воскресенье, 31 января 2010 г.

Home-my-Home

Home-my-Home

Featured Project: Transforming a Lower Level Into a Colorado Ski Lodge

Posted: 30 Jan 2010 09:55 AM PST

This is a guest post by Mark Mackmiller of mackmiller.com. In this post Mack shares how his company mackmiller design+build was able to transform an unfinished lower level into the family’s (client’s) favorite spot - Colorado Ski Lodge - Steamboat Springs. Mack also provided us with before and after pictures and the work looks simply amazing. In this post Mack talks about design and project challenges along with solutions they came up with. The images are located at the end of this post.

Company Information

mackmiller design+build is an award winning, full service, design build remodeling company in the Twin Cities. Managing sales, design and project management of distinctive residential remodeling projects such as lower level buildouts, kitchen and bath remodels, additions, and total home makeovers. Listening carefully to our clients needs, we propose solutions and work with the client to craft a unique solution for them and their budget. While working in the clients home, we respect it as our own and take great effort to contain the project and make it as painless as possible for the client. We've been featured in Mpls-St Paul Magazine, Eden Prairie Magazine, Qualified Remodeler, Remodeling Today, Southwest Journal, HGTV’s Bang for Your Buck, Fine Homebuilding and numerous other publications and websites. mackmiller design+build has been honored with 15 design awards in the last 15 months. mackmiller.com 952-949-8600.

Design Challenge

This family of six wanted to duplicate the feeling of their favorite Colorado ski lodge - Steamboat Springs - in their unfinished lower level. The design team accepted the challenge creating an authentic lodge look without the hassle or expense of a plane ticket. From the moment you descend the staircase and grab the driftwood handrail, you know you are going someplace special. Upon completion of the space, more than one visitor exclaimed, "this looks just like Steamboat!" Mission accomplished. The family's desire was for the "lodge feel" to serve as a backdrop to several specific uses of the space. They wanted a cozy TV room with a wood burning fireplace, a game area for a ping-pong table and game table, storage for games with counter space for food when entertaining, a kitchenette for beverages and making snacks, an exercise room with a rubber floor, a bathroom, a future workshop, and a large storage room.

  • Transform an unfinished basement into a ski lodge getaway
  • Use unconventional materials to achieve “the look”
  • Combine the ambience of the old with the comforts of the new
  • Get rid of the basement feel
  • Do something creative to get rid of the HVAC ductwork running below the ceiling joists
  • Provide multiple uses in a coherent space
  • Accessorize with authentic artifacts to enhance lodge feel

Project Challenges

  • Ceiling Modification Challenge - Here is a creative response to a chronic challenge. The unfinished lower level was a great blank canvas with the exception of the HVAC chases that extended 4' into the main TV room and if simply boxed in, would have a lopsided ceiling height change interfering with the fireplace. The chase also protruded 3' into the game room/kitchenette area and down the main hallway. The 9' ceiling height made the fix possible.
  • Which Wood To Use and How Much - Many rustic designs overwhelm the senses with too much wood and too many species. Doors, cabinets, wall and ceiling coverings, trim and furniture are often a hodgepodge of woods. They overpower a project with too many surfaces and wood objects. You begin to feel lost in the forest.
  • Minding the Details - Another problem with using reclaimed wood is maintaining the rustic continuity. Many projects using rustic or reclaimed materials are surfaced with joined edges. The authenticity of the wood is diminished by not attending to the edges of the wood. They also cut out the charm and character of the aged wood.
  • Aging the Walls - The other area that is typically overlooked in a rustic design is the wall finish. Have you ever been in a vintage lodge with wood screaming with aged charm and find perfectly smooth sheetrock walls? Never; but that’s where most rustic remodeling projects miss the mark.
  • Decorative Touches - Too many rustic items are just plain tacky. Too many bears and moose, furniture frames overpowered with clunky logs, too many tourist trap novelties, and poor hardware selections can sink a good project.
  • The Handrail - Setting the Mood - The homeowners were adamant about setting the mood the moment they opened the door at the top of the stairs. The job was sold with the promise of a one-of-a-kind handrail. We had a vision of it our mind, and asked them to trust us on the design, delivery and execution.

