Recently I reviewed an article that discussed the "new trend" according to Whirlpool. Apparently they're not the only player in the market that is gambling the dominance of Stainless Steel appliances is near the end of an era. It seems each manufacturer is pushing a new "trend-setter". According to the WSJ article out today, Wolf Appliance is pushing "Black Glass", while GE introduced a muted gray finish called "Slate". Miele has mentioned they will be producing new high-gloss finishes in the near future. The appliance world has gone through many "trends" since over the years including some which we in the design industry hope never occur again; see 1950's pink and blue and 1970's avocado phases.
Why the sudden decision to introduce all these new lines? The industry is struggling right now, trying to create buzz for their products. With the housing market stagnant, they're seeing a lull in the purchase of new appliances and thus their profits have been hindered.
Designers are always looking for new innovative ways to freshen a room, create an accent, or simply improve on the functional ability of the status quo. What the manufacturers are hoping to create, unfortunately feels more like a fad rather than a trend. The primary difference between these two situations is, a fad is a temporary high, while a trend typically stays hot for a longer period of time. Currently the stainless steel trend for kitchen appliances is hovering around 25 years since hitting the market. Based upon consumer interest and high end manufacturers less receptive to making a big splash with a "New and Improved" look, it seems appears in the end, stainless steel will prevail and endure yet another fad with which to compete.
To read more about this, check out the full article at:
http://shopping.yahoo.com/news/is-this-the-end-of-a-25-year-run-for-stainless-steel--.html
- Design is what you make it.
Friday, September 7, 2012
Monday, August 13, 2012
KITCHEN UPDATES: THE NEW LOOK TO COME
It looks like Whirlpool is attempting to be a trend setter in the appliance package world by taking a note from the Apple, Inc handbook. They're creating and marketing a new design line to replace the standard Stainless Steel packages offered by every viable manufacturer. What are they doing in an attempt to stand out you ask? They're creating the new white, "White Ice". it's a white package with a high gloss finish and stainless steel accents. In many ways it looks and will feel like many people's favorite handheld phone and tablet / lap top. I guess their hoping the image they're creating will invoke the love and emotions many feel about these items and push them toward the purchase of an entire new appliance package in order to make their home and hand held devices "one with each other". A very fend shui approach and actually speaks well for the company. An industry thinker that may have just created the new buzz, new trend, new "White Ice".
- Design is what you make it.
- Design is what you make it.
Thursday, June 28, 2012
ALL IN PERSPECTIVE
The old adage from real estate; Location, Location, Location is well known and factual. It's all about the location of the property that makes it valuable. How well does this concept translate to other parts of life? Perspective, perspective, perspective....it translates quite nicely. After all, everyone has their own perspective of each situation. This is one reason eye witness testimony is so difficult to use as hard evidence. What one person saw and believes to be true, could be different from another observer of the same situation. Where you're located physically or mentally when asked about something or observing something plays a significant role on your stance of the reality.
Take Union Square, Somerville for instance. The mayor instituted a new concept for parking streetside in this community. In the past all street parking was parallel or 45 degree parking spots that one PULLS into. The mayor modified this to change the 45 degree parking spots so one must BACK into them, similar to some places they have found in other cities around the country.
Mayor Joe says the new parking is working! Well, there are many who beg to differ on the definition of "working". The mayor applauds the fact that "initial data suggests that the pilot program to calm traffic, promote pedestrian and bicycle safety,... in Union Square is working as intended.". From Mayor Joe's "perspective", creating a slower area that affords more walking and biking and less driving is all positive. From many residents of the area, they're "perspective" is quite different. "This has got to be the most idiotic thing Somerville has ever done!", said by a local resident. This backing in concept has slowed traffic which translates into MORE traffic. Introducing even more pedestrian and bicycle traffic also slows traffic creating MORE traffic.
