Home Decor Projects Blogger

The site of a former house in Bogota has been reborn into a gorgeous bakery and cafe that respects the surrounding residential context. Designed by New York City-based Studio Cadena, the sculptural building draws the eye with oversized triangular windows, a monolithic concrete envelope and contemporary interiors featuring playful terrazzo floors, timber furnishings and pops of greenery.

With an area of 7,500 square feet, the restaurant marks Studio Cadena’s second and largest commission for Masa, a popular bakery chain in Colombia. Inside, the building comprises a cafe and bakery along with a dining area and separate retail space. Outdoor seating can be found along a street-facing patio as well as in the rear garden area that overlooks the kitchen through a large circular window. To achieve an airy and open feel, the architects used an open-plan layout and delineated spaces with strategically placed elements such as a long concrete bar, cylindrical wood-clad service station and multi-tiered seating platform at the entrance.

“The idea is that everything is connected, but the spaces remain fragmented for intimacy,” explained Studio Cadena founder and principal Benjamin Cadena. “In any space in the restaurant, you might hear or smell things that give a sense of the adjacent spaces, but it isn’t completely open. The design defines distinct spatial volumes yet allows you to move through them with the freedom of an open plan.” Studio Cadena designed all of the surfaces, fixtures and furniture. The variety of lighting designs also distinguish the different spaces, from the large paper globes in the corner cafe to the hand-painted metal mesh that hangs down in the middle of the building.

Related: An ancient Jaipur palace property is transformed into a modern restaurant

The building volume is built with textured cast-in-place concrete walls inside and out. Triangular windows of different sizes punctuate the concrete envelope and open the restaurant up to natural light while establishing a connection between the street and the interior.

+ Studio Cadena

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Today's random set is 1256 Shell Service Station, released in 1999. It's one of 63 Town sets produced that year. It contains 144 pieces and 2 minifigs, and its retail price was US$20.

It's owned by 898 Brickset members. If you want to add it to your collection you might find it for sale at BrickLink or eBay.

If you’re getting eager to start with home improvement projects, an East Cobb business has lined up a full slate of expert speakers for a Feb. 12 workshop it’s calling “Fall In Love Again.”

The free event takes place from 3-7 p.m. at Enhance Floors (1847 Roswell Road), and the lineup includes representatives from local business that specialize in flooring, carpeting, tiles, kitchen and bath, windows, walls and real estate.

Every Sunday we round up the week’s top headlines and preview the upcoming week in the East Cobb News Digest. Click here to sign up, and you’re good to go!

Simple Solutions

Roots are a fact of life. Whether you’re digging a garden or planting a tree, you’ll encounter them soon.

And whether they’re surface roots, or roots buried deep in the ground, you need to remove them.

A pointed spade is the best tool for digging in the ground, but roots tend to slide off its ends.

Fortunately, there’s a Simple Solution!

You can modify a pointed spade so it’s a perfect root-cutting tool.

Watch the video above to see Joe’s Simple Solution.

If you want to have an energy efficient home, you have to get rid of or repair appliances that are costing you a lot in electrical bills. Is it better to get a repair or two done or should you replace some of your home appliances?

If you have appliances that are fairly new but are giving you some trouble, you should have them repaired. Most new appliances are energy efficient as long as they are working in the proper way. If you notice, however, that you’re paying more and more in electrical costs and the cost of electricity hasn’t gone up in your area, your appliances may need to be worked on through a reliable service for appliance repair Houston. That way, they work properly and are not drawing as much power. You can find an appliance repair person easily if you just shop around a little and learn more about the reputations of your options.

You’re going to want to get new appliances if what you have is old and taking up too much power in your home. Most of the older appliances were not built to be energy efficient, and as they age they take up more and more power. It’s a good idea to get replacement appliances if you keep having to pay for repairs because the cost of repairs will eventually add up to cost you more than a new appliance. Do your research on which appliances are the best for your home and make sure they are energy efficient before having them installed.

