Spectacular Views Defining the Orientation of Restaurant Alpenblick in Switzerland

Spectacular Views Defining the Orientation of Restaurant Alpenblick in Switzerland

Link to Freshome.com - Interior Design & Architecture Magazine

Spectacular Views Defining the Orientation of Restaurant Alpenblick in Switzerland

Posted: 06 Aug 2014 04:43 AM PDT

Restaurant Alpenblick by Büning Pfaue Kartmann Architekten Spectacular Views Defining the Orientation of Restaurant Alpenblick in Switzerland

In search for the ultimate dining experience, location might not be everything, but details sure are. Restaurant Alpenblick overlooking the amazingly inspiring Alps in Switzerland was re-imagined by Büning-Pfaue Kartmann Architekten as having a modern update elongating the views beyond the glass walls. Located in Uetendorf, Switzerland, this contemporary restaurant addition was built to serve the old hotel spa “Alpine View” and create both an appealing dining space and a connection to the unique surrounding landscape: “With the expansion of existing facilities for disabled residents audience, the old buildings were transformed into more recent residencies, workshops, stables and sheds. This set of loose volumes, grouped around a landscaped courtyard, no longer oriented towards the surrounding landscape.”

Restaurant Alpenblick by Büning Pfaue Kartmann Architekten 1 Spectacular Views Defining the Orientation of Restaurant Alpenblick in Switzerland

Architects had to re-imagine a minimalist dining space oriented towards the astounding views: “We positioned the new pavilion at the apex of the hillside and the upper end of the ramp – from the front of the main building and the nursery greenhouses. Here, on the threshold of the courtyard, visitors enjoy superlative of the Eiger, Mönch and Jungfrau mountains and of the nearby peaks.” Photographed by Ruedi Walti, the new 420 square meter restaurant addition had to be kept separate yet fully connected. Architects managed to transform the compact space into a modern restaurant boasting an irregular geometry oriented towards the mountains, in harmony with the surroundings.

Restaurant Alpenblick by Büning Pfaue Kartmann Architekten 2 Spectacular Views Defining the Orientation of Restaurant Alpenblick in Switzerland Restaurant Alpenblick by Büning Pfaue Kartmann Architekten 3 Spectacular Views Defining the Orientation of Restaurant Alpenblick in Switzerland Restaurant Alpenblick by Büning Pfaue Kartmann Architekten 4 Spectacular Views Defining the Orientation of Restaurant Alpenblick in Switzerland Restaurant Alpenblick by Büning Pfaue Kartmann Architekten 5 Spectacular Views Defining the Orientation of Restaurant Alpenblick in Switzerland Restaurant Alpenblick by Büning Pfaue Kartmann Architekten 6 Spectacular Views Defining the Orientation of Restaurant Alpenblick in Switzerland Restaurant Alpenblick by Büning Pfaue Kartmann Architekten 7 Spectacular Views Defining the Orientation of Restaurant Alpenblick in Switzerland Restaurant Alpenblick by Büning Pfaue Kartmann Architekten 8 Spectacular Views Defining the Orientation of Restaurant Alpenblick in Switzerland Restaurant Alpenblick by Büning Pfaue Kartmann Architekten 9 Spectacular Views Defining the Orientation of Restaurant Alpenblick in Switzerland Restaurant Alpenblick by Büning Pfaue Kartmann Architekten 10 Spectacular Views Defining the Orientation of Restaurant Alpenblick in Switzerland Restaurant Alpenblick by Büning Pfaue Kartmann Architekten 11 Spectacular Views Defining the Orientation of Restaurant Alpenblick in Switzerland Restaurant Alpenblick by Büning Pfaue Kartmann Architekten 12 Spectacular Views Defining the Orientation of Restaurant Alpenblick in Switzerland Restaurant Alpenblick by Büning Pfaue Kartmann Architekten 13 Spectacular Views Defining the Orientation of Restaurant Alpenblick in Switzerland Restaurant Alpenblick by Büning Pfaue Kartmann Architekten 14 Spectacular Views Defining the Orientation of Restaurant Alpenblick in Switzerland Restaurant Alpenblick by Büning Pfaue Kartmann Architekten 15 Spectacular Views Defining the Orientation of Restaurant Alpenblick in Switzerland Restaurant Alpenblick by Büning Pfaue Kartmann Architekten 16 Spectacular Views Defining the Orientation of Restaurant Alpenblick in Switzerland Restaurant Alpenblick by Büning Pfaue Kartmann Architekten 17 Spectacular Views Defining the Orientation of Restaurant Alpenblick in Switzerland Restaurant Alpenblick by Büning Pfaue Kartmann Architekten 18 Spectacular Views Defining the Orientation of Restaurant Alpenblick in Switzerland

