AOL Real Estate - Blog http://realestate.aol.com/blog AOL Real Estate - Blog http://realestate.aol.com/blog/media/feedlogo.gif AOL Real Estate - Blog http://realestate.aol.com/blog en-us Copyright 2012 Weblogs, Inc. The contents of this feed are available for non-commercial use only. Blogsmith http://www.blogsmith.com/Cool Wine Racks That Don't Press for Spacehttp://realestate.aol.com/blog/2010/06/21/cool-wine-racks-that-dont-take-up-space/http://realestate.aol.com/blog/2010/06/21/cool-wine-racks-that-dont-take-up-space/http://realestate.aol.com/blog/2010/06/21/cool-wine-racks-that-dont-take-up-space/#commentsFiled under:

wine racks space savingSummertime is for enjoying fresh, seasonal produce. Couple that with a recent (and arguably, enduring) recession, and many of us are more than happy to pass up the trendy restaurant of the moment to stay home and rustle up a fine meal with help from the local farmers market. And an incredible bottle of prosecco or sauvignon blanc can top the evening. But until then, where to store the vino?

Here are some of the more creative ways to store wine that we've found:

First is the aptly named "Wine Rack" (pictured left) by Brooklyn designers John Buckley, Marcel Madsen and Max Wang of Produce Design. This beautifully-shaped rack stores your bottles in an Escher-like pattern of bent carbon steel fins. The fins attach to one another by water-jet cut slots. Fill selected slots to dictate your own artful pattern. ($850, www.produce-design.com.)

Designers Marc Maiorana and Robyn Raines of the Iron Design Company have come up with a space saving and symmetrical way to store up to half a case. Don't let the picture fool you. The shape of the rack is pre-formed and made out of powder-coated steel. A little eye trickery was a bit what the designers had in mind. "Our specialty is giving grace to a bold, stubborn building material and kind of defying the structural stereotype that steel is often associated with," Maiorana explains. ($240, hardware included and sold in specialty stores and irondesigncompany.com.)

Wool felt is cropping up everywhere -- in bags, rugs, lampshades -- and now in a wine rack. Available from etcetera goods, their wool rack is naturally renewable and 100 percent recyclable, and it can be folded and put away when not in use. ($40, available from etceteramedia.supermarkethq.com)

Fans of the industrial aesthetic will love this gem from retailer CB2: Hand-welded galvanized sheet metal-cum-tubular sculpture, this rack can be used horizontally or on its side and it holds a full case. ($79.95, cb2.com.)

Storvino has taken the ubiquitous plastic crate and fashioned a wine rack or holder. It's not the most eye-catching option, but they offer a modular one to stack as needed. The crates are also made from 100 percent post-consumer recycled plastic. ($19.99 per crate, The Container Store).

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]]>apartment livingapartment-lifecreative storagehome goodswinewine bottlewine bottleswine rackwine rackswine storageKaomi Goetz2010-06-21T16:00:00 00:00Easy Home-Brewing, in Your Apartmenthttp://realestate.aol.com/blog/2010/05/26/homebrewing-in-your-apartment-made-easy/http://realestate.aol.com/blog/2010/05/26/homebrewing-in-your-apartment-made-easy/http://realestate.aol.com/blog/2010/05/26/homebrewing-in-your-apartment-made-easy/#commentsOne of the challenges of apartment living is space. That is, not enough of it. Dinner parties and entertaining is often out of the question, never mind experiments in home beer-brewing. But a new outfit called Brooklyn Brew Shop wants to change that, and they claim all you need are a few kitchen staples and one square foot. Really.

Erica Shea, 26, and Stephen Valand, 24, have been selling home-brewing kits for nearly a year. The idea was born from the couple's own interest in making things.

"I really liked hobbies," Erica explains, "not necessarily beer-making. But Stephen really liked beer." She inherited some beer-making equipment from her father, but they couldn't easily find beer-making kits in New York City, where they live.

Also, the ones that were available required more space than was available in Shea's tiny Lower East Side apartment.

The duo researched the space required to brew one gallon of beer and kept the process to a minimum. They wanted it to be fun and not like a science project, Valand says.

Each kit comes with just the essentials: a mix of your choice, gallon jug, chambered airlock, rubber stopper and thermometer. You supply a stockpot, strainer and funnel. That's it.

The beer-making process is just as simple. Steep the grain in hot water, strain, collect liquid, boil the hops (if you're feeling bold, you can always grow your own), then let the concoction ferment for two weeks. The jug can stow in a closet or cabinet.

Voila! You'll be ready to not only savor the delicious beer, but also the satisfaction of brewing it yourself.

"When you make beer yourself you can taste all the individual ingredients that go into it, and I guess it gives you a much greater appreciation for it," Valand says.

It might even save you money. You'll cough up $40 per kit for a Rose Cheeked Blonde or Chestnut Brown Ale, but after the initial purchase, the kit is reusable. And mixes run just $15. The pair estimates that over time a bottle of home brew will cost just over $1.

And in case that's not enough reason to stay home and brew, Valand suggests that their brews are often stronger than commercial ones. For instance, a Belgian Tripel beer is 9.9 % alcohol. Also, home-brewing usually is not a solitary pursuit; the couple says some use home-brewing as an excuse to get together and celebrate their creations.

The Brooklyn Brew Shop doesn't have a storefront. But the kits are available by mail order from their website, as well as at Whole Foods and a few select shops in New York and New Jersey. With up to 11 beer varieties, they've now shipped to all 50 states and Canada, and the two have been able to quit their jobs in publishing and advertising to run the business.

"It's been a learning experience," Shea says earnestly. One they're enjoying.

 

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]]>apartment-lifebeerdiyfoodiehome-brewinghomebrewKaomi Goetz2010-05-26T12:00:00 00:00Playful Design for Your Kidshttp://realestate.aol.com/blog/2010/05/20/entertaining-designs-for-your-kids/http://realestate.aol.com/blog/2010/05/20/entertaining-designs-for-your-kids/http://realestate.aol.com/blog/2010/05/20/entertaining-designs-for-your-kids/#commentsFiled under:


kid-friendly design icffThere's no reason why adults should have all the fun in well-designed furnishings and accessories. Designers who previously worked in technology, furniture and engineering are starting to apply their skills to children's toys and furnishings.

