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The Week of Things I Like

I know that I need to get back into the habit of posting scintillating content over here and I am going to warm myself up with posts that are mainly visual and discuss why I love them.  Let me know what you think and I look forward to hearing your thoughts as always.

Tonight’s is the puur design studios furniture collection.  I originally saw this on PicoCool where they have some great pictures of the Magic Four in One chair.  (Side note – please I know flash is cool, I realize this.  But it makes it soooo hard to feature deep linked stuff).

Here is it broken out for display. 

I like it nested and I like it taken out.  I imagine this in the kids room or a game room scenario.

If you go to their site they have other unique chairs and art forms.  I like this book shelf called Chaos, though.  I like the flexibility it provides you to be the architect in your house.  You can usually set the tone pre-purchase by color, shape and post-purchase with arrangement.  This shelf adds a new dynamic which is after arrangement times two.  Go vertical I say…

Feedback & Zuri Furniture

I love feedback! Feel free to leave comments or shoot me an e-mail via the “Talk to Us” or at tina (at) dfwmodernhomes.com. If you are on Twitter, I am also on there in two locations: tina_winslow and dfwmodernhomes. Send me a tweet!

Speaking of feedback. I got some from the owner of Zuri Furniture. I don’t want to quote the whole e-mail because I haven’t asked if it’s cool to but I think that based on the e-mail that if store reflects the owner ya’ll are in good hands. Good, sassy, comfortable but amazingly fresh design hands.

Some additional facts. They have TWO locations. I’ve conveniently put them below with links to the maps. Cause I’m helpful like that.

4880 Alpha Road / Dallas, TX 75244 – Click on the Zuri Furniture to the left and see more information
7884 S.H. 121 / Frisco, TX 75034

Also I would like to quote one little itty bitty snippet which I think reflects exactly what we want in Dallas and what we want in our homes.

“No one really understood what we Texans must have in our homes, unique style that doesn’t sacrifice comfort. We all want home to be where we can relax and find ease. That is the inspiration behind our entire product line. We look for one-of-a-kind pieces with clean lines and modern finishes but we never sacrifice on quality and comfort.”

That is what I’m talking about. One of the prime reasons I fell in love with Modern Homes and Modern Furnishings. Unique look, unique feel, total freedom and ultimately relaxation in our homes.

So there you have it. Go see the fine folks at Zuri Furniture and look for more information about Modern on the Move in Dallas here.

Green Trends and Modern Housing

We already touched a bit on why I think economically efficient and green technology is prevalent in Modern Housing.

However, I really wanted to elaborate a bit more.  I have had some interesting conversations and thought  ya’ll might agree that it’s fast becoming a defacto issue with builders, home owners, designers, architects and vendors.

1. Modern Homes by our working definition is homes that represent what is modern to us. With trends to Green Living more and more on our conscious and we continue to descend into a compromised future based on a world where our foot print is heavy. That being said, homes being built today almost by default need to lesson that foot print and their are many many architects, designers and builders focusing on that.

2. Money. I was talking to Gregg Graham of Dallas Energy Efficient Products last week and he was relating to me that in energy efficiency, almost 53% of the energy loss in your homes comes from windows and doors. That’s astounding to me. And with the amount of technology going into windows with triple pain, krypton gas to prevent energy loss and reflect it back out into the environment, secure glass it’s no wonder that homes today are being built with this technology. It helps and it saves money and looks fabulous. Add to that my conversation with friends at Florida Landscape Lighting and their observations about LED lights and the future of lighting both inside and out and it’s more and more becoming a matter of money savings as well as environmental necessity.

3. Which is I think another factor. Design. Many of the features that you want to make your house look artistically pleasing can be custom. Windows that are built custom are usually made to LEED standards. Same goes for doors, lighting, water and energy features. Unless you are taking a Mid-Century modern and keeping it “as-is” many of the houses you find that are Modern were built recently and with quality in mind, custom. Those 9 times out 10 are going to green inspired or at least better than standard non-Modern housing built today.

