Work with what you have

Susan over at the IKEAFans blog posted about an article in the International Herald Tribune about how design thrives during tough economic times. As Susan so aptly puts it: “Necessity is the Mother of Invention, no?”.

There’s no doubt that constraint breeds creativity, whether it’s lack of space, material, money, or time. And it *is* possible to create good, durable design under those conditions, which are all present in a depression.

Modern is already green

What I love about modern, simple design, is that it lends itself so easily to being responsible to the planet. Heck, minimalism is one of the modern design camp’s most very favorite words! And so should responsible be.

Generally speaking, modern = clean lines = less materials for detailing. And less materials means less energy to fabricate. It also means less weight to ship, especially if it’s flat packed.

Lucky for us, IKEA® embodies all of those aspects of design at an affordable price. Unsurprising, since its roots are in frugality without sacrificing culture.

Soft spot for the pre-cursors

Susan also brings to light a book called Livable Modernism, by Kristina Wilson, about how interior designers responded during the depression. Early pioneers of American modernist designers combined the avant garde with middle class taste to create products for the middle class during the depression. (Also, I had no idea that the buffet party was a Depression-era invention!)

This book is totally on my wishlist, since it recognizes designers like Russel Wright and Donald Deskey – designers who preceeded the usual attention hogs like Frank Lloyd Wright and Corbusier, but are equally deserving of recognition.  Color me crazy, but I have a soft spot for folks who set the stage for the credit grabbers after them. (Like Eileen Gray, for example, before Corbu.)

What if?

Wonder how it would have fared had IKEA® (it was founded in 1943) been around during the depression?

Why renovate?

For many folks, renovating a kitchen is the lesser of two evils:

1. renovate / remodel, or
2. move

Some choice, huh? Well, if you like your home otherwise, including

• location (location, location!),
• your neighbors,
• proximity to wherever you get groceries or run errands like banking, mail / shipping
• your kids’ schools
• your gym or favorite pub

If everything syncs with your life but the kitchen, why go thru the hassle of moving? It’s almost like all those things in the list are connected to you by an invisible net. So if you move, all that has to move too, even if just to make a longer route. A better option is to make some changes to what you have and stay put.

Why renovate now?

A few reasons:

1. Summer’s almost over. That means activities that took a break for the summer will resume. Things like wine or book clubs; football season starts; school starts for college and those not on the year-round schedule. Getting the design done now means getting started renovating sooner.
2. People are looking for work. That includes designers and builders. Which also means there are probably deals out there. For example, I offer a $100 gas coupon for any job over $3,000 for my design fee. Could come in handy for all that activity that cranks back up in #1.
3. The holidays are knocking. Wouldn’t it be nice to have a kitchen that works well to show off to the family at Thanksgiving dinner?
4. The end of the year is coming. Which means tax season right after that. Many folks fund their new kitchen with equity (a HELOC) in their home, the interest on which is deductible.

Or, maybe you ARE moving

Let’s say you’re starting a new job on the west coast in January. You’d like to get the most you can for your home here before you sell and settle out there. An updated kitchen could get you to your magic number at sale. And again, if you need to get out by the end of the year, the clock’s ticking.

Whatever the reason, ’tis the season

People renovate their kitchens for any number of reasons. The above are just a few. Some people just want to update – maybe they like new appliances that are more energy efficient. Some want more countertop surface area. Some want to improve the flow of traffic. Whatever the reason, thinking ahead almost always pays off.

Want that clock on your new kitchen wall?

It’s the Icon Clock, available at GENR8.

tick…tick….tick….tick….

My sister grills out year round, even in the snow. So do a couple of our friends up in the northwest mountains of NC. They stand outside, happily listening to the birds and bugs, wind in the grass and trees, while dinner cooks. Heck, it came from outside, so why not cook it there?

This t-grill, from Grand Hall is as cool to look at as it is to grill with! The liquid propane gas tank nestles in an elliptical enclosure below, it’s got two shelves, one on each side of the fire, and lockable wheels to move it around. And that’s just looks. It has a couple of ceramic burners that crank out 24,000 BTU’s with cross fire heating so it’s even. And it heats up quick to sear, or you can cook slowly with it. It’s so serious about grilling it has crossray heat that evenly cooks across a 234 square inch area.

About the only thing it’s missing are a few hooks to hang grill tools. And maybe a cover to protect it from the elements (actually, there is one for an extra $35ish) . Even so, it would be a great element for any outdoor cooking spot. And well worth the $999 price tag.

I’m a sucker for well thought out design that’s also easy on the eyes. This one definitely fits the bill. And while you’re drooling, Grand Hall is a good resource for grill fanatics. Don’t say I didn’t warn you. Happy grilling!

[via the ever insightful appliancist]