Françoise Bollack Architects (part 2)

Posted on Wed, 27 Oct 2010 by KiM

As I promised earlier today, here is project #2 from Françoise Bollack Architects. The detail is incredible – I am smitten with the hardwood floors, the deep windows, the moldings, the kitchen…

This project consists of the renovation of a four thousand square feet duplex in the Osborne Apartments, a New York City landmark located at 57th Street and 7th Avenue. The work includes combining two rooms to create a large kitchen, renovating all bathrooms and bedrooms. Sustainable “green” materials are used in several areas: cork for the kitchen floor, and IceStone counter tops (a green material made of recycled glass). New, properly counterweighted, double hung wood windows glazed with insulating, laminated glass will improve the performance of the exterior wall by controlling heat loss, heat gain and noise transmission. Our approach carefully knits the new with the old by using traditional materials installed with traditional methods and finishes specific to this particular building (an iridescent floor tile in the bathrooms for example).

  
  

  

  
Photos by Henrik Olund

Françoise Bollack Architects (part 1)

Posted on Wed, 27 Oct 2010 by KiM

I heard about Françoise Bollack Architects, based in New York City, through Anatoly Starr who works with the firm. He sent along some info on two projects and lots of fabulous photos which I am excited to share with you. First, a little intro: “Françoise Bollack Architects is a design oriented architectural firm founded in 1981 specializing in historic preservation, renovation and new design. The continued, spirited, reuse of our cultural and natural resources is the foundation of our design philosophy. We believe that new designs incorporating existing elements result in richer buildings. We provide fresh, inventive design solutions addressing the project’s circumstances – existing buildings, budget, quirks of the program, etc. – to create a new work, specific to its place, mindful of its tradition and alive in our time.

This first project is just a taste of what’s to come. Wait until you see the second project coming later today. GORG!!!

This project consists of the renovation of a nine hundred seventy-five square feet home in the Osborne Apartments, a New York City landmark located at 57th Street and 7th Avenue. Working with very tight space constraints, we designed a kitchen that works as a long, simple credenza within the living room. This reconfiguration of the kitchen/living room is not only functional, it recaptures the grand, original proportions of the main room. Our approach carefully knits the new with the old by using traditional materials and finishes specific to this particular building coupled with rich contemporary materials where appropriate (as in the new bathroom).

  

  
Photos by
Henrik Olund

Risa Boyer

Posted on Tue, 26 Oct 2010 by KiM

We recently received the following email from a reader named Cheryl: “I am an avid read of your blog and happen to know a very talented architect that you might like! Her name is Risa Boyer and she has an amazing talent for incorporating clean, modern architecture with mid century elements while maintaining the original integrity of the home. Her 35th Ave and 3806 projects are my favorite.” I checked out Risa’s website and completely agree that she has amazing talent. Below are photos from Cheryl’s favourite projects of Risa’s (they’re my favs too) and a couple other projects. (Thanks for the tip Cheryl!)

  

Monday’s pets on furniture – part 2

Posted on Mon, 25 Oct 2010 by KiM

If you’d like to send us photos to include in next week’s “pets on furniture” post, please ensure your photos follow our basic rules: First, the pet must be on a piece of furniture. And said piece of furniture must be clearly visible in the photo, so it takes center stage rather than your pet. (Think of it more of a photo of a great piece of furniture that you want to show off…and your pet happens to be sitting on it). And second, the photo must be of decent quality. If it’s dark or fuzzy (from a camera phone) then it may not make the cut. Thanks! (Photos, your name, location and a brief description can be sent to desiretoinspirekim@hotmail.com and PLEASE don’t send me closeups of your pet!)