This is of course, my opinion.  If you know of any other reason why Green might be a factor, let me know.  I’m all about the discussion versus the pulpit.   I thought about the fact, that it’s a selling point but I think that can be boiled down to the three above in some fashion.  Thoughts?

Updates Coming

Good lord has it already been a month.

My apologies, but a death in the family and the end of the year work obligations of my day job, held me up.

I have some great posts coming soon including more furnishings I have found, an update about a local modern furnishing store and lots more updates to the map of modern homes in Dallas.

Stay Tuned!

Hold on to your keyboards..

I’m going to be working a bit of a revamp in the next little while.  If things look wonky it’ll straighten out shortly.

Update:
I have the new design up and the new IA in place but now I need to add some content, get images in place and tidy up around here. Let me know your thoughts and feedback.

Thanks!

Holiday in the Highlands – December 5th, 2008

I have a few more details on another home tour.  It’s not necessary Modern from what I thought (darn) but if you missed the AIA Home Tour a few weeks ago, this one does feature a decked-out-for-the-Holidays 22 Vanguard.  Which is way MODERN!

Details of the Tour which is from Lake Highlands Women’s League if you are interested:

TOUR OF HOMES

Friday, December 5, 2008
9:30 a.m. to 5 p.m.
(ticket required)

HOLIDAY MARKET

9:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m.
Highland Oaks Church of Christ
Just East of Plano Road off Walnut Hill

LUNCHEON

Tour ticket price – $10.00 in advance, $12.00 at the door (available at each home and at the church).
Luncheon ticket price – $12.00 (All luncheon tickets must be purchased in advance.)

Architecture Firm of the Week – Corgan Associates

I have lots of Architects to highlight but wanted to start in Dallas / Fort Worth neighborhood because I’m trying very hard to highlight as much as possible the resources in our neighborhood.  There are lots of international and national modern/contemporary resources out there and I will expand my circle to include them but let’s start with our own backyard shall we.

From their website at http://www.corgan.com

Founded in Dallas in 1938, Corgan is nationally ranked among the top design firms focused on architecture.  Corgan’s design professionals provide master planning, architecture, interior design and space planning services for new and existing facilities. Corgan has developed quality design solutions for a number of clients over the years, culminating in a long list of repeat clients that make up 90% of our yearly business. Our history of success is based on:

- Exceptional design solutions

- Technical excellence

- Responsive service

They have offices now as far away as Beijing and London.  A local company gone big.  Yes!

Their specialities focus on the corporate, healthcare, aviation, education, LEED and call centers.  I didn’t seen any residential on their portfolio but I know I have heard their name in relation to some of the homes I have seen lately.  They also have a Medialab as part of their company and produce 3d work there.  It’s nice to see that level of dedication in showing their clients work that will be produced.  I remember days when it was all on rolled up plans and visualizations.

They also do Interiors.  I am a little unaware of where the divide is between these as I have seen more and more firms offer interior design/interior development as part of architectural packages.  I guess this makes good business sense as it doesn’t leave services or money on the table.

Here are two shots off their portfolio:

BLUE CROSS BLUE SHIELD

DALLAS FARMERS MARKET

Concept of the Week-Open the Doors of Appreciation

Appreciation of modern homes is for everybody.  I started this blog in part to open up the ideas to everyone.  I think that the appreciation of modern housing can be for regular people.  In fact, one of the big stereotypes of modern homes is that they are only owned by architects, designers, interior decorators or others that have schooling in professional design concepts related to the field.

My own unofficial notes of the AIA Home Tour that there were a few “types” of people at the homes.  There were:

• Obvious Design Students – Youngish, hipsters.  I saw several clumps using official terms and making notes on pads.  I would take these to be architectural, interior design, developers etc.  I use design in the broadest sense.  Artists all of them.
• Design professionals – These were older versions of the students.  For the most part, excellently dressed and coiffed, many were AIA volunteers and they seemed to know each other.
• Real estate people – Since many of the homes were for sale and their was a largely influential people there.  Smart business idea for sure.
• The rest were the masses.  I take these to be other people in the industries and unlabelable (good on ya for defying definition). Average people.  Appreciating the homes.

