Local Iconic Home in Danger of Demolition

Southern California has been blessed with the existence of so many post-war and post-modern architecture, sometimes I think we take it a little for granted.  Who can not recognize the famous Chemosphere or Case Study House #22?  You may not know the names of these homes, (they were of course committed to my brain early in my design education) but you know their faces. 

Hugging the hills above Malaga Cove in Palos Verdes, CA sits the Moore House.  Other than obviously standing out amongst the ranch homes and Mediterranean revivals that are so prominent in the area this home was the brainchild of Architect Lloyd Wright.  Sound familiar? Lloyd Wright is the son of a man who needs no introduction, Frank Lloyd Wright.  Unlike his father's buildings that are scattered across the country, Lloyd Wright's architecture was mostly concentrated in Southern California.  Palos Verdes is home to another one of his structures, the beloved Wayfarer's Chapel that overlooks Portuguese Bend. I could go on and on about the significant structures this architect has contributed to the landscape that is Southern California, but that is not the intention of this blog.  The potential demolition of the Moore House is what I would like to bring to your attention and I feel is my responsibility being a designer of a firm that is literally down the street from this home.

The current owners purchased the home in 2004 with the intention of demolishing it and building new.  I can't imagine that they weren't aware of the home's famous past and they believe it to be "unfair that I would be asked to preserve the home at my cost for everyone else's benefit." Unfortunately Palos Verdes doesn't have a historical preservation society, and technically the home wasn't considered historic at the time of purchase.  Recently inspected by an independent consultant it was determined the home was historically significant and more reports are being conducted.   The point is, this house is an important piece of Southern California Architecture and History and should be treated with respect.  I understand that this type of architecture isn't for everyone.  But if history has taught us anything, there is a trickling effect and subsequently effects the place we find ourselves in today.  This demo was initially brought to the resident's attention because what the owners wanted to replace it with would grossly obstruct the neighbor's views because of it's size.

In a location and city where there is a tear-down mentality, and rightfully so, I wish that this one structure would be allowed to remain and if treated correctly, could bring positive attention to the city and owners instead of the opposite.  Architecture is art: a statement and fact that is easily forgotten in Southern California.

Lloyd Wright's Moore House or "Bird of Paradise" House.

Lloyd Wright's Wayfarer's Chapel

Other Iconic Post-Modern Homes: Chemosphere & Case Study #22

You don't have to like Post Modern Architecture, but you can't deny it's power.

TRENDS Remodeling Design Awards

Lunada has recently entered TRENDS Remodeling Design Awards in hopes of winning a spread in an upcoming issue.  TRENDS Magazine is a highly respected publication issued by the NKBA (National Kitchen & Bath Association) and would be a great opportunity for Lunada.

Please help support Lunada by casting your vote for #19 by following this link: TRENDS
--Click "Vote Now" and select Entry #19 - Jane Biggeln.

Vote for #19 by following this link: TRENDS
--Click "Vote Now" and select Entry #19 - Jane Biggeln.


Thank you so much for all of your support, we appreciate it so much!

Lunada's Favorites

I just found my new favorite Green design blog! The Daily Green is a website dedicated to the latest green news, products and trends that I just spent the last hour on and could have stayed on for another!  I just read this great article about Natural Swimming Pools, here is an excerpt from their article:

"Chlorine's damaging effects on hair are well known, but few people realize that a number of studies have linked inhalation of the chemical by swimmers to increased asthma rates (in fact a new Irish study published this April reported a significant link between the number of years a boy had been swimming and the likelihood of the child being wheezy in the past year.) A Norwegian study also documented an increased risk of wheezing among children who swim in pools before 6 months of age. Further, in an unpleasant reaction, pee and sweat in water can react with chlorine to form toxic breakdown products known as chloramines.

For health, environmental and aesthetic reasons, a lot of people have expressed interest in alternatives to chlorine pools, and luckily there are more and more options to get wet without smelling like cleaning products. A company called TechnoPure offers alternative pool systems that treat water by pumping it through a chamber containing coated titanium plates and copper and zinc ions. The units cost a relatively affordable $5,500. DEL Ozone makes ozone injectors that can reduce the need for chlorine up to 90% -- there's been one installed at the White House for years! Some systems rely on a combination of ozone and copper and silver ions, while others are saline, though saltwater pools result in the formation of chlorine in the water.