 

The post Spectacular Views Defining the Orientation of Restaurant Alpenblick in Switzerland appeared first on Freshome.com.

Hunters Hill House Built in Reference to the Clients’ Italian and Sri-Lankan Heritage

Posted: 06 Aug 2014 01:40 AM PDT

architecture modern residence Hunters Hill House Built in Reference to the Clients' Italian and Sri Lankan Heritage
According to the creative team at Arkhefield, Hunters Hill House in Australia is a family home that celebrated the characteristics of the site with a palette of richly textured materials, all these in reference to the clients' Italian and Sri-Lankan heritage. Entwining the house with the landscape, the architects managed to create original “garden rooms”, where the inhabitants can enjoy fresh air and unobstructed views from the comfort of their home. The materials employed for the project are concrete, stone and recycled timber, providing clarity of space and form, while also creating a harmonious visual impact.

design modern residence Hunters Hill House Built in Reference to the Clients' Italian and Sri Lankan Heritage
One of the most striking features of the residence is a living pavilion, said to exemplify “the vision of the project – to create a space built of raw materials that integrates inside and outside, with reference to the story of our client and their site“. With the help of sliding glass doors, this special place can become a safe and warm shelter during colder days, while staying connected to the wonderful views. Enjoy the photo gallery below and tell us what you think are the perks of living in a home like this. [Photography: Angus Martin]
exterior modern residence Hunters Hill House Built in Reference to the Clients' Italian and Sri Lankan Heritage modern residence 1 Hunters Hill House Built in Reference to the Clients' Italian and Sri Lankan Heritage modern residence 5 Hunters Hill House Built in Reference to the Clients' Italian and Sri Lankan Heritage modern residence 10 Hunters Hill House Built in Reference to the Clients' Italian and Sri Lankan Heritage  plans 2 Hunters Hill House Built in Reference to the Clients' Italian and Sri Lankan Heritage  plans 4 Hunters Hill House Built in Reference to the Clients' Italian and Sri Lankan Heritage plans 5 Hunters Hill House Built in Reference to the Clients' Italian and Sri Lankan Heritageplans 1 Hunters Hill House Built in Reference to the Clients' Italian and Sri Lankan Heritageplans 3 Hunters Hill House Built in Reference to the Clients' Italian and Sri Lankan Heritage

The post Hunters Hill House Built in Reference to the Clients' Italian and Sri-Lankan Heritage appeared first on Freshome.com.

Breathtaking Interpretation of the Traditional Californian Ranch House and Farm Tower

Posted: 05 Aug 2014 12:11 PM PDT

Low Rise House by Spiegel Aihara Workshop Breathtaking Interpretation of the Traditional Californian Ranch House and Farm Tower

This astounding home located on a half acre lot in Silicon Valley was imagined as a re-interpretation of traditional shapes corrupted by the need to live a comfortable, low maintenance lifestyle in privacy and alongside family and friends. Designed by architects Spiegel Aihara Workshop, the home known as Low/Rise House uses the principles of traditional Californian ranch house and farm tower to create a high life through modern design. Natural ventilation and solar energy use are two of the home’s eco-traits – they mirror the use of volumes, textures and transparency for comfort and connection.