You now know more about whether you should replace or repair appliances in your home. There are benefits that come with going either way. If you want to have an energy efficient home, you can’t have appliances that are taking up too much of your electricity.

You've packed your closets to the gills. You've filled every drawer and cubby to overflowing. And you still don't have enough room to store all your stuff. Right?

Wrong. Hidden pockets of underutilized storage space abound in your home ... that is, if you know where to look. Here are eight unexpected storage areas you're probably overlooking, and how to make the most of them.

1. Above the fridge

Photo by Moon Architect and Builder

Think "up" when you're designing or renovating the kitchen or installing living room bookshelves, urges Justin Riordan of Spade and Archer Design Agency.

"Make sure cabinets go all the way to the ceiling, so you're utilizing the entire wall and not leaving space you'll have to dust later," he suggests. This above-the-fridge space is an ideal spot for a basket (toss your junk in—and it's hidden).

Or line up your cookbooks above the fridge, suggests Sarah Hollenbeck of Offers.com.

2. In the kitchen island

Photo by Intimate Living Interiors 

This low-to-the-ground spot cries out for some smart utility. A pet feeding station or cubby to hold a pet bed is a good way to enhance the end of a kitchen island.

"By removing the lower set of cabinets, your dog can enjoy a nice hideaway, but still be in the hub of all the action in the kitchen," says Karen Gray Plaisted of Design Solutions KGP.

3. Nook under the stairs

Photo by Tom Hurt Architecture 

Wish you could work from home but don't have a room to devote to an office? A stair cutout is the perfect fix.

"You can also create shelving and drawers for additional organization," says Gray Plaisted. Other options for this spot include storage for bikes, a stroller, or sports gear.

"Staircases are an excellent place for storage—underneath stairs, on the stairs themselves or even inside the stairs—think pullout drawers," adds Riordan.

4. Stair landing

Photo by Visbeen Architects

The turnaround in the middle of your staircase or a wasted spot in a long hallway can be transformed into a kids' art center or a pretty book nook. Add lighting, a built-in bookshelf and a cozy cushion on the bench, and then hang wallpaper to define—and beautify—this space.

5. Under the bed

Photo by atmosphere kitchen and bath

Whether it's a kid's room with a loft or bunks or your own queen-sized sleeping space, the area under the bed is often overlooked, say the pros.

"Store out-of-season clothes, shoes, and boots under your bed," says Jamie Novak, author of "Keep This Toss That."

Riordan likes to utilize the space under a kid's bunk bed for a fort, homework spot, or an extra closet.

6. Bedside and end tables

Photo by 

A few books and a box of tissues are fine in these spaces, but you can improve your storage options by keeping sleek bins or decorative boxes here. Novak puts her end tables to use with a basket for games, video controllers, remotes, magazines, cozy throws, and dog toys.

7. Skinny kitchen spots

Photo by Craftsman Design and Renovation 

The little vertical space between appliances and cabinets is prime real estate for certain hard-to-store items, including utensils, baking sheets, platters, and trays. Or look to the spot between the fridge and your kitchen wall, suggests Hollenbeck.

"If this area isn't too dirty, it's a great place to store cleaning supplies, like a broom and a flat-head mop," she says.

Bonus: Your cleanup gear is close at hand, but won't ruin the room's aesthetic.

8. Crown molding and ceiling perimeter

Photo by Maxwell & Company Architects

You can find overhead space in various rooms around the house. Novak suggests installing shelves that are 18 inches below the ceiling around a room's perimeter for book collections.

"And you can put in a wide piece of crown molding over a bathroom door frame to hold extra paper products," she adds.

Hard-to-reach spaces may not seem like obvious spots for decor, but they can help take your home to the next level, says Hollenbeck. Try a floating shelf up high that's filled with fake plants or a set of lined-up photo prints, she suggests.

2018 Holiday Gift Guide

By Phil Benevides on Tool and Product Reviews, Weekend warrior

Concord Carpenter 2018 Holiday Gift Guide

The Holidays are upon us and nothing makes us happier than helping our readers give gifts your loved ones won’t forget. We think this year is a good mix of practical gifts, tools, toys, and some new digs. If you don’t find what you’re looking for, hopefully we’ve inspired you!