Project Solutions Included

  • Ceiling Modification Solution – Hiding ductwork in the TV room and hallway by lowering the ceiling to 7'-6" resulted in a cozier feel. Perimeter soffiting in the game room/kitchenette area hid the trunk lines and gave the illusion of a higher ceiling and had the secondary function of serving as a focal point for the gaming area. The ceiling modifications solved one of the biggest challenges of a lower level remodeling project that is removing the "basement feel" resulting from non-symmetric ceiling heights covering HVAC chases. The use of tongue and grooved, beveled, cedar planks converted the ceiling into a decorative element in its own right.
  • Wood Choices and Quantity – To minimize a hodgepodge feel, we used only two species of wood. Reclaimed white pine barn board, lightly planed to keep the aged character of the wood. This was used for doors, cabinets, trim and wainscoting. The other wood was a knotty cedar for the ceiling. The homeowner’s budget precluded us from using a reclaimed material for the ceiling. We were careful not to overuse the amount of wood in the project. We wanted to express warmth through color other than wood tones.
  • Minding the Details – Using the barn board for the cabinets and doors required convincing the cabinetmaker and door maker to leave their fine woodworking skills behind and think like a pioneer. No wood was joined (except for door panels), every edge was eased with a wavering block plane. Knots, bullet holes, gouges, old paint, saw marks and every other imperfection were embraced for the story they represented. The homeowner’s favorite feature is the perfectly square, hand chiseled mortise in the fireplace mantle. It makes for a great conversation piece.
  • Aging the Walls – There is nothing more incongruous than rustic features and smooth sheetrock walls, especially white sheetrock walls. To give the walls an aged look we used a two-tone yellow, coarse Venetian plaster. Due to budget constraints, the Venetian plaster was eliminated from the exercise room.
  • Decorative Touches – Extreme care went into the selection of the furniture and decorative items, trying to get the right balance of old and new. Many of the pictures and knickknacks were culled from hours of antique shopping in small towns in northern Minnesota and Wisconsin. The furniture is mainly reproductions made to look worn. Rust colored cabinet knobs, pulls and bath accessories along with oil rubbed bronze faucets, square cut hinges and knobs round out the step-back-in-time feel.
  • The Handrail - Setting the Mood – Sometimes great ideas are simple in concept and harder execute. The railing construction began by scavenging riverbanks and lakeshores for driftwood of many shapes. Next was selecting the right piece for the right spot. The top of the newel post looks like a beaver just gnawed it. The railing was a real jigsaw puzzle. Joining it all into a sturdy handrail system that the inspector would approve of, was a combination of good carpentry skills, fast setting epoxy, and artistic luck. The resulting handrail wowed the homeowners and their friends. It sets the mood for a Colorado ski lodge getaway every time they descend the stairs.

Before and After Pictures

We would like to thank Mark Mackmiller and his team at mackmiller design+build for sharing their project with us.
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суббота, 30 января 2010 г.

Home-my-Home

Home-my-Home

Carmix - Your Personal Concrete Mixer Truck

Posted: 29 Jan 2010 07:58 PM PST

Out of all the work trucks we saw at the 2010 Builders' Show the Carmix One was the coolest.

It's a self-loading concrete mixer that's perfect for when you need a lot more concrete than a wheel barrow can provide and you need it in multiple spots quickly. It's also small enough to be more nimble and manageable than a full-size mixer truck which is overkill for most projects.

Solving Chandelier Access Problems with an Aladdin Light Lift

Posted: 29 Jan 2010 01:44 PM PST

Don't we all have a problem with trying to dust our chandeliers? Ok, maybe not all of us. But for those that do chandeliers are a mecca for cobwebs and dust. They are just too high and too delicate to reach.

Of course at the 2010 Builders' Show there was a manufacturer that specializes in light lifts which are perfect for cleaning large ornamental lights as well as gaining access to change bulbs.

The Aladdin Light Lift is installed using a system of pulleys and cables that is controlled from a remote switch on your wall that allows you to lower and lift the light as needed.

Hot Edge Prevents Icicles and Ice Dams

Posted: 29 Jan 2010 12:45 PM PST

Falling icicles can be dangerous to you and heavy ice dams can be a detriment to your home. We came across the HOT EDGE at the 2010 Builders' Show which looks like a great solution.

It lines your existing gutter and melts ice and snow away from the edge of your roofline which is the most troublesome area. It doesn't waste energy heating your entire roof as that part of the structure can handle the weight, unlike your gutters and roof edge.

Wine Storage Wow!