Low Rise House by Spiegel Aihara Workshop 1 Breathtaking Interpretation of the Traditional Californian Ranch House and Farm Tower

The traditional Californian ranch house and farm tower become a contemporary shelter and socialization spot immersed into the site via environmentally-friendly choices. Photographed by Bruce Damonte, the 4.500 square feet in Menlo Park, California, is home for two professors with grown children who needed their home to “accommodate varying use patterns, creating an intimate environment for their own use as a couple, yet allowing for a spacious and integrated configuration for ten or more family members, and several hundred party guests. This complex programmatic request inspires the specific massing and siting of the building.”

Low Rise House by Spiegel Aihara Workshop 2 Breathtaking Interpretation of the Traditional Californian Ranch House and Farm Tower

With a poetic ambiance radiating through, the Low/Rise House boasts a first floor shaped by “two long and narrow structures that intersect in an open kitchen, providing distinct programmatic areas and settling into the tree-lined landscape, allowing yards to surround and permeate each room. Subtle rotations of the geometry assist in way-finding, as well as identification of the more public and more private functions. The private master suite opens into a fern garden in the eastern corner of the site, while large sliding glass doors suspend the living room within the landscape for family gatherings or larger events. A compact and vertical guest tower is sited at the western corner of the lot amongst tall evergreens, allowing for a more private guest experience, more compact floor plan, and the ability to effectively shut off (socially and energy-wise) the guest spaces zone by zone during typical daily use. Atop the 30-foot tower, a roof deck emerges through the trees, providing a unique vantage point of the structure below and the surrounding townscape.”

Brilliant dream home integrating a new type of suburban living, merging urban and rural, don’t you think so?

Low Rise House by Spiegel Aihara Workshop 3 Breathtaking Interpretation of the Traditional Californian Ranch House and Farm Tower Low Rise House by Spiegel Aihara Workshop 4 Breathtaking Interpretation of the Traditional Californian Ranch House and Farm Tower Low Rise House by Spiegel Aihara Workshop 5 Breathtaking Interpretation of the Traditional Californian Ranch House and Farm Tower Low Rise House by Spiegel Aihara Workshop 6 Breathtaking Interpretation of the Traditional Californian Ranch House and Farm Tower Low Rise House by Spiegel Aihara Workshop 7 Breathtaking Interpretation of the Traditional Californian Ranch House and Farm Tower Low Rise House by Spiegel Aihara Workshop 8 Breathtaking Interpretation of the Traditional Californian Ranch House and Farm Tower Low Rise House by Spiegel Aihara Workshop 9 Breathtaking Interpretation of the Traditional Californian Ranch House and Farm Tower Low Rise House by Spiegel Aihara Workshop 10 Breathtaking Interpretation of the Traditional Californian Ranch House and Farm Tower Low Rise House by Spiegel Aihara Workshop 11 Breathtaking Interpretation of the Traditional Californian Ranch House and Farm Tower Low Rise House by Spiegel Aihara Workshop 12 Breathtaking Interpretation of the Traditional Californian Ranch House and Farm Tower Low Rise House by Spiegel Aihara Workshop 13 Breathtaking Interpretation of the Traditional Californian Ranch House and Farm Tower Low Rise House by Spiegel Aihara Workshop 14 Breathtaking Interpretation of the Traditional Californian Ranch House and Farm Tower Low Rise House by Spiegel Aihara Workshop 15 Breathtaking Interpretation of the Traditional Californian Ranch House and Farm Tower Low Rise House by Spiegel Aihara Workshop 16 Breathtaking Interpretation of the Traditional Californian Ranch House and Farm Tower Low Rise House by Spiegel Aihara Workshop 17 Breathtaking Interpretation of the Traditional Californian Ranch House and Farm Tower Low Rise House by Spiegel Aihara Workshop 18 Breathtaking Interpretation of the Traditional Californian Ranch House and Farm Tower Low Rise House by Spiegel Aihara Workshop 19 Breathtaking Interpretation of the Traditional Californian Ranch House and Farm Tower Low Rise House by Spiegel Aihara Workshop 20 Breathtaking Interpretation of the Traditional Californian Ranch House and Farm Tower Low Rise House by Spiegel Aihara Workshop 21 Breathtaking Interpretation of the Traditional Californian Ranch House and Farm Tower Low Rise House by Spiegel Aihara Workshop 22 Breathtaking Interpretation of the Traditional Californian Ranch House and Farm Tower Low Rise House by Spiegel Aihara Workshop 23 Breathtaking Interpretation of the Traditional Californian Ranch House and Farm Tower Low Rise House by Spiegel Aihara Workshop 24 Breathtaking Interpretation of the Traditional Californian Ranch House and Farm Tower

