New Home Design in Australia Mirrors Neighboring Architecture

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• New Home Design in Australia Mirrors Neighboring Architecture
• Small 1950’s Building Hiding a Jewel Conversion Within: Le 205 by Atelier Moderno
• Enchanting Newly Built Edwardian-Style Home in California, USA [Video]
• Why Green Design Companies are Overhauling the Home Industry

New Home Design in Australia Mirrors Neighboring Architecture Posted: 21 Nov 2014 06:58 AM PST When you plan on enjoying a comforting lifestyle alongside your wife, parents and newborns, you want to make the best of your new home design. Alta Architecture and R.Z. Owens Construction were asked to turn a north-facing 705 square meter rectangular lot into a dream home and they did an amazing job considering the tight budget and strict owner’s requests. Their client wanted a spacious home in Melbourne, Australia, one that would incorporate 5 bedrooms, large open spaces both inside and outdoors and northern sunlight to his discretion. Also, he imagined his family living in a stylishly designed and decorated home connected to the outdoors. Connected to the street via beautifully simple corner windows, the entry lounge overlooks the street and front yard. Privacy in the upstairs bedroom can be reached by using curtains designed not to interfere with the design clarity showcased by the street facade. According to the architects, “each façade element had its own articulation, whether it is the cantilevering of the upper floor balcony, the transparency of the large glass pane beneath it, or the small walk-in robe window with extruded frame, the timber division lines of the master bed window, and the panelling of the timber garage door; all these elements were tied together under a unified colour scheme, and a loose geometric relationship which allowed one to read the underlying principles of such compositional structure, and yet not to be overwhelmed by its rigidity.” Photographed by Media Design Studio, the residence and surroundings give off an elegant vibe. Imposing its self with a powerful character, the shape of the house mimics the neighboring pitched and gabled roofs with a triangular mass – a modern version of the beloved roof shape. Welcoming and customized to the owner’s request in a contemporary manner, this home compliments the owner’s lifestyle, as well as its neighborhood. The post New Home Design in Australia Mirrors Neighboring Architecture appeared first on Freshome.com.

Small 1950’s Building Hiding a Jewel Conversion Within: Le 205 by Atelier Moderno Posted: 21 Nov 2014 04:29 AM PST A designer, his two sons, and their tireless terrier Winston share a small 1950's building that stands rather unnoticed among its neighbors in the Mile-Ex district in Montreal, Canada. The robust walls of this former workshop, however, hide a jewel conversion within. If the recomposed facade is surprisingly private, its large windows and full-height steel door, slightly recessed, announce the minimalist mastery of the interior plan designed by Atelier Moderno: a wide corridor extends along the north-south axis, adjacent an existing party wall of exposed masonry accentuated by a thin line of light, serving well-defined living spaces, bright and convivial, where everyone can go about their activities without affecting those of others, all the while fostering a certain air of intimacy and affection.The interior opens onto a common area that includes a cozy living room with a corner desk, a dining room, and a streamlined kitchen where each element asserts its modernity with absolute conviction: a stainless steel cooking unit, a preparation island in white Corian®, and a large storage module and table in solid white oak. A single stringer staircase provides direct access to a green roof terrace, offering both privacy and urban presence. Beyond the common area follows, in sequence, the boys’ rooms and the master bedroom, with a private bath, distinguished by the marriage of painted concrete, ipe wood, porcelain, stainless steel, glass, water and the occasional fire of a small brazier. [Photos and information provided via e-mail by Atelier Moderno]    The post Small 1950's Building Hiding a Jewel Conversion Within: Le 205 by Atelier Moderno appeared first on Freshome.com.

Enchanting Newly Built Edwardian-Style Home in California, USA [Video] Posted: 21 Nov 2014 01:15 AM PST Lindsay Chambers commissioned Palo Alto based architect Andrew Young of Yound and Borlik Architects to design a turn of the 20th century Queen Anne Victorian.  She wanted the new residence to have a dialogue with the 1906 Edwardian Victorian situated nextdoor to the property, as well as to create an ideal historic-feeling home where the new owner would not have to worry about fixing anything. Even though her property is not subject to national historic register guidelines, out of respect for the neighborhood, Lindsay opted to build a home whose exterior architecture could have easily been original to the area 100 years ago. The exterior of the home is a straightforward interpretation of Queen Anne architecture, but on the inside, Chambers wanted to loosen up some of the formality of the architecture and introduce transitional style elements. She completed the home with off-beat but inviting vintage-inspired and current furniture. Behind the home’s enchanting but unassuming facade, there are understated, elegant living quarters updated for Silicon Valley living in the 21st century. The 6 bedroom, 7 ½ bath, 4,400 square foot home is adorned with a chef's kitchen, Sub Zero and Viking appliances, Calacatta marble counters, Ann Sacks tile, light fixtures by Circa, Urban Electric and Rejuvenation, quarter sawn white oak floors, custom woodwork and cabinetry throughout, and a grand spiral staircase. Have a look at the video below to see the different phases of the construction and let us know what you think about this project. Does the idea of building a century-old-style house from scratch appeal to you? The post Enchanting Newly Built Edwardian-Style Home in California, USA [Video] appeared first on Freshome.com.

