artist feature: david maisel

I came across David Maisel's photographs several years ago and was immediately taken by them. Using aerial photography, Maisel captures environmentally impacted sites - open pit mines, clear-cut forests, zones of water reclamation - presenting the complex relationships between natural systems and human intervention. Leah Ollman of the Los Angeles Times wrote "Maisel's work over the past two decades has argued for an expanded definition of beauty, one that bypasses glamour to encompass the damaged, the transmuted, the decomposed" (via Maisel's website).  Enjoy.

David Maisel, American Mine (Carlin, NV 2), 2007

David Maisel, The Mining Project (Clifton, AZ 7)

David Maisel, Black Maps (Clifton, AZ 2)

David Maisel, Oblivion 8n / Oblivion 9n

David Maisel, Terminal Mirage 5

David Maisel, The Lake Project 19

David Maisel, The Forest 11
 

black walls

Black walls might sound sort of scary but they actually can be pretty amazing. Like white walls, black walls are classic and go with almost any style. However, they tend to be much more of a statement so they aren't always as easy to incorporate into an overall design. One of the biggest things to keep in mind when considering painting walls black is that there needs to be a lot of natural light in the room. Without light, the room will be dark and the tone will fall flat. Personally, I would love to do a den or cozy family room in black. See below for some inspiration images. Happy hump day!

1. source unknown  2. via urdesign by bfs design  3. source unknown  4. via ELLE home of Sasha Adler  5. via Architectural Digest home of Jenni Kayne  6. via The Peak of Tres Chic original published in Atlanta Homes and Lifestyles 7. via small shop blog design by Gabriel Hendifar

modern renovation

Yesterday, I had a meeting with a homeowner to discuss the renovation of a previous addition to their 1950s (I am guessing) home. The addition was probably added in the 60s or 70s and was a solarium/swanky hang out room. Its roughly 900 square feet and the homeowners would like to convert it to include a master suite, powder room and seating area. From the exterior, the addition is quite noticeable and not necessarily in a good way. The main challenge of this project will be how to make the addition flow with the rest of the house both on the exterior and interior. We discussed two strategies for the exterior. The first is to change the roofline of the addition to mimic the gables that appear on the other side of the house. In doing this, as well as changing out the windows to match the rest of the house the facade will work as a cohesive whole. The second option is to "modernize" the addition so that it stands out in a distinct and new way while still complimenting the traditional existing facade. With any addition or renovation of an existing facade, proportion, scale and material selection are key. As part of the initial design process, I have started looking at examples of modern additions to traditional homes. See below for a few well done examples and head to their respective websites for a closer look at the designs. 

short hills by Messana O'Rorke Architects

farmhouse addition by Wyant Architecture

Karen von Hahn House Addition via House & Home design by 3rd Uncle Design

via Dwell design by Beebe Skidmore