Archive for

May 29

Arciform’s Summer Reading List

One of our favorite design blogs, Remodelista, recently inspired us with a post of their summer reading suggestions. Arciform’s design team have a few ideas of their own- feel free to borrow a few of your favorites for your next “lazing about in a sunny corner” afternoon.

Senior Designer Kristyn Bester has an ambitious nightstand. Here’s what she’s reading this month:

Collapse: How Societies Choose to Fail or Succeed…..by Jared Diamond.
She explains, “It’s about the fates of past societies that have collapsed for ecological reasons, and how the collapse might have been prevented. I’m a non-fiction junkie so it’s been really interesting.”

On the Road….by Jack Kerouac.
“Good ol’ classic American fiction. Can’t go wrong. I’m reading the original version.”

Outliers: The Story of Success….by Malcom Gladwell.
“Love anything by him.”

Junior Designer Jeffrey Kelly reveals some hidden talents in his reading selections.

The Complete Book of Western Hatches by Rick Hafele.
What’s this? He explains, “Entomology for fishermen and how to mimic regional and seasonal insect hatches to catch more fish.”

Now you know who to invite as your ringer on your next Deschutes River trip…

Next on Jeffrey’s list?

The Spider’s House by Paul Bowles.
“A novel set in 1950’s Fez, Morocco, that explores the social impact of the French occupation during this era.”

Charred and Scruffed by Adam Perry Lang. A revolutionary approach to cooking methods regarding the grill and cooking by fire.

Let’s Explore Diabetes with Owls by David Sedaris.
“This man and his musings should need no introduction,” says Jeffrey. But just in case you need a bit of an explainer, see Portland Center Stage’s annual production of Sedaris’ The Santaland Diaries.

Design Assistant Marty Hegg‘s daughter Brigitta does most of the reading selections for her, making her the office’s reigning expert on all things Beatrix Potter.

“I’ve been trying to finish Midnight’s Children by Salman Rushdie since Birgie was born,” she explains. But when midnight is the earliest you have any time to yourself…

Should she get a moment to spare, she’d love to revisit some of her favorite magical realism classics. Here’s what’s next in her queue:

The House of the Spirits by Isabelle Allende

The Master and Margarita by Mikhail Bulgakov

Like Water for Chocolate by Laura Esquivel

Senior Designer Chelly Wentworth just joined the team and we are so happy to have her!

She’s evidently experiencing some wanderlust… and her summer reading list is giving us wanderlust too!

She’s reading In a Sunburned Country by Bill Bryson
Her take: “A very entertaining armchair travel book about Australia.”

Next on her list is The Orchardist by Amanda Coplin, which she describes as “a historical novel that takes place in the Pacific Northwest”

Last, but surely not least, she’s picking up some travel books about France and Scotland, “since I am going there in September.”

Maybe we can sneak into her suitcase and hitch a ride?

Senior Designer and co-owner Anne De Wolf seems to be prepping to go undercover with her cloak and dagger themed list:

She is currently in the midst of Gang Leader For A Day: A Rogue Sociologist Takes to the Streets (by Sudhir Venkatesh) and will read Freakonomics: A Rogue Economist Explores the Hidden Side of Everything (by Steven D. Levitt) next.

“Very interesting,” she explains, “They were both recommended to me by (Arciform client) Jim Hardison.”

Hmm. We wonder what roguish impulse inspired those two selections?

Anne continues, “I also read The Spy Who Came In From The Cold, and am planning on reading The Man Called Intrepid which is a book about the actual James Bond.”

Anne’s husband, Arciform co-owner Richard De Wolf has one brief but telling suggestion:

Erik Larson’s Devil in the White City, a true story about the architect behind the 1893 Chicago World’s Fair and the serial killer who used the fair for his own nefarious ends. Richard relates to the architect, of course- not the serial killer!

What’s on your nightstand these days? And how can Arciform help you ready your perfect summer reading nook?

