Our Version of a Mid-Century Modern Toy Box

Storage has been a big issue for us, namely hiding the stray toys that scream, "This entire house is a playground. Adults need not reside here." The usual suspects for this storage solution is open shelving with baskets of some sort. That seemed ok, but it was a little too predictable. I had even considered a truck box on casters. Perhaps that would have been too industrial. Then, a friend gave us a stereo/record cabinet he saved from the dumpster. It had the mid-century look we like and a hinged opening on top (a perfect candidate for a toy box) but needed a little love and some gutting. I realize that some people out there will consider it downright reckless behavior to gut a 1960s RCA wood record credenza (that works!!!), but it was free (destined for the dump, I remind you) and we needed some storage. We're couldn't be happier with the end result. And for those of you who are still convinced that we committed a sin...pray for us.

I want to live in a trailer!

I wondered how long it would take... We've all seen them: highways adorned with lots full of no-money-down, double-wide homes with faux rock exterior details and the ever-popular plastic shutters. They're efficient, mobile, inexpensive, and ready for immediate occupancy (often without a credit check). Now, these rectangular American Dreams on wheels have stopped trying to mimic their permanent counterparts and have once again become irresistibly modern. Modern design has found its soul once again.

Let me explain. Over the last several decades, it seemed that modern designers had abandoned their core roots: simple design for the masses. By the early 1950s, fiberglass and plastic were confirmed as the design materials of the future. They're cheap, easy to mold, and durable. For example, the now famous Eames molded chairs won design awards in the late 1940s for being an inexpensive, yet appealing, design. Today, reproductions require a pretty penny at Modernica or Design Within Reach.

So imagine my pleasant surprise to see the typical mobile home retailer displaying a modern home that's also easier on the environment. It seems that modern design is going mainstream and becoming more affordable. Granted, there's always been the Roccio Romero's of the world (I love her LV house) who've taken modern design principles and created homes someone like me could afford, but the i-house from Clayton Homes brings this concept to the no-assembly-required crowd. Even better, these homes come equipped with some appealing earth-friendly add-ons (e.g., solar panels). It's time the trailer home received the upgrade and respect it deserves. (Update as of 8/10/09: The folks at grassroots modern recently pointed out that another design group, ClearSpace Modular Homes, has entered the inexpensive moderning housing rhealm. What a welcoming trend.)

Shipping Container Home Near Springfield, MO

via 8747 House

During a recent visit to our favorite Springfield, MO coffee shop, Coffee Ethic, I found myself in a fascinating discussion with the barista about design. He talked about a architectural endeavor his friend was in the midst of completing, a modern rural container home. With a little investigating online, I found out that the owner had a budget of $150K and wanted a modern home. When his architect's original plans would be way over budget, they opted for a 40% cost saver - used shipping containers. (Apparently, you can get the containers delivered for around $2K.) You can find out more about the Missouri project (including a great link to a flickr slideshow) at 8747 house.

I have loved this idea from the start when I noticed this innovative use of a building (or built) material in magazines and other blogs. This would be a perfect alternative to a modern shed in our backyard (i.e., office and guest house). Plus, the good ol' web has plenty of resources (e.g., Web Urbanist) for buying, designing, and building said structure. hmmmmm....

For Finishing the Guest Bath

Kulla via Ikea

Dot Wall Hook via CB2

Marimekko Frekvenssi White & Silver Wallpaper via AlwaysMod

Last year, we did a mad rush to redo a majority of the guest bathroom. I removed the lovely drop ceiling (which now exposes the even lovelier fluorescent lighting); replaced the sink, counter top, and faucet; repainted the cabinet and added new doors and hardware; removed the old floor; added a new baseboard; and painted the once wallpapered walls. (Whew.) In the last stretch of the renovation, we will need to redo the lighting (probably from Ikea), wallpaper (from Marimekko), and add new towel racks (already ordered from CB2). (I'll probably end up changing the color of the cabinet and baseboards, t00.) In the coming weeks, we'll post updated photos.

The Traditional Play Structure Needs a Redesign

Option 1: Deck hides sandbox and traditional kid swings hang from pergola
(click on image to enlarge it)

Lately, we've been in the market for a play structure (they were much smaller, made of metal, and called "swing sets" when I was a kid--that makes me sound old). To say the least, I haven't been that impressed with the kits that are available. Granted, there are some very nice ones out there, if you want to shell out the bucks. Yet, my biggest complaint isn't the cost as much as the look: most that I've seen scream "play structure." Of course, that complaint doesn't make much sense because that's what they're supposed to look like. I guess that it comes down to me being selfish--I'll admit it--because I want to get some use out of it as well. Besides, there's a great park down the street from us, so any assemblage of a traditional slide and swing in our own back yard would seem anti-social.

Option 2: Dining Area with Deck used as Built-in Kitchen
(click on image to enlarge it)

There are a number of things we would like in a yard structure of some sort: a climbing wall that uses all of those "holds" I bought in college, a pergola, a spot for our hammock chairs, an office (or playroom, for now), an outdoor kitchen, and so on. Furthermore, our daughter will likely outgrow a play structure in five years, so why not build something that will "grow" with the family?

