Smart about Art - Demo Stage 1 Thursday, April 2, 4:45– 5:15 pm

If you are so confident in your knowledge of art and furniture that you could tell me all about this piece, this demo is not for you. This Demo (more of a Q&A), is for the rest of us. Those of us who aspire to know more but might be afraid to ask. Topics covered will be both furniture and fine art. Bring your questions. Knowing is always better than not knowing.

Stoned....Demo Stage 1 Wednesday, April 1, 1:45 – 2:15 pm Thursday, April 2, 3:15 – 3:45 pm

Okay - I couldn't fit the entire title of this demo in the header - From quarry to kitchen: Managing custom fabrication and installation of stone surfaces in your custom project (trade focus). Custom stone installation is not something to be taken lightly. I would imagine that having a 'do-over' in this segment of your design process might be very painful. In this demo, the folks at Gerrity Stone will help teach you how to avoid pitfalls (that was a small pun right there).

Got Milk? Demo Stage - Wednesday, April 1, 6:15 - 6:45 pm Thursday, April 2, 1:45 - 2:15 pm

Did you know that milk paint dates back about 20,000 years? Made with a simple composition of milk, lime, and earth pigments, milk paint is really the first 'green' paint compound. When King Tutankhamen's tomb was opened in 1924, artifacts including models of boats, people, and furniture found inside the burial chamber had been painted with milk paint.

Learn more about using milk paint for your projects in this demo - presented by 60Nobscot

Using Color to Solve and Resolve....Demo Stage (Wed. 4-4:30)

This is a test - can you count how many different colors there are in these two photos? Look closely, and don't answer yet. If achieving a harmonious blend of colors seems overwhelming to you, or your client, you might want to stop and listen to what Barbara Jacobs has to say. Barbara is not only a colorist, but an artist and rug designer. If you want to learn how to really use color - I'd say this should be a stop on your tour. Oh, and she'll tell you how many colors she used in these projects - you'll be surprised!

Window dressing

If I dress my windows like this, does that mean the rest of the room will follow suit?
Karen Gilman, owner and chief designer of Finelines, the premier drapery workroom, will demonstrate her mastery over all things fabric giving a demo called 'Window dressing' - I for one will be taking copius notes.

Green Eggs and Ham (with a nod to Dr. Seuss)

That book has nothing at all to do with this post. Nor does it have anything to do with sustainability. But I wanted to throw something 'green' into the mix, and not just because of St. Patrick's Day. This Green thing is fairly serious. In fact, according to what I learned today, the AIA recently instituted a new continuing education focus. Beginning this year, four of the 18 AIA CES Learning Units (LUs) required annually must be earned in Sustainable Design (SD) topics.

Well now - they've thrown down the gauntlet, and we've picked it right up! There are at least 20 workshops at RDC that focus on Sustainable Design. In no particular order, they are:

W20 Low-rise and mid-rise multifamily green certifications
W24 The biggest energy mistakes architects and builders make
W40 LEED EBOM in multifamily housing
W41 Beyond R-value W42 Environmentally responsible landscape design
W48 Solar- and wind-powered residences
W60 LEED for Homes: a case study
W61 Residential high-performance green design and construction
W62 Sustainable practices in site planning, design and construction
W80 Sustainable design, EIFS and air/moisture barriers
W81 Green, greener, greenest specs
W82 Green home or leaky artifact?
W87 Premium wood decking and eco-harvesting
T21 Toward zero-energy homes -- six case studies
T22 Water conservation and custom showering
T24 Real green building: making the building science and high-quality connection
T28 Greenovation: applying green standards to remodeling projects
T40 Energy-balanced building: from Passivhaus to our house
T42 Measurable steps to building for a sustainable lifestyle
T49 Toward zero-energy homes -- building science equals green
T60 Green plumbing design
T61 Residential energy management
T62 The luxury sustainable home – an oxymoron?
T81 Small-scale green residential projects
T84 Beyond winterizing through preservation
T86 Energy conservation through smart-home technology
T87 Modern + green: case study home in Amherst

I may register for some of these for reasons that have nothing to do with the AIA's continuing education focus. They're not the boss of me....

Producing custom projects – the juggling act (T48, Thursday, 1:00 – 2:30)

Oooh…juggling…didn’t know that was part of the show! Here’s just one interesting tidbit about why this seminar is important. When you are working on a residential single-family home, you probably have full use of the homeowner’s driveway – right? Not so if you are working on a residential condo. What about neighbors and noise? I think this workshop will give you the heads up for all of the things that might make you smack yourself in the forehead and say, “oh..duh…hadn’t thought about that!”