Ryobi 40-Volt Brushless Cordless Electric Snowblower

Available at Home Depot!

Folks in the trades tend to be above average landscapers. Getting physical, using tools, and working with your hands is part of job. Still no one WANTS to do yard work, so any product to make yard work faster, easier, and more pleasant is a perfect gift for your favorite trades-person.

The Ryobi 40-Volt 20-inch Brushless Cordless Electric Snowblower is guaranteed to surprise and delight. Replacing a snow shovel is the gift that keeps on giving. Cordless power tools start instantly, don’t require fuel or oil, and are much easier to maintain. Plus Ryobi has a growing outdoor power equipment line that your recipient can add on to when the snow melts and best of all they are readily available at any Home Depot. This cordless snowblower retails for about $300.

Ridgid 5-Vial Torpedo Level

I don’t pretend to know what gets plumbers excited, but I suspect you’ll get a smile out of your favorite plumber with this Ridgid 5-Vial Torpedo Level. A small hand tool doesn’t cost a whole lot, but selecting a thoughtful trade specific tool like this level designed for plumbers is priceless.

This level features 5 separate vials 3-dimensionally aligned to be dead on in all planes. Grooved on both side in a U-Shape and a V-Shape ensures the rare earth magnets can grip best to rounded or flat metal. And this little guy even features a laser line. This level will impress the plumber in your life and they’ll have a reminder of you every day on the job! This level retails for about $50.

Coast Dual Color LED Headlamp with Twist Focus

If you know someone who works with their hands, regardless of the trade, more likely than not they’ll be working in dark or low light conditions. Nothing is more convenient than a good headlamp! No need to adjust where the light is, plus you’re not stealing a battery from your cordless tools. I’ve been using a Coast Dual Color LED Headlamp with Twist Focus on night work on infrastructure projects and it is a life saver.

This is a great stocking stuffer or Hanukkah gift and not just for the trades-person in your life. Considering what daylight savings time has done to afternoon light, this can be a great gift for runners as well. How about the hunter in your family? This headlamp has three settings and the beam can be focused or used to flood your line of sight. Furthermore there is a red light option to preserve night vision. Finally, if your loved one is using this with a hard hat, like me, it comes with hard hat clips. This headlamp retails for $30.

Metabo STA 18 LTX 100 Cordless Jig-Saw

A good jig saw doesn’t make a good carpenter, but a good carpenter most certainly has a good jig saw. My point here is, most likely a carpenter won’t replace their functioning jigsaw for an upgraded version until the old one croaks. But having a second jig saw won’t hurt either. With a two jig saw setup you can get a coping shoe on one or keep one in pristine shape for those precision finish cuts and use the old tool for more rough and tumble applications.

Regardless this is a great gift for a carpenter. The Metabo name is sure to impress and as far as cordless tools go, even if your loved one is a DEWALT guy or Makita Chickita, mixing up the battery and brand isn’t going to be a deal breaker. Especially since this Metabo STA 18 LTX 100 Cordless Jig Saw has a lot of really nice features for the finish carpenter. Tool less bevel adjustments and selectable shaving blower to ensure dialed in blade tracking. This jig saw retails for about $200.

 Werner L6200 Series Type IA Fiberglass LEANSAFE Ladder

If you are looking for a gift for the electrician in your life, then search no more. This ladder is guaranteed to put a smile on your loved ones face. Not only will they get to open a really big present, but they’ll appreciate the thought and consideration of this gift. First off, most likely they already have a ladder so buying this for themselves is probably out of the question. Second, with the features and benefits of this ladder, you’ll be sure to impress the recipient of this slick Werner innovation.

The Werner LEANSAFE Ladder features a contoured top to lean snuggly into studs and corners. The ladder is clearly marked to advertise compliance when used in leaning mode and features a latch that secures the rear rail to the front rail. This features allows it to be used in leaning mode and as a standard step ladder. And so the foot pad is contoured to maximize contact with the ground in both modes. The 6’ ladder retails for about $130.

