Login   •   Register   •  

Monday, January 28, 2008

New technology for precise measuring

Having to go out to Clients Homes or Offices and taking exact measurements has always been a time-consuming task.
My solution to this particular issue has been a product called Leica Disto ( a measuring device which measures the distance with a Laserlight - exact to a 1/16" of an inch).
Leica Disto
perfect tool for precise measuring

It is a very versatile Product.
Great when measuring Rooms for Floor Covering Products such as Carpets, etc. Very efficient, as one does not have to fiddle along with a long 25' Tape. No Posibility of scratich Furniture or Walls. Specially great when measuring long Hallways of Offices during Business Hours.
Like last week, I was out on a Job, measuring a Room for a Lighting Design Project. In a very quick and fast efficient way, I had measured the import Details one needs to know with no running a long 25' Tape across the Room. Even the Client was surprised how fast it went.
Or another Example: Modern contemporary Home, one has to measure for large Triangular Windows for Shades. A 25' Tape would be cumbersome and probably not exact either as all the Windows are 15' above Floor and difficult to reach.
With the Leica DISTO it was a snap to do. Precise and fast and not time consuming at all. Hunter Douglas Window Fashions now realized the advantages of this Laser Tool now too and just commented in their latest Views Magazine (Magazine for HD Window Fashion Retailers), that they are working on an Interface, which takes the measurements from the Leica DISTO and transfers them into their Ordering System. Something I recommended already several years ago when attending their Training Seminars.

Wednesday, March 28, 2007

If Architects Had to Work Like Web Designers

A humorous article comparing web designers to architects. Taken from “Brisbane Web Design Company Hello Media

Dear Mr. Architect:

Please design and build me a house. I am not quite sure of what I need, so you should use your discretion. My house should have somewhere between two and forty-five bedrooms. Just make sure the plans are such that the bedrooms can be easily added or deleted. When you bring the blueprints to me, I will make the final decision of what I want. Also, bring me the cost breakdown for each configuration so that I can arbitrarily pick one.

Keep in mind that the house I ultimately choose must cost less than the one I am currently living in. Make sure, however, that you correct all the deficiencies that exist in my current house (the floor of my kitchen vibrates when I walk across it, and the walls don’t have nearly enough insulation in them).

As you design, also keep in mind that I want to keep yearly maintenance costs as low as possible. This should mean the incorporation of extra-cost features like aluminum, vinyl, or composite siding. (If you choose not to specify aluminum, be prepared to explain your decision in detail.)

Please take care that modern design practices and the latest materials are used in construction of the house, as I want it to be a showplace for the most up-to-date ideas and methods. Be alerted, however, that kitchen should be designed to accommodate, among other things, my 1952 Gibson refrigerator.

To insure that you are building the correct house for our entire family, make certain that you contact each of our children, and also our in-laws. My mother-in-law will have very strong feelings about how the house should be designed, since she visits us at least once a year. Make sure that you weigh all of these options carefully and come to the right decision. I, however, retain the right to overrule any choices that you make.

Please don’t bother me with small details right now. Your job is to develop the overall plans for the house: get the big picture. At this time, for example, it is not appropriate to be choosing the color of the carpet.

However, keep in mind that my wife likes blue.

Also, do not worry at this time about acquiring the resources to build the house itself. Your first priority is to develop detailed plans and specifications. Once I approve these plans, however, I would expect the house to be under roof within 48 hours.

While you are designing this house specifically for me, keep in mind that sooner or later I will have to sell it to someone else. It therefore should have appeal to a wide variety of potential buyers. Please make sure before you finalize the plans that there is a consensus of the population in my area that they like the features this house has. I advise you to run up and look at my neighbor’s house he constructed last year. We like it a great deal. It has many features that we would also like in our new home, particularly the 75-foot swimming pool. With careful engineering, I believe that you can design this into our new house without impacting the final cost.

Please prepare a complete set of blueprints. It is not necessary at this time to do the real design, since they will be used only for construction bids. Be advised, however, that you will be held accountable for any increase of construction costs as a result of later design changes.

You must be thrilled to be working on as an interesting project as this! To be able to use the latest techniques and materials and to be given such freedom in your designs is something that can’t happen very often. Contact me as soon as possible with your complete ideas and plans.

PS: My wife has just told me that she disagrees with many of the instructions I’ve given you in this letter. As architect, it is your responsibility to resolve these differences. I have tried in the past and have been unable to accomplish this. If you can’t handle this responsibility, I will have to find another architect.