Upstart California firm Kaiku has a new, ecological and irresistible take on the little red wagon. Designer Scot Herbst showed his "Zen" wagon for the first time this past week, at this year's International Contemporary Furniture Fair in New York.Besides the obvious sidewalk appeal of its bent-birch plywood and ergonomic floorboard, there are accessories that make this well worth the $319 retail price. For instance, a magnetic locking system for the handle, a foam grip, and air-filled rubber tires. Side slits complete the airy look. It's currently sold in a few specialty shops or directly from Kaiku. (It arrives this summer in New York's Museum of Modern Art shop.) It's guaranteed to be the envy of every kid on the block.



What better way to encourage play and creativity than with Rana Ottaviani's "Tatolino" chair? Parents might see an Alexander Calder-like sculpture made from EVA foam; kids will see a fun, moveable bench, chair, table or play structure that has openings for embellishing as they see fit. Pricing starts at more than $700.



We also loved the nature-inspired bookshelf by Korean designer Shawn Soh. "Tree Bookcase" is made of powder-coated metal and is inspired by the designer's own experiences of sticking letters on trees. Soh says "a tree becomes a book becomes a tree," which no doubt alludes to her notion of the interrelatedness of things.



Kids love furniture they can pick up and move around. Brooklyn designer Lisa Albin's "Throwing Stones" fit that bill perfectly. The shapes are made of Dacron (a polyester fiber) and covered by wool. They're soft enough for sitting and stacking, and they also come in three fun colors, and in three sizes that kids will want to rearrange and move around. The stones run from $175-$365.


Albin also showed "Tea Pods," which raise the bar for functionality: The foam seating is covered with recycled ultra-suede slipcovers. The smaller piece can become a side table when covered with a tray of maple, bamboo or walnut veneer. The larger piece becomes a wrap-around lounger when placed on its side. We're waiting for the adult version. Pieces range from $190- $1,115.



Here are some more design ideas fresh from ICFF:

Marketing Avant-Garde and Affordable Home Design

Good Green Design at ICFF

New Affordable Home Designs

New Lamps Will Light Up Your Life

 

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]]>childrendesignicffkid friendlykids designkids toysseatingwagonKaomi Goetz2010-05-20T16:00:00 00:00New Lamps Will Light Up Your Lifehttp://realestate.aol.com/blog/2010/05/20/new-lamps-will-light-up-your-life/http://realestate.aol.com/blog/2010/05/20/new-lamps-will-light-up-your-life/http://realestate.aol.com/blog/2010/05/20/new-lamps-will-light-up-your-life/#commentsFiled under:

It's been more than 50 years since Isamu Noguchi first captured the world's imagination with his Akari lights made from Shoji-paper and in dozens of shapes and sizes. Fast forward to the 21st century: Designers continue to inspire with innovative ideas, but many are also concerned with sourcing reclaimed or reusable materials.

Graypants, the Seattle-based design team, showed some pendant and wall lamps at this year's International Contemporary Furniture Fair, held this week in New York. The Jupiter lamps (left) are made from recycled cardboard in a pattern that allows light to peep through and cast beautiful shadows on ceilings and walls.


The three friends that make up Graypants are also trained architects and their background is evident in their designs. This year they're introducing steplights (pictured above), a metal lamp of aluminum and the pieces can be flat packed. Each piece has a groove that snaps into place to make the bowl-shaped metal shade. We can see the architectural influence and glad they're marrying their passions in this way.



Thailand-based Ango also showed some truly beautiful lights that are modern takes on the Japanese paper lantern. They're constructed with a metal base and a silk cocoon shade. We literally couldn't stop looking at this one called "Chrysalis Sky."



Do you long for a camping getaway from your urban shoebox apartment? Brooklyn designer David Weeks wasn't displaying his wares at ICFF but had an offsite reception. He's come up with votives that reference the summer pastime. The votives are made of porcelain and come with an LED candle. Standard tea lights also work to create a mini fire. They're priced at a cool $18-$20.



And furniture manufacturer Offi brings artificial lighting to the outdoors with its Hugo Pot. It's part planter, part light. The body is made of molded plastic that covers a replaceable and energy-efficient compact fluorescent lamp. We like folks who give us light where it's least expected.


Here are some more design ideas fresh from ICFF:

Marketing Avant-Garde and Affordable Home Design

Good Green Design at ICFF

New Affordable Home Designs

 

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]]>designerfloor lamphome intericfflampslightingpendantpendant lightKaomi Goetz2010-05-20T13:29:00 00:00New Affordable Home Designshttp://realestate.aol.com/blog/2010/05/19/new-affordable-home-designs/http://realestate.aol.com/blog/2010/05/19/new-affordable-home-designs/http://realestate.aol.com/blog/2010/05/19/new-affordable-home-designs/#commentsFiled under:

affordable design icff
Finding affordably-priced designed goods at this year's annual International Contemporary Furniture Fair in New York City was not as hard as you might expect. The secret is to look beyond the big names to some of the smaller brands or individual designers who are just starting out. Here are a rundown of some interesting, well-designed, and pocketbook-friendly designs that caught our eyes.






Designer Takumi Shimamura of Qurz Inc. hails from Japan, a country challenged by a lack of natural resources. So, Shimamura's interest in working with recycled wood and paper to make everyday objects is a no-brainer. New at ICFF are Shimamura's striped fruitbowls, shown in a variety of colors, and made from recycled paper. The bowls will take you to a higher zen. ($60 each).



Patty Johnson has collaborated with a handful of fellow designers from the Caribbean in a project called, "Love Freedom Flow: New Caribbean Design." One of our favorites from the collection is an array of water vessels made of tobacco leaves from Haiti. They are treated with a waterproof coating, and buying one piece can help sustain an entire village. ($15-$50).



Mungseo Kang shed some new light on things by using traditional book construction and an accordion-like design. The Central Saint Martin's graduate showed off her interest in flexible structures in "The Booklight." She was able to come to ICFF as part of a select group of designers from the United Kingdom who received financial assistance from their government. We're glad she was able to take part ($150 per lamp, available directly from her website).




Simple details can make life more interesting and enjoyable. That seems to be belief of British designer Hemel Patel, as well. The engineer-turned-designer wanted to make a line of products that offered good design but "were affordable to the masses." Simple and geometric, Patel's designs speak of functionality and form in the same breath. We like his "Ribbon Coat Rack," soon to be available through a U.S. distributor ($120).