The post Breathtaking Interpretation of the Traditional Californian Ranch House and Farm Tower appeared first on Freshome.com.

Why People Need to Hire A Closet Organizer

Posted: 05 Aug 2014 08:37 AM PDT

modern closet1 Why People Need to Hire A Closet Organizer

A professional closet organizer could create this amazing modern closet for you. Image Source: LA Closet Design

” I absolutely cannot find anything to wear!”  Does this sound familiar? We stand there staring at a closet chock-full of clothes, shoes, scarves, ties and belts— yet we have nothing to wear. Wouldn’t it be amazing to just walk into your closet and easily find your favorite black pants and that perfect shirt to match—without a lot of stress or the time-suck of trying on one-thousand different outfits?

It is possible to achieve and maintain an organized closet through the help of a professional closet organizer. While some of us can clean out the clutter in our closets on our own (maybe even make it look organized), but we seem to lack the skill(s) to make it stay that way.  This is why people need to hire a closet organizer.

After all, we hire professionals in numerous other aspects of our lives (such as professional trainers).  Why? Because they know the tips and tricks of their trade— they are experts.

Professional closet organizers are full of tips, unique methods and organizing systems that can help us get organized and, more importantly, stay organized. They are creative forces whose main goal is to make our lives function better.

Let’s look at more reasons why we should hire a professional closet organizer, and the things we should think about before hiring one: 

walk in closet Why People Need to Hire A Closet Organizer

This open and airy closet is very welcoming and well-designed. Image Source: Craig Alan Homes

Can You Organize Your Own Closet?

As mentioned above, some of us are capable of getting organized on our own, yet fast-forward a few months later and once more we are staring at a messy unorganized closet, asking ourselves what happened to our clean closet and how did it get this way, again?

This scenario happens to us time and time again because we are not skilled in the trade of organizing. Professional organizers go through years of training and work experience in order to learn how to customize our wardrobe spaces into something functional and beautiful. They know the unique systems to put in place in order to get us organized, and they know the triggers that cause us to collect clutter—and how to beat those triggers.

Some of us have life challenges that deter us from getting and staying organized, such as those with ADHD (Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder), or those who have hoarding tendencies, and then some of us are just too busy and stressed to do it on our own. Professional organizers have skilled training in these life challenges—some organizers even have degrees in psychology and training in the behaviors of hoarding and ADHD.

Your first step should be to attempt to get organized on your own. Get three boxes and mark them— toss, donate, sell. When you feel yourself at a stand-still— hire a professional. They will step into your closet and  immediately know what systems and methods you need to get and stay organized. But first, let’s read more about the things we need to consider before hiring…

wood closet Why People Need to Hire A Closet Organizer

This closet would be lovely for those who prefer modern design. Image Source: Danenberg Design

 What Will A Professional Closet Organizer Provide You?

Professional closet organizers are full of unique methods to help you get your closet from packed to priceless. Hiring an organizer is like hiring a coach. They orchestrate ways to train you and help you excel at getting and staying organized.

The number one thing that a closet organizer can give you is peace of mind. It is very pacifying knowing that someone is in control of your messy situation and can help relieve your stress. Closet organizers can take our disorganized closet of chaos and turn it into a dreamy designer walk-in.  Today’s modern closet organizers are professional interior designers who literally think outside of the box; they know how to use space that you never imagined you had —coming up with amazing storage solutions that work.