Managed properly, natural swimming pools have crystal clear water and require no chemicals to maintain, as they are self-cleaning mini-ecosystems. "You can drink the water if you want to, and you don't necessarily have to take a shower," says Morgan Brown of Idaho-based Whole Water Systems, LLC. The natural pools designer says the systems also have lower maintenance costs than conventional pools, and their installation costs are not much more than standard designs.

Read more: http://www.thedailygreen.com/green-homes/latest/natural-swimming-pools-460908#ixzz0w9AU9oXz

I'm a total city girl and yes, these look just like huge ponds but I would jump into any of them in a heartbeat. Look at these photos!! Beautiful!

For more ideas on green alternatives in your home, schedule a consultation with Lunada or call our offices 310.544.1895!

Lunada Kitchen!

This kitchen was photographed earlier today in Palos Verdes Estates.  The list of special features goes on and on but here are some of my top 5 favorites:

• The custom gray and black finish on the cabinets.
• The fact that there are ZERO upper cabinets.
• The butternut squash colored range hood.
• The wine bar with butcher block top.
• The mix and match cabinet hardware that is pulled together through the antique pewter finish.

Now all that is left is window treatment and those are coming soon!!!!! I can't wait, the fabric selections are so unexpected and fun, you will be surprised that's for sure.

Want ideas or to schedule a consultation with Lunada, visit our website! And don't forget to follow us on Twitter!

Classic Farm Sinks

Trends come and go, but classic fixtures are always in style.  Whether you are going retro, modern, or eclectic, a farm sink can be a beautiful addition to any kitchen, bathroom or laundry room.  Recently, a client of our requested a farm sink to be used in their kitchen.  Of course Lunada went with a familiar brand that had the perfect color match to the already selected countertop.  (Screeching tires) Wait, that sink isn't offered in that perfect color?  Not to worry, it happens and 99% of this business is creative problem solving.  So, I have been scouring the internet and our materials library to find a replacement and along the way found some beautiful sinks and thought I could share the different applications for these classic sinks.

From the Lunada Vault:
Kohler Cast Iron

 A custom Lunada concrete countertop with integrated apron front sink:

Antique inspiration:

Native Trails copper & brushed nickel sinks:

Lavello stainless steel:

Farm and apron sinks come in a variety of materials, finishes and shapes that can fit into almost any kitchen, bar, laundry room or bathroom.  For more ideas on integrating farm sinks into your home or project, schedule a consultation with Lunada or call 310.544.1895.

Lunada's Favorites!

LED lighting has come a long way over the past few years.  What people first recognized as a solution for commercial signage has been slowly finding its way into people's homes as energy efficient alternative to fluorescent and incandescent lighting.  LED lighting is great for coves, under cabinet lighting, accent and display lighting, even as decorative task lighting in the home.  Looking to the future, lighting companies recognized the need for low profile lighting to suite the needs of homeowners and designers. Many companies have now created LED light tape.  It is exactly what it sounds like, LED lighting as thin as tape and applied just so.  This new product can effortlessly hug the curves of any design and stay completely out of sight.  It can easily be cut and attached with industrial strength tape that will keep the lights in place without bulky brackets increasing the light's depth.

Recently Lunada installed the Jesco DL-Flex light tape as under cabinet lighting for a client of ours.  The tape is just 1/8" thin, 3/8" wide, has a very clean and smooth light distribution and the perfect solution for an area that needs ample light without compromising aesthetics with bulky products. 

For ideas on integrating LED lighting into your home, schedule a consultation with Lunada or give us a call 310.544.1895.

