Home Builder Developer - Interior Renovation and Design

By STEVE KAUFMANContributing Writer

Its difficult to talk about the roles of men and women when it comes to home decorating without risking a 25-years-to-life sentence for political incorrectness.

Many men are the chefs in the family and want the kitchen designed to accommodate their wants. Many wives are the entrepreneurs in the family and need a personalized office for their business activities or financial management.

Men can be the gardeners, women can be the do-it-yourselfers. Or maybe shes the one who clears the decks and shuts everyone else up when a Kentucky basketball game is on TV.

Happens all the time.

But when home builder and designer Rob Osborne was asked to discuss What Men Want in terms of home redesign and remodeling, it was necessary to make some assumptions and give in to generalizations for which well almost certainly be criticized.

Osborne runs Details Consulting Group (www.detailsconsultinggroup.com), and has been a custom home builder for more than 20 years. He has worked with hundreds of thousands of customers and has seen trends cycle in and out. What he has found is todays men want to be involved in more of the decision making, and certainly the budget, of the project.

But hes also getting more involved in some of the design details, Osborne says, and that can include decisions about the kitchen, master bathroom, exterior of the house and still, and always the finished basement.

Most of the men Ive worked with dont care too much about the color plan, he says. They may, he says, take an interest in architectural details like, say, the crown moldings but mostly they defer to the woman on those decisions.

However, the kitchen is increasingly falling into the male realm. Most of todays home designs include a wide open floor plan with the kitchen integrated into the great room, Osborne says. Its more than just preparing Tuesday night dinner for the family. Its part of the entertaining process.

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Male-Order Design

The Washington Post

Decorator, textile designer and blogger Lauren Liess was the guest last week on the Post's Home Front online chat. Here is an edited excerpt:

Q: I live in a late-1950s hexagon-shaped ranch house. What I loved about this house was the vaulted wood ceilings, except for the fact that they are really dark. I have both limited natural light and indoor lighting. I had several painters look at the ceilings, and no one would touch them because they feared if I painted them a light color, eventually the stain would bleed through the paint and would not be worth the cost involved. So I gave up! I would welcome your input as to how to bring this home into 2014.

A: Making this decision really depends upon your personal style, but I would consider having the beams sanded down (so that the dark stain is removed) to reveal the natural wood. You could have the beams hand-scraped for a look with some texture and patina. It's what we did in our home, and I absolutely love it. Once the old red/brown stain was removed, our home was instantly lightened. Painting in a lighter color would also be a possibility, but I would do this only after sanding. It took our team three to four days just to do the sanding in our house.

Q: What do you think really defines your style, and how can I achieve a similar vibe -- most likely on a smaller budget than most of your clients? Any areas worth the extra splurge?

A: My style is sort of relaxed, natural and collected. As cliche as it sounds, I love to mix old and new pieces and a little bit of quirk into my designs. To achieve a similar vibe, you could use seagrass rugs (really inexpensive, and they're one of my favorites) to define a space. From there you could layer in mostly neutral furnishings, but maybe pick a piece or two for some great pattern. I hang curtains from the ceiling and love using natural woven roman shades. Home Depot and Lowe's sell nice matchstick roman shades that can work. They're best kept stationary, as over time they can wear out. I love using a mix of pillows in fabrics that the client absolutely loves and would say it's a great place to splurge. A great sofa is another splurge-worthy piece. You can use simple end tables and case goods. Lighting can be fairly basic, but find one really special piece or a great pair of lamps. Finally, layer in original artwork and accessories that you might find at flea markets or thrift stores. I'm always on the hunt for great buys, and it doesn't have to be expensive to be amazing.

Q: I love how you have designed spaces with whites and neutrals. It seems that most pictures I like that have white spaces also have great architectural details such as exposed beams and wood windows that can be painted black. I think that is why my eyes are drawn to those rooms. I am afraid to go white because I don't want the room to look sterile. Other than adding new architectural details, how can I make a new white space warm and cozy?

A: You can make a white space feel cozy by adding layers and lots of textures. Natural elements instantly warm up a space. Think baskets, warm wood finishes, natural woven rugs, bamboo and matchstick shades. Also, artwork and accessories with lots of patina and age work wonders. Swap out a newly framed print with an old oil painting and a space completely changes.

Q: Can you offer some suggestions on making my living room feel not so dark? All the furniture is dark to medium wood (coffee table, server chest, end tables, etc.), and there's a large, brown leather sofa against the wall and two natural slipper chairs. The rug is a cream and blue color. The wall paint color is gray/blue. Where should I start first?

A: I'm not sure if this is a possibility, but switching your brown sofa for a lighter one would instantly lighten up the space. If it's not an option, consider painting some of the wood in lighter colors like ivory or taupe. I think the sofa would be the biggest game-changer, though. Also go with white or ivory unlined curtains, hung from the ceiling. Mix in large white accessories throughout the space, such as trays and vases.

