deedsdesign

Pewabic Tiles from Detroit

sarah — Tue, 24 Jan 2012 07:26:57 +0000

We are going to make a nice tile table

Bamboo Sides, Richlite Top, Mahogany Bottom, Poplar Feet & Piano Hinge

sarah — Sun, 22 Jan 2012 01:25:35 +0000

I just finished prototype treasure chest #2, using up more of my wood shop scraps.

It has a heavy Richlite lid and a piano hinge

Perfect for storing gold bullion or underwear and socks.

Simple Life in a 12′x12′ House in Northern California

sarah — Fri, 20 Jan 2012 19:08:53 +0000

I enjoyed watching this video of life in a 12′x12′ cabin with no hot water, electricity, internet, and heated by fireplace. In exchange for giving up these modern amenities, the occupants get peace, quiet and a simple life. Not a life for everyone, but perhaps we all can take something from this example. The cabin itself is also very well designed and built.

Cheerful Marmoleum Floor

sarah — Thu, 19 Jan 2012 20:20:49 +0000

My friend Amanda installed this Marmoleum floor in her laundry room. I think the colors choice is great in this small, mostly white room. It might be a bit busy in a bigger room with more colors, objects, and activity. Marmoleum is a great product – It is old fashioned linoleum made from “linseed oil, rosins, wood flour, jute and ecologically responsible pigments.” It comes in a wonderful array of colors…most are subtly speckled so dirt and crumbs and scratches don’t show so much.

Visit to John’s Jobsite – Fibercement and Redwood Siding Finished!

sarah — Tue, 17 Jan 2012 14:13:33 +0000

fibercement mitered corner

hobbit lurking in the sun

A bit of redwood siding after all that fibercement

A few nice details from my recent visit to the Williams house in Berkeley by Julia Morgan

sarah — Mon, 16 Jan 2012 15:35:32 +0000

colorful fresco in the loggia

More of the fresco in the loggia

decorative cutout in a wood door panel

Foyer with concrete tracery and view through to garden

cute kitchenette in guest suite

I took these photos with my phone.

Publicity for the Small Studio!

sarah — Sun, 15 Jan 2012 17:30:13 +0000

The internet seems to like our small studio. I have found many repostings of Lenny’s photos, and commentary about the little studio. Most of them seem to have just nabbed and revised slightly the written content from Dwell or the Washington Post, but here are a few that are more original:

House Vote has also posted a few other photos of my projects:

Surfboard Kitchen Island

Cherry Shaker and Red Paint

Yesterday Kirsten Dirksen and Nicolas Boullosa came all the way from Barcelona to make a video about the studio. I eagerly and nervously await my and John’s debut as movie stars on faircompanies.com.

Carriage Doors for a Garage-Workshop in Fairfax

sarah — Fri, 13 Jan 2012 20:15:05 +0000

My owner-builder client in Fairfax found these carriage doors at Evergreen Carriage Doors in Bremerton Washington

Detroit: 138 Square Miles, by Julia Reyes Taubman

sarah — Thu, 12 Jan 2012 22:45:24 +0000

Photo by Sarah Deeds 2010

I received this hefty book for Christmas from my dad. It contains a lot of great photos of the city I grew up near. Enclosed in the pages of the book was this New Yorker article about the book and its forward written by Elmore Leonard, also a native of suburban Detroit. It is mentioned in the article and forward that “Julia believes it should be preserved and appreciated any way it is, not restored.” Urban decay is beautiful, I agree, but honestly it seems like an insensitive statement from a resident of Bloomfield Hills. You could call her a poverty tourist. I know for a fact that many Detroiters are annoyed by all the hipsters from Europe who come in droves to photograph the urban blight. But in some ways I am inclined to agree with the author. (I too have the privilege of viewing the city from afar and on occasional visits home to another affluent suburb.) The people of Detroit deserve our compassion and it is sad to see some truly beautiful old buildings fall into unsalvagable disrepair, but at this point it might not be all bad to allow the city to slowly return to nature.

The New Yorker Article ends with reference to Elmore Leonard’s teasing attention to the origin of the holes in Julia Taubman’s jeans.

Swedish Lake House with Waterslide!

sarah — Wed, 11 Jan 2012 15:52:44 +0000

My friend Charles shared this photo he took from a boat tour near Stockholm. The house looks like its built right into the rocks. Clean minimal lines, stone walls that blend with the cliffs, subtle earthtones, black painted wood, and a very tasteful waterslide.

LED Lighting for the Deck

sarah — Wed, 11 Jan 2012 00:16:56 +0000

Exterior LED light from RAB Lighting

I havent seem them turned on yet. the client will hopefully report in tonight.

Smooth TimberSIL Deck with Metal Railing

sarah — Tue, 10 Jan 2012 19:10:39 +0000

My client in El Cerrito is enjoying his new deck!