Live/Work

Some great sink and faucet choices:

Toto Nexus TB794DDC

Ikea has a good alternative to the Kohler Wading Pool. It’s called the Hollviken and costs about $80. It’s available in 23″ and 21″ widths. Sadly, it only has one hole. The matching faucet isn’t as stylish as the Toto, but it’s reasonably priced ($80 Enskar)

Ok, this is some seriously sweet hardware:

This is a product called “cable rail” and it’s designed to replace standard wood or metal pickets. It’s great because it allows light an a nice unobstructed view. The photo above comes from a website of the company Feeney Architectural .

They also make a fantastic canopy product:

The canopies could be an alternative to covering the stairwell on the west side of the ADU. It may be a bit futuristic for the ADU design, but the steel cable would be sexy.

Previously I’ve written about the merits of cement fiberboard siding. Recently, I found a new blog by a fellow designer/builder that features a great panel-version of this material. Here’s a photo from Jason’s blog, with the installed product:

This product is called “Cem Clad” and is manufactured by US Architectural.

Here’s a great alternative to cedar, especially when applied high on a building. I saw these on display at the local Keith Brown building supply center.

The photo above comes from here

A while back I wrote about an exciting product called “Ice Stone.” Back then, I didn’t pay a lot of attention to the price of materials, but I have the sense that it’s not cheap. Still, if you’ve got the cash and can afford to be “green,” it’s a great alternative to granite, quartz, or other luxury stones.

One problem with Ice Stone is that it’s manufactured in New York. I recently learned about a new product from a company called “Fuez” here in Portland Oregon. Like Ice Stone, Fuez is made of conrete and recyled glass. Very nice material and it comes in a variety of colors and textures. Here’s a photo from their website:

Pricing is around $90-$100 per sq. ft, installed. I’ll do a follow-up post on the price of countertops, aswell as what options are available.

Here’s a site with some great examples of poured concrete counter tops (Concrete Revolution). Some site hightlights below:

Here’s an interesting green floor finish from Vermont Natural Coatings.

Here’s something new: ELECTRIC on-demand hot water heaters. Rumour is they’re relatively inexpensive ($500? Don’t hold me to this). The require a significant electrical load (2, 60 amp circuits for a small house). Nice design!

Eric Strong is an Ashland-based woodworker who specializes in one-of-a-kind furniture. One of the coolest things about his work is his commitment to using local and recycled wood. Check out his site here.

Bench made from concrete and reclaimed fir from an old pickle barrel.

Anyone who owns dogs knows how tough it is to keep them from ruining your landscaping. We love our pups, but nothing kills a plant faster than a 90lb Saint Bernhard.
So, as part of our ongoing battle to save our vegetation, I’m designing a new fence around one of our planting beds. It won’t keep the dogs out entirely, but it should provide a degree of protection. Raina and I have discovered the trick isn’t so much to stop the dogs as it is to provide them with “paths of least resistance.”

I’ll update as the project progresses. I’ve also included some past reference photos below. Fun fun! (more…)

While we don’t have space for a fireplace, here’s a GREAT design I recently discovered on the blog, From the Ground Up. It’s a fantastic blog. They’re much further along in the process, so it’s great inspiration.

The fireplace is called the “Marquis” by Kingsman.

Here’s a possible way to divide shop space:

Reasonably affordable (a four-door set is $150 here)

Pardon the hideous photo. The marketing department of these door companies are a little behind the times

Check out these glass blocks. Not sure if they can be found state-side, but they’re pretty nice:

Photo from the book Small Spaces: Good Ideas

There are several ways to heat the studio. These also affect what sort of finished floor we can have.

