Designlog

Thoughts on the new bronze appliances, etc.

What do you think about bronze appliances, starting to be shown in the high-end lines and on TV Home Design shows?  I think they are interesting, even very pretty, but should be used only in appropriate design situations.  I've been hearing rumblings from people who don't want to use stainless appliances anymore because now 'everybody' is using them!  Well, there could be a point there, but I say we all need to consider the best color for the individual environment we're trying to create.

For example, in my own home that I'm now remodeling, I want a soft, light contemporary look; it is located on a lake, with expansive views of the water, and I want to maintain that look inside also.  So I am using stainless appliances in my kitchen, along with emerald pearl granite, clear maple cabinetry and a to-the-ceiling backsplash of horizontally-mixed water-toned glass tiles.  Any other color would have overpowered this color balance, so the softness of stainless was just right. 

It's all about BALANCE!  In a Tuscan-type interior, bronze appliances would be wonderful!  Often, biscuit is still the best choice, and white can be wonderful too.  Don't forget black - elegant in the right situation.  I just say do what's best for your interior plan, and forget the trends.  As soon as everyone starts abandoning one trend because it's 'overdone', they simply create another trend, and it goes on and on. 

We are definitely seeing this happen with granite countertops; now that they appear in even spec homes, higher-end clients are looking for something else.  That's fine - sometimes - but there are so many varieties of granite, and it still is an excellent countertop material. . .so avoid ruling it out based on trends alone.  It still could be your best choice. 

Personal style is the goal!  Decide what 'look' you're going for, then find the best, most qualified material, regardless of what you see on TV or in the stores.  Stay true to your vision!

OK, who disagrees?  I'd like to hear!

Landscaping made easy

Hi everyone!  While working on a nursing home project, I searched and searched for plant material that fit all my needs. . . hardy, easy-care, disease and bug-resistant, and of course, beautiful!  I needed a plant to soften a long wall, but it couldn't require so much care as to not be cost-effective.  I found the series called 'flower carpet roses', which are everything I wanted! 

Flower carpet roses have been bred to be relatively care-free landscape additions.  Depending on the color variety, they either mound or spread out.  Either way, they are considered ground cover plants, though most get to be around 30" wide and 30" tall - some varieties get taller, while a few spread out wider.  They bloom profusely from early spring to frost, and do not require deadheading, spraying, or inordinate amounts of water!  Like any plant, you should water well until they're established, but then they are rather drought-tolerant.  Unlike many roses, pruning is almost optional; it is recommended that you cut them back by 1/3rd in the winter, though even that is not necessary if you're trying to encourage thicker growth.  What a beautiful solution to soften the long wall!  Varieties range from coral, to red, yellow and pink.  The red and pink varieties have bright yellow centers, providing a nice contrast - all have dark, glossy green leaves. 

I picked one up at Lowe's over the weekend, planning to try it in my home landscape.  I'll keep you posted on how it works out! If anyone out there has experiences with carpet roses to share, I'd love to hear!

Ever wanted to design your own chair?

If so Grand Rapids Chair Company is what your looking for, and you can have complete access to their lines here through DTE. Let's get creative with Grand Rapids Chairs. If you want to create a signature look for your next project, you’re in the right place. DTE along with Grand Rapids can offer more choices, more flexibility to handle special requests, more ability to customize standard product — we’ll even let you design your own chair! Whatever you select, you can count on superior craftsmanship, comfort, durability and value. All Grand Rapids chairs are made here in the good ole USA. So go ahead – let your imagination go wild, let DTE help you design YOUR chair!   

Hey Toto! Did you see that Green Town?

On the night of May 4, 2007, 95% of homes and businesses were destroyed by a massive EF5 tornado that was nearly 2 miles wide in Greensburg, Kansas. Although this storm was devastating to the community, they are now presented with an incredible opportunity to show the world their strength and to create a new future for those who will live there. Greensburg City Council has approved a resolution that all city building projects will be built to LEED Platinum level standards. This makes them the first city in the United States to do this and it shows the world "how green a town can become."

The Discovery Channel is filming a series about Greensburg that will air starting in June on their new network, Planet Green.

Sittris

Awesome new chairs. Check them out! And then let us work with you to see how we can use these in your space!

Each year, more than two million people in the United States acquire an infection during a hospital stay. An estimated 90,000 of these people die. This is a serious challenge that burdens both the financial and human resources of health care institutions.

This is why  Sittris, a company dedicated to seating specifically designed for health care situations. Whether it is supporting infection control, aiding in the staff access to patients to facilitate care, or assisting the special needs of bariatric patients, all Sittris products have been designed with the health care professional in mind.