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Tips for your home from designer Lauren Liess

Now is the Perfect Time to Open a Kitchen Solvers!
Get more info: http://www.franchisegator.com/kitchen-solvers-cabinet-refacing-franchise/ Kitchens are the most commonly upgraded rooms in a house and Kitchen...

By: Franchise Gator

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Now is the Perfect Time to Open a Kitchen Solvers! - Video

12 Projects - Migliore+Servetto Architects

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12 Projects - Migliore+Servetto Architects - Video

Hill House -- Video 1 -- by Andrew Maynard Architects
See the entire project http://ilikear.ch/HillHouseAMA Designed by Andrew Maynard Architects, this small lot in Melbourne #39;s Northcote suburb presents an ingen...

By: I Like Architecture

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Hill House -- Video 1 -- by Andrew Maynard Architects - Video

There is more than one artist with this name:

1) Architects are a Technical Metalcore band from Brighton, England. 2) Architects were a -violence band brought up with members of Austin, Texas own Toru Okada. Now known as the band Faithealer. 3) Architects (also The Architects) is also the name used by a Kansas City Soul Rock band whove released 4 albums (Keys To The Building 2005, Revenge 2006, Vice 2007 and The Hard Way 2009).

1)They were first signed to In At The Deep End Records followed by United By Fate Records(UK) / Distort Inc (Canada). They are currently signed to Century Media records. Architects released their debut album Nightmares in May 2006. Have toured with the likes of Sikth, Beecher, Johnny Truant and The Chariot. They embarked on a UK headline tour with The Gorgeous as support, January 2007. This was the last tour with singer Matt Johnson who was replaced by Sam Carter for the new album which was recorded in March and April 2007 and released on the 25 June 2007. They then appeared as main support on the series of Death of the Weekday minifests headlined by Sikth. Architects are endorsed by ESP guitars and Peavey amps, Sabian Cymbals and Mapex Drums. They recently set out on tour as support for Bring Me the Horizon, playing with such bands as The Break In, Honour Among Thieves, Your Demise, The Chariot and others.

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Architects Free listening, videos, concerts, stats and ...

San Francisco, CA (PRWEB) January 31, 2014

Los Angeles architecture and construction firm Marmol Radziner announced a new office in San Francisco. A growing number of commercial and residential projects in Northern California, as well as increased interest in Marmol Radziners design philosophy and process, led the firm to establish a Bay Area location. The San Francisco Marmol Radziner office is located at 333 12th Street in the South of Market district central to downtown and other key neighborhoods.

Studio Director Jason Davis, FAIA, leads the San Francisco office, and will oversee projects in the Bay Area region. The firms Northern California client base includes private residences in the city, South Bay, wine country and Tahoe, as well as commercial projects, such as a winery in Napa and the new Oliver Peoples boutique in downtown San Francisco (opening this spring).

Marmol Radziners distinctive modern design sensibility is deeply rooted in an appreciation for proportion, light and materiality, whose beauty lies partly in the expression of materials and construction methods. The firm emphasizes a strong relationship of indoor and outdoor spaces. In each case, a singular vision unites the building, landscape and furnishings with a shared design philosophy and language.

The firms award-winning in-house landscape design expertise allows the architects to integrate the design of the indoor and outdoor environments. In the same way, the firms own team of craftsmen gives rise to furniture designed and handcrafted by the architects, as part of the overall design vision.

Were excited to bring our design sensibility to Northern California with the opening of a San Francisco office, says Marmol Radziner Managing Principal Leo Marmol. The increasing interest in our design approach is a testament to an audience that is responding to our firms interpretation of California modernism.

About Marmol Radziner:

Established in 1989 by Leo Marmol, FAIA and Ron Radziner, FAIA, Marmol Radziner is an award-winning Los Angeles-based architecture and construction design-build firm that integrates architectural design with a full range of construction services, including programming, master planning, historic restoration, landscape design, interior design and furniture design.

Projects range from high-end residential architecture for clients such as Tom Ford, former creative director of Gucci and Yves Saint Laurent, to community-related civic buildings, as well as award-winning historic restorations such as Richard Neutras Kaufmann House in Palm Springs. The firms work has been featured in "The New York Times Sunday Magazine", "Architectural Digest", "Architectural Record", "Wallpaper", and "Dwell".

The firm was named by Architectural Digest to the prestigious AD100 for 2014, 2012 and 2010. In 2009, the principals were inducted into the Interior Design Hall of Fame. In 2004, the American Institute of Architects, California Council awarded Marmol Radziner the Firm of the Year award. Visit http://www.marmol-radziner.com.

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Award-Winning Los Angeles Architecture & Construction Firm Marmol Radziner Opens Office in San Francisco

JAKARTA, Jan 31 (Bernama) -- Indonesian Trade Minister Gita Wirjawan announced his resignation from the cabinet, effective Feb 1, to focus on his bid for the Presidential nomination ahead of this year's general election.

Gita said on Friday, that he was withdrawing from his ministerial duties to avoid any conflict of interest and wanted to focus fully on the Democratic Party's convention.

