One of my philosophies as a designer is to stay active and contribute in my local design community. There are a number of professional organizations that one can be a part of and I have chosen to actively participate in ASID (American Society of Interior Designers). Currently I am the editor for the quarterly magazine for the Colorado chapter. It is a great opportunity to combine my interest in the design community as well as writing and the publishing world. Small though it may be, I’m volunteering for the editor position for free and it can be fun.

I wrote a few articles for the spring issue and during the process of the last two magazines I’ve learned some lessons:

1) Deadlines are created for a reason… to be met (and to allow me to procrastinate to the very end because I am most creative under pressure)

2) Listening skills are essential… most people in our culture are inundated with email, voicemail, text, cell phones, blogs, twitter, Facebook, etc. etc. etc. so there is one simply rule even though you are talking to adults “market as though you are speaking to a fifth grader”. Bullet points are nice. Sad but true, this is the state of our society these days and it seems it is the only way you can quickly get the message across.

3) Stress can be self inflicted… it seems everyone is always stressed out. When I start feeling anxious or stressed I take a step back and ask myself, “Is what I am doing saving starving children in Africa?” or “How is this important or not important five year from now? What is the worst that can happen?”. So I leave my cell phone at home when I am on a hike and ALWAYS when I am at the dinner table. Computers are turned off no later than 7 pm and I prefer to read a book before I go to sleep at night. Amazing how these simple things can keep your heart rate even keel.

If you are interested and have a moment check out the spring issue of ASID Colorado Connection. There are some interesting articles. The next issue I was most involved with will be out later this month, I’m more proud of my part in it as I am learning as I go… we all have to start somewhere right? 

P.S. While I’m at it I’d like to draw attention to my portfolio I recently added to the right hand side of my blog. It’s a work in progress as I gather photos. Be sure to come back and take a look at the latest finished rooms I plan to add in the future.

The designer in me is always intrigued by what is to come. What is the next trend. How do we improve upon what is available to us today. While I find the following kitchen fascinating due to its ingenuity, innovation, and what is defined as truly green (ecological…not just green-washing) its aesthetic needs improvement (of course). However, like all great ideas and prototypes it has to start somewhere. In concept this is brilliant and I am excited to see where it lands aesthetically in the kitchen of the future.

The Ekokook is a sustainable kitchen, and by sustainable it is more than just energy efficient and made of recycled products, that truly defines reuse and respect of our environment. The Ekokook kitchen from Faltazi uses three built-in microplants to recycle water and break down waste.  Based on its various compartments there is a zone for washing, food storage (both dry and cold), prep tables appear from what seems to be with George Jetson ease, a steam oven (yes you can cook with steam and I’m not talking the steamers of vegetables we currently nuke in the microwave), a gas burner, and there is a hood used for extraction. This kitchen by design is efficient, compact, and supports the concept of  cradle-to-cradle by reusing every resource.

Will the kitchen of the future look like this? Probably not. Will the kitchen of the future incorporate the concept and function of the Ekokook? I hope so and would like to say most definitely. While I’m not sure how quickly it will hit the mainstream you can bet on finding elements of this design in cutting edge European homes first and it will eventually find its way to the United States in homes that are “off-the-grid”. In time some of these elements, I hope, will find their way into everyday appliances, fixtures, and features of the modern day kitchen (of the future). Do I want my own kitchen to look like this? Absolutely not, though I would be more than open and willing to incorporate some of the same functionality.

I like the words that Faltazi uses to describe this kitchen as stated in the July/August/10  issue of icon (an ASID magazine and newsletter for those of you that are not familiar), “All the air, water, wind and sun that reach a habitat must be seen as scarce resources to be captured and used.” This is so true despite the fact that some live in areas that they may not feel the affects of our dwindling natural resources the fact is…they are dwindling, and quickly dwindling. Faltazi goes on to say, “Each drop of water must be collected and used to the utmost before being evacuated to external networks.” Quite insightful and highly interesting. If you are a bit of a gadget geek like me and you often find yourself with your eyes wide and mouth open in amazement at what technology can do today you really should check out more information on the Ekokook at www.ekokook.com (tip, select EN for English on the left toolbar of the website).

At the end of the day Faltazi has incorporated some of the elements we have available to us today, such as recycling and composting, and taken it a few steps further by making all components convenient, compact, and at hand. With the Ekokook concept and design no longer can a person say that recycling, reusing, and being environmentally responsible isn’t convenient.

For the first time ever the people spoke and were able to vote on their favorite design. NeoCon attendees channeled the Jetsons and picked the following as a sampling of  their winners for various commercial furniture categories.

I get this aesthetically but as a person that has spent many hours in corporate meetings… not ideal for comfort. But maybe that is the point and it will make a person pay attention during the meetings. Pretty but not practical…even for the impromptu meeting.

The following table is my favorite of the lot but still beyond my flavor of design. For some reason this doesn’t feel new and it seems we have seen this before.