Posted: 29 Jan 2010 11:50 AM PST

There was plenty of luxury on display at the 2010 Builders' Show and it is no more apparent than in the wine storage sector.

VintageView from the Wine Master Cellars is a wine-lovers dream. They were the first wine storage company to create a label-forward wine racking display system instead of the traditional cork forward display. Now you can really show off your vintage without pulling bottles.

These systems are in place in the finest restaurants and hotels throughout the world but you can also have one of these installed at home. Hey it's just money!

Water Heaters Have Gone Hybrid

Posted: 29 Jan 2010 11:33 AM PST



Tankless water heaters have been the rage for sometime but if you still crave a more traditional water heater but want the energy savings then you may want to consider the Hybrid Water Heater from GE which we saw at the 2010 Builders Show.

It's the first water heater to be to be listed on the U.S. Department of Energy's website as Energy Star rated. GE claims it will reduce energy expenses up to 62%, saving as much as $320 annually on energy bills. This is achieved through a unique technology in addition to electric power explained below.

Beautiful Entertainment Centers for Large Screen Televisions

Posted: 29 Jan 2010 11:24 AM PST

Did you just purchase that huge 72" plasma television? Does it now take up your one entire free wall and leave you no room for placement of other items? Check out the newly styled entertainment centers made specifically for housing today's larger televisions and provide compartments and storage areas for other items such as stereo or gaming components.

Media Cabinets and Entertainment Centers Come In Many Styles

These entertainment and media cabinets come in beautiful materials and lend themselves wonderfully to any style. Some units offer a hidden compartment for your television which keeps the unit from view when not in use.

Lifting Mechanisms Add Even More Functionality

When you are ready to watch your new television, a touch of a button turns on a lifting mechanism which raises the television from its lower compartment. This feature allows your TV to be neatly hidden away when not in use.

Newly styled entertainment centers can hold all of your media and entertainment components and also be a beautiful furniture addition to your living room or den.

DirectBuy offers a wide selection of home entertainment equipment and media centers to help you make your home both functional and stylish with brand-name furniture from leading manufacturers.

Unexpected Color Combos for the Kitchen

Posted: 29 Jan 2010 09:12 AM PST

I came across some beautiful, yet unexpected color combos on HGTV. It's amazing! I never would have considered these colors before. Here are a few of my favorites.

Green & Silver

We've seen green and pink, green and brown, green and blue… but this flat, muted shade with shiny silver creates real elegance and has a calming effect. Punch up the energy with darker shades of green in everything from lime to kelly.

Red & White

Nothing says bold like one or more red walls, even more so when contrasted with bright white cabinetry. Here, the lighting softens the look to make it striking, not shocking.

Black & Blue

In shades from slate to periwinkle, blue is an unusual choice to pair with black in a kitchen, but a creative one nevertheless. As opposed to natural-tone cabinetry, it really creates "a look." This kitchen has style yet maintains its warmth.

Black & White

While black and white may not be an unusual pairing, outside of retro-style kitchens, it's usually seen with a ton of another color. But with shiny surfaces and accoutrements, such as stainless steel, glass vessels and lots of natural lighting, it creates a surprisingly soft and approachable feel.

Photo Credit: HGTV

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Choosing a Vessel Sink Design For Your Bathroom

Posted: 29 Jan 2010 02:00 AM PST

Vessel sinks are the hottest new trend in bathroom design. In many ways, vessel sinks are a throwback to a time before plumbing when people washed up each morning in elaborate china basins that sat atop their bedroom vanities. During Victorian times these beautiful China fixtures were paired with matching floral and gilt pitchers to hold the water, and some people still collect these sets. Vessel sinks are a beautiful new take on an old idea.

Today's vessel sinks offer many more choices than their Victorian counterparts. Copper vessel sinks enhance Arts & Crafts Revival decor in bungalows and foursquare homes.

Ceramic and pottery vessel sinks make charming accents for modern country bathrooms.
To choose the perfect vessel sink for your decorating style, start by matching material to design. Some of the most popular vessel sink materials include:

Copper - Copper has always been popular in kitchens, but with the resurgence in popularity of sleek Arts & Crafts cabinetry and fixtures, copper vessel sinks are coming back in a big way. Look for hammered antique finishes, verdigris effects, or smooth glossy copper surfaces. Copper does dent easily but also has the advantage of being a natural germ repellent.

