Displaying posts from November, 2014

Corrugated

Posted on Thu, 13 Nov 2014 by midcenturyjo

A modern take on the Australian corrugated shed vernacular this interior alteration to an existing 3 bedroom 1919 house provides open plan living, dining and kitchen with study mezzanine above while sheilding the rear of the house from the prying eyes of the residents of the large block of apartments behind. Tamarama Semi-Detached by David Langston-Jones.

An infill project in Toronto

Posted on Wed, 12 Nov 2014 by KiM

I have always been intrigued by infill projects (especially over the past couple of years when I thought I was going to take on my own infill build). To see what an architect can come up with – does it blend with neighbouring homes, does it stick out like a sore thumb? And how does it make use of the typically small parcel of land it inhabits? In this case it is a much more modern residence than the surrounding 1920s homes, but it works. The exterior brick and the peaked rook mimics the homes on either side. And a simple yet brilliant idea to have a strip of different flooring material on the ground floor to give the impression of a corridor. Kudos to Drew Mandel Architects on this one. 

New around my house

Posted on Wed, 12 Nov 2014 by KiM

Having just ended a four day weekend, I managed to get some photos taken around my house and get them organized for a couple of posts. This first post is to show you the new dining chairs I purchased, along with a few rugs to help hide my hideous floors. As I hinted a couple of weeks ago, I got my hands on a set of eight vintage reproduction tulip chairs, from Benjamin Curran in Montreal. Yes, EIGHT. GIDDY UP! They are fantastic for repros – the bases are steel and the seats are fibreglass. They are upholstered in a chocolate brown velvet which I am slowly learning to love – especially the velvet part. When it comes time to vacuum up the cat fur it’s a breeze, so I think the velvet will stick around a while. Or I need to find some other colour of velvet to reupholster them with. Please keep in mind with these photos that I have done nothing with this room except purchase the light fixture and credenza. I need a new larger dining table, paint, new curtains, a new rug (this one makes the chairs look really beige which is driving me nuts – I’m on the hunt for a replacement to the cowhide) and whatever else I can come up with.




A couple of weekends ago my husband and I took a drive out to check out the Third World Bazaar in Manotick. They are open 6 weekends a year around Thanksgiving, and carry beautiful products sourced from around the world – Bangladesh, Namibia, South Africa, Kenya, Guatemala, Indonesia etc. I try to go every year (my sister’s godmother Brenda Cavaciutti helps run it – it’s one of the only times I get to see her) and always come home with a car full of goodies. This year it was all about rugs, required to help hide my yellow/orange stained hardwood floors. I found 3 small rugs – wool kilims from Morocco, Pakistan and India. I have 2 in the living room and 1 in the foyer. The cats freaking LOVE them. Which is great seeing how easy it is to get cat fur off of wool (that was a totally sarcastic remark). They’re doing the trick though so I can’t complain. P.S. This weekend is the last chance to hit the bazaar this year so GO!!!

Food for thought

Posted on Wed, 12 Nov 2014 by midcenturyjo

Somewhere to feed the soul. Somewhere to feed the body. And somewhere to do both. What? Don’t you read books and munch on a snack in the bath? This somewhere by Laurent Bourgois.

Manzara Ayvalik

Posted on Wed, 12 Nov 2014 by midcenturyjo

Perfectly imperfect. Manzara Ayvalik by Istanbul architects Gabi Kern-Altındiş and Erdoğan Altındiş. Modern minimalism within a once crumbling historic shell in a village on the Aegean Sea. See. What did I say? Perfectly imperfect. Available to let as a holiday home it’s my Wednesday daydream. I’m packing my swimsuit in my mind. More via Manzara Istanbul and Urlaubs Architektur.