Pinnacle Awards

The prestigious Pinnacle Awards were handed out a few weeks ago and the architectural firm I work for, Ruscitto Latham Blanton, received an award for our design of the new Sun Valley Music Pavilion. Awards were presented to projects whose beauty, creativity, ingenuity and craftsmanship exemplify professional mastery in the use of natural stone.

The judges included:

| Christian R. Pongratz, Pongratz, Perbellini Architects, Verona, Italy |

| James Hogan, Immediate Past President, MIA, Carrara Marble Company, City of Industry, CA |

| Peter A. Follett, AIA, Pelli Clarke Pelli Architects, New Haven, CT |

| David Meyer, Meyer + Silberberg Architects, Berkeley, CA |

Commercial Exterior: Award of Merit

Sun Valley Music Pavilion,

Sun Valley, ID

Project Description: Nestled against the mountains of one of the world’s premiere resort locations, the new Sun Valley Music Pavilion achieves a perfect fusion of art and nature.

To blend with its mountainous environment, split-faced Roman Travertine was selected for the majority of the stonework, while an unfilled honed finish was used on the stone caps and ends of site walls. The joints between the stones were left open to enhance the pavilion’s rugged aesthetics while also facilitating the escape of any moisture from behind the stone. The structure only incorporates one straight wall, while the rest of the walls are radial, and each one has a different radius, presenting unique fabrication challenges. All of the Travertine was cross-cut, and a typical cleft stone weighs approximately 160 pounds and is 14 5/8 x 29 5/8 inches in size. A total of 12,002 individual Travertine pieces were installed, with stone thicknesses varying from 4 to 11 cm.

A striking blend of beauty and function, this state-of-the-art facility was completed in July of 2008 and incorporates nearly 33,000 square feet of Travertine.


MIA Member Company:

KEPCO+, Salt Lake City, UT, Stone Installer


Other Project Team Members:

Sun Valley Co., Client and Owner

Ruscitto/Latham/Blanton Architectura, P.A., Architect

Intermountain Construction, Inc., General Contractor

Mariotti Carlo & Figli, S.p.A., Stone Supplier and Fabricator


Stone Used: Este Light Roman travertine

Jen's Homemade Window Seat

A friend of mine recently decided to take on her boyfriends apartment with some decorative energy.  She focused on a new window seat/bench that they could use on a daily basis.  On a tight budget she went to our local Building Thrift Store and purchased some used upper kitchen cabinets for $20, a table for $10, gathered some fun fabric together and created a new office/dining nook that her boyfriend had to be pleased with.  I love that the cabinets double as storage!

Good work Jennifer!  Now make sure Keith makes you a dinner deserving of his new space.

Preservation meets Conservation

I love these types of projects!  A preservation of an old building by incorporating modern uses into the design.  Europe rules at doing this but believe it or not this preservation project was completed in Pittsburgh in 2009 and received a LEED-NC Gold rating for excellence in building practices from the US Green Building Council.  It was a 16,000 sqft project with a budget of $3.5.  It was spared from demolition by a group that wanted to restore some of Pittsburgh's historic charm with modern sustainability.  You can read more about it in this month's EcoHome online publication.

Daylighting

Are you daylighting your home?    
Daylighting is the practice of placing windows or other openings and reflective surfaces so that during the day natural light provides effective internal lighting.  An awesome environmentally friendly, energy saving, and money saving way to light places in your home.  One well known company is Solatube.  My  mom has a few installed in her house and I always think a light has been left on when really it's the illumination from the solar lighting tube.  It's that bright!  Here's an image of what it looks like on your roof. 

Check out these before and after pictures of a bathroom that installed a Solatube:

Yeah, I know it looks like it's sucking energy from your grid but it's a natural reflection of the sun.
A client of mine recently found some solar lighting tubes selling at Costco.  Way to go Costco! So happy to see that the bigger corporations are catching on to things that don't require us to buy bulbs.