DeWALT 27 Quart ToughSystem Cooler

This is one of my favorite gifts on the guide this year, perfect for the trades-person, great for on the job, and better for off the job. This cooler is built like much more expensive high performance coolers on the market but for half the price. Bonus: it includes a bottle opener! And if your loved one is a DeWALT guy you’re in luck, you’ll melt their heart (but not their ice) with this great DeWALT 27 Quart ToughSystem Cooler for work and play.

This cooler can hold 27 quarts, a solid two four pack if you know what I mean, and can keep ice for up to five days! Built to integrate with the DeWalt ToughSystem, which is the only downside. Unless you have the ToughSystem Cart, you’ll need a buddy because this cooler has a load capacity of 88lbs and with no wheels you’ll get a workout hauling this thing solo. This cooler retails for about $150.

Keen Men’s San Jose 6″ Boot

If you’re buying gifts for someone who wears boots every day, consider buying them some more boots. Boots wear out, so they won’t go to waste. I especially like the idea of these Keen Men’s San Jose boots because they are practical medium duty footwear that can pass as a casual shoe for everyday wear. These are also a great choice for those who maybe aren’t wearing a belt anymore but are on active job-sites and should have a boot that works on the job and in an office setting.

This handsome boot features material specifically selected to make it light and comfortable from the first time you slip them on! The super comfortable asymmetrical safety toe is made of lightweight aluminum. The KEEN LUFTCELL dual-density PU mid-sole, infused with air to further reduce weight. And the unlined waterproof leather upper is not only super comfy out of the box, but also super light! These boots retail for about $150.

Keen Men’s Howser II

I love Keen’s lineup of utility boots and we’ve been wearing all sorts of their footwear over the years. Still for this gift guide, I wanted to look past work boots, although my feet are falling in love with the San Jose boots highlighted above. When it comes to gifts I like to be practical but also surprise the recipient with something they may not realize they wanted or needed. These Keen Men’s Howser II slippers wholly satisfy those requirements for a great gift.

The plush micro-fleece interior of the slipper is comfy, thin, and surprisingly warm. Your foot sits on a memory foam foot-bed for comfortable cushioning. The monolithic rubber outsole features the classic Keen toe for a comfortable “round the house” slipper that won’t have you tip toeing around the yard when you have to pick up a package or take out the trash. These slippers retail for about $60.

Zircon Breaker ID Circuit Finder

Listen, I’m no electrician and honestly I’ll scale a 40’ ladder and hang off the side of 12 pitch roof before I mess with electricity. With that said I’m not going to intentionally trip a breaker to then safely work on that line, I’m going to aimlessly flip breaker switches and test the lines where I plan to work. If you’ve struggled with this process, A. You’re probably not an electrician and B. you know how long it can take.

This Zircon Breaker ID Circuit Finder is great for the new homeowner, carpenter, or handyman who needs to works safely around electricity sources. This Breaker finder has a transmitter that plugs into an outlet and sends a signal for the receiver wand to identify. Two passes of your breaker box and this little gem will identify the right circuit breaker every time. With this tool you’re giving the gift of time and preventing frustration that could lead to unsafe working conditions. This tool retails for about $45.

Stanley 25’ FatMax

Listen, if you’re gonna buy someone a tape measure, do yourself a favor and get them a Stanley 25′ FatMax. I guarantee you’ll get one of two responses; “I use this tape, how did you know?! I’m so glad a have a new one, mine still works great but is a little beat up.” Or conversely they don’t currently use a FatMax and after they get to use it they say; “Wow that FatMax is great! Way better standout than what I was using, and this thing is indestructible!”

Okay, I can’t guarantee that, but this tape is tried and true. Plus if you get lucky you’ll find a two-pack of the FatMax in a 25’ Tape and a 16’ Tape. This combo is the ultimate stocking stuffer, so if you see this on the shelf at Home Depot drop it in your cart and pat yourself on the back in advance for bringing joy into the life of an unsuspecting recipient. These tapes retail for about $20.