Crazy Kool Movie Alert!

Koolhaas HouseLife (T86, Thursday, 7:00pm)

If you don’t know about Pritzker Architecture Prize-winner—and former Russ Meyer script writer (let’s not go there right now) —Rem Koolhaas, and the amazing home he created 10 years ago: the Maison à Bordeaux, you’ll want to see this movie. This house is a wonder of engineering with moving walls, lifting bedrooms, platforms and automated windows designed to allow complete freedom of movements to its owner, a man who is confined to a wheelchair.

Ila Bêka and Louise Lemoine’s movie, Koolhass Houselife is a film that captures the qualities of this amazing house perfectly, but adds another, more practical dimension by showing this high-tech home from the perspective of Guadalupe Acedo, the housekeeper and the person who actually has to take care of keeping all this amazing design alive.

As one reviewer said, “you’ll laugh, you’ll cry, if you can only see one Koolhaas movie this year, make it Koolhaas HouseLife.” Okay, I’m the one who said that - but it's true!

Boston Design Center’s 2009 Trends Report (W25 – Wednesday, 10:30am – noon)

Here’s what I’d like to know; do design trends change in response to economic times (like hemlines)? Alexis Contant, Vice President of the Boston Design Center, has been involved in the design industry long enough to say that she has probably seen more trends come and go then most of us (and possibly some that she wished went sooner than others)… I wouldn’t miss this opportunity to be ahead of the design curve, and learn from a woman who really does have her finger on the pulse of the design industry.

Main Street Metal - booth #372

Ooooh...that was my first reaction when I saw this beautiful image. My second reaction was, "where is this home and can I get a tour?"

Main Street Metal, a Norwood-based company, is like the little engine that could - the breadth of products and services they offer is quite impressive. It's always hard to choose just one image, but the curve of that banister combined with the palm leaf railing should definitely give you an idea of what they might do for your projects.

Premium wood decking and eco-harvesting (W87 - Wed. 6:00pm - 7:30PM)

Did you know that you can use Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) approved wood for your decking needs? Have you heard of Mataverde, an all-natural hardwood decking that rivals the finest teak at a very reasonable price? Don't you think it's time to learn a little bit more about responsibly-harvested, all-natural, real wood products? If we are all so interested in 'greening' ourselves, shouldn't we add this workshop to our list? Just knowing that there is a movement called 'eco-harvesting' gives me hope.

New worlds of wall art - innovations in digital printmaking (W83 - Wed. 6:00pm - 7:30)

I wouldn't snub my nose at this workshop. I have seen digital reproductions that are so fine you'd have to be an art historian to know the difference between it and an original. Holly Alderman, herself an artist - is not here to teach you how to make copies. I believe she wants to show you a world where Photoshop meets tapestries.

Cutting edge folks...cutting edge.

Artisan Area...getting the word out!

What you might not realize about this sculpture is that it is, in fact, a detail shot of a stair rail. Yup....try sliding down that banister!

I am using today's post to gratuitously promote the Artisan Area of this years show, because it is the first time we are having this special area. This in no way means that this area is more important than the other exhibitors - but as the show draws near, I want to call attention to areas that I think people should make special efforts to see. Architects and designers are sometimes so busy sourcing products for their projects that they don't always take time to smell the roses.....so this is a call to action: Stop...and breathe in. Okay - carry on.

AIA/CES Learning Units....did you know????

Architects, interior designers, and other industry professionals may earn continuing-education credits by attending RDC 2009 workshops. Information and worksheets for self-reporting on product research for credit will be available in the registration area and at the BSA continuing-education desk in the conference center.

For questions about continuing-education call:

AIA members call 617-951-1433 x233

IIDA members call 312-379-5142

ASID members call 617-261-3995

Landscape architects call 202-898-2444

Engineers call:
ACEC at 202-347-7474
NSPE at 703-684-2833
ASCE at 703-295-6164

This concludes our public service announcement!

Super-Sizing Small Spaces - Demonstration

Sheila Selby is a designer who understands that good design isn't always about luxury, or even about high-end furnishings and fabrics. Good design is usually about solving problems, and when you live in a small home, or condo....design + space issues = challenge!

Come and listen (and ask questions) - you might find that when you go home you will feel emboldened to shake things up a bit.