So the question that isn't being asked that should be, is: "At what point is the balance of maintaining safe pedestrian traffic sustainable while providing safe vehicular traffic without causing congestion?" This specific situation may have some initial positives from Mayor Joe's perspective, but he is elected by the individuals that use this area of the city and vote him in. Perhaps he should listen to the local residents and try to find some harmony that allows for safest possible situation with the least amount of impact on traffic and thus satisfying his constituents on all accords.
To read more on this situation visit:
http://somerville.patch.com/articles/union-square-back-in-parking-is-working-says-city?ncid=newsltuspatc00000001
- Design is what you make it.
Take Union Square, Somerville for instance. The mayor instituted a new concept for parking streetside in this community. In the past all street parking was parallel or 45 degree parking spots that one PULLS into. The mayor modified this to change the 45 degree parking spots so one must BACK into them, similar to some places they have found in other cities around the country.
Mayor Joe says the new parking is working! Well, there are many who beg to differ on the definition of "working". The mayor applauds the fact that "initial data suggests that the pilot program to calm traffic, promote pedestrian and bicycle safety,... in Union Square is working as intended.". From Mayor Joe's "perspective", creating a slower area that affords more walking and biking and less driving is all positive. From many residents of the area, they're "perspective" is quite different. "This has got to be the most idiotic thing Somerville has ever done!", said by a local resident. This backing in concept has slowed traffic which translates into MORE traffic. Introducing even more pedestrian and bicycle traffic also slows traffic creating MORE traffic.
So the question that isn't being asked that should be, is: "At what point is the balance of maintaining safe pedestrian traffic sustainable while providing safe vehicular traffic without causing congestion?" This specific situation may have some initial positives from Mayor Joe's perspective, but he is elected by the individuals that use this area of the city and vote him in. Perhaps he should listen to the local residents and try to find some harmony that allows for safest possible situation with the least amount of impact on traffic and thus satisfying his constituents on all accords.
To read more on this situation visit:
http://somerville.patch.com/articles/union-square-back-in-parking-is-working-says-city?ncid=newsltuspatc00000001
- Design is what you make it.
Monday, May 21, 2012
SAVING MONEY....NEVER GOES OUT OF STYLE
Summer is just around the corner and the weather is starting to heat up. When things get warmer, spending time outside hiking, biking, and simply lounging around become the norm. What also becomes typical is flipping on the air conditioning to help keep your home cool and comfortable. There are many factors that go into passively keeping your home cooler to reduce your electric bills. Saving cash is what it's all about these days.
Everyone knows replacing your old single pane and aluminum windows with Low E, Argon and Kryton gas filled panes helps to reduce infiltration of the ultraviolet light from the sun which in turn reduces the heat absorbed by your home. One element most people don't think about is the amount of heat absorbed by their roof. We all know dark objects get extremely hot when placed in the sun. This occurs because dark objects absorb heat (up to 80% of solar enery) rather than reflect the heat light a light colored roof (which reflect 75% of the solar energy). Prior to some advances in recent technology, the only way to reduce absorption of heat by your roof was to install a light colored roof which many people find less attractive. Well that is all changing.
New materials and techniques are being fabricated to allow for a dark roof to reflect solar energy by reflecting a high percentage of the solar radition as well as releasing more thermal emittance, which is a measurement of solar energy that bounces back into the atmosphere after being initially absorbed. The products available make it extremely likely you can find one to match your needs.
What does this mean to you? Cash in your pocket with lower cooling costs as less energy will be required to help keep your home cool in the dog days of summer. To learn more about this, visit: http://www.coolroofs.org/HomeandBuildingOwnersInfo.html
- Design is what you make it.
Everyone knows replacing your old single pane and aluminum windows with Low E, Argon and Kryton gas filled panes helps to reduce infiltration of the ultraviolet light from the sun which in turn reduces the heat absorbed by your home. One element most people don't think about is the amount of heat absorbed by their roof. We all know dark objects get extremely hot when placed in the sun. This occurs because dark objects absorb heat (up to 80% of solar enery) rather than reflect the heat light a light colored roof (which reflect 75% of the solar energy). Prior to some advances in recent technology, the only way to reduce absorption of heat by your roof was to install a light colored roof which many people find less attractive. Well that is all changing.
