Transformer Cupboard – Hides Table and Seating for Two


© Claudio Sibile

While Brazil and Argentina used to be the leaders in the Latin American design scene, other countries from the region like Chile and Uruguay have been catching up, the latter in part thanks to government support and the work of achamber established in 2008 to promote the work of local creators.

Also from the latter comes designer Claudio Sibile, sure to become a favorite ofsmall-spaces-obsessed people with his brilliant transformer furniture.

The first we want to highlight is Ludovico, a cupboard that hides a table and seating for two in a simple, contemporary design made with eucalyptus wood and aluminum handles. Watch it unfold below.


© Claudio Sibile


© Claudio Sibile


© Claudio Sibile


© Claudio Sibile

The designer also made a second, smaller version of the piece which turns a three-drawer cupboard in a desk and chair.


© Claudio Sibile


© Claudio Sibile

12 Most Luxurious Penthouses in the World

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The numbers on top of skyscrapers – the most luxurious of all. They may be different in size, style and design, interior design, but two things are the same for all penthouses at all hotels – stunning views and incredible comfort.

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WHAT YOUR FAVORITE ’80S BAND SAYS ABOUT YOU.

boomboxTears For Fears: You have used whiteout on a pair of white loafers.

Art of Noise: You have been paid to be furniture at a party.

Pat Benatar: You have had three or more Superball bruises at one time.

Air Supply: You have punched an arcade game hard enough to injure yourself.

Eddie Money: You have eaten several Shrinky-Dinks on purpose.

Bryan Adams: Your hair smells faintly like barbecue sauce.

Dexy’s Midnight Runners: Your shower smells like Skittles and unfiltered cigarettes.

Dead or Alive: Your pet smells like Goldschlager.

Tangerine Dream: You have a half-full can of Sanka at the back of your cupboard.

Devo: You have dissected a Nintendo game.

Simple Minds: You have tasted a scented pen.

Kajagoogoo: You have used AquaNet in self-defense.

Limahl: You have used Nair in self-defense.

Naked Eyes: You have almost been tricked into eating silly string on a saltine.

Gary Numan: You own more than one pair of sock garters.

Mike and the Mechanics: You have thrown a Rolodex at a raccoon or skunk.

Peter Gabriel: You know what Fimo tastes like.

Roxette: You have injured yourself with a Q-Tip.

Madonna: Your bedroom smells like Midori.

B-52s: Your laundry room smells like Midori.

Richard Marx: You have woken up to a dog licking your hair.

Wham!: You have made nachos while on ecstasy.

The Cure: You have several bracelets or rings you cannot remove.

Berlin: The last book you read used “countenance” as a verb.

This Mortal Coil: You know the act, scene and line that “this mortal coil” comes from.

Billy Idol: You own a piece of clothing that involves both argyle and leather.

Robert Palmer: You have used “argyle” as a verb.

Tommy Tutone: You have attempted to use a Polaroid picture as an ID.

Rick Astley: You have used a hairnet as a handbag.

Bangles: You have chewed gum while delivering a keynote speech or eulogy.

Psychedelic Furs: You have worn sunglasses through an entire tooth cleaning.

The English Beat: You have injured yourself while doing the Electric Slide.

General Public: You have injured yourself while doing the Centipede.

Madness: You have injured several bystanders while doing the Centipede.

Men at Work: You wear shorts with boots at least once a week.

Eurythmics: You have lost a mood ring in a hot tub.

The Smiths: You have read aloud to a hamster, ferret, or turtle.

Joy Division: You have been bitten by a cat while trying to dress it in period costume.

New Order: You own several fish tanks but no fish.

A Flock of Seagulls: You have destroyed a calculator watch in anger.

Men Without Hats: You have accidentally dropped a pager into a tub of frozen yogurt.

Nena: You have put a cigarette out in a piece of birthday cake.

John Cougar Mellencamp: You have put a cigarette out in an
industrial-sized jar of relish.

Loverboy: You have eaten relish as a meal.

Rick Springfield: Your wallet weighs over a pound.

Falco: You have killed a fly with a program from Cats.

Michael Jackson: You have exploded a beanbag chair by landing on it.

Huey Lewis and the News: You are hanging from monkey bars in two or more successive class pictures.

The Police: You have shattered a Rubik’s Cube with a rock.

Sting: You have tried and failed to shatter a Rubik’s Cube with a rock.

Big Country: You have a Highlander poster in a tube in the back of your closet.

Soft Cell: You mouth the words when you watch Highlander.

A-ha: You own a VCR with a copy of Highlander stuck in it.

Survivor: You have cut a Nerf football in half to see what was inside.

INXS: You have knocked someone over with an Aerobie.

Thomas Dolby: You have used a laserdisc as a shaving mirror.

Pet Shop Boys: You have woken up next to an empty bottle of Magic Shell.

Mr. Mister: You have forgotten soup in the freezer and ice cream in the microwave on the same night.

Wang Chung: You have a money clip with an amusement park logo printed on it.

Bauhaus: You know what LARPing is.

OMD: You have gone to a party dressed as a dark elf.

Culture Club: You have woken up under someone who was dressed as a dark elf.

Ministry: You have thrown up on someone who was dressed as a dark elf.

Cocteau Twins: You have spilled Zima on someone who was dressed as a dark elf.

Toni Basil: You have spilled Zima into a motel heating vent.

The Pointer Sisters: You dot your i’s with hearts.

The Pretenders: You are excellent at dodgeball.

ABC: You were one of the first ten people in history to drop a cell phone in a toilet.

