Category Archives: On Design

Nifty kitchen solution – 2, complete with a “retiree incubator”

Posted on March 12, 2016 by annamadeit

I was recently in Sweden with my mother, working on a new kitchen for her. She spends half her time in the US, and half in Sweden. A few years ago, tired of planning their summers around the content of their … Continue reading →

Posted in Cool building materials, On Design, Scandinavia | Tagged 60's patterns, glass backsplash, glazed-in balcony, incubator, orange, p-lam, renovation, small kitchen, Sweden, white | 9 Comments

When white isn’t really white

Posted on November 12, 2014 by annamadeit

I got a call from one of my subs… “It looks green”, he said, with not a small measure of panic in his voice. Calls like that are always unnerving, but over the years, I have learned to trust my … Continue reading →

Posted in Color, On Design | Tagged Color, color manipulation, family vacation, Green, laundry room, light, memories, Metamerism, tile, white | 7 Comments

The irk of Opportunity Wasted

Posted on March 25, 2014 by annamadeit

Okay, so I’m going to try real hard not to be mean, but seeing backward-ass decisions realized just really rub me the wrong way. Seeing squandered opportunity and fizzled potential is just so depressing… This past fall, I noticed a … Continue reading →

Posted in On Building, On Design | Tagged bad design, box store materials, Building, missed opportunity, pedestrian choices, solar power, squandered potential | 22 Comments

A stroll through the Lan Su Garden

Posted on October 21, 2013 by annamadeit

The Lan Su Garden is a true gem in our city. It is a garden the size of a city block, which was built as a collaboration between Portland and its sister city Suzhou in the Jiangsu province in China. … Continue reading →

Posted in Cool plants, Gardening and Landscaping, Local interest, On Design | Tagged chinese, details, garden, Lan Su, mosaic, paving, plant vignettes, poetry, stone | 20 Comments

From field to finishes – agricultural waste transformed!

Posted on July 9, 2013 by annamadeit

In a world of dwindling resources, shrinking forests and threatened ecological habitats, it is more important than ever to embrace sustainable, environmentally sound alternatives, and find ways to reduce waste. In my quest to become a full-fledged locavore, and make … Continue reading →

Posted in Cool building materials, Local interest, On Design | Tagged Building, creativity, environment, Green, Interior Design, LEED, Materials, Renewable, Resources, sustainability, TorZo surfaces | 7 Comments

Subtle, simple and sensual – material expressions in the Japanese Garden

Posted on July 4, 2013 by annamadeit

One of the top destinations in our fair city – in my book, at least – is the Japanese Garden. It never disappoints. Every time I go, I see new things, depending on light, weather, seasons – what have you. … Continue reading →

Posted in Cool building materials, Gardening and Landscaping, Local interest, On Design | Tagged creativity, Design, fences, garden, Garden design, Japanese, Landscape design, Nature, paths, sculpture, Traditional | 9 Comments

Nifty bathroom solution – 1

Posted on May 15, 2013 by annamadeit

I recently had the great joy and opportunity to help a wonderful couple renovate one of their bathrooms. Their new house was from 1898, and last time anyone had done anything to the bathroom was in the 80’s – at … Continue reading →

Posted in On Building, On Design | Tagged bathroom, flip-up, mirror, reduce clutter, renovation, school desk, tile, vanity, window | 3 Comments

Nifty Kitchen Solution – 1

Posted on January 4, 2013 by annamadeit

Sometimes you walk into a prospective project, and within seconds, you see the solution – just like that! In this particular little house, it was the kitchen that was of most concern. Built in the 1940’s, the L-shaped kitchen was … Continue reading →

Posted in On Building, On Design | Tagged Creative Solutions, Kitchen design, Small Spaces | 1 Comment

Active Minds Build Passive Houses!

Posted on December 31, 2011 by annamadeit

While still living in Sweden, I heard about these incredibly energy efficient “Passive Houses”. On average, their annual energy consumption is about 90% LESS than a normal, drafty, comparatively poorly built abode. This is, of course, a staggering slap in … Continue reading →

Posted in Environment, Green Living, On Building, On Design | Tagged carbon dioxide emissions, Cleveland, collective responsibilities, energy efficiency, energy information administration, energy performance, houses around the world, Passive House, rain garden, storm water, thermal bridge, wall construction | 1 Comment

The Living Building Challenge is kicking my butt!!!

Posted on May 21, 2011 by annamadeit

Imagine that you are cooking dinner, but you are restricted to only using ingredients sourced from within a geographical radius of 500 kilometers. That’s a tad over 310 US miles. This would mean that if you use salt, you would … Continue reading →

Posted in Creative pursuits, Environment, Green Living, Health and Safety, On Building, On Design | Tagged Beauty, efficiency, Energy, Equity, habitat, health, Living Building Challenge, Materials, non-toxic, plumbing, red list, sharing, site, Water | 4 Comments