Glass - Glass is the most popular of all materials used for vessel sinks. A glass vessel sink can be purchased for as little as $100, all the way up to thousands of dollars for specialty or hand blown glass. Glass comes in a range of colors and effects, but do keep in mind it must be cleaned with each use.

Stainless Steel - Stainless steel vessel sinks look great with industrial or ultramodern decor, or next to a stainless stove or wet bar with stainless accessories. Stainless steel can be noisy though, and it does show water spots. Look for heavy gauge stainless to help keep noise to a minimum.


Rug and Slipper Combo

Posted: 29 Jan 2010 01:51 AM PST

Who knew it would work out so well...or not.

[via Gizmodo]

Follow Us on Twitter and Facebook

Posted: 29 Jan 2010 12:43 AM PST

The conversation right now is on Twitter. If you love home improvement and DIY you'll find many great writers, bloggers, magazines, company reps and a few remodeling celebs (@BobVila) on Twitter.

Make sure you follow us @Charles_Hudson as we tweet from events, industry tradeshows and often break giveaways and share home building news throughout the day.

We are also building our Facebook community at facebook.com/charlesandhudson. We post our most popular articles and share other websites that we love.

Join us on Facebook
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Scribbly Cool Coat Rack

Posted: 28 Jan 2010 01:27 PM PST

Hanging your coat is fun again. Well, perhaps it never was. But now that it incorporates coloring, maybe you'll be less apt to sling your slicker over the back of a chair.

The steel and elastic coat hanger line by Slastic comes with five pencils in a rainbow of colors. Throw coats on the hangers, and the weight draws the pencils down the wall, leaving colorful scribbles in its wake.

Designed by Ana Mir and Emili Padros for Moustache, the look can be made either fun and splashy or surprisingly sophisticated when combined with other artwork.

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The Multifaceted Bolster Pillow

Posted: 28 Jan 2010 12:25 PM PST

Bolster pillows really don't get enough credit. People are always talking about bed pillows and throw pillows but bolster pillows, not so much. Bolster pillows are wonderful accent accessories and can serve several purposes without losing their shape.

Cylindrical Bolster Pillows Come in Varying Lengths and Girths

They make wonderful safety pads when used as a bumper on the interior of baby cribs. Use them on the bed , floor , or sofa as a neck or knee support while you read or relax. You have hundreds of choices for fabric coverings, even waterproof material, which means you can even use bolster pillows outside while you're working on your tan. So you see, the bolster pillow really is multifaceted. Get one for every room in your home and a couple for outside too!

Shopping at DirectBuy offers you a wide range of home accessories and furniture to make your home décor come to life. With the savings of up to 50% off retail on everything you purchase, you can turn your home into the place you've always wanted it to be.

Versatile & Comfy: 5 Alternative Seating Styles

Posted: 28 Jan 2010 11:03 AM PST

I like a living space that is versatile, comfortable and amenable to conversation. Here's a collection of landing places for your most convivial guests.

#1 – Bi-Pod seats by Roche Bobois are clever, colorful, interconnecting blocks that can be tossed anywhere they're needed. A great alternative to the standard "conversation area" with permanently placed coffee table and two chairs.

#2 – It doesn't get more organic-looking than these plush stones and pebbles in various sizes. From Viva Terra, they're draped in Merino wool and are hand-washable.

#3 – Flexible Love by Skart contracts or expands to seat up to 16 guests. Made from recyclable paper and wood, you can change the length just by pulling the ends accordion-style!

#4 – These hand-carved solid ebony Egg Stools from Bahay are an artful perch for those who love the look and feel of wood.

#5 – These natural-look Reversible Side Tables from West Elm are sold as a set of two. Nest them together for one larger table or pull them apart to multi-task.

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Baby, It's Cold Inside! - Going Heatless

Posted: 28 Jan 2010 10:43 AM PST

During the winter, a natural reaction is to turn up the heat--crank it, in some cases--to get warm air flooding through your home's interior. But thanks to a tip from this New York Times story, I've been introduced to an opposite species--those who prefer to live without heat (or a frigidly low thermostat setting) during the year's coldest months.

Arguably the biggest advantage to keeping your home's temperature at 55 degrees and lower is a sizable energy savings, especially if you rely on a propane or gas-fueled heat source. Yet several of these homeowners are inspired to go without heat because of the expensive financial burden inflicted by making necessary structural or insulation repairs, especially to old homes and loft buildings.


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