Thus, my design: a sturdy, but simple, frame that includes a pergola, simple deck, and enclosed second floor. (These are simple mock-ups using the draw tools in Microsoft Word.) First, the pergola ceiling can accommodate traditional swings that are switched out for hanging/hammock chairs. You could take down any swinging option and use the area for outdoor dining. The deck to the left of the pergola could hide a sand box and double as a stage (with curtains) for performances (both kids' and small bands'). You could also opt for perimeter benches or (when the kids outgrow the play structure) a built-in kitchen. The wall farthest to the left could also double as a 14' climbing wall. Finally, the second-floor room (a small one at 6'x8') would be perfect for sleepovers and an eventual office. Its deck (note the railing on its right-hand side) could also accommodate a slide. Granted, this may all sound too far fetched, but for now, it seems like a plan worth pursuing. We'll just have to wait and see...

New and Improved Garden

As you may recall from a previous post, the early May storm left a few pine trees in our garden (and on top of my compost bins). I had been making improvements to the garden area, but now it was basically time to start over. After a lot of chainsawing, mulching, and planting, the garden is back in respectable form. The fire pit is a recent addition. It was in serious need of some TLC when I found it abandoned on the curbside. A little scrubbing and some high-heat paint was all it took. I also added some signs to the side of the storage shed, planted some blackberry and blueberry bushes along the fence posts, and built compost bins (not pictured) out of ones I recycled from a friend's house. At this point, my only complaint about the garden is that it's not very "modern," but there's always time to make adjustments later.

A few ideas for future reference:
Nice Fence Design from Apartment Therapy
Sun Sails from Apartment Therapy
Raised Beds and colorful accents from Drummond Home in KC
Modern Planters from Studio Built

For now, we have a nice little spot to sit and watch our food supply (or at least a very small portion of it) grow.

DIY Fountain

Cement in 5 gallon bucket curing around pump's pipe

My parents were in town during the last weekend, so I created a project for my dad and me to complete: a simple water feature. I had been hanging on to an old water pump I bought at a farm auction 10 years ago, and it was finally time to put it to use or get rid of it. Add a little cement and a few lag screws in a five-gallon bucket, a submersed water pump, and there you go: instant fountain. I just need to paint/stain the concrete base so it blends into the rocks.

5 gallon bucket is removed to reveal cement base,
which also encloses the PVC pipe for fountain tubing

Of course, I realize that others may have liked the "rustic charm" of the unpainted version (or at least something less obnoxious than the green); however, once we paint our house a charcoal/slate color this fall, the color will make more sense (I hope). Once we got the pump installed, I quickly learned that my daughter was our project's biggest fan. The flowing water is perfect for "washing dishes," as she says.

The final product and its biggest fan

Play Ball!

It's that time of the year again, and the local baseball team is already in the middle of its season. I think this is the third season for the Southern Illinois Miners. For $4 you can get lawn seats (there's plenty of picnic tables in the first-base-line bar and grill) and enjoy an evening at the game. My daughter and I took advantage of a recent event and had a great time...aside from the roaming, scary mascots (we're not too thrilled about the giant canary and miner, yet).

Why My Mother is So Talented

Before our daughter was born, we submitted requests to our family for a few handmade items. We created the above design on the computer and sent it as a guide for my mother. The final product is below. To say the least, we could not be happier with the end result. It has been a very special addition to our daughter's room.

Wham Bam Lamb Slam '09

Pine tree on neighbor's house across the street (note the uprooted based of the tree)

A little traffic hazard in our neighborhood

Ok, so it's been awhile since we've made a post. Three reasons: 1) no power for nearly a week, 2) no Internet for 3 weeks, and 3) lots (and I mean lots) of fallen trees. Around 1pm on Friday, May 8, the tornado sirens sounded, and we headed to the neighbor's basement. After sitting out the storm, we emerged to find two pine trees and a power pole snapped in two and laying in our neighbor's yard. "Oh, my," we thought, "this could be serious." That is to say, we live in an older neighborhood with several big trees. One partially dead and looming pine tree in our other neighbor's yard has threatened our garage for the last two years. That's the causality I imagined next. As we walked home, we saw the carnage of snapped and uprooted trees resting on houses, in yards, and across streets. Luckily, we found our home to be relatively untouched.

Our backyard (the power line is suspending the uprooted tree)

Under that pine tree is my compost bin

The relaxed pine in the photograph above is one of the many culprits for our loss of power and Internet. And, yes, I'll spare you the suspense: the compost bins I made from recycled fence boards didn't make it. (Considering what so many of our friends had to endure with damaged homes, I'm more than willing to have sacrificed it.) The news reported that we had experienced sustained winds over 80 mph with some gusts (or rather blasts) exceeding 120 mph.

Immediately after the storm settled, I headed to the farm and home store down the street. With flashlight in hand, a retail clerk assisted me down the aisle where the generators were. This wasn't the first time our power had been off for an uncomfortable period of time, so I was more than willing to buy a little box of gas-powered convenience. (I later found out that getting said gas ended up being 30 miles away, but that's another story.)

Chainsawing trees all day builds an appitite for lamb

As it turned out, we were the only home amongst our foodie friends (two of whom had just bought an entire lamb) with a powered refrigerator and enough propane to cook up two nights of some fantastic dinners. Friday night was lamb shoulder and lamb burgers stuffed with herbs and goat milk feta. Saturday night was a smoked leg of lamb with all the appropriate fixings. Eric also brought over some fantastic wine and voila, Lamb Slam 2009. By Sunday, we were ready to be done with no power. I had to conduct a wedding the following weekend in MO, so we headed out early to grandparents and a powered civilization. Granted, we had endured our own little natural disaster, and our daylight hours were filled with endless chainsawing, but during those two nights of the Lamb Slam we ate well, drank great wine, and laughed a lot. Natural disasters are just more fun when you have great friends.