Explore the Arciform Photo Galleries | All About Arciform | Schedule a Design Consultation

May 24

Add Personality with Salvaged Lighting Fixtures

Our roving salvage correspondent Nancy Ranchel has a great piece posted on the NW Renovations blog about how to add personality to your home through salvaged vintage lighting fixtures. Here’s a quote:

Next time you need a new sconce or dome light, try thinking outside the (big) box (store). Anybody can buy those lights! You want something different. You didn’t realize it before, but you do. You want something old. Something used, refurbished, re-wired.

And I’m here to help you! While new is good, and it certainly has its place (new underwear comes to mind), it can lack character. And there’s also the danger of new being homogenous. Homogenized milk is good. Homogenized light fixtures are not. They are — what’s that word? Oh yeah, boring. Turning to the old stuff will personalize your space, and it’s easier on the environment. Read the whole story here.

While you’re there, keep an eye out for the June/July issue, featuring a story on outdoor kitchens featuring some fun Arciform projects.

Enjoy the holiday weekend everyone!

Explore the Arciform Photo Galleries | All About Arciform | Schedule a Design Consultation

May 23

Bringing the Inside Out: Creating a Balcony Retreat

A comfortable robe… that morning latte (or evening cocktail)…and a little something to read… all in a location that lets you enjoy the breeze and watch the world go by….

Adding a balcony to your home can add to your home’s curb appeal and gently nudge your family to spend more time in the fresh air. It can also have some significant structural engineering challenges.

Here’s the who, what when, where and whys you should consider when planning to add a balcony retreat to your home.

Where. Before you add a balcony to your home, take a moment to consider your lifestyle. What time of day are you home the most? Are you a morning person who’s day begins with a leisurely perusal of the morning paper? You may be happiest with an east facing balcony to make the most of the morning sun.

Or do you prefer a bit of cocktail hour entertaining? A south or west facing balcony will take advantage of the sun… but may leave you a bit squinty during the hottest days of summer. Consider adding in flexible screening options to take advantage of the light and stay cool at the same time.

Are you an intensely private person? Consider adding in permanent landscaping and architectural features (fences, trellises, living walls, etc) that will improve your view while preserving your privacy.

02a37ea45ebd2322d2426211317b881d

Do you love to watch the world go by? A street-facing or rooftop balcony might be an ideal choice to create a friendly connection with your neighborhood.

(Hello Neighbors!)

Who. Next, consider who will be making use of the space. What ages will be using the space? If you have a toddler who is at the “climb everything” stage, you will need to plan for higher and more robust railing and screening options than if the space will be used exclusively by adults.

(This balcony on the 103rd floor of the Sears Tower in Chicago looks terrifying, but actually consists of a completely enclosed transparent box to keep you safe while enjoying the jaw-dropping view.)

Equally important, who will be able see into the space? Where are your neighbors’ windows located? Is your house higher or lower than your surrounding properties? Think carefully about how you will protect your own privacy and protect your neighbors from unexpectedly intimate views of your family.

This slideshow requires JavaScript.

What. Balconies can be made in a variety of shapes and configurations and showcase a variety of materials in their construction. Here are a few common choices to be made to ensure a balcony that is structurally sound and serves your needs well.

This slideshow requires JavaScript.

Support. How will the balcony be supported? Common choices include building the balcony atop an existing roof or exterior structure, adding post and beam support beneath the balcony (creating an additional covered space beneath for storage or entertaining) or cantilevering the balcony out so that it appears to be floating in thin air.

Weather. To avoid causing future water damage to your home, consider carefully how you will tie the balcony support and the railing into the existing house structure. When the floor of the balcony doubles as the roof for an interior space, avoiding puncture holes as much as possible is important. Every hole you create adds a potential entry point for water, moss, mold and creatures that can damage the inner support structures of your home, creating future maintenance issues. You’ll also want to consider a roof or screen to shield you from the NW weather and allow you to extend the seasons your balcony is available for use.

Flooring. The flooring for your balcony can range from a rubber membrane roofing material to aggregate concrete to floating floors featuring a tile or wood decking system. When selecting your flooring options, consider how the rain will flow onto and off of the flooring and how much energy you would like to invest in maintaining its surface appearance. Rubber membrane roofing material can be an affordable and attractive solution that has the added benefit of being extremely low maintenance.

