Elevator Beds

Today I am going to talk about Elevator Beds, the new trend in bedroom furniture.. If your limited on space and want an office or living room sitting area to also double up as your bedroom without anyone knowing, here is what you need, Beds that are hidden and only are seen at night when you are about to go to sleep.. Elevator beds have become the new trend in modern furniture.. 

Elevator bed in sleep mode (left) and retracting up to ceiling (right); image by http://www.liftbed.com

You have likely heard of both adjustable beds and Murphy beds, both of which are still readily available.  But there is also a growing trend towards elevator beds.

An elevator bed is exactly what the name suggests: a bed which lifts and lowers on an elevator-like system to maximize space within a room.  When not in use, the bed retracts up towards the ceiling.

The bed can simply hover below the ceiling or completely disappear into a dropped or partially dropped ceiling (shown at left).  Lighting can be added to drop ceiling or to the underside of the bed itself.

Similar to a Murphy bed, elevator beds help ensure your space  functions at an optimal level during the many hours of each day when you are not sleeping.

Samples of Elevator Beds

If your interested in learning more, here are some manufacturers to investigate further: Lift Bed, BedUp, and Flying Beds.

sted in learning more, here are some manufacturers to investigate further: Lift Bed, BedUp, and Flying Beds.

AG Home Goods

Before and After

 Before and After

This is a reblog from Houzz that I found very interesting.... Its a before and after renovation.. Please read carefully and see whats possible in today's design culture of Modern-contemporary style and design.,..

Enjoy the pics and post

It was a tall order. This young family wanted to find a home in Santa Monica, California, that embodied the historic homes of Boston, where the husband grew up, and the outdoors of Oregon, where the wife is from. They lucked out with a well-kept historic cottage that just needed some tweaking to support their active family life.

They tapped architect Lewin Wertheimer from nearby Venice to refresh much of the house, turning a jumble of rooms at the rear into a kitchen, breakfast room, laundry and powder room, and adding a master bath and closet upstairs. 
 

Houzz at a Glance

 

Who lives here: He’s in the entertainment-management industry; after a career in environmental policy, she’s now a stay-at-home mom to 2 young boys
 

Location: Santa Monica, California 

 

Size: 2,820 square feet (262 square meters); 3 bedrooms, 2½ bathrooms

BEFORE: The 1905 cottage was in good shape. “Most of the home’s original details, which I would call post-Victorian and pre-Craftsman, were still intact,” Wertheimer says. “Although the house is historic, it didn’t have landmark status, so we were able to update it without restrictions.”

The home’s original magenta exterior inspired its name, Villa Rosa, which is written on a sign hanging on the entry arbor. “Even though we changed the color of the house,” says Wertheimer, “we kept the arbor and the sign.”

 

 

Lewin Wertheimer

“After” photos by Douglas Hill

AFTER: Landscape designer Mary Effron refreshed the home’s front yard with new plantings and a brick walkway. Wertheimer rebuilt the porch steps and railing. He also chose the new exterior color for its chameleon-like quality. “It’s a grayed blue-green that changes color during the day,” he says.

Exterior paint: Sea Pine, Benjamin Moore; trim paint: Whisper, Dunn-Edwards

 

BEFORE: In the entry and throughout the house, most of the home’s original millwork was intact and well maintained, and appealed to both the homeowners and the architect.

 

 

Lewin Wertheimer

 

 

AFTER: The original Douglas fir floors throughout the house were refinished. And on the stairs, the original newel post lamp was restored.

Interior designer Sasha Emerson warmed the interior with a mix of the couple’s existing furnishings, new traditional-style pieces and vintage finds, all done in finishes and fabrics that could withstand the rigors of childhood. For example, a sisal runner on the steps is durable and provides traction for little feet.

Table: Nickey Kehoe; cushions: Acapillow Home Furnishings; wallpaper: Galbraith & Paul

 

 

Lewin Wertheimer

 

 

In the entry hall, the stairs lead up to the bedrooms, while the doorways lead to the small living room on the right and the dining room to the left. The ceiling light is an antique find.

Basket: HomeGoods

 

 

 

BEFORE: Just off the entry hall, built-in cabinets separate the cozy study from the small sunroom that overlooks the front yard.

 

 

Lewin Wertheimer

 

 

AFTER: The study was updated with a new built-in bookcase to the left of the fireplace, which was repainted a charcoal gray (it was originally white) for visual punch. The light fixture is a vintage find. “The original cove ceilings and built-ins give this house so much architectural character,” Wertheimer says. “Everything new was inspired by what was there.”

