Styleture

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

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The National Kitchen & Bath Association has released their top for Kitchen & Bath Designs in 2010. We love this list and agree completely with this list. Click on any image to view a larger version:

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Kitchens

1. Traditional is the New Contemporary – Traditional will continue as the most popular kitchen design style in 2010, with contemporary following closely behind, while the Shaker style is seeing a surprisingly strong resurgence. Shades of whites and off-whites will be the most common kitchen colors in 2010, while brown, beige, and bone hues will also be popular.

Photo Courtesy of O’Neil Cabinetry

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The bathroom product designs created by manufacturer Watermark Designs were inspired by the creative surroundings of New York’s famed artisanal borough of Brooklyn. Brooklyn now has a vibrant design scene which has made it a sought after destination for the Art + Design world, and Watermark Designs is making its mark in the decorative hardware and plumbing business by taking inspiration from the melting-pot from which they hail.

The distinctive product designs are the core of Watermark Designs’ offerings. Each customized faucet, shower system and bath accessory is created through a hands-on design and development approach. Watermark Designs is a true-manufacturer based in Brooklyn, New York, where they utilize the skills of experienced craftsmen and specialists to create collections that blend the industrial chic, the traditional, and the modern together. In their bath designs they match impeccable style with a clean aesthetic, industrial tones, and elegant finishes that satisfy the most exquisite of tastes.

Here are several collections that evoke the character of Watermark Designs; a preview into the vast range of the innovative brand and a taste of the freshest creations out of Brooklyn. Click on any image for a larger version and visit Watermark-Designs.com for more information:

Clodagh Touch27

The Touch 27 Collection is designed by the world renowned design studio, Clodagh Signature. Known for collections based on feng shui, the Chinese art of creating harmonious surroundings, Clodagh Signature fuses these disciplines into sleek modernism that is truly timeless. For Watermark Designs’ Touch 27, clean shapes are accented with unique hammered accents that set the tone throughout the collection.

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A vintage look has been a very popular style lately with so many people renting and buying beautiful old apartments and condos with tons of character. Here are a few products to consider when designing your own vintage pad:

• Vintage Seating - Vintage furniture is a must if you are going for the vintage look. A good place to start is with seating, and there are so many cool chairs, benches and couches out there with a vintage vibe that it will make your head spin. As with vintage lighting you can budget wisely, or go all out on a designer piece that was designed yesterday by one of the greats. Take a look at your home’s architecture and try to find furniture that will really bring out its good bones and character. If you know exactly what you want and don’t mind paying for it, you can even have it custom made by one of many expert furniture designers.

Vintage Bench by Chair Couture:

Cool Vintage Bench

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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:

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Joseph Eichler was a post-war merchant builder who embraced the principles of modernism in an effort to provide progressive and affordable housing to middle income families.  From the late 1940s to the late 1960s, Eichler built 11,000 homes, the majority in Northern California. With glass walls, post-and-beam construction, open floor plans, skylights and floor-to-ceiling glass windows, Joseph Eichler blurred the lines between the mild climate of the San Francisco Bay Area and the clean modern interiors of the Eichler style home.

Eichler exteriors are usually marked by flat or low-sloping roofs, Spartan facades with geometric liens and vertical siding, with protected gardens, pools and patios surrounding the home. As these homes continue to be bought and sold, however, we see more and more of these them being updated to incorporate the Eichler style, with more current and popular designs that we see today.

The main area people rush to update is the kitchen. This is because original Eichler kitchens are very basic (yet functional), but do not necessarily make the best use of space.  Typical Eichler kitchens feature wood cabinets with sliding doors, low countertops, a swing-out kitchen table, and stainless steel appliances including a Thermador wall-mounted oven and matching range.  Popular updates include cabinet replacement which provides more space and greater accessibility, the introduction of an island which provides more countertop and cooktop space, and the installation of upgraded, under-cabinet and in-cabinet appliances.  Here are just a few of our favorite amazing updated Eichler kitchen designs. These designs cost anywhere from $25,000 (Chris Sanders Eichler Remodel) – $180,000 (Palo Alto Kitchen):

Eichler Kitchens – Before Pictures

Original Eichler Kitchen

Photo Credit: http://www.EichlerForSale.com

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Designer Troy Adams has designed numerous kitchens in his career, but his own kitchen’s transformation is equally impressive with the way he took a relatively small space and transformed it into a beautiful, functional space. Here are some before and after pictures of his home’s kitchen in West Hollywood where he incorporated his open plan design, storage products as well as his trademarked FusionDesign™ design concept. (Click on any image for a larger version.)

Before and After Shot

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We have seen some amazing products and designs this year already, so we compiled this list of our favorites for the year thus far. Click on any thumbnail image for a larger version. If we have blogged about this topic or product previously click the title of the highlight to see the blog post:

Kitchen

Jaclo Kitchen Faucet High-Tech Kitchen Faucets: Meet the faucet with a pull-off spray from the Steam Valve Original Collection by JACLO® . According to a recent study, 70 percent of homeowners are looking for a faucet with a pull-off spray (if they are willing to spend over $100 on it). www.jaclo.com

TurboChef Oven High Speed Cooking Oven: Any oven that can cook a frozen pizza perfectly in two minutes will make our list! The TurboChef 30″ Double Wall Speedcook Oven does just that. Unbelievable!

Green Kitchens Green Kitchens : With the kitchen responsible for 41.5 percent of the home’s energy use, these product manufacturers are coming up with new furnishings that tread a bit more lightly on the planet.

Country Kitchen Redefining the Country Kitchen : The country kitchen has not gone out of style, and ALNO has taken it to the next level of style with these amazing designs of cabinets, bins and other storage solutions.

Black & White Kitchens Black and White Kitchens: This year has shown us some amazing black and white kitchens, and while we do not know if this trend will still be “in” in 2009, we sure have liked it. Pictured is the Glossy Black And White Kitchen – Diana By Italian company Futura Cucine.

Miele Coffee System Turning Your Kitchen Into a Coffee Shop: The Miele CVA 2662 Built In Coffee Maker is a one of a kind coffee system with the advanced and durability of Miele attached to it. Never go out for coffee again with this at home. www.miele.co.uk

Bath

ThermaSol SteamSuite Affordable Bath Luxury: Luxury steam shower manufacturer ThermaSol ® introduces its ThermaSol SteamSuite Packages at affordable new prices. Making steam an attainable luxury! www.thermasol.com & www.steamsuite.com

Sonia Fahrenheit Stylish Fahrenheit Hand & Hair Dryer by Sonia : Spanish designer Rafa Corel paired organic shapes with clean, modern lines to create this amazingly stylish built in Hand and Hair dryer. www.sonia-sa.com

Waterfall Showers Waterfall Showers : We just absolutely love waterfall showers and these are just a few of our favorites. While canopy and rain showers are very nice, the waterfall showers are amazing.

THG Modern THG Shows its Modern Side: High-end bathroom brand THG USA, known for their over-the-top bejeweled traditional faucets and fixtures, shows off their contemporary collections. Opulent luxury in the form of a minimalist bathroom fixture suite. www.thgusa.com

Jaclo Low Flow Stylish and Sustainable : JACLO ® takes water conservation to the next level with their green showerheads and handshowers. JACLO’s low flow regulators significantly lower the gpm to 1.75 or 1.5 without sacrificing performance or comfort. Flow regulators, as opposed to restrictors, ensure optimum performance and maintain consistent flow independent of water supply pressure .www.jaclo.com

Stone Bath Sinks Stone Sinks: A New Take on English Country: Traditional, old world styles with modern functionality. www.stoneforest.com

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Red 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