Glory: January 2012

Our design of the new Brooklyn Museum Shop is set to open Wednesday, April 4 and we are thrilled! Read this article published about it yesterday on BroadwayWorld.com.

New Brooklyn Museum Shop to Open 4/4

Tuesday, January 24, 2012; Posted: 01:01 PM - by BWW News Desk

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A completely new, significantly larger Brooklyn Museum Shop, designed by the award-winning architectural firm Visbeen Associates, Inc. is opening Wednesday April 4, 2012, in space previously devoted to temporary exhibitions. At 4,150 square feet, the new shop is 1,600 square feet larger than the shop it replaces. The store is part of a multiphase transformation of much of the Museum's first floor designed by Ennead Architects that has already resulted in an extensive renovation of the Museum's historic Great Hall and the creation of a major new exhibition space.
"The major goals of the new design for the first floor of the Museum have been to create a more coherent visitor experience, larger footprints for the Museum's shop, restaurant, and exhibition galleries, and space to create a remarkable installation of major works from the Museum's Permanent Collections," comments Museum Director Arnold L. Lehman.

"The design for the new Museum Shop has created a significantly enhanced shopping environment for our visitors along with an exciting new approach to merchandising. The shop will offer a fresh selection of unique items related to the world cultures represented in the Museum's rich Permanent Collection. An important feature will be products from both established as well as emerging Brooklyn designers and artisans," states Vice Director of Merchandising Sallie Stutz.

The newly created store will be organized around an arc shape that will be reflected in a curved jewelry counter in the center that forms the focal point of the space and will be echoed in a coffered ceiling containing recessed lighting. Two light fixtures, created by Brooklyn artist David Weeks, will be focal points of the design. The shop will feature 225 linear feet of lightly stained oak casework with metal fittings, with additional free standing fixtures in which merchandise will be displayed.

The new space, along the east side of the front façade of the building, was originally built in 1904 and is one of the oldest sections in the nearly 600,000-square-foot landmark building designed by McKim, Mead, & White. A wider entrance to the shop from the Lobby will provide greater visual access to the Great Hall, assisting circulation, and a rear entrance will connect it to planned temporary exhibition galleries.

One of the first in a museum in the United States, the Brooklyn Museum Shop began in 1935 as a sales desk offering publications, postcards, and photographs of objects in the Museum's collections. In 1954 it evolved into a Gallery Shop that specialized in toys and original folk art and crafts from around the world, as well as objects related to special exhibitions. In 1963-64, the Museum Shop produced the first shopping bag created by a museum, featuring a four-color graphic.

Following the April opening of the Museum Shop, the next phase of the first-floor transformation, scheduled for completion in late summer of 2012, will include a new Museum restaurant and cafe, a bar, and an outdoor dining terrace, all planned to be opened for lunch and dinner. The dining room will also accommodate special functions. Casual dining areas will overlook the Steinberg Family Sculpture Garden. There will be direct access to the various dining areas and bar from the Museum's 350-car parking lot.

The final phase of the first-floor renovation will transform space that has been occupied by the current Museum Café into special exhibition galleries that will add 50 percent more floor space to the previous temporary exhibition gallery, the Robert E. Blum Gallery.

The first-floor renovation continues a major redesign of the Museum's ground level that began in 2004 with the opening of the Martha A. and Robert S. Rubin Pavilion, the Ennead-designed and critically acclaimed front entrance, as well as the renovated lobby, newly created front plaza and South Entrance, and expanded parking facilities.

Major support for the Museum's extensive first floor renovation project has been provided by the City of New York through the Department of Cultural Affairs and the City Council.

Generous support has also been provided by Martha A. and Robert S. Rubin, Arline and Norman M. Feinberg, and Lisa and Dick Cashin.

Monday, January 23, 2012

Room Guide: Kid's Spaces

"If I could see the world

through the eyes of a child

smiling faces would greet me all the while.

Like a lovely work of art,

it would warm my weary heart

just to see through the eyes of a child"

~ Patsy Cline, "If I could see the world"

Some of the most enjoyable places we get to design are children's spaces in the home, because it means that we get to see the world through a kid's eyes. These are spaces where caution can be thrown to the wind and imaginations can run wild. Here are a few things to keep in mind...

1. Let them be who they are: A kid's space can be an extension of who they are, what they like, and what their passions are. Make their room an environment that encourages their creativity and interests. That may mean redecorating in a few years if their passions change, but hey, that will just give you the opportunity to try a new design!

This playroom gives the grandchildren of this household a place to be who they are, with space to play and areas for imagining.

The sky's the limit in this aeronautical themed room.

A room fit for a little princess, complete with canopies and a whimsical starry night scene.

Yes, a teenager lives in this pad, fit with a dj turn station, hanging bunk beds for slumber parties and interchangeable posters adorning the walls.

These parents have a gamer on their hands!

This room's teenage inhabitant can literally "hang" out in her room, display her awards and photos and enjoy the psychedelic colors and decor of her space.

2. Embrace the outdoors: Is your child an avid outdoorsman? Embrace it! Why not bring the outdoors in?

Do you live in the city, but have a child that belongs on a farm? No problem! This barn-themed room leaves a place to study, watch TV (hidden at the top of the silo) and house the play animals for your little farmer.

Inside the barn, you will find original murals done by the kiddos themselves! A great way to let their artistic talents run free.

Does your child love outdoor playhouses? Well they can make a great home for your child's bed, complete with a loft above for playspace.

This bedroom feels like sleeping in the woods, minus the bugs, dirt and creatures!

3. To share or not to share: Ah, the age old question of families with multiple children. Here are some ways your kids can share without having to share too much.

Half walls between the beds create separate spaces for each child to call their own while the overhead loft is a common play area.

