Styleture

notable designs and functional living spaces

Archive for the ‘Green Design + Sustainable Living’ Category

Nature as a Muse

August 3rd, 2010

The perfect inspiration, Nature provides endless ideas to creative souls everywhere. Combining the best in design, functionality, and green performance, fluid faucets use metaphors of nature as gentle reminders for us to do our part to conserve the environment.

Penguin
Smartly dressed and debonair, the Penguin Collection brings joy and style to any space. This lever faucet provides a streamlined silhouette, upright form and horizontal spout – similar to that of a penguin.

penguin faucet

Penguin faucet by fluid

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Contemporary Cottage on Bainbridge Island

July 20th, 2010

Bainbridge Island is an island city located in Puget Sound, Washington, off the coast of Seattle.  It was named by Money magazine as the second-best place to live in the United States. Occasionally we will get sent information on homes for sale on this lovely island. We wanted to pass along one particular contemporary cottage redesign that caught our eye.

This garden cottage is owned by artists who took a simple 1970’s ranch house and with a few subtle changes were able to create a free-flowing, bright, open floor plan with the kitchen as the hub of the living space. The redesign was then extended to the two outbuildings in the backyard that were transformed into two separate functional work spaces: one an artist studio and the other a hobby workshop.

This home demonstrates the appeal of maintaining separate work/play spaces in a small efficient package without needing one giant house to contain everything. The idyllic scene created by the lush gardens and trees also gives you an idea of how this Pacific Northwest island city has obtained such a high rating of livability.

Property Profile:

- 3 bedrooms / 2 baths
– 2 Workshop/Art Studio Outbuildings
– Approximately 1,592 square feet on .35 acres
– Expansive Deck w/ Hot Tub and Seating
– 2 Energy Efficient Propane Fireplaces
– Wood exterior, composition roof

View photos of the cottage below. For more information about this property visit http://gardencottage.bainbridgehouses.com

Bainbridge Cottage Exterior

Bainbridge Cottage Exterior

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Amazing 500-Horsepower Plug-In Porsche

March 3rd, 2010

Porsche has just unveiled their newest concept car, and this one is electric! This is the first plug-in hybrid car ever, and was released at the Geneva Auto Show. It is being called the 918 Spyder, and this amazing Porsche is not just green, but also has a sleek and stylish design worth of this blog!

The 918 Spyder gets 78 miles per gallon, has low emissions of 70g CO2/km, can go 16 miles on electric charge alone, and hits 0-60 in 3.2 seconds giving the Tesla Roadster a run for its money (the Tesla Roadster goes 0-60 in 3.7 seconds). The car gets its power from both a 500-horsepower V8 motor, in addition to two electric motors that give the sportscar an additional 218-horsepower.

We know this is just a concept car as of now, but we really hope to see these on the streets in Hollywood in the near future!

For more information visit Porsche.com

Porsche 918 Hybrid

Porsche 918 Hybrid

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Beautiful Home on Bainbridge Island

February 16th, 2010

This amazing 4 bedroom, 4,000 square foot house has recently gone on the market and is a beautiful example of the mix of modern architecture in a natural environment. The house was recently built by the architectural firm BUILD llc and is located on Washington state’s beautiful Bainbridge Island.  The home was designed to be both modern and beautiful, but to also cater to an active lifestyle that would include spending time in the beautiful outdoors surrounding the home. The home sits on the edge of Murden Cove, just a 35 minute ferry ride across the water to Seattle.

The home was completed in 2008 and was recently featured in the AIA exhibit “New Edge/New Blood.” The amazing views and beach access stood out to us on this property, coupled with the clean and modern interiors and exteriors. Some sustainable aspects of the home include its rainscreen system (rainscreen siding system composed of Cembonit panels by CBF), the use of natural gravel hardscape, an orchard of low-growing fruit trees and the use of Bamboo vertical grain flooring just to name a few.

To learn more about this home and to find the listing agent, please visit bainbridgeislandmodernhome.com

Images by BUILD llc

Back of Bainbridge Home

Back of Bainbridge Home

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Philippe Starck’s Revolutionair Wind Turbines

January 28th, 2010

The green movement has just gotten a boost from one of the most famous designers in the world. Philippe Starck has teamed up with the Italian manufacturing group PRAMAC to develop the first designer wind turbine designs for home use. The turbines come in two designs, and will produce 400 watts of power and 1 kilowatt of power. They will cost $3,495.25 (2,500 euros) for the smaller  “quadrangular” turbine and $4,893.35 (3,500 euros) for the 1 kilowatt “helicoidal” turbine.