Blu Dot once again shows us how design doesn't have to be expensive, with its new cantilevered "Cant Desk." We're seeing a lot of furniture of mixed materials lately and Blu Dot's desk is the newest to enter the fray, with its walnut veneer top and legs, and steel hutch accent ($599).


affordable design icff
El Salvadoran designer Eugenio Menjivar combines his passion for flowers and distaste for consumer waste in some inspiring pendant lights (Loto, pictured). The shades are shaped like petals and are fashioned out of used plastic laundry detergent containers. He doesn't alter the color. Luckily for him, the brands selling in Latin America aren't the bright burnt-orange jugs we're used to ($200-$300, depending on size, available directly from the designer).

Here are some more design ideas fresh from ICFF:

Marketing Avant-Garde and Affordable Home Design

Good Green Design at ICFF

 

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]]>affordableblu dotcoat rackdesigndesignersdeskfurnitureICFFlightingKaomi Goetz2010-05-19T14:40:00 00:00Brooklyn's Latest Design Starshttp://realestate.aol.com/blog/2010/05/10/brooklyns-latest-design-stars/http://realestate.aol.com/blog/2010/05/10/brooklyns-latest-design-stars/http://realestate.aol.com/blog/2010/05/10/brooklyns-latest-design-stars/#commentsFiled under:

BKLYN Designs Palo SamkoThe New York City borough of Brooklyn continues to attract some of the country's top creative talent, be it in music, furniture or fashion. Some of that design pedigree was on display in contemporary home furniture and accessories this past weekend at the eighth annual BKLYN DESIGNS 2010.

Local borough officials, Pratt Institute and others collaborated to showcase dozens of Brooklyn-based designers at St. Ann's Warehouse. While many of the show's wares represented custom or limited edition products, some of the featured items already are available via larger retail stores, such as a hand-printed wallpaper by Grow House Grow at Anthropologie, or selected furnishings by UM at ABC Carpet and Home.

Here's a roundup of a few of our favorites...

UM Project, short for Users & Makers, is the brainchild of French-born Francois Chambard. An obvious lover of Danish midcentury modern, Chambard is interested in mixed materials in a single piece (Corian, aluminum, birch, felt) and the detailing found in furniture construction of earlier eras. Yet he uses digital technology to make the pieces.

We loved U.M.O. (above), a coffee table/sidetable/seating trifecta, covered in cork, that includes storage nooks to stow papers or odds and ends.


Another standout was the "Coney Island Line" by Uhuru Design.

Designers Bill Hilgendorf and Jason Horvath are interested in sustainability and sense of place. So their new line, made of reclaimed Coney Island boardwalk and paying homage to its icons, makes total sense. The Cyclone Lounger (above) suggests the famed rollercoaster through its curvature and its crisscross pattern of supports. The Wonder Coffee Table bolts old, refinished planks to a steel plate and, like its namesake ride, can spin.

"We love doing things that have a story behind it," explains Hilgendorf, who along with Horvath graduated from the Rhode Island School of Design. Their collection manages to embrace both whimsy and melancholy - emotions associated with Coney Island's seasonal and aging history.


Designers Hugh Hayden and Katie Vitale will have you giving a close look to their hanging creations. Trained as architects, the pair have a series called FRAMEicariums that re-envision the ant farms of childhood as framed art. The pair give 30 ants a home of colored sand trapped between plexiglass, complete with air and feeding holes. Then they sit back and let the ants do the work. It's like a live art installation that changes with each hour.


Slovakian-born Palo Samko puts a surrealist spin on his customized tables, chairs, buffets and rocking chairs. Working in walnut and oak, Samko learned his craft by doing -- that is, apprenticing with woodworkers to understand construction and technique. The pieces are in recognizable forms but their Dali-esque detailing takes you somewhere else.



Designer Katie Deedy of Grow House Grow! tells stories of Victorian ladies in the sciences: a pioneering Irish entomologist; a Frenchwoman who intersected her interest in marine life with dressmaking; and an American naturalist devoted to carnivorous plants.

These biographical sketches are told through Deedy's hand-printed wallpaper - demure and radical all at once. ($48 per 27" x 36" sheet, $180 per roll, or five sheets).

If you missed the show, see the BKLYN DESIGNS site's full listing of designers -- for inspired and well-crafted home furnishings, direct from Brooklyn.

 

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]]>Kaomi Goetz2010-05-10T17:30:00 00:00Design Compatibility Key to Good Apartment Sharehttp://realestate.aol.com/blog/2010/05/06/design-compatibility-key-to-good-apartment-share/http://realestate.aol.com/blog/2010/05/06/design-compatibility-key-to-good-apartment-share/http://realestate.aol.com/blog/2010/05/06/design-compatibility-key-to-good-apartment-share/#commentsFiled under:

design compatability roommatesLooking for just the right roommate - or at least one you can live with - is hard work and time-consuming. The reasons renters might want a roommate can be financial or emotional, but especially in expensive and space-deprived cities, often practical. Finding someone who matches you in lifestyle, values, and attitude is not easy. And often the "interview" sheds little light on what the person would actually be like to live with.

But one way to assess compatibility is by checking out the potential roommate's design style. Elaine Griffin is a New York City-based interior designer and author of the book, "Design Rules: The Insider's Guide to Becoming Your Own Decorator" (Gotham). She says the way people decorate their homes can say a lot about their personalities - sometimes even more than their appearance."They're both super creative expressions of your personality. Someone can present a 'fabulosity' image at work but you go to their home and it's completely disorganized and chaotic," Griffin says. "That's the real them." She says the home presents telling clues about a person's lifestyle and personality - all the more important when moving in with a complete stranger, which is often the case in cities like New York.

Griffin says a person's decorating style is influenced by how they've grown up or where they've lived. And if those tastes match each other, it bolsters the likelihood it will be a comfortable living arrangement for everyone involved. Griffin says it's important to look around your potentially new apartment and see how it's presented, from the furniture styles to color palette.

"I love strong, dark colors. My living room is a deep forest green. My bedroom is a deep peacock blue. If you're a light and airy white or beige person, we could never be roommates. You'd be miserable sharing a space with me," Griffin says.

In fact, Griffin advises to pay attention to window treatments and curtain details. If a person has dark curtains, the shades drawn, and likes a dark environment, chances are they have a depressive personality, she says. Conversely, someone who likes a lot of light coming through the windows might show a sunnier personality.

