From the Sun

There is something about "green" energy that is absolutely fascinating.   There are new innovations of using rain water to flush your toilet, flexible solar panels that can be applied to clothing and other accessories to power USB devices,  and methane digesters that use the waste from the animals to completely power the farm.  All of these things aiding in the quest for finding a different way to get the energy we need to power this electronic centered world.

I came across this pocket sized gadget by XDMoto.  The XD Design Solar Window Charger is slick, small, and takes 13 hours for full recharge time.  It's main purpose is to charge your USB device.  It's as easy as sticking it to a window and letting the gizmo harvest the energy from the sun.  It can be used while the sun's rays are being collected as well. 

Just another cool design to add to the list....of cool designs. Why not get a little power from your window instead of your wall. The price to own is between $60-$70 USD upfront, but saving you money on your electricity bill month after month, even from "phantom power." "Phantom Power" is the electricity that is used by any electronic device or appliance that is plugged in even though it is turned off. Keeping that charger plugged into the wall has an effect.

The "phantom power" in your home can use up to 10% of your household's electrical consumption.

This is according to the Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory.

Is it possible that this innovative design could be right for you?  Even if you haven't joined the "green" movement quite yet, you might just get this new gadget for the "cool" factor.

Either way, in my opinion, it's a good design.

Layers...

Sometimes when people think of interior design, they only think of throw pillows, knick knacks, and coffee tables.  It's more than that.  Just like in fashion, it's about adding layers to a space.  It's about creating a functional yet beautifully executed space.  You start with bare walls and add color.  Bare floors get hard wood or tile.  Light fixtures are added to add depth.  Shelves are installed for storage, or to break up a space creating a sense of seperation.  Then accessories to add a personal touch; to make the space yours. All of it working together to add comfort and peace.

"Get To You"...

Design is about being inspired.  Maybe it’s looking out the window on a rainy day and deciding to base a pattern idea on the puddles you see on the sidewalk.  Maybe it’s seeing someone riding a bike down the street and you decide to create a new bike rack design.  It could just be hearing a song, and having a grand epiphany to create the cover art for the band’s next single.  I recently had this opportunity. 

 I was approached by a band member from Dan & James, a band based in New York, who's music is  “rock and roll, rhythm and blues, with a twist of jive” as  James Miller would say.

CLICK HERE to LISTEN to DAN & JAMES single "GET TO YOU"


AVAILABLE NOW at http://www.cdbaby.com/cd/danjames13

As I listened to the song, I started to envision what I wanted the cover to look like. I wanted the cover to not only represent the song, but represent the overall feeling of the song and band together. To me the song had a vintage feel, reminiscent of the day when music was more than just a beat in a club. The color was important. The lettering was important. The positioning of the figures was important. All things needed to coordinate and draw the listener in.  The song, the cover, all of it works together to create something enjoyable for you.

After you download the song, (which will soon be available on iTunes at www.apple.com/itunes) you can then listen to it on your mp3 player with your headphone beanie hat, while playing along on your electric guitar t-shirt. It's possible you may just want to sing along in your shower voice while using your microphone shaped sponge. 
"GET TO YOU" is a great song, and you won't be able to sit still for long.


For more info go to Andrea Lynn Design

Just A Little Something...

Today I found something that you might be interested in.  When designing an interior space, let's say the interior of your home, good design comes in layering.  One of the layers would be the equipment.  This is everything from lighting control, to sound control, to tempurature control.  Especially in the twenty first century, people have been trying to save the environment, conserve energy, and let's face it, saving some cash on our electrical bills in the process wouldn't hurt.  Today I saw this from a friend and decided to share.  This gadget would be part of the equipment layer of a design.  Enjoy.

http://www.nest.com/



CLICK HERE to LISTEN to the latest single by DAN & JAMES "GET TO YOU"

AVAILABLE  NOW at http://www.cdbaby.com/cd/danjames13

and coming soon to iTUNES

Let It Rain So I Can Flush...

 It is exciting to know that people are taking the environment seriously, and coming up with new ways to conserve resources and use nature for our benefit.  In Portland, Oregan there is an apartment building that uses rainwater to flush the toilets.  Using a collection tank and a float switch, the rain is collected and connected to the toilets with various pipes.  There is a caution sign as well warning not to drink the water.

This concept would obviously work best in envirnonments which recieve more rain than let's say, Las Vegas, but the idea is simple.  Use the rain water for your use.  Maybe it's watering the  lawn, or garden.  Maybe you really want to experience how people did there laundry before machines.  Whatever the reason, check to see if you need a permit to collect the water.  In some areas it is illegal to collect rain water without one.

CLICK HERE to LISTEN to the latest single from DAN & JAMES "GET TO YOU"

AVAILABLE NOW at http://www.cdbaby.com/cd/danjames13

and coming soon to iTUNES

Singing in the Rain, Or the Shower....

Many of you have heard about bringing the "outdoors, in."  Sometimes it's having a sunroom in your home.  Having a space with lots of windows to bring the natural light from the sun into the space.  It could be adding plants or windows for reflection. But, have you heard of bringing the indoors out?

Many people today are doing just that by taking something "private" like a  shower and tub, and sending it outside into nature.  We all know that people have been doing this for years at the public swimming pool or the beach.  Outdoor showers aren't a new concept.  Instead of just sticking a shower head in the middle of a concrete slab, try adding wood, tile, or stone; elements from your home to create an intimate outdoor shower. It's just another way to enjoy nature at home.

The Great Outdoors...