PPS: Perhaps what I need is not a house at all, but a travel trailer. Please advise me as soon as possible if this is the case.
(Author unknown)

About

You've reached the blog of Final Touch Interiors, an interior design firm located in Westchester County, NY. Here, you'll find a collection of thoughts and links related to interior design, space planning and interior design in general.

Join Mailing List

Syndication

RSS 2.0 or Atom

Slide show about our work in progress

Interior Design News

Romantic Glass Suspension Lighting by deMajo

17 Mar 2010 at 1:35am

With more than 60 years in an ?illuminating? industry, Italian lighting company deMajo has introduced the world to some interesting luxe lamps ? its collection of romantic glass suspension lighting is trendy. Check them out ...

romantic-glass-suspension-lighting-demajo-sahara.jpg

The Sahara Series is hot! These dramatic glass drop lamps designed by Oriano Favarettoi are so chic it hurts. Executed entirely of clear glass, these pendants feature a gently textured pattern rippling down the lower half of a sensual hourglass figure. Visible through the lamp, modern chrome hardware gives the Sahara Series a modern edge.

romantic-glass-suspension-lighting-demajo-bea.jpg

The Bea Series by designer Nicola Grandesso is another suspension lighting design that puts a modern twist on the traditional candlelight chandelier. Four glass arms reach out from a clear and colorless base, each arm boasting a simple, bell-shaped shade ? all in transparent glass.

romantic-glass-suspension-lighting-demajo-peroni.jpg

The third piece is the Peroni Series suspension lighting system, designed by Ufficio Tecnico. An elongated clear-glass shade, slightly barreled at the center, is accented by modern crisscrossed lines that add an artistic element to this simple but stylish pendant lamp.

For more romantic lighting designs, visit deMajo.


Fireplace TV by MCZ - Scenario

15 Mar 2010 at 9:27am

mcz-fireplace-tv-scenario-1.jpg

Talk about an ideal scenario! Taking a cue from smart European design trends, the Scenario is a cool fireplace TV by MCZ that always has something good on. Whether it?s a flickering flame to crank up the ambiance, or your favorite show to up that entertainment factor, this fireplace TV will always draw a crowd. Putting fireplace and television side by side, Scenario is a real space saver that also solves the ?direct competition? design dilemma, whereby these two living-room fixtures would typically compete for attention in a single space. Apart from its ultra-modern style sensibility, this cool fireplace TV is an essential for film buffs, offering a prime viewing platform for your HD movies, and can also be connected to the Internet for browsing the boundless web on the big screen. Check out this latest living room must have, at MCZ.


Cool Modern Chairs 'Loop 3D Vinter' by Infiniti Design

13 Mar 2010 at 10:50pm

cool-modern-chairs-loop-3d-vinter-infiniti-design-1.jpg

These cool modern chairs by Italian company Infiniti Design may be simple, but they?re anything but plain! The Loop 3D Vinter chairs feature a slim body and dainty chrome or satin-finish legs, leaving center stage open for their subtle curves and bold wood-grain patterns. Shaped using 100% natural materials, the modern three-dimensional curves of the chairs incorporate the seat, back and arm rests with grace. Available in a range of rich, natural wood finishes, each characteristic for its color and particular pattern, these cool chairs can be coordinated in your kitchen or dining room, or mixed and matched in your living areas for an eclectic, contemporary look in your home. Check them out at Infiniti Design.

cool-modern-chairs-loop-3d-vinter-infiniti-design-2.jpg

cool-modern-chairs-loop-3d-vinter-infiniti-design-5.jpg

cool-modern-chairs-loop-3d-vinter-infiniti-design-11.jpg


Crocodile Leather Table and Chairs ? 'Trend' dining set by Compar

13 Mar 2010 at 10:12pm

crocodile-leather-table-chairs-compar-trend-1.jpg

Who says croc skin is reserved only for stylish shoes and bags? This contemporary crocodile leather table and chairs by Compar will accessorize your home in modern, fashion-forward style. Dubbed the Trend collection, this dining table set is certainly on trend with their sleek, simple lines and luxurious finish that begs to be touched, and admired! The table features gently curved faux croc skin-covered legs and a transparent glass tabletop mount on a lacquered metal base. The coordinating crocodile skin chairs add extra flair to your space. Available in black and white, this cool crocodile leather table set will lend the look of exotic luxury to your dining room. Stay on top of the trends, and check out the Trend table and chairs at Compar.