Lionel Richie: You have shaved a word into your hair.

The Cars: You have hit a whiffle ball with a fake lightsaber.

Frankie Goes to Hollywood: You have woken up under your high school gym teacher.

Joan Jett: You have woken up on top of your high school gym teacher.

Simply Red: You have temporarily blinded someone by whipping your hair into them.

Europe: You think Europe is Asia.

Asia: You think Asia is Europe.

REM: You minored in something.

Cyndi Lauper: You have lost several silk scarves to escalators.

Starship: You consistently pay for extra cheese at Subway.

The Fixx: You have sunbathed in a suit.

Phil Collins: You have worn shorts while accepting an award or diploma.

Go-Go’s: Your favorite air freshener is Vanillaroma.

Bananarama: Your favorite air freshener is New Car.

Prince: You have used a hamster ball as a cocktail shaker.

Depeche Mode: You have drawn Tintin or the Little Prince in the margin of a math test.

Erasure: You have been caught kissing a copy of The Little Prince.

Thompson Twins: You have been spanked with a copy of The Little Prince.

Human League:
You have been spanked with a VHS copy ofThe Neverending Story.

The best cover songs of all time [infographic]

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Home Price Changes Across The Country

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The graphic depicts pricing of all homes from their ‘peak through current declines’ as per Case Shiller. This index looks at prices in 20 major metropolitan areas. Keep in mind that for what is categorized as “Seattle” is comprised of Snohomish, King and Pierce Counties.

Each market peaked at different times. Therefore, the InfoGraphic doesn’t cover one segment of time. Here is a site where you can see when each market actually peaked:

http://www.housingviews.com/2011/11/29/how-the-cities-did-in-the-latest-release/how-cities-did-september-2011/

FHA Loan Limits ARE BACK!

Moving House

  Here’s a handy link to check out FHA loan limits for your area.

FHA may be the way to go for higher end buyers.

Click here for the details

Want to know more, call me at 206-713-3244 or email me

What Time Of Year Homes Sell

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5 Appliances You Should Consider Buying Used

4appliancesBuying a new washing machine — or any major home appliance — can feel like this.

With no warning, your washing machine has become violently mutinous. As you watch in horror, its typical spin cycle goes psycho. The entire possessed unit vibrates across the floor toward you, with the lid flung open and untold gallons of water spewing, soaking your basement and sinking your savings account. It’s probably time to buy another one.

Whether your older appliances have gone berserk or just really need updating, the used-appliance market is always an option. But it’s best to understand the pros and cons of used equipment before you spring for the first refrigerator you find on a classified ad Web site.

For starters, understand that the higher prices you pay at a retail store come with a couple of advantages, like product warranties and for larger appliances, free or discounted delivery.

What’s more, there’s a certain element of risk that comes into play every time you buy a used product, whether it’s a car, camera or dryer. We’d love to vouch for specific product categories and their general reliability on the used market. However, product quality varies so much from manufacturer to manufacturer (and even within products made by one company), that it’s difficult, if not impossible, to say that ovens, for example, are always a great deal when you find them used. That’s why you have to shop smart, be observant and always, always do your homework before you buy.

We have vital pointers to share for when you go shopping for these necessary appliances. Keep reading, and you’ll see how to replace your demonic washer with one that doesn’t leave you all wet.

Read the rest at HowStuffWorks.com

Housing Affordability at Record Highs, According to Report from WSU

Housing_affordabilityHomes in Washington state are at record high affordability, thanks to the combination of lower prices and record-low mortgage interest rates.

A report on the Housing Affordability Index (HAI) for third quarter 2011 showed a statewide index of 160.7, which means a median income family had 60.7 percent more income than the minimum needed to qualify to purchase a $225,300 home (the estimated median-price).

Comparing counties, the HAI ranged from a low of 96.4 in San Juan County, where the median priced home sold for $345,000, to a high of 459.4 in Wahkiakum County, where the median price for third quarter sales was estimated to be $62,500.

The index, prepared by the Washington Center for Real Estate Research, assumes a 20 percent down payment and a 30-year mortgage.

The HAI for counties served by Northwest Multiple Listing Service shows a range of 96.4 (San Juan County) to a high of 243.4 in Pacific County. As revealed in the chart, first-time buyers remain challenged, with the statewide index pegged at 87.4.

WCRER’s report shows a three-year downward trend in prices, including a 9.5 percent drop in the statewide median sales price for Q3 compared to same period in 2010. Prices range from King County’s high of $350,000 to a low of $62,500 in Wahkiakum County.

The WCRER was created in 1989 by the WSU Board of Regents to achieve the university’s tripartite mission of education, research and service in real estate. The Center strives to provide a wide range of useful and understandable information, analysis and knowledge using academic methods in practical context while reporting findings in common language.

HOUSING MARKET SNAPSHOT
State of Washington and Northwest MLS Counties -  Third Quarter 2011

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NOTES:

  1. Home Resales are WCRER estimates based on MLS reports or deed recording (Real Market Data LLC)
  2. SAAR means data presented at Seasonally Adjusted Annual Rates allowing quarter-to-quarter comparison.
  3. Building permits (total) are from the U.S. Department of Commerce, Bureau of the Census
  4. Median prices are WCRER estimates. Half the homes sold at higher prices, half lower
  5. Affordability index measures the ability of a typical family to make payments on median price resale home. It assumes 20% downpayment and 30-year amortizing mortgage. First-time buyer affordability index assumes a less expensive home, lower downpayment and lower income.