I appreciate the following for their pure design and construction but once again cannot envision sitting in either for more than a few moments. 

And last but not least it is George Jetson’s office chair. Space age and interesting and probably somewhat comfortable but not my first pick (it looks kind of cheap).

For a person that absolutely adored the Jetsons as a child and can even consider watching an episode or two as an adult,  I cannot picture myself using any of these items in a space. I like more warmth and comfort. All of these pieces are beautiful for their aesthetic, line, and simplicity, but I’m more of a practical person and designer so I think I’ll pass on the People’s Choices for this year.

For more from NeoCon 2010 go to: http://contract-network.com/2010/goExpo/public/index.php

The 2009 LEED Awards for Homes were announced and my favorite of the bunch is the BrightBuilt Barn Prototype.

If you aren’t aware LEED is an awards system based on points for effective, efficient, and innovative eco-friendly design. We’re talking more than just low VOC paint and low flow water faucets, it’s the design reference system to turn to for building the best when it comes to respect for the environment. Officially LEED stands for Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design. For more on this system, how it works, and why it is important check out the USGBC site at http://www.usgbc.org/DisplayPage.aspx?CMSPageID=1988  

Back to the BrightBuilt Barn, it is attractive, clean and simple in design therefore it seems possible to incorporate some of the eco-responsible construction techniques into a home that is comfortable to live in. Most importantly it uses some the of most interesting and new ideas and technology in environmental design such as the following:

Super Insulation = No Furnace – The most efficient and best insulation is used in the outer walls of the structure. The R-Value of the insulation is R-40.  The R-value is a measure of a material’s resistance to heat flow and in most of our homes if we have high quality insulation it measures, at best, R-19.  Of course combined with excellent high efficiency windows the combination of the two means the home does not need a furnace. Amazing!

200-Year Design– We’ve all said, “They just don’t build them like they used to.” Well, now “they” do and you can. I live in a home that is 100 years old; while it needs TLC I still appreciate its design and solid structure that has withstood all these years therefore the inclusion of designing with longevity in mind is something I relate to and is truly important.  The BrighBuilt Barn is designed and built in such a way that it its lifespan is measured in centuries, not decades. Essentially this means that it is designed to last indefinitely due to the quality and durability of the materials used. It also keeps the inner workings (the systems) untangled which gives greater flexibility and can be easily modified and adapted to over the years. (i.e. you won’t have to deconstruct everything to make it even more efficient with new technology in the future). My favorite concept!

Off-site Fabrication– The home is built in a controlled environment that reduces construction waste to a level that is simply unheard of in traditional on-site construction. Using computer-aided fabrication of the home in a workshop or warehouse reduces waste because it is a controlled environment. When a home is built on-site unpredictable weather and a construction site that can at times be unorganized due to all the sub-contractors working at the same time there is a greater chanced for a large amount of waste. Waste produced in on-site construction is typically about 50% in materials. Essentially, you could build half of a house the same size with the amount of waste produced in on-site construction. Off-site fabrication using the BrightBuilt method produced only 10% in material waste.

Other methods that leant to their 2009 LEED – Innovative Project Award include the fact that it Wears a Mood Ring, it is a Sun Worshipper, and it used “State of the Shelf” Design. Sound crazy? Improbable? Well, it isn’t and it is the way of the future if we want to be responsible and leave a living, breathing, beautiful earth to future generations. Referencing and using building techniques found in the BrightBuilt Barn prototype would mean we could even leave our home for future generations to enjoy…something we used to do.

There is plenty about the construction and design of  the BrightBuilt Barn that is so intriguing and I encourage you to go direct to their site to learn more. All the facts, figures, and references to the construction methods mentioned in this posting are discussed in more detail at http://www.brightbuiltbarn.com 

As one who has spent a fair amount of time skiing over the years I truly appreciate one of the honorees that is up for the “Best of Year Awards” from Interior Design Magazine.

In my experience I have often been aghast at the supposed “mountain style” of ski houses, condos, and chalets. Whoever thought that the overdone moose theme or the chintzy log furniture with the wool blanket covered in pine trees was good design? Just because you are in the Rockies and spending time on the slopes doesn’t mean you want the place you are staying to include furniture, dishes, towels, and even the sheets covered in moose stencils and all that is Christmas Red and Hunter Green. Thankfully other designers feel the same.

Up for a “Best of Year” Interior Design award in the Hospitality: Hotel – Boutique category the Bavarian Ski Chalets in Taos Ski Valley, New Mexico  display a sense of contemporary style with a flair for the mountain feel that is simply divine. In my opinion they have hit the nail on the head with creating a truly stylish, yet comfortable environment that any traveling skier can appreciate. 

Who wouldn’t want to snuggle up on the window seat with a hot chocolate or gather at the large table for a hearty dinner after a long day of skiing?

The styling in the bedroom is proven to be superb with simple clean lines and my favorite…the barn door for the connecting living space.

We won’t know who the winners are until December but I have my fingers crossed for this one!

Photo credit: www.thebavarian.net