Hasta La Ideas

The dottie angel book has many extra little details that make it very special—and labour-intensive. The stitched scalloped-edge postcards adhered to each cover had to be stitched by machine. With a print run of 3000, that’s a lot of stitches! Over 3km of stitches, actually!

Thank you so much to my mom and to Paige for taking on this arduous task. Mom stitched her way through 2200 postcards, so chances are high that the book you order will be her stitches on the cover.

Above are some images of my mother’s workspace which is just off the family room. The sewing area is designed to fold up and fit behind a closet door, but I can only recall a handful of times when it has been completely stowed away. Which is a good thing because my Mom always has a project in the works.

She recently put up a flannel wall so that she can view her quilts in progress:

Below is a hand-hooked rug that she made. It is one of my favourites; I like the graphic design and use of black.

My Dad holds up a recently completed quilt (he’s got quite the wingspan!:

Finley admires some flowers:

Thank you again to my skilled, talented and hard-working mom.

Walls, ceilings, furniture and lighting are covered in grey felt at this advertising office in Amsterdam by Dutch interior architects i29.

Felt was selected for its sound-absorbing properties and to integrate the different surfaces and existing structural elements with one gesture.

It also served to cover the scars where parts of the building had been demolished or altered.

Designed for Tribal DDB Amsterdam, the offices accommodate 80 members of staff.

See more interiors by i29 here.

Here are some more details from i29:

Tribal DDB office

Tribal DDB Amsterdam is a highly ranked digital marketing agency and part of DDB international, worldwide one of the largest advertising offices. i29 interior architects designed their new offices for about 80 people.

With Tribal DDB our goal was to create an environment where creative interaction is supported and to achieve as much workplaces as possible in a new structure with flexible desks and a large open space. All of this while maintaining a work environment that stimulates long office hours and concentrated work. As Tribal DDB is part of an international network a clear identity was required, which also fits the parent company DDB. The design had to reflect an identity that is friendly and playful but also professional and serious. The contradictions within these questions, asked for choices that allow great flexibility in the design.

Situated in a building where some structural parts could not be changed it was a challenge to integrate these elements in the design and become an addition to the whole. i29 searched for solutions to various problems which could be addressed by one grand gesture. At first a material which could be an alternative to the ceiling system, but also to cover and integrate structural parts like a big round staircase. Besides that, acoustics became a very important item, as the open spaces for stimulating creative interaction and optimal usage of space was required.

This led us to the use of fabrics. It is playful, and can make a powerful image on a conceptual level, it is perfect for absorbing sound and therefore it creates privacy in open spaces. And we could use it to cover scars of demolition in an effective way. There is probably no other material which can be used on floors, ceiling, walls and to create pieces of furniture and lampshades than felt. It’s also durable, acoustic, fireproof and environment friendly. Which doesn’t mean it was easy to make all of these items in one material!

i29 always looks for choices that answer to multiple questions at the same time. They tell a conceptual story about the company, the space and the users of the space. They deal with specific practical and functional issues and they have to have some autonomous quality as well. These ‘levels’ are intertwined; one leads you to the other. If you see how smart it serves it purpose practically it leads you to the company. If you see the powerful image that is non-depended, it leads you to the functionality, and round it goes.

At i29 we believe that simplicity builds character. Compare it to a human being; strong individuals always have one or few characteristics that stand out. We all know how hard it is to stay focused on the one thing that is most important to you. The same way it is with a design. The result of being very selective is that you have to push the one choice to the limit. It also provides a field of tension, and gives energy to a space without fail into chaos. But more importantly it leaves you with a charismatic environment.

Client: Tribal DDB Amsterdam
Design: i29 l interior architects
Size: 650 m2

Constructor: Slavenburg
Interior build: Zwartwoud
Materials: white epoxy flooring, felt, hpl, steel
Furniture: lighting & furniture objects custom made

See also:

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Power Office by i29	No Picnic by Elding Oscarson	OneSize by Origins Architects

Product and Packaging Designer
Fred & Friends
Cumberland, RI

Fred designs, imports, and distributes fun and clever gifts, home goods, and personal items to specialty retailers across the US and the world. You can see Fred products at Urban Outfitters, MoMA, Sur La Table, Amazon.com, and shops on your local main street, or visit us at www.fredandfriends.com

Fred & Friends is looking for a clever and skilled industrial designer to join its in-house creative team. Fred’s studio is small in size, but big on ideas. You will have the opportunity to work on a wide range of creative projects, and the satisfaction of seeing your ideas through from beginning to end. The Fred studio manages everything from product concepts, to production design, packaging, and sales materials in-house. We encourage everyone in the studio to contribute ideas and collaborate in the production process.

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The best design jobs and portfolios hang out at Coroflot.

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This week’s Workspace of the Week is Gayle’s armoire office:

There are so many wonderful things about Gayle’s office. The most amazing thing about it is that the entire office can fold up and completely disappear. Second, everything is contained, nothing is out cluttering up the workspace. Third, everything is well labeled. My guess is Gayle has no difficulty finding anything in her office. Fourth, the magnetic strip on the left side of the cabinet is a nice alternative to a traditional cork board and takes advantage of what might otherwise be unused space. Fifth, the cable management is fantastic. And, finally, the pull-down work surface makes this a nice size workspace considering that it is an entire office in an armoire. Thank you, Gayle, for submitting your impressive office to our Flickr group.

Want to have your own workspace featured in Workspace of the Week? Submit a picture to the Unclutterer Flickr pool. Check it out because we have a nice little community brewing there. Also, don’t forget that workspaces aren’t just desks. If you’re a cook, it’s a kitchen; if you’re a carpenter, it’s your workbench.

Like this site? Buy Erin Rooney Doland’s Unclutter Your Life in One Week from Amazon.com today.

London-based Fraher Architects have completed a house extension in Islington that is wrapped in larch batons and has a flower-covered roof.

Adjoining the rear of the listed house, the timber-clad extension contains a study and a dining room with an oversized glass door to the garden.

Benches and fences lining this garden terrace are made of the same timber.

A serpent-like lamp illuminates the terrace at night, while matching orange lamps light up the new dining room beneath a rectangular skylight.

The roof over the dining room is split into two halves, which pitch in different directions and enable rainwater collection.

Modest residential extensions are common in London neighbourhoods – see our earlier stories about a house extended by just a metre and a zinc-clad extension squeezed into a wedge of land.

Photography is by Andy Matthews.

Here are some more details from Joe and Liz Fraher:

The Jewel Box

Intended for a reputable silversmith and QC the brief called for complete renovation and extension to provide a dining area and garden room. This Grade II listed building is located in the prominent Colebrook row conservation area.

Conceived as a series of jewelled boxes carefully inserted into the existing fabric, the proposals open up and revitalise what was a series of dark disjointed spaces. Timber and concrete have been combined in a simple palette of materials that wrap around the existing fabric, inviting the user through the space and into the garden. The remaining period architectural features are retained and celebrated whilst the rear addition utilises a double canted wildflower roof to bounce light deep into the floor plate.

Click above for larger image

A hidden garden study provides a place of contemplation overlooking the south facing courtyard garden.

Click above for larger image

Sustainable Scottish Larch combines with a series of green roofs to soften the junctions of the insertion and provides a habitat for local wildlife. Super insulation and rainwater storage add to the eco credentials of the scheme.

See also:

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Villa extension by O+A	Extension to Residence Königswarte by Plasma	University extension by CrystalZoo