Sunroom chairs: HD Buttercup; shade fabric: Hollywood at Home; cushions: Acapillow Home Furnishings

 

 

 

BEFORE: The dining room included a bay window and window seat, but the doorway led to a porch that was too small for any use.

 

 

Lewin Wertheimer

 

 

 

Lewin Wertheimer

 

 

AFTER: The refreshed dining room now opens to a new breakfast room that’s part of the kitchen expansion at the back of the house. The owners’ original chairs were updated with red leather upholstery.

The original small porch was enclosed to become part of the new breakfast room that opens to the back yard. New custom windows and doors work with the home’s 1905 architecture, while the vintage pendants and painted pale turquoise floor are playful touches.

Table: Big Daddy’s Antiques; shade fabric: Raoul Textiles; cushions: Acapillow Home Furnishings

 

 

 

BEFORE: The old kitchen, while obviously updated in recent decades, was inefficient and part of a warren of small rooms at the back of the house that included a full bath and laundry.

 

 

Lewin Wertheimer

 

 

AFTER: Working within the home’s footprint, Wertheimer reorganized the floor plan to create a more expansive kitchen, a new breakfast room, a laundry and a powder room instead of the full bath. He also opened the back of the house to the garden through the use of windows and doors. “This couple loves to cook, so the kitchen had to be the center of the universe,” he says.

Shaker-style custom cabinetry, honed basaltina and marble countertops, and vintage-style pendants add the comfortable patina of age to the new kitchen. The furniture-style island keeps the narrow kitchen from looking cramped.

Range: Wolf; pendant lighting: One Kings Lane; ceiling lights: Rejuvenation

 

Lewin Wertheimer

 

 

Windows overlook the backyard, which now includes vegetable beds, fruit trees and a chicken coop.

Sink: Franke; faucet: Rohl; tile: Classic Tile & Flooring; cabinetry hardware: Crown City Hardware

 

 

Lewin Wertheimer

 

 

A glass panel in the door keeps the new laundry visually connected to the adjacent kitchen. The small sink handles both hand washables and cut flowers. The Sheila Maid drying rack goes up and down from the ceiling via rope and a pulley.

Sink: Franke; faucet: Rohl; light fixture: Olde Good Things; shade fabric: Hollywood at Home

 

 

Lewin Wertheimer

 

 

The new powder room sports a narrow, V-groove ceiling treatment and wainscoting, echoing the home’s turn-of-the-century cottage detailing.

Sink pedestal: Restoration Hardware; copper sink and faucet: Waterworks; lighting: Olde Good Things; wallpaper: Schumacher

 

BEFORE: The master bedroom had two small closets that ate up floor space and low ceilings that added to a sense of confinement

 

 

Lewin Wertheimer

 

 

AFTER: Wertheimer raised the ceilings in all three bedrooms, adding a much-needed sense of volume. In the master bedroom, he also removed the two small closets, creating space for a sitting area. The bed and sofa are custom designs.

Chair: HD Buttercup; coffee table: Big Daddy’s Antiques; rug: Serena & Lily; shade fabric: Hollywood at Home; sconces: Olde Good Things; pendant light: Design Mix Furniture

 

 

Lewin Wertheimer

 

 

One bathroom originally served the three upstairs bedrooms. The architect persuaded the homeowners to add a master bath and closet, building out above the kitchen.

Period plumbing fixtures, Shaker-style custom cabinetry, marble countertops and blue limestone flooring with a sandblasted finish work together to create a harmonious retreat that overlooks the backyard. The pendants are a vintage find.

Tub: Sunrise Specialty; sink: Kallista Plumbing; faucets: Newport Brass; medicine cabinet: Barbara Barry; wall-mounted light fixtures: Olde Good Things; flooring: Classic Tile & Flooring

 

 

Lewin Wertheimer

 

 

A walk-in shower anchors one end of the new master bath.

Shower door: Met-Tec Shower Enclosures; subway tile: Heath Ceramics

 

 

Lewin Wertheimer

 

 

In one of the boys’ bedrooms, raising the ceiling line exposed the rafters, adding volume and architectural interest.

Pendant light: Design Within Reach; rug: Overstock.com; shade fabric: Hollywood at Home

 

 

Lewin Wertheimer

 

 

A new gable at the back of the house matches the home’s original architecture and houses the newly built master bath and closet. The pergola and brick patio are also new additions, creating outdoor living and dining areas off the kitchen.

