Design

These images by Belgian photographer Jan Kempenaers document a series of ruined World War Two monuments dotted across the landscape of the former Yugoslavian territories. (more...)

Guest Blogger #969, Entry #2459, May 25, 2013 We all love our pets, especially the furry feline variety, and we also love design. After all, what’s more inviting than a cuddly kitten curled up on a spectacular, luscious couch? But all too often our lovable pets can become pests—sharpening their claws on the furniture we’ve searched so hard for, playing with items they shouldn’t be, and even bringing things we’d rather not have into our home. Create cat projects that will keep your home safe and your kitty happy Image Bide a Wee These easy-to-follow DIY project ideas should help keep your little feline friend happy, healthy, and clean—along with the rest of your home! Scratching Post We all know cats love to scratch. Unfortunately, we also know that they will do so wherever and whenever they want. When you have your own cat scratching post, you’re not only helping your cat feel more comfortable, you’re also helping to protect your furniture from unwanted claw marks. Fortunately, making your own cat scratching post is an easy and fun way to help your cat, plus it helps keep your furniture tear-free. One awesome scratching post DIY guide can be found at thriftyfun.com. To make this scratching post your own, buy some paint or fabric and dress it up to match your décor! Cat Toys Cats love chasing and playing with colorful objects, and making your very own catnip toy is easy and can usually be done with household items.  Cats are natural hunters, and having their own toy will make them more likely to play with it instead of bringing some unwanted critter into your home. If you crochet, you should definitely check out these colorful pyramid toys—with a bit of catnip inside, your kitten will really love them. (The full guide to how to make them is over at lazyearthlings.blogspot Cat DIY toys Image via: Lazy Earthlings An even simpler way to make your very own—and very affordable—toy is to make a ball out of tinfoil. Attach it to a piece of string, and your cat can stay entertained for hours!  See a quick tinfoil tutorial at practicallyfunctional.net Cat Fort It’s a well-known fact: Cats love boxes. But cat forts can be expensive, so making your own is a creative and cost-effective way of giving your cat its very own home. Most cardboard boxes work fine—the important thing is to make sure there is a variety of entrances and exits for your cat to help keep things exciting and ensure maximum playtime. By taking a few cardboard boxes, making various holes throughout the sides, and attaching the boxes together, you’re giving your cat his very own fort. Paint and decorate it to match your style.  Cat DIY Project – Fort Image via: Haus Panther Flea Trap As clean as cats are, even they are not free from the curse of the flea. Fleas are a common problem, especially in summer months, and by making your own flea traps, you’re helping to ensure your cat is both happy and flea-free. Fleas are naturally attracted to heat, so by placing a dish filled with soapy water by a desk lamp, you’ll have your very own flea trap. In fact, your flea trap can be something as elegant and simple as a candle (though be careful your pets don’t go near it!). Though flea traps may not be as effective as a prescription flea treatment or pest control, it’s an easy, safe and affordable way to help protect your cat from fleas. Keep fleas away from cats with a simple candle Image via: Wiki How Creating your ideal home can be quite an undertaking, and caring for pets may be difficult, but both are incredibly rewarding, especially when homes and pets work together. Leave a comment below, and share how you care for your pets while keeping your home looking beautiful! Maya Rodgers is a pet lover and pest control consultant with too much abused furniture. She currently has a thirteen-year-old yellow lab and two sometimes-well-behaved children. She can be found at http://www.petsandpests.com. For more Pet Ideas on Stagetecture, click here. For more DIY ideas on Staget

This is a wonderful entrance, isn't it? Don't you want to open the gate to see what's on the other side? I certainly do. via

Materials: Ikea PS, Wood, Stones, Saw, Colour Description: I had this hand made sideboard made by my self out of wood - you usually use in a kitchen, and Ytong-Stones, my GF had this old PS-board from Ikea. This hack is kind of a joint venture. I saw off the pins of the PS board and made it fit. Of course I did some wiring. And painting and I integrated all my little gadgets in there. I think just a clean and homemade look. ~ Phil von Kretsche, Hamburg, GermanyMore hacks on IKEAHackers.net