Of course, nothing is guaranteed in the business of apartment sharing. And the roommate who is showing the apartment often doesn't have the luxury of seeing how the other person has lived. But design can help predetermine a likely peaceful and happy co-existence.

Here's Griffin's apartment-sharing checklist:

1. Check the color palette. Is it one you're comfortable with?

2. Look at the furniture style. Is it modern or traditional? People with differing style states won't be comfortable living with another style, she says. Especially if you're into minimalism and the other person likes to display his or her tchotchkes from foreign travels.

3. Assess the grime factor. Can you live with a little grime or do you want to be able to eat off the kitchen floor? Be honest about your needs and define what 'clean' means to you and ask what it means to your potential roommate.

4. Check for the accessories. If you walk in to an apartment filled with NFL paraphernalia and you are not a sports fan, it's probably not a lifestyle match. Or if you are a punk girl with concert posters adorning the walls and the other person is preppy: "Not so much," Griffin says. But if you're both into lots of plants, and have dishes from the same store, or both like vintage furniture, the eight ball may look favorably.

5. Look at the art. Lack of it or an abundance can be a window into someone's soul. See if the art matches your tastes and if it's something you feel comfortable with.

And in the off-chance design compatibility doesn't lead to cohabitational bliss, Griffin says not to worry. "You can always move out."

 

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]]>apartmentapartment decoratingapartment designapartment rentalsapartment-lifecraigslistinterior designroommate nightmaresroommate searchroommatesKaomi Goetz2010-05-06T08:00:00 00:00New York Eco-Shopping Extravaganzahttp://realestate.aol.com/blog/2010/05/05/new-york-eco-shopping-extravaganza/http://realestate.aol.com/blog/2010/05/05/new-york-eco-shopping-extravaganza/http://realestate.aol.com/blog/2010/05/05/new-york-eco-shopping-extravaganza/#commentsA green pop-up shop in New York City could be the world's largest exhibit space of eco-manufacturers and products of its kind.

The Green Up Shop, a boutique and event space, is a joint production by upcycle manufacturer Terracycle, the Fashion Center Business Improvement District, the Port Authority of NY and NJ, and the Times Square Alliance. Aside from creating a footprint-friendly store, these partners also offer a weekly list of eco-minded events at the space, such as film screenings, lectures and fitness classes.

Originally, the Green Up Shop opened for the 40th anniversary of Earth Day, and the shop was to end its run on May 1st. Luckily for the eco-inclined, the store's midtown existence is now extended through May 21.

Here's a rundown of some of the products and manufacturers at the site:


TERRACYCLE

Shoppers will get a chance to select from over 100 everyday products -- like lunch bags, trash bins, or pencil cases -- that are made out of materials that might have otherwise ended up in a landfill. Terracycle uses the waste material of chip bags, food wrappers, soda bottles and pens. As a bonus, the manufacturer is offering a discount to anyone who donates waste material from over 30 different non-recyclable waste streams at the pop-up shop.



ABBY VALENTINE

Brooklyn designer Abby Valentine Kelly offers a small but handmade portfolio of products from beverage coasters to coffee-cup sleeves. The goods are made from salvaged or scrap materials and are designed to replace otherwise throwaway items. A purchase here not only satisfies a desire to buy products out of current waste, many of the items ensure against future waste as well.



CHRISTINA J. PAUL COUTURE

Who says green clothing can't be high fashion? That's the take by Chicago-based designer Christina Liedtke, who designs custom-made couture garments for clients around the world. Yet she employs upcycled materials to make the clothing. For example, the image above shows off a one-of-a-kind dress that was made completely from M&M candy wrappers.



GARBAGE OF EDEN

And who among us can resist some eco-baubles to spice up our seasonal wardrobe? Garbage of Eden is a design company that collects and uses plastic bags from the local area to transform them into wearable art.

Have a look at the rest of the vendors on site and be prepared to spend some green.

The Green Up Shop is located on the street level of the Port Authority, at 641 8th Avenue at 41st Street in Manhattan, and within walking distance of most major subway lines.

 

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]]>eco-friendlyeco-shoppinggreen livingnew york cityrecyclerecycled goodsshoppingupcycleupcyclingKaomi Goetz2010-05-05T12:28:00 00:00Apartment Emergency Plan: Where to Go When Natural Disaster Strikeshttp://realestate.aol.com/blog/2010/05/04/apartment-emergency-plan-where-to-go-when-bad-weather-strikes/http://realestate.aol.com/blog/2010/05/04/apartment-emergency-plan-where-to-go-when-bad-weather-strikes/http://realestate.aol.com/blog/2010/05/04/apartment-emergency-plan-where-to-go-when-bad-weather-strikes/#commentsFiled under:

Summertime is associated with barbecues, exploring the outdoors and trips to the beach. But it's also is a time when Mother Nature vents some of her most severe weather-related fury.

Think your area is immune from bad weather conditions? There has been an increasing frequency of storms in the last 50 years and this year the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration warns that there is an imminent flood threat in the Midwest, South and East. The US Geological Survey, meanwhile, notes a significant rise in earthquake frequency in the U.S in 2009.

What precautions you take during these potential emergencies largely depends on where in the U.S. you live, and whether your home is an apartment or a house. This guide will help you know how and where to seek shelter.Flooding and Hurricanes

In the Deep South the primary seasonal weather-related concerns are hurricanes and floods. Joe Laud of the Houston Emergency Center says one of the best ways to prepare is to plan ahead. Make sure all members of your household know your evacuation or other steps to take when an emergency hits. He also says it's advisable to store enough food and water to supply your family for at least a week. Hurricanes can knock out power and other essentials for days, as Hurricane Ike did in 2008.

Where available, people with special needs for transportation may be able to pre-register with local government agencies, so that they can help. People with pets should have an emergency plan for them, too. Laud says that far from being alarmist, these precautions could make a huge difference.

"During times of those instances, we don't normally respond to the calls, because that would be putting our first responders in harm's way," Laud explains. Being prepared is your best defense for these "very real" situations, he adds.

Laud says most homes and apartment buildings in his area do not have basements because of the frequent flooding. He advises people to either evacuate or seek out the highest floor in their homes or apartments for shelter. In the case of hurricanes, people are best protected in interior rooms that are windowless.