Some Cool ideas and products

Some cool suggestions and products

Today we will write some useful information that many of you can use.. Such as how to spruce up your back yard, design ideas, and some cool products.. I hope all of you enjoy the post and pics..

5 WAYS TO SPRUCE UP AN OUTDOOR SPACE

Whether you have a modern home made for indoor-outdoor living or you’re just looking to jazz up your backyard, you can live well in the great outdoors. Here are five ways to take your exterior space to the next level:

1. Relax Away

Opt for pieces that might work in your living room. Today’s modern design studios are manufacturing everything from stunning sofas to perfect-for-lounging daybeds, all made from materials like weather-resistant polyethylene or polypropylene “wicker,” fade- and stain-resistant fabric, rust-proof powder-coated aluminum, and durable teak. Companies like Loll have even re-imagined the classic Adirondack lounger into an eco-chic, modern version that features a built-in bottle opener.

2. Dine Alfresco

If you like to entertain, an outdoor dining space can be great for dinner under the stars or backyard barbecues. Consider the size and material of your table; bistros may work well for smaller spaces and groups, and expandable rectangular options can fit a crowd. And while wood-slat tables are modern and rustic, powder-coated steel and glass-topped options might be easier to clean and dry after a rain shower. The same goes for seating: dining benches are popular for their casual, flexible nature, but stackable chairs can help save space during colder months.

3. Pick Planters

If you have a deck or paved patio space, adding pops of greenery can freshen up the exterior—and a striking planter can pull it all together. Modern planters are now made of cool materials like Corten steel, which weathers to a rusty red-orange hue, and molded fiberglass that comes in eye-catching, bright colors. Some are made from resin to look just like poured concrete, while unique illuminated options can even double as mood lighting.

4. Go for Comfort

Cushions and pillows in fun colors and bold patterns can add life to a seating area and make things inviting. Look for ones made from water-resistant, fade-resistant materials; Sunbrella specializes in such fabrics. Another way to up the comfort factor is by keeping things cool. Canopies and cabanas are great stationary options, but chic umbrellas and portable sunshades are ideal for shade on the go. Also keep in mind that when the sun sets, temperatures drop. Keep a stack of blankets handy so you can continue lounging long after sunset.

5. Lighten Up

Let the sun provide your lighting by day, but after dark, set the mood with contemporary fireplaces and lanterns. Outdoor fireplaces range from basic wood-burning fire pits to sculptural, ethanol-fueled creations. Metal-and-glass lanterns fit right into the modern aesthetic; cluster them together on a table as a centerpiece or use them to line a walkway.

Remember for the best patio furniture go to our online retail store at:

http://shop.avantgardehomefurnishings.com/Outdoor-Living_c8.htm

The Story of Modernism

We’ve talked about modern homes and the history of modern design in the Pacific Northwest, but what is modernism exactly?

With loose parameters, the answer may depend on who you ask, but here’s the simplified version: Modernism is a broad term used to describe a style—an aesthetic, an approach, or even an attitude—of architecture and design. The focus is on function, simplification of form, and a shift away from excessive ornamentation.

After World War I, Europe embraced the progressive modernist philosophy, influencing architects like Le Corbusier, Ludwig Mies van der Rohe, and Walter Gropius. The Museum of Modern Art highlighted this shift in 1932 with its “International Exhibition of Modern Architecture,” and from there, American modernism rose to prominence. Roughly spanning the 1930s–1970s, modernism eventually gave way to postmodernism and the blending of historic elements with newer construction methods. Today, modernism is being embraced once again, with a heavier focus on green innovation and a celebration of bold contrasts in regard to color, line, and material.

With such a broad history, it’s natural that modernism has several sub-styles, including:

Brutalism: Drawn from the French phrase béton brut, meaning “raw concrete,” Brutalist structures began as a low-cost building solution and are blocky, stark, and severe.

International Style: A “solution” to Art Deco, International Style structures boast a sleek look and are usually made of steel, glass, and concrete. Curtain walls, flat roofs, and sparse ornamentation are common features.

Shed: Characterized by a boxy, one- to two-story structure topped with a steep, single-slant roof, these homes are well suited to harness passive-solar energy.

Slick Skin: With smooth, glass-clad exteriors, these buildings take advantage of advanced construction methods to create a seamless look. Usually seen in corporate high-rises, these structures often feature little to no differentiation between floors.

For Great modern furniture please visit our baxton studio collection at:

http://shop.avantgardehomefurnishings.com/Baxton-Studio_c143.htm

Some content is the copyright of Windermere Services Company, and used with permission. “Windermere Real Estate” and the Windermere logo are registered trademarks of Windermere Services Company.

