EKO Design

How many times over the last several months have I sighed deeply and happily pronounced how *good* it is to be on this side of the project. It has been a long haul. Witness the fact that we began interviewing architects when I was pregnant with Isla, who will be celebrating her 4th birthday on May 5. Or, that I began researching in earnest environmental residential design while on mat leave in 2006. In 2002, when we bought our townhouse in the West end, it was with a view to a 5 yr plan which would have us building our eco dream house shortly thereafter.

10 years after we seriously began planning, we are now living our dream. It’s been a huge time investments (amongst other resources) seeing me spend approx 10-20 hrs a week in planning, sourcing, meeting, discussing, confirming, analysing the entire gamut of major to minor build decisions. I have nearly recovered! Reclaiming that time for family, and in much smaller part for personal pet projects, has been my priority. I have still to pick up a paintbrush more than twice in my new studio.

Happily, I have been entertaining friends and family, holding birthday parties, Christmas dinner, a book launch, and just because meals.

I finally have renewed motivation to post some stats, product reviews, lessons learned, and of course, photos. Coming soon!

The Ottawa Citizen ran an article on our system, ‘When grey turns to green‘, by Patrick Langston in the Jan 21, 2012 Saturday Homes section. http://t.co/dKJO4kX2

The story ran with this photo of Isla and me (credit: Bruno SCHLUMBERGER, The Ottawa Citizen)

Lots has been going on, no we’re not in yet, but we’re a lot closer now that the countertops are installed in the kitchen. Hearth is also now installed on the fireplace. More updates to come, assuming I can carve out time from sewing draperies, packing, and a bazillion other things…

soapstone countertops, 2011-07-09

waterfall edge, 2011-07-09

island cooktop and rangehood, 2011-07-09

fireplace hearth, 2011-07-08

Trying to find a modern mailbox is tricky, but thanks to Dwell, my husband and others on a similar mission, I’ve been able to track down a surprising number of options – provided we can somehow justify the cost…

From Mailboxes.co.nz, a division of Heartlands Outdoor Living

1. 

   NuBox, $135 CDN

2. 

   Comparto, $192 CDN

3. 

   Contempo zincalume, $163 CDN

4. 

   Aspiring marineply, $123 CDN

5. 

   Sefton, $123 CDN

6. 

   Cadrona, $143 CDN

7. 

   Radius powder coated, $106 CDN

From Morba, also available in Ottawa at Domus

8. 

   Morba small red Euro poste box, $38 US

From Radius Design on YLiving

9. 

   Letterman 1 Mailbox, $419 US

From Knobloch, also available from Modern Mailbox Designs

10. 

    Knobloch Hollywood Yellow, $359 US

11. 

    Knoblock Long Beach, $359 US

From Neutra

12. 

    NB-1 mailbox, $199 US

From Chiasso Simply Modern Designs

13. 

    Envelope, $78 US

14. 

    Nuovo, $320 US

From Blomus

15. 

    Blomus SIGNO with window, $480 - 620 CDN

also available from Lumens for $342 US


From SKY on Buy.com

16. 

    SKY Stainless, $59.95

From www.getnewmailbox.com

17. 

    Spira, $149 US

From HouseArt, available from many sources, including Expressions-Ltd

18. 

    Davinci, $350 - 650 US (list $425)

From Budget Mailboxes

19. 

    Torgen European Stainless Mailbox, $253.50 US

Tile is now grouted in the children’s bathroom…

children's bathroom, 2011-06-04

Love the glass accent tile, 2011-06-04

… and the MB ensuite

shower wall, 2011-06-04

Our walnut vanity in the ensuite, crafted by Frank

MB ensuite vanity, 2011-06-04

Children’s vanity, crafted by IKEA

children's bathroom vanity, 2011-06-04

Base coat for the silver leaf on the dining room tray ceiling (left over from our previous kitchen make-over at Cunningham)

diningroom tray ceiling, 2011-06-04

could almost leave the diningroom ceiling as is..., 2011-06-04

First inhabitants at the new house (and soon to be evicted)