VectorWorks Architect by Nemetschek North America - booth#715

Dream it, design it, dimension it, detail it, and deliver a powerful presentation with Vectorworks Designer. Okay - I will! Except I don't know how to use it - Oh...you mean you teach courses too?

Don't be afraid of technology - embrace it. I can say that because I have teenage boys who program all my 'stuff' for me. Left to my own devices, I'd still be using mimeograph machines. Don't follow my lead.

Fuller Craft Museum - booth #771

There are people who work tirelessly to promote themselves, and then there are folks who work tirelessly to promote others. Gretchen Keyworth and the good people of the Fuller Craft Museum fall squarely into to the latter category.

"Let the art touch you", it says on their website. This museum is working on becoming an international forum for the recognition and exploration of craft. Our Artisan Area at this show has Gretchen's imprint on it, and if you want to find out more about what the Fuller Craft Museum does locally as well as internationally, you really ought to stop by their booth.

Financial management: the path to profitability T20 (Thursday 9:00am - noon)

Okay - back off - let's not all crowd the room for this workshop! Could there be a better time for a workshop like this? Guidance is offered (I almost stopped reading at that point) on developing an annual budget and profit plan. Many professionals are too busy working and trying to get the jobs in the door to stop to think about whether or not they are actually making money. Don't wait until it's too late - take steps now to figure it out. Your wallet will thank you.

Transformational homes - W85 (Wednesday 6:00 - 7:30pm)

Are homeowners doing more 'nesting' because of the economy? Maybe. Or maybe people just want to feel comfortable. Some days it's hard enough to feel comfortable in your own skin - let alone your home. This workshop sounds like it might be a more realistic version of those home makeover shows that we see everywhere on TV. Four professionals will lead us on a tour of dramatic (that's a TV word) transformations that have turned ugly ducklings into graceful swans. They mean the homes...not the homeowners. That's a different workshop.

Smith & Hawken - booth#663

Oh to be sitting outside at this dining table, waiting for a nice cool drink and some bread and cheese....sigh. Fear not stalwart Bostonians...though it is 20 degrees outside as I write this - this too shall pass. Smith & Hawken is a firm whose name is synonomous for well-made garden furniture. We welcome them to our show, bringing with them a breath of fresh spring air.

Marvin and Integrity Windows and Doors - booth#316

You know what? That's a lot of windows....
Windows, like many things we have, are those things you only think about when they aren't working. How many times have you cursed your old windows when putting down the storms for the winter? Grrr.....and brrrr...

Can you imagine the heating bill this Victorian home must have had to contend with?

Personally, I'd like a window with integrity.

Photo finishes: the daring new finishes for kitchen and bath designers - T69 (thurs. 3:30 - 5pm)

Please let it be true that we are finally moving away from granite! Some of the finishes mentioned are stones (ohhhh), glass (ahhh), metals, laminates (I'm not a snob), and engineered veneers (I'm curious).

This workshop is sponsored by the NKBA , and really, aren't their members on the cutting edge of kitchen and bath design? I would think so. And isn't the reason you are attending this show to see what's out there? I hope so.

Small-scale green residential projects T81 (Thurs. 6:00 - 7:30pm)

Okay - here's one for the home team. This workshop is sponsored by the BSA Housing Committee. This workshop will focus on new green construction and remodeling of older homes using sustainable features. If you are in the planning stages of a small-scale project, or if you hope to be....you should learn about the economic viability of these projects (pay-back through life-cycle costs), and hear about what homeowners are requesting. You know what they say about pay-back right? Yeah, no...that doesn't hold true in this case.

Metropolitan Cabinet & Countertops - booth#348

'Design is not just how it looks and feels...design is how it works for you." This is part of Metropolitans mission statement. Metropolitan has been one of New England's premier cabinet shops for so long that anything I say will just seem small. In fact, I labored over this blog post longer than many others - trying to find an image that really reflects their mission. I was going to put up an image of one cabinet door - similar to the product shots on their website but decided to go with a finished product shot. I don't think I need to say anything else.

Landmark Services - booth #727

This is not a monster truck (though in some ways it is) - this is part of a geothermal system being drilled in front of a ca. 1800 house in Milton. Mark Landry, of Landmark Services likes to call this "Greenovations". Why, you ask? Well...I'm going to tell you. Those involved in historic renovations like to think of themselves as being ahead of the 'green' curve. By definition, historic preservation projects re-use and adapt existing buildings rather than tossing them into landfills. Combine preservation with newer technologies such as geothermal and solar hot water systems and you'll never feel silly saying, "this old house" again.

