Kathy's Remodeling Blog

Where to put the microwave? 14 tips

Another winning piece by kitchen designer Susan Serra:

Honestly? Sometimes, not always, but sometimes, finding a place for the microwave drives me crazy! It's not always such an obvious, easy, appliance to place. In fact, I could write a book on placing the microwave alone.

First, determine how "much" microwave you need, and by that I mean size and function. Microwaves range in a very wide variety of widths, heights, and one of the most important dimensions, depths. Take special note of the depth, once you find a microwave you like. If the microwave is planned to integrate with wall cabinetry, the depth WILL be an issue, I promise. Not only the depth, but the height as well, particularly if it requires a trim kit or other space for venting.

Easy access is desirable for universal design purposes. Microwave drawers, an image which is not shown below, are a recent great ergonomic development. Situated just below the countertop, the bending is kept to a minimum, while the upper cabinetry does not have to be interrupted by another appliance.

See the whole feature at www.houzz.com

Hip architecture: are the inhabitants unhappy?

I try not to be too overtly negative when discussing "hip" architecture. I don't want to bring bad karma onto myself in berating the efforts of other good souls, however misguided I believe those efforts are.

So imagine my delight when a website emerges that goes all out and puts words to my thoughts! I'm referring to Unhappy Hipsters (slogan: It's Lonely in the Modern World), which shows photos of stark, bleak, uncomfortable-looking and oh-so-hip architecture and adds snarky captions. Here's one from Dwell magazine:

And the caption: It became their routine. And so the evenings stretched out before him: still, gray, and gravel-strewn.

(Photo: Dean Kaufman; Dwell, November 2006)

And another:

 The caption: So focused on erecting a structure that would be impervious to atmospheric whims, he’d forgotten the obvious: an exit.

(Photo: John Clarke; Dwell, April/May 2005)

And one more, also from Dwell, the magazine that keeps on giving:

And the caption: The stale smell of disappointment permeated the room.

(Photo: Christopher Sturman; Dwell, November 2009)

Please, stop me before I download the whole website. Thank you, Unhappy Hipsters, for all that you do!

Hot or Not Hot? Brad Pitt Homes in the Lower 9th Ward

As you may know, Brad Pitt helped create the Make It Right Foundation, which has the goal of building 150 new homes in the Lower 9th Ward of New Orleans. The area was decimated when the defective walls of the Industrial Canal gave way after Hurricane Katrina blew past, making the destruction part of the worst engineering failure in U.S. history.

No one can fault Brad Pitt for his efforts. But when the first few houses emerged from the ground, eyebrows shot up. What are these things, some people said? These structures were designed by some really famous architects, and you get the feeling the architects were trying to express themselves. That's cool. I like to express myself, as well.

But some of the folks who were to move into these houses complained. According to an architect quoted in a New York Times article, the new owners may have been robbed of that feeling of "home" that they would get from homes in the historical New Orleans styles of creole cottages and shotguns houses. (See some old-school New Orleans homes here.)

So you hate to say anything negative about this Brad Pitt project. Few of us will ever do anything this powerful and meaningful. But as only a dozen or so houses have been built so far, it would not be too late, it seems to me, to change direction and build the rest of the houses in a traditional New Orleans style. 

Or am I being a fuddy duddy?

What's your take?

Out-of-work architects turn to other skills

From the New York Times:

At the Ballard Farmers’ Market in Seattle on a recent weekend, passers-by could be forgiven for thinking John Morefield was running for political office. Smiling, waving and calling out hellos to everyone who walked by his stand, he was the picture of friendliness. All he needed was campaign buttons and fliers

Unable to find design work, Richard Chuk of Illinois, right, began truck-driving school this month.

In fact, Mr. Morefield, 29, is no politician, but an architectural designer looking for work. He was seated at a homemade wooden stand under a sign reading “Architecture 5¢,” with a tin can nearby awaiting spare change. For a nickel, he would answer any architectural question.

See the whole story at www.nytimes.com

Sarah Susanka designs her dream window

Do you remember Susan Susanka, the guru of the not-so-big-house movement? Well, this architect can do it all — design homes, design interiors, write bestsellers and present moving speeches to thousands of enthralled attendees in packed ballrooms. Plus, I can tell you from my journalistic encounters with Sarah, she is a very kind person.

And now, she has designed her dream window for Marvin as part of its myMarvin campaign.

Watch below as Sarah talks about the process:

Architects are third-worst drivers by profession

If you believe the old adage that you are what you eat, it follows in the car insurance business that you're likely to drive what's on your mind. To put it plainly, when people are stressed and in a hurry, they tend to get in more accidents.

Recently, Quality Planning Corp. and Insure.com released their list of the top most crash-prone professions. Not surprisingly, the list probably aligns quite well with the types of jobs your mother always thought you'd do one day.

Perhaps it's a sign that the people getting in the most accidents tend to have the most stressful jobs. There's no yoga instructor on this list.

See the rest of the story at autos.aol.com

Carving out a mom cave of her own

Kelly Porter had an office inside her Ellicott City home, but she never used it. Each day she would set up shop with her laptop at the kitchen island.

The home office, which her family of five shared, "never felt right," says the designer and color consultant (http://www.porterhousedesigns.com). "I never felt comfortable. I never felt inspired."

Understandably so. With wall-to-wall hunter green carpeting, beige wallpaper and a combination of dark and medium-toned wood furniture, the 10-by-12-foot space felt much more masculine -- and much less colorful -- than Porter, 42, preferred. While the look satisfied the men in her house (a husband, a 14-year-old son and 11-year-old twin sons), Porter pined for something that was a little more her style.

Read the whole story via www.washingtonpost.com

Acclaimed kitchen designer now offers phone consultations

Susan Serra, an acclaimed kitchen designer who lives and breathes kitchens, now offers one-hour phone consultations. We can't all be lucky enough to live near a kitchen designer whose work has appeared in many major magazines. But her wisdom and insight is still available: Here's what Susan posted on her blog, The Kitchen Designer:

I've been offering kitchen design consulting services informally and have not devoted a special page on my blog to this service until now. 

I am very pleased to formally introduce the One Hour Phone Consultation!

Call me about...well, anything related to your kitchen design project that is just not sitting right with you and for which you need a first OR a second opinion. 

I am happy to provide this kitchen design consulting service which can be invaluable to those who otherwise are at a loss as to what decision to make, be it in regard to products, design issues, style issues, or so many other issues that come up in the lengthy course of the kitchen remodeling process. 

Read the whole post