Makita 18-Volt LXT Mossy Oak Heated Jacket

If you are looking for a gift for someone who works outside in the cold climates and they don’t have heated gear, this is a no-brainer. The camo option from Makita is a bonus for two reasons. One, I typically wear a Carhart over the heated jacket to further insulate the heat being generated and therefore the pattern won’t look odd on a job-site. Two, Makita has zip off arms to allow the jacket to be used as a vest, giving it a little more versatility than other brands.

Heated gear, like the Makita 18-Volt LXT Mossy Oak Heated Jacket, makes life a lot easier for workers in the field because often times we are not moving around generating heat, so this option helps keep us warm during static work outdoors. And if your trades person also enjoys hunting, the same applies sitting in a tree stand or in a blind, making the camo option another no-brainer. The 18-Volt battery has the fastest charging batteries on the market and can be used on the world’s largest 18-Volt cordless tool platform. This jacket retails for about $200.

Milwaukee USB Rechargeable Heated Gloves

Hats, gloves, and socks are a classic winter time gift, but can be mundane so if you plan to wrap up one of these items, make sure you up the ante. Milwaukee is known for upping the ante and these heated gloves are the epitome of that concept. This gift is sure to wow your loved ones and definitely proves good things come in small packages.

Milwaukee USB Rechargeable Heated Gloves are powered by two red lithium batteries, which can provide you enough heat to snow blow or shovel the driveway, in comfy fleece lining. But that’s not all! These are some serious winter gloves. The gloves feature extended cuffs, with an oversized pull tabs to make donning the gloves a breeze. Leather palms make the gloves flexible, even out of the box, and the index finger is touch screen compatible. These gloves retail for about $180.

Milwaukee Rover LED Rechargeable Pivoting Flood Light

A flashlight is a great practical gift for anyone let alone your loved one in the trades. Light is like a hammer, wrench, or pliers for someone in the trades. Convenient and reliable light is getting better and better and Milwaukee is taking personal lighting to another level. This Milwaukee Rover LED Rechargeable Pivoting Flood Light is amazing.

Armed with a carabiner like clip, magnets, and pivoting stand this little guy can be deployed in all manner of ways to get light where you need it. The REDLITHIUM battery is rechargeable using a 2’ heavy duty USB cable. Bottom line, this light is compact, versatile, and bright pumping out 550 lumens of high definition light! This rechargeable light retails for about $70.

Worksharp Woodworking Tool Sharpener WS-3000

Going through an apprentice program, I learned how to sharpen chisels with a grinding wheel. The first time I saw someone sharpen chisels on a WorkSharp I knew I was never going to sharpen my chisels on a vertical grinding wheel again. The WorkSharp is fast, precise, and delivers a superior point. If the carpenter or woodworker in your life needs sharp chisels, this tool gives them the ultimate gift of time. Not only will you save them time sharpening, but their work with go faster and easier with razor sharp chisels.

The Worksharp Woodworking Tool Sharpener WS-3000 is a bench mounted tool sharpener that has a max wheel speed of 580 RPM. The wheel is safer and easier to control than vertical grinding wheels. The sharpening process is further enhanced by the WorkSharp as tools rest on a forced air heat sink that removes heat from the tool while sharpening. This prevents overheating the steel which could result in softer edges that dull faster. This sharpener retails for about $200.

Kershaw Outright

A nice everyday carry (EDC) knife is another surefire gift for anyone in the trades or who enjoys the outdoors. A convenient blade in your pocket is always welcomed whether on the job, in the field, or just breaking down some amazon boxes at home. The Kershaw Outright is beautiful knife with a deep blue PVD coating that is continuous from the blade to the handle.

Again an EDC can be any run of the mill knife, but as far as presents go this Kershaw Outright is worth gifting. Also a practical choice as the steel is 8Cr13Mov which is cost effective and still holds a good edge, bottom line this is quality blade. This is an eye catching design with an up-swept blade and continuous deep blue color. This knife retails for about $35.