 Spring is upon us.  The sun is shining, and new
blooms are ready to be planted.  There is something
very serene about planting your own garden,
growing something fresh from the ground.
When creating your garden space take into account
what surrounds you.  Do you live on a hill, in the
mountains?   Try adding rocks or boulders that
coordinate with your outdoors.  Add plants
that are indigenous to your area.

Also take into account the space you have available for planting.  These planter boxes to the left can easily be placed anywhere and can hold a variety of plants without taking up too much space.  Similarly the planter boxes below are placed vertically along a fence as seen in the picture, or along a wall.

Think of the materials used to build where you live, inside as well as outside.  Look at the colors, and think of adding an element to your garden using similar materials, or coordinating materials.  Making the indoor and outdoor spaces cohesive with one another, will bring an added element of comfort and tranquility.

Enjoy the outdoors, the sunshine, and the peace a garden space can bring to you.  Design your space to fit your needs and aesthetic.  Don't be afraid to try new things, and get creative.

Skip Ordinary...

Stairs.  Something simple that allows a person to go up and down.  Sometimes they are inside, sometimes they are outside.  Usually straight, rectangles or blocks placed one on top of the other.

 The great thing about design is that you don't have to stay within a certain "box."  If you can imagine it, there is usually a way to make it happen.  There is no "design ceiling."  The possibilities are endless, even with something as simple as creating a staircase.

Good or Bad Idea?

I came across this in my "travels." I am not sure if this is such a good idea.  Many people do enjoy the soothing sounds of water to help them sleep.  Blue color tones have been known to have a calming effect as well.  My concern is, what if the people living and using these sleeping spaces are sleep walkers?  I know sometimes if I have to get up in the middle of the night, my eyes do not work as well when I am half asleep.  I can't see as clearly, and I am often just a little bit more clumsy than usual.

That being said, "to each his own."  I personally don't like trying to sleep and swim at the same time.  The smell of clorine isn't exactly appealing, but, if you can think it, I am sure someone can build it.  And maybe you want to hop right out of bed and swim a couple laps to get your heart pumping.

Um...Okay...

Sometimes you just have to wonder where people come up with this stuff. 

When I see a product, or a house, or a piece of furniture, I ask myself, "is this a good idea?"

Sometimes the answer is a surprising, "yes!" 

And then there are the times where

I just have to shake my head and giggle.

These lounge chairs by Animi Causa, made of 120 pleasant balls, joined together in a way that allows them to move into many positions depending on your mood.

This next item is something that may come in handy for those long walks.  There are those times when you feel like you just have to sit down, and you don't want to sit down on the ground and ruin your dress.  Look no further than the "bubble butt dress."  The back of the dress inflates as you walk to instantly become a cushion for your tush.

I know there are times where I can't find my phone or have misplaced my keys and I feel like I have to turn the house upside to find these lost items.  Well now I won't have to.  If I lived in this house the upside downness is already done for me.

I believe living in this house would mean that I couldn't have ordinary furniture.  Maybe something furry and colorful would work?  Or maybe a bookcase that would allow me to walk and read at the same time?  With the bookcase I might just be able to hook it up to some sort of device to create electricity as the bookcase rolls around.  Then I would be environmentally conscious.

As for the last two "furniture" designs...I have no words.

CLICK HERE to LISTEN to the latest single from DAN & JAMES "GET TO YOU"

AVAILABLE NOW at http://www.cdbaby.com/cd/danjames13

and coming soon to iTunes

What You See Is...

Let's say you wanted a design on your wall, or maybe a whole building.  Maybe you just want to know what that couch is going to look like in your living room.

I could tell you that the wall design is going to be 6 feet by 8 feet and that the thingy is going to swing next to the other dohicky and around to the what not.

A better idea would probably be to draw a little sketch so that you can visualize the concept better.

A lot of people in this world are visual learners.  They want to "see" something before they make a decision.  They want to know what that color on the wall is really going to look like before making the commitment.  That's where sketching and rendered drawings come in handy.

The cool thing is that you don't have to do all this by hand anymore.  There is "Google SketchUp" which is a free downloadable program, "Photoshop", and for the more advanced, "3D StudioMax."

Go ahead and make that extra effort to "show" yourself, or somebody else, what the design plan is.

It's an important step to learn proportion and scale so that you can make your design the very best it can be.  Plus you can avoid the added headache of making a big mistake and having to start over.

The best thing to remember if you don't think that your artistic skills are up to par is

PRACTICE    PRACTICE    PRACTICE

CLICK HERE to LISTEN to the latest single from DAN & JAMES "GET TO YOU"

AVAILABLE NOW at http://www.cdbaby.com/cd/danjames13

and coming soon to iTunes

Inspiration...

There are often times that I find inspiration in the great outdoors.  It could be the landscape, or the way the trees lean with the wind.  The great thing is that inspiration is everywhere.  You can take anything, like the texture of tree bark and make a pattern.  You can take the colors of a sunset and paint a room, or create a chair inspired from the shape of the clouds after a storm.  I want you to use your own mind to create something magical.  Even a tablecloth can be magical.

Mies van der Rohe...

 He coined the phrase, "Less is more," and when you look at his designs you can see exactly what Mies van der Rohe meant.  The above Farnsworth house was built in the 20's.  It was ahead of it's time and was considered to be the new example of modernist style.  It was built for Edith Farnsworth, a doctor in the Chicago area.  She had some property and asked Mies van der Rohe if he knew anyone that could build a house for her.  Mies said he would do it himself.  The house was built for one person as a weekend house.  It was entirely glass and steel, made to view and use the surroundings as art.

I find his creations inspiring because of the simplicity.  The sleek lines and simple concepts.  You only need what you need and nothing more.