1. Radiant Heat/Hydronics: This entails a boiler, PEX tubing, and a system that’s pipes hot water through the walls and floors. It’s probably the nicest type of heat money can buy. There are several variants including: PEX in the concrete on the first floor, PEX in gypcrete on the second floor, PEX under wood floor (Warmboard), and radiant hydronic wall heaters. In general, if you go the PEX tubing route for the shop, it makes sense to go with radiant upstairs. To save money, we could go with hydronic radiators. Or, option 2, would be to use gypcrete as the finished floor. With wood at approximately $3-$5 sq. ft., this might save $2000-$3000. Estimates for radiant systems vary widely, but are probably going to be upwards of $10k.
2. Gas Heat: There’s a compelling argument to be made for simple gas wall heat units like this. These units are very efficient and, with a tight building envelope, aren’t needed very often. This option is quite economical…somewhere between $1000-$2000 for each heater. I spoke to my friend Brian who uses a Gas Stove to heat his ENTIRE 1700 sq. ft. house (2 stories) and he loves it. Talk about inexpensive. The drawback is that these units take up some wall space.Total Cost for our project would probably be around $2000. We’d likely have to supplement the bathroom.
3. Electric Heat: I know this may seem crazy, but there’s a great argument for the juice. It’s renewable, and under the right circumstances, produces minimal CO2 (that’s if you produce it from solar or wind). Installation is super cheap (a few hundred bucks per unit) and easy. The big drawbacks are that you really need a PV array (solar) to make it truly “green.” Another drawback is that baseboards take up valuable wall space. The upside to electric is that you don’t need to worry about the flooring. It can be wood, concrete, etc. Total house cost might be under $1000 if you don’t count the PV array.

For the last few months I’ve been working on the shop and the studio apartment as separate renderings. Last night I merged the two files into one finished model. I’m still working out the finishing details like siding and paint colors.

Here’s a beautiful use for recycled glass:

It’s a product made from cement and a mixture of recycled crushed glass. Locally it’s available through Pratt and Larson . Neat option for counter tops!

Pratt and Larson
1201 SE 3rd Ave.
Portland, Oregon 97214
503-231-9464

Yet another way to handle deck railings…and about a million other construction challenges. These are cool systems!

Called a “Kee Klamp,” These fitting use various size pipes to build frames for numerous applications. You can use iron pipe, aluminum pipe, or even galvanized gate pipe.

Here’s a few vendors and solutions for mounting a TV to a wall (Omnimount SB1 + 4N1M):

The 4N1M sell for around $150 through Radio Shack. The recessed box (SB1) sells for around $90 at Amazon.

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Looks like I was quoted in this month’s Oregon Business Magazine. A Brief article on the merits of live/work spaces. It’s a short piece, and mostly about the concept, rather than specifics.

Stumbled across a great design today. What a nice way to handle street numbers and a mail box.

Photo found on the great site, Eye Candy. Original image from Basis Design Build.

I’ve always been a fan of Marmoleum. Not only is it a “green” material, but it’s incredibly durable and forgiving. We’ve got two dogs, and with our wet Portland winters, it makes a great buffer between our living space and the outdoors. Here’s a couple of neat options I just found on the web…can’t recall which blog it was one, but you can find out more from the corporate website.

One technology that we’ll need to support the second floor is a “joist.” The job of a joist is to support a load - in my case, most likely a concrete floor.One of the “problems” with joists is that they reduce your ceiling height and can be a barrier for mechanicals (electrical, plumbing, etc.) Here’s a traditional LVL joist:

As you can see, one would need to drill through the joist for PVC pipe and other stuff. (more…)

Some great ideas from the UK

Found this very interesting product this afternoon - 100% recycled brick pavers made from shredded tires and plastic bottles - Made by Vast.

Seems like a great alternative to poured concrete or traditional brick. I’ll look into pricing to see what it might cost. One of the most exciting features of this product is that the “bricks” can be cut with standard woodworking tools. Anyone who’s ever used a brick saw knows what I’m talking about!

Did I mention these bricks are 1/3 the weight of traditional pavers? Hello deck!

There’s a real movement afoot to design sophisticated “sheds” as part of the back yard. These range from small, functional buildings to elaborate artist’s spaced and spare bedrooms. Here are just a few great examples.

