Bamboo for Outdoor Kitchens

Kitchen Studio of Naples BambooAtlantis Cabinetry now offers Bamboo doors for its outdoor cabinetry series.

Their extremely durable “perma panel” material is unaffected by the elements, and all cabinet parts can be cleaned with a garden hose and scrub brush if needed.

The new bamboo doors are not only beautiful and on trend but they are considered green since bamboo is rapidly renewable.

I have enjoyed designing outdoor kitchens with their Teak and Cypress; now I look forward to creating outdoor kitchens that will coordinate  with Zen Gardens or more modern settings.

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My New Favorite Outdoor Kitchen

treehouseI bookmarked this picture a while ago and I think today might be a good day to share it.  The tree-house concept is reminiscent of childhood dreams and playtime, fairy stories of enchantment and imagination .

The Architectural component embodies a simple oval form wrapped ‘organically’ around the redwood tree trunk and structurally tied at top and bottom. The tree-house restaurant was designed by Pacific Environments Architects, a New Zealand firm focused on holistic environmentally sustainable design.

 The ramp leading from the meadow up into the tree allows access for people in wheelchairs or who would otherwise not be able to climb a ladder.  Even though this is a Yellowpages promotion, it’s a noteworthy project.

News Video   Construction Video Diary 
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treehouse treehouse

 

Bassino from Kaldewei

Bassino

For 2009 Kaldewi brings luxury and elegance to bathing suitable for any modern bathroom interior.

The new Bassino tub is pure in design with clean-cut interior lines that create generous proportions allowing you to lie back and relax in the water. Being able to stretch out and float in the tub brings relief to persistent and also chronic tension by reducing the strain on spine, muscles and joints.  Another positive effect floating has on the body  is the  improvement in the powers of concentration, creativity and productivity.

The shallow depth of the bath makes it easy to climb in and out.

The level base of the Bassino means it can also be used as a spacious and luxurious shower.

The bath has been designed by the internationally renowned Phoenix Design.  The firm embraces a philosophy that is as natural as it is intuitive: form follows emotion.

I don’t know who designed the house in the photograph above but I absolutely love it.  It is the perfect bathing oasis.

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Hunter Fan Concert Breeze

Another great product recently shown at the International Builder’s Show in Las Vegas is Hunter Fan’s Concert Breeze fan featuring 360 degrees of high-def audio.

Hunter and Soundolier partnered together to create the first and only ceiling fan sound system.

Hunter Concert Breeze

Paul Schleipfer, marketing manager for Soundolier, which is the wireless audio division of the Mitek Electronics and Communications Group.

“When distributing sound, audio coming from overhead has an all-encompassing effect that fills a room more naturally,” said Paul Schleipfer, marketing manager for Soundolier, which is the wireless audio division of the Mitek Electronics and Communications Group.

To accomplish this, the Concert Breeze utilizes a proprietary 2.4GHz wireless audio system. Without the hassle and expense of running wires, the Concert Breeze receives full-range digital-quality audio from any source, up to 300 feet away. The Soundolier Maestro wireless transmitter can be connected at any audio source – TV, MP3 player, etc. – through speaker level or 3.5mm input jack and send stereo summed DSP audio to the Concert Breeze.

Four selectable stereo signal channels virtually eliminate interference, and one transmitter can send the signal to other receiver devices within the signal range.

My favorite thing about the Concert Breeze is that it can be installed outdoors. This gives people living in multi-family buildings and high rises a way to add inconspicuous sound, light and moving air to their porches or lanais, as we call them in Florida, without having to run unsightly metal conduit on the surface of the concrete ceiling.

Look for it around June for $449.

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