Displaying posts from November, 2011

Craig Steely

Posted on Mon, 28 Nov 2011 by midcenturyjo

Clean modernist lines address the site and explore the relationship between the inside and out. Craig Steely Architecture, based in San Francisco and Hawaii, explores what is possible, sustainable and stylish. If a site is a challenge then Steely not only accepts the challenge but his solutions are elegant and environmentally sound. Steep sites in San Francisco, modern renewal of old houses needing more than just a face lift and homes taking root in lava flows. It’s about respecting a space and building a future, and a home, from there.

Random on a Sunday

Posted on Sun, 27 Nov 2011 by KiM

Hey folks. Things are a little nuts here at casa di cats so I thought I’d just show you some of what I’ve been doing lately. Hope you don’t mind.
First, I published a post on my page yesterday on the subject of something not interior design related but do have a looksie here because I think it’s pretty cool.
Second, Jo shared a post last weekend of her office, so I thought I’d share a bit of mine. You see, my husband moved in to what is now OUR house a year ago last May and we attempted to share the tiny office at the back of the house. That did not go over so well so I relocated to the only other available space – the dining table in the middle of the kitchen. My laptop and I have been there ever since. Kind of annoying but hopefully this time next year I will have a fantastic office on the third level of our new house (more on that shortly). Anyway, I took some photos of my “new office” a while ago and thought I’d share some of them. Of course, they feature some of our fur children. Consider this a prelude to tomorrow’s Pets on furniture feature. 😉

Here is a shot of the kitchen with my laptop in “my spot”. In this one Mimin is on the table in her basket (made out of old tires), Felix is on the Panton chair, Milo is slightly visible behind the chair, and Felix is to the left (the others were napping).

Here’s a cute one of Felix looking up at me and Mimin wanting some love.

Here is the same cast of characters as the first shot, but Edgar and Milo switched spots.

After the jump, I’ve got something I’ve been working on with my husband when I’m not blogging or studying French. Our plans for our new house. A little recap (for those who don’t know what’s going on, and I frankly can’t remember what I’ve mentioned of this here): In the spring my husband and I started planning renovations to our 925 sq ft house which included a large addition and reworking the upper floor (see posts here and here). Work was supposed to start early summer….then late summer….then fall….and it was when we got feedback from the city that we discovered the architect our builder had set us up with had no freaking clue about the rules of building houses here in Ottawa and the plans we had submitted were essentially garbage. (We were really sorry to see the designs that our designers Dylan and Thu had created for us go to waste). We decided to scrap the architect, the builder, the plans – everything – and start fresh. Really fresh. We decided to tear the house down and rebuild. My husband and I managed to come up with some drawings (done by hand) that we think may work (based on a few phone calls with the city). Considering that I am a programmer and my husband is a network administrator and we’ve never designed a house before, we are slightly clueless so I’d love to get your thoughts. 🙂 And for reference, the plans are loosely based on this home I blogged last month.

Now I want one of these as well

Posted on Sat, 26 Nov 2011 by midcenturyjo

A vine covered courtyard with two butterfly chairs. And I don’t even have a courtyard! Damn you real estate stalking! (Don’t want that ugly BBQ though. The vendors can keep that!)

Styled for sale

Posted on Sat, 26 Nov 2011 by midcenturyjo

Sometimes when I’m real estate stalking I come across a house that I know just has to be styled for the listing. Who has tin cans and mineral water neatly lined up in the kitchen but no fridge? Who’s kids’ rooms are so tidy they are almost sterile and who has a garden setting perfectly placed mid shot in the garden? As much as this is obviously staged there are some ideas to steal and it seems yellow is the colour to make your listing stand out. Whatever you do though please do not faint when you see the $1 million plus price tag of this Redfern, Sydney terrace house. No wonder they needed to stage it! Bring out the big guns to try to get the big bucks. Ouch. Link here while it lasts.

More bedrooms that do it for me

Posted on Fri, 25 Nov 2011 by KiM