They can also design your closet into a room you will want to use. Essentially,  they can make your closet an extension of your home, mimicking the rest of your interior style. An organizer may find space to install that much-needed vanity, or elegant dressing room/sitting room, or a place to display all your luxury silk ties and leather purses. You will be surprised by the ingenious, inventive ideas these professionals can come up with.

We hear you, how much is this magic going to cost?  We will get to the nitty gritty of cost in a minute, but if cost is a concern, then consider hiring a professional organizer to plan out the design and then leave you to implement it, saving you a lot of money, but adding to the time you will have to personally commit to the project.

dressing room Why People Need to Hire A Closet Organizer

Professional closet organizers can make your closet an extension of your home. Image Source: M House Inc

 How Much Does a Professional Closet Organizer Cost?

As with all professions, cost varies. There are numerous ways that fees/costs can be structured. Some professional organizers charge on an hourly basis, while others charge a set rate based on the immensity of the project.  With closet organization there are a lot of factors to consider: time, effort, cost, materials, etc…

It is best to set-up consultations with a few organizers to give you a cost estimate of  your project. Begin your search by going to NAPO’s Directory where you can search for professionals in your local area (the NAPO directory covers 24 different countries).

While most organizers have a set rate of $55-$85 per hour, you must also consider the extra costs of the materials that will be needed to complete the project, and any possible hiring of outside contractors. Before beginning any closet remodel be sure to know all the costs up-front.

A true professional organizer should be able to give you a pretty accurate price range before going into the project. Yes, there will be some unexpected costs that arise (as with all home projects), so have a little wiggle room in your  budget. Don’t forget— a closet organizer can help with not only your bedroom closet, but ALL the closets in your home.

closet office Why People Need to Hire A Closet Organizer

Closet organizers can turn your unused closet space into an office. Image Source: Cathy Schwabear Architecture

How To Choose the Right Professional Organizer

Allowing a complete stranger into one of the most personal rooms of your home can be intimidating, and it takes a pretty special person to be able to come into your home and tell you what you are doing wrong—without insulting you.

The organizer you hire should have years of experience under their belt. They should be able to provide numerous references and pictures of completed projects. Most importantly, you should hire the person that fits your personality the best.  It may sound silly, but you should hire the person that you like most—because honestly, no matter how much you may like them at the start, when they begin telling you to toss things, you will begin to dislike them.

There are a lot of  questions to ask (see below for examples), but there are some basic questions that when asked will give you an idea if you’re hiring the right person. Essentially, closet organization is a very personal process—you don’t want just anybody digging through your personal belongings, so do a lot of inquiries before hiring.

The ultimate closet organizer is professional, kind, well-trained and there to educate you on how to achieve a more functional closet space.

walk in closet chandelier Why People Need to Hire A Closet Organizer

Ask lots of questions to be sure that you are hiring the best. Image Source: Planning and Building

Here are some questions that you should ask your potential closet organizer:

  • What are your areas of expertise?
  • Are you certified?
  • What training have you undergone?
  • What supplies do you foresee this project needing?
  • Will this project require an outside contractor?
  • What is your fee structure?
  • How long will this project take?
  • What do I need to do with regard to this project?
  • Do you have references and photos of past projects?
wood walk in closet Why People Need to Hire A Closet Organizer

Hire a closet organizer that has years of experience and great references. Image Source: Murphy Co Design

Are you still standing there, staring at all the clothes in your closet wondering what to wear? Well, get going and begin  the search for a professional closet organizer.

Begin by allocating your goods into three boxes — toss, donate, sell. Once this is accomplished, start the search for the ultimate organizer in your home town.

Remember to choose a professional that has years of experience, lots of past projects to show you, glowing references, and most importantly, someone who you feel that you can get along with. For further closet inspiration read this Top 30 Walk-In Closet Ideas post.

Are you ready to dive in and get organized? What room of your home needs the help of a professional organizer?

 

The post Why People Need to Hire A Closet Organizer appeared first on Freshome.com.