These designs comes on the heels of the ultra-famous designer denouncing design and his works and announcing his retirement saying that ‘Design is Dead’, and that he felt that ‘Everything I designed was unnecessary… and I am ashamed of this fact. When he unveiled his new turbine designs in Milan his tune had changed when he said:

“We have to help people to produce energy, to be part of the fight. Energy should not be a punishment, we should create a desire (among people to produce it).”

Philippe Starck Wind Turbines

Philippe Starck Wind Turbines

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Designer Profile – Beth Dotolo

January 25th, 2010
Beth Dotolo

Beth Dotolo

Beth Dotolo is the Vice President of the design firm Nest Interior Design in Dallas Texas. Beth and her team produce creative and noteworthy designs in the Dallas area and they are currently working on several high-end residential and small commercial projects. Beth is a Registered Interior Designer who is also LEED AP and is anxious to work on a LEED certified project. Beth was also awarded ASID’s 2008 Legacy of Design Award.

Beth realizes that sustainable designs are the future of her industry and sees that the Dallas area is catching up in the sustainable movement. In order to make her designs more sustainable the majority of the furniture and products that she uses in her designs are custom designs that are created or manufactured by local building companies. Other furniture is found locally and refurbished locally as well, making sure that as much of the existing materials are used as possible. Beth’s design experience includes work at a local commercial design firm with national accounts and time spent as Principal Interior Designer of Pulp Design Studios.

The firm subscribes to a six part plan when they take on a new design project, beginning with an in-home or office consultation. Once the analysis of the consultation is completed, the next step is to create the schematic design, followed by the design development phase which includes nailing down finishes, fixtures, and furniture selections. The fourth, construction administration phase only applies to larger projects where construction and contractors are consulted and the construction designs are finalized. The fifth phase, the purchasing and procurement phase follows any construction needs and then the design is finalized with a full installation. This process results in personalized, amazing, sustainable designs that make their clients happy every time. Please visit Nest Interior Design at: www.nestdallasdesign.com and their boutique retail store at www.nestdallas.com

Here are just a few examples of Beth’s & Nest’s designs. Most furniture is either custom designed or refurbished as previously noted. Please click on any image to view a larger version.

All photographs courtesy of Kevin Dotolo Photography: www.kevindotolo.com

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ALNOCLASS – Green Kitchen Cabinet Collection

October 22nd, 2009

A kitchen cabinet collection that lowers the carbon footprint, while delivering high style and cutting-edge technology.

ALNO® has introduced a new kitchen cabinet collection that brings new meaning to the word class. The revolutionary ALNOCLASS boasts modern technology, minimalist details and eco-friendly materials. The door fronts are constructed of 100 percent sustainable oak from FSC-certified forests. The collection is available in light wild oak and dark brown carbon oak, and its matte lacquer finish is free of VOCs. Those looking to spice it up a bit can add a mobile niche unit. ALNO’s mobile, multifunctional niche units keep all of the most important kitchen utensils within arm’s reach. The best part is that the glass cover, which is used to conceal the components when not in use, can be outfitted with one’s choice of colored LED light fittings.

ALNO’s GREEN MISSION: For over 20 years, ALNO has been using non-toxic paints and lacquers, free from heavy metals and low in emissions. ALNO products are manufactured using recycled and regenerated wood from certified resources as well as the continued use of non-toxic laminates, aluminum, glass and technical veneers. ALNO only uses lumber, veneers and wood panels from sustainable forests. The factory also adheres to a “Zero Waste” resource management system, whereby all waste is either reconstituted into new materials or used as fuel to heat the factory.  www.alnousa.com

Click any image for a larger version:

kitchen-sm1

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PLACE HOUSES – Residential Kits and Prefab Home Services

October 9th, 2009

The Seattle-based PLACE HOUSES is an architectural group that sells private residential kits or prefab homes in four sizes. Their homes are smart, affordable and green and the entire process typically takes less than a year.

If you are looking for a McMansion then forget about PLACE HOUSES as the sizes come in Tiny with a 935 sq ft living space + 218 sq ft deck & patio space, Small with 1,247 sq ft of living space + 125 sq ft of outdoor space, Medium at 1,660 sq f t + 353 sq ft, and Large at 2,091 sq ft + 327 sq ft. However, if you are looking for a stylish, cozy home that ensures a considerably smaller carbon footprint, then keep reading!

PLACE prides itself in taking the hassle out of buying a new build. You can still mix and match interiors, skin and structure, but the homes themselves have been designed to be more or less cookie-cutter prefabs with a LOT of options. Go earthy, Zen or opt for cutting-edge modern; the choice is yours. All you have to do is choose your model, finish package, and then six months later you’ll have a brand new, eco-friendly home on your property.

