Attending the International Builder’s Show this year in Las Vegas is always fun, and I’m constantly on the prowl for new products and ideas that can stimulate me and get my design juices flowing. It’s not always easy to get jazzed about building materials, but there were some pretty neat things happening at the FORMICA booth.

First of all, the company was introducing its new line of ANNIVERSARY collection patterns, all of which have a great “retro” vibe…here’s what they look like. It’s a new twist on the old “boomerang” and speckled patterns of the 1950s with a gorgeous color palette.

But it didn’t stop there. Formica has just introduced a new process for fabricating edge details on countertops called IdealEdge. It’s a detached, pre-formed edge made in two shapes: ogee and bullnose which is applied separately, creating a fluid transition between top and front. What this does is eliminate any “black line,” which I like on retro-type installs, but not when a stone or a more natural look is called for.

Formica has also reduced the size of the front edge to 1 1/4 in. from the conventional 1 1/2 in., which makes it the size of a natural slab of stone. Also, let’s not forget that it’s now possible to undermount a sink into the laminate !

Now, you may not think this is such a big deal, but for a designer who’s constantly honing her craft, it’s given me a lot to think about. How many clients do you have who insist that granite countertops are the holy grail? Can’t there be something else besides that boring old slab of stone? Between the retro patterns and the new edges, I can think of hundreds of fresh new possibilities in kitchen design that I’m itching to do. Also bathrooms, kid’s rooms, laundry rooms, bars, offices, and so much more. Thanks, Formica, for giving me a much needed design boost.

Repurposing old elements to create a fresh design approach

I just spent a solid hour browsing through Pinterest looking at pictures of gorgeous rooms using salvaged materials. I “pinned” some of them and will share some of my favorite images with you. But first, here’s a couple of photos from a house I designed in Orlando for GreenBuilder Magazine a couple of years ago.

As a “green” designer, I love using anything I can to create the look I want while also being low-impact. Using salvaged materials isn’t just for us “greenies”; it also creates a one-of-a-kind custom look that will always please your customers. Sometimes I’m lucky enough to use stuff that’s already in my client’s home, which I then try to find new and different ways to display. For example, I had these shelves made from shipping pallets that were used to ship ceramic tile to the house I was working on. The mantle on the left was made from a scrap of leftover micro-lam lying around the job site.

The dining room table top was made from salvaged bleacher seats!

Here are some awesome images from Pinterest from various sources showcasing salvaged design
at its best:

When this homeowner discovered 100 years worth of linoleum and sailcloth under the kitchen floor, he salvaged enough to cover one stair with each layer.

Italian marble tops the kitchen’s custom cabinetry, while salvaged Victorian corbels serve as distinctive brackets for the stove’s hood.

Adding character to a kitchen with a salvaged sink

Island corbels from salvaged Victorian porch

 

Shelving ideas…

Here’s a salvaged headboard turned chalkboard:

So pretty !

—Patricia Gaylor

I just got an iPhone. I know this isn’t earth-shattering news to anyone, and as a previous Blackberry user, the jury’s still out on whether or not I even like it as much. I’m giving myself some time to get used to all the new features, and I tried out my Facetime feature this morning with my sister who lives in Rhode Island. Aside from the fact we both looked astonishingly bad on camera, it was great to chat face to face with her.

I was reminded of a day in 1964 when we were young teenagers, spent at the Worlds Fair in Queens, NY. For those of you who are old enough to remember (and those of you who weren’t even born yet), that particular fair was the talk of the time, and people from all over the world gathered to see the latest and greatest in modern technology. I remember waiting in line for what seemed a very long time to do a Picturephone chat with my sister at the Bell Telephone exhibit. I think we waited at least an hour in line and were then escorted into two separate booths. There was a table with a phone and a conical, modern-looking module right next to it. We were prompted to pick up our separate phones, and low and behold, we were seeing each other on the module as if we were on TV! It was a futuristic experience, and we both marveled at the thought of a day when we would all be wearing stretchy space suits chatting with each other in our Jetson-like houses.

What amazes me more than anything is that we now take this type of technology for granted. I guess it’s because I was around before all of this was even invented, and that I come from an era where technology was more like this:

I love the idea that we can now operate systems in our home remotely—open doors, turn on lights, etc. And that we can be notified when our appliances, which are interfaced with our phones, need service. Certain “apps” can read labels, tell us what paint color is on the wall, and get information about a product instantly. I can video chat with my clients in my office, rather than burn gas or hop a plane for a long-distance meeting. And that saves on energy costs and carbon offsets, which is wonderful, and satisfies my ongoing quest for sustainable solutions in the home. So I don’t want to take any of this for granted, and every day could bring us closer to a smarter, greener planet. I hope we continue to use this amazing resource wisely, and remember that it’s a GIFT, just like a face to face, one-on-one conversation with a real person, which can never replace a smart phone, appliance or car. There’s no “app” for that.

Sending you all the very best of the holiday season, and hope 2013 is a happy, healthy and prosperous year for you and your loved ones.

—Patricia Gaylor

I’ve been mulling over what to report in about these past few days. I live in northern New Jersey, and we didn’t get hit as hard as the shoreline. I never lost power, but most of my neighbors and surrounding areas are without it. There are a few large branches in my yard and no damage at all to my sturdy little house. Others aren’t so lucky. I have extension cords from my house going to two neighbors houses so they can at least plug in their refrigerators and maybe a light or two. It’s starting to get cold out, so heat is going to be an issue.

(From November 4) The first long gas lines appeared the day before yesterday. My husband and I were out running errands and saw this long line on the shoulder of the highway. We really had no idea what was going on and finally figured it out as we rode by the gas station. It’s gone downhill ever since, and it’s starting to get ugly out there, with fights breaking out and police monitoring the distribution.

I’m sticking close to home and trying to conserve the half a tank of gas I have left, hoping to ride out the current situation which will hopefully be remedied by next week, God willing. So here are my thoughts, all of which you’ve heard before. Our reliance on fossil fuels is astounding and quite honestly, stupid. Are we ever going to learn that this isn’t exactly the way it should be, and that it’s way past time to at least supplement our voracious appetite for energy with something renewable, or at the very least, think about conserving the non-renewable fuels?

How much will it take before we realize that something’s gotta give? Whether or not you believe that such super storms like Sandy, Katrina or Irene may or may not be caused by climate change isn’t the issue. We can argue that point forever.

I don’t have an answer. I know that change doesn’t come easily, and the resolution, if any, is a complicated one. What I do know is what I see. That Americans are addicted to their comfort. Any variation from the “norm” has them running around like Chicken Little. I’m saddened to witness the long lines of people waiting for gas, people in New York City dumpster diving for food because they have nothing to eat. People devastated by their homes being swept away, and loss of human life. I pray for them and hope they can get the help they desperately need.

For those of us like me who are fortunate enough to have a roof over their heads, food, light and heat, take note. We get up every day and flip switches, turn on ignitions and never give it another thought. If we need something, we go get it. It’s taken less than three days to witness what happens when these conveniences are removed. It’s time to start thinking about how fortunate we are to have all these things, figure out ways to conserve the non-renewable resources we do have and make renewable energy a priority.

—Patricia Gaylor