Recycled Crystal Stone & Glass

Just met with the Marazzi tile rep on some new products the company has come out with.  I love the glass stone combinations that are coming out lately.  A beautiful Emperdor Dark or Absolute Grantie mixed with a glossy/matte recycled glass tile makes any backsplash or wall special. And best yet it's made in the good ole' US of A :)

Chilewich Rugs

We have one of these rugs in our cold entry and love it!  It saves our floor from the winter, rain, mud, rocks, that we drag in over our stone flooring.  It never moves, is beautiful, and environmentally friendly :)  They also make table accessories, bags, and floor mats. 

A little more on Chilewich...  They specialize in the manufacture of woven vinyl fabrics for use in products for the home and commercial interiors. They try and use the least amount of energy possible, the firm creates modern, durable, and easy-to-clean vinyl textiles for a remarkable range of applications.  Their products are washed with water and bio-degradable detergents, are made in the USA and have a long life cycle, which helps the user reduce both energy use and costs while maintaining a sophisticated and modern aesthetic.

They also use post-industrial content in their backing.

The Perfect Bath

I was recently scanning the Waterworks website/blog when I came across this familiar setting.  Of course it's from my former employers, Fisher Weisman, at their Healdsburg home in California.  I could spot an Andrew shell encrusted chandelier a mile away.  Always beautiful and sophisticated :)

Organic Weed Killer

I had to share this garden tip because I've been searching for a sure fire way to kill the dandelions in our yard without digging every single one up!  In this week's Green Home Guide from the U.S. Green Building Council someone asked about a weed killer for dandelions that did not contain herbicides.

Answered by a LEED AP representative:
Burnout -- blend of cloves, vinegar and lemon juices.
It works fast and kills anything it touches -- it says that it won't kill nearby plants and the area can be seeded the next day. I had to use a second application for those tough older weeds, though.
The good news is that it is safe for our pets, children and helps with stormwater runoff pollution. But it does have a potent smell.

Happy Gardening!

Recycled Gym Floorboard Cabinet

Check out this beautiful reclaimed cabinets made by Denmark-based Søren Rose Studio. Dubbed ‘Gymnasium’, the collection was inspired by the glory days of high school and is made from recycled gym flooring. These cabinets are not only assembled with renewable, recycled and low-impact materials — they also pay tribute to the simplicity and spirit of the games that once graced their floorboards.

Read more: Green Interiors | Inhabitat - Green Design Will Save the World

LED Flower Blooms

Solar-powered gadgets are often strictly practical, with little consideration for design sensibilities. That’s not the case with the Morning Glory, a series of LED flowers designed by Wendy Legro, a graduate student at The Netherland’s Design Academy of Eindhoven. Legro’s flowers soak up sun during the day and bloom at night.

Morning Glory features a flowering structure that clamps up during the day (or whenever sunlight streams in) and blooms in a snowflake pattern at night, revealing a series of LEDs. The design is, according to Legro, an attempt to counteract the normal competition between artificial and natural light.
We love the flowers, but we do have one question: when do they go on sale?

As posted by Inhabitat by Ariel Schwartz, 05/12/10

Recycled Glass Decanter

This beautiful set from Viva Terra is a great way to serve your favorite wine to friends this summer.

And there is a recycled vase set that we got for a wedding gift which I love.

Fresh Air Finishes

Friends of White Canvas Designs recently posted an article on their blog that I thought would be nice to share:

How did that get on the floor?

Published May 9, 2010 Uncategorized 5 Comments

We recently had a conversation with the folks at Kahrs Wood Flooring about wood finishing and their successful use of water-based technology.  It’s so successful in fact, that they offer a warranty on their finishes good for 25 years.  It got us thinking; what better test of a finish can there be than a floor?

Karhs Prefinished Walnut

So we took a look at other prefinished floor manufacturers out there.  It turns out that while Kahrs lays claim to being the first solvent-free flooring company, they are far from being the only one.  In addition to Kahrs, we found these other prefinished flooring companies also use environmentally friendly water-based finishes – all with outstanding warranties:

• Mohawk – 25 year warranty
• Bellawood – Certified 50 year warranty
• Muskoka – 25 year warranty
• Carlisle – Warranty for the life of the home
• Mirage – 25 year warranty
• Pergo – 25 to 35 year warranty
• Mercier – 35 year warranty

There were a few others who do not offer such impressive warranties, but in all of our research we were able to find only one company that still uses an outdated solvent-based finish.