Railings. Railings can be made of tempered glass, suspension wire, wood, or elaborately designed and welded metal. Whatever you elect to construct your railings out of, they will need to meet strict structural codes designed to address wind pressure, weatherization, child safety and structural integrity. Consider the proportion of the railing height when adding a balcony to an old home. Current codes require taller railings than would have been required when homes were built in the past. This can cause aesthetic issues that should be addressed.

This slideshow requires JavaScript.

The choices can be complex, but a well-designed balcony can keep you connected to the outdoors while enjoying the comforts of home. Arciform’s design team specializes in creating personalized solutions that will fit your personality while respecting the architectural integrity of your home.

Ready to maximize your outdoor living spaces? Join us February 18th for a Master Suite Design Workshop to get inspired for your next project. Details and RSVP here.

Explore the Arciform Photo Galleries | All About Arciform | Schedule a Design Consultation

May 21

A Repair Cafe for PDX

I love Portland! Just when I think we’ve reached our maximum quotient of hip, cool, nerdy individuals, great restaurants and diverse events, this thriving metropolis adds something new to the mix.

Sit down for this proclamation: Portland is not perfect.

I know. Crazy, right?

But Portland has been missing something. A place that everyone needs and needs to love – a Repair Café. These cafés exist in Europe, where people stop by the venue on designated nights to have a coffee and get their toasters repaired. Or the hole in their sweater darned, or perhaps a ripped piece of drapery fixed. Like-minded citizens volunteer their services and skills in an effort to keep goods in good working order and out of the landfill. People stay busy, connected, and perhaps well-hydrated (or, at least well-caffeinated). Pretty cool.

Sounds like such a simple concept – and one that simply must exist in Portland, the greenest, grooviest city around. Palo Alto has a Repair Café. But when I started snooping around, I found out Portland didn’t. The world was clearly out of balance! And then a group of like-minded individuals started contacting people around town who had expressed interest in Repair Cafés. They got the ball rolling. Meetings ensued, and damn, they got this crazy-smart idea started up right here. With the help of people from Metro, anti-plastic crusaders, the Reuse Alliance, people who know how to repair (you name it), the Tool Library (do you have a tool inventory like my dad or Ace Hardware in the pics above? I do not!) and many others, the first Repair Node event (a Café is still in the works) will take place at Alberta’s Last Thursday event on May 30th. The repair experts – a sturdy team of volunteers – will be at work from 5:30 to 8:00pm on NE 17th Avenue and Alberta Street strategically perched between the Community Cycling Center and the Umoja Center.

Years and years ago, I saw Sex, Lies, and Videotape at the theater. (Yes, I’m that old.) In one scene, Andie MacDowell is discussing the many reasons she cannot sleep, and one item on her list (per my imperfect memory) was I think about everything in the landfills. How long can we keep putting stuff in landfills? Well, I felt like I’d met a kindred spirit. I’m one of those dorks who looks in my garbage can and says, How do I cut this in half? I hate the mountains of garbage we are creating. When and why did it become OK to toss everything at the first sign of wear and tear? Let’s reverse that trend. And to that end I will be taking holey sweaters to Last Thursday, baby. I’m going to take the right thread, too, just in case there’s a darner there with time on his or her hands. Which brings us to the actual repairing.

For this first outing the group will likely be providing:

shoe polishing (shoe repair to follow)
sewing (bring those draperies!)
and computer repair.

The group is working on adding small electronics repair to the mix (don’t throw out your broken toaster just yet), as well as toy and jewelry repair, plus much more.

The second Repair Café event is planned for June 20th at Ford Food and Drink from 630 to 900PM. More information to follow.

If you are curious about the logistics of a Repair Café, please check out the website for the Repair Café in Palo Alto. See the list of items that can commonly be repaired, plus the caveats they have delineated.

And then sit back and think about landfills and our disposable culture. How can you help avoid wasting? How you can fix something that ain’t (that) broke? Repair rather than tossing! Perhaps you would like to repair goods in an altruistic, nerdy, authentically PDX way, but have no fix-it skills to speak of. Perhaps you have a skill that would help operations run smoothly?