According to the National Hurricane Center, the hurricane season in the Atlantic begins June 1st and lasts through November 30th, while the Eastern Pacific hurricane season begins May15th and also ends November 30th.

Tornadoes

In the Great Plains, tornadoes can be even more deadly than hurricanes because they can seem to appear out of nowhere. It's important to pay attention to tornado watches and warnings issued over the air, and to listen for warning sirens in their communities.

Unlike flood emergencies, people are advised to move to low-lying or underground areas for shelter. If that's not available, seek an interior room, or a bathroom or closet; the more walls around you, the better.

People are also advised to listen to a radio in case of such emergencies, to stay informed of the fast-changing weather. Communities are also encouraged to stake out a communication plan in advance to alert senior citizens and shut-ins.

Never try to outrun a tornado.

Earthquakes

Although unrelated to weather, earthquakes are always a threat in California and other West Coast states.

If indoors, the government advises that you drop to the ground and look for overhead protection, such as crouching below a table or in a closet. People should hold onto large pieces of furniture for support until the shaking has finished. And to be aware that aftershocks are common after the initial earthquake occurs.

While it might be common sense, remember to stay away from fixtures or hanging picture frames or anything that could fall down and cause injury.

 

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]]>earthquakeemergency preparednessfloodhurricaneHurricane Ikehurricane katrinatornadoKaomi Goetz2010-05-04T10:00:00 00:00Humidifiers Get a Breath of Fresh Stylehttp://realestate.aol.com/blog/2010/04/30/breathe-easier-good-looking-humidifiers/http://realestate.aol.com/blog/2010/04/30/breathe-easier-good-looking-humidifiers/http://realestate.aol.com/blog/2010/04/30/breathe-easier-good-looking-humidifiers/#commentsFiled under:

pretty humidifiersInventions thrive over time because they make our lives easier or better. But they aren't always designed well or look good.

Take for instance, the humidifier. This household appliance emits moisture in the air indoors to help people breathe easier and live more comfortably. It's especially helpful for people who suffer from allergies or have trouble breathing in dry air. The most common types are either an evaporative or "cool mist" vaporizer or "warm mist" steam humidifier. They're often appliances that are stuffed away out of sight when not in use. They're often more of an eyesore than anything that enhances your décor.

But there are some new designs that might have you dusting off a permanent spot in your room for your humidifier.



The Bionic Humidifier by designer Gonglue Jiang is a prime example. The appliance masquerades as a potted flower that cues its owner to water it by wilting. The water sets off the humidifying action to moisturize your space. The appliance's interactive quality taps into people's desire to nurture.

Designed for an industrial-design education conference in China in 2008, it's not clear whether it's actually available for purchase.

Then there are some clever designs below from our friends in Japan, all of which can be purchased at the Japan Trend Shop.


The Amadana Aroma Humidifier comes in a compact, stylish shell that fits into any modern, minimalist-styled room. Not only does it emit moisture via a vapor tray at the top but also scents the air with pleasing aromas of your choice, dispensed from an aroma-oils tray.


Also from Japan, the Mini Chimney by Takumi comes in a variety of bright hues, including mango, berry and melon. It also doubles as an aromatizer and is housed in a sleek, cylindrical shape that adds a little color pop to any flat surface.


Plusminuszero and designer Naoto Fukasawa give us glossy, candy-like warm-mist humidifiers. We'd like to plop one -- in each of its mouthwatering colors -- into every room.

A tour of the humidifiers page at the Japan Trend Store will no doubt make you breathe easier knowing your allergies can be alleviated with some ingenious style.

 

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]]>airallergiesdry airhome applianceshumidifiersmoistureroom decorroom designKaomi Goetz2010-04-30T12:00:00 00:00Space-Saving and Stylish: Stackable Kitchenwarehttp://realestate.aol.com/blog/2010/04/21/space-saving-and-stylish-stackable-kitchenware/http://realestate.aol.com/blog/2010/04/21/space-saving-and-stylish-stackable-kitchenware/http://realestate.aol.com/blog/2010/04/21/space-saving-and-stylish-stackable-kitchenware/#commentsFiled under:

stacking kitchenware Strategic stacking of dishes, cups, and pans can mean gaining precious inches in kitchen cupboards or counters. And rather than precariously place mismatched items on top of one another for an inevitable crash, why not think about stackability?

Now there are tabletop products that make it easier.

Previously we've told you about clever Renaissance-inspired dishes by Italian designer Alessandro Zambelli. But there are so many worthy stackable items out there that will not only add space but style.

Goodbye to the leaning tower of coffee cups and peruse our gallery for a ideas that definitely stack up!



%Gallery-91318%

 

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]]>cupshome decorkitchenplatesstackabletabletopKaomi Goetz2010-04-21T15:30:00 00:00Kid's Room Design Tips With HGTV's Dan Vickeryhttp://realestate.aol.com/blog/2010/04/21/kids-room-design-tips-with-hgtvs-dan-vickery/http://realestate.aol.com/blog/2010/04/21/kids-room-design-tips-with-hgtvs-dan-vickery/http://realestate.aol.com/blog/2010/04/21/kids-room-design-tips-with-hgtvs-dan-vickery/#commentsFiled under: ,

HGTV Dan VickeryIt used to be that parents painted rooms pink or blue, added a night light and placed a musical mobile over the crib -- and that was the extent of décor in children's rooms. With the proliferation of home interior design books, television shows and consumer interest, kids' rooms have emerged into imaginative, delightful spaces that engage both children and their parents.

HGTV.com's "Kid-Sized Design" host Dan Vickery, 28, got his start as a contestant on the network's "Design Star" reality show, where he showed an affinity for decorating for children (Vickery showed his prowess when he created a sophisticated beach nursery for the son of actor Jason Priestley).

Vickery recommends taking the long-view when planning a child's room. "If you spend too much time or money on one particular theme or one color, kids will grow out of it. If you make sure the big pieces work, then they'll work in the future. Pillows, rugs, paint color, etc. are easy to change out and update."

BEFORE


AFTER

And he says be mindful of room décor that kids can personalize. It's very important to kids to be able to customize or make their own mark on their rooms. "They'll be more interested in a dry erase board or a cheap pinboard that they can change or play with" rather than a piece of great art on the wall made by someone else, he adds.

One trend in children's rooms that Vickery is seeing is less kid-sized furniture. Increasingly, parents are buying pieces for the future, that the child will be able to use for a long time. He says part of that is due to the recent economic downturn.

