Barn Doors as . . . Doors

I don't remember exactly when I began to love the look of barn doors for something other than . . . well, just a barn. I got the opportunity to use one in a project where it it was the perfect fit; a modern interpretation of a barn door that separated a bedroom and bathroom creating a private personal space for a business partner that came to town occasionally to stay at the others partner's private home/office. But that was over ten years ago and contemporary looking barn door hardware was hard to come by. No, I never took a photo of the project, unfortunately. But, here are a few that I've come across lately that I like.

I'm not sure where I found this! But, it is my favorite. I love the old blue paint.

Via Menchant Design Blog

I like the hardware the most in these. It looks almost Gothic. Via Ideas to Steal.

The most traditional looking of all of them, it truly has more of a barn look. Via Pinterest.

If you're looking for nice barn hardware, it is pretty easy to find. Here are some websites:

http://www.barndoorhardware.com/

http://www.rusticahardware.com/BARN-DOOR-HARDWARE-orderby0-p-1-c-274.html

http://www.hafele.com/us/products/barn-door-hardware.asp

http://www.specialtydoors.com/barn-door-hardware/

If you're looking for help in integrating a barn door into your design, contact me:  shaun@designhouse-arch.com. Visit my website for other designs.

Guangzhou Opera House

Architect Zaha Hadid shows her largest and most complex example of her new generation of primarily computer-generated designs: the Guangzhou Opera House. Located in Guangzhou, China, this spectacularly complex building looks as if you are in the inner workings of a futuristic robot.

All images via Architect Magazine

Intriguing Preservation & Restoration of 100 Year Old Timber Homes

Tokyo architect Yasuhiro Yamashita has created a new model of adaptive preservation. Instead of just capturing a place in time, he dismantles and reconstructs a new puzzle of old and new:  slick, contemporary galvanized steel panels envelope old wood. 100-year-old timber frames from "folk houses", relocated and combined, form the structural system of the new house. Contrasting colors distinguish old from new. Empty, the house is intriguing, if not a bit ominous . .  like an abandoned warehouse.


He has won Residential Architect's grand award in restoration/preservation. Read the article here.

Sunday Love

To my Mum, whom has had to deal with some difficult issues lately. Happy Mother's Day, Mum. I love you. xoxoxo

Explosion of Color: Jimmie Martin & Rick Schultz's Temporary Digs

Jimmie Martin and Rick Schultz's current apartment is an eclectic mix of personal pieces from Martin Ltd's collection, IKEA, antiques, and "this and that" found along their travels. The walls, covered in dark gray, are intentional to make the spots of color explode in comparison. The result is surprisingly cheerful.

Read the full story at Design*Sponge

Street Art Invades the Home

From Louis Vuitton's graffiti collection, to Banksy's humorous nighttime tags, and now Jimmie Martin's wallpaper, furniture, and other home accessories, graffiti and street art have made their way to mainstream design. Well, almost. Perhaps a bit more accepted in fashion, which seems to change daily and contradicts itself within not only the same fashion magazine, but within the same issue (are wide legged pants and bell bottom "in" or "out"? I'm choosing "in" as they balance the "out" of my butt these days). LV's scrawling text was first introduced way back in 2001 and I immediately coveted the white text Keepall knowing that I would consider it a classic piece for years to come. But with the $2,000+ price tag, I knew the initial outlay would keep the duffel from ever gracing my shoulder despite my price-per-wear approach to purchases. I still think it is the perfect, classic, funky piece. Here it is in the smaller Speedy 30:

Not quite perfect, but still very cool are the orange Keepall and the hot pink Speedy 30 bags that I found online:

Now, Jimmie Martin has brought the street art inside.

Wallpaper available through Jimmie Martin

The Perfect Buffet

Various Jimmie Martin pieces

Soon, I'll post some more images of Jimmie Martin's and photographer and partner, Rick Schultz's "temporary" apartment as they hunt for a permanent home to purchase.

Sunday Easter Egg Love

More Wood & Stone Kitchens

Wood and stone combined in a kitchen that is both modern and rustic at the same time is apparently a theme that I admire. It keeps on resurfacing. Delight by Design blog featured this kitchen yesterday that was found in the Spanish design magazine, Nuevo Estilo. 

Here is another although I don't know where I came across this:

Glimpses of Orange

I've been thinking about my sister-in-law a lot lately. Both because I miss her and out of guilt because I've been incommunicado the last month due to tons of travel and work. Whenever I come across a fabulous use of the color orange, I think about her as it is her favorite color. A friend came over for chai the other morning and had on a great asymmetrically cut orange jacket that I know my sister-in-law would love. I didn't take a photo of the jacket but I did come across these: