Italy-based Benetti Stone Philosophy makes a beautiful mosaic surface called Ivory Dream, which is made from vegetable ivory. In this case, the vegetable ivory — which was used to make buttons before plastic became popular — comes from the seed of an Amazon palm tree called Tagua. The seed is hand-harvested without causing any damage and is then cut and supplied for use as a floor, covering, or other surface mosaic.
Several months ago, I shared photos of a tiny studio shed by Texas-based Sett Studio and want to share details of cool new project by the same firm in same area. Sett Studio recently worked with The Goodlife Team, a local real estate company, and created these two studios that are now being used as extra space for the company’s expanding East Austin offices.
When I first mentioned the Mendoza Laneway House, it was one of the first laneway homes in Vancouver under the city’s EcoDensity program. The company behind that efficient SIPs home, Lanefab, and its partners, designer Bryn Davidson and builder Mat Turner, have been busy and recently completed the first Net-Zero Solar Laneway House on a corner lot at 57th and Vivian. It’s beautiful inside and out.
I signed up for Pinterest a long time ago and have enjoyed scanning other pins for visual inspiration. The site is exploding, and we’re getting more visits — you can follow current pins here — from Pinterest readers every month in our server logs. I should’ve used it to plan out my Water-Wise Bath Redo but I kind of had an idea already going into that project. My next project will definitely get a Pinterest board, though. If you’re on there, link up and let’s keep it going.
This is the Far Reach House and Gold Award winner in the 2012 EnergyValue Housing Awards by the NAHB Research Center. The program honors builders and remodelers who incorporate energy efficiency in the design, construction, and marketing of their homes, and this home was built in Olympia, Washington by Scott Homes with some high-performance features to go with a traditional design.
Project Profiles