This is Bear. He usually just likes sitting on laps, but looks pretty good on this red chair.
– Hillary

This is Max, our oldest cat sleeping in the sun on an old chair (one of a pair) that my husband rescued from the trash.  All I did was strip the layers of brown paint off the arms and legs.  The pleather is awesome–way easier to clean off the cat hair!
– Cheryl (Halifax, NS)

This is ‘Puce’ (meaning ‘Flea’ in French) my parents little dog in Cognac, France. Here he is sitting on this lovely little chair in the garden of their home.
– Zoe

Slightly chewed Dux armchair + Oliver and Flora
– Leah (Oakland, CA)

My gals Ripley and Scout, ten years old and ladies of leisure…
– Sarah

Jackie O, is a pekashu with taste! instead of napping and lounging in her newly made (by moi) vintage suitcase dogbed (photo attached) she much prefers velvet tufted chairs.
Melissa (Seattle, WA)

Our puggle, Bean, seems to find comfort in the most unusual positions.
– Faith (Minneapolis, MN)

Below is Poochi Payne, my 9 yr. old rat terrier, hanging out on my loveseat. If not picked up to sit on furniture he will huff away in an indignant snit!
Poochi Payne hanging out on my carpet. He NEVER sits on the floor if there’s a layer. If there’s no rug or layer, he’ll stand with a “no thanks I’ll pass” look.

– Juliana

My friend’s dog Diiva is fun character and a real Diva. She has won the Jack Russel World champion title some year’s ago. Here she is resting in my house on an inherited 40’s chair. The pillow is made by me of fabric swatches.
Tuuli (Helsinki, Finland)

Monday’s pets on furniture – part 1

Posted on Mon, 25 Oct 2010 by KiM

If you’d like to send us photos to include in next week’s “pets on furniture” post, please ensure your photos follow our basic rules: First, the pet must be on a piece of furniture. And said piece of furniture must be clearly visible in the photo, so it takes center stage rather than your pet. (Think of it more of a photo of a great piece of furniture that you want to show off…and your pet happens to be sitting on it). And second, the photo must be of decent quality. If it’s dark or fuzzy (from a camera phone) then it may not make the cut. Thanks! (Photos, your name, location and a brief description can be sent to desiretoinspirekim@hotmail.com and PLEASE don’t send me closeups of your pet!)

Here’s my dog Chewbacca on a suitcase-turned-petbed I recently made.”
Judy (Ventura County, California)

My English Bulldog Vixen, is obsessed with squirrels. When she isn’t sleeping, she’s usually perched here planning her next attack on the squirrels in the back yard.
– Jennifer (Charlotte, NC)

Lily Pearl Bibb Glynn, (a Coton de Tulear), lounges perfectly on the upper west side in Manhattan.
– Kathleen

This is Norman, my 5 year old Bernese Mountain Dog. He loves my new plush leather furniture, especially the chair, which he barely fits into. He’s size XL for a Berner, around 120 lbs of luv but he squeezes himself in to this thing every night and snores away.
– Lisa (St. Paul, MN)

I’ve been meaning to take some shots of my Chihuahua Pete on various furniture for consideration of your Pet’s on the Furniture feature – in the last few shots he’s on an antique dining chair.
Carrie

1. My lynx point himalayan cat, Toulouse, sitting on a vintage radio/side table that I found in my grandparents’ attic and had restored. And yes, it still works!
2. My shih tzu, Molly, resting in her favorite spot on our sofa.
3.  Toulouse and Molly together…

– Leah, Molly, and Toulouse Jacob (New Orleans, LA)

I love this series, so attached is a photo of my two pugs Leroy & George “helping” us install our new kitchen cabinets in our concrete block 1950s home. They’ve been great so far, always right under foot in case we need a break from holding up the cabinets to pet a pug.
– Krista (Santa Barbara, CA)

This is an image of my French Bulldog Sophie in our NYC apartment.  We were playing domino’s one night with friends and she was begging to sit in my lap, and this is what we ended up with!  We didn’t pose her, she just wanted to be part of the action!
– Kirstin

Love the Monday post for Pets on Furniture and wanted to submit a photo of our little Louie – and a cool vintage chair, too! We call this Mad Men Louie, inspired by the retro velvet chair and stocked bar cart. I think she takes after her moms in her need for a drink after a long day of…. well, sleeping in her case!
– Jen & Loreal (San Francisco, CA)