Don't the handles look they should be controlling a city water main rather than your sink?
The Brooklyn line by Watermark.
Valves for your Bathroom
Spotted this faucet by Watermark in a magazine recently.
Don't the handles look they should be controlling a city water main rather than your sink?
The Brooklyn line by Watermark.
Don't the handles look they should be controlling a city water main rather than your sink?
The Brooklyn line by Watermark.
Top 4 Tips for upgrading properties and air conditioning issues
Upgrading and renovating a property can provide some unusual problems for any type of air conditioning
. This is particularly the case in older properties, where a range of structural and other issues may affect internal environmental management. If you're thinking of installing any modern air conditioning, even the most basic reverse cycle air conditioner, there are a few issues which aren't obvious and will need to be managed. Air conditioning can't work at its best in a building environment which is already compromised by deterioration. To get the best out of your air conditioning, it's necessary to do a full upgrade of the premises.
. This is particularly the case in older properties, where a range of structural and other issues may affect internal environmental management. If you're thinking of installing any modern air conditioning, even the most basic reverse cycle air conditioner, there are a few issues which aren't obvious and will need to be managed. Air conditioning can't work at its best in a building environment which is already compromised by deterioration. To get the best out of your air conditioning, it's necessary to do a full upgrade of the premises.Property upgrades, issues and problems
There are a variety of potentially major problems with older buildings in relation to installing air conditioning. The most common problems for developers when upgrading are:
Poorly sealed rooms and windows. The lack of proper seals naturally affects the entire building’s climate management and reduces the efficiency of air conditioning.
- Antiquated wiring and fuse boxes. Old wiring is a fundamental safety hazard. It's definitely necessary to remove old electrical fittings when installing modern air conditioning, particularly in the "smart house" types of design, where totally different types of technology can be put at risk by these old types of wiring and electrical boards.
- Floors and ceilings. Many types of flooring, particularly floating (raised) floors, deteriorate over time and become dust traps affecting the internal environment and atmosphere. Ceiling gaps can produce dust and sometimes quite large temperature variations.
- Mould. Mould and mould spores can be prolific in the atmosphere, and are dangerous to buildings as they are to people. Moulds can produce enormous quantities of airborne spores, which can be a serious health hazard to some people, particularly asthmatics.
- Seals – Best practice is to replace all building seals on the premises. This ensures environmental integrity and will also locate any structural weak spots that may be vulnerable to moisture or other threats.
- Wiring and fuse boxes – Most electricians will tell you to replace the old wiring and fittings "on principle", with good reason. These old fittings become unstable over time, often suffering from corrosion or buildup of dust. In either case, wiring becomes an instant fire hazard, perfectly capable of destroying the building and damaging equipment. It's simply not worth the risk.
- Floors and ceilings – Generally speaking the most common repairs simply involve resealing and replacement of damaged areas of these surfaces. The safest approach is to ensure that there are no holes or gaps leading directly outside.
- Mould – The one and only good thing about mould is that it shows you where the problems are. A thorough building inspection should be carried out prior to conducting any upgrade work.
Installing your air conditioning
After these works have been carried out, installation of air conditioning can now proceed. If you're thinking of installing a ducted air conditioner or the new generation of highly advanced air conditioning units, you'll soon appreciate why the meticulous attention to detail was required. These extremely efficient systems work best in a sealed environment. Your hard work will be worth it.
The Bathroom Apothecary
It's one of those weeks, so you're getting one-picture posts. Here's a find from Pottery Barn:
It's the Harvest Double Sink Console. I thought the french wire hamper was a nice option, too.
It's the Harvest Double Sink Console. I thought the french wire hamper was a nice option, too.
Steampunk Architecture?
Loved this find from flickr. Copper + curves + natural stone is pretty and old fashioned, the doors remind us that industry ain't *all* pretty. :)
Ninth Ward Bar, NYC
I'm not sure what to think of a New York City bar named after the most Hurricane Katrina devasted area of New Orleans, but I do like how it looks:
To note: The woodwork, the flooring, the lanterns.
Beautiful back lit stained glass.
See more pictures at Eater NYC.
I seem to be on a bar/restaurant kick. If you know of any others with strong steampunkish design, comment here or send me a note. Thanks!
To note: The woodwork, the flooring, the lanterns.
Beautiful back lit stained glass.See more pictures at Eater NYC.
I seem to be on a bar/restaurant kick. If you know of any others with strong steampunkish design, comment here or send me a note. Thanks!
Betsey's Bar, Austin, Texas
via.Before I even knew what steampunk was, I had fallen in love with the "vibe" at a bar in downtown Austin called Betsey's Bar. A bit old west, a bit circus, a bit Victorian, a bit flea market, with vintage Pac-Man tabletop games thrown in for good measure, it was exactly the vibe I wanted for my bedroom.
At the time (2007), the only picture I could find was this teeny-tiny one of the bar area on CitySearch:
At the time (2007), the only picture I could find was this teeny-tiny one of the bar area on CitySearch:
But more recently I ran across some band pictures (the band is Texas Renegade) taken at the bar. They do a much better job showing off the space.
What do you think? I'm not sure I'd call it steampunk, but it's been around for 5+ years, which makes it an early incarnation of the style. The fact that it's lasted that long in Austin also tells me it resonates with a lot of people as a comfortable place to hang out.
Pipes as Shelf Supports
I found this great shelf over at Apartment Therapy. The rest of the space is too modern to be steampunk, but I thought the pipes as shelf supports were a clever idea. There's also a modular shelving unit made out of piping and wood shelves.
Announcements, Giveaways, and Finds
Art Donovan is giving away this lovely Astronomer's Lamp. To be eligible to win it, "like" his fan page on Facebook. Drawing is March 19th.
If you live in or near San Diego, you *must* check out Ingred Chamberlin's "San Diego Scavenger" tumblr blog. It's an awesome riff in Apartment Therapy's Scavenger posts (for their target cities) where she culls the treasures of Craig's List into one compact place for you to discover and shop from. (Will someone do this for Austin? Please?) Ingred and her husband chronicle their steampunk lifestyle, including an extreme renovation project, at Greyshade Estate.
We've won a Gold Retrevo Award in the category of gadget mods. Cool.
Back Home To The Future Show this weekend
If you are in the Philadelphia area, you should definitely check out ModVic's (remember their home?) "Back Home to the Future" Expo this weekend. Bruce and Melanie will be exhibiting their kitchen (!!!) and there are workshops to attend and exhibitors to shop with.
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