"I thank my family and all my friends for their unstinting support," he said at the press conference here.

Gita, who was appointed as the Trade Minister by Indonesian President Susilo Bambang Yudhyono on October 2011 to replace Marie Elka Pangestu, is one of 11 candidates vying to win the ruling Democratic Party's nomination to run for president.

The others include State-Owned Enterprise Minister Dahlan Iskan, House of Representatives speaker Marzuki Alie and Paramadina University rector Anies Baswedan.

President Yudhoyono has yet to announce Gita's replacement.

-- BERNAMA

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Indonesian Trade Minister Resigns To Focus On Presidential Nomination

Photo via GOOP How does one become a 'lifestyle guru?' Used to be, the process required years of meditation on Mt. Shelter Mag, but with GOOP, her weekly lifestyle newsletter, Gwyneth Paltrow has pioneered a new path to enlightenment: opening up rooms in your lavish estates to brand-heavy rejiggering efforts and self-publishing the results. Earlier this month, we were caught unawares by GOOP's redo of an unidentified "expansive but frill-free space above the garage," which turned out to be a guesthouse in Paltrow's LA home. With her latest remodeling project, Paltrow laid the cards out on the Karl Springer console table right up front, enlisting Room in a Box, the e-decorating service of designer Windsor Smithto whom GOOP ascribes an "understanding for how a living, breathing and modern family (with rambunctious kids) will actually use a space supersedes that of any mere mortal," possibly referencing her fine work in chez Paltrow West Coastto take on the living room in her Amagansett, NY abode. Eager, young disciple, to beat your own path to a higher plane of Paltroesque design savvy? Come, let us learn at the resplendently pedicured feet of a true celebriguru.

Photos via GOOP Here, we spy Paltrow's "troubled" living room, whose true potential had eluded two previous overhauls at Paltrow's own hand. Why, oh why, had this remained "a dead zone in the home, where nobody seemed to spend time?" Could it have been the visual violence wrought by that couch? A chakra imbalance brought on by a slight misalignment of the picture clump beside the piano? All Paltrow knew, aside from the fact that those "adorable" one-seaters deserved a second chance, was that she had to bring in a professional.

Photo via GOOP First off, the piano was moved to the center of the room, as Windsor Smith tells it, to "draw energy into the space." In its place, a Roche Bobois sectional sofa was added, along with a Carol Egan coffee table, chosen to grace this nook with a "contemporary twist," "a subtle sense of weightlessness," and "a lightness to it that reinforces the room's airiness." It's worth noting here that we're dealing with light, air, and weight, the -nesses that form the very foundation of our universe, and all of its interiors great and small.

Photo via GOOP At the other end of the room, more pieces of Bubois sectional were brought in atop a freshly-laid carpet to create a "tempered palette of soft neutrals" that serves as a "low-key backdrop" for Donald Kaufman's Color Field painting, and there you have it, a "modern-day take on the traditional 'salon,'" a shrine to all that is GOOP-worthy under the sun. Regrettably, that loud couch in the space's previous incarnation is now wreaking havoc in the family room, but concerning this one, perhaps GOOP said it best in a one-word caption to a photo of Paltrow enjoying her now space: "Thrilled."

Room In A Box [Goop] How Gwyneth Paltrow's GOOP GOOPs Up a Studio Apartment [Curbed National] All previous Paltrow coverage. [Curbed National]

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Adventures in Interior Design: Come, Let's GOOP Around in Gwyneth Paltrow's Living Room

Posted on: 9:40 pm, January 30, 2014, by Heidi Hemmat, updated on: 12:49pm, January 31, 2014

DENVER Dreams of a new kitchen turned into a nightmare for many Colorado homeowners who collectively paid a local contractor hundreds of thousands of dollars, only to see him take the money and run.

The company is called Kitchens 4 Less and Herman Hinojosa, the owner, is suspected of stealing from homeowners who paid large deposits for work that was never completed.

In November, Hinojosa filed for bankruptcy leaving his customers high and dry. He claims hes broke and has no way to finish the jobs he started, but our investigation found Hinojosa is still receiving money from unsuspecting customers.

Arvada resident Christine Wilson lives in the middle of a disaster area. The single moms living room is packed full of what used to be in her kitchen leaving a 5 by 10 space to live in.

This is where we are living. Its awful. We do homework here, we cook here. Wilson said.

She hired Hinojosa last summer to remodel her kitchen and bathroom to make it more accessible for her disabled mother.

According to her invoice, Wilson paid Hinojosa the required $9,000 up front. But days turned into months with no work.

We have an open sewer line in the bathroom. Its been that way for 5 months. I was very much ripped off. Wilson said.

She learned about the bankruptcy when she received a notice saying Hinojosa had filed for Chapter 7. The notice listed dozens of people who told us they collectively paid Hinojosa hundreds of thousands of dollars for remodeling work they never received.

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Contractor accused of taking deposits for remodeling, didnt complete work