"People want to buy smart investments. They want to buy things they know they're going to use for a long time. I think it's also a little eco-responsibility. Why buy a piece of furniture you're only going to use for two years and end up throwing away? There's a lot of waste, not just in the production and manufacturing but in the shipping."



Here are more tips from Vickery:

1. To help your kids stay organized, keep things at their height. Closet storage, benches and coat racks will all be used more often if kids can get to them easily.

2. Try creating a continuous art center by using wainscoting in a room and painting the wall below with chalkboard paint. You can get chalkboard paint in the color of your choice. Simply paint up to a chair rail or install your own and paint below.

3. Most craft and hobby stores sell an additive to paint that allows it to glow in the dark. Try painting stars and a moon on your child's ceiling or a cityscape around the edge of the room. This will get them excited about turning out the lights at night.

4. Removable wall transfers are becoming increasingly affordable and the range of patterns and styles grows every day. Call them temporary wall tattoos and let your kid have fun decorating their room in a way you know you won't have to fix later.

5. Kids are collectors, so make collecting easy. Pictures and postcards don't always have to be stuck to a corkboard. Try hanging them from strings in front of a window or clipping them to a string along the wall to create an interactive border in a room.

6. All kids want display space. Galvanized metal is fairly inexpensive and can be purchased in sheets at most home improvement stores. Just mount on the wall and you have an instant magnetic board.

7. Check your local art and crafts store for peel-and-stick cork. You can cut out any shape, simply peel off the backing and attach to any wall for fun pinup space.

8. Rather than a traditional growth chart, put a border around the room. Each month you can use non-toxic, water-based paint to put the child's handprint in the border. Watch them grow together.

9. Be sure to include multiple kinds of lighting in a kid's room. Overall lighting is a necessity but so is a reading light. It may even help them find the bathroom in the middle of the night.

10. If you are painting a dresser or other furniture you know the child will grow out of be sure to let them help. The child could also put their signature on it with personal handprints or fingerprints for a polka-dot design.

 

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]]>childrens room decorchildrens roomsDan Vickerydesignhgtvhome decoratingKaomi Goetz2010-04-21T12:30:00 00:00Interior Design Lessons From the Frugal Househttp://realestate.aol.com/blog/2010/04/19/interior-design-lessons-from-the-frugal-house/http://realestate.aol.com/blog/2010/04/19/interior-design-lessons-from-the-frugal-house/http://realestate.aol.com/blog/2010/04/19/interior-design-lessons-from-the-frugal-house/#commentsFiled under:

frugal houseIn today's economy, saving a buck has never been more wise or more socially-accepted. A group of interior design students in California are now hoping this frugal trend will also help them raise money for charity.

The second annual "Frugal House" in Chico was on display over the weekend. Chico State and Butte College interior design students recycled and refurbished a mid-century, three-bedroom home entirely with yard sale and thrift store items. Last year, the students decorated a new home that was a clean palette -- so this year required quit a bit of prep and painting.

Visitors can peruse the students' creative and frugal magic, such as a chandelier made of Styrofoam cups or a headboard made of wood plate chargers. While there was a less-than-frugal cost of admission ($15), the proceeds benefit the local symphony and a few area non-profits.

Interior designer and Butte College instructor Deverie Jarrett organized the event as a fundraiser for the symphony that would capture the imagination of the community. Jarrett's students scoured Salvation Army stores and yard sales for enough items to repurpose entire rooms. Groups of eight students were each responsible for a room. The project was also an exercise in budgeting as each team had a $300 to spend, donated by local businesses.

"It's amazing what they've done. It's a mini dream-house, but done frugally," Jarrett, 47, says. The students hope to raise $25,000 this year.

For some do-it-yourself ideas ripped from the students' playbook, Jarrett suggests:

1. Sew old draperies together to reupholster furniture
2. Arrange wooden chargers together to create a wall décor or headboard
3. Use old closet rods to make legs for beds, chairs or other furniture

 

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]]>CheapDecorDoItYourselffrugalfundraiserinterior designsave moneyKaomi Goetz2010-04-19T12:30:00 00:00DIY Energy Audits Save Moneyhttp://realestate.aol.com/blog/2010/04/09/diy-energy-audits-save-money/http://realestate.aol.com/blog/2010/04/09/diy-energy-audits-save-money/http://realestate.aol.com/blog/2010/04/09/diy-energy-audits-save-money/#commentsFiled under: ,

DIY energy AuditsEnergy efficiency is most certainly a buzz phrase these days. And homeowners and renters alike are starting to think about (and practice) ways to conserve, as much for the environment as for relief to their own pocketbooks.

But hiring your own energy auditor is expensive. A few common sense measures could reap huge benefits. For example, lighting accounts for about a tenth of a residential electric bill. Lowering the wattage or replacing your incandescent light bulb with a compact fluorescent bulb (CFL) can save money over the long-term, according to the government-backed Energy Star program, which says its CFLs uses 75 percent less energy and lasts 10 times longer.

Need help with less obvious energy fixes?

The U.S. Department of Energy has a guide to explain simple energy savers around the home. There is also federal assistance for low-income families to help make their homes more energy efficient. And now there's David Findley's new book, "Do-It-Yourself Home Energy Audits: 140 Simple Solutions to Lower Energy Costs, Increase Your Home's Efficiency, and Save the Environment (McGraw-Hill)." This edition is part of the Green Guru Guides, a group of how-to books (published on acid-free, recycled post-consumer fiber) on living a more environmentally-sensitive life.

"Energy's a big problem for everyone," says Seth Leitman, editor of the Green Guru Guides. "People should understand, the more they save on energy, the more they're reducing their carbon footprint."

Here are some ideas from Findley's book, "Do-It-Yourself Home Energy Audits":

1. Weatherize your door. Invest in some door sealant.

2. Insulate your attic. Many attics in American homes today contain aging or an inadequate amount of insulation. Leitman says, "for every $100 you spend in insulation it saves about 1.8 tons of CO2 (carbon) emissions."

3. Check to see if your water pipes are insulated. This can cut down on the cost of heating the water that funnels to your dishwasher, washing machine or even shower.

4. Check to see if your energy-efficient appliances are the right size for your space. For example, buying a conditioner with a blower that's too large results in wasted energy. Too small, and it causes the air conditioner to work twice as hard - and costs more to generate.