So we asked some of the local custom flooring companies, who use solvent-based (highly toxic) products like Glitza Swedish and GYMSEAL, what type of warranties they offer.  One offered no more than what the maker of the finish publishes on the container it comes in, two others said they would have to find out and get back to us, and one offered a 2 year warranty if you sign a maintenance contract with them.

Still, if you ask building professionals which types of finishes hold up best on wood floors, most will reply with one of the aforementioned solvent-based products.  And yet, none of the companies who use those products will give you much of a warranty on them.  Why is that?  Is it because in reality, they really are not all that durable?

It’s interesting how people, even professionals, hold onto standards long after they have been supplanted by superior new products or technology.  Prefinished flooring may not be right for everyone, but on one thing we can all agree; very few surfaces will test a wood finish more vigorously than a floor.
In our opinion, building standards which are no longer valid are held onto not because of what we don’t know; more often, it is because of things we think we know, but about which we are mistaken.

We hope you will join us in furthering the new standards for wood finishing – and we’ll see you at the job site.

Design Answer: Too Much Stuff

Erin,

Not to worry!  You are not alone and can easily do a few things to brighten and de-clutter your space.  Because you won't be living in your new space for very long I want to suggest some temporary fixes that could help alleviate the clutter and chaos in your room and not break the bank.  All these items can be taken with you into your new home as well. 

1.  The Closet:  Maximize on storage capabilities!  This is the one area of the room you can "hide" what you can't part with.  What about a pretty sheet or tapestry to hang as doors so you won't be staring into the closet clutter every morning.  You can use a simple cable and ring system by attaching clipable loops to the fabric of your choice and then hanging it from cable you can buy at your local hardware store.    Ikea has the cable and clips for $4.99, and even sells fabric by the yard or drapery panels.  Check this out:

2. Open Shelving:  This area is always going to be something to keep clean so why not put something beautiful on it to enjoy!  Have any favorite books, artwork, or vases you would like to display?  Arrange them in threes- by color, shape, and size.  Meaning if you want it to look somewhat cohesive repeat one of the three design features at least three times.  Even better invest in some cute baskets to put loose items in and then stagger them on your shelves.

3.  Wall Art:  From your pictures it looks like your room in general is very white washed.  Why not add some fun color to liven up the room!  Because you won't be there long the investment and time into painting the walls doesn't seem to be worth it in your case.  However, it sounds like your an artist and might have some paintings or personal images you could use to bring some life into your room.  Try to pick items that will relate to each other in theme or size. Here are some cute wall tiles from Crate & Barrel:

Another trick is to use mirrors as art.  In small spaces mirrors bring in more light and add depth to your room.  Go to garage sales or your local thrift shop and start your own collection.  Here's an example from Pottery Barn:

4.  Pillows & Thorw:  Love your wooden canopy bed!  For splashes of more color you can purchase some fun throw pillows & matching throw.  Try to coordinate the colors with your new closet drapery.  For example these pillow from Hable Construction would look great with the Ikea drapery:

5.  Doggie Pad:  And of course you'll be squeezing your dog into this room so why not make their home as lovely as yours.  Check out these dogs rugs from Molly Mutt.  Your pooch will be the neighborhood envy!

Good luck Erin!  I hope some of this design advice can help your space be somewhere that you don't ever want to leave without a smile on your face :)

Design Question: Too Much Stuff

Problem: To much stuff for a small area

White Canvas Design I need your help! I am temporarily living in a small space and need your help with ways that I can organize and make my room a place to call home. Anything is better than the way it looks now. I have art supplies, books, school stuff, a dog, clothing and all the accessories. If possible I would like a place that I can relax, create (paint) and my dog has a space on the floor. I have already downsized considerably from a house to this room (stuff is still in storage) and I will be getting a larger place in the fall, so I don't really want to get rid of anything else. 

Your expert advise would be greatly appreciated!

Thanks, 

Erin Lyle

Dear Erin,

Check in tomorrow for suggestions on what to do

in your very fixable little space!

Sincerely,

White Canvas Designs

Miles Redd Lampshade

Love this idea from Miles Redd!
I've been looking for a different way to display fun photos.