Milton Studio, by Timber Design Limited:

Check out the interior!

You can also find some additional resources at the website Shedworking. For the ambitious DIYer, check out Readymade Magazine. They’ve got a new issue for FREE online viewing. You can see all sorts of great designs, and even buy a shed-kit!

A few US-based sources:

Moderncabana

Metro Shed

Modern Shed

I’ve dedicated several earlier posts to the wonders of concrete stain. Up until now, however, I wasn’t sure if there was an alternative to the acid-based colorants. Acids work GREAT, but they aren’t the most environmentally friendly of products. And, there are certain challenges to staining indoors (like ruining your paint, millwork, etc).

So, without further delay, I offer you the alternative: SoyCrete concrete stain. Non toxic, earth friendly. The jury is still out on the effectiveness, but the photos are relatively compelling (why don’t these companies hire REAL photographers to document their products?!?!?!? Ugh)

Spoke to Keri Foster of Foster Roofing. She says her roofs are going to be 3-4x the price of composition shingles. However, they come with a lifetime warranty and are much more green. They also provide superior cooling, as the roof doesn’t retain heat like asphalt shingles. Keri says to roof both houses with tar would be around $6k, while steel would be more like $15-20k. Ouch!

The Toto Aquia has an ingenious feature that allows you to flush .9 gallons or 1.6 gallons. It’s a great way to save water.

It sells for around $300 online. Another comprable model is the Kohler/Sterling Stanton 402040. The Stanton sells for around the same amount. (more…)

The ADU is smaller, so the dream of a big bath is gone. However, there are some interesting options that may work in a smaller space. Here’s a few options:

SoftTubs (used inside or outside, a bit of a bath/jacuzzi hybrid. Requires only 110v)

Asian Soaking Tubs (smaller, but deeper. Link is to a discussion)

European baths that are just sexy (Kaldewei)

The top two contenders for a 5.5′ model are the Toto FBY1715 and the Kohler Maestro. The Toto has an apron front, so installation is easy and cheap. The Kohler doesn’t, but it does come with a whirlpool option and has a full 13″ of bathing depth (contrast to the Toto at 11-5/16″).

I’m just as guilty as the next person - there are a few rooms in my house with the ass-ugly venetian blinds. If I had my way, I’d replace them all tomorrow. Eric over at Longhouse has found a nice modern solution from Ikea. Take a look:

Here’s an interesting product - it’s an additive that make concrete waterproof. I’m sure there are a variety of manufacturers out there, but one company I found is called “Hycrete.” It might be a great idea if you were building below grade, or were worried about water intrusion through the slab. Fortunately, this shouldn’t be an issue for our project.

French doors are great for light and air. However, screening them can be difficult. Here’s an option that allows for a rolling/retractable system. Some manufacturers include Mirage, InVent, Breeze, and Wizard.

Wizard is locally available through Kraft Mobile Screen Services.

Communitecture is recommending the Integrity line of windows by Marvin. What makes these nice is that they are fiberglass on the outside (strong and paintable) with real wood casements on the inside. It will be interesting to see how these price out. These can be found locally at Accurate Door and Window and Portland Door and Sash.

After months and months of looking at wood stoves, I’ve narrowed the field own to four models. And the nominees are…

Clockwise, from top left: Scan Model 60 ($2000); Morso Model 3142 ($1568); Morso 8142 ($3000); Zephyr 2.0 ($1700).
You can read more about these models from my earlier post here. The three deciding factors will be 1) Design 2) Price and 3) Convenience (primarily log size). (more…)

Here’s a great line of European woodstoves: RAIS

It looks like it’s available through local dealer Ecohause. According to the website, their stoves are so efficient that they are “carbon neutral” - meaning that burning the wood releases the same amount of CO2 as would be released by the tree as it decomposes. They’re highly efficeint too - about 77% efficiency (compare to fireplaces, which are 10% efficient). They’re not cheap, however: $3500-$7500! There’s another distributor of similar stoves in NewYork

(more…)