When they began the process of remodeling their home, it was important to Lisa & Jacob Mannheimer to preserve the original character of the building, dating from the 1950′s. That meant undoing some of the renovations made in the 70′s and 80′s (like shag carpet). Wall were painted white to highlight original features, and the original floors were sanded and oiled. According to Lisa, the layout was relatively modern and worth keeping, except for the kitchen. With a desire to make the kitchen the center of the home, a few walls and an extra dining room were removed to allow the tiny kitchen room to grow, and a fireplace was added. Overall the house has a simple and comfortable feel, while managing to avoid feeling completely finishes, just as Lisa hoped.
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Anki and Casper, along with their two sons has lived in this home for five years. But when they decided turn it into a family home, they completely gutted and remodel it. Keeping an adapting moodboard throughout the process has helped Anki check if new ideas will blend with what exists.
“Our only vision was to make this a place where we could live. Style came later. As we’ve grown into the house, we’ve mixed practical ideas with a style that makes us smile.”
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Last week was a little spotty thanks to some WordPress problems with an outdated plugin (my sincere apologies if anyone clicked a link and found something other than what they were expecting), so hopefully this bonus Home post helps make up for that just a little! Norwegian ceramics designer Silji Aune Eriksen recently had her home featured in the Norwegian version of Elle Decoration. The neutral/soft natural pallet is perfect. The way light seems to carry throughout the home is amazing. The only small thing I would experiment with, is bringing just a touch more color into the kitchen. Although without the benefit of being there in person, its impossible to know the feel of a space through a photograph. In person the kitchen might be just perfect.
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So I came across this beautiful set of photos last week over at The Design Files (one of my top favorite places to spend my free time on the internet) and couldn’t help sharing them as well. Located in Melbourne’s Princes Park, Barbara Hyman along with her husband and three children inherited this Australian home in great shape. Having already been previously renovated, the attention could focus on interior details and exterior spaces. Everything in the home has a story, and every space a purpose. You should really head right over to The Design Files to read all about it, and to see all the amazing photos. And thanks very much to TDF for allowing me to share!
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What to do with a kitchen built in 1931 that is too small to socialize in, and an adjacent Library that no one uses? Renovate! In an effort to do exactly that, Anna and Caspar tore down a wall, added an island (designed to look more like a piece of furniture than a kitchen island), and successfully converted a living space into a modern dining space in only five weeks. Now a kitchen that was once small and dark, is now a bright and welcoming space with room to spare.
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IKEA has teamed up with Oregon-based architecture firm Ideabox to launch IKEA’s first line of prefabricated houses in the U.S. called Aktiv. The homes are designed to be simple, Eco-friendly, and come fully furnished. Retail price is expected to be around US$79,500. I see some potential here, but I am curious to see how the houses perform, and to read more about the design considerations. Is it energy efficient? Are there Eco-upgrades? Do you have to assemble it yourself?
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