Opened House

June 8th, 2010

Another sweet house spotted in Dwell. Just 20 miles southeast of Milwaukee, this stocky, cavelike 1970s bi-level was renovated by a creative young couple—Eric is a songwriter and JJ is a life coach—into a warm, modern home that embodies their core Midwestern values: simplicity, connection to nature, and strong family ties. Oh, I’m jealous. Work via Johnsen Schmaling Architects. See more here.

Two Black Sheds

May 26th, 2010

I just picked up Dwell’s “100 Houses We Love” special issue and was glad to see a home featured on Madeline Island. “Two Black Sheds” sits on four and a half acres of forest and meadows overlooking Lake Superior and is vacation home to Minneapolis residents Golob and Freeman. Architect David Salmela worked with the couple to achieve a house that was simple and didn’t involve a lot of work while having a space where everything worked together. Very cool. Read more about it here.

I hate cords!

April 23rd, 2010

Electronic cords drive me crazy, so anything to keep them hidden is welcomed in my house! I’m thinking of ordering this CableDrop and CableBox for my office from Bluelounge. Or I could be super cheap and use this idea from Unplggd.

Canvas Paintings

April 6th, 2010

I love original canvas paintings and I love these from SuZanna Anna.

Visual Interest

November 11th, 2009

anthropologie

Anthropologie appreciates innovation, craftsmanship, artfulness and good design. This is one reason why they consistently win visual awards for their store windows and displays. This Sunday, their Hilldale location in Madison is offering a workshop hosted by the visual manager and design team. Learn how this group of creative thinkers come up with such unique ideas and implement them throughout their locations nationwide. Give them a ring if you’re interested in attending.

Falling Water Legos

July 2nd, 2009

wright_lego

Spotted on the DWR blog: Steel. Glass. Stone. Now you can add Legos to that mix. Lego Architecture kits include everything you need build your own model of some of your favorite landmarks. We’re especially excited about their partnership with the Frank Lloyd Wright Foundation. Get your very own replica of Falling Water (above) or the Guggenheim, ready to be painstakingly assembled and enjoyed. The kits can be purchased in August at brickstructures.com.

Wright at the Guggenheim

June 30th, 2009

wright_guggenheim

Fifty years after designing Manhattan’s renowned museum, Frank Lloyd Wright’s Guggenheim celebrates the golden anniversary of its landmark building with the exhibition Frank Lloyd Wright: From Within Outward. Open May 15—August 23, the exhibition brings together sixty-four projects designed by one of the most influential architects of the 20th century. Although he died just six months before the opening of the Guggenheim, Wright worked independently from any single style and developed a new sense of architecture in which form and function were inseparable. The exhibit includes newly created three-dimensional scale models that examine the internal mechanics of functional space in relation to exterior form in a variety of Wright’s projects. Planning a trip to New York this summer? Then visit guggenheim.org for more details.

Wright Week

June 29th, 2009

wright wright_taliesin

This week, we’ll be featuring our very own, Wisconsin native, Frank Lloyd Wright. As one of America’s most prolific architects, whose life and career extended from the steam age to the space age, Wright has left a legacy that all Wisconsinites should be proud of.

Today, we’ll begin with Wright’s Taliesin in Spring Green, WI. Born just 20 miles west in Richland Center, Wright chose Spring Green as the location for his principal residence in 1911. Set in rolling countryside, it is said to be the source of his ideas and is one of Wright’s 500+ commissioned buildings in the U.S. Today, the Taliesin Preservation offers tours of the property from May through October and is also available for wedding or party rental. If you’re looking for a afternoon of architecture, tour Wright’s Taliesin Preservation, located just 45 miles west of Madison.

Bike Basket

June 9th, 2009

bike_basket

Don’t just use any old basket to carry your things. Madison’s Century House sells this eco-sheik bike basket from Design House Stockholm. It not only looks cool, but easily detaches to become a shopping tote. It’s available in green, black or white and costs $60 at centuryhouseinc.com.

Wonderful Wood

May 20th, 2009

urbanturn

Made out of 73 pieces of cherry and walnut wood, this bowl deserves to be used as both a centerpiece of a table and a conversation. Milwaukee designer, Ken Neitzel spends his retirement shaping wood into functional and beautiful pieces of art. His attention to detail and creative eye are evident in all of his work and are amazingly affordable for their fine craftsmanship. See this bowl and other wooden items, such as vases, buttons and even tops at UrbanTurn.etsy.com.