New materials and techniques are being fabricated to allow for a dark roof to reflect solar energy by reflecting a high percentage of the solar radition as well as releasing more thermal emittance, which is a measurement of solar energy that bounces back into the atmosphere after being initially absorbed. The products available make it extremely likely you can find one to match your needs.
What does this mean to you? Cash in your pocket with lower cooling costs as less energy will be required to help keep your home cool in the dog days of summer. To learn more about this, visit: http://www.coolroofs.org/HomeandBuildingOwnersInfo.html
- Design is what you make it.
Monday, May 7, 2012
Is the economy recovery here?
Many economists have specified that the U.S. economy is a real estate driven machine. When housing it hot, so is our growth and when it's not; we fall into recession. Well it's safe to say at this point in time that the housing market for the past 3-4 years has been cooling off considerably. Most of this can be attributed to the financial lending landscape. It wasn't that long ago, in order to borrow money from a bank or financial institution, you needed to prove that you were able to pay that money back. Then the roaring '00s changed all that. The banks weren't looking at the long term implications of HOW one might repay a loan, and instead were focused on the HOW MUCH CAN I MAKE NOW.
In today's real estate market, it has become much more difficult to obtain a loan or even re-finance an existing loan. Many loans taken out in 2005-2008 were ARMs and they're coming to a head where the interest rates are going to jump creating a problem for many home owners that maxed out their limits to purchase said home. To make matters worse, some of those home owners lost their jobs when the economy slowed down taking a maxed out (2) income home and making it a stressed out (1) income home. Luckily for everyone involved, home owners, home buyers, and developers; June 1st is the date they should all have on their calendar as legislation has been passed to make the Short Sale process much faster allowing many home owners to get out from under upside down mortgages and new home buyers and developers to get some great deals.
To learn more about this click on the link and see how this process can be a turning point for the real estate market and possibly our economical outlook.
http://money.cnn.com/2012/04/19/real_estate/short-sales/index.htm
- Design is what you make it.
In today's real estate market, it has become much more difficult to obtain a loan or even re-finance an existing loan. Many loans taken out in 2005-2008 were ARMs and they're coming to a head where the interest rates are going to jump creating a problem for many home owners that maxed out their limits to purchase said home. To make matters worse, some of those home owners lost their jobs when the economy slowed down taking a maxed out (2) income home and making it a stressed out (1) income home. Luckily for everyone involved, home owners, home buyers, and developers; June 1st is the date they should all have on their calendar as legislation has been passed to make the Short Sale process much faster allowing many home owners to get out from under upside down mortgages and new home buyers and developers to get some great deals.
To learn more about this click on the link and see how this process can be a turning point for the real estate market and possibly our economical outlook.
http://money.cnn.com/2012/04/19/real_estate/short-sales/index.htm
- Design is what you make it.
Wednesday, March 14, 2012
Affordable Housing, is it a good idea?
The Story:
Union Square in Somerville, MA is struggling with a common issue in today's societal and political world. How do we appease the voters on both sides of the story while allowing private companies to create jobs and help boost the economy? The Somerville Community Corporation purchased an unused Boy & Girls Club building and want to renovate the space into 40 affordable apartments, some of which will be Section 8 housing. Section 8 housing is designated for those individuals / families that can not otherwise afford housing due to low income and thus receive government assistance. Affordable units is an industry term in real estate to describe reduced rent apartments to allow families with an opportunity to support themselves by paying a reduced rent compared to the open market.
