Wednesday, February 21, 2007

Modern Cabana

For your roof, or for your 160 acres in Humboldt County: Modern Cabana. The average cabana measures approximately 100 SF and costs on $22.5K. It's delivered insulated, wired, with operable windows and french doors. And in stark contrast to most pre-fab builders, who don't like talking numbers until you own the land, Modern Cabana lets you do it all online.

Thursday, February 15, 2007

BDDW

The most beautiful studio album we've seen lately is online at BDDW. Each wooden piece is hand-carved: "BDDW is known for their heirloom quality solidwood furniture, traditionally joined, in select domestic hardwoods.Their finishes are all hand rubbed with natural oils and lacquers."

While their credenzas are our favorite pieces by far, the
captain's mirrors, strung by a mulled leather strap, are such a gorgeous combination of soft curves and distressed texture that we fear the price tag.

Brent Comber

We love his three (sustainably-produced) collections, featured on our green blog, Avenue G, but Vancouver's Brent Comber is of another (even better) planet in his custom work. The 33 fixtures above were carved from solid cedar logs for Dos Caminos in nyc.

See his commercial and residential gallery for more inspiration than you thought possible before 11am.

Tuesday, February 13, 2007

The Papercuts

Every few days I come across commercial art that I wish could hang logo-free on my wall and this album art fits the bill exactly, logo or not. It might be the Cal bear-ish print; it might be that Amazon tells me the Papercuts are the next Shins, or... ? Their previous album artwork, for Mockingbird, isn't too shabby either.

Monday, February 12, 2007

Jean Prouve's Potence Lamp

We're going through a major bare-bulb-fascination stage right now, and core to that fascination must be French designer Jean Prouve's perfect extended-arm wall sconce for manufacturer vitra. More than its form and simplicity, we absolutely love that the Potence lamp was designed for the Prouve's 1949 Tropical House project (the famous prefabricated metal home designed for tropical climates).

Pre-Fab-Pets

The dogs and I haven't addressed bent-ply or Eames yet, but when we do...

Friday, February 2, 2007

Alchemy Architects' weeHouse

Our favorite architects in Minnesota make our favorite prefab second-home structures. (We say second-home because we are still waiting for an 1,100SF modern prefab package that can be completed for less than $400/SF.) This model weeHouse clocks in at $45K for materials (though it's heated solely by a woodstove).

Thursday, February 1, 2007

And So Now You Want an Eichler


A recent project put us in touch with an Eichler ownership group in San Mateo, CA (232 Eichlers near just one park!) and prompted us to do a little number crunching. Your Bay Area Eichler specialists will have the skinny on new listings (where you will find that you can't afford Palo Alto, and you definitely can't afford an Eichler there). It's so much more gratifying to just tour remotely. Or take a tiny Usonian internet research break here.

Photo credits to Ernie Braun please.

Oh, Walter

Further proof that Really Cool can originate in El Cerrito!: The hubby and wife team at Walter Designs.