Well, volunteers are also needed to check people in, keep things moving, set up, take down, you name it. Perhaps you actually do have other marketable skills. Do you solder, sew, tinker, fix bikes? If you do, check out the Repair Node Facebook page and consider volunteering (the website will be up soon at www.repairpdx.org). Or stop by NE Alberta Street on May 30th or Ford Food and Drink on June 20th to talk to the team. We would love to see you. And, you’ll get a kick out of all the stuff that can be fixed and learn more from the people who fix all that stuff.

About Nancy Ranchel

Nancy is an accountant who offsets the practicality of her day job with extravagant and outrageous remodeling projects, often involving massive amounts of scrap metal. In her free time she can be found dreaming up new ways to turn her house into an art installation, digging through scrap heaps, and contemplating a world without plastic. Check out Nancy’s blog here: www.replaceinpdx.com/

Explore the Arciform Photo Galleries | All About Arciform | Schedule a Design Consultation

May 7

Now and Then

Our Carpenter on Call team is getting started on a project for a home in the Sabin neighborhood in NE Portland. The goal: to restore the home’s exterior to match its original 1913 look.

Luckily, we have some great shots of the original exterior to work from.

Here’s the home now:

And here’s how it looked back then:

Here’s a little context for what the neighborhood looked like back then:

That’s our project home in the back right corner. Wild, isn’t it?

We’ll be rebuilding the home’s front and back porch and replacing the asphalt shingles with wood siding that more closely matches the original exterior. A little spring facelift in time for the warmer weather!

We’ll keep you posted on how it turns out.

Explore the Arciform Photo Galleries | All About Arciform | Schedule a Design Consultation

May 6

From Pattern to Prep Station: Alternative Surfaces for Kitchen Islands

I love metal patterns! These are pieces of metal from which pattern pieces have been cut out – for car parts, for machine parts, you name it.

Imagine a piece of fabric after you’ve cut out a pattern for a shirt, for example. Now imagine it in metal. There you go – same thing as fabric! While I was working on my deck, my friend Shannon brought me a couple of these patterns for use as whatever. Shannon and his partner, Dennis, are car guys, and picked up the metal for me at the body shop they use. What great friends! Then the Arciform guys, artists that they are, turned the metal pattern pieces into part of my deck railing. They look fantastic.

One day Anne emailed me and asked how I would describe these pattern cutouts. She had a client who was looking for a cool kitchen island, and Anne had an idea for using the metal pattern pieces. I wrote back describing the pieces as per above, plus I attached some pictures from my deck.

Anne declined to use the photos, saying, Those photos would just confuse people. Thanks Anne!

But last week I ran across something that might help the situation. While at BBC Steel in Canby, I saw several large pieces of metal patterns. It was a sunny day, and I got some good photos. Perhaps these will help Anne illustrate her idea to clients?

I gotta say, if I were re-doing my kitchen now (I’m not, it’s done), and if I had room for an island (I don’t), I think I would use plywood for my island. I’ve been seeing all kinds of cool pics of plywood, like in this slide show in the NY Times. I would use the plywood for the island, and I would cover it with one of the metal pattern pieces. How insane would that be? I confess, I would probably try to do the same with all my kitchen cabinet doors as well, but Anne might put the brakes on that one. Stick in the mud.

Somebody please use this idea for a kitchen island! I’ll be jealous, but that’s OK.

About Nancy Ranchel

Nancy is an accountant who offsets the practicality of her day job with extravagant and outrageous remodeling projects, often involving massive amounts of scrap metal. In her free time she can be found dreaming up new ways to turn her house into an art installation, digging through scrap heaps, and contemplating a world without plastic. Check out Nancy’s blog here: www.replaceinpdx.com/

Explore the Arciform Photo Galleries | All About Arciform | Schedule a Design Consultation

May 3

Alphabet District Historic Home Walking Tour this Weekend

It’s going to be a beautiful weekend, and we have a recommendation for how to make the most of it.

Arciform is pleased to sponsor this walking tour in support of the NW Neighborhood Cultural Center (home to the excellent Northwest Children’s Theater and School).

