Tuesday 7 February 2012

KITCHEN COMFORT










With many clients requesting Open plan kitchens usually with breakfast bar and counter tops the accessory that plays a big part is the BAR STOOL. Relaxing in one of these stools has the advantage of being non formal yet classy and at the same time being able to have a conversation with the spouse and family.









 Whether it a mans thing with 'the bar and stool in the pub' but what with the different designs and styles on the market today there is a choice to suit most tastes






Tandem Bench...Group the stools together and hey presto Tandem Stool that is both practical and functional.









Stools come in all sizes and design. The above is a single leg design which is an adjustable gas strut and chrome circular base











Designs are endless to compliment your taste and project

Philippe Starck for Kartell La Boheme Fat Stool, RedPhilippe Starck for Kartell La Boheme Thin Stool, VioletMarcel Wanders for Kartell Stone Stool, Crystal

Yes the above are look like vases but have been designed to act as stools. Made in a ruby-red transparent polycarbonate, which is shockproof, weather-resistant and durable. Take a browse at John Lewis web site




Retro furniture that will bring the look of American diners and bowling alleys of the 1950s and 60s right into your home - great for kitchens, games rooms, studies, or even children's bedrooms.
 
The Manhattan bar chair has hand-finished studded seat backs reminiscent of American car seat designs of the 1950s.



Bonded white leather on chrome adjustable leg will go with most  kitchen design.







 

You can even have the stools set with LED lights on the inside to give that dramatic wow factor and create mood

Saturday 4 February 2012

House Design

A client called me up to design a house on a level plot within a flood plane. He had a good idea in his head of what he wanted but was not comfortable with how it all knitted together and could I help. I said 'Absolutely'.
The plot measured 20 metres deep and 25 metres wide. The original design of a 5 bedroom family residence complete with double garage. As you can see there is a dormer in the garage roof to serve an Ensuite to the Master bedroom

Depicts the same 2400 square footage family home but the external materials have been altered to show the client how the house will sit in the street scene. Also very useful for planning.
Further tweaks to the frontage with stone quoins, cills and headers


Almost there. After swept track analysis of vehicles turning off road and issues with sight lines it was agreed to mirror image the house and set the garage back so that cars can turn (whilst some are parked)
FINAL HOUSE.
The utility has gone back into the house next to the open plan kitchen, leaving behind a full double garage

LIGHTING IN THE HOME

                                                                         

LIGHTING

Life was so simple in the ‘Good Old Days’. The Living room had a central ceiling rose with a 100 watt bulb operated by a single switch, light on and everyone was happy. But nowadays the choice and confusion is bewildering from LED’s, halogen and fluorescents. Low voltage or mains? Inset or wall lights?
The Lighting Scheme should ideally be done by a qualified lighting designer for the detailed scheme to be successful. The scheme should take into account each room and brief from the client about room usage.
Who will be using the room? Will the room double up for homework, study etc. Are there any special furniture, features or artwork that requires Accent lighting.
standard GLS bulb

Bathrooms
Are now zoned and light fittings are classed accordingly to the IP rating (Ingress Protection).  Zone 0 is the area inside the bath or shower and only light fittings classed for zone 0 can be used. Recessed down lights work well in bathrooms as background lighting. Task lighting could be illuminated mirrors. Remember also to include a shaver socket with or without light that could be used for electric toothbrushes.


When building a home or an extension you should know your lighting plan right at the design stage. This needs to be in place to ensure first fix goes smoothly. You should pay attention to the natural light that will be entering each room.

General Lighting
Is the main light in each room. It can be achieved through central pendants, down lights or even wall lights.

Accent Lighting
Is used to add contrast and interest to highlight features and areas of interest

Concealed Lighting
Means that you do not see the light source, just the effect it creates. Used under kitchen wall cupboards, under kitchen plinths, in alcoves and over pelmets.

Decorative Lightings
Is simply striking and to give a statement such as chandeliers, floor standards lamps and unusual wall and table lights.

The Building Regulations now require that a minimum of 25% of light installed in a new build must come from a low energy source. Meaning, fittings that will only take lights that have a luminous efficacy greater than 45 lumens per circuit Watt. Fluorescent and CFL’s, LED’s would all conform to this, whilst fitting low energy bulbs with bayonet or screw cap bases do not.

DOMESTIC DWELLING
INTERNAL LIGHTING                3 out of 4 to be low energy
                                                      Fittings with luminous efficacy greater than 45
                                                       lamp lumens per circuit Watt and total output
                                                       greater than 400 lumens. Fittings of less than 5
                                                       circuit Watts executed.

EXTERNAL LIGHTING             Not greater than 100 lamp Watts per fitting and
                                                      than 45 lumens per circuit wall and automatically
                                                      controlled when daylight sufficient and controlled
                                                      manually by occupant

Low Energy light bulbs have improved greatly in the last few years. Energy efficiency has never been easier; you can save money and help the environment just by changing your light bulb
                                                     
Incandescent Bulbs
are only 10% efficient and are known as Tungsten or General Lighting Service (GLS) are the traditional type that  most of us have grown up with but are soon to be replaced in all the shops with Energy efficient bulbs known as Compact Fluorescent lamps  (CFL).
CFL’s are available in standard bayonet and screw versions and in all different shapes and sizes. CFL’s use 75% less electric than the old incandescent bulbs.
Light is measured in Lumens and Power is measured in Watts
Choose the right bulb for the right situation.
GLS bulbs radiate right all round as a cone whereas CFL bulbs emit light sideways. So if you want to mount a light on the wall you should use a 2D CFL
LED downlighter
LED
Light Emitting Diodes have at last come of age. This type of light has a very long lifespan. LED lights can be used as an alternative to low voltage lights and are good for accent lighting as they can produce coloured lighting which is changeable for creating mood
MR16 lampGU10 lamp