Pink Bedroom Furniture by Karim Rashid for Valdichienti

17 Mar 2010 at 5:44am
valdichienti-bed-karim-rashid-collection-1.jpg This new bedroom suite by Karim Rashid is hot ? hot pink, that is! Designed for Italian furniture house Valdichienti and geared up for its big reveal at Salone del Mobile 2010, this pink bedroom furniture represents a new ideal in furniture, combining fashion and function, with a little flair thrown in for good measure. This playful set is characterized by its rounded corners, soft lines and of course, it?s stand-out color great for a girl?s bedroom or a sophisticated bedroom retreat. The bed boasts a chic pink and white headboard with exaggerated curves reminiscent of lips. A matching pink and white pouf features three parts that can be combined or separated for additional seating. A sofa rounds out this bedroom furniture collection, with a modern silhouette and Rashid?s signature pink hue accented by funky outlines. Designed for comfort and contemporary style, this sweet bedroom suite is a must-have in our books! Check it out at Valdichienti. valdichienti-pouf-karim-rashid-collection-1.jpg valdichienti-sofa-karim-rashid-collection-1.jpg

Patricia Urquiola Furniture Collection - new Fergana for Moroso

14 Mar 2010 at 3:44am
patricia-urquiola-furniture-collection-fergana-moroso-1.jpg Italian company Moroso has unveiled its new furniture collection ? Fergana seating by Patricia Urquiola, which combines tradition with technology. Patricia Urquiola artfully incorporated old and new into this innovative seating line; history and evolution meld together on this broad seating modeled in Oriental salon style and embellished in an embroidered motif where ancient scribes and symbols meets modern characters with a pop aesthetic. Specially made for large spaces, this furniture line invites you to flop down and sprawl out, casually and comfortably. These modular pieces can be arranged in any configuration, to any proportions, making them ideal for a den, family room or home theater. For the specifics visit Moroso. patricia-urquiola-furniture-collection-fergana-moroso-3.jpg patricia-urquiola-furniture-collection-fergana-moroso-7.jpg patricia-urquiola-furniture-collection-fergana-moroso-9.jpg patricia-urquiola-furniture-collection-fergana-moroso-10.jpg patricia-urquiola-furniture-collection-fergana-moroso-2.jpg patricia-urquiola-furniture-collection-fergana-moroso-4.jpg patricia-urquiola-furniture-collection-fergana-moroso-5.jpg patricia-urquiola-furniture-collection-fergana-moroso-6.jpg patricia-urquiola-furniture-collection-fergana-moroso-11.jpg

Modern Plastic Outdoor Chairs by Domitalia

11 Mar 2010 at 4:52am
modern-plastic-outdoor-chairs-domitalia-baba-1.jpg Making their anticipated debut at Salone del Mobile 2010, these modern plastic outdoor chairs by Domitalia are indicative of the funky direction for outdoor decor in the coming seasons. The Baba and Phantom chairs are fun in their concepts, featuring modern materials, rounded shapes and cool colors, all with a cartoon feel. The Baba chair is a compact stool style-seat with a backrest and integrated handle, making it easy to pick up and move into the shade, the sun, by the bar or where the action is. The Phantom chairs are loosely modeled after a formal dining chair, complete with back and armrests and dressed in a chair cover, ?fabric folds? and all ? executed in plastic! Available in a range of hot hues these funky plastic chairs offer durability and make a great addition to casual outdoor environments. Check them out at Domitalia. modern-plastic-outdoor-chairs-domitalia-phantom.jpg modern-plastic-outdoor-chairs-domitalia-baba-2.jpg modern-plastic-outdoor-chairs-domitalia-baba-3.jpg

Oriental Style Sofas - Jalis soft sofas by COR

1 Mar 2010 at 3:18am
oriental-style-sofas-jalis-cor-1.jpg Designers Mark Jehs and Jurgen Laub put their heads together and came up with this cool, smart sofa design ? the Jalis soft sofas by COR. ?Jalis,? taken from Arabic, translates to ?relaxed communication,? and a more fitting name there could not be. These Oriental style sofas were made for any space and any situation, from casual lounging to formal entertaining. Designed to encourage social interaction, this soft sofa can be combined for a variety of layouts suited to any-sized space. The fine fabric provides support and style, and when the light hits it in a certain way you?ll appreciate a pattern of three-dimensional fine embroidery. The deep seats, cushy backrests and copious cushions deliver comfort and a contemporary signature style that transforms any room into a social hotspot. For more details on these Oriental style sofas visit COR. oriental-style-sofas-jalis-cor-2.jpg oriental-style-sofas-jalis-cor-3.jpg

Statistics

  • Page rendered in 0.3652 seconds