Wednesday, April 29, 2009
Sunday, April 19, 2009
I stock iStock
Here is a small copy of an image I just uploaded to iStock. Johnny helped me with this one because those are my hands! Here is a link to see the other images I have up.
Saturday, April 4, 2009
Charlotte's Water Ripple Beach House
I just completed a drafting class where my final project was to design a house based on a concept. The inspiration I chose was the pattern that water leaves in the sand in a tidal pool.
I designed the house for my mom to be built in the Outer Banks of North Carolina - a favorite location for both of us. The picture below (not taken by me) is one I used as a reference for the house shape:

Here is the floor plan. The house is 2 levels, with the second level overlooking the first level - loft style. The main living area is an open floor plan with a wall of windows on the East side looking out to the ocean. There is a double sided fireplace that serves the dining and living areas, and it has waterfalls pouring down the 2 sides that don't have openings for the fire. There are 2 bedrooms, each with its own bathroom. The bathrooms both have entrances from the outside so that guests returning from the beach can enter directly from the deck. There is a small office off of the kitchen. It has no windows so that the light can be controlled for editing photographs (my Mom is a photographer). My mom loves to have people over, so I included a large dining table and extra seating at the kitchen island. The second level is the master suite. It has 2 sundecks, a walk-in closet, and a large custom bath.

This is the lighting plan for the house. I included lots of recessed lighting for overall fill. In the kitchen there are wall-mounted sconces and pendant lights over the island. Two chandeliers hang over the dining table, and cable lighting hangs over the living room. Upstairs there is a chandelier in the water closet and over the bath.

On the left are elevation drawings depicting the North and East sides of the home. On the right are section drawings - as if we sliced open the home to look at it.

Here is a detail image of the N-S section. I designed a custom chandelier that is shaped like coral, and clear glass pendant lights and sconces that are shaped like nautilus shells. The fireplace is stacked stone.

This next view is an axonometric projection. It is a sort of 3 dimensional rendering (all based on measurements to scale) and probably gives the best "feel" for the house. The second floor has been lifted up some to show more of the first floor - the dashed lines show where it connects.

Detail of the 2nd floor:

Detail of the fireplace and living room:

This project was a ton of work - but in the end it was very satisfying. It was exciting to see my ideas come together into a plan.
I designed the house for my mom to be built in the Outer Banks of North Carolina - a favorite location for both of us. The picture below (not taken by me) is one I used as a reference for the house shape:

Here is the floor plan. The house is 2 levels, with the second level overlooking the first level - loft style. The main living area is an open floor plan with a wall of windows on the East side looking out to the ocean. There is a double sided fireplace that serves the dining and living areas, and it has waterfalls pouring down the 2 sides that don't have openings for the fire. There are 2 bedrooms, each with its own bathroom. The bathrooms both have entrances from the outside so that guests returning from the beach can enter directly from the deck. There is a small office off of the kitchen. It has no windows so that the light can be controlled for editing photographs (my Mom is a photographer). My mom loves to have people over, so I included a large dining table and extra seating at the kitchen island. The second level is the master suite. It has 2 sundecks, a walk-in closet, and a large custom bath.

This is the lighting plan for the house. I included lots of recessed lighting for overall fill. In the kitchen there are wall-mounted sconces and pendant lights over the island. Two chandeliers hang over the dining table, and cable lighting hangs over the living room. Upstairs there is a chandelier in the water closet and over the bath.

On the left are elevation drawings depicting the North and East sides of the home. On the right are section drawings - as if we sliced open the home to look at it.

Here is a detail image of the N-S section. I designed a custom chandelier that is shaped like coral, and clear glass pendant lights and sconces that are shaped like nautilus shells. The fireplace is stacked stone.

This next view is an axonometric projection. It is a sort of 3 dimensional rendering (all based on measurements to scale) and probably gives the best "feel" for the house. The second floor has been lifted up some to show more of the first floor - the dashed lines show where it connects.

