Off Schedule

Posted on 13 November, 2012 by odo

Offered in this post are two slideshows. The first highlights the process of making a home one’s own. Every room was modified in some way. Most of the modifications were small jobs, painting and easy cosmetic changes. Others were more involved, a couple were complete guts. The second video details one of the guts, an extensive kitchen remodel. And I mean remodel, not refreshing, not redecorating, not rejuvenation. This was not a pull-out-the-old and stick-in-the-new kind of job. It was a metamorphosis of concept, design and function. Looking at the old kitchen, you may ask why, what’s wrong? It looks pretty good, granite counters, nice cabinets, spacious. It’s a shame to tear out a kitchen that was new only eight years ago. It’s a shame to waste time and money for something only superficially nice. Everything under the surface of the old kitchen was wrong, awkward work flow, cheap appliances, inadequate ventilation. . . It was merely assembled. There had been no forethought or care. Topping the list of wrongs was function—the number one reason for the remodel. Function was a priority for every design decision along the way. After all, the kitchen is the heart of a home. It sees the most use, gets the most traffic and takes the most abuse. It needs to function smoothly, make cooking a pleasure and facilitate conversation. Watch and see what can be done with a little foresight and imagination.

[Taking It Personally]

[Kitchen Transformation]

Posted in Creativity, Design | Leave a comment

Splash

Posted on 7 November, 2012 by odo

Art, comedy, ideas, food, music, travel, anything outstanding, all have one thing in common : surprise. It’s the unexpected, the little extra twist, the something slightly dissonant, the pop, the flash, the out of the blue deviation that turns unmentionably mediocre into marvelously meritorious. It often doesn’t require much to distinguish the ho-hum from the inspired. A subtle move off-center or a nudge to the left could be all it takes. But it cannot be a mistake. Intention carries weight; mishap is sloppy. Admittedly, happy flukes happen. When they do they need to be grabbed with an open mind and messaged with deliberation. More often though, we don’t get so lucky. That’s when we need to resist the obvious and a veer off in a new direction to search for the curious.

I was watching a Sci-Fi movie the other night. From the start it was trying too hard. In an attempt to be philosophically deep its only accomplishment was trying the viewer. Not a good sign, but I gave it a chance. Late in the all too predictable story, when the romantic characters finally meet face to face, I spoke their lines verbatim just a moment before they did—twice. That was it for this dog, no more chances. Bore-ring. If I can predict the next line, it’s lame. The writers were too caught up in the obvious. They couldn’t see how their trite, unimaginative plot and dopey dialog was plaguing the entire film. With a little resistance and a fresh perspective the movie could have been a grabber.

If there’s one thing in common with all the best, it’s that there’s (at least) one thing not common. Start [radical], add [intelligent design], and finish with a splash of surprise. 

Posted in Art & Photography, Creativity, Discover, Thoughts | Leave a comment