Here are all the details:

When: Sunday, May 5th 11 am -4 pm

Where: The Historic NW Alphabet District!
Cost: $25.00

Details: Look inside 8 historic properties and find out unique and fascinating tid-bits that helped shapeone of Portland’s first historic districts. Get your tickets at the box office at the NW Children’s Theater, 1819 NW Everett Street, 97209 or 503-222-4480. 100% of the proceeds go towards the restoration of the Historic NW Cultural Center, which also houses the NW Children’s Theater.

Explore the Arciform Photo Galleries | All About Arciform | Schedule a Design Consultation

May 2

20 Comments

Give Your House a Voice

If your house could speak, what do you hope it would say?

Would it be a cheeky affirmation?

Or a friendly reminder?

Maybe just a morning directive:

Whatever the message, consider giving your home a voice with light up letter forms that spell out the feelings that are close to your heart.

Arciform client and good friend Maria Hardison decided to create her first set of these charming light up letters as a surprise gift for her husband. They now grace the wall in their basement family room.

That project proved so popular with friends that soon she was creating custom letters for friends and business contacts. There’s Maria in the photo above, working with her friend (and now business partner) Tom.

Then, after the “Pig Out” sign she created for new Portland restaurant Lardo was featured in a ton of great reviews, she decided to get serious.

The result: now she has launched a business creating custom vintage look marquee letters you can purchase to illuminate your home and give it a voice.

So… if your home could speak to every guest who stops buy… what would YOU like it to say?

Tell us the 3 word phrase you’d want your home to shout from the rooftops (in glowing marquee letters) in the comments below and you’ll be entered to win a FREE custom letter light of your choice from Maria’s new company.

You can check out Maria’s new website and get the details on creating your own custom sign here.

Explore some other options for adding letter forms into your home design in our Pinterest gallery.

We can’t wait to hear what your home would say if it could speak!

Explore the Arciform Photo Galleries | All About Arciform | Schedule a Design Consultation

May 1

A Volunteer Weekend for Arciform

Last weekend several Arciform and Versatile Wood Products staffers contributed their Saturday to a national volunteer event called ReBuilding Together. The project provides essential safety repairs to low income homeowners, many of whom are facing health or disability challenges. Our crew worked alongside 100s of other volunteers who tackled 47 projects throughout the Portland metro area. Here’s a note from our Team Captain, Kate Thornton, about the day and what the team was able to accomplish.

Dear RT House #174 Volunteers,

If you googled “Rebuilding Together” in the news Saturday, you learned stories of over 250,000 volunteers with more than 200 RT affiliates across the country that collectively tweaked the aura of the world. Well, who really knows about that last part, but I hope you felt a good sense of accomplishment and a burning desire to come play again this time next year. In the meantime, follow National RT on Twitter @rebldgtogthr.

About half of our crew was first-time RTers. Thank you for stepping out and we hope to see you again for many future Aprils. One of the best things about RT is that they/we are able to organize and deliver $4 of value to our community for every $1 in donations. Volunteers see the direct impact of their efforts and get to bond in the process.

Together, the volunteers at House #147 accomplished the following (in a single day!):

Spread two yards of gravel in driveway
Mow grass
Patch broken siding
Repair gutters/downspouts
Replace laundry room lighting
Rewire several outlets
Replace bathroom floor down to joists
Edge sidewalk
Spread word of RT to neighbors
Pull weeds
Prune bushes
Paint house exterior
Repair storm door & latch
Replace dryer vent & ducting
Insulate laundry room
Plug drain leak
Clean patio furniture
Re-support front roof overhang
Hang new clothes line
Patch sheetrock holes
Replace four broken windows
Install kitchen fire extinguisher
Replace kitchen sink strainer & drain
Repair & adjust kitchen cabinet doors
Repair wall panels next to range and stairs
Add electrical covers
Replace two toilets with ADA “water sense” models
Install Smoke & Carbon Monoxide alarms

Not too shabby for a day’s work!

A few other notes from the Team Captain:

Kim takes home the award for “Biggest Disaster” for leaving her paint container on top of the ladder and dumping it on her head while moving the ladder. She is about 50 years too early to be sporting blue hair, but you can get away with it here in Portland.