Using a variety of innovative germ-resistant materials, including their own proprietary Siliform®, all Sittris products are designed to discourage bacterial growth, resist stains and be easily cleaned.

Simply put, it is clean seating that stays clean.

Blik & 3 Form

So While going through my morning mail today, I found a note from a fellow designer I stay in contact with. She sent me a link to a pretty interesting site. Blik is what it is called. Here you can search their library of surface graphics that are over sized, self-adhesive, removable decals that allow anyone to quickly & easily create decorative patterns or custom wall murals for home or office. Now if you are going to use something this interesting in your home or office, you have to have something equally as cool to pull it all together. This is where 3-Form comes in. 3 Form is a company who let you be the designer. They take a panel and let you chose the color, design, and any material you would like to incorporate into it, and when it's complete you can use it as doors, accent walls, flooring, counter tops, ceilings. The list goes on and on. So check out these sites, and give us a call to see what we can do for you!

New Teknion Fitz Chair

Fitz is a high-performance task chair based on a fundamental idea - the principal of fit. Fitz was created around ISO 9241 - the Ergonomics of Human System Interaction. This fundamental international standard provides ergonomic requirements for office employees using visual display terminals.

Specifically designed to address global anthropometrics - defined as the measurement of the size, weight and proportions of the human body - Fitz has translated the most demanding dimensional requirements of ergonomic guidelines into a broader range of adjustability, complying with the following internationally recognized standards:

• EN 1335 (European office work chair standards)
• NPR (Dutch guidelines - the most stringent)
• JIS S 1032-2004 (Japanese guidelines)
• CGSB 44.232-2002 (Canadian General Standards Board)
• ANSI/BIFMA G1-2002 (American National Standards Institute)
• ANSI/BIFMA X5.1-2002 (Safety and Performance Standards)

With such an extended range of adjustments to support the seating needs of an internationally diverse population, Fitz is the closest seating product on the market to a one-size-fits-all office task chair.

New and Improved DTE Interiors.com

Finally, we have spent several months working on the new website. When you get a chance, please stop by and look around. Don't forget to sign up for our newsletter, which will be sent out bi-monthly. Check back with us, we are always adding new items to the website!!

More-is-More Morris!

Morris Lapidus - have you heard that name?

I hadn't, but now that I know it, I don't know how I missed it before!  Just picture the posh 1950's resort of Miami Beach, with all their curvy lines and over-the-top details - such as the Fountainbleu, which was featured in James Bond's Goldfinger.  That whole look was the result of one architect's before-his-time work. . .Morris Lapidus!  He was a Russian immigrant, who went to architecture school at Columbia, then proceeded to spend the first 20 years of his career designing innovative interiors and facades for retail stores!  Then along came a commission for the Fountainbleu, and the rest, as they say, is history!

Dissed by the architecture and design community during his heydey - Morris received the major awards and acclaim towards the end of his life, when the rest of the world caught up to his Postmodernist ideas.  Some of the words he coined for his designs are "woggles", "cheeseholes", and "beanpoles" - all relate to shapes and motifs he used over and over, which became synonymous with his work. . .work he later called the "Architecture of Joy".  Indeed, he knew how to have fun with design while keeping in mind the utility of the space.  His theatrical designs are all the rage again, as we begin to leave behind the minimalist ethic of the past few years.  Look for his name - I bet you'll see it again!

Waterless Urinals

If you have a client interested in Green Design, than you might want to look into waterless urinals.

I have to admit, at first I wasn't sold on the idea but after doing more research, I would consider specifying them for a client.  My initial thought was there is no way this product could be sanitary, but it's actually more so than the standard water flush urinal.  I found through my research, that urine by itself is actually odorless until it chemically reacts with air and water.  So the urine smell can be avoided by not adding water into the mix.  Another interesting fact is that the powerful flushing mechanisms on urinals can actually spread bacteria into the air.  So by eliminating the the flushing mechanism on the urinal the product is more sanitary than standard models, and we haven't even discussed the water savings! 

Another benefit is that they are less expensive to install than standard flush urinals.  Clients don't have to put as much money into water supply lines and other additional plumbing costs.  The waterless urinals only require drain lines in new construction.

Falcon Waterfree Technologies has some great literature on all the advantages and environmental benefits that waterless urinals have to offer.  Check them out at www.falconwaterfree.com  You can read more about how the product actually works.

What do you think about this product?  Have you done more research?  Received different facts or better yet have specified them and have feedback?  I would love to hear!