The romance of flight

Guest Blogger #968, Entry #2458, May 25, 2013 Whether it’s a stifling heat wave or just general summertime heat and humidity, let’s face it – your air conditioning unit has helped you through some rather sticky summer situations. Putting your AC unit to good use certainly makes your indoor living quarters seem like your own little slice of paradise, offering a refreshing contrast to the harsh outdoors – but how exactly are you ensuring that your unit is being maintained correctly? Ensure your home stays cools and vents stay clean for your interiors Image via:  Resolution: 4 Architecture Is the air which you are breathing in healthy? Even if the answer is a definite yes, precautionary measures should still be taken. Sure, professional upkeep is necessary at certain times throughout the year, but there are some things you can do yourself for maintenance. Follow these tips to help you maintain your beloved AC unit, in order to keep it running at the highest possible standards: Debris Removal: Logically, the harder your AC unit works, the more debris are subject to being unwillingly sucked in the unit, leading to eventual clogging of your unit, and in some cases, polluted air. Luckily, this is easily preventable. To do this, a monthly or bi-monthly trip to your outdoor unit is necessary. Start by removing any debris from around the unit, such as any random plant parts, grass, dust, or pollen. To stay even more efficient, methods of hosing down the filters, usually located on the sides of the unit, should be taken – after all, it’s the ideal breeding ground for clusters of dust and debris. Apply a low pressure water flow directly to the filters, but be careful about getting too much water inside the unit. Always remember to turn off the power to the unit prior to starting this process. Air conditioning unit outdoor cover Image via: Studio H Landscape Architecture Going Inside the Unit: In some cases, obtaining access to the insides of your unit is necessary. To do this, first refer to your owner’s manual, as most AC units differ in their own way. Start by removing the top head of the unit using specific screwdrivers. Once the head is removed, you can proceed to remove any unwanted debris. This is extremely useful if anyone in your house suffers from allergies. In the end, these methods are the best possible D-I-Y remedies for your polluted AC Unit. Remember, if you do not feel confident in your ability to complete this yourself, it’s better to call upon a professional Blue Bell AC repair company than to end up damaging the costly unit. Stay cool! For more maintenance tips on Stagetecture, click here.

A blackened steel counter continues into a mirrored wall in this Aesop skincare shop by Japanese studio Torafu Architects (+ slideshow). (more...)

News: the new president of Milan's Salone Internazionale del Mobile has revealed plans to rebrand the fair, replace its "terrible" website and tackle hotel overpricing and transport chaos that are damaging its image (+ interview). (more...)

David Barr & Ross Brewin have designed the Suburban Beach House in Perth, Australia. From the architects A residence for a young couple and their future family. The project is conceived of as a combination of the humble qualities of a West-Australian beach shack and the climatic and underside-utility benefits of a Queenslander. The house is lofted above a natural limestone outcrop which becomes a shaded garden terrain below the belly of the home above. The plan of the house is rationally divided into day and night zones with the separating corridor fattening at one end to become a study nook. West facing windows are minimised to shield the house from the searing afternoon sun. This ‘blankness’ is regulated by two ‘flicks’ in the wall, one opening toward the south-west to scoop in the ‘Fremantle doctor’ for cooling and the other towards the north to frame a view up the coast and to monitor the driveway below. A generous outdoor room to the north-west capitalises on panoramic views of the Indian Ocean. A small room is tucked under the house at the rear, providing a flexible space that could be a 4th bedroom, back-yard pavilion, home office, or games room. Overall, it is a residence that challenges the conventions of detached housing in Perth: small, lifted above the ground, no front door, no garage, no front fence, no brick… a beach house in the suburbs. Architects: David Barr and Ross Brewin Photography: Robert Frith

Some of my recent illustrations