Living color at home - T63 (Thurs. 3:30 - 5:00)

For a homeowner, aside from lighting decisions, is there any other decision more fraught with fear than choosing color? You can tell your clients, 'it's only paint - if you hate it - repaint'....but that doesn't assuage their fear (nor would it make them feel better about the prospect of paying for the re-painting).

The description of this seminar/panel calls the home a mini-ecosystem that depends on the artful engineering of light and color. I could say the same for what's growing in my refrigerator but that's beside the point. The point is this: the more you bring to the table, the better your client will feel.

Color me there (oh there I go again - amusing myself)!

Real green building: making the building science and quality connection - T21 (Thurs. 10:00 - noon)

I was going to try to be pithy - you know - real green vs really really green? The truth is that the folks at Building Green have been on this bandwagon longer than most people. Back when it wasn't 'cool' - back when people blithely threw out their trash without separating the recyclables. Back when paint cans didn't list their low-VOC properties. You get my point.

You can say you are interested in learning more about green building, or you can put your money where your mouth is and really really delve into the idea of making the connection between science and quality.

I'm done preaching....

How to choose your clients - a strategy for successful relationships W68 (Wed. 3:30 - 5pm)

I fear that given the economy, people might be afraid to just say no. You have to ask yourself who it benefits if the relationship between architect (or designer), and client ultimately crashes and burns. Is it possible to become an expert at client selection, cultivation and development? You've all heard the expression that great design starts with great clients (I might be paraphrasing a bit), and if that's even partially true, I think you should beat a path to this workshop.

Crown Point Cabinetry - booth #834

Do you think homeowners will ever tire of re-imagining their kitchens? Someday I'd like to study the psychology of kitchen design. I think more than any other room, there is a deep-seated need to create an 'environment.'

Do I think that Crown Point Cabinetry has a therapist on retainer to help consumers? Probably not because it looks as though they've figured out the whole environment thing on their own. Good for them...good for us!

Swenson Granite Works - booth #843

No no....not the pool...the pavers. These things don't just pave themselves you know. Like all good design projects - the project should look greater than the sum of its parts. But when you break down the parts - it's critical that each one be greater than the the other. There's a circular thought for you!

Remember - it's always important to sweat the small stuff - and then jump in the pool to cool off.

If I were a Carpenter.... (Artisan Area)

I'd build furniture that looked like this! I love the floating effect that this piece projects. Sebastian Carpenter, like many Artisans, is multi-talented. He provides clients with elegant furniture, interior design services and space planning. He has done a lot of work in the United Kingdom, but I think it's time that we here in New England take a good long look. He's in Wenham for God's sake - where's your sense of Nationalism!

Timberpeg - booth #669

Post and beam? Mortise-and-tenon joinery? These are terms that have been around for centuries. Nowadays this style of building seems to have become most popular for 2nd homes (particularly in ski country). I say it's time to expand your thinking about this warm and inviting style and start thinking about how your primary residence might benefit from a little joinery. The good folks at Timberpeg will be happy to educate you.

Thoughtforms Corporation - booth #556

Thoughtforms, according to their website, has been building for four decades. Clearly, they aren't resting on their laurels.

I love this image - and believe me - they have some amazing projects listed on their site - but this one spoke to me. What did it say? It said that all challenges, big and small, will be met - beautifully.

Rimadesio - booth #561

I think closets and closet-systems had become important long before Carrie Bradshaw asked for one in lieu of an engagement ring (sorry...pop-culture reference). Having said that - I know many people who would kill to have more closet space. My condo in Rozi has such tiny closets that all my clothes are hung on the diagonal. That is so NOT 'Sex and the City.'

I will be swinging by Rimadesio's booth - just to dream.

Getting to yes: overcoming homeowner fear of architects and contractors (T26 - Thursday, 10:30 - noon)

I don't want to sound too Tony Robbins here but - everything comes down to sales. Everything. The scariest root-canal is less so if you trust your Dentist right? I know - I just compared a homeowners fear of architects and contractors to fear of root-canals. If that analogy set your teeth on edge (oh, I'm just amusing myself now)- I was trying to use a profession as far from sales as possible.

You all know the expression, 'good news travels fast - bad news travels faster.' You must recognize that in many cases, your client (or potential client) has heard nothing but horror stories about jobs gone awry. The deck (not that deck) might already be stacked against you. Wouldn't you want tools (I'll leave that pun alone) to help your client overcome their objections?

Look at me...trying to get you to 'yes' by attending this seminar!