5. Buy peel-off window coverings or shades to tint windows to help rooms stay cool in the summer and prevent warmer air from escaping during the winter.

 

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]]>Energyenergy-efficientgreensave moneyWeatherizationKaomi Goetz2010-04-09T15:10:00 00:00Eames Auction Called Offhttp://realestate.aol.com/blog/2010/04/09/auction-of-eames-collection-called-off/http://realestate.aol.com/blog/2010/04/09/auction-of-eames-collection-called-off/http://realestate.aol.com/blog/2010/04/09/auction-of-eames-collection-called-off/#commentsFiled under:

Eames Auction Called OffThe bidding is off for Lot 733, a private collection of Ray and Charles Eames photographs, clippings, negatives and other material collected for more than three decades by their official archivists, John and Marilyn Neuhart. The archives of the late iconic furniture designers, estimated to be worth $200,000, was to be part of a larger Eames auction this week by the Richard Wright auction house of Chicago.

We first reported trouble in Eamesland here. Representatives for the Eames family opposed the sale because they claimed some of the items were never intended to become property of the Neuharts during their professional relationship.

The Neuharts worked with Ray Eames on the book, "Eames Design: The Work of the Office of Charles and Ray Eames" (Harry N. Abrams, 1989), helped with an exhibition and were included in other Eames projects. Another sticky point was the issue of copyright; the Eames family were also concerned with the material being used to reproduce imitations of the Eames' mid-century modern style. The family says the collection also contains image plates necessary for reprinting of the book.

Eames attorneys filed suit against the auction and forced the withdrawal of two of the lots including no. 733. Several other lots of the Neuharts' were allowed. Eames Demetrios, grandson of Ray and Charles Eames, says he's relieved of the outcome.

"Our hope is that were able to fulfill Ray's intentions which was the materials stay with the family and that we'll make them available on our website and through the Eames Office gallery."

Richard Wright, who has sold Eames furniture for several decades, says of the decision: "We have a good relationship with both parties and hope to work with them to resolve the matter and find a new home for this important material."

The collection is thought to be one of the largest of Eames material in private hands. For now, it will remain with Richard Wright until the issue is ultimately resolved. Only the Eames family, Eames Office and Foundation, the Library of Congress and a few select museum collections in the U.S. are more significant than what the Neuharts had amassed.

 

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]]>art auctionauctioneamesmid-century modernRichard WrightKaomi Goetz2010-04-09T12:03:00 00:00Need More Space? Add a Porchhttp://realestate.aol.com/blog/2010/04/05/need-more-space-add-a-porch/http://realestate.aol.com/blog/2010/04/05/need-more-space-add-a-porch/http://realestate.aol.com/blog/2010/04/05/need-more-space-add-a-porch/#commentsYou'll pay a premium for an apartment with a terrace in hyper-dense cities like New York. But The Plant Room could be your solution for life al fresco without a rent increase.

The Plant Room, a competition entrant in the Sustainable Habitat Challenge, was originally conceived as an apartment solution to improve the quality of life of inhabitants in in Wellington, New Zealand while reducing their energy and water consumption. Wellington, like New York, has only a small percentage of housing stock that is replaced each year, and only a fraction of that is built with environmental concerns in mind.The Plant Room is a prefabricated room that bolts on the façade of apartment buildings that can give an individual apartment an extra room or porch that protrudes from the wall. It boasts of a garden space, worm farm, rainwater tank, a green roof and claims to generate enough hot water for one person. On warm days, two sides of the room can be opened to reveal a private balcony.



The designers estimate the cost of getting your own Plant Room to be just over $30,000, including fees and governmental costs based on a New Zealand build. But what if your neighbor in the floor above decides to do the same? Will you be subject to shadows or be responsible for one?

In the case of Union Square Condos (a renovated school building) in Grand Rapids, Mich., management pre-selected which units and floors would have balconies and which wouldn't, mostly because of aesthetics. And that scenario is more likely than individual owners building out from their apartment later on. The developer can space out the porches in a design that makes sense for the building and each prospective buyer knows what he or she is getting in terms of view and visibility to neighbors.


But the makers of The Plant Room know that using their design concept could cause neighborly disputes. To combat the possible issues of the placement of their additions, they've been taking a close look at how best to place their conceptual green rooms.

 

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]]>apartmentbalconycondoenvironmentenvironmentally friendlyoutdoor gardenporchKaomi Goetz2010-04-05T16:30:00 00:00Eames Design Archives go to Auction. Maybe.http://realestate.aol.com/blog/2010/03/31/eames-design-archives-go-to-auction-maybe/http://realestate.aol.com/blog/2010/03/31/eames-design-archives-go-to-auction-maybe/http://realestate.aol.com/blog/2010/03/31/eames-design-archives-go-to-auction-maybe/#commentsFiled under:

Eames design collection for saleEames collectors: Start your bidding. If a proposed auction of one of the largest private collections of Eames material takes place as planned on April 8, that is.

The Eames name is synonymous with mid-century modern furniture. More than 100 binders of photographs, clippings, negatives, copies, and other records related to iconic designers Ray and Charles Eames are up for auction. Richard Wright auction house of Chicago is hosting the sale. The archives are result of more than 30 years of documentation by former Eames Office official archivists, John and Marilyn Neuhart.

The amount of materials is dwarfed only by collections held by the Eames family and Eames Office and Foundation, the Library of Congress and a few select museum collections in the U.S. Wright estimates the value of the archives at $150,000 to $200,000. There are other private collections of Eames material but are unlike the scope of what the Neuharts' amassed.

But the Eames family says not so fast.

They contend the archive includes items that belong to the Eames Office, never intended to become part of the Neuhardt's personal property. The Neuharts worked with Ray Eames on the book, "Eames Design: The Work of the Office of Charles and Ray Eames" (Harry N. Abrams, 1989). Eames Demetrios, a family representative (and grandson of Charles and Ray), says the items up for auction "have been missing for some time. We are confident that when the Neuharts and Wright Auctions allow themselves to be reminded of the documentation and the actual nature of the Neuhart's professional relationship to Charles and Ray Eames, the situation will be resolved civilly and fairly." The family is concerned about copyright control and that some images in the Neuhart collection may be used by others to produce furniture that may more closely resemble the originals.