What I guess I’m saying is that I think this style of home is accessible to all types.  It can be many things and my perception that I had originally had of bleakness, stark exteriors has been removed.  The ability to merge with the environment, encompass both style and substance, green without being obnoxious about it and passionate delivery of excellence.  What’s not to love about that?

Now I wonder how we get more people hooked on this style of home?  Perhaps we can work on economic alternatives since many of the homes can be pricey.  I guess that comes down to unique features and style versus mass ownership.  There is a point, when to be something admired, that commodity has to be in demand.  To make the demand, the easiest way to do that is make it unique, make it hard to get (above the level of the average user) and in some way appeal to your base.  Modern homes today have definitely achieved those three features.

And with a vibrant furnishings, lighting industry you can definitely build a modern interior even if the outside is your normal house.

Modern Furniture Store of the Week – 11/17/08

I’m trying to do the schedule this week and so the first up of the week is a Modern Furniture Store or Furnishings I like.  I will eventually run out of locations in the Dallas / Fort Worth metroplex but for now, I’m going to try and highlight stores that have physical locations here.  Since the world is our store with the internet we can expand but I want to pimp my hometown as much as possible.

I was looking for furnishings that stir me.  I found some great ones and saw a bunch of dining chairs and it reminded me of my dad’s philosophy.  I visited my parents a few years ago and noticed that all the chairs around the dining room were business rolling chairs.  The kind behind your desk at the office.  I was like – “what’s this?  Ya’ll have a meeting here or something?”  My mother looked at me with an amused look on her face, and said “ask your father.”  So I did – the story was that my father took all the chairs out of the dining room and replaced them on purpose with business chairs.  He did this because he said he can have meetings all day long and his bum never falls asleep but after 45 minutes in dining room chair he’s always sore and his bum fell asleep.  Hahahaha.  I love that story.

Now on to the Store of the Week – Zuri Furniture.  They are on Alpha road in what I suspect is the Modern Furniture zone of Dallas.  There are other stores over there which I’ll highlight another day or week.

This is a lovely vase that has zen feel to it.  And it reminds me of my friend’s house that also has a modern house and is very zen in her design plan.  The only thing is she wouldn’t ever have a vase because that adds a cluttered feel.

Modern beds always suck me in. I love the expression that any bed brings to the bedroom whether master or other. But the unique flavor of a modern bed often sets the tone for the entire experience in the bedroom. I go for comfort. The bed is my safety net. I don’t just go to bed, I retire to the bedroom. But I understand other people think of the bed as more utilitarian and the modern culture definitely can welcome that aesthetic. But I know of no other genre of design where you can express yourself so completely in a bed frame.

I wish their site wasn’t all in Flash so I could direct link these and also highlight a larger picture. I love the night table as part of the headboard. I’ve seen that a lot. We have that sort of in our Ikea bed in that the shelves behind the bed pull out for a night table or shove in for a cleaner look.

I also like the pedestal approach or on a platform. Again with my Zen theme today.

Finally chairs. I love the look of this chair. It has a funky flair but looks actually comfortable. I would hope a different color is available and of course I would have to give it an official bum check.

Lake Highlands Home Tour in December

Family issues again this weekend.  However, I did hear of another tour.  This time it’s in Lake Highlands and much smaller but I’ll be digging up details on it and posting them here.  I think this tour is smaller and is located in Lake Highlands exclusively.

I also got new details on a modern home being built and for sale.  When I round out that information, I’ll post it here and I’ll also add it to our mash-up of the google map of Modern Homes in Dallas.

Teasers tonight for everyone.  I will dig in this week and complete promises on the site.  I know the masses wait with baited breath.

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