Shaun and Wallace win the uncontested “Git ‘er Done Hero” award for embracing the day’s yuckiest task of removing the plugged basement toilet that was unspeakably vile and frothy.

Arciform’s Jeramy Bashaw wins the “Nice Guy” award for trading his lunch break for a Home Depot run so that he and fellow Arciform men could finish rebuilding the upstairs bathroom floor that had rotted through to the basement.

Tim wins “Quote of the day” with: “That bush was dead. It just didn’t know it yet.”

“The Miracle Award” goes to Diane and her landscaping crew for uncovering a lovely yard under a jungle of dandelions and unruly overgrowth.

“Honorable Mention” goes to Teresa and Steve who spent most of their beautiful Saturday slaving with ductwork and insulation in the dark basement laundry room.

While the sun was still high in the sky, the house along with its very grateful owner had a new lease on life. A trailer full of supplies, 32 donuts, a gallon of coffee and 36 sandwiches had been devoured and the dumpster was full. At the final sweep, only one lonely banana and a single bottle of water remained. It was a good day.

Arciform was joined in supporting this incredibly valuable project by the following organizations:

Port of Portland

Tim’s Urban Bees

Wallace Rainey, General Contractor

Kaizen Home Improvement (Kate)

Providence Occupational Therapy

RED’S Electric

PS from Kate: If you would like to get involved with this excellent organization, please go to this website and say “yes!” http://rtpdx.org/contact There is a big need for people to help screen all the applicants between October and March. Of all the applicants this year, there were 185 who made it to the home inspections/interview phase, which were then pared down to ~47 successfully completed projects.

We were honored to have the opportunity to participate in the work of this excellent organization and we encourage you to find out more about their good work here.

Explore the Arciform Photo Galleries | All About Arciform | Schedule a Design Consultation

May 1

Zerlina’s Grand Iceberg Adventure

What do Arciform staff members to relax and get away from it all?

For owner Richard De Wolf, vacation time means grand adventures with icebergs, danish marine engineer students and a restored 1968 yacht named Zerlina.

Here’s an excerpt from their trip diaries which were published in Yachts International Magazine:

Climbing onto a huge chunk of ice was like stepping on the moon. Something you just can’t imagine, so beautiful and scary at the same time. Tossing the anchor onto the ice, the three of us met and played like little kids seeing snow for the first time. There was a shallow pool, maybe 20 yards across, where we all drank the coolest and most refreshing water ever. Climbing to the top was, to say the least, very difficult and slippery. We slowed as we reached the tiny summit because we didn’t know what was on the other side. We were climbing with our hands and feet, but when we reached the top, we were able to stand and face a perfectly blue lake, about 80’ across, with the sea between us and the mountains of Greenland. Though it was so inviting to try and go swimming, we were sure the shock of the ice cold water would paralyze us. Instead, we slid down the hill we had just climbed. Not with a sled, or disk, or chunk of plastic, just on our rears, our backs and arms, laughing all of the way. We had too much adrenaline to feel how cold we should have been and, after a few moments of reflecting on where we were, what we had just seen and done, we got back in the dinghy and headed back to Zerlina. Read the whole story here.

Together, these three adventurers piloted this restored yacht nearly 5000 nautical miles, ending up in Denmark.

We are thrilled that Richard returned to work safely… and a little disappointed that he didn’t bring back an iceberg for the rest of us to play on!

What grand adventures do you have on your to-do list?

Archive for

Arciform’s Summer Reading List

Add Personality with Salvaged Lighting Fixtures

Bringing the Inside Out: Creating a Balcony Retreat

A Repair Cafe for PDX

Now and Then

From Pattern to Prep Station: Alternative Surfaces for Kitchen Islands

Alphabet District Historic Home Walking Tour this Weekend

Give Your House a Voice

A Volunteer Weekend for Arciform

Zerlina’s Grand Iceberg Adventure

Contact Us

Follow Blog via Email

Recent Posts

Categories

Like Us on Facebook

Archives

Meta

Pages

Categories

Search