects seen in the film world.
There are much older examples of dual-use furniture. The traditional blanket chest or cedar chest is a classic. At once storage for linens and clothing, it also serves as a bench at the foot of the bed. There was a time when every respectable bride left home with a chest.
You can find fairly old examples of a wooden ladder that converts into a rather uncomfortable chair. Sofas have roots going to 2,000 B.C., but the true sofa came into existence at the end of the 16th century and early 17th century. It isn’t clear when the classic sleeper sofa was developed, but it must be the all-time winner of a piece of furniture serving two masters.
Posted in decor, design, downtown, furniture, modern, urban, urban living
Tagged city, design, downtown, furniture, small spaces, urban living
From the Miami Herald:
Artist Fritz Haeg said he had a purpose in moving a family’s entire eclectic living room into the Museum of Contemporary Art in North Miami — complete with a coffee table, television set and a sofa made of multicolored circles.
“Reconsidering our ideas of what home is and how we use the homes we have in other ways,” Haeg said at a Saturday workshop to discuss his installation, Salon Colada: Miami, part of the museum’s current exhibit, Conventions.
Haeg sent out an open call in March, requesting a volunteer family for the project. He chose Coral Gables couple Keith Waddington and Mindy Nelson, who have hosted discussions in their now relatively empty living room on subjects such as art, tourism and literature.
They even invited their entire neighborhood over for a “Neighborhood Know How” session, where people shared stories and food as part of Haeg’s project.
Posted in art, decor, design, downtown, modern, urban, urban living
Tagged art, miami, urban living
For those who like to live urban, there are a number of way cool shopping resources that you’ll probably love. I’ve put together a listing of some of my faves:
Apartment Therapy
One of the best! While not actually a furniture or design store, this is one of the best resources out there for finding urban and modern style resources. A calm, healthy, beautiful home is a necessary foundation for happiness and success in the world. Creating this home doesn’t require large amounts of money or space. It requires inspiration, connection to resources and motivation to do something about it.
Urban Living Shop
This store specializes in items for a modern Asian decor. Modern Asian Style is very simple, elegantly timeless, and uses traditional Asian design and color.
Departments are divided into outdoor living, dining, kitchen, bar, indoor living, bedroom, office, gift and aroma.
Urban Living Austin
Being an Austinite, of course I love the Urban Living store right here in my hometown. Chic and modern, the ambience and furnishings add up to city dwelling at its best. Sofas, chaise lounges, bedrooms, tables and chairs are all styled for modern tastes. Prices are affordable with beds starting at $289.00 and sofas starting at $539.00. This is also a great place to buy accessories, including the famous Jonathan Adler ceramics.
Lamps, vases, and local artwork from Austin area artists–everything you need to create a contemporary statement. Great styles at great prices!
Atom Designs
Atom is located in the heart of downtown St Louis, MO. Owner Wendy Noory decided to utilize her 15 years of interior design experience to develop a modern, eclectic retail/trade boutique styled design showroom that reflects her innovative approach to creative spaces.
Plush Pod
Plushpod specializes in high end modern furniture and contemporary furniture decor. Our designer home furnishings allow you to create a home as unique as you are.
STL Loft Style
Another St Louis store! Whether you live in a house, apartment, loft or condo, our beautiful lines of modern chairs and modern sofas will fill your seating needs. We also carry contemporary furniture to meet your other furniture needs. Our lines of chic furniture look great and are also efficiently designed to make the most use out of any space. This means our modern furniture lines work exceptionally well as loft furniture.
Posted in decor, design, downtown, furniture, modern, urban living
Tagged decor, downtown lifestyle, furniture, interior design, modern design, Uncategorized, urban design, urban living
Move Urban!