Kershaw Faultline

Another Kershaw knife I wanted to add to this gift guide is a super affordable and practical hunting knife. The Kershaw Faultline came out of the box with a super sharp blade and is small, light, and has an extra wide blade. The back of the blade features plenty of ribbing for choking up on the blade for efficient field dressing. Oversized rubber gripping will ensure you don’t slip no matter how messy your job gets. This knife retails for about $25.

Metabo HPT Multi-Volt Reciprocating Saw

I have a handful of reciprocating saws in my shop, and I pack them on the truck depending on the job. I got a beater, a 15-amp corded beast for demo, and a cordless saw for light duty work that I usually keep with me at all times. This Metabo HPT Multi-Volt Reciprocating Saw would have saved me from diversifying my reciprocating saws, even as a remodeler.

If you’re looking to get someone a gift who’s starting out in the trades this is a great choice. A.) Almost anyone can use a recip saw B.) The flexibility of a corded/cordless saw is genius and finally C.) For a lot of trades a recip saw isn’t on the top of their list for tools they want to spend money on. With that said this is a unique and thoughtful gift for the trades person in your life. I’d consider getting an extra battery to make it as practical a gift as possible. This tool retails for about $300.

The final two art installations at the Red Line’s 95th Street station were unveiled Monday morning. The two pieces by artist Theaster Gates are part of the massive terminal overhaul which wrapped up in January.

The final touches on the train and bus station are a pair of tapestries of decommissioned fire hoses and a radio station with a performance space. Gates is an internationally recognized artist who’s had commissions and exhibits across the world, but it’s clear he has a soft spot for Chicago.

“These things don’t happen in a vacuum,” Gates said at the announcement. “It takes a lot of people who believe in art and culture.”

As a Chicagoan, and former CTA employee and the first director of transit arts, the project was incredibly important to him. He credited his six years at the CTA with teaching him skills in bureaucracy that allowed him to accomplish more throughout his career.

“I remember when we were going through the process, it’s a big process, we probably did over 15 community meetings talking to people about what they’d like to see in their neighborhood. And we really listened,” Gates said at the announcement on Monday. “People would say: ‘We want to see clear examples of our people on the South Side. We want to see examples of our future, clear examples of our present. We want to hear our stories all the time.’ And I thought, that’s a lot to deliver in a mural.

Gates envisions the performance space and radio station, “AESOP: An Extended Song of Our People,” set up with a roster of DJs that are invested in black music so that soul, funk, house, and gospel pump through the station. Residents can get a little house music Friday evenings, like Frankie Knuckles, and for the morning commute some Sonny Rollins, he said.

“When I think about the kind of experience I want to have riding the CTA, I kind of want to wake up and hear some Aretha,” Gates said.

When music isn’t playing, Gates wants to broadcast stories from community members in a podcast style. It’s an engaging and comprehensive way to showcase the daily ideas, interests, and stories of South Side residents. Currently, he’s working on finding more DJs and a public partner that can run the storytelling aspect of “AESOP.”

The other art installation, “america, america,” was initiated by Gates’s desire to give the city some of his best work. The piece that acknowledges that the “work of equality is ongoing” and “not carried by one but by all.”

Over the years, a lot of opportunities at museums and to exhibit his work have been elsewhere—so with this piece, there would be a permanent, public display of the type of work that is his “heart and soul.”

“Taking these decommissioned materials—trying to tell a story of the past while at the same time being in conversation with the city and with black people. These works, which are a signature, I wanted to make sure they were present in the station,” Gates said.

Gates hoped to reimagine what a public art installation could be, and with the help of the CTA and Mayor Rahm Emanuel, he was able to launch a project that is the first of its kind. The city’s current administration has overseen 60 new art installations which has more than doubled the CTA’s collection of public art.

When current projects wrap up, about 68 percent of all rail stations will feature artwork or significant architecture. Recently, Carol Ross Barney unveiled the Belmont Gateway’s new blue canopy inspired by Avondale’s lost waterfall.