Hot Rod Garage Studio Spaces

I am studying cool studios and garage spaces. And I love the photography of Dirk Behlau. This Hot rod garage he photographed is amazing. Want to see the entire set. Click here.

Clean Bathroom Design

Came across this beautiful bathroom image this morning and wanted to share it. I have been redesigning our master bath, so when we have the funds to execute it we are ready. I really like these sinks. Do you think the sinks really have no plumbing under neath visible? Maybe it is hidden behind the shelf. Love the tile on the wall too. Go to DWR for more info.

Succulent Inspiration

These succulent displays are from the Delmar Fair. Lots of great plant inspiration. The garden display was a complete surprise to me. While I haven't started much around my house with succulents I do plan to and they definitely intrigue me. Since I love collecting I am drawn towards collecting succulents.

Jadite and Red dahlias

Jadite and red dahlias
Originally uploaded by aliciadesign

Affordable Dream Houses | by Asul

So I was perusing the Dwell on Design 2010 site and came across the site Asul. Intrigued with the name I ventured in to see what Asul was all about. How delighted I was to find these really cool home structures. Asul is an inventive home and construction system developed by a team of Architects, Engineers, Contractors and Investors.

What I like about the homes are, they have a very modern look and they work on ANY lot. The key here is that the Asul team have developed a "system" that is adaptable to many requirements and scenarios.

The process is started by assessing your lot and housing needs and designing your house to work with your lot. Then the foundations start, which use caisson footings. So the home is elevated off the ground then the steel structure is brought into place. The steel structure is craned into place. The beauty of the steel structure, is that it absorbs the entire structural load of the home. Ao structural walls are unnecessary which gives you tons of design latitude within the structure. I also love how they integrated the joist hangers right into the steel i-beams. And since their are no exterior shear walls windows and doors can be added anywhere. So, I have an email into them about integrating my favorite modern glass garage doors. I think it has to be do-able.

Asul has 3 build options, You build which is around an amazing $25 a square foot. Option 2 is You and Asul build which is about $50 a square foot and Option 3 is Asul builds and this option is still an amazing $100 a square foot.

Check out the video on their site of how the construction process goes. I think I am sold.

Now I just need to sell my house and find that dream lot...

My Dream House | Alicia Hanson

Well some of you will find it to be no surprise that my dream house resembles a garage. Barton Myers is an amazing architect in Los Angeles. His firm designs projects from residences to large urban developments. My favorite house is his own house that was a working experiment to address his taste and the environment where the residence is located, specifically fire danger. The home is located in Toro Canyon, Montecito California. The house is comprised of 4 pavillons. To preserve against wild fire danger the pavillon roofs are comprised of recirculation pools that double as reflecting pools at this terrace home. The home also has steel roll up doors that enable to house to be completely shut if a fire does come through.

He has since built another smiliar house in Santa Barbara. I want to build something similar someday with large roll up glass garage doors.

Shed-a-licious

I want to build another shed-outbuilding on our lot. We have a lil metal tool shed that is taking up a fine cement slab that would certainly love one of these buildings on it. The top shed is certainly my favorite. I can't get enough of garage doors. In fact, my favorite house is pretty much entirely garage doors. I will have to blog about that next.

I have a thing for corrugated metal, not sure if it is because it is shiny and silver or what, but I am drawn to it like a moth to light. My front counter in my old sign shop had it. The bottom shed is from the site Reclaimed Space. They will be at this years Dwell on Design Show in LA June 25-27. Check it out. Did you see the cool outdoor furniture in the las picture. Love it...