Detail of the 2nd floor:

Detail of the fireplace and living room:

This project was a ton of work - but in the end it was very satisfying. It was exciting to see my ideas come together into a plan.
Sunday, February 15, 2009
Green and Lovely
I found this lovely little thing on a walk last March. It just begged to be photographed, so I obliged. I really enjoy all the little treasures I discover when taking a walk - the lavender that is so plentiful in Los Angeles, all the different architectural styles of the homes... I even get a kick out of the random things people leave on the street that they don't want any more - I've never seen so many ugly couches in my life! I am in my fourth (and hopefully final) week on crutches - an ongoing pain in my heel was finally diagnosed as a torn muscle. Staying off my foot is giving it a chance to heal, and I'm so looking forward to all the walks, hikes, and cute shoes in my future! Enjoy the pics.






Labels: LA Favorites, Plants
Wednesday, February 4, 2009
A Journey Into Color
I'm taking a design class and our midterm assignment was to design an outdoor gallery for an artist of our choice. I've always wanted to have a show of my work, so I thought this would be the perfect opportunity. I drafted a floor plan and then created a foam core model in 1/4" scale. Here is a little piece I wrote about the gallery:
A Journey Into Color
This outdoor exhibition features photographs and paintings by artist Amy Renzulli. Moving from black and white, to cool colors, to warm, vibrant colors, passing through the gallery is a journey into color. As the colors brighten, the walkways slowly widen, drawing visitors in and leaving them with a sense of uplift and expansiveness as they leave.







This is a perspective drawing I did of the sitting room. I chose white leather couches from Design Within Reach, and clear Lucite tables. The floor is stained and polished cement. I had my drawing photocopied onto water color paper and I used gouache to do the painting on the walls.

She doesn't know it yet, but for my next project I will be designing a beach house for my mom. I'm picturing undulating waves of lines...
A Journey Into Color
This outdoor exhibition features photographs and paintings by artist Amy Renzulli. Moving from black and white, to cool colors, to warm, vibrant colors, passing through the gallery is a journey into color. As the colors brighten, the walkways slowly widen, drawing visitors in and leaving them with a sense of uplift and expansiveness as they leave.







This is a perspective drawing I did of the sitting room. I chose white leather couches from Design Within Reach, and clear Lucite tables. The floor is stained and polished cement. I had my drawing photocopied onto water color paper and I used gouache to do the painting on the walls.

She doesn't know it yet, but for my next project I will be designing a beach house for my mom. I'm picturing undulating waves of lines...
Thursday, January 22, 2009
Hey Baby!
Here are a few more Logan pics, from the day after he was born.

He was fast asleep for my whole visit.

Devin and Heather have some tee-shirts that say "Papa Bairn", "Momma Bairn", and, of course "Baby Bairn".
Here's that sweet baby, still sleeping:


He was fast asleep for my whole visit.

Devin and Heather have some tee-shirts that say "Papa Bairn", "Momma Bairn", and, of course "Baby Bairn".

Here's that sweet baby, still sleeping:

Labels: Babies
Friday, January 16, 2009
Happy BIRTHday Logan!
Devin's a dad!

At 7:39 pm Logan came into the world. He's a big boy at 8 1/2 pounds and 20 inches long, he has beautiful blue eyes (like both of his parents), and he was so bright and alert.

Here is Heather telling Logan that it was all worth it to be holding him in her arms.

Devin's parents flew in from Orlando. Here Dawn gets her first chance to hold her first grandchild.

Here is Logan's first cell phone conversation - talking to his Uncle Mason.

Devin's dad, Jim, was so proud and happy to become a grandfather (and so young!)

Dawn and Jim love Disney World and they are already planning Logan's first trip there. Did this kid score the jackpot with grandparents or what?!

Heather is peeking under Logan's cap to look at his hair.

Mommy and baby time.


Welcome to the world, sweet, precious boy. We're so happy you're here!


At 7:39 pm Logan came into the world. He's a big boy at 8 1/2 pounds and 20 inches long, he has beautiful blue eyes (like both of his parents), and he was so bright and alert.

Here is Heather telling Logan that it was all worth it to be holding him in her arms.

Devin's parents flew in from Orlando. Here Dawn gets her first chance to hold her first grandchild.

Here is Logan's first cell phone conversation - talking to his Uncle Mason.

Devin's dad, Jim, was so proud and happy to become a grandfather (and so young!)

Dawn and Jim love Disney World and they are already planning Logan's first trip there. Did this kid score the jackpot with grandparents or what?!

Heather is peeking under Logan's cap to look at his hair.

Mommy and baby time.


Welcome to the world, sweet, precious boy. We're so happy you're here!

Labels: Babies





