A simple story of a man and his home. Take time to stop, engage and invite. You’ll never know what adventure you will go on…
Source: Departure/Arrival Films

This sculptural double-sided bench transforms as you ‘take a load off’. This was digitally designed to maximize 19 sheets of plywood with minimal waste. It looks like it would be comfortable…unless someone jumps on the other side!
See the original post here from the Contemporist

This is Part 1 of a series where we take a 1920’s era house and transform it into modern and fresh home for an old friend… not that we are old! Follow along (subscribe!) as we face many design, budget and construction decisions as well as navigate through the process of remodeling in an urban setting.

You always need some place to hang coats, hats, back packs, etc. in your entryway. Everything I saw had a traditional look or used the typical hooks and was frankly, uninspiring. Here is one I made using some scrap birch and walnut with some brass/steel rod. It was very simple to put together and has a clean, modern look. Click on the images to enlarge.

Here is an amazing video showing a unique way to see the architecture of Buenos Aires. I don’t know how many hours this took to put together but what a fun ride!
Source: Black Sheep Films

Artist Gary Schott utilizes his skills as a Metalsmith to create playful and beautiful mechanized objects. It is fun to see the simple made complex or the complex simplified in an artful way. Take a look for a quick smile!

This beautiful and poignant 9 minute film documents the passion and struggles of two small businesses in Los Angeles. Aardvark Letterpress and McManus & Morgan Paper are the last of their kind in a world forgetting about their craft. It is a powerful reminder to appreciate the history, skill and enthusiasm people have for their work. The film was Produced by Ben Proudfoot.

Today we speak with Bill Gautsche III of Pella Windows and Doors. Bill guides us in understanding what is important when selecting windows for your project. A few questions discussed include:
-What are the basic components that make up a quality window?
-What are the different types of windows?
-Clarify the difference of R-value versus U-value.
-What options are there for glass and what is important to be aware of?
-How are windows installed? New construction versus replacing existing units.
-What future technologies do you see related to windows?

Resources can be found at:
Pella and HERE for information and installation videos

Please subscribe to these podcasts also via iTunes. Search for the title ‘Design & Other Fun Stuff’.

Who would have thought that those little scrap pieces of paper we use to try out pens at the store could be interesting. Individual pictures were taken and combined in this 60 second video. The flickering of color and texture is mesmerizing. Take a look! Source: Ed Hobson

We are in the final design stretch! The details need to be refined, actual materials selected and, most importantly, make sure we are on track with the budget. The preliminary drawings are out for pricing and we hope to move forward so construction can start right away in the spring. Click on the images to see some of the interior concepts.

Panelized and factory prepped, this 30 story hotel in China was built in 15 days… once on site. There was much design and prep time completed prior to pull this off. Impressive non-the-less. Take a look at the time-lapse video to see it happen.
Source: Huffington Post

I personally don’t get it… We are so fortunate to have clean water delivered right to several rooms in our homes and even to ports on the exterior, but still we pay extra and use resources for ‘better’ water. Is it really better -and what truly is the impact of our choices? Check out this video by ‘The Story of Stuff‘ that breaks down the debate.