Eastside North Modern Homes

Suburbs north and east of Bellevue and Kirkland are quickly becoming in-demand areas to live as homeowners seek privacy and space. Many of these more rural towns and communities have restaurants, shops, and other convenient amenities for residents. Find classic modern properties that have been carefully preserved as well as contemporary builds, new condos, and Northwest Modern homes.

CNN Money named Redmond, just east of Kirkland, the fifth best small town in 2012. The area is undoubtedly Microsoft country, and the rapid growth of the computer giant set off a flurry of development in recent decades. Bonuses for homeowners include the popular Redmond Town Center outdoor mall and 560-acre Marymoor Park, which features a velodrome, climbing wall, off-leash dog park, and playing fields. The city’s close proximity to natural attractions like Lake Sammamish and the Cascade Mountains also make it an appealing place to live.

Further north, Woodinville offers the best of both worlds: a burgeoning wine tourism district with nearly 100 tasting rooms and large homes on generous lots in quiet, residential areas. Rural farmland and forested acres are a draw for those seeking room to grow. Unincorporated Hollywood Hill is a sought-after enclave for those who are willing to pay a premium.

Tucked between the eastern shore of Lake Sammamish and the foothills of the Cascade Mountains, Sammamish Plateau is a peaceful retreat for families and those seeking a more laid-back lifestyle. (Forbes even named Sammamish the Friendliest Town in the United States in 2012.) The orchards and rural farms that were once here in the early 20th century have slowly given way to retail centers and housing developments. Today, the Plateau is prized for its proximity to recreational activities like hiking, golfing, and boating, and for its scenic natural surrounds. It’s also a popular vacation spot in summer.

At the confluence of the Snoqualmie River and Raging River in Snoqualmie Valley, unincorporated Fall City is a rural bedroom community with around 5,000 residents. Its historic farming roots are evidenced today in U-Pick farms and abundant small-town charm. However, large estates and nearby attractions—the Summit at Snoqualmie ski resort, hiking in the Cascade Mountains, outlet stores in North Bend, Snoqualmie Falls, and three golf courses—make it a desirable escape.

Modern Chandeliers.. 

 

The San Francisco lighting company Pablo has distinguished itself with a range of lighting models defined by flat panel LED technology, exceedingly elegant profiles, and refreshingly accessible prices. New arrivals at 2Modern include the Pablo Cielo Chandelier collection, which features arrangements of the original Cielo pendant light, suspended at varying heights in clusters of 3, 5, 7, or 13 elements. The Cielo pendant’s slender form and range of colorways and finishes are rendered only more dramatic by the artful repetition and asymmetry of the Cielo Chandelier range. And now, through October 25th only, the chandeliers, and all Pablo lighting, are on sale at a discount of 15%.

 

Hope all of you enjoyed the post and pics .. These were articles that should help many of you out in understanding the woprld of design as seen today by many of the top designers. 

AG Home Goods

Three things that caught my attention this week and are worth taking a second look at...

Three things that caught my attention this week and are worth taking a second look at... 

Today we will be looking at three different homes, all in their own right simply amazing. Either because of the design elements used by the designer or the simplicity of the designs themselves they are todays things that are worth taking a second look at... 

Reductive Simplicity’ Transforms a Brooklyn Home!!!!!

Architect Chris Cooper and interior designer Jennifer Hanlin had the built-in advantage of both vision and good taste on their side when they renovated the two floors of their Brooklyn duplex. Who else but spatial esthetes could have envisioned a dark, utilitarian crawl space as a mezzanine-in-the-making, ready to house a library and TV room? Cooper and Hanlin did, and thanks to that bit of visionary thinking, added a whopping (by New York City standards) 325 square feet to an already sizable (by New York City standards) family home.

A gut renovation that included judiciously adding and subtracting volume (to create both perceived and actual space) has given the couple and their two young children a thoughtfully edited family home conducive to both communal living and privacy, replete with both light and textural richness. Cooper’s fondness for “reductive simplicity” and Hanlin’s desire for a “neutral, contemplative and calm” home made for an esthetic meeting of the minds, tastefully expressed in the curated selection of Modernist and contemporary furnishings that enhance the home’s new parameters. If only it were as reductively simple as this for the rest of us.

I hope all opt you enjoyed the first item I found interesting.. Here we go with number two..

An exclusive sale for a very nice lighting concept.. If you ask me its still way to over priced but It is exquisite in every detail...