Eames design collection for sale

The protest surprises Richard Wright, who has sold Eames-designed furniture for decades. "As an auction house, we're just a conduit to the market. So I'm not a judge or jury on this. It's a legal matter and there's no legal basis for this." Wright says the collection - prints, photos, copies, some original ephemera - are the result of working with the Eames on the book, an exhibition and other projects. As such, Wright says, the material has been available to the public for years.

Lawyers are frantically working behind the scenes as the auction date approaches. If the family prevails, Eames buffs may not be entirely out of luck. Wright is also selling a sizable number of Eames furniture, including the popular Herman Miller rosewood plywood and leather lounge chair and ottoman.

 

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]]>art auctionauctioncharles eameseamesmid-century modernRichard WrightKaomi Goetz2010-03-31T16:00:00 00:00Convertible Furniture That Grows With Your Childhttp://realestate.aol.com/blog/2010/03/29/convertible-furniture-that-grows-with-your-child/http://realestate.aol.com/blog/2010/03/29/convertible-furniture-that-grows-with-your-child/http://realestate.aol.com/blog/2010/03/29/convertible-furniture-that-grows-with-your-child/#commentsFiled under:

Raising kids is expensive -- not exactly a surprising or shocking statement. And furniture to go along with your child's growth - cribs to dressing tables to desks - can represent a hefty part of that expense.

According to recent data from the United States Department of Agriculture, a family making about $70,000 a year can expect to spend over a quarter of a million dollars rearing a child from infancy to the age of 17. For families with a household income of $40,000 to $70,000, the estimate of cradle-to-driver's license care is still astronomical, at $180,000.

Now, some furniture designers are coming to the rescue....Oji Masanori has channeled his elegant and simple style into furniture that can be used at different stages of a child's life. The result is Otomo, a joint project between Japanese furniture maker Toa Ringyo and interior materials firm Sincol.


Baby in Table features a cut-out square at one end of a wooden table where infants can sit inside and eat from the same surface as their parents. The table can later function as a desk where toddlers and young school-aged children can let their own creativity flow while sitting on a stool that doubles as a step ladder for all ages.


A Brooklyn-based husband-and-wife design duo is behind Oeuf, which offers a stylish, eco-friendly crib-to-toddler bed of a solid birch base and reclaimed MDF wood side panels. They sell conversion kits ($240) that changes their Classic Crib (from $890) to the Toddler Bed (from $570), by simply removing the crib panels and replacing with those from the toddler bed. It saves style- and budget-conscious parents the cost of an additional bed. And parents can also convert the piece back to a crib for an another baby down the road.

 

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]]>baby furnitureconvertible furniturecribseconomicalsave moneytoddler bedsKaomi Goetz2010-03-29T15:34:00 00:00Inflatable Furniture: Not Just a Bunch of Hot Airhttp://realestate.aol.com/blog/2010/03/26/inflatable-furniture-not-just-a-bunch-of-hot-air/http://realestate.aol.com/blog/2010/03/26/inflatable-furniture-not-just-a-bunch-of-hot-air/http://realestate.aol.com/blog/2010/03/26/inflatable-furniture-not-just-a-bunch-of-hot-air/#commentsFiled under:

Apartment hopping? Subletting? Are you a (housing) commitment-phobe? Do you love irony? Want to avoid this? Inflatable furniture may be for you.

Dutch designer Jeroen van de Kant has turned the traditional Chesterfield couch on its button-tufted ear with aptly-titled "Blofield," an inflatable version. And unlike blow-up brightly-colored lawn or poolside furniture, the Blofield comes in decidedly adult colors: white, grey and earth green, in one-, two-, and three-seater options. There's even a kid-sized armchair called "Baby Blo."

And like the convenience the Aerobed, the Blofields come with an electrical pump that inflates chairs in minutes.

Now, if only van de Kant would come up with an inflatable Chippendale coffee table, we'd make a pot of English tea.

Browse the gallery for more airy ideas...%Gallery-89100%

 

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]]>Chesterfieldfurnitureinflatableoutdoor furnitureportablesofaKaomi Goetz2010-03-26T16:50:00 00:00A Cinderella Rental Story Comes to Manhattanhttp://realestate.aol.com/blog/2010/03/19/a-cinderella-rental-story-comes-to-manhattan/http://realestate.aol.com/blog/2010/03/19/a-cinderella-rental-story-comes-to-manhattan/http://realestate.aol.com/blog/2010/03/19/a-cinderella-rental-story-comes-to-manhattan/#commentsFiled under:

manhattan apartment complex lures with artA surplus of commercial real estate properties in New York City has property owners trying to lure tenants with creative incentives. Literally.

The owners of 15 Little W. 12 St., Taconic Investment Partners with Square Mile Capital Management, recently built a new, 80,000 square foot building for retail and office-based spaces. To draw potential clients and grab attention in the over-stimulated city of New York, this week they put up "Chelsea Cinderella," a video-art installation.

The six-figure art project shows the silhouette of a stylish and selective woman who is in control of her destiny through a nearly three minute film. She shops for a dress and a new pair of shoes, rebuffs a marriage proposal and takes the elevator up to her office, meeting suitors along the way. The short story, which can be viewed nightly from from 6pm to 2am, is looped and is powered by seven projectors on seven windows of the building. Artist Mark Yurkiw said the owners wanted something to attract hip, artistic boutiques and companies to move-in.


"We created a story because this area is on the cusp of Chelsea, the meatpacking area. All my life this area was a no-man's land at night," said the native New Yorker. "Now it's blossomed into the latest and greatest for everything. It is very inspiring to see the change in the landscape down there."

Increasingly, property owners are looking for new ways to market their empty buildings since the decline in early 2009. Brokers say some rents have fallen by as much as 50 percent. Perks such as Apple iPods, Super Bowl tickets and even cash are not unheard of in the game of luring potential renters. Taconic executive Paul Pariser told Crains' Business he "wanted to create a gift for the community."

Yurkiw also wanted to tell a story of a young ingénue who comes to New York seeking career and love - a storyline he said happens over and over again in the city. He said the story of Cinderella has meaning rooted in the French Revolution, which marked a period of change and upheaval. Yurkiw said he sees a parallel with that period and what is currently state of economical and social affairs.

For you art advocates, here's the Cinderella story again without the building:

 

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]]>art installationChelseacommercialMeatpacking districtNYCoffice spacereal estaterenovationKaomi Goetz2010-03-19T16:17:00 00:00