Markus Raetz’s Yes-No sculpture will spark a second look, no?
Archives for September 2011
Elegant Efficiency: NYC Shoebox Studio Solution
September 27, 2011 By Leave a Comment
Actually, the plan is not where this residence truly excels per se – it is the vertically-sliced section that tells a story of creative space-saving strategies that make the most out of a typical two-window Manhattan shoe box.
Beyond the brilliant schematic by JPDA, the execution is exquisite-yet-simple – no cluttering decor, just a judicious use of white and wood to light up the winding spaces and add strategic warm surfaces and accents as needed.
Doorless transitions add to the sense of openness, while partition walls and well-placed storage create visual barriers between the kitchen and living room space (the latter of which morphs smoothly into an office area).
The cozy, semi-enclosed loft bedroom is a best-of-both-worlds solution, providing a sense of privacy and intimacy while leaving open light access via a pop-up skylight slit as well as open views to the street-facing windows on the level below.
No storage opportunity is left untapped, with overhead compartments occupying extra over-door space along the entry hall while cabinets and closets are slotted into other partitions, letting no wall go to waste while allowing even the bathroom to feel large and open.
Music From A Dry Cleaner
September 26, 2011 By Leave a Comment
[pb_vidembed title=”” caption=”” url=”http://vimeo.com/29273575″ type=”vem” w=”480″ h=”270″]I love it when artists look at the mundane and make music with it! The fun really starts at 00:54
Are American homeowners leaving money on the table? [Interactive infographic]
September 26, 2011 By Leave a Comment
click image to interact.
Mortgage rates are still at near-record lows, with 30-year fixed-rate loans averaging 4.09% (with an average 0.7 point) for the week ending Sept. 22, 2011, while 5/1 ARMs averaged 3.02% with an average 0.6 point, according to Freddie Mac. And many American homeowners are hoping to take advantage of those rates by applying to refinance their mortgages. In fact, the vast majority of recent mortgage applications have been applications to refinance: 78% for the week ending Sept. 16, 2011, according to the Mortgage Bankers Association.
That’s why it may come as a surprise that many homeowners are still not taking advantage of those savings opportunities. And we’re not talking about those who do not qualify to refinance (the 23% of homeowners with a mortgage who owe more to the bank than their properties are worth, for example). Credit Sesame recently analyzed data from its user base and found out that, on average, homeowners who would qualify for a refinance based on their credit profiles, income and the equity in their homes, are foregoing thousands of dollars in savings over a 10-year period: from an average of $38,387 in Nevada to an average of $97,170 in New Jersey.
In this interactive infographic, based on Credit Sesame data, we show you the average savings homeowners could reap over a 10-year period if they refinanced their mortgages, as well as average property values and homeowners’ average monthly debt payments (including mortgage, car and student loans, credit card debt, and home equity loans or lines of credit).
America’s Housing Report Card: Where does your state rate?
September 25, 2011 By Leave a Comment
click image for larger view
San Juan County has most expensive Washington homes
September 24, 2011 By 1 Comment
Puget Sound Business Journal by G. Scott Thomas , American City Business Journals
San Juan County has the most expensive homes in Washington, among all the state’s counties.
Among all the counties in Washington state, San Juan County has the most expensive homes. The median home price there (half cost more, half cost less) is $487,500.
That’s the 39th highest median price among all 3,143 counties in the nation, according to the U.S. Census Bureau’s American Community Survey. In King County, where Washington state’s second most pricey homes are located, the median price of a home is $398,600, the 68th highest price in the country.
The county with Washington state’s cheapest homes is Garfield County, where the median house price is $113,500, which is No. 1,322 on the list of all U.S. counties.
Where are the nation’s most expensive homes?
That would be Nantucket Island, a playground for the well-to-do in Massachusetts. Its status is confirmed by housing values.
The typical house in Nantucket County, Mass., is worth more than $1 million, according to the latest figures from the bureau’s survey. The median value of homes on the island is officially listed as $1,000,001, which is as high as the ACS goes. The actual figure is probably higher.
Nantucket is the only U.S. county with a median house value expressed in seven digits. The runners-up are Marin County, Calif. (a San Francisco suburb), at $880,000, and New York County, N.Y. (better known as Manhattan), at $800,400.
Another 31 counties — a mixture of affluent suburbs and upscale resort areas — have median house values between $500,000 and $800,000.
Bloch design – glass fireplace
September 23, 2011 By Leave a Comment
This stunning Glass Fireplace by Bloch-Design lets the natural, vivid beauty of fire take center stage. Safely contained within a glass fireplace enclosure, the bewitching flames will invite you, your family and your guests to linger. It is an ancient spell rekindled – we have always relied on fire to warm us, provide us with light and cook our food.
Now, we can allow this life-giving elemental power into our homes, but in a totally stylish, contemporary and family-friendly way. There is a real simplicity to the design, whether you prefer a pyramid or rectangular shape, with clear or tinted glass. Ignite your senses with this Glass Fireplace by Bloch-Design.
Carpenter’s Workshop Gallery
September 23, 2011 By Leave a Comment
Overhead + Under Bed = Space-Saving Storage
September 23, 2011 By Leave a Comment
Saving space is not something we do for its own sake – in this case, a cutting-edge media room was the goal, and cleverly lofting and concealing of books, CDs and DVDs provided the floor space to make this dream den a reality.
Johan wanted to use ever spare bit of wall surface for a larger television and smaller wall-mounted computer screen – no dressers and few shelves getting in the way, nor objects behind the couch to cramp the distance between seating and screens.
Wrap-around shelving features thicker top and bottom borders, creating a dynamic series of stripes that animate and decorate the space – being pushed out from the wall, these in turn allow for under-shelf indirect lighting in addition to a central overhead light fixture.
Audiophiles and film fanatics may find this cozy corner nook to be of secondary concern, but its existence enables the rest of the open-plan redesign … and for those of us who like little lofts and interior hideaways, it looks like a lovely space to read. To be fair, though, the entertainment center is quite exciting as well.