2 baby starlings in MB ensuite vent, 2011-06-04

a 2nd nest by Chris' office, 2011-06-04

Overhang provides shelter in more ways than one, 2011-06-04

Tiling has begun in the MB ensuite…

MB ensuite, 2011-05-28

shower enclosure, 2011-05-28

… and the children’s bathroom

12x12 honed and polished quartzite verde in children's bathroom, 2011-05-28

white subway tiles for children's bathtub surround, 2011-05-28

Vanity to be installed in the children’s bathroom

IKEA vanity for children's bathroom, 2011-05-28

Lovely gray owl on the trim

trim in basement, 2011-05-28

Clean, crisp dry-wall returns

foyer, 2011-05-28

2nd floor landing, 2011-05-28

Will's round window, 2011-05-28

My round window in the studio, 2011-05-28

view from studio, 2011-05-28

First order of the day is prepping the cannons

Final coat, 2011-05-25

Installation, 2011-05-25

Lock and load, 2011-05-25

Painting the basement has begun (nice job, Andrew!)

basement painting in progress, 2011-05-25

basement, 2011-05-25

recess in tool box makes a great runway (guest room), 2011-05-25

Now that the protection has been lifted from the floors, one can start to get a sense of the finished space

floor revealed and dry wall return on round window in my studio, 2011-05-25

Chris' office, 2011-05-25

livingroom, 2011-05-25

Will’s closet doors are now installed

Will in his closet, 2011-05-25

I think the children will enjoy their rooms…

Isla peeking out of her closet, 2011-05-25

Will checking out Isla's closet, 2011-05-25

Scrap pile now in Isla’s room

Isla's room, 2011-05-25

Checking out the tile surround for the MB ensuite bathtub

MB ensuite tub, 2011-05-25

Templating the chimney – turns out that some adjustment needed to meet the 2 inch clearance required by code. So long as the arch is maintained, I’m happy.

chimney template kitchen side, 2011-05-24

chimney template livingroom side, 2011-05-24

Will investigates the shower wand in the MB ensuite

shower wand, 2011-05-24

Wood blocks make the best toys

Isla plays with scrap wood, 2011-05-24

Isla has a rest in Daddy’s office

Isla, 2011-05-24

Fireplace receives it’s outer skin

fireplace kitchen side, 2011-05-21

fireplace livingroom side, 2011-05-21

Admiring the floors

Study / common area, 2011-05-21

Isla's room, 2011-05-21

Will's room, 2011-05-21

MB, 2011-05-21

Lovely pile of scrap wood leftover from the floor install. Kids enjoy constructing roads and houses, I am imaging various projects… dining room table perhaps? Or at least a tray.

scrap wood, 2011-05-21

gosh, she's cute! my lovely daughter the carpenter, 2011-05-21

Some closet doors

Isla's closet doors, 2011-05-21

Linen closet, 2011-05-21

Plumbing rough-in for the MB ensuite tub – was not sure I liked the placement as it had been drawn in the corner by the shower; however, after much consideration by the plumber, architects and builder, the expert opinion was that this was the best spot to allow for easy access in and out of the tub. Also, was not convinced about the shower wand placement being on the rim of the tub, but again, this was the plumber’s opinion as the best spot to avoid dripping onto the floor. A valid point, I suppose, although I’m still not convinced from an aesthestic point of view. Likely to be forgiving once I’m soaking in the bath with Grand Marnier in hand.

Isla has no reservations about the shower wand, 2011-05-21

hmmm... must think of Grand Mariner, 2011-05-21

Floor tile now on site

honed and filled ivory travertine 12x24, 2011-05-21

More exciting developments to report…

The hardwood appears to have been installed throughout the top floor, to be finished once the painting is complete.

Hardwood, 2011-05-19

Hardwood advisory, 2011-05-19

The fireplace is receiving its skin so one can now get a real appreciation for its volume and shape.

View of fireplace as you enter the livingroom, 2011-05-19

Walking around the fireplace, 2011-05-19

Fireplace as seen from livingroom, 2011-05-19

Painting has begun, notably with some test patches of blue. I love the idea of blue ceilings, and have painted my ceilings blue in previous homes, but these are not the right shades. The plan will be to go with the same white that is on the walls, then should the mood and energy strike us down the line we may paint some of the ceilings blue afterwards (so not very likely).

Blue test patches, 2011-05-19

Blue test patches in kitchen, 2011-05-19

The other exciting bit is that the garage door guy was here this morning installing the garage door. I got a peek from the inside, but the protective shed doors are still covering the exterior.

Garage door from inside garage, 2011-05-19

Exterior, 2011-05-19