The above two photos show a sister's retreat - each girl has their own bedroom and bathroom space that is adjoined with a common play area. The dutch doors offer each child the ability to have semi or full privacy from the other.

Thursday, January 19, 2012

Houzz Tour of Sunset View: Elegance by the Lake

Houzz, a destination site for home design enthusiasts, professionals and homeowners, was kind enough to feature a home tour of one of our favorite lakefront designs, the Sunset View. Check out what they had to say about this beautiful lakeside abode.

Houzz Tour: Cozy Elegance by the Lake

Houzz- Kitchen Remodel, Bathroom Remodel and More»

Browse Home Office Products on Houzz- For Example:

Bulletin Board · Cable Management · Desk Accessories · Desks · Filing Cabinets And Carts · Task Chairs ·

Monday, January 16, 2012

Have you voted yet?

The deadline for the 2012 Detroit Home Design Awards' Reader's Choice Award is fast approaching! Have you cast your vote yet? You only have until 11:59pm this week Friday, January 20, so click here for specific instructions on how to do so (our design is Entry #6). Please pass this along to your friends and family!

Carlton Shores (Entry #6)

Click here to view more photos of this estate

Thursday, January 12, 2012

Where in the World is Wayne Visbeen?

Wayne Visbeen often travels for work and pleasure to areas around the world that have an abundance of interesting, innovative and eye-catching architecture. Can you guess where he is in these photos? Please post your guesses in a comment here on our blog or on our facebook fan page wall.

Hint #1: The first part of the name of this location is an occupation that 38 million people have worldwide, according to Wikipedia.

Hint #2: It's in Budapest.

Hint #3: The bronze statue in the center is of Stephen I of Hungary.

Monday, January 9, 2012

Pinecliff Residence: For Sale!

The Pinecliff is a unique solution to a common problem in waterfront property: a narrow lot. What it lacks in width, this home makes up for in height and length, maximizing the available space and taking full advantage of what are sure to be expansive views from each of its three stories. Featuring porthole windows and outdoor upper decks, the Pinecliff exudes a distinctly nautical air, perching on its steep grade like a great docked ship.

The entry-level functions as the main living space, featuring a half bath, entry area, kitchen, dining, and living room. One floor up is the laundry, bunkroom and master suite. The basement level is home to another bedroom suite and office space. Across the way, through the covered patio alcove, is the lower level family room, complete with kitchenette and walkout access to the water.

This beautiful residence is available for sale! Please visit the listing webpage or contact Chad VanHorn with Real Estate Firm for details.

Interior staging by Julie Holmes

Thursday, January 5, 2012

Home Solutions for Your New Year's Resolutions

It's a new year, which means it's that time again: resolution time. We have all made and broken resolutions year after year. But have you ever enlisted the help of your home in accomplishing your yearly goals? Here are a few common resolutions and ways your home can be of assistance....

1. Get Fit: Probably the number one resolution on most people's list, but there is a reason why gym attendance spikes in January and tappers off as the year presses on. We are all busy and it's just tough to find time to make it to the gym. What if you made the gym come to you? Here are a few stellar home gyms that leave no room for excuses...

2. Get Organized: This is a biggie. No one wants to be featured on the show Hoarders and we can all get a little overwhelmed by the day to day onslaught of things (mail, laundry, school papers, work papers, toys - the list goes on and on). One great way to get organized is to enlist the help of built-in storage and management centers like these...

3. Reduce, Reuse, Recycle: It's never too late to become environmentally conscious and there are many ways your home can help you become an eco-friendly consumer...

Create a recycle center for your home - it keeps you organized and can give your household clear guidelines for what is recycled.

image source: http://www.hometone.com/entry/green-nest-going-green-with-recycled-glass-countertops/

You can find many home building products that are made from recycled products like the above recycled glass countertops by Verazzo. Bottles, lamps and wine glasses are turned into beautiful mosaics that make up kitchen and bathroom countertops.

You can also use recycled metal products in your home. Metals like steel, aluminum and copper are made into framing, siding and roofing products.

4. Spend Less, Save More: Due to an increased number of people looking to accomplish resolution #3, there are now plenty of resources you can use to save money in your home...

Energy Star apppliances like dishwashers, washers and dryers use 20-30% less energy than federal standards and can give you significant savings on your monthly utilities.

source: http://www.energystar.gov/index.cfm?fuseaction=find_a_product.showProductGroup&pgw_code=FU

image source: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Energy_Star

Furnace efficiencies are reflected in their annual fuel-utilization-efficiency (AFUE) ratings. To qualify as Energy Star, furnaces have AFUE rating of 85% and 90% or higher, making it up to 15% more efficient than standard furnaces. Since heating and cooling makes up roughly 54% of your utility bill each month, you can see how quickly savings will add up.

sources:

http://www.consumerreports.org/cro/appliances/heating-cooling-and-air/gas-furnaces-703/efficiency-matters/efficiency-matters.htm

http://www.energysavers.gov/pdfs/energy_savers.pdf

5. Learn Something New: As Benjamin Franklin once said, "a house is not a home unless it contains food and fire for the mind as well as the body." Make sure you have a place in your home that is conducive to learning...

6. Spend more time with family and friends: This is my favorite resolution because it's one that is enjoyable to accomplish! The natural place to spend your time with family and friends is your home, so why not make it a place that makes it easy to entertain.

Open floor plans like this one allow for great spaces to entertain - hosts and guests can mix and mingle in the kitchen, dining room, living room and sun room.

This screened porch and pool area provide a perfect party zone.

What better place to spend time with friends and family than in a delightful game room like this.

Friends and family can enjoy cocktails, table games and the latest sporting event on TV in this lower level entertaining space.

The billiards and bar area in this lower level is perfect for holiday entertaining

May your home be a solution for your New Year's resolutions in 2012!