The battle going on in this story is a struggle between those who would like to allow the project to move forward, provide housing to low income families that need a place to live, as well as provide additional jobs to perform the construction renovation. This project would also help workers across the country because a single construction project of this size can directly or indirectly affect thousands of workers. From factory workers producing the thousands of materials needed in order to complete the project, to the truckers who are essential to delivering the construction materials to the stores and job site, to the food vendors that make their living selling break and lunch time food to the workers. It's a big deal even for a small project like this one.
On the flip side, there are homeowners that are concerned about the societal impact from 40 new apartments entering the market, designated to families of lesser means. They're concerned the already dense living situation in Somerville (the most densely occupied city in Massachusetts), will become even more dense without any relief to assist in transporting all these new tenants. The city was promised (nearly 30 years ago) the state would extend the T line and improve bus routes, to date, there is talk about cancelling the T plans due to costs and transportation deficits as well as cutting back on bus routes and leaving the city without many options.
The concerned residents in this community are the voice for many towns and cities throughout the country. They are villified, made out to be heartless cruel individuals that think of themselves first before helping those that may be in need. The politicians are caught between helping the project move forward and risk upsetting the existing base, or help the project and upset those in favor of the project. Keep in mind, while all this is going on, there is a private corporation that just wants to use it's right to make money and build the project.
Where do you stand? Is this an easy answer? Do we need to reinvestigate how housing is provided for those who can not afford it? Should we close the door to them and say, "if you can't afford living here, move elsewhere; that's what I have to do if I want to better my situation"? Let me here your thoughts. This isn't a problem that's going to go away soon...and may be coming to your town next!
For more on this, follow the link to the original article.
http://somerville.patch.com/articles/affordable-housing-proposal-in-union-square-causes-conflict
- Design is what you make it.
Union Square in Somerville, MA is struggling with a common issue in today's societal and political world. How do we appease the voters on both sides of the story while allowing private companies to create jobs and help boost the economy? The Somerville Community Corporation purchased an unused Boy & Girls Club building and want to renovate the space into 40 affordable apartments, some of which will be Section 8 housing. Section 8 housing is designated for those individuals / families that can not otherwise afford housing due to low income and thus receive government assistance. Affordable units is an industry term in real estate to describe reduced rent apartments to allow families with an opportunity to support themselves by paying a reduced rent compared to the open market.
The battle going on in this story is a struggle between those who would like to allow the project to move forward, provide housing to low income families that need a place to live, as well as provide additional jobs to perform the construction renovation. This project would also help workers across the country because a single construction project of this size can directly or indirectly affect thousands of workers. From factory workers producing the thousands of materials needed in order to complete the project, to the truckers who are essential to delivering the construction materials to the stores and job site, to the food vendors that make their living selling break and lunch time food to the workers. It's a big deal even for a small project like this one.
On the flip side, there are homeowners that are concerned about the societal impact from 40 new apartments entering the market, designated to families of lesser means. They're concerned the already dense living situation in Somerville (the most densely occupied city in Massachusetts), will become even more dense without any relief to assist in transporting all these new tenants. The city was promised (nearly 30 years ago) the state would extend the T line and improve bus routes, to date, there is talk about cancelling the T plans due to costs and transportation deficits as well as cutting back on bus routes and leaving the city without many options.
The concerned residents in this community are the voice for many towns and cities throughout the country. They are villified, made out to be heartless cruel individuals that think of themselves first before helping those that may be in need. The politicians are caught between helping the project move forward and risk upsetting the existing base, or help the project and upset those in favor of the project. Keep in mind, while all this is going on, there is a private corporation that just wants to use it's right to make money and build the project.
Where do you stand? Is this an easy answer? Do we need to reinvestigate how housing is provided for those who can not afford it? Should we close the door to them and say, "if you can't afford living here, move elsewhere; that's what I have to do if I want to better my situation"? Let me here your thoughts. This isn't a problem that's going to go away soon...and may be coming to your town next!
For more on this, follow the link to the original article.
http://somerville.patch.com/articles/affordable-housing-proposal-in-union-square-causes-conflict
- Design is what you make it.
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