Fabian Italy goes on sale in The United States

Italy’s rich tradition of glass making is given a contemporary spin by Fabbian, the Italian lighting brand that has taken the craft to new heights with a range of luminous modern lighting fixtures. Collaborations with a team of international designers and architects has produced a collection of glass pendants, wall and ceiling fixtures, and floor and table lamps defined by their visually striking forms and technologically advanced manufacturing methods. 2Modern is welcoming Fabbian to its family of stellar lighting brands with an exclusive sale that begins today, and lasts through August 24th. Take 15% off and get free shipping on all Fabbian lighting models, including the ethereal Lumi and Cloudy collections.

A new kind of impact furniture.. 

Definitely likely to cause a big Wow with any of your guest.. These pieces stick out immediately when walking into a home that displays them. They are colorful yet graceful and adequate for today's modern home.. 

Taking furniture to artful heights, quite literally, is Italian brand Casamania, which, in collaboration with Swedish design studio Claesson Koivisto Rune, has released a collection of cabinets that derive inspiration from the great abstract painter Ellsworth Kelly. Casamania’s Legato cabinets (Legato, in Italian, translates as ‘tied together’) are clean rectilinear pieces, rendered striking for their brightly colored front doors of varying sizes, crafted from MDF, and given the rounded corners common in the flat shapes that Kelly made famous. This isn’t the first nod to Kelly by Claesson Koivisto Rune. The studio’s 2013 Kelly seating collection for another Italian furnishings brand, Tacchini, appropriated the same expanses of segmented monochromes seen on the Legato cabinets. Nothing wrong with melding art with craft, we say.

Hope of you enjoyed the three things worth taking a second look. The home was spectacular, the lamps exquisite, and the colorful furniture, well what can be said.. Its simply amazing... and a great tasteful way of introducing color into your modern home...

Hope you enjoyed the pics and post!!!

The horrors of loosing a pet in a fire.... but not by the fire itself...

I am writting this article today to comment on the mix-ups and the consequences of people that have no right to interfere taking matters into their own hands.

Has anyone reading this ever had a bad day, and made a decision based on what the person in front of them said or represented as facts.. And in the end find out that the person did this to deceive and was actually already planning with ulterior motives..

Well pet owners beware, in Miami Shores, miami there is a place where this happens and here is one such case.. A case where a great injustice is being committed and a loving pet owner is in danger of loosing his most prized possession, not only his beloved pet but his best friend..This comes after a house fire almost destroyed his home and the pet was taken away by animal rescue and delivered to this so called animal clinic in Miami...

And all because of a lying, worker at Miami Shores Animal Clinic, who made false statements and promises to a concerned and loving owner...

Please read below and if any of you find this as bad as I do, please write the clinic on their google local page and tell them... if you can show support and that would be greatly appreciated...

Here is a link to the Animal Clinics website: miamishoresanimalclinic.com

Happier Times in Antonios life: Still a puppy and with his loving owner

Still more pictures of this wonderful dog growing up... 

From the pet owners own mouth: 

I will never understand how and why the entire team at this clinic would set out to make sure I lost the only thing left after the fire at my house, my dog Antonio. The Miami Shores Animal Clinic (MSAC) received Antonio by way of Animal control. I called their establishment and spoke with one of the staff who told me I had ONLY TWO OPTIONS with regards to Antonio. I could receive Antonio by paying what was sure to be a bill they had taken liberty of assuming I could not afford only to have the police come fine me and remove the dog days later. My other option was to sign a release of ownership over to the clinic so he could then be transferred out of Miami-Dade County and to the Broward Humane Society where I could then readopt him. I couldn’t understand why a release was necessary, but I was absolutely assured by their staff member Jennifer that I would have the chance to get my dog back as I would be included on knowing when the exact moment Antonio would be transported to the Broward facility. I visited him over the next couple days and the clinic saw firsthand the special relationship I had with this animal. I met the veterinarian caring for him and asked him what was next for his recovery. I was saddened to hear that it could possibly be weeks before he would get released. Strangely, hours after I left the clinic that same very day as the news from the vet, I received “the warning call” that Antonio was being release to Broward the very next day given his progress. I did not get that call the next day so I called and strangely Jennifer was off. I was devastated when Jennifer called me upon returning to the office where she said he had been transported to Broward already and that’s all they could say since I signed the release! I spent the next 7 days scouring Broward shelters for my dog. NEVER did ANY shelter receive Antonio, especially the one in which I was assured he went to. I was back at Miami Shores Animal clinic meeting one of the managers name