Country Modern

 Who said you can't mix two worlds of design?  Check out this bedroom featured in Nest
All the bedrooms in the family's country house were painted in bright, bold colors. Aside from art, try to keep everything else in the room neutral with lots of white for bedding and furniture.

Countertop Compost Bin

"Can you recommend a countertop compost bin?
We would like to continue composting but we need to have something in the kitchen.
I would like it to be relatively small & easy on the design eye (& wallet).
Thanks,
Anonymous "

Hooray!  Finally, someone has emailed me to ask a design question....First it's good to know a little about the purpose of a compost bin.  A compost bin is meant to contain compostable food items in on odor free container until it can be better placed outdoors to completely compost into usable soil/fertilizer.  If you have a great jar or bowl with a lid these will easily work for this purpose.  Be advised that clear containers will display the decomposing process to all and isn't attractive when you are trying to cook a meal.  And the easier to clean the container the better!

But if are looking for something ready to buy try these options:

From Norpor this white ceramic composter is cute enough to sit on a countertop and also comes in red.  Starts around $19-

If your looking for a more organic look try this Bamboo compost pale from the Container Store for $39-

We use a stainless steel pale underneath our kitchen sink.  It's really easy to clean out and can be left on our countertop (as long as nothing has been too stinky in there).  Here is a similar one to what we have from Crate and Barrel for $39-

Compost pales are coming with carbon filters to squash the odor.  These need to be replaced every 6 months.  We don't use one and instead are diligent about emptying ours into our compost pile outside whenever a smell creeps in front of us.

AND if you really want the Rolls Royce of kitchen composting check out this composter from NatureMill:
Not cheap for $299 but it's pretty much idiot proof with ready to use compost in only 2 weeks!

With whatever you choose it's wonderful that you have chosen to compost to cut back on the burden in our landfills and instead invigorate your garden or lawn with an inexpensive and environmentally friendly process!  Keep up the good work!

Idyll Concept

Johan Lindstén’s Idyll Concept plays with the bittersweet emotions of dreaming through embroidery. Women of older generations used to stitch beautiful scenery that has since been forgotten, thrown away or left under-appreciated. This set of chairs mixes traditional home craft with contemporary design to create a vehicle to bring this art form back into play.

LEGO

What if building your own house was as easy as snapping together a bunch of LEGO bricks? Brace yourself: just such a set of industrial-sized building blocks exist, and they’re made from 100% recycled materials to boot! Designed by Ecomat, these colorful interlocking bricks are light weight, earthquake resistant, and can be used to build practically any structure you can think up.

Designed for both permanent and temporary constructions, Ecomat building blocks can be used to create sturdy structures in a snap. The 100% recycled plastic blocks provide good thermal and acoustic insulation, don’t require a specialized building team to install, and can be mounted without the use of mortar, which significantly speeds up construction times. Their versatility makes them a great building material for developing nations or emergency housing applications, and their light weight offers significant shipping emissions savings over heavier materials.
Constructing an entire Ecomat building is easy thanks to the blocks’ interlocking design. As for the roof, you’re on your own for now — there’s no snappy shingle-shaped blocks as of yet. The brilliant building blocks are currently on display at Milan Design Week in the “Sparkling: Ecologically Correct” show in Zona Tortona.

Mow Chair

 

 

At the 2010 Salone Internazionale del Mobile in Milano, a new line from the United Arab Emirates released an interesting approach to seating with the Mow Chair. Designed by architect Fadi Sarieddine for Local, a line of stylish yet practical furniture, gear and objects, was designed to be an organic, grassy solution to the grit of city terrain within your home. The Mow Chair acts as an indoor potted plant, an unorthodox bench, or a bittersweet aesthetic piece that proves “greening the world” is something we can take upon ourselves. It comes in 1, 2, and 3 seat options and is both designed and produced in Dubai.

Affordable Bathroom Re-Do

This is a great example of how to re-do a small bathroom without having major construction at home. Yucky old linoleum flooring, bad lighting, old plumbing and a dated wood accessories. 

Until the owner can do a proper remodel, they decided to do a cheap makeover. Some leftover paint, a new inexpensive faucet and lighting, addition of a chair rail, cheap lino peel and stick tiles, some items brought in from other spaces around their house to decorate and VOILA, a temporary fix to keep them happy.