PLACE’s homes are low-cost, low-maintenance, cozy and of course fabulously stylish (otherwise why would we be talking about them???) They’ve been designed to appeal to the first time homebuyer, singles, growing families, empty nesters and anyone who is a fan of good design. These homes are fun, and guarantee a hassle free design process that costs a lot less than custom construction.

After you pick out your house, PLACE will work with you to orient it on your site to take advantage of light, views, sustainable strategies like rainwater collection, and passive heating and cooling. They also design a custom foundation to make sure your new house sits perfectly on the land you’ve chosen. When all the decisions are made and the plans are finalized, they order the components from the factories. They order them from a set of vendors so that they arrive as a kit and the builders then put it together, or it can be completely pre-fabricated offsite and delivered.

PLACE practices the latest sustainable strategies and offers quality materials, which conserve resources and promote the overall health of the occupants. Their green designs and use of low maintenance materials and systems means you’ll save time and money. You can also upgrade your package to include solar panels or CorTen steel.

Learn more or contact the architects at PlaceHouses.com

field-house

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Shades of Red – Using Red Products in your Designs

September 10th, 2009

Red Cabinets

Red DesignRed can be a very difficult color to get right. Use it too much and its depth and saturation can be annoying, use it too little and it looks out of place. However, red is an exciting color to use in your interior design color palette because it leaves a lasting impression and definitely garners attention. The trick is using the right shade in the right spot. Below are a few red products that are sure to brighten your mood and add a touch of confidence to your very own home design endeavor. A row of Ferrari red high-gloss kitchen cabinets, a matte, modern red bathroom vanity or a simple red chandelier are all ways to showcase red in style.

ALNOTEC PRO by ALNO® : Red is said to make food taste better, and it is a well known fact that most fast food companies use this color for their logo and branding to draw in more business. Therefore, why not try it out in the kitchen with ALNOTEC PRO: A classic combination of high gloss surfaces with high quality laminate coating, finished perfectly by a narrow, real aluminum frame. www.alnousa.com

Lighting by Studio Italia Design: Studio Italia Design is the leading designer and producer of decorative lighting fixtures for the high-end architectural and designer markets. Based in Venice, Italy, the company is renowned for their unique manufacturing process which features hand-blown glass by Murano artisans with the inclusion of custom metal. Shown: The Surf Pendant in red. www.sid-usa.com

Lumiere Quadrato by JACLO® : Bring the high-fashion style of a decorative lamp into the shower. The Lumiere Quadrato features a red-and-white striped semi-transparent cover. The showerhead is constructed of stainless steel. www.jaclo.com

The Versatile Vanity by Sonia® : The Versatile Collection from Sonia makes red smoking hot in the bathroom. Offering numerous mix and match options, the modular furniture collection can be created by pairing a frame, with a console and counter top.www.sonia-sa.com

Sustainable Office Design – Sustainable Solutions International

September 9th, 2009

Sustainable interior design has become extremely popular over the past few years. Some companies – like kitchen and bath fixture manufacturer and distributor Sustainable Solutions International (SSi) – even make sustainable and stylish design easy. Sustainable Solutions International has a number of offices in North America, and manufactures and distributes some of most luxurious and energy-efficient products on the market.

Fluid's Swing Faucet

Fluid's Swing Faucet

SSi manufacturers and distributes many products in the US and in Canada including Caroma, a company that is always introducing original and cutting-edge water-conserving products. In addition to Caroma, SSi also has a line of sustainable luxury kitchen and bath fixtures under the Fluid label, which are some of the most appealing sustainable faucets we have seen this year. SSi is also an expert in sustainable energy needs and distributes Eternal hybrid™ water heaters.

This past summer, SSi completed the redesign of their corporate headquarters in Burnaby, British Columbia. They partnered with Sustainable Interior Design firm Penner & Associates to complete the redesign of their office building which features an open, airy environment; fresh, contemporary design, and a focus on healthy work spaces. The office’s sustainable interior design includes the use of maximum daylight and even has occupancy sensors for lighting. The office building uses Greenguard IAQ Certified furniture and seating, and regional, recycled materials and rapidly renewable materials were also used. The new design also integrates SSi’s own water –conserving fixtures.

The LEED-Certified SSi headquarters was recently awarded a Silver Award of Excellence from the Interior Designers Institute of British Columbia. Vectorworks software was used to create the uniquely hybrid 2D/3D environment.

Please click on any image for a larger version:

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