Why Green Design Companies are Overhauling the Home Industry Posted: 20 Nov 2014 09:16 AM PST Green designers are ready to show you what they can do. Image Via: Niche Interiors For years, the idea of building and designing green spaces only held popularity within certain niche interest groups – agriculturalists, tourism-driven communities, etc. Outside of those areas, environmental impact wasn't a huge concern. It wasn't really a concern at all. After all, how much of an effect could something like a home's interior design have on the environment anyway? However, as our effect on the environment has become steadily more clear, small, green design companies began to pop up. They offer services that, while keeping with current trends, also focus on the sustainability of their products. Many green companies are not so small anymore. With more consumers looking to embrace sustainable design, these businesses have been given the chance to prove their worth – and have succeeded. Take a look at why sustainable companies are overhauling the home design industry as we know it today. See how these green designers have changed the industry. Image Via: Hughes Umbanhowar Architects They Raise Awareness of Questionable Practices: You know how every once in a while a news story will pop up that exposes a big company's questionable business habits?  The truth is, these questionable practices are more common than one might think. Major manufacturing companies count on the fact that their consumers care more about receiving affordable products than looking into the reasons why they're so affordable. That assumption may be hazardous to your family's health. Few people realize that formaldehyde is a key ingredient in Urea–formaldehyde, the adhesive resin that holds composite woods like particleboard, plywood and medium-density fiberboard? Similarly, PentaBDE, a chemical most known for its use in pesticides also is commonly found as part of a flame-retardant coating for plush furniture. A good green designer has been trained to look carefully at the furniture and décor items that they use to fill a space. They know which companies to avoid and will be more than happy to educate you. Before you hire a designer, ask them ask them which brands they support and why. In addition to getting a peek at their sense of style, you'll get a feel for their grasp on sustainability. Green designers focus on utilizing natural ingredients. Image Via: Sabal Homes They Work To Better Communities: The biggest change that these companies are making is that they force us to look at design as more than just aesthetics. No doubt you're familiar with the troupe that design, even though it's nice to look at, is not all that important to our daily lives. Green design companies make no bones about the fact that the work they do has a larger impact than just the way a particular space looks. On a residential level, a designer who focuses on sustainability will likely recommend small changes for your home that will help you conserve natural resources. As an added bonus, these changes will often save you money on your energy bills! (Who wouldn't want that?) For reference, according to the 2012 American Society of Interior Designers's Facts & Figures Report, if every household replaced just one a water-efficient faucet, the U.S. could save 60 billion gallons of water annually. That savings would translate to around 34,500 gallons and $240 dollars in water bills for a family of five.  Think of the impact if similar measures were taken through your entire home. Commercial buildings stand to make an even larger impact. More corporate structures are taking steps to generate their own power through alternative energy sources like solar panels. Some are also opening up their rooftops to urban farming structures, which provide affordable produce to the local community. They redesign spaces that innovate the community as a whole. Image Via: Maienza-Wilson Interior Design + Architecture They Blend Form and Function: When the concept of sustainable design started to burst onto the scene about twenty years ago, one of the biggest complaints was that the designs weren't very, well, let's just say aesthetically pleasing. Sustainable fixtures like solar panels and rain water filtration systems were bulky, not to mention expensive. Natural fabrics came in an extremely limited array of colors and biodegradable décor items were extremely difficult to find. Today, however, is a much different story. Those previously bulky solar panels can be built into windows for seamless power generation. Energy-efficient appliances are among the top sellers in stores and companies practically jump at the chance to brag about their sustainably produced items. It's only going to get better from here. Sydney, Australia has plans for a 250,000 square meter development to be constructed by 2030 that aims to reduce the city's emissions by up 60% through gas-powered co-generation electricity plant, a wastewater recycling plant, solar power energy and green rooftops. Sustainable designers know how to blend form and function. Image Via: Slifer Designs Take Inspiration from Green Designers: If you wart to learn more about sustainable design, feel free to start here. Designers share their best tips (and mistakes to avoid) on how to cultivate interior  design that is as stylish as it is environmentally friendly. Zem Joaquin: Don't forget to embrace cross ventilation to make a huge impact on your heating and cooling bills for relatively little output. Sarah Susanka: Have an energy audit done before starting a remodeling project to help you identify the ways you can save. Blanche Garcia: Do your best to reuse items you already own. Spend money on a piece you may already have. W. Brent Swain: Take advantage of south-facing windows, since they will capture the most heat. Let green professionals share how to get the look in your home. Image Via: Historical Concepts Sustainable, or green, design has gained popularity in recent years. Now, instead of being a niche interest, these companies have the power to make an impact. It's a responsibility they haven't taken lightly. Green designers are overhauling the industry as we know it. Read above to find out why and we're sure you'll be clamoring for an opportunity to be a part of the change. Would you use sustainable design in your home? Designers, what's the best tip you can offer to someone who wants to make their home more sustainable? The post Why Green Design Companies are Overhauling the Home Industry appeared first on Freshome.com.

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