Lunada Kitchen Storage Solutions

Recently, I was reading an article on Better Homes and Garden's website that gave a lot of great ideas for storing your small kitchen appliances.  Not unlike our Laundry room blog (seen below), your kitchen can be easily customized to fit the way you live without a demolition crew.  Don't get me wrong, custom kitchens, especially Luanda's, are amazing and beautiful, but the practical issue is a full blown kitchen remodel is not always in the budget and sometimes new appliances aren't either. Looking to streamline your kitchen? Need more counter space?  Are you embarrassed by your old or dingy appliances when company comes over? There are quick and easy solutions to your problem, my friends.  Well, first of all, we are going to need space and there is no time like the present to clean out those cupboards and make room for those eyesores.  Tuck away those microwaves into the pantry after you add a sliding shelf.  If you are feeling spontaneous, they now have microwave drawers that come in standard sizes so it is easy to replace an existing drawer in your lower cabinets.  Better Homes and Garden also had some great ideas about creating a snack bar or baking station.  You can group  all of your dry ingredients with your stand mixer that is now on a shelf that can be easily tucked inside a cabinet.  Or, you can group your toaster and coffee maker in a cabinet where you can easily grab a quick bite to eat in the morning.  You can find images of these great solutions below and hopefully they will get your wheels spinning.  Almost all of the hardware you need to convert your cupboards or drawers can be found at your local hardware store, or if you are dreaming a little bigger, Lunada is always here to help.

For more ideas on ways to adapt your kitchen, schedule a consultation with Lunada!

Lunada Laundry Rooms

Imagine your laundry room clean, organized and well thought out.  You have a space for everything, and extra space for things you never thought of to keep in your laundry room.  Imagine your laundry room being so beautiful, you didn't have to shut the door when company comes over. This fantasy can come true, it can come true and under budget!!  Here are some great tips to improve your scary laundry room and turn it into a showstopper.

1. Use Pre-fab cabinets.

--You can pick these up at superstores like Home Depot and Lowes, they are inexpensive and although you are limited by size and finish, they can still be very attractive.  No space for lower cabinets?  Add uppers, remember the saying "Out of sight, out of mind".

2. Explore & Take Advantage of Cabinet Organization Solutions!

--When you are considering cabinets, mentally go through your laundry routine.  Think about everything you use in order, everything you touch, and everything that gets in your way.  Now imagine that annoying laundry basket in a pull out drawer, imagine your sink right next to the washer to avoid dripping across the room, imagine a built in pole to hang dry your items out of the way, a ironing board that you don't have to fight, a pull out surface for folding, a window so you don't feel like you work in a closet, a.k.a. Laundry Heaven! These are all things that can be added so easily!

3. Add a Countertop

--No room for cabinets?  Install a countertop above your washer and dryer, this will give you great surface space to fold clothes and prevent your socks from falling in between the machines

4.  Think Built-In

--Built ins always look so custom, but this look can be achieved with pre-fab.  If you are in the market for new laundry appliances, look for cabinet depth appliances, these will fit next to standard cabinets, OR you could pull the cabinets out and just get a deeper countertop to accommodate regular sized appliances. Taking this into consideration, you can get cabinet doors that can be closed over the washer/dryer.  I'll say it again, "Out of sight, out of mind"!

5. Functional Space Planning

--Organize your laundry into 2 categories: wet and dry. Wet locations should have the washer, clothesline and sink, dry locations should have the dryer, folding station, and ironing station.  This will keep you efficient and organized.

6. Don't forget about aesthetic.

--Laundry rooms don't have to be completely utilitarian.  White cabinets seem to be the default when it comes to laundry rooms, why not spice it up with a darker finish or custom treatment?  Farm sinks are great alternatives to the regular utility sinks, they are very large and deep, perfect for soaking and come in a variety of finishes.  Accessorize the space: hang art, use baskets for those items you just can't find a place for, have pretty containers for things like laundry soap, clothes pins, dryer sheets, and hangers, add a rug.  Don't forget to paint the space!! Nothing is more boring than white walls.  Add a backsplash if you have a countertop; introduce color and texture through tile, it will also save your walls from water damage!

Lunada believes in the power of beautiful laundry rooms. If you are interesting in re-vamping your